Open thread 11/19 w/ BREAKING UPDATE
November 19, 2018
This is an open thread. We’ll post any breaking news.
UPDATE: The Supreme Court is being asked to hear another case involving a school board’s policy on transgender students. The policy allows students to use the correct restroom for their gender identity. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sued and lost in the lower courts. Now they’re asking the Court to rule that the 1972 Education Amendments Act requires schools to have an anti-trans policy. The petition is here. The Court will already be considering whether to grant review in several cases involving employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
32 Comments
1.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Tamaulipas: Supreme Court Orders State Congress to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
Per LGBT Marriage News:
Despejan camino a matrimonio gay en Tamaulipas. El 16 de noviembre 2018, la declaratoria de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación establece un plazo de 180 días para que se genere el marco legal que permita matrimonios sin distinción de género.
La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN) inició la Declaratoria de Inconstitucionalidad del Artículo 124 del Código Civil para el Estado de Tamaulipas. Dicho procedimiento obligará al Congreso estatal a reformar el marco legal para reconocer el derecho del matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo.
El Primer Tribunal Colegiado en Materias Administrativa y Civil del Decimonoveno Circuito de Poder Judicial de la Federación (PJF) resolvió los amparos 531/2014, 361/2016, 339/2016, 179/2018, y 202/2018, cantidad necesaria para la declaratoria. Además, el pasado 11 de octubre, la misma instancia judicial dictó sentencia similar en los expedientes 197/2018 y 231/2018.
En más de cuatro años de trabajo, la organización ha ganado terreno en busca de la reforma a diversas leyes estatales. Al 15 de noviembre de 2018, el PJF ha amparado a 187 personas. El grupo en Tamaulipas ha interpuesto 3 juicios colectivos y 23 por parejas en el territorio tamaulipeco.
Más de diecinueve parejas han contraído matrimonio en la entidad. Información a octubre 2018 refiere que tres ocurrieron en la oficina del Registro Civil en Ciudad Madero, uno en Altamira, uno en Matamoros, dos en Nuevo Laredo, otro par en Reynosa, siete en Tampico, y tres en Ciudad Victoria.
http://elmanana.com.mx/noticia/179430/Despejan-ca…
The way is cleared for gay marriage in Tamaulipas. On 16 November 2018, the declaration by the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) establishes a period of 180 days for the generation of the legal framework to allow marriages without gender distinction.
The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) initiated the Declaration of Unconstitutionality of Article 124 of the Civil Code of the State of Tamaulipas. This procedure will force the State Congress to reform the legal framework to recognize the right of marriage between people of the same sex.
The First Collegiate Court in Administrative and Civil Matters of the Nineteenth Circuit of the Judicial Power of the Federation (PJF) favorably resolved amparos 531/2014, 361/2016, 339/2016, 179/2018, and 202/2018, the amount necessary for the declaration. In addition, on 11 October 2018, the same court issued similar judgments in the cases, 197/2018 and 231/2018.
In more than four years of work, the organization has gained ground in search of reform to various state laws. As of 15 November 2018, the PJF has protected 187 people via amparo. The group in Tamaulipas has filed 3 collective amparos and 23 for couples within the state of Tamaulipas.
At least nineteen couples have married in the state. Information to October 2018 states that three occurred in the Civil Registry office in Ciudad Madero, one in Altamira, one in Matamoros, two in Nuevo Laredo, another pair in Reynosa, seven in Tampico, and three in Ciudad Victoria.
2.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Tijuana: Regarding Same-Sex Marriages Among Caravan Members, 17 November 2018
Per Equality Case Files:
Unfortunately, these marriages don't appear to be legal, at least not if they were conducted as reported in the original article, which states: "Erick Dubon, from Honduras, and Pedro Nehemias, from Guatemala, were married this past Saturday in Tijuana. In addition, two other gay couples, three lesbian couples, two trans woman/cis man couples, and one straight couple from the caravan also got married. Three officiants from the Unitarian Universalist Church in California presided over the marriages."
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/11/14-lgbtq-coup…
Per Rex Wockner, explaining the correct, current method for same-sex couples to follow who wish to marry in Baja California (regardless of citizenship):
"Please be aware that preachers visiting Mexico from the US cannot conduct legal marriages in Mexico. Furthermore, religious marriages are not legally-recognized in Mexico, period.
"If one wants to be legally married in Baja California state, where Tijuana is located, one must visit the government Civil Registry office, undergo mandatory group pre-marital counseling, have one's paperwork in order, and then be married by a registry official.
"In addition, although several of Mexico's 31 states have full marriage equality, Baja California is not yet one of them. However, unlike most states without marriage equality, Baja California state bureaucrats have created a relatively simple work-around that involves filing a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission, and then waiting a short time for the HRC to instruct the local civil registry to go ahead and let the marriage proceed. For now, any same-sex couples wanting to marry in Baja California either need to follow this route, or the much more time-consuming and expensive route of obtaining an injunction (amparo) against the civil registry from a federal judge."
https://www.facebook.com/pg/EqualityCaseFiles/pos…
3.
Fortguy | November 19, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones has conceded to Republican Will Hurd in TX-23. Ortiz Jones sought to become Texas' first openly LGBT representative and Congress' first female Filipina representative. Hurd is a never-Trump Republican. The TX-23 was Texas' only swing district for most of the past decade until Hillary swung two more, successfully flipped by Democrats, this year.
Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune: Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones concedes in close congressional race against Will Hurd
4.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 3:25 pm
TX-23 Final Results
As of 19 November 2018, with TX-23 now having been narrowly decided in favor of the Republican incumbent, Will Hurd, over his Democratic challenger, Gina Ortiz Jones, the overall seat count in the US House stands at 232 for the Democrats, 199 for the Republicans, and 4 still undecided.
Will Hurd, Republican, 102,903, 49.2%
Gina Ortiz Jones, Democrat, 101,753, 48.7%
Ruben Corvalan, Libertarian, 4,402, 2.1%
209,058 votes, 100% reporting (342 of 342 precincts)
The 4 remaining undecided districts are split 2/2, as the lead in UT-4 has again switched back to the Democrat:
NY-22, D by 0.8%
UT-4, D by 0.2%
GA-7, R by 0.4%
NY-27, R by 0.9%
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us…
5.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 3:29 pm
El Salvador: Government Ministry to Implement Pro-LGBTI Policy
San Salvador, El Salvador — El Salvador’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security on 12 November 2018 launched a campaign that will implement an internal communications protocol on how to improve the way it responds to the LGBTI community’s needs. This effort, Hago Lo Justo, or “I Do What’s Right,” is part of the implementation of the policy and seeks to raise awareness of discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to make the aforementioned LGBTI policy known to ministry personnel and their subordinates.
https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/11/19/el-sal…
6.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 7:49 pm
US Virgin Islands: St. Croix Refinery Agreement
Per Kenneth Mapp, Governor of the USVI:
On Friday, 16 November 2018, Lt. Governor Potter and I joined officials from Limetree Terminals and British Petroleum to announce a definitive agreement to operate the refinery on St. Croix. Under the agreement, BP will provide crude oil to Limetree for refining to finished product.
This will be a huge boost to the Virgin Islands local economy and create many more job opportunities for Virgin Islanders. Well over 1,000 jobs will be produced by the project and the total capital investment of more than $1.5 billion dollars.
Note: I have received this notice directly from the governor, as sent to my personal e-mail account, and as a result, have chosen not to post a link to it.
Note: This refinery facility, the largest oil refinery complex in the Americas, was once known as Hovensa, and had been 50% owned by the Venezuelan government, that is, until Chavez chose to cut off its crude oil supply. After sitting idle for a number of years, the Virgin Islands government expropriated the entire property for failure to pay back taxes, after which they then auctioned off the facility to the highest bidder. The facility has yet to be re-started.
Mutually, the Virgin Islands and Venezuela continue to remain on each others' shit lists, without any connection or communication between the two whatsoever. Even Puerto Rico seems to be affected, as there are no flights San Juan-Caracas.
7.
Fortguy | November 19, 2018 at 10:45 pm
LGBT protections in the new trade deal the U.S. has negotiated with Canada and Mexico have prompted 40 GOP lawmakers to throw a shit fit in a letter sent to the White House.
Alexander Panetta and Lauren Gardner, Politico: House conservatives protest LGBT protection in Mexico-Canada trade deal
Meanwhile, Dems are upset that the pact needs more protections against pollution and climate change, higher labor standards including protections for independent unions, and assurances that jobs will return to the U.S. from Mexico. Trump hoped to sign the pact by the end of the month, but he needs 218 votes to get the agreement through the House. Otherwise, Trump faces the prospect of either leaving NAFTA in place, renegotiating with Canada and Mexico who may balk at further concessions, or pulling out of NAFTA with no deal in place.
Sabrina Rodriguez, Politico: Trump's Mexico-Canada deal hits trouble in Congress
It's looking like Trump, who promised to make "the best deals", has instead crafted a trade pact as ugly as Theresa May's Brexit deal with similar lack of support from both the left and the right.
8.
guitaristbl | November 20, 2018 at 7:02 am
This is a lame duck congress anyway and has no place ratifying anything. If Trump wants his deal to pass he should consult the incoming democratic house majority.
9.
VIRick | November 19, 2018 at 11:21 pm
Trump Restrictions on Asylum Blocked by Federal Judge
A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s new policy that bars asylum for those who cross into the country without authorization, the latest in a long line of legal defeats for the administration in its attempts to restrict immigration.
On Monday evening, 19 November 2018, Judge Jon Tigar ruled that the administration’s policy “irreconcilably conflicts with” the Immigration and Nationality Act, which states that anyone in the United States can apply for asylum, regardless of whether they arrived at a port of entry, and the “expressed intent” of Congress.
“Whatever the scope of the President’s authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,” said Tigar in a ruling that blocked the policy for one month.
The parties will next meet in federal court in San Francisco on 19 December as the judge decides whether to block the rule for a longer period of time with a preliminary injunction.
"This ban is illegal, will put people’s lives in danger, and raises the alarm about Trump’s disregard for separation of powers,” said Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the ACLU who argued the case in court earlier Monday. “There is no justifiable reason to flatly deny people the right to apply for asylum, and we cannot send them back to danger based on the manner of their entry. Congress has been clear on this point for decades."
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz…
10.
theperchybird | November 20, 2018 at 11:11 am
European countries, especially EU members, are filling the gaps in their lgbt protection laws lately. Several have gone back and added the T to existing legislation them in turn moving themselves up the European Rainbow Index.
"More legal protection on the way for the #trans community in #Sweden! The Swedish parliament took a decision on 14 November to include 'transgender identity and expression' into the #HateSpeech law, which will come into effect on 1 January 2019."
https://twitter.com/ILGAEurope/status/10649091707…
11.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 1:08 pm
DC Schools Allowing Students to Register as Non-Binary
In a little-noticed development, the DC public school system earlier this year adopted a policy that will allow parents to select the category of “non-binary” rather than male or female when asked on school enrollment forms to indicate their child’s gender. DC Public Schools spokesperson Shayne Wells said the school system’s interim chancellor, Amanda Alexander, finalized the policy over the summer as part of an annual effort initiated by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to streamline and update DC government forms.
The term “non-binary” is used to describe those who do not identify as male or female; the term is also sometimes used by transgender people. According to the "Washington Post," the Oregon Department of Education and the Minneapolis public schools appear to be the only other known school systems in the nation that have adopted a non-binary category on school enrollment forms.
https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/11/20/d-c-sc…
12.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 1:41 pm
New Hampshire: Two Trans Women Elected to State Legislature, Another in Colorado
The three openly transgender women were elected to their respective state legislatures on 6 November 2018. New Hampshire state Rep.-elect Gerri Cannon won in Stafford County, District 18, which includes most of the city of Somersworth and the neighboring town of Rollinsford.
New Hampshire state Rep.-elect Lisa Bunker will represent Rockingham County District, which includes the city of Exeter, in the New Hampshire House. Bunker’s district is less than 25 miles south of Cannon’s district. Bunker and Cannon will take the oath of office in December.
Colorado state Rep.-elect Brianna Titone, a geologist who defeated Republican Vicki Pyne, will represent the state’s House District 27, which includes the Denver suburb of Arvada, in the Colorado House of Representatives when she takes office in January. Titone will be Colorado’s first openly trans lawmaker.
https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/11/20/trans-…
13.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 3:12 pm
In NY-27, Final Votes Being Tallied
Noon, 20 November 2018
Buffalo — The outcome of the NY-27 congressional race between incumbent Republican Chris Collins and Democrat Nate McMurray is expected to become clearer as election officials in the district's largest county tally the final ballots.
Erie County officials expect to count more than 5,500 absentee ballots, along with more than 1,000 affidavit and emergency ballots on Tuesday, 20 November 2018. That's about half of all absentee and other ballots cast in the eight Western New York counties of the 27th Congressional District.
Collins led by fewer than 3,000 votes on election night. He has pleaded not guilty while facing a 2020 trial on insider trading charges. Currently, he leads by 2,560 votes.
https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/f…
As of 9 PM on 20 November the results stand at:
Chris Collins, Republican, 136,538 votes, 49.4%
Nate McMurray, Democrat, 133,978 votes, 48.5%
Larry Piegza, Reform, 5,814 votes, 2.1%
276,330 votes, 100% reporting (603 of 603 precincts)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us…
Five Thirty Eight has called this race for Collins.
14.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 3:13 pm
In NY-22, Brindisi Unofficially Leads by Over 4,000 Votes, Declares Victory
5:30 PM, 20 November 2018
With almost all votes now counted, it looks like vociferously anti-LGBT Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, R, will be out of office at the end of the year, as her opponent is leading by over 4,000 votes. It's been a bitter campaign with challenger Anthony Brindisi, D, but there aren't enough outstanding votes remaining for her to catch him. Brindisi has declared victory.
In Chenango County, Tenney picked up 525 votes, for a total of 9,280 there, with all absentee votes now counted.
However, in the last county to finish, the Oneida County Board of Elections still has to complete its count of 1,881 absentee ballots. Brindisi is already leading in that count. So, with fewer than 2,000 votes remaining in Oneida County, mathematically speaking, Tenney cannot flip the race.
http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/….
Five Thirty Eight has called this race for Brindisi.
15.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 3:38 pm
In UT-4, McAdams Claims Victory Over Love, Is Now Certified as Winner
Ben McAdams' declaration of victory comes the day before counties are set to certify the results of the 6 November election.
The latest numbers from Salt Lake and Utah Counties, released on Monday evening, 19 November, puts the Democrat on top by 739 votes. With the new numbers from Salt Lake County, McAdams has 134,890 votes to 134,151 for Love throughout the district, which includes portions of Salt Lake and Utah counties as well as Juab and Sanpete counties.
Scott Hogensen, Utah County chief deputy clerk auditor, said Monday's release was the last before counties certify election results on Tuesday. He said "not much" remains to be counted other than any ballots that show up in the mail.
The same is true for Salt Lake County, which included the results from some 16,000 provisional ballots in Monday's results. But longtime Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said there will be more results included in Tuesday's canvass.
The state has scheduled the final vote canvass for Monday, 26 November. Utah has no automatic recount law, but candidates who lose by 0.25 percent or less can request that the ballots be recounted at that point.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900042859/lov…
As of 8:15 PM on 20 November, UT-4 has been has been finalized and certified in favor of the Democratic challenger, Ben McAdams. McAdams defeated Love, the first black Republican woman elected to Congress, by a margin just over what would have been needed to require a recount, according to final results posted Tuesday. Love finished about 20 votes short of being able to request a recount in a race where just over 269,000 votes were cast.
Overall in the House, this gives the Democrats 233 seats to the Republicans 199, a gain of 38 seats, with just 3 seats still to be decided, NY-22, NY-27, and GA-7.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us…
16.
Fortguy | November 20, 2018 at 8:15 pm
For what it's worth, some news services, including FiveThirtyEight, are still refusing to call CA-21 between the Republican David Valadao and the Democrat T.J. Cox.
17.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 5:07 pm
In GA-7, Election Results Still Not Finalized
7:53 PM, 20 November 2018:
Carolyn Bourdeaux, the Democratic challenger in GA-7 remains 901 votes behind the Republican incumbent, Rob Woodhall, in a race which has still not yet been finalized:
Rob Woodall, Republican, 139,837 votes, 50.2%
Carolyn Bourdeaux, Democrat, 138,936 votes, 49.8%
278,773 votes, 100% reporting (124 of 124 precincts)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us…
GA-7 may well be the last of the 435 seats to be decided.
Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux has not yet conceded. After the counting of the last ballots, Republican Rep. Rob Woodall led by only 419 votes. On 20 November, Bourdeaux officially requested a recount.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-16-races…
18.
VIRick | November 20, 2018 at 9:09 pm
In CA-21, Valadao Leads by Just 2,178 Votes
Apparently, CA-21 has not yet been finalized, and the Democratic challenger is still close enough to the Republican incumbent that this seat has the potential of being flipped, a prospect which would make it the seventh House seat gained in California by the Democrats. The latest numbers (which seem quite low, compared to the other districts listed above) show:
David Valadao, Republican, 51,175 votes, 51.1%
T.J. Cox, Democrat, 48,997 votes, 48.9%
100,172 votes, 100% reporting (520 of 520 precincts)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us…
Other districts listed immediately above show a vote range from 209,000 to over 278,000, so just over 100,000 votes cast in this California district can not be considered anywhere near complete. Obviously, mail-in and absentee ballots still need to be added into the count.
As of 6:49 PM on 20 November, the web-site for the California Secretary of State shows that this race has tightened, with only a 969-vote separation, and that a lot of votes still need counting:
David Valadao, REP, 52,312 votes, 50.5%
TJ Cox, DEM, 51,343 votes, 49.5%
https://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/us-rep/district/2…
The two remaining House races that Five Thirty Eight refuses to call are GA-7 and CA-21. Thus, with both NY-22 (in favor of the Democrat) and NY-27 (in favor of the Republican) decided, but withdrawing CA-21 from the Republican tally, the Democrats now have 234 seats, a gain of 39, while the Republicans still have 199, with just 2 seats undecided.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-16-races…
19.
ianbirmingham | November 21, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Trump Insults Judiciary, Then Publicly Argues With Chief Justice John Roberts
President Donald Trump fired back Wednesday at Chief Justice John Roberts, who had bashed him for claiming the federal judiciary's most liberal court circuit was subject to political bias from an 'Obama judge' who invalidated his newest asylum policy. 'We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,' Roberts said in a statement distributed by the Supreme Court. 'What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.' Trump was on the golf course in Palm Beach, Florida at the time. He tweeted his response after the back nine. 'Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have "Obama judges," and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country,' Trump tweeted.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6415183/…
20.
ianbirmingham | November 21, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Official Saudi Gov't Textbooks Tell Kids: Kill Gay People For The Good Of Society
A comprehensive Anti-Defamation League (ADL) analysis of Saudi government-published textbooks has found that, despite the kingdom’s claims to the contrary, school textbooks for the 2018-19 academic year promote incitement to hatred or violence against Jews, Christians, women, and homosexual men. …
The Saudi educational curriculum teaches that anal sex, which it refers to as “sodomy,” corrupts the human soul and generally should be punished with the death penalty. As with adultery, the curriculum also teaches that anal sex brings shame to an individual’s family and entire tribe, a belief that is central to the occurrence of so-called “honor killings” against LGBTQ people. The curriculum even teaches that anal sex is to blame for natural disasters and corruption in society…
Because of Saudi Arabia’s status as custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites and its historic massive investment in religious proselytization abroad, the kingdom’s textbooks have a significant international footprint and have been used in countries in Africa, Europe, and other parts of Asia.
Saudi Arabia assured the U.S. government it would remove all intolerant passages from its textbooks by the start of the 2008 school year. Nearly a decade later, ADL has determined that such pledges remain unfulfilled. As recently as this September, Saudi officials falsely told U.S. audiences that such incitement in its textbooks had long since been resolved.
“If you go back to around the time of 9/11, virtually every group of people that was demonized in Saudi textbooks then is still demonized in the kingdom’s official textbooks today,” said David Andrew Weinberg, ADL’s Washington Director for International Affairs, the author of the report.
"Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taymiyya, God have mercy upon him, said: the correct [ruling regarding sodomy] which the companions of the Prophet agreed upon is that both the top one and the bottom one are killed, whether they are married or unmarried. (Jurisprudence 1, p. 256)"
"God forbade sodomy and was harsh in its punishment due to its bad effects on the individual and society: For it is a degeneracy in nature, and a corruption in character, kills virtue, and destroys morals, bequeaths depravity and lowliness in the soul of its perpetrator, eliminates modesty, and jealousy dies in the souls. (Jurisprudence 1, p. 256)"
"If sodomy appears in society then God descends swiftly upon its people with punishment, disasters and ailments afflict it, and epidemics and diseases spread, and injustice prevails, and corruption reigns in the land. (Jurisprudence 1, p. 256)"
"Beating [women] is a means of discipline, for the Almighty said 'beat them.' (Interpretation 2, p. 174)"
https://www.adl.org/media/12180/download
https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/adl-analy…
21.
VIRick | November 21, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Yucatán: Supreme Court Requires Civil Registry to Recognize Same-Sex Parents
Per Eduardo Murillo:
El 21 de noviembre 2018, ampara la SCJN a pareja homoparental, para que el Registro Civil de Yucatán les permita registrar a su hijo, concebido mediante maternidad subrogada, (como tener padres del mismo sexo.)
https://twitter.com/emtdf/status/1065357416781496…
On 21 November 2018, the SCJN approved an amparo for a homoparental couple, so that the Civil Registry of Yucatán must allow them to register their son, conceived through surrogate motherhood, (as having same-sex parents.)
Per Suprema Corte (SCJN), with regard to the same decision:
Primera Sala reconoce el derecho de una pareja homosexual a convertirse en padres por técnica de reproducción asistida.
https://twitter.com/SCJN/status/10653718141240811…
First Chamber recognizes the right of a same-sex couple to become parents by the assisted reproduction technique.
Per Rex Wockner:
On 21 November 2018, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled (in the case cited above) to extend assisted-reproduction rights to same-sex couples. This case from Yucatán involved a gay couple, an anonymous egg donor, in vitro fertilization, a surrogate, and a civil registry's refusal to register the men's son with both their last names.
22.
VIRick | November 21, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Querétaro: New Mayor Retracts Directive Allowing LGBT Couples to Marry without Amparo
Per LGBT Marriage News:
Querétaro, Querétaro, 21 de noviembre de 2018
El municipio de Querétaro se retractó en la medida adoptada desde la pasada administración que permitía el matrimonio civil entre personas homosexuales sin necesidad de amparo, así lo denunciaron diversas organizaciones locales y nacionales en rueda de prensa.
En conjunto con el Frente Queretano por el Derecho a la No Discriminación y a Favor del Estado Laico, diferentes asociaciones nacionales manifestaron su rechazo a la decisión adoptada por el alcalde de la capital, Luis Bernardo Nava Guerrero, con la que se impide a personas homosexuales a casarse sin amparo.
https://queretaro.quadratin.com.mx/se-retractan-e…
The municipality of Queretaro has retracted the measure adopted by the previous administration that allowed for civil marriage between same-sex couples without the need for an amparo, as reported by various local and national organizations at a press conference.
In conjunction with the Frente Queretano for the Right to Non-Discrimination and in Favor of the Lay State, different national associations expressed their rejection of the decision adopted by the mayor of the capital, Luis Bernardo Nava Guerrero, by which same-sex couples are now prevented from marrying without an amparo.
At least one same-sex couple, scheduled to be married in Querétaro on 1 December, have been stuck high and dry.
23.
VIRick | November 21, 2018 at 7:10 pm
In CA-21, House Race Continues to Tighten
Per California Secretary of State, 21 November 2018, 4:52 PM:
David Valadao, REP, 54,713 votes, 50.2%
TJ Cox, DEM, 54,266 votes, 49.8%
The Democratic challenger is now trailing by only 447 votes, or 0.4%, but still, with many votes remaining to count. California has a 30-day canvass period during which vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots (including conditional voter registration provisional ballots), and other ballots are tallied.
24.
scream4ever | November 21, 2018 at 7:49 pm
FiveThirtyEight has moved the race to Lean D as the remaining votes are from areas likely to benefit Cox. This would put Democratic seats gained at 40, which would officially make it a Blue Wave.
25.
VIRick | November 21, 2018 at 8:08 pm
In GA-7, Bourdeaux Concedes Following Recounts
21 November, 2:45 PM: The Forsyth County portion of the 7th Congressional District recount is complete, and Republican incumbent Rob Woodall appeared to widen his margin by six votes. Information released by Forsyth showed Woodall had gained four new votes while Democratic challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux lost two.
21 November, 3:50 PM: Rob Woodall picked up nine votes in the Gwinnett County recount. Carolyn Bourdeaux picked up one additional vote. That would place Woodall’s new — and perhaps final — lead at 433 votes.
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt–politics/bou…
This result means that the Democrats have 234 seats to the Republicans' 200, with CA-21 still undecided.
26.
VIRick | November 21, 2018 at 9:02 pm
A Profile of the Freshman Class in the New Congress
In the new Congress, there will be 62 freshmen Democrats, 35 of whom are women, with 13 of the 62 being non-white, racial/ethnic minorities, plus 8 who are Hispanic, 14 of whom fall into two of the categories. In addition, 4 are LGBT. By contrast, there will be 31 freshmen Republicans, only one of whom is female, with all 31 being white (although one has an Hispanic surname). And 0 are LGBT.
Despite the fact that there are twice as many freshmen Democrats, read a slightly different way, only 20 of the freshmen Democrats are white males, whereas 30 of the 31 freshmen Republicans are white males.
Note: TJ Cox, CA-21, has been included within the class.
https://twitter.com/NateSilver538
As of noon on Wednesday, 21 November 2018, Democratic House candidates won 58,990,609 votes while their Republican counterparts pulled in 50,304,975. This means that, so far, Democrats have won 53.1% of all votes counted, while Republicans earned 45.2%, with third party candidates receiving 1.7%.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democr…
27.
allan120102 | November 22, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Bermuda. A decision from the courts of appeals is expect tomorrow. As soon as tomorrow Bermuda could have same sex marriage https://mobile.twitter.com/TonyinBermuda/status/1…
28.
ianbirmingham | November 22, 2018 at 8:25 pm
1st same-sex kiss in a nationally televised event: Macy's 2018 Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 92nd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade proved to be historic not only for its chilly weather but also because it showcased the parade's first same-sex kiss to be televised. During a performance of Broadway's new musical 'The Prom', actresses Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla kissed on the live NBC broadcast. … The musical follows a lesbian girl who is denied the opportunity to bring her girlfriend to prom. The couple is then helped by a group of eccentric queer Los Angeles actors.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6419449/…
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VIRick | November 22, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Social Security Sued by Gay Widower over Survivor's Benefits
A gay man is suing the Social Security Administration after being denied spousal survivor benefits when his husband died in 2014. Michael Ely and James Taylor of Arizona were together since 1971, when Michael was 18 and James was 20.
“My husband was the love of my life,” Michael said. “Like other committed couples, we built a life together and cared for each other in sickness and in health.” In 2014, they got married just after Arizona’s ban on same-sex couples marrying was struck down by a federal court. About six months later, Taylor died of cancer.
Michael, who took care of James when he was sick, applied to get James’s Social Security benefits. They were married, James paid into Social Security his whole life, and Michael is now 65-years-old.
The only problem? The Social Security Administration requires couples to be married for nine months before they can access survivor benefits, a requirement that Michael and James were legally barred from meeting.
“The federal government is requiring surviving same-sex spouses like Michael to pass an impossible test to access benefits earned through a lifetime of work,” said Peter Renn of Lambda Legal, which is representing Michael in his federal lawsuit against the Social Security Administration.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/11/gay-widower-s…
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VIRick | November 22, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Indiana: First Out Gay State Legislator Sworn In
The first out gay legislator in Indiana took his oath of office today, 21 November 2018, two weeks after he soundly defeated one of the most notoriously anti-LGBTQ senators in the chamber. Sen. J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis) took the oath from Chief Justice Loretta Rush this afternoon. The Senate gallery was filled with about 200 of Ford’s well-wishers, campaign volunteers, and friends.
Ford defeated two-term Sen. Mike Delph, who was a steadfast opponent of marriage equality and pro-LGBTQ initiatives. Delph was a darling of the “religious liberty” crowd during Indiana’s infamous fight over the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” championed by then-Gov. Mike Pence.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/11/indianas-firs…
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Elihu_Bystander | November 23, 2018 at 5:17 am
International religious leader urge repeal of Caribbean anti-LGBT laws
Per New Ways Ministry
“Religious leaders published an open letter to government officials in the nine Caribbean nations which still criminalize homosexuality. Signers, who represented several former British Commonwealth nations and the United States, were mostly Anglican leaders. Two Roman Catholics, Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry and Sr. Jeannine Gramick of the National Coalition of American Nuns, also signed.”
https://76crimes.com/2018/10/08/international-rel…
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guitaristbl | November 23, 2018 at 6:32 am
Bermuda : Court of Appeals dismisses government's appeal, marriage equality wins
http://www.royalgazette.com/court/article/2018112…
No stay has been issued so marriage equality is the law right now. Government can appeal within 21 days to the Privy Council.