The Marriage Law Project at The Catholic University of America

TOP6NEWS - September 24, 2004

1-NEWS: Nova Scotia allows ssm

2-NEWS: OK Supreme Court allows m amendment to stay on ballot

3-NEWS: ND AG says amendment unclear

4-NEWS: Sex and the City actress in lesbian relationship

5-OP-ED: C. Crain: Pinning Kerry down on ssm

6-OP-ED: S. Parker: M, amendments, and the African-American community

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1-NEWS: Nova Scotia allows ssm

Nova Scotia allows same-sex marriages
CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Artic
le_Type1&c=Article&cid=1096022423212&call_pageid=968332188492&col=9687058990
37
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia became the sixth province or territory to allow
same-sex marriages when the province's Supreme Court ruled today that
banning such unions is unconstitutional.
In August, three couples asked Justice Heather Robertson to rule on the
contentious subject, and whether or not same-sex couples who have married
outside Nova Scotia should have their status recognized in the province.
Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, the Yukon, and Manitoba also allow
same-sex marriages.
Robertson ruled that the definition of marriage in Nova Scotia for civil
purposes will now be "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of
all others."

...

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2-NEWS: OK Supreme Court allows m amendment to stay on ballot

OK, September 23, 2004 Supreme Court lets stand gay marriage referendum By
RON JENKINS, Associated Press Writer
http://www.tulsaworld.com/BreakingNewsStory.asp?ID=040923_Br_23gaymar
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Thursday let stand a
referendum to ban gay marriage that is scheduled for the Nov. 2 general
election ballot.
In a one-sentence order signed by Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt, the court
refused to assume jurisdiction in the case.
That means State Question 711, which put a ban on same-sex marriages in the
Oklahoma Constitution will remain on the ballot.
At a hearing earlier this month, an attorney for the American Civil
Liberties Union argued the proposal is vague and discriminatory.
Attorneys for the state argued that Oklahomans should be allowed to vote on
the issue because the Supreme Court has never recognized the right of
same-sex couples to marry.

...

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3-NEWS: ND AG says amendment unclear

Stenehjem says part of proposed marriage amendment unclear Associated Press
Published Thursday, September 23, 2004
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=70645&section=News
BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota's proposed marriage amendment to the state
constitution is unclear about whether it affects job benefits for unmarried
couples, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says.
A spokeswoman for supporters of the amendment said Thursday the change would
not bar companies from giving benefits to anyone. It is a "smokescreen" to
suggest that it would, said Christina Kindel, director of the North Dakota
Family Alliance.
The amendment, which is on North Dakota's Nov. 2 general election ballot,
limits marriage rights to man-woman couples. Its second sentence says: "No
other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage,
or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect."
...

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4-NEWS: Sex and the City actress in lesbian relationship

'Miranda' switches
sides BY GEORGE RUSH, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kr/20040924/lo_krnewyork/mira
ndaswitchessides
Cynthia Nixon is trying a different kind of sex in the city, the Daily News
has learned.
For almost 10 months now, the Emmy-winning actress has been dating another
woman, sources say.
Back in June of 2003, Nixon split with Danny Mozes, the father of her two
children. Last January, according to friends, she began a lesbian
relationship.
Right now, Nixon, 38, does not want to be as outspoken as Rosie O'Donnell,
the sources say.
But Nixon did not flinch when we asked her yesterday whether she is involved
with another woman.
Speaking exclusively with the Daily News, she said, "My private life is
private. But at the same time, I have nothing to hide. So what I will say is
that I am very happy."
Word is that Nixon's partner is not in show business.
"She's just a private citizen who would like to remain private," says a
friend.
...

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5-OP-ED: C. Crain: Pinning Kerry down on ssm

Theres a reason why voters are worrying that Kerry cant be relied upon on
important issues. From Iraq to marriage, he wont stand still.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Chris Crain, WashBlade
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2004/9-24/view/editorial/pinning.cfm
IF YOU WANT to know why John Kerry has struggled in the polls, then look no
further than the issue of gay marriage.
The push for marriage equality and the resulting conservative backlash may
not have risen yet to the top tier of issues in the presidential race,
though both parties have used it to galvanize core supporters.
But John Kerrys inability to take a clear, principled position on marriage
is depressingly symptomatic of his more famous flip-flops on the war in
Iraq.
Kerry has complained loudly that Bush is misrepresenting his view, but the
Democrat has supplied more than enough ammunition. This disturbing tendency
to blow with the political winds is nowhere as pronounced in Kerrys
meandering, contradictory and even hypocritical positions on gay marriage.
SUMMARIZING KERRYS POSITION on marriage isnt easy because as with Iraq and
any number of other issues, the twists and turns are enough to make a policy
wonk reach for the aspirin.
Kerry spoke out against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and was one of
only 14 senators who voted against the measure, and was the only one up for
re-election. He says he did so because the measure represented gay bashing
on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
...

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6-OP-ED: S. Parker: M, amendments, and the African-American community

An
amendment to stop moral decay By STAR PARKER Scripps Howard News Service
24-SEP-04
http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=PARKER-09-24-04
Several weeks ago, black pastors from around the nation, under the
sponsorship of my organization, CURE, gathered for a press conference at the
Lincoln Memorial in Washington to express support for President Bush's
proposal for a constitutional marriage amendment. The amendment would define
marriage as between a man and a woman.
The date and place for the event were selected to mark the 41st anniversary
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The congregations
of the pastors who participated in this event have a combined total of well
over 40,000 members.
The gay marriage issue has struck a nerve in the black community and may
well mark the beginning of a sea change in black voting behavior. Pastors
who have voted Democratic all their lives have told me and others that this
issue has lead them out of the Democratic Party.
A CBS/NY Times poll on the marriage amendment done last March shows blacks
more aligned with Republicans than with Democrats. The poll showed 59
percent overall in favor of the marriage amendment. However,
77 percent of Republicans, 52 percent of Democrats, and 67 percent of
African Americans were in favor.

...

Blacks have been struggling for freedom for hundreds of years. This chapter
of our struggle must be defined by restoring traditional values and personal
responsibility in our communities.