news

Major victory for Yanks

Court rules gay marriage ban unconstitutional

SAN FRANSISCO, CALIF–A ban on same-sex marriages in California has been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge, marking a major turning point in a controversial debate that has divided America. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker handed gay rights advocates a critical victory after a 13-day hearing. He also ordered that the ban, approved by the voters and known as Proposition 8, should be lifted Aug. 18, allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry while the case moves to a higher court for appeal. His ruling was greeted by cheers from some 70 same-sex marriage supporters outside the courthouse in San Francisco as they waved U.S. flags and a large rainbow-striped flag – the symbol of the gay rights movement. The ban was passed with 52 per cent of the vote after the ballot was sponsored by the group Protect Marriage in what has been classed the most expensive political campaign on a social issue in U.S. history. The case will go to appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and thereafter, possibly to the Supreme Court.

Ireland gets it half right

Civil partnerships now legal, but what about the kids?

DUBLIN, IRELAND–Seventeen years after Ireland decriminalized homosexuality, Irish politicians have passed a bill granting gay and lesbian couples the right to civil partnerships. Kieran Rose, chair of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, called it a "major civil rights reform and a great achievement for Irish society". But he said a continuing area of concern is the absence in the bill of support and recognition of the many children being parented by same-sex couples. "This critical omission will have to be addressed," he warned. The new bill will cover areas such as protection of the couple's shared home, domestic violence, residential tenancies, succession, refugee law, pensions, taxation, social welfare and immigration. It's expected to become law this fall.

Hawaiian governor nixes equal rights

despite passage of bill by both houses

HAWAII–Six Hawaiian couples have filed a lawsuit against the state demanding full equality. In July, governor Linda Lingle vetoed a civil partnerships bill after comparing it to condoning incest. The lawsuit asks the state to grant full equality, including the rights and benefits enjoyed by straight married couples. Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union are supporting the case and believe that Hawaii's constitutional anti-discrimination provisions mean it must give equal rights to gays and lesbians. The vetoed bill had passed both houses and would have recognized both straight and gay couples in partnerships, giving them all the rights of marriage.

London mayor supports gay marriage

Highest ranking Tory to offer support

LONDON, ENGLAND–Mayor of London Boris Johnson has told the paper Pink News that he supports gay marriage and would like to be mayor again for Worldpride, which London will be hosting in 2012. Kicking off London's Pride parade with members of the Gay Liberation Front, Johnson said: "If the Conservatives and Liberals can get together in a national coalition and settle their differences, I don't see why you can't have gay marriage." Johnson is the highest-ranking Tory figure yet to support full marriage equality.

Argentina leads way in South America

First to grant marriage rights

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA–Argentina  has become the first country in Latin America to permit gay marriage after President Cristina Fernandez signed the law into effect in late July. The legislation was passed by both houses of Congress despite fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church. Jose Luis Navarro, 54, and Miguel Angel Calefato, 65, are the first same-sex couple to wed under the new law. They married in Santiago del Estero in an early morning ceremony. A civil registry official crossed out "man and woman" on the marriage license and wrote in "contracting parties."

India gets its first online gay bookstore

Customs officials stuck in the past

DELHI, INDIA–A lesbian has opened India's first online gay bookstore. Queer Ink, run by Shobhna Kumar, is based in Malad and will sell around 200 titles ranging from novels and academic texts to children's books. Kumar, who works helping the city's gay community, told the Hindustan Times: "I had a selfish reason for starting this, as I could not get access to these books. And Amazon would not deliver them. I think they wouldn't get through customs as they offend Indian sensibilities." The website will also have a section for people to submit their own writings. Its launch came just before the anniversary of the High Court of Delhi's landmark judgment decriminalising gay sex between consenting adults.

–Peter Carlyle-Gordge is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer, former producer for CBC and former Maclean's writer. To comment on this or any other article in Outwords, write to letters@outwords.ca