Tag Archives: gay rights

Annise Parker’s journey

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reviews how Mayor Parker went from activist for the LGBT community to Mayor on the occasion of her wedding. The country’s first openly gay mayor became the country’s first openly gay married mayor this week. A wedding wouldn’t … Continue reading →

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Oklahoma!

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Where the same sex marriages come whistling down the plains. U.S. Senior District Judge Terence Kern ruled Tuesday that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. The ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning marriages will not occur immediately in Oklahoma. … Continue reading →

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Utah will not recognize same sex marriages

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Not until they are forced to. Utah Gov. Gary Herbertannounced Wednesday that the state will not recognize the 1,000-plus same-sex marriages performed in the state since Dec. 20, when a U.S. district judge ruled that the state’s ban on gay … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS halts same sex marriages in Utah, for now

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday put same-sex marriages in Utah on hold, granting the state’s request for a stay while it appeals a ruling that laws banning such marriages are unconstitutional. The court said the stay would be … Continue reading →

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It’s now officially OK to be gay in the Boy Scouts

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Progress. Slow and incremental, but progress nonetheless. The Boy Scouts of America will accept openly gay youths starting on New Year’s Day, a historic change that has prompted the BSA to ponder a host of potential complications — ranging from … Continue reading →

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A brief history of gay marriage legislation in Texas

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From TM Daily Post. Gay marriage supporters have made massive strides in a very short amount of time. Less than ten years ago, gay couples couldn’t get married anywhere in the United States. While the progress they did achieve shortly … Continue reading →

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City benefits for same sex spouses back on

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

For now, at least. A federal judge ruled Thursday that same-sex couples legally married in other states can keep health and life insurance benefits that were extended to spouses of city of Houston employees in November. […] [Noel] Freeman’s husband’s … Continue reading →

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Utah appeals to SCOTUS

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This was inevitable. Utah took its fight against gay marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to suspend same-sex unions that became legal when a judge struck down the state’s voter-approved ban. The heavily Mormon … Continue reading →

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City moves anti-same sex spouse benefits lawsuit to federal court

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Mayor Annise Parker and the city of Houston have moved a lawsuit challenging same-sex benefits out of Republican Judge Lisa Millard’s court after she allegedly halted the benefits without giving the city proper notice. City Attorney David Feldman filed … Continue reading →

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Lambda Legal sues Houston over same sex spouse benefits

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t see this coming. Lambda Legal [Thursday] filed a federal lawsuit against Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston seeking to preserve spousal benefits, including health insurance, covering the same-sex spouses of city employees. The lawsuit was … Continue reading →

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A lot more court action on same sex marriage is coming

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

One way or another, 2014 is going to be a milestone year for marriage equality. Advocates on both sides of the gay marriage debate predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that overturned part of a federal ban … Continue reading →

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Another court says No to Utah

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

And Yes to the hundreds of couples getting married. A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that gay marriages can continue in Utah, denying a request from the state to halt same-sex weddings that have been occurring at a rapid rate … Continue reading →

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Keep getting married, Utah

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You have at least a few more days till the next court ruling. A federal judge on Monday allowed gay marriage to continue in Utah, rejecting a request to put same-sex weddings on hold as the state appeals a decision … Continue reading →

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They’ll be getting married in Utah today

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For at least an hour today, county clerks in Utah will be issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert filed seeking an Emergency Motion for Temporary Stay following a federal judge’s ruling that struck down … Continue reading →

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If it can happen in Utah…

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Just, wow. A federal judge struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban Friday in a decision that marks a drastic shift toward gay marriage in a conservative state where the Mormon church has long been against it. The decision set … Continue reading →

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More on the local GOP’s lawsuit against same sex spouse insurance benefits

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Family Court? What’s up with that? City Attorney Dave Feldman said Wednesday that the city of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker were not given notice before a family district court judge halted a recent policy change extending health and life … Continue reading →

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Harris County GOP sues over same sex spouse benefits for city employees

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

When Mayor Parker announced that legally married same sex spouses would be eligible to be added to city employees’ health insurance plans, I was certain that there would be legal action taken against that decision. The Harris County GOP has … Continue reading →

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Hearing set for gay marriage lawsuit

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. A San Antonio judge Tuesday scheduled a hearing in February to consider temporarily blocking Texas’ same-sex marriage ban. […] Federal District Judge Orlando Garcia set the Texas hearing for February 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the John … Continue reading →

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Same-sex divorce in other states

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas isn’t the only state where this is playing out. Lauren Beth Czekala-Chatham wants to force Mississippi, one of the America’s most conservative states, to recognize her same-sex marriage. She hopes to do so by getting a divorce. She and … Continue reading →

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Will Texas wind up advancing the cause of same sex marriage?

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not voluntarily, of course, but it could happen. One couple wants to get married, while the other just wants theirs recognized. A third couple wants a divorce, while the fourth wants theirs finalized. If all win their lawsuits, they could … Continue reading →

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Same sex couples win the right to register for benefits in the Texas National Guard

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. The Texas National Guard said late Tuesday it will immediately let same-sex couples register for benefits, ending a highly publicized standoff with the Pentagon. Five Texas Guard facilities, including one in Houston, that had been off limits … Continue reading →

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More on the jail’s new non-discrimination policy

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the new non-discrimination policy that was implemented at the Harris County Jail. Crafted in the last 16 months with input from local and national LGBT community leaders and groups, it strictly prohibits “discrimination or harassment … Continue reading →

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Mayor Parker announces same sex spousal benefits for city employees

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker had been talking recently about a more comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for Houston and possibly revisiting the 2001 charter amendment that forbids the city from offering domestic partner benefits. I knew something would be coming, but I didn’t expect … Continue reading →

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Wendy Davis needs to push back on Texas’ refusal to comply with the law on military same-sex benefits

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The sooner the better. This is a no-brainer, and a win all around. Texas Gov. Rick Perry stood his ground [last] Friday in a showdown with the Pentagon over processing benefits for same-sex couples at National Guard offices, possibly setting … Continue reading →

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The jail’s new non-discrimination policy

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure why I haven’t seen this story in the Chronicle. The sheriff of Houston’s Harris County has adopted a sweeping policy designed to protect and guarantee equal treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inmates, including allowing transgender individuals … Continue reading →

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The states that are making life harder for their National Guard members

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just Texas. While a majority of states ban same-sex marriages, most are not fighting the new policy. But Pentagon officials say that in addition to Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia have balked. Each has cited … Continue reading →

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Texas Supreme Court hears gay divorce case

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a slam dunk to me, but who knows what our Supreme Court will do. Two same-sex couples who were legally married in Massachusetts urged the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow them to get divorced in Texas. … Continue reading →

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Second lawsuit filed against Texas Double Secret Illegal Anti-Gay Marriage amendment

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From San Antonio. A federal lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of gay couples challenges the state’s constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage and seeks to bar Texas officials from enforcing it. “In Texas, Plaintiffs cannot legally marry their partner before family, … Continue reading →

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Hagel tells Texas National Guard to obey the law

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel late Thursday rebuked Texas and eight other states whose National Guard organizations have refused to process federal benefits given to same-sex couples. In a speech before the Anti-Defamation League in New York, Hagel revealed that … Continue reading →

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Ben Hall comes out against LGBT rights

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I can honestly say I’m not surprised by this. Mayoral candidate Ben Hall spoke to KUHF this morning and (finally) spoke publicly regarding issues of equality for the LGBT community. Hall not only came out staunchly against introducing and implementing … Continue reading →

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No repeal petition for San Antonio non-discrimination ordinance

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Opponents of San Antonio’s nondiscrimination ordinance spread the word at churches and parks about their petition drive to place the policy on a citywide ballot. A few hours before Tuesday’s deadline, they informed city officials that effort had fallen … Continue reading →

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Another reason why marriage equality matters

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This was bad. A graduate anthropology student, the wife of an active duty Air Force captain, said the University of Texas at San Antonio denied her an in-state tuition waiver — a decision she thinks came about because she’s married … Continue reading →

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Bishop Gene Robinson coming to Houston

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: For Immediate Release September 20, 2013 Contact: Houston Americans United Toni Medellin 832.868.4586 FIRST OPENLY GAY EPISCOPAL BISHOP TO ADDRESS HOUSTON CHAPTER OF AMERICANS UNITED  Bishop Gene Robinson Will Weigh In On Religious Liberty, Tolerance At Meeting … Continue reading →

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AG won’t sue over San Antonio non-discrimination ordinance

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mighty decent of him. Citing a late change in the nondiscrimination ordinance that San Antonio recently passed, a spokesman for the Texas attorney general’s office said the state is now unlikely to file suit. A clause that disallowed appointed city … Continue reading →

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