Marriage Equality update

In addition to marriage equality news from across the US and Europe, many Senators have declared they are in support of marriage equality, including two GOP senators.

Illinois: Clergy members amp up support of gay marriage 
SOPHIA TAREEN, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Advocates of same-sex marriage in Illinois turned up the pressure on state lawmakers Thursday as a group of black Chicago-area clergy members cast their support, calling it a bold step forward for equality — even in the face of potential backlash from colleagues and congregants.

Their message was geared toward those who've been reluctant to endorse legislation legalizing gay marriage, including black lawmakers, and came as another group of prominent black pastors from Chicago mega-churches launched an aggressive opposition campaign.

Pastors from suburban and urban churches, some small and already liberal in their views, backed the measure Thursday; one is openly lesbian. Several of them acknowledged the difficulty in supporting gay marriage professionally, and one said his church still wouldn't allow him to perform same-sex marriages even if the law allowed it. They said they endorsed it as a matter of equal legal rights and the next step in the struggle for civil rights.

"We're all taking a risk by openly endorsing this bill, but I happened to know there are hundreds of pastors who cannot put themselves in this vulnerable position," said the Rev. Carlton Pearson, who was once one of the leading Pentecostal ministers nationwide until he began teaching that everyone goes to heaven, including gay people. The move angered many and he now runs his own church, New Dimensions Chicago.

Legislation granting same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones has passed the Illinois Senate, but faces a tough vote in the House, where it needs 60 votes. House Speaker Michael Madigan has estimated the measure is a dozen votes shy. A key sponsor and advocates say the number is less.

Lawmakers and advocates have been vague on exactly whose support they're targeting, but both sides have become more vocal recent weeks in anticipation of a vote sometime this month. Most recently, the focus has zeroed in on groups whose votes are likely difficult to get, suburban Republicans and the 20 black House members. All are Democrats and mostly from the Chicago area, but several are still undecided.

Messages left for a half-dozen legislators Thursday were not immediately returned.

Last month, prominent pastors of several black Chicago churches launched their opposition with 60-second commercials on black radio stations. The group, called the African American Clergy Coalition, includes former state senator the Rev. James Meeks.

The group was scheduled to meet Friday with Cardinal Francis George who also opposes same-sex marriage on moral grounds. George is the head of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which serves more than 2 million Roman Catholics.

In one ad, Bishop Larry Trotter of the Chicago's Sweet Holy Spirit — which boasts up to 9,000 members —tells listeners to urge lawmakers to vote no.

"I, too, am opposed to same sex marriage as you and every Christian should be," he says. "Marriage was the first institution created by our God. He tells us in the word that marriage should be between a man and a woman and not those of the same sex."

Pastors at Thursday's event countered religious arguments by playing up legal and civil rights.

"This is about equality and justice. This is a matter of equal protection under the law for all citizens. This is not a religious issue." said the Rev. Richard Tolliver of St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in Chicago. "Nothing in your church will change."

The legislation says that religious institutions can't be forced into performing ceremonies.

Advocates — including the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal — have pushed a diverse and intense campaign for months, calling on Hollywood celebrities, businesses, congressional leaders and lawmakers. They say opinions on the matter are rapidly shifting and point to U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, the second sitting Republican senator to recently step forward in support of gay marriage.

"We're really close, certainly within striking distance," said Bernard Cherkasov the head of Equality Illinois, who noted the group was focusing efforts on black and Latino caucuses. "This is going to be a strong bipartisan vote. "

He said Kirk's support would resonate with moderate Republicans.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, has said that he would sign the legislation if it comes to his desk. It would make Illinois the 10th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. The state approved civil unions in 2011.

The bill is SB10. Online: http://www.ilga.gov

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Minnesota: Same-sex marriage a questions mark, GOP proposes civil unions instead

St. Paul, MN – (AP) A bill enabling same-sex marriage remains a question mark, both in timing and prospects. The legislation awaits floor votes in the House and Senate, but won't be advanced until lawmakers get further in their budget deliberations. Don't count on a vote if sufficient support for the measure isn't there. The House is where most uncertainty lies because several Democrats are from districts where approvinggay marriage would be politically dicey. It's unclear how many Republicans will buck the prevailing party view against gay marriage. The bill, which follows the defeat of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, would make gay marriage legal beginning this summer. Dayton supports the bill.

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Colorado: Boulder County gears up for same sex civil unions 

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Boulder County expects as many as 20 same-sex couples in line for civil union licenses at midnight when a new Colorado law takes effect on May 1.

Boulder County clerk spokesman Brad Turner said Wednesday the office will be open from midnight to 2 a.m. for those who want licenses.

According to the Boulder Daily Camera (http://tinyurl.com/c4gaedz ), Boulder County is the second county in the state to announce plans to open at midnight. Denver had already done so.

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Arizona: Tempe council to hear legal advice on civil unions 

PHOENIX (AP) — Another Arizona city may consider whether to approve civil unionsthat could include same-sex couples.

The Tempe City Council plans late Thursday to meet behind closed doors to get legal advice on civil unions.

The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/10dweaO ) reports that Councilman Kolby Granville requested the executive-session discussion and plans to ask for council action on civilunions in coming weeks.

Granville says it's an issue of civil rights and that civil unions would be the next best thing to same-sex marriage..

The Tempe council's scheduled discussion comes after the Bisbee City Council approved an ordinance for civil unions Tuesday night.

Attorney General Tom Horne has said he will go to court to block Bisbee's new ordinance. Horne contends the Bisbee council acted outside its legal authority because state laws control things such as community property.

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France: France's senate takes up gay marriage debate 

PARIS (AP) — France's upper house of parliament has begun debating a bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children, weeks after the divisive reform was passed in the lower house.

The senate debate is scheduled to last until April 13. Last month the National Assembly approved the measure, putting France on track to join about a dozen mostly European nations that allow gay marriage. Both houses are dominated by President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.

Opponents of the reform organized protests outside the senate building near Paris' Luxembourg Gardens.

Polls indicate a narrow majority of French support legalizing gay marriage, though that support falls when questions about the adoption and conception of children come into play.

Compiled from AP dispatches. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.