Monday, February 14, 2011

Marriage-equality fights erupt on multiple fronts

"There is so much happening that it is a challenge even for the most ardent marriage-equality supporters to keep track of," said Molly McKay, media director of national organization Marriage Equality. State legislators in Indiana, Wyoming, Rhode Island, Maryland, New Hampshire and Iowa are dealing with the issue, with some considering extending marriage to same-sex couples and others ready to either reverse marriage equality or prevent it through constitutional amendment.

New York's top politicos ready marriage push: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., said this week he wants the Legislature to bring up and pass a marriage equality bill before the end of its session in June. Separately, New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, said he would let that chamber's only openly gay member, Sen. Tom Duane, manage such a bill, an unusual step since Duane is now a member of the minority party. Duane's office welcomed Skelos' comments and reiterated it would take strong support from Cuomo to get the bill passed.

ode Island House, Maryland Senate hold marriage bill hearings: Supporters and opponents of marriage equality turned out in droves for two key committee hearings on pending marriage equality bills in both the Rhode Island and Maryland legislatures this week. One Maryland senator who had been expected to vote against a marriage bill changed his mind and announced he would support the measure after listening to what he called "appalling and disgusting" testimony from anti-gay marriage activists.

New Hampshire poll finds solid support for keeping marriage equality: A new poll of New Hampshire adults finds nearly two-thirds oppose ending marriage equality in the state, with 66 percent of independents saying lawmakers should leave the law alone.

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