On the towns: want to get married in your hometown? Urge your local officials to follow the path of these cities' defiant leaders.ASBURY PARK Asbury Park, city (1990 pop. 16,799), Monmouth co., E N.J. An Atlantic resort noted for its beach, boardwalk, and convention hall, it has declined since the 1960s. The burning liner Morro Castle grounded off the beach here in Sept. , N.J. POPULATION: 16,930 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 29.2 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: Deputy Mayor James Bruno, a divorced father of two, married his first same-sex couple A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same gender who pursue a romantic or sexual relationship together. The term "same-sex relationship" may be used when the sexual orientation of participants in a same-sex relationship is not known. on March 8. QUOTE: "It felt like any other wedding I've done," Bruno told The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times. "It was a very cool thing--the atmosphere, the friends. I have gay neighbors and gay friends. They're like anybody else. They cut their grass. They walk the dog. They pay their taxes." CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? No. On March 9, New Jersey attorney general Peter C. Harvey Peter C. Harvey was the first African American to serve as New Jersey Attorney General. Harvey was appointed by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey as Acting Attorney General on February 15, 2003, and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate as Attorney General on June 16, 2003. ordered city officials to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples and ruled that any such licenses already issued were invalid. BERNALILLO, N.M, POPULATION: 6,611 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 48.7 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: Sandoval County clerk The term "county clerk" has been commonly applied, in several English-speaking countries, to an official of a county government. United States Most counties in the U.S. Victoria Dunlap, who on February 20 issued marriage licenses to at least 26 same-sex couples after the county attorney said New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). marriage laws do not specify gender. Quote: "This has nothing to do with politics or morals. If there are no legal grounds that say this should be prohibited, I can't withhold it." CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? No. 0n February 20, New Mexico attorney general Patricia Madrid issued an opinion saying the licenses were "invalid under state law." A crowd reacted with boos as a deputy clerk read Madrid's ruling, which ended Dunlap's civil disobedience civil disobedience, refusal to obey a law or follow a policy believed to be unjust. Practitioners of civil disobediance basing their actions on moral right and usually employ the nonviolent technique of passive resistance in order to bring wider attention to the . NEW PALTZ, N.Y, POPULATION: 6,034 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 25.5 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: Mayor Jason West Jason West is the former mayor of the village of New Paltz, New York, who performed the first same-sex marriages in New York He lost his re-election bid on May 1, 2007, to Village Trustee Terry Dungan, and his term expired on May 31, 2007. , 26, of the Green Party, earned multiple misdemeanor counts for marrying 25 same-sex couples on February 27; 40 licenses were issued before West was pressured to stop. QUOTE: "I firmly believe that it would be both unfair and contrary to the New York constitution to deny the benefits and responsibilities afforded by marriage to same-sex couples." CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? No, but as of March 4, the same-sex marriage Noun 1. same-sex marriage - two people of the same sex who live together as a family; "the legal status of same-sex marriages has been hotly debated" couple, twosome, duet, duo - a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple"; "an inseparable waiting list was 1,400 names deep. NYACK, N.Y, POPULATION: 6,737 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 40 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: 0penly gay mayor John Shields
Private John Shields (1769–1809), born in Harrisonburg, Virginia was at 34, the second oldest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. on March 3 announced that Nyack would sue the New York State Department of Health to force it to allow the town to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples--including Shields and his partner. Quote: "As time has gone on, I've realized more and more it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for me to fight for people such as ourselves." CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? No. PORTLAND, ORE, POPULATION: 529,121 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 44.1 MARRIAGE ADVOCATES: The Multnomah County commissioners decided on March 3 that 0regon's law compelled them to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples. As many as 2.000 licenses were issued within two weeks. Quote: "This decision really was an interpretation of what the law in 0regon really is. And that is, we cannot Discriminate," said county commissioner Lisa Naito. CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? As of press Time, yes. On March 8 a judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction A temporary order made by a court at the request of one party that prevents the other party from pursuing a particular course of conduct until the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A preliminary injunction is regarded as extraordinary relief. brought by a conservative group to stop the weddings. To find out the current status, call (503) 988-3027. SAN FRANCISCO POPULATION: 776,733 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 38.7 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: Newly elected mayor C, Gavin Newsom, 36, has overseen more than 4,000 same-sex marriages. Quote: "I am reacting to President Bush's divisiveness on this issue, and I am responding to my oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. . I felt what we are doing is consistent with the [California] constitution, and from a legal perspective we think we are on a firm basis." [Find the full interview with Newsom at www.advocate.com] CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED THERE NOW? No. After 4,161 weddings, on March 11 the California supreme court ordered a halt to the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. SEATTLE POPULATION: 563,374 PERCENTAGE IN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES: 39.9 MARRIAGE ADVOCATE: Mayor Greg Nickels signed an executive order on March 8 giving same-sex spouses of city employees all the benefits of heterosexual spouses. Quote: "The basic message is one of fairness, and that is that people who are willing to make a commitment to one another, who love one another, and who are willing to take on the responsibilities of marriage ought to be able to, regardless of their gender." CAN SAME-SEX COUPLES GET MARRIED NOW? No. Nickels cannot authorize same-sex weddings because counties, not cities, issue marriage licenses in Washington State. |
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