Slap Upside The Head » United States

Washington Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Mark — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:59:54 +0000

Equal rights are sweeping through the States like a tsunami of gay! The Washington state House passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage today, following last week’s passage by the state senate. All that’s left now is for the governor to sign the bill into law, which he is expected to do as early as next week. Wow! At this rate, you guys will have entered this century in no time!

Proposition 8 Ruled Unconstitutional By Appeals Court

Mark — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:45 +0000

Great news for all our friends in the States! The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling today declaring that California’s Proposition 8 (which banned same-sex marriage in the state) is unconstitutional! I wonder if opponents of marriage equality will now finally give up and admit they’re on the wrong side of history, or if they’ll carry onward and magnify their already-secured historical humiliation. (Actually, somehow I already know the answer.) At any rate, congratulations to all my friends to the south on this important win!

Washington Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Mark — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:55:53 +0000

Great news for our friends in Washington, today! A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was passed by the state Senate this morning. The bill, which was voted in 28 to 21 against now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass.

Battle of Service

Mark — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:38:20 +0000

While legislators in New Hampshire consider a bill that would make it legal for business owners in the public sector to deny services to any gay person getting married, an owner of an upscale bistro in Tennessee is doing almost the opposite—refusing service to homophobic lawmakers. (Ah, the sting of their own discrimination… Think it’ll change any minds?)

Washington May Be Next State To Get Equal Marriage Rights

Mark — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:42 +0000

Chris Gregoire, the governor of Washington, has announced her support of full, equal marriage rights in the state.

Already opponents are mobilizing to prevent the equal recognition of same-sex relationships. State senator Dan Swecker, a Republican, implied that any such legislation would be irresponsible. “It’s too bad we’d try to deal with this issue, that tends to be very divisive, in a year when we have these other major financial issues facing us,” he said.

Gee, Mr. Swecker must be pretty awful at multitasking.

Also, who says this has to be some kind of tiresome debate that needs to be “dealt with” as if it’s any kind of interruption to business as usual? Frankly, from the perspective of a Canadian, it seems outright silly that this still a major, divisive issue in the “land of the free.” The issue has been debated to death multiple times over across the globe. The trend toward equality among developed nations is not only clear and inevitable, but also demonstrably lacking in any undesirable consequences that people like Mr. Swecker insist upon. Just give gay couples their deserved, equal rights and move on already.

So, thank you Madame Gregoire. It’s about time!

Washington state governor Gregoire proposes legislation to legalize gay marriage [Vancouver Sun]

Legal Same-Sex Marriage Improves Health

Mark — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:06 +0000

As if common sense weren’t enough reason to give full, equal marriage rights to same-sex couples, a study out of Columbia University has provided some extra support.

Legal same-sex marriage, according to researchers, reduces the number of medical visits among gay and bisexual men by 13 percent, further reducing health care costs by 14 percent.

Mark Hatzenbuehler, the lead researcher on the study, said that legal equality likely results in health benefits due to a reduction of stress-related issues, both mental and physical. (Living in a committed relationship where someone you love is keeping an eye on your health and safety probably doesn’t hurt either.)

So, if I understand how medical statistical methodology works, allow me to summarize: Since we can marry, gay men in Canada are 13 percent more likely to survive after licking a subway seat. And that’s good to know.

The study was published last week in the American Journal of Public Health, and tracked over 1,200 patients in a Massachusetts health care clinic.

Same-sex laws reduce stress, medical visits [CBC News]