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Gay marriage declared legal across the US in historic supreme court ruling. Same-sex marriages are now legal across the entirety of the United States after a historic supreme court ruling that declared attempts by conservative states to ban them unconstitutional.

Gay marriage declared legal across the US in historic supreme court ruling

In what may prove the most important civil rights case in a generation, five of the nine court justices determined that the right to marriage equality was enshrined under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Victory in the case – known as Obergefell v Hodges, after an Ohio man who sued the state to get his name listed on his late husband’s death certificate – capped years of campaigning by LGBT rights activists, high-powered attorneys and couples waiting decades for the justices to rule. It immediately led to scenes of jubilation from coast to coast, as campaigners, politicians and everyday people – gay, straight and in-between – hailed “a victory of love”.

“They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law,” Kennedy wrote in his opinion for the majority. ‘The arc of history is quite clear’ Gay couples in Ireland can now make it official. DUBLIN, Ireland — Gay couples woke up in Ireland Sunday morning and began planning their weddings.

Gay couples in Ireland can now make it official

On Saturday, the Irish people voted with a surprisingly strong 62 percent "yes" to change the constitution to allow gay couples to marry. Thousands of people celebrated until dawn after the results were announced. New Law Will Make It Official The Irish Justice Department announced that it plans to write a new bill — a proposed law — this week to allow gay marriages. The proposed law will permit those taking vows in civil ceremonies to choose to be "husband and wife" or "spouses of each other. " Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton said she expects the bill to become law by early July. Delays Are Over For Senator Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan, their day has nearly come.

Zappone is from Seattle and settled with her Irish wife in Dublin 30 years ago. GLAD / Know Your Rights / Information by State / Maine. Know Your Rights › Information by State › Maine › Maine’s anti-discrimination law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity or expression.

GLAD / Know Your Rights / Information by State / Maine

Questions & Answers (Accurate as of February 25, 2014) Does Maine have an anti-discrimination law protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals from discrimination? Yes. Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Legal in Maine. Among the newly married couples were Steven Bridges and Michael Snell, who held a commitment ceremony six years ago but made things official with a simple ceremony.

Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Legal in Maine

“It’s historic,” Mr. Bridges said. “We’ve waited our entire lives for this.” Mr. Bridges, 42, and Mr. With Mr. Voters approved the new law in November, making Maine one of the first three states, along with Washington and Maryland, to allow same-sex marriage by popular vote. Same-sex marriage was already legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and the District of Columbia, but those laws were enacted either by lawmakers or through court rulings.

GLAD / Know Your Rights / Information by State / Maine. Teen activist files lawsuit challenging FDA ban on gay blood donors. WASHINGTON – A young gay rights activist has filed what is believed to be the first federal lawsuit challenging the U.

Teen activist files lawsuit challenging FDA ban on gay blood donors

S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood. Virginia resident Caleb Laieski, 19, filed his lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court, and alleges that the FDA ban is discriminatory and unconstitutional, as it unfairly singles out gay men, is based outdated science and detection methods, and perpetuates the stereotype that HIV is a “gay” disease by implying “all gay men are sick.”

Under FDA the policy, first imposed in 1983, “men who have had sex with other men (MSM), at any time since 1977 (the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the United States) are currently deferred as blood donors. The American Medical Association, the largest association of physicians in the U.S., voted last year to oppose the decades long ban, noting that HIV and AIDS testing has become standard practice in blood donations to minimize risk to recipients. Same-Sex Marriage State-by-State. Utah becomes the first state to enact a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Same-Sex Marriage State-by-State

Several other states previously had approved statutes defining marriage as between one man and one woman. President Clinton signs the federal Defense of Marriage Act, upholding states’ right to ban same-sex marriage and prohibiting the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage. Hawaii becomes the first state to offer same-sex couples domestic partnership benefits. Alaska voters approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Our Mission - YETA OC. From Bullied Gay Teen to Anti-Bullying Activist: Why I Decided to Make a Difference 

Editor's note: As a part of the 2012 Fullerton High School "Mr.

From Bullied Gay Teen to Anti-Bullying Activist: Why I Decided to Make a Difference 

Fullerton" pageant, senior Kearian Giertz was asked, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years? " Kearian responded that he hoped that in 10 years marriage equality would be legal so that he could marry the man of his dreams. As a result of his answer, a school administrator disqualified him from the competition. Immediately after the incident took place, Kearian's classmates, seniors Blake Danford and Katy Hall, started a letter-writing campaign, asking the question, "Where do you see yourself in 10 years? " They added their vision of what is needed to create safe and supportive schools.