Same-sex Marriage Makes Huge Progress

There has been a flurry of activity lately when it comes to same-sex marriage. Last month New Jersey became the 14^th state to legalise same-sex marriage following a court ruling. On the 23^rd of October the New Mexico Supreme Court heard arguments around whether or not same-sex marriage was legal in the state. The court has said that it will rule I the coming months. Great news came out of Illinois and Hawaii as both states are on track to legalise same-sex marriage. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois has said that he’ll sign a same-sex marriage bill into law on the 20^th of November. Governor Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii said he will sign the corresponding Hawaiian bill after the state senate votes on it a second time. In Oregon the gay rights movement only needs 6,286 more signatures to put same-sex marriage on the ballot in November in 2014. Ohio also has a petition to legalise same-sex marriage but unfortunately they have no revealed how many signatures they have gotten. In Michigan a district court judge has agreed to hear a case challenging the constitutionality of Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban in February 2014. Suits have also been filed in Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas and Pennsylvania. Following their success at defeating the same-sex marriage ban in California, the American Foundation for Equal Rights has stated that its next target will be Virginia.

In Australia, the Australian Capital Territory (aka Canberra) became the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise same-sex marriage. Unfortunately the conservative government has said it will try and block the legislation. More good news came out of Ireland where the government announced that a referendum would be held in 2015 on the issue of same-sex marriage. It is almost certain to pass, when this happens Ireland will become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a referendum. Ireland is one of only two European Atlantic Coast countries to not have legal same-sex marriage (the other being Germany), although several sub-national jurisdictions have also not legalised it.

In the Scottish Parliament the bill to legalise same-sex marriage passed through the Equal Opportunities Committee very easily and now awaits a vote by the main parliament. It will have to go through three more votes before it actually becomes law.