Over the next two days, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments over state and federal constitutional rights for same-sex couples.
Today’s first session concerns Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in the California state’s constitution – overturning the state supreme court’s recognition of same-sex marriage just a few months earlier.
Photograph: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
Koyuki Higashi and Hiroko smile as they show their marriage rings at their wedding reception in Tokyo. Two lesbians have become the first gay couple to tie the knot at Tokyo Disney Resort, both wore white dresses despite an initial ruling that one had to wear men’s clothes. The event was the first gay wedding in the popular amusement park even though gay marriage has no legal standing in Japan. Photograph: Tatsunari Ueno/AFP/Getty Images
Gay marriage is all about love. The love of same-sex couples is just as real, strong and committed as that of married heterosexual men and women. Prohibiting same-sex marriage devalues and denigrates the love of lesbian and gay partners. It signifies our continuing second class legal status; to have separate laws for gay and straight people is a form of sexual apartheid.
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Public support for gay marriage is double the support secured by the Tories in last week’s local elections. If Cameron wants to win back lost votes, he should fast-track legislation for equal marriage rights.As Obama joins a global trend towards gay marriage, the UK should too - Peter Tatchell writes for Comment is Free
Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Republicans in New York senate who agreed with reform now face onslaught from embittered members of their own party
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“I’ll never forget the day Marilyn and I were walking around New York City, just having a...
