New York approves same-sex marriage

[Iamrobot85]

When I first tried to cross the border I was honest about my intention to cross the border into Canada and marry my then fiance in Canada and fill out an inland application for permanent residence. Well, as it turns out this was a mistake and I was denied entry. Well as a result, my husband and I were forced to elope to Iowa (at the time, that was the closest state that did not have residency requirements for a marriage license AND issued them to same-sex couples.) We never wanted a big wedding but we did at least want our families to be there and because of immigration and laws against same-sex marriage, this was very difficult.

I am very glad that New York finally legalized same-sex marriage. Now I truly do believe that it will only be a matter of time before US federally recognizes same-sex marriage and, should we decide to take that route, my husband will be able to immigrate to the US.

I don't think a lot of people realize how laws against same-sex marriage effect things like immigration, because of legal restrictions, my husband and I were restricted to where and how we could get married and it made the process infinitely harder than it would have been for a straight couple in the same position. (In fact, when I was denied entry at the border, there was a straight couple under similar circumstances except they had ALREADY married, and they were NOT refused entry. It's enough to make you militant.)

Anyway, that's my two cents.

 

[CrazyLucy]

Very happy for you and your partner. Everyone deserves the right to be with the one they love. I love my LGBT community. It is a happy day for you. :-*

 

[Kedeisha]

so happy for u ;D

 

[spicymum]

Just watching this on TV. Interesting.

 

[aerogurl87]

I'm happy for you, but I don't think that same-sex marriages will ever be instituted nationwide in the US. Especially considering the attitude in the south toward gay marriage. Maybe in a few decades, but not anytime soon.

 

[mrswolfe]

I'm happy for you, but I don't think that same-sex marriages will ever be instituted nationwide in the US. Especially considering the attitude in the south toward gay marriage. Maybe in a few decades, but not anytime soon.

Sometime a few years ago, I read an article about a judge somewhere in Louisiana who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. This was less than 3 years ago. And yet marriage between interracial couples is legal, and almost unfathomable to think it would ever be illegal or that someone would DENY a couple the right to marry based on their skin color and heritage. There will always be someone who disagrees, but I believe those people will be making an ass of themselves, as this judge so obviously did.

I'm a community organizer and I do work primarily with LGBT human rights and disagree with the sentiment that it will never be instituted nationwide. I remember being in primary school - I am in my mid-20's - and hearing someone say the US would never have a non-white president, or a female president.

I think these stereotypes are continually being proven wrong, despite constant barriers and naysayers.

I know the US will have gay marriage. My bet is within the next decade it WILL happen. First step, repeal DOMA laws nationally. Second step, enforce full faith and credit. Third step, pass more state by state marriage acts. Then we can move on to more important things, like passing legislation including perceived gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes.

(Mrs.Wolfe#1 and I got married at Peace Arch so friends from both side of the border could attend. I know many organizers in NY right now who are beyond thrilled)

-Mrs.Wolfe#2

 

[aerogurl87]

Sometime a few years ago, I read an article about a judge somewhere in Louisiana who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. This was less than 3 years ago. And yet marriage between interracial couples is legal, and almost unfathomable to think it would ever be illegal or that someone would DENY a couple the right to marry based on their skin color and heritage. There will always be someone who disagrees, but I believe those people will be making an ass of themselves, as this judge so obviously did.

I'm a community organizer and I do work primarily with LGBT human rights and disagree with the sentiment that it will never be instituted nationwide. I remember being in primary school - I am in my mid-20's - and hearing someone say the US would never have a non-white president, or a female president.

I think these stereotypes are continually being proven wrong, despite constant barriers and naysayers.

I know the US will have gay marriage. My bet is within the next decade it WILL happen. First step, repeal DOMA laws nationally. Second step, enforce full faith and credit. Third step, pass more state by state marriage acts. Then we can move on to more important things, like passing legislation including perceived gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes.

(Mrs.Wolfe#1 and I got married at Peace Arch so friends from both side of the border could attend. I know many organizers in NY right now who are beyond thrilled)

-Mrs.Wolfe#2

I think interracial marriage and homosexual marriage are two different things. For one, alot of people in the US feel that by allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry is an attack on their faith and the institution of marriage. I say this because I'm from the South and know of alot of people who feel that way. Will gay marriage in the US pass nationwide? Possibly, but it's going to take alot of effort and time to do so. I think most people in the US don't have a problem with gay and lesbian couples having the same legal rights as a married straight couple, but when you put the word "marriage" into the mix, that's when things get messy.

 

[mrswolfe]

Actually, historically speaking, people have felt the EXACT same about interracial couples - or people of color at all, especially black people - getting married at all. That it was against the bible. That it was sinful. That non white people are beneath white people, with evidence from the bible.

All bunk, for sure, but historical fact none the less.

 

[mittens]

as a brit, it never fails to amaze me how the US of A are so "backwards" in terms of equality...
i am delighted that this step forward has happened and am optimistic that in the not so distant future there will be equality for all, including a persons right to marry whoever they love regardless of gender.
my wife and i have been lucky, as both UK and canada have gay marriage, we were married earlier this yr in ontario...

peace love and equality for all!!!

 

[CrazyLucy]

Land of the free and home of the brave...and yet... USA is the last with the freedom and the bravery.

 

[aerogurl87]

Actually, historically speaking, people have felt the EXACT same about interracial couples - or people of color at all, especially black people - getting married at all. That it was against the bible. That it was sinful. That non white people are beneath white people, with evidence from the bible.

All bunk, for sure, but historical fact none the less.

Historically that is true, and look how long it took for black marriage and interracial marriages to come to fruitation in the US. That's all I'm saying. Now I'm happy that the US is taking a step forward in equality, but I also know from personal experience of being raised in the Southern US that it's gonna be awhile before the South catches up with the North and the entire country says gay marriage is fine. And my boyfriend and I still got stares from people when he came to visit me because I'm black and he's white. The South is just slow in progress, and because of that I think it will be awhile before gay marriage is instituted nationwide.

 

[Iamrobot85]

It's true that regarding human rights issues, the US is well behind the curve of the rest of the developed world. Ironically, we are the ones that make the loudest fuss about freedom and equality. And it is true that the South tends to be even more behind than the rest of the US, we usually have to bring the south kicking and screaming into the present, and maybe even fight a war over it (though I don't predict this happening over this particular issue)

HOWEVER, if Obama gets a second term (and maybe even in his first term), I predict DOMA will get repealed, and once DOMA is repealed and other states have to recognize gay marriage preformed in the states where it IS indeed legal, including those states where there are no residence requirements (you don't have to live in New York or Iowa to get married there) then the states will think, "well damn, they're gonna get married anyway, and we have to respect it, so we might as well let them do it here and keep all that lovely money in state borders." There will be some states that drag their heels and will wait years and years to do it, but it won't really matter because gay couples in that state will be able to dip over in the closest bordering state that allows gay marriage and swing on back.

And again, the New York senate was a majority Republican senate so the attitudes in the republican party towards this issue are changing, so we may not even really need a Democrat in office to get all of this done, but we shall see.

It's a domino effect, once it gets momentum, it will happen very quickly. I predict 5-10 years before DOMA is repealed and 90% of individual states recognize same-sex marriage and it is federally legal.

Historically that is true, and look how long it took for black marriage and interracial marriages to come to fruitation in the US. That's all I'm saying. Now I'm happy that the US is taking a step forward in equality, but I also know from personal experience of being raised in the Southern US that it's gonna be awhile before the South catches up with the North and the entire country says gay marriage is fine. And my boyfriend and I still got stares from people when he came to visit me because I'm black and he's white. The South is just slow in progress, and because of that I think it will be awhile before gay marriage is instituted nationwide.

 

[Iamrobot85]

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/06/28/ia.same.sex.couples.face.deport.cnn?&hpt=hp_c2


So sad