Marriage Equality #7
part 7
February 13, 2012: Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signs the freedom to marry into law after the state Senate and House approve it. Almost immediately after its passage, anti-gay activists begin collecting signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that would overturn the new law. The law was set to take effect on June 7, but anti-gay activists managed to collect enough signatures to put a stay on the law until November.
February 16, 2012: The New Jersey legislature approves the freedom to marry, but soon after, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoes the bill. Freedom to Marry and local advocates are now working to build support in the legislature in order to override the veto, just as in Vermont in 2009.
February 22, 2012: U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White rules in Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, a case brought by Lambda Legal, declaring that DOMA's Section 3, which restricts marriage to different-sex couples, is unconstitutional. The cases have since been submitted for consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
March 1, 2012: Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signs the freedom to marry into law after it passes out of the state Senate and House. Almost immediately after its passage, anti-gay activists begin collecting signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that would overturn the freedom to marry. If the referendum is blocked, the law will take effect on January 1, 2013.
May 8, 2012: Anti-gay forces in North Carolina manage to pass a constitutional amendment that excludes same-sex couples from all forms of family status.
May 9, 2012: President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting president in the United States to publicly announce support for the freedom to marry.
May 19, 2012: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) joins the growing ranks of organizations who support the freedom to marry when the board approves a resolution supporting marriage for same-sex couples. In the weeks that follow, the National Center for La Raza (NCLR) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's largest and oldest Latino civil rights organizations, respectively, pass similar resolutions supporting all families.
May 24, 2012: U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken finds the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in Dragovich v. U.S. Department of Treasury.
May 31, 2012: The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals finds the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in two cases: Gill v. Office of Personnel Management (brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) and Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services (brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley). Two of the three judges who joined the ruling, including its author, Judge Michael Boudin, were appointed by Republican presidents.
February 13, 2012: Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signs the freedom to marry into law after the state Senate and House approve it. Almost immediately after its passage, anti-gay activists begin collecting signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that would overturn the new law. The law was set to take effect on June 7, but anti-gay activists managed to collect enough signatures to put a stay on the law until November.
February 16, 2012: The New Jersey legislature approves the freedom to marry, but soon after, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoes the bill. Freedom to Marry and local advocates are now working to build support in the legislature in order to override the veto, just as in Vermont in 2009.
February 22, 2012: U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White rules in Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, a case brought by Lambda Legal, declaring that DOMA's Section 3, which restricts marriage to different-sex couples, is unconstitutional. The cases have since been submitted for consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
March 1, 2012: Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signs the freedom to marry into law after it passes out of the state Senate and House. Almost immediately after its passage, anti-gay activists begin collecting signatures to place a measure on the November ballot that would overturn the freedom to marry. If the referendum is blocked, the law will take effect on January 1, 2013.
May 8, 2012: Anti-gay forces in North Carolina manage to pass a constitutional amendment that excludes same-sex couples from all forms of family status.
May 9, 2012: President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting president in the United States to publicly announce support for the freedom to marry.
May 19, 2012: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) joins the growing ranks of organizations who support the freedom to marry when the board approves a resolution supporting marriage for same-sex couples. In the weeks that follow, the National Center for La Raza (NCLR) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's largest and oldest Latino civil rights organizations, respectively, pass similar resolutions supporting all families.
May 24, 2012: U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken finds the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in Dragovich v. U.S. Department of Treasury.
May 31, 2012: The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals finds the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in two cases: Gill v. Office of Personnel Management (brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) and Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services (brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley). Two of the three judges who joined the ruling, including its author, Judge Michael Boudin, were appointed by Republican presidents.
