marriage equality

This is why DOMA must die. This is why same-sex married couples must be a part of any truly comprehensive immigration reform.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/sen-tim-johnson-endorses-gay...

Johnson's reversal leaves only three Democratic senators who still oppose same-sex marriage: Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Pryor (D-AK) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

And it's the right thing to do:

"I know all our families do not look alike. We all want the same thing for our families. We want happiness, we want health, prosperity, a bright future for our children and grandchildren. After conversations I’ve had with family members, with people I go to church with and with North Carolinians from all walks of life, I’ve come to my own personal conclusion that we should not tell people who they can love, or who they can marry. It’s time to move forward with this issue.”

For all the flak Kay has taken (much of it justified) for some of her policy approaches and priorities, this took guts on her part, and should be remembered. The GOP will be gunning for her vigorously in the coming months, and it's going to take every tool in the box to keep from losing this seat.

Today was a day full of vigils, reflection, and preparation for the future. A voting rights vigil planned for the Pitt County Courthouse in recognition of Bloody Sunday and the current voting rights struggles in this state, and a freedom to marry vigil planned for the Wilson County Courthouse in recognition of this week's Supreme Court marriage cases. Today was spent honoring history from Selma to Stonewall.

The countdown continues. Only 3 days left until this historic Supreme Court freedom to marry case. Lines have been forming out side the Supreme Court for days now. The polling is moving in our favor at a rapid pace. Even a hundred some prominent republicans have made the jump to supporting marriage equality. There are some big events in DC, but you don't have to go that far to have a piece of history with this landmark case, because events are being held all across the country and across North Carolina.

In 3 weeks the Supreme Court will take up a case considering the constitutionality of Prop 8, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and generally the freedom to marry for LGBT couples. Recently Equality NC joined with many other organizations, politicians, and faith leaders to oppose marriage discrimination in the form of an amicus brief. Public events and demonstrations relating to the Supreme Court case are starting to pop up in NC, in DC, and around the country. In 20 or 30 years, how will you answer the question, where were you during this freedom to marry case?

It has taken lawmakers and leaders some time to catch up with the polls that have been showing for the past few years that a majority of Americans support full marriage equality, but with all the recent states joining in it seems like it's finally starting to happen. With the Supreme Court potentially striking down DOMA and returning marriage equality to California in June of this year we're getting ever closer to the tipping point of having a majority of the country's population in areas that recognize the freedom to marry.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/01/16279759-lawfully-married-mar...

'Lawfully married': Maryland ushers in 2013 with its first same-sex nuptials

BALTIMORE -- Seven gay couples in Maryland rang in the New Year with wedding bells early Tuesday, the first wave of nuptials since voters in the state backed the legalization of same-sex marriage.