Policy and Legal Update - October 21-27, 2013
Marriage Equality USA Projects Manager Ned Flaherty closely monitors marriage equality polls, ballots, laws, and lawsuits nationwide, and keeps the MEUSA website updated with changes in these areas on a near-daily basis. Every Monday we update you via our blog with policy and legal updates covering the preceding week.
You may always find the most up-to-date information, including changes that have taken place between these weekly posts, on the Current Policy & Legal Status page on the MEUSA website.
Send questions and comments to: [email protected].
Policy & Legal Updates
October 21 – 27, 2013NATIONAL MAP
NATIONAL POLLS
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On 24 October 2013, Harris Interactive surveyed 2,577 adults (representatively chosen by age, sex, race, education, region, income) regarding public attitudes toward LGBT people, and regarding marriage equality 67% say it’s inevitable (34% strongly, 34% somewhat), 25% say it isn’t (11% somewhat, 14% strongly), and 8% declined to answer. • Survey Details
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
LAWSUITS
NEW JERSEY • On 21 October 2013, in Garden State Equality, et al. v. NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, et al., Governor Christie withdrew his appeal of the Superior Court decision to start issuing same-gender civil marriage licenses, and in doing so he removed the last possible obstacle to marriage equality in NJ. • MEUSA Summary • News Source TENNESSEE • On 21 October 2013, in Valerica Tanco, et al. v. TN Governor William Haslam, et al.,four legally married same-gender couples filed suit in U.S. District Court in Nashville, in a constitutional challenge to the TN law that bans recognition of their marriages. • MEUSA Summary • News Source OHIO • On 22 October 2013, in Jim Obergefell & John Arthur v. Ohio, John Arthur passed away, after he and husband Jim Obergefell flew to Maryland, married, and then won a temporary order from a federal judge which forced OH to recognize their out-of-state marriage on Mr. Arthur’s death certificate. • MEUSA Summary • News Source WEST VIRGINIA • On 23 October 2013, in Casie Jo McGee, et al. v. Cabell County Clerk Karen Cole, et al., a challenge to the state law that bans marriage equality, the U.S. District court gave clerks from Kanawha and Cabell counties up to 60 extra days to respond to the suit, so that WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey can decide whether to intervene. • MEUSA Summary • News Source WISCONSIN • On 23 September 2012, in Julaine Appling, et al., v. WI Governor Scott Walker, et al., 7 WI Supreme Court justices heard arguments, considered altering the existing domestic partner law, and adjourned without a decision, which is expected by summer 2014. • MEUSA Summary • News Source HAWAII • On 25 October 2013, 12 of the first 15 states with marriage equality (CA, CT, DC, DE, IA, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, VT, WA) plus IL, NM, and OR filed a brief urging the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down gay marriage bans in HI and NV. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEVADA • On 25 October 2013, 12 of the first 15 states with marriage equality (CA, CT, DC, DE, IA, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, VT, WA) plus IL, NM, and OR filed a brief urging the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down gay marriage bans in HI and NV. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSTATE LEGISLATION & POLLS
ILLINOIS • On 21 October 2013, Fako & Associates surveyed registered likely IL voters on marriage equality, and reported that 52% support it, including 66% of Roman Catholics, 55% of African Americans, and 63% of Latinos. • MEUSA Summary • News Source HAWAII • On 21 October 2013, the Honolulu Civil Beat newspaper surveyed 819 registered HI voters on same-gender civil marriage, and reported that 44% support it, 44% oppose it, and 12% are undecided. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEW JERSEY • Even after the NJ Supreme Court decided to authorize same-gender civil marriages, NJ lawmakers still might revise statutes regarding: (1) conversion of civil unions into marriages; (2) facility rentals from religious organizations; and (3) recognizing out-of-state marriages in NJ. • MEUSA Summary • News Source OKLAHOMA • On 10 October 2013, the combined Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of western Oklahoma issued their first same-gender civil marriage license to Jason Pickel and Darren Black Bear. In 2004, such marriages were banned by statute and by constitution in the rest of OK. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEW JERSEY • On 21 October 2013, Rutgers-Eagleton surveyed 799 registered NJ voters regarding marriage equality, and reported that 61% support it, 27% oppose it, and 12% are unsure. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSTATE BALLOTS & POLLS
IOWA • On 24 October 2013, the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, National Institute on Money in Politics, and Justice at Stake reported that activists spent $833,000 ($466,000 anti-LGBT + $367,000 pro-LGBT) to persuade voters whether to retain an Iowa Supreme Court judge who in 2009 ruled in favor of same-gender civil marriage. On 6 November 2012, voters retained Justice Wiggins by a 55%-to-45% margin. • MEUSA Summary • News Source OREGON • On 6 November 2013, San Francico non-profit leader Mike Marshall takes over leadership of Oregon United for Marriage. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSend questions and comments to: [email protected].
Policy and Legal Update - October 7-13, 2013
Marriage Equality USA Projects Manager Ned Flaherty closely monitors marriage equality polls, ballots, laws, and lawsuits nationwide, and keeps the MEUSA website updated with changes in these areas on a near-daily basis. Every Monday we update you via our blog with policy and legal updates covering the preceding week.
You may always find the most up-to-date information, including changes that have taken place between these weekly posts, on the Current Policy & Legal Status page on the MEUSA website.
Send questions and comments to: [email protected].
Policy & Legal Updates
October 7 – 13, 2013NATIONAL MAP
NATIONAL POLLS
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
LAWSUITS
PENNSYLVANIA • On 7 October 2013, in Deb & Susan Whitewood v. PA Governor Tom Corbett et al., a federal lawsuit challenging the 1996 PA law that bans same-gender marriage for residents, and that ignores out-of-state same-gender marriages, the governor, chief legal officer, and health secretary asked to be released as defendants, and lawyers for PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane argued that she also should not be a defendant, which would leave only two county officials as defendants. • MEUSA Summary • News Source IOWA • On 7 October 2013, in Betty Ann & Richard Odgaard v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission et al., two bistro owners (the Odgaards) sued IA, claiming that: (1) their religious beliefs compel them to discriminate against same-gender couples, (2) the IA anti-discrimination law violates their religious beliefs by outlawing discrimination, and (3) their bistro business qualifies as a religious institution. • MEUSA Summary • News Source ILLINOIS • On 8 October 2013, in Darby v. Orr, opponents of marriage equality challenged the county judge’s decision (to allow the case to proceed) by appealing to a higher court, where arguments are scheduled to be heard on 14 November 2013. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEW JERSEY • On 10 October 2013, in Garden State Equality, et al. v. NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, et al., Justice Jacobson denied NJ’s request to delay same-gender civil marriages (scheduled to start on 21 October 2013) until Governor Christie’s appeal is concluded in 2014. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEW JERSEY • On 11 October 2013, in Garden State Equality, et al. v. NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, et al., the NJ Supreme Court announced it will rule on: (1) marriage equality, and (2) the 21 October start date for same-gender civil marriage licenses. Plaintiffs have until 15 October to file objections. • MEUSA Summary • News Source UTAH • On 11 October 2013, in Kitchen, et al. v. Utah Attorney General John Swallow, et al., UT Governor Herbert requested a summary judgment favoring the state, and argued that: (1) marriage is not a right; (2) states can exclude some citizens from marriage; (3) “responsible procreation” is a reason to exclude same-gender couples, and (4) raising children with mixed-gender parents is better. Plaintiffs also requested a summary judgment in their favor, and argued that UT’s constitutional ban restricts rights and liberties. The court will hear both of these motions on 4 December 2013. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSTATE LEGISLATION & POLLS
WASHINGTON • On 4 October 2013, the WA Judicial Conduct Commission firmly reprimanded Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor for refusing to perform civil wedding ceremonies for same-gender couples for what he said were “philosophical and religious reasons.” WA law prohibits such discrimination, so Judge Tabor no longer performs weddings for anyone. • MEUSA Summary • News Source TEXAS • On 8 October 2013, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board voted 9-3 to adopt a domestic partner employee benefits plan. • MEUSA Summary • News Source NEW JERSEY • On 8 October 2013, Fairleigh Dickinson University surveyed 702 registered voters, and reported that 62% support the NJ court’s ruling in favor of same-gender civil marriage, 30% oppose it, and 8% don’t know or refused to answer. Also, 62% oppose NJ’s appeal of the court’s ruling, 29% support it, and 9% don’t know or refused to answer. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSTATE BALLOTS & POLLS
ARKANSAS • On 7 October 2013, AR Attorney Genderal Dustin McDaniel rejected the wording of two ballot measures to legalize same-gender civil marriage, after approving a third ballot measure to repeal the 2004 constitutional ban on same-gender marriage. • MEUSA Summary • News Source INDIANA • On 9 October 2013, the anti-LGBT Indiana Family Institute surveyed 504 likely IN voters, and reported that 62% support a constitutional ban on same-gender civil marriage, 33% oppose a ban, and 6% are undecided. • MEUSA Summary • News SourceSend questions and comments to: [email protected].