Lawyers for a group made famous by the TV show "Sister Wives" are set to ask a federal appeals court on Thursday to uphold a ruling that "decriminalized" polygamy in Utah. The case is scheduled to come before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver after the Utah Attorney General appealed the ruling that purported to "strike down" key parts of the state law banning polygamy.
A bill seeking to block the Obergefell ruling in Tennessee was rejected by a subcommittee of the state House on Wednesday over concerns about nullifying federal rulings. The Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 4-1 against the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act" sponsored by Rep. Mark Pody, who argued that the ruling should not supersede an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Despite criticism from the mainstream media, supporters of Alabama Chief Justice Moore aren't going away. Last week, congressional candidate Dean Young helped organize a counter-protest in Montgomery at the same time a "Remove Roy Moore" rally was underway. "All Judge Moore did was quote the federal courts that said Obergefell did not apply to Alabama because Alabama wasn't a part of the Obergefell decision." Young said.
Idaho lawmakers have once again introduced an 'Add the Words' bill into the Idaho legislature. The bill was read Tuesday in the Senate by Sen. Grant Burgoyne and Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb. The bill aims to add the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act, which would then prohibit discrimination against homosexuals and transvestites in housing and employment.
In advance of a House committee's plans to discuss a bill drafted by Rep. Mark Pody that would counteract the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell ruling, more than 100 people gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol on Tuesday in support of the bill, which is known as the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act." On Wednesday at 3 p.m., a subcommittee consisting of two Democrats and three Republicans will consider Pody's bill.
RALEIGH, North Carolina — A petition has been launched urging the Wake County Public School System to allow students to use the restroom of their choice regardless of their gender. The petition asks “for a change in [Wake County Public School] policy to specifically protect transgender student’s right to use a restroom congruent with their internal identity and protect them from bullying and harassment from students and faculty.”
President Obama has declared that Roy Moore's stand for the U.S. Constitution will fail. He said, "The fact that an Alabama judge is resisting is just a temporary gesture by this judge that will be rapidly overturned. It violates what’s called the supremacy clause – when the Constitution speaks, everybody has to abide by it, and state laws, and state judges, can’t overturn it. So you shouldn’t be worried about that.”
Commenting on the worldwide Anglican Communion’s decision to suspend the U.S. Episcopal Church because of their unbiblical views on marriage, Franklin Graham said the decision was necessary. “I hope this will cause the Episcopal Church here in America to realize the seriousness of the steps they’ve taken contrary to the Bible and cause them to turn back to following what God’s Word tells us,” Graham said.
Idaho senators are trying to hammer out the details of compromise legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" in housing and employment. “We’re working with the Democrats, too,” Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill said. "And, so, hopefully, we’ll have a bill that we can both support." On Saturday, a crowd of 400 gathered at the Statehouse to promote adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act.
Public debate is raging in Omaha as board members are considering an "update" of the school district's sex education curriculum. As initially proposed, the updates would add discussion of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in the 7th and 8th grades, and discussion of abortion in the 10th grade. In a January 4 meeting, more than 40 people addressed the school board, with opponents outnumbering supporters roughly 2-1.
Delegate Mark Cole has proposed legislation to the Virginia House of Delegates to keep school restrooms gender-differentiated. The bill would call for school boards to only allow students to use the restroom of their gender. Critics have asked how a student's gender could be confirmed without physical inspection. “If needed, gender could be verified by looking up student registration information or a birth certificate," Cole replied.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Rutherford County Commission approved an amended resolution Thursday before a crowd of red-clad protesters. The County Commission voted 15-6 for an amended resolution that deleted previous mention of the U.S. Supreme Court. The amended version simply asks the Tennessee General Assembly to defend the state's rights "by upholding the Tennessee and United States constitutions."
Anglican leaders on Thursday temporarily restricted the role of the U.S. Episcopal Church in their global fellowship as a sanction over the American church's acceptance of "gay marriage." Episcopalians have been barred for three years from any policy-setting positions in the Anglican Communion while a task force is formed that will try to reconcile conflicting views over sexuality. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the U.S.
The owners of a wedding venue in New York who were fined $13,000 fro refusing to host a lesbian "wedding" had their appeal rejected by a state court on Thursday. Robert and Cynthia Gifford cited their conservative Christian beliefs in refusing to host the 2013 "wedding" of two women at Liberty Ridge Farm. They appealed a ruling from the state's Division of Human Rights, asserting their rights to free speech and religious exercise.
A federal judge awarded a team of Kentucky attorneys more than $1 million for their role in the U.S. Supreme Court case that purported to redefine marriage, but declined to award them the additional $1 Million that they had requested. Jessica Ditto, spokeswoman for Gov. Matt Bevin, said, "We are pleased that the court did not award any bonus attorney fees and eliminated certain fees and expenses that the court deemed unnecessary."
A bill that would direct Tennessee officials to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that purported to redefine marriage could lead to a cutoff of all federal funds going to that state, according to the bill's fiscal note. The lost money would amount to approximately $8.5 billion. Bill sponsor Rep. Mark Pody said he would work with the Fiscal Review Committee to determine how the estimate was reached and how to decrease the cost.
On Tuesday, around 150 LGBT activists, pro-abortion activists, atheists, and humanists united their voices to demand removal of Chief Justice Roy Moore at the Alabama Supreme Court. Across the street, a hundred Christians gathered to pray for God’s mercy on the nation. An hour later, several dozen gathered for a press conference on the stairs of the Alabama Supreme Court.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — More than 100 people are expected to attend Thursday's Rutherford County Commission meeting to oppose a resolution that encourages state lawmakers to resist the U.S. Supreme Court decision that purported to redefine marriage for the entire nation. The resolution passed the county's Steering Committee on Jan. 4. Republican state Rep. Mike Sparks of Smyrna has come out in support of the resolution.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A group called Equality Wiregrass is rallying against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and his stand for the U.S. Constitution. More than 100 people with signs and posters chanted “No more Roy Moore” during the demonstration Tuesday at the state’s main judicial building in Montgomery. However, a group of Moore supporters gathered in front of a church across the street in support of the Chief Justice.
Two rather controversial bills — Senate Bill 120 and House Bill 236 — have been introduced to the Alaska State Legislature. The bills, proposed by Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna (pictured); and Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy, respectively, were written in an attempt to shield clergy from the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that purported to redefine marriage for the entire nation.
A lawmaker in Virginia is pushing legislation aimed at "protecting" local elected officials who object to same-sex "marriages" based on moral or religious grounds. Republican Sen. Charles Carrico of Galax, whose southwestern district borders Kentucky, said he wants to help Virginia officials who are put in the same position as Kim Davis. Gov. Terry McAuliffe has already vowed to veto the bill if it passes the General Assembly.
Members of First Baptist "Church" of Memphis approved a resolution Sunday that would redefine marriage to include homosexual unions. The vote, taken Sunday after the worship service, wasn't a big surprise. The "church" baptized an openly homosexual man in 2001. Two years ago, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to ordain its first homosexual deacons.
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby says he supports Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's order to probate judges telling them not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Sen. Shelby made that comment after speaking to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club at the Vestavia Hills Library Saturday morning. He says he hasn't seen Moore's order, but like Moore, he believes marriage is between a man and woman.
On Wednesday, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly interviewed National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown to discuss Chief Justice Moore’s recent order. "It goes to your understanding of whether you believe that the Supreme Court has the right to dictate to the rest of the country key questions," Brown said. "Abraham Lincoln, when faced with a Supreme Court that issued the infamous Dred Scott decision, said that it did not."
In the wake of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's order to probate judges on Wednesday, telling them not issue marriage licenses contrary to Alabama law; at least 13 of the 67 counties in Alabama are standing behind him. However, at least 41 counties are currently ignoring Moore's order. In addition, many of the counties not issuing licenses stopped long before Moore's order on Wednesday.