Maine allows same-sex marriage

Maine’s governor signed a freshly passed bill Wednesday approving gay marriage, making it the fifth state to approve the practice and moving New England closer to allowing it throughout the region. New Hampshire legislators were also poised to send a gay marriage bill to their governor, who hasn’t indicated whether he’ll sign it. If he does, Rhode Island would be the region’s sole holdout. See Maine allows same-sex marriage

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Greek Courts Rules Same-Sex Weddings Invalid

A Greek court ruled the country’s first homosexual weddings, celebrated last year despite official warnings, were invalid, the couples’ lawyer said Tuesday.

Last year, a gay and a lesbian couple defied the threat of criminal charges and the wrath of the Greek Orthodox church to tie the knot on a tiny Aegean island, abetted by a local mayor.

The couples had said they took advantage of a loophole in Greek civil law, which does not specify gender in matrimony, and took vows in June at municipal offices on the island of Tilos.

See Greek Courts Rules Same-Sex Weddings Invalid

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360+ same-sex couples apply for marriage licenses; most in Polk Co.

As final numbers come in from county recorders, at least 360 same-sex couples have applied for marriage licenses in Iowa, with the heaviest concentrations in Linn, Polk, Scott and Johnson counties, according to information collected by The Des Moines Register. The tally so far includes 26 out-of-state couples, according to a survey of county recorders. The Register is still gathering its data, but afternoon figures show that the greatest number of applications so far is in Polk County, which has logged 83. Johnson County has seen 40 applications so far, Scott County has seen at least 18, and 40 couples have applied for marriage licenses in Linn County. Today was the first day same-sex couples could since the April 3 Iowa Supreme Court opinion that struck down a state law that said marriage was only between a man and a woman.

Photo gallery: Iowa begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

See 360+ same-sex couples apply for marriage licenses; most in Polk Co.
DesMoinesRegister.com –

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Details on same-sex marriage in Iowa

Marriage requirements in Iowa remain the same, with the exception that the ban on same-sex marriage has been eliminated:

–Two people, over 18.

–Not already legally married.

–Not closely related.

-Legally competent to enter into a civil contract.

To get a license:

–Visit a county recorder’s office and fill out an application.

–Show proof of identity.

–Pay a $35 fee.

–Have a witness sign the application.

–Both parties must be present or have the form notarized.

–Submit application and wait three days for license to be valid.

For the ceremony:

–It must be in Iowa, with both parties, an officiate and two witnesses present. All must sign the marriage certificate.

–Officiant, a judge or leader of religious faith, files certificate with county recorder within 15 days

–Same-sex marriage licenses submitted on Monday, April 27, the day Iowa legalizes same-sex marriage, will become valid on Thursday, April 30. Judges can grant a waiver.

What if a same-sex couple has had a ceremony elsewhere?:

–If a same-sex couple has been legally married elsewhere, their marriage is valid in Iowa as of Monday. They do not have to get remarried.

–It is unclear if civil unions from another state or registered domestic partnerships will be recognized in Iowa.

For more see Details on same-sex marriage in Iowa
Chicago Tribune – United States

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NH lawmakers debate same-sex marriage laws

The debate over same sex marriage is heating up in New Hampshire. The legislature is poised to take up three separate bills on the issue.

More than a year after civil unions became legal in New Hampshire, 621 couples have entered into that legal bond — 26 of them have since dissolved their union.

Two bills introduced Thursday seek to reserve the union of marriage for heterosexual couples:

A third would do just the opposite, and expand civil unions to gay marriage

Only a few of the scores who turned out to testify want to limit marriage as a way to preserve the traditional family: ”Society benefits from the stability of this relationship. When only one gender parents, society may become unstable.”

“Children are best reared within the confines of a healthy marriage with a mom and a dad. We think that’s why we’re seeing healthy marriage initiatives from the federal level, we’re seeing fatherhood initiatives from President Obama.”

See NH lawmakers debate same-sex marriage laws NECN

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Hungarian court blocks same-sex partnership law

The Constitutional Court of Hungary has annulled a new law due to come into effect next month that would legally recognise gay and lesbian relationships.

Parliament approved the Registered Partnership Act in December 2007.

From January 1st 2009 lesbian and gay couples would have had have almost identical rights as married heterosexual couples in common law.

See Hungarian court blocks same-sex partnership law PinkNews.co.uk

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Panel: NJ should OK same-sex marriages

New Jersey should enact a law allowing gay marriage and waste no time passing it because the state’s civil unions law fails to adequately protect same-sex couples, a report to be released today concludes.

The final report of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission says it gathered “overwhelming evidence” that the civil union law not only fails to provide the same protections as marriage, it also has created economic, medical and emotional hardships for gay couples.

See Panel: NJ should OK same-sex marriages The Star-Ledger – NJ.com