All Articles Tagged "marriage equality"
Ask A Very Smart Brotha: In A Relationship, Does Your Partner “Own” You?
Hi Damon,
I recently started seeing this guy. Right now, it’s not anything serious. I’m just enjoying his company. Anyways, in one of our conversations he mentioned that he doesn’t particularly like titles in a relationship because then people start feeling like they own one another. Initially, I thought he was being ridiculous– of course you can’t own another person. But the more I talked to others in committed relationships they started speaking about the expectations and even the way their lives included other restrictions once they were in a relationship. For instance, one woman said her boyfriend doesn’t like for her to wear certain types of revealing clothing when he’s not around. Do you think there’s any truth to this “owning” people thing?
As we speak, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments about same-sex marriage. And, regardless of where you stand on this issue, it’s easy to recognize that the main point of contention isn’t necessarily just about equal rights but the idea that same sex marriages should recognized as marriages. Not civil unions, not partnerships, but marriages. Basically, the label, that “insignificant” word, matters.
Lastly, I know (some) people will take issue with the implication that a person in a relationship has the right to “tell their mate what to do.” But, if you look at relationships like jobs—with contracts and clear/defined job descriptions—then it makes more sense. Some people are okay with relationships where things might be a little more controlling, a little more limiting. Others aren’t. This is why it’s paramount to have clear expectations before entering a relationship—a clear understanding of what each person thinks it terms of how a mate should and shouldn’t act. Now, if a person completely changes up once titles come into the picture, that (obviously) is cause for the “contract” to be restructured or rendered obsolete. But, aside from abusive situations, if both parties are happy—and have an agreed upon set of behaviors—there really is no “right” or “wrong” way to be in a relationship. Lemme put it this way: Being told what to wear may seem too controlling. I mean, who needs to be told what to wear?
But, what if you were blind?
When You See Love, You Know It: The Story Of Gail and Audrey
Source: YouTube
Hopefully, when you see love, you’re able to recognize it quickly. And there’s nothing but love that emanates from Gail Marquis and Audrey Smaltz. The couple who appear to be opposites clearly compliment each other upon further observation. They finish each others’ sentences and profess the devotion they have for each other and laugh at the way the met, even though they’ve been together for nearly 14 years.
Marquis and Smaltz were one of the few same-sex couples who were able to solidify the commitment they have for each other by marrying in a quaint ceremony in Central Park. Be sure to peep Audrey, the former model’s, sunglasses during her wedding ceremony. The woman is still fabulous at all of 76 years old. Gail Marquis, a former Olympic ball player is 58 years old.
Audrey Smaltz, who had never dated a woman and had been married for 14 1/2 years before she met Gail, sat down with FreedomToMarry to talk about their love.
Check out this adorable video of these wives and let us know what was your favorite moment from their precious story.
‘If You Like It, You Should Be Able To Put A Ring On It:’ Beyoncé Shows Support Of Gay Marriage
Source: WENN
Last night Beyoncé Knowles-Carter voiced her stance on the gay marriage debate when she posted a photograph of one of her infamous handwritten notes to her Instagram page. The note read:
“If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it. We will #unite4marriageequality. B,”
Source: Instagram
In addition to the note, she posted a photo of the Human Rights Campaign’s red equal logo.
Source: Instagram
She captioned the photo with a message that read:
“It’s about time #equality #prop8 #marriageislove ❤❤ show your support!!”
Bey reiterating her stance on the marriage equality debate is significant as both messages were posted in very close proximity of two major pending gay marriage cases being brought before the Supreme Court. Yesterday’s case addressed California’s Proposition 8, which prohibits same-sex marriage in the “golden state.” Today, the courts will address whether or not the Defense of Marriage Act, which is an act that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, is constitutional.
Last spring, Jay-Z also revealed that he was in support of gay marriage.
“I’ve always thought it as something that was still holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple,” he told CNN.
Black & Latino Clergy Who Support President Obama On Marriage Equality
Source: Black Voices.com
There were plenty of black ministers who spoke out against President Obama’s stance on marriage equality and the media was happy to interview them. But there’s another side to this story. There are black and Latino ministers who strongly support the president and his newly stated stance.
Support for marriage equality among African American and Latino groups has increased over the past few years. A recent Public Religion Research Institute poll found that a majority of Latino Catholics and a third of black Protestants support marriage equality.
See who these men and women of God are at BlackVoices.com
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Mo’Nique Advocates for Gay Marriage in Maryland
Comedian Mo’Nique has partnered with the Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition in a campaign to fight for gay marriage rights in the state.
The coalition launched a web campaign featuring a video clip of the Academy Award-winning actress supporting equal marriage rights in her home state. In the message below she says, “I believe since we’ve all been given free will, let’s use our will to let others be free. Gay and lesbian couples believe in commitment, family, and love.”
Marylanders for Marriage Equality has vowed to continue the campaign until the legislature votes next year on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. What do you think of Monique joining the campaign?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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Gay Marriage Not for All Colors, Stripes
(TheLoop21) — A couple of Fridays ago, I was on my couch reading a novel when my cell phone started buzzing. Friends around the country were texting heartfelt messages congratulating New York for becoming the sixth state in the United States to pass a gay marriage bill into law. My response to the news was an audible “meh,” and I returned to my book. My ambivalence about gay marriage is an echo of things past and reflects an unexpressed feeling that, as a gay woman of color, I am still separate from the larger collective of gay people often featured as the face of the movement. On June 25, the day after the gay marriage bill passed in New York, many of the celebration photos posted on television news programs and on the Internet showed ecstatic, glowing white faces. A perusal of the background of these images showed a scant smattering of brown faces among the crowd. Being part of a minority group—black lesbians—I felt even farther away from what was a genuine political victory for the larger gay community.
Md. Gay-Marriage Bill ‘On the Table’
(Washington Post) — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is weighing whether to sponsor a same-sex marriage bill during next year’s legislative session and is likely to make a decision soon, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. Supporters of the measure, which fell short in this year’s session, have been pushing O’Malley (D) to play a more visible role next year in the wake of the passage of a gay-nuptials bill in New York, where Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) played an instrumental role. O’Malley has had recent discussions with lawmakers who would like him to make a bill part of his formal legislative package next year, spokeswoman Raquel Guillory said. “It’s definitely an option that’s on the table,” Guillory said. “We are in discussions as to what steps we might take next. . . . We’re looking at all options to ensure success.” During this year’s session, O’Malley expressed support for the bill, but his lobbying efforts were largely limited to private conversations with lawmakers. He made no mention of the legislation in his agenda-setting State of the State speech.
Michael Irvin Comes out for Gay Marriage
(ESPN) — Former Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin appears shirtless on the cover of this month’s gay men’s magazine Out and discusses his passion for equality issues. Irvin publicly acknowledges that the impetus for taking a stand comes from his relationship with his gay brother, Vaughn, who died of stomach cancer at age 49 in 2006. Irvin had not spoken publicly about his brother previously, according to the magazine. In the article, Irvin describes how his brother’s sexual orientation contributed to his own issues. He says that he found out his brother was gay in the late 1970s, when he found Vaughn wearing women’s clothing. Michael Irvin was rattled by the experience and has figured out since that it contributed to his own womanizing behavior. Working with a Dallas area bishop, T.D. Jakes, Irvin looked at the past.
