Latest news with #MarriageEqualityAct
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers call for 2026 ballot measure to overturn same-sex marriage ban
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Lawmakers are igniting plans for Ohioans to vote in 2026 on whether to repeal the state's dormant same-sex marriage ban, out of concern it could be reenacted if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns marriage equality. Reps. Anita Somani (D-Dublin) and Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) announced on Tuesday that they are reintroducing the 'Marriage Equality Act,' a House Joint Resolution to codify same-sex and interracial marriage. If passed by the Statehouse, the act would place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot, providing Ohioans the chance to enshrine marriage equality into Ohio's constitution. Lt. Gov. Tressel discusses DEI, state's workforce preparedness, and possible gubernatorial run LGBTQ+ advocates argue the effort is needed given the Supreme Court has signaled it might reassess Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case legalizing same-sex marriage. In a concurring opinion to the June 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote justices 'should reconsider all of this court's substantive due process precedents, including … Obergefell.' Dwayne Steward, Equality Ohio executive director, shares those concerns and told NBC4 in March that the organization is 'having conversations across the state around how we protect marriage equality' in the wake of resolutions introduced in a handful of states urging the Supreme Court to roll back Obergefell. Legislators also attempted last year to align Ohio law with the protections set by Obergefell, but the proposal didn't advance past a single committee hearing. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the 'Marriage Equality Act' in the video player above. 'We cannot assume that federal protections currently under law will last forever, and that is why we are taking this step now to ensure that Ohio's constitution reflects what we already know to be true: Love is love, families matter and every Ohioans deserves equal protection and dignity under the law,' Synenberg said on Tuesday. Should Obergefell be overturned, Ohio would reckon with a revived law passed by the Statehouse in 2004 that states 'a marriage may only be entered into by one man and one woman.' A constitutional amendment that voters passed later in 2004 which reads, 'only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state,' would also be resurrected. A federal law signed in 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act, requires a state to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, while also allowing states to decide for themselves whether to issue licenses to same-sex couples. So, if Obergefell falls and Ohio's bans have yet to be repealed, the act would only require the state to recognize marriages from other states where it is legal. Senate makes changes to Ohio's budget proposal The 'Marriage Equality Act' would ensure Ohio's same-sex couples can continue utilizing legal privileges associated with marriage, like sharing insurance, accessing military benefits, and tax deductions associated with filing taxes jointly. As an OBGYN, Somani said she's 'seen firsthand how having a legally recognized marriage is incredibly important during life's most difficult and vulnerable moments.' 'We see this when someone is dying of cancer and their partner is not allowed to be there in hospice or end-of-life care,' Somani said. 'That is devastating to not have that recognition when you spent your whole life with someone. I have so many friends and family members who are so scared they are gonna lose their legal marriage rights, and I think we need to be fighting.' A ballot measure in Ohio codifying marriage equality would not be unprecedented. Also concerned after the fall of Roe in 2022, voters in California, Colorado and Hawaii passed initiatives in last November's election to repeal dormant same-sex marriage bans and proactively protect marriage equality. Ohio's version would follow in the footsteps of 2023's Issue 1, another ballot measure that passed with 56% of the vote and established the right to abortion. Somani and Synenberg made Tuesday's announcement during a press conference marking Pride Month with other Statehouse Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates. Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Ohio's first openly gay Statehouse lawmaker, touted her new bill to mark 'Love Makes a Family Week,' after Republican legislators introduced plans to designate a month celebrating 'natural families.' Lawmakers clash over Ohio bill to ban therapy for minors without parent consent Antonio also recently reintroduced proposals to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. While Antonio told NBC4 in March the timing of a measure codifying same-sex marriage needs to be right and that such a proposal would only be written 'honestly and presented objectively' when Statehouse representation changes, she said on Tuesday now is the time to 'stand together to make sure that no one is sent out to the margins.' 'I am proud to be the first member of the LGBTQ community to be elected to this legislature back in 2010,' Antonio said during the press conference. 'There is no closet big enough to send us all back to, we're not going and we don't have to. We should not. Members of the LGBTQ community survived persecution, survived erasure a long time ago. We are not going back to those days.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
AP PHOTOS: Thailand kicks off Pride Month with a parade in Bangkok
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand started its annual celebration Sunday for the LGBTQ+ community's Pride Month, with its Pride Parade, the first to be held after Thailand legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year. Participants marched with rainbow flags for hours in Bangkok. Pride Month celebrations have been endorsed by politicians including Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was attending the parade this year. The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. —— This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bangkok Pride Festival 2025: The first to be held after Thailand legalized same-sex marriage
Live from the Pride parade in Bangkok, the first to be held after Thailand legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year. The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Show more Show less
The Star
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Thailand eyes global top spot for gender-affirming surgery, backed by new equality laws
BANGKOK: Driven by comprehensive strategic planning, the Kingdom is leveraging its medical expertise and inclusive policies to attract international patients and the LGBTQ+ community, aiming for a prominent role in the global health sector. Thailand is now making an ambitious push to become the world's leading centre for gender-affirming care, integrating this specialised service into a broader strategy to establish the nation as a premier international health and wellness hub. A key focus of this initiative, recently approved by the high-level Wellness and Medical Hub Board, is leveraging Thailand's established expertise in gender-affirming surgeries, a move set to bolster its medical tourism sector. The average cost for such procedures in Thailand stands at approximately 480,000 Baht per person (around $US 14,774 at current exchange rates). This strategic drive is underpinned by the country's progressive legal landscape. Thailand became the third Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage, with the Marriage Equality Act coming into force on January 23, 2025. This landmark legislation not only champions human rights and diversity but is also viewed as a significant economic catalyst. The commitment to inclusivity is further highlighted by events such as the Bangkok Pride Festival, held annually in June. The 2025 festival, themed 'Born This Way', will see Pride celebrations extend beyond Bangkok to over 40 provinces across Thailand, with the main Bangkok parade scheduled for June 1st. A new global campaign, 'Thailand: Equality & Excellence in Health', aims to harness this inclusive image, linking Thailand's medical expertise with its marriage equality law to attract health tourists and the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. Ambitious 2034 Vision The comprehensive strategic plan for developing Thailand into an International Health Centre (Wellness and Medical Service Hub) for 2025-2034 received unanimous approval at a recent board meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong. By 2034, Thailand aims to be a global hub for integrated international health and the medical industry, achieving sustainable growth in its health economic value. This ambitious goal will be pursued through six dedicated sub-committees. The Medical Service Hub Sub-Committee is specifically tasked with promoting four key service areas: health and aesthetic medicine, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), gender-affirming care, and dental services for international patients. Other sub-committees will focus on areas such as wellness services, medical product development, academic excellence, health conventions, and streamlining business operations for health service providers. A survey from 2021-2022 indicated that the average cost for gender-affirming surgery at private hospitals in Thailand is around 480,000 Baht per person. More specifically, male-to-female (MTF) procedures average approximately 300,000 Baht (around $US 9,234), while female-to-male (FTM) surgeries are around 1,000,000 Baht (around $US 30,780). Supporting measures for this drive include ensuring equal access to health services for all, providing specialised LGBTQ+ health services, strategically linking medical tourism with the marriage equality framework, and funding research and innovation in high-value medical fields such as hormone therapy. The overarching strategy aims to foster a complete medical ecosystem, streamline business operations for health service providers, and promote Thailand's advanced medical research, all contributing to its vision as a pre-eminent international health destination. - The Nation/ANN
Sky News AU
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Peter Dutton accuses Labor of having ‘secret plan' to legislate Voice to Parliament
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has slammed the "secret plan" he says Labor and the Greens have to legislate the Voice to Parliament in the future. Mr Dutton said Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had 'let the cat out of the bag' during a podcast where she compared the inevitability of The Voice to that of the Marriage Equality Act. 'You see Penny Wong out there at the moment talking about the fact that the Voice is inevitable," Mr Dutton said at a press conference on Wednesday. 'Under a Labor-Greens government, we see this secret plan to legislate the voice and Penny Wong has let that cat out of the bag,' he said. The Voice was rejected by more than 60 per cent of Australians in an expensive referendum costing the taxpayer an estimated $450 million in the middle of a cost of living crisis, but Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed the plan is not dead. Speaking in an episode of the Betoota Talks podcast released on Monday, Ms Wong, who is a close ally of the Prime Minister, said Australians will one day question why there was ever debate about the Voice.
