Texas Judge James R. DePiazza Has Bizarre New Wedding Requirement

A Texas judge is so opposed to same-sex weddings that he wants every couple he marries — straight or gay — to sign a document acknowledging his views. 

The agreement required by Judge James R. DePiazza, of The Colony, which is just north of Dallas, states that he doesn’t want to perform same-sex weddings but will do so if asked. 

“Judge DePiazza prefers to NOT conduct same-sex ceremonies, but will not decline anyone who chooses to schedule with him,” the document states (the caps are in the original). 

The document requires that those who wish to be married by DePiazza agree to not only acknowledge his views, but also not mention same-sex weddings to him “before, during or after the ceremony.”

If anyone does, the service will be stopped and the participants will be given a refund, DePiazza told WFAA, the local ABC station. 

DePiazza also will not allow photographs or videos, not that there will be much to capture. His services will be bare-bones affairs strictly limited to “a brief formal declaration of civil marriage ceremony.”

Celebrants will be allowed to take photos in the court after the ceremony, once DePiazza has left. 

“I decided that for my own privacy,” DePiazza told the Houston Chronicle. “Because people take pictures and can doctor them or take little snippets out of video to warp what happened.”

The document is the polar opposite of the previous form, which began happily with “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!” and concluded with  “Thank you for your consideration, and again CONGRATULATIONS!!” (The caps are in the original.)  The document contains no congratulatory messages. 

(Compare the original document found at this link to the revised form found here.)

The judge told the Dallas Observer that he had the option to stop performing marriages altogether, as justices of the peace are not required to do them. 

“I made the decision that, for my constituents, if that is their desire — it doesn’t matter to me what a person’s sexual preference is, what their sexual orientation is,” DePiazza told the website. “Regardless, they’re a human being and they deserve dignity and respect. If that’s the way that they want to live their life, that’s between them, their partner and either they believe in their God or not, that’s their choice.” 

At least one expert believes DePiazza’s new form may not be legal. 

“I think it’s an interesting innovation in trying to hold your nose and do your job by making everybody else hold your nose as well,” Katherine Franke, the director of the Public Rights/Private Conscience Project at Columbia University’s law school, told the website. “It’s creative, but I don’t imagine it will stand up in court.”

However, Denton County Judge Mary Horn said she thought DePiazza’s form was “considerate.” 

“I think it’s probably a good idea to let everybody know, in advance, your position,” Horn told WFAA, which reported that she refuses to perform same-sex weddings.

Any couple wishing to schedule a wedding with DePiazza can email his office at [email protected] or call 972-434-7200.  

(h/t Raw Story)

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US pledges to pressure Nigeria to scrap anti-gay law

The US has vowed to pressure Nigeria to scraps its draconian anti-gay law.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US had adopted the protection of the LGBTI people as part of its foreign policies and said Washington would mount sustained pressure on the African country to end discrimination.

‘As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong. We believe human rights should be available to everybody,’ she said during a live-web chat with journalists in Washington.

‘As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria as well as other governments who have provided legislation that discriminate against the LGBT community.’

Thomas-Greenfiled said that she did not think pressuring Nigeria to reverse the anti-gay law amounted to interference.

‘This is very much a work in progress, but I think you will agree with me that the law in Nigeria really went far in discriminating against this community but also people who associate with them,’ she said.

‘So we will continue to press the government, to press the legislature to change these laws and provide human rights for all Nigerian people regardless of their sexual orientation.’

‘With what is happening in the US, you can determine how far we are willing to go. We strongly believe human rights for all people and we are particularly opposed to legislation that actually targets the gay community for discrimination. So we are prepared to push this as a policy not just in Africa but across the world.’

The post US pledges to pressure Nigeria to scrap anti-gay law appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-pledges-to-pressure-nigeria-to-scrap-anti-gay-law/

Missouri County Votes to Lower Flag to Mourn Marriage Equality

Dent County will fly the flag at half-staff over public buildings the 26th of each month for the next year to protest what a county official calls a ‘despicable’ ruling.

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Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/07/13/missouri-county-votes-lower-flag-mourn-marriage-equality

Missouri county votes to lower flags to ‘mourn’ gay marriage ruling

Flags in Dent county, Missouri, will be lowered to below half-staff for a one-year period of ‘mourning’ for the Supreme Court’s 26 June ruling that legalized gay marriage in all 50 US states.

The county commission on Monday (13 July) voted unanimously to lower the American flags at the county courthouse and judicial building on the 26th of each month from now until June next year.

The commission took up the issue after Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles filed a letter into public record protesting ‘the US high court’s stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination.’

He proposed the flags be lowered so ‘all who see these flags at this lowered position be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty.’

A man in Springfield, Missouri, also lowered the flag in his in protest of the court’s decision.

But the Springfield News-Leader reported that the man had violated flag protocol.

A local veteran told the newspaper that flags can only be lowered to half-staff to mourn government leaders or when ordered by the governor or the president, or to honor veterans.

The post Missouri county votes to lower flags to ‘mourn’ gay marriage ruling appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/missouri-county-votes-to-lower-flags-to-mourn-gay-marriage-ruling/

Ford Worker Fired For Anti-Gay Comment Sues For Religious Discrimination

Thomas Banks, of Michigan, describes himself in a federal lawsuit filed Friday as a Christian who worked for Ford on assignment to Rapid Global Business Solutions for three years. A year ago, Banks commented on a Ford intranet article celebrating the 20th anniversary of GLOBE, a group fostering an inclusive workplace for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, saying Ford has no place promoting sodomy or “immoral sexual conduct” and should be “thoroughly ashamed.” Banks claimed the article was an assault on his religious beliefs.

“And yes — this is historic — but not in a good way,” Banks wrote. “Never in the history of mankind has a culture survived that promotes sodomy. Heterosexual behavior creates life — homosexual behavior leads to death.” The article — which does not address sodomy or other sex acts — is still online, though no comments are visible to the public.

Nearly two weeks later, supervisors from both companies told Banks his comments violated Ford’s anti-harassment policy and fired him. The companies “acted intentionally out of malice or reckless disregard of Banks’ federally protected rights,” the lawsuit alleges.

Ford and Rapid Global Business Solutions weren’t immediately available for comment. The companies haven’t yet answered the lawsuit in court. 

 Banks earlier filed a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which declined to pursue it. At the time, Ford said in a statement that the matter is “ultimately between the individual and their agency employer,” Rapid Global Business Solutions. The lawsuit says Banks was legally an employee of both companies.

In testimony before the EEOC, included in the federal complaint, Rapid Global Business Solutions supervisor Kelsey Rossey acknowledged that Banks’ comment was an expression of his religious convictions, but “the tone of the comment … was discrimination in and of itself and that’s not something that we can protect.”

According to the lawsuit, Banks supports a diverse and inclusive workplace.

“Banks respects others, even those who disagree with him, as he has throughout his career, and merely hopes for the same respect in turn,” the complaint says.

Banks seeks damages for religious discrimination and retaliation under federal civil rights law as well as Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employers from firing or otherwise discriminating against individuals because of “religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, or marital status.”

Sexual orientation and gender expression are not protected classes under the state law, despite frequent attempts to amend it. An individual in Michigan who is fired for being gay would have no legal recourse, unlike Banks.



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Federal judge hears testimony in lawsuit against Kentucky county clerk who won’t issue marriage licenses to gays

No decision was made Monday (13 July) in a federal lawsuit filed against a county clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

US District Court Judge David Bunning heard testimony in the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky’s lawsuit against Rowan County and its Clerk Kim Davis. But the case was continued to an undetermined future date because Davis must sign paperwork acknowledging she has received the complaint.

‘We look forward to completing these proceedings at a time and date Judge Bunning sets, so that our clients may receive the relief they are entitled to.’ William Sharp, legal director of the ACLU of Kentucky said in a statement.

Rowan County is one of three counties in Kentucky that is attempting to keep same-gender couples from obtaining licenses. The US Supreme Court ruled last month that same-sex marriage is now legal nationwide.

The ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against Davis on behalf of four couples who her office denied licenses – two heterosexual couples and two same-sex couples.

The federal lawsuit, which alleges Davis’ refusal is unconstitutional, seeks an injunction ordering Davis to begin issuing licenses.

Kentucky couple David Vincent Moore and his fiancé wanted to get married last week Davis stood in their way.

The couple’s encounter with Davis, who is opposed to same-sex marriage, was captured on video and quickly went viral with more than 1.7 million views.

The post Federal judge hears testimony in lawsuit against Kentucky county clerk who won’t issue marriage licenses to gays appeared first on Gay Star News.

Greg Hernandez

www.gaystarnews.com/article/federal-judge-hears-testimony-in-lawsuit-against-kentucky-county-clerk-who-wont-issue-marriage-licenses-to-gays/

Houston Man Sues City Over Law Allowing Trans Citizens to Use Correct Bathrooms

Longtime anti-LGBT activist Dave Wilson is angry the city won’t heed his petition, which also demands businesses define ‘gender’ as one’s birth-assigned sex.

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Mitch Kellaway

www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2015/07/13/houston-man-sues-city-over-law-allowing-trans-citizens-use-correct-b

A County In Missouri Will Lower Its Flags To 'Mourn' Marriage Equality
Flags in Dent County, Missouri, will be lowered to “below half-staff” for a one-year period of “mourning” the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide.

In a unanimous vote on Monday, the Dent County Commission decided to lower the American flags at the county courthouse and judicial building on the 26th day of each month from now until June of next year.

All three commissioners are Republican. According to the county’s main newspaper, The Salem News, the commission took up the issue after Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles wrote a letter in protest of the Supreme Court decision.

“All who see these flags at this lowered position [will] be reminded of this despicable Supreme Court travesty,” Skiles wrote in the letter. He called the Supreme Court decision “the U.S. high court’s stamp of approval of what God speaks of as an abomination” and accused the court of “blatant judicial overreach.”

Neither Skiles nor the commission’s office could be reached for comment.

Despite Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) directing the state to abide by the court’s ruling, some Missouri residents, especially those in the more politically conservative portions of the state, have chosen to protest the decision — some by lowering their flags.

A man in Springfield, Missouri, who flies a flag in his front yard also lowered his flag in opposition to the gay marriage decision. His neighbor complained and brought the story to the Springfield News-Leader, which found that the man violated flag protocol. Local veteran Glenn Hastings told the newspaper that according to protocol, flags can only be lowered to half-staff to mourn certain government leaders or when directed by the governor or the president. The flag should also be flown at half-staff to honor veterans.

“You don’t respond to what one person or one group of people has done. You should fly the flag proudly,” Hastings said.

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US military finalizing plan to end ban on transgender members

Transgender people will, for the first time, be allowed to serve openly in the US military under a plan currently being finalized by the Pentagon.

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced Monday (13 July) that under the plan, transgender military personnel could begin serving openly early next year. It also acknowledges there are already thousands of trans people essentially serving silence.

Carter said in a statement that over the next six months, a working group will study ‘the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly.’

‘At my direction, the working group will start with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified,’ he stated.

Carter added: ‘I am directing that decision authority in all administrative discharges for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify themselves as transgender be elevated to Under Secretary (Brad) Carson, who will make determinations on all potential separations.’

The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), which has been among those pushing for an end to the ban, cheered the turn of events which comes nearly three years since the military officially ended its ban on gays, lesbians and bisexuals serving openly.

‘We are thrilled with Secretary Carter’s announcement that the Department of Defense is finally taking steps to lift the ban on transgender military service,’ said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. ‘All qualified Americans should be able to serve our great nation, regardless of their gender identity. Lifting the ban will dramatically improve the lives of our transgender service members and their families by allowing them to serve authentically.’

In March , AMPA launched a joint report with the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) highlighting the harm the regulations have inflicted on military families.

The report had noted that ‘no one should be forced to choose between defending the country they love and being true to their authentic self. ‘

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Greg Hernandez

www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-military-finalizing-plan-to-end-ban-on-transgender-members/

Anti-Marriage Equality Resolution Introduced in House of Representatives

Some anti-LGBT Members of Congress just can’t accept that the country has embraced marriage equality.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/anti-marriage-equality-resolution-introduced-in-house-of-representatives?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed