This morning, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine approved the initial summary language for a marriage equality amendment that would repeal of the 2004 “Defense of Marriage” Amendment. The Freedom to Marry movement and its sponsoring group, FreedomOhio, had submitted its second set of preliminary petitions to DeWine last week — revising the language he initially rejected — accompanied 574 more valid signatures than the 1,000 required.
The proposed amendment now goes to the state ballot board for final approval. Once they’ve signed off on it, that gives the FreedomOhio the go-ahead to start circulating petitions to gather the 385,245 valid signatures required to put it on the ballot. It has already signed up 1,400 volunteers in all 88 counties to launch the effort.
In a statement, Freedom to Mary chairman and former Cuyahoga County commissioner Tim Hagan said
The people of this state also understand this is an economic issue and we need all the good paying jobs we can attract and keep in this state. By making Ohio a Freedom To Marry state, we are sending a message that this is a warm and welcoming place to come, live, fall in love, marry and make a great life for yourself, your spouse and your children.
The amendment would allow any two individuals to marry legally in Ohio and specifies the right of any religious group not to perform or recognize any marriage that doesn’t square with their beliefs. — Anastasia Pantsios
This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2012.
In the beginning God made Adam & Eve. How can we multiply with Adam & Steve or 2 women.
We voted on this issue before & will vote it down again.
So, Tolsh, by your logic, infertile people shouldn’t marry because they can’t create offspring?
I can’t understand why people hate and try to step on the rights of others, these people must just be sad, miserable human beings.
The proposal is specious. There is nothing stopping the GLBTG community from marrying now. There is not a law against Gay marriage. It is entirely possible to find a Unitarian minister, or a reform Rabbi to preform a Gay marriage. You can have your ceremony,invite your guest, you can even have two little grooms dressed in powder blue tuxedos on top of your wedding cake if you like. What? You think the homo-police will jump out and arrest you? Get real. What the GLBTG community want is government endorsement of their marriage. That is something else entirely. Right now Gays have the same (read: equal) rights that I do. I can’t marry someone of the same gender and neither can they. Look, we all know or have Gay members in our family. They should live and be well and have a wonderful life. But to change 5000 years of recorded history because of a 50 year liberal bias in this country is absurd. If Gays want a Civil Union with all the rights and RESPONSIBILITIES that married people have, I think you will find very little push back. But the GLBTG community INSIST on that word, marriage. That, is a bridge too far. We need to ardently define our genders, and our gender roles. The genders are not interchangeable.
i got married to the most wonderful woman in ct because our state wont allow us to get married because of narrow minded people here , I live my life just like you do , I work ,pay tax,and love my country but enough is enough we have rights too love is love no matter who it is , we work where you work , we live where you live , we are every where.
So, Joe, if marriage hasn’t changed in “5000 years of recorded history,” do you mind if I ask how many sheep you sold your daughter for?
@Erica…………Erica, I would dialogue with you but, a battle of wits with an unarmed person is beneath me.
Ah, Joe, so would I. But a discussion with someone whose argument consists of hackneyed cliches is boring and predictable. Public opinion has changed immensely since 2004. Clearly your own hasn’t, which is fine by me, because fortunately marriage equality has garnered enough support that it just doesn’t really matter.
If Christian people cannot find any good in this, I have a positive perspective that maybe you can ponder on. Think of it this way: This is God’s way of stopping reproduction which in turn will make the entire world cleaner and less crowded. We complain about so many things: drugs, jobs, and schools, so why not put an end to those problems by not reproducing. I think it’s a brilliant idea that I think God himself would want to hear more about. I am positive that if God sat down with me today and talked about our feelings on the subject, he would not side with the side of negativity, greed, and hatred. He would want all of us to mold together and be happy. I have known more gay people who are better people because they came out than they were being “straight” That’s what makes it ok. I know even more divorced couple that say they wish they never married or would have waited to have children. I hope the people who are not in favor think hard about what Jesus would feel. This is a new day and I will definitely sign the petition and I am confident we can get all 385,245 signatures! Go Ohio!
Great. Now the annoying idiots from both sides will be running all over Ohio. Sigh.