The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Centre to two pleas seeking transfer to the apex court the petitions pending in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to recognise same-sex marriages. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy that the pleas relate to the fundamental right to equality. Issue notice, the bench said. The bench was hearing separate transfer petitions filed by Kavita Arora and Nibedita Dutta. The top court had on November 25 taken note of two pleas by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act. The court had also sought the assistance of Attorney General for India R Venkataramani in dealing with the two pleas. The first plea was filed by gay couple Supriyo Chakraborty and Abhay Dang who live in Hyderabad. The second petition has been file
The US Congress approved a bill on same-sex marriage and sent it to the White House
The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex marriages, an extraordinary sign of shifting national politics on the issue and a measure of relief for the hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples who have married since the Supreme Court's 2015 decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide. The bill, which would ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages are enshrined in federal law, was approved 61-36 on Tuesday, including support from 12 Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the legislation was a long time coming and part of America's difficult but inexorable march towards greater equality. Democrats are moving quickly, while the party still holds the majority in both chambers of Congress. The legislation now moves to the House for a final vote. President Joe Biden praised the bipartisan vote and said he will sign the bill promptly and proudly if it is passed by the House. He said it will ensure that LGBTQ youth will grow up knowing tha
The Senate is set to vote Tuesday on legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, putting Congress one step closer to ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law. Senate Democrats are moving quickly, while the party still holds the majority in both chambers of Congress, to pass the bill requiring that such unions are legally recognized. The House would still have to vote on the legislation and send it to President Joe Biden's desk. The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court's June decision that overturned the federal right to an abortion, and comments from Justice Clarence Thomas at the time that suggested same-sex marriage could also come under threat. A test vote Monday evening moved the legislation closer to passage, with 12 Republicans who have previously supported the bill voting again to move it forward. Democrats set up a Tuesday afternoon vote after Republicans negotiated votes on three amendments to protect the rights of religious .
Legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages crossed a major Senate hurdle on Wednesday, putting Congress on track to take the historic step of ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law. Twelve Republicans voted with all Democrats to move forward on the legislation, meaning a final vote could come as soon as this week, or later this month. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill ensuring the unions are legally recognised under the law is a chance for the Senate to "live up to its highest ideals" and protect marriage equality for all people. "It will make our country a better, fairer place to live," Schumer said, noting that his own daughter and her wife are expecting a baby next year. Senate Democrats are quickly moving to pass the bill while the party still controls the House. Republicans are on the verge of winning the House majority and would be unlikely to take up the issue next year. The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme ...
To register, govt ID a must; app also verifies user pictures to weed out fake profiles
Cubans have approved a sweeping "family law code that will allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt as well as redefining rights for children and grandparents, officials said on Monday, though opposition in the national referendum was unusually strong on the Communist Party-governed island. The measure which contains more than 400 articles was approved by 66.9 per cent to 33.1 per cent, the president of the National Electoral Council, Alina Balseiro Gutierrez, told official news media, though returns from a few places remained to be counted. The reforms had met unusually strong open resistance from the growing evangelical movement in Cuba and many other Cubans despite an extensive government campaign in favour of the measure, including thousands of informative meetings across the country and extensive media coverage backing it. Cuban elections in which no party other than the Communist is allowed routinely produce victory margins of more than 90 per cent as did a referendum
The US House approved legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages amid concerns that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access could jeopardise other rights
A Japanese court ruled the country's ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution, and rejected demands for compensation by three couples
Guatemalan lawmakers have increased prison sentences for women who have abortions, bucking a recent trend in Latin America toward expanding access to the procedures.
Similar laws have been adopted in several Latin American nations in recent years
A plea came up before the Delhi High Court on Friday seeking that same sex marriage not be permitted under the Hindu Marriage Act
Shahani dreams of an India where being queer is a non-issue, says Chintan Girish Modi
Why is the legal recognition of same-sex marriages being touted as the next big milestone for the LGBT rights movement in India?
The Delhi High Court asked the Centre to respond to a PIL seeking a declaration recognising same sex marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act
Delhi High Court issued notice to the Central government seeking its response on two petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage under Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act
New Delhi [India], September 12 (ANI): Despite the Supreme Court decriminalising homosexuality in the country, same-sex marriage is still not being allowed under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, said a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court.The public suit filed earlier this week urged to issue a declaration to the effect that since Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1956 does not distinguish between homosexual and heterosexual couples, the right of same-sex couples to marry should be recognized under the said Act.The PIL, filed by advocates Raghav Awasthi and Mukesh Sharma, said that the petitioners have filed the petition for enforcement of fundamental rights granted under the Constitution of India.The petition said that as of now, the law sees the members of the LGBT community as individuals only and not as couples. It said that the LGBT community members are forced to suppress their feelings of getting married to the person of their own ...
Three Indian mental health associations issued separate statements last month pointing to the dangers of 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQIA+ people, two years after same-sex relations were decriminalis
Company said it is reviewing changes to its code of conduct that will ban discrimination based on sexual orientation