James Mahoney’s Post

6 years ago, Australia was debating same-sex marriage, or marriage equality. This was important to me, but I didn't actively participate in the campaign. It's hard to put your head above the parapet when literally the entire country is debating the validity of who you are, and how you should be allowed to participate in society. Constructive, well-informed debates are critical to democratic society, but they are hard. Luckily for me, tens of thousands of people were stronger than me at that moment, and tens of thousands more were there as allies to support them. Ultimately, Australia voted yes to being a more inclusive country. We're there again now: debating whether we should recognise our First Nations peoples with a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. I believe we should, and that it's my turn to show up as a visible ally. This is our opportunity as a country to recognise that our rich history includes the longest continuous culture on Earth, in addition to the last 200 years: something that is globally unique. Our opportunity to recognise the division that exists today, where our First Nations peoples needlessly have a life expectancy 8 years shorter than the rest of the population, and to make a practical step toward closing gaps like that. I'll be voting 'yes' on 14th October, for a stronger and more inclusive country. Putting my head above the parapet, there's a sign on the front fence proudly saying so. It's our first ever campaign sign, because this vote matters.

A paramount step towards protecting human rights in Greece.

Justice Alito and Thomas have made no bones about their feelings when it comes to marriage equality. They both believe the Obergefell v. Hodges was decided incorrectly and are eager to send marriage rights back to the states. Alito made that clear today. ‘Only two members of the court who ruled in favor of Obergefell remain on the bench — Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. The court has since transformed under the presidency of Donald J. Trump with the addition of three conservative justices who have solidified a conservative supermajority’ . Our project, JustMarried , is a vital project preserving the right for all to marry and the heroic stories of people who fought for this for generations to come. Elections have consequences and every vote, in every state matters. Our goal is to help shape the environment so that our courts don’t act far outside of the main stream. One of the best tools we have to create change are the stories we tell about our lives. For more on JustMarried, go to www.justmarried.us https://lnkd.in/e_rK6MxP

Pride month celebrates love’s beautiful diversity. But for UK couples seeking legal commitment, a question arises: marriage or civil partnership? While both offer equal rights, historical context and ceremony styles can influence your decision. Read more in our latest blog https://lnkd.in/eyK7MNsy #pride #pridemonth #adviceforlife #marriage #civilpartnership #familylaw

🌈 Greece has legalized same-sex marriage and granted equal parental rights to same-sex couples, despite opposition from the Orthodox Church. ➡️ Although Greece became the 16th European Union country to allow same-sex marriage, it is the first Orthodox Christian nation to pass such a law. ⬇ Read the full story below: #LGBTQRights #SameSexMarriage #EqualRights #LGBTQNews

🌈 Marriage equality is not just about legal rights; it's about human rights. Despite progress in some parts of the world, the path to achieving marriage equality for the LGBTQIA+ community remains fraught with challenges, especially in India. Our latest article delves into the history, current legal landscape, and future prospects for same-sex marriage rights. We explore why it's essential to continue advocating for full equality and recognition for all. Join us in this important conversation. Read more on Changeincontent and discover how you can support the fight for marriage equality. https://lnkd.in/dNeBXZ-7 #MarriageEquality #LGBTQIA #HumanRights #EqualRights #ChangeInContent

“…More than one million same-sex couples have now been married, and the Rand researchers found that they have reaped the benefits of marriage that have long been well-documented for different-sex couples. In states that legalized same-sex marriage, LGBTQ people had higher levels of health-insurance coverage and lower rates of sexually transmitted infections and problematic substance use, according to the report. They also had higher earnings and rates of homeownership… Researchers didn’t find any evidence that straight couples’ rates of cohabitation or divorce increased. Rather, they found that legal same-sex marriage was associated with increases in marriage that couldn’t be explained by same-sex marriages alone. Opposite-sex marriages also increased as a result. …Only about 1.3% of married couples are same-sex, indicating that LGBTQ people aren’t marrying at a rate commensurate with their share of the population. (About 8% of Americans identify as LGBTQ, according to Gallup.)”

3:2 Verdict in marriage equality matter delivered today by the Supreme Court. While Hon’ble the Chief Justice and Justice SK Kaul agreed. Justice Ravindra Bhat and Justice PS Narasimha delivered dissenting judgements. Justice Kohli agreed with Justice Bhat. Major agreement of all in not striking down Section 4 SMA owing to institutional limitations. Major disagreement was on the point whether it would be constitutionally permissible to recognize a right to civil union mirroring a marriage with the existing setup? While CJI held that the transgender persons in heterosexual relationships had the right to marry under the existing laws including personal laws. CJI held that “choosing a life partner is an integral part of choosing one's course of life. Some may regard this as the most important decision of their life. This right goes to the root of the right to life and liberty under Article 21.” Justice Bhat held that entitlement of legal union of marriage could only be through enacted law. Emphasis by all was made on the statement made by the Union Government wherein willingness to constitute a committee was made to examine whether certain legal rights could be granted to same-sex and queer queer couples, without legal recognition of their relationship as a "marriage". Detailed analysis can only follow once judgement is available. #SupremeCourtofIndia #Samesexmariage