miamizsun wrote:


Russia should be legal with an asterisk.

sort of a follow up to the human rights stuff below...

Would love to see a similar map of the world created in the 1950s.

 miamizsun wrote: 
Interesting, I imagine that map would like quite similar with issues of women's equality as well.  Interesting.

 ditty wrote: 
Victory!!!!! 

Hope the little guy is better.

 ditty wrote: 

 ditty wrote: 

 ditty wrote: 
Hope he's doing well.

 ditty wrote: 
that's good news

What Being Legally Married Has Done For Me Lately:

My employer provided health insurance comes with a Health Savings Account.  My company is generous and provides a certain dollar amount per month on top of my contributions.  I've accrued quite a bit over the past few years with no major health issues and no more kidney stones. 

Recently, my wife's son spent 9 hours in the ER. The son is covered under his Dad's Federal Health Plan, but she claims him as a dependent on her taxes because he lives with us.  We got the bill from the hospital yesterday and our out-of-pocket expense came to just over $1000.  After some googling I discovered that, because we are legally married, I can use my HSA funds for my spouse and any dependent children even if they are not covered under my health insurance policy. So instead of going out and looking for a part time job, reviewing our budget and cutting back SOMEwhere, or robbing our savings, we were able to pay the bill without a problem.

If we had a "civil union" this would not have been possible. 

Just saying...

 buddy wrote: 
Unfortunately it is here because leaders of the major parties are opposed or at least their power bases generally lean that way - even though the majority of the population is in favour (or it the "I don't effin care who someone else wants to marry" camp)

just some perspective...

Press Release

Libertarian Party four-decade advocacy for marriage equality pays off with US Supreme Court decision

In a 5-4 ruling today, the US Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to license same-sex marriage and recognize those marriages entered into in other states.

Libertarian candidates, including the party’s 1976 presidential nominee, Roger MacBride, have been bravely calling for marriage equality since long before it was politically correct. In fact, they’ve been doing so when it was considered downright dangerous.

David Boaz, Vice President of the Cato Institute, noted in a column in The Advocate, “The Libertarian Party endorsed gay rights with its first platform in 1972 — the same year the Democratic nominee for vice president referred to 'queers' in a Chicago speech. In 1976 the Libertarian Party issued a pamphlet calling for an end to antigay laws and endorsing full marriage rights.”

“I'm glad to see that the Supreme Court has upheld the equal rights for all Americans that the Libertarian Party has been fighting for, for over forty years," said Nicholas Sarwark, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

“We applaud and celebrate this victory, and we will continue to fight for the rights of all Americans to pursue happiness and prosperity in any way they choose,” he said, “as long as they don't hurt others or take their stuff."

Five Right-Wing Predictions About Marriage Equality That Still Haven't Come True

Sunday marked the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage equality decision, which, if Religious Right activists were to be believed, was to usher in a horrible tyranny that would lead to mass deaths and war. (...)

and here we have it...

Gay Marriage in Florida Begins Tonight: Key West's Huntsman, Others Go Down in History

US judge strikes down Florida gay marriage ban

 

MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday declared Florida's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, joining judges across the country who have sided with gay couples wishing to tie the knot.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle in Tallahassee ruled that the ban added to Florida's constitution by voters in 2008 violates the 14th Amendment's guarantees of equal protection and due process. Hinkle issued a stay delaying the effect of his order, meaning no marriage licenses will be immediately issued for gay couples. That also means gay couples legally married in other states will not immediately have their marriages recognized in Florida.

This is fascinating, as I am sure with most people that are not in the beltway, I had always just assumed that the Clintons have always supported gay marriage.  Couldn't be more wrong.

Hillary Clinton's Gay-Marriage Problem