推 bikaoru:布希去死吧= = 210.85.168.132 05/18
噓 Endlessnight:共和黨真討厭...生吞活剝的美帝嘴臉... 140.112.7.59 05/18
→ Endlessnight:不過民主黨更虛偽... 反正就是討厭美國... 140.112.7.59 05/18
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作者: Kukulza (小鬆餅) 看板: gay
標題: Re: 重大新聞：美國麻州正式允許同性戀結婚
時間: Tue May 18 12:50:08 2004
麻州今起實施同性戀婚姻合法化 中廣新聞夏明珠報導
麻州今天將成為美國第一個讓同性戀婚姻合法化的州，這件事情發生在總統大
選年，意義格外重大，它肯定會助長相關的法律和政治論戰，讓同性戀婚姻合法化
的問題，成為總統大選辯論的焦點。
前一陣子，舊金山也曾經辦理同性戀結婚登記，不過舊金山所屬的加州州政府
拒絕承認，紐約州的一個市還因為受理同性戀結婚，讓市長吃上了官司。
麻州並沒有因為這些擺在面前失敗的例子而卻步，當地時間星期一凌晨，它已
經開始接受同性戀結婚申請，六對打頭陣的伴侶，前一天下午就已經在市政廳外面
排隊等候，這件事讓麻州成了全國新聞焦點，特別是今年是總統大選年，而民主黨
候選人凱瑞，正好又是麻州出身。
凱瑞和布希一樣，對同性戀結婚，都抱持反對立場，所不同的是，布希主張以
修憲禁止同性戀結婚，凱瑞則支持給與同性戀伴侶有限度的法律承認。
麻州最高法院去年針對麻州法律禁止同性戀結婚，做出違憲的判決，這等於是
為同性戀婚姻合法化，清除了最主要的障礙，之後保守派團體曾經想透過聯邦最高
法院來翻案，不過沒有成功，麻州成為全美第一個替同性戀打開合法結婚之門的州
，預料將吸引許多外州的伴侶前去登記，麻州州長隆尼擔心這可能會讓麻州成為速
食式的同性戀婚姻天堂，已經指示所屬對於外州前往登記的伴侶，務必從嚴審核。
麻州同志婚姻合法化 全美首例 TVBS張舜芬報導
美國東北部的麻塞諸薩州，１７日成為全美第一個允許同性伴侶合法結婚的州
，這也讓美國成為世界上第４個同性伴侶可以合法結婚的國家，許多苦戀多年的同
志情侶１６日晚上開始排隊等著領結婚申請書，他們都十分期待這歷史性一刻的到
來。
星期天半夜，劍橋市市政府廣場前聚集了好幾百人，有好幾十對同志伴侶排隊
等著領取結婚申請書，他們都將成為美國建國２００多年來首批合法結婚的同性伴
侶，而麻州各大城市也都為了這歷史性的一刻，沉浸在歡樂的氣氛中。波士頓市市
長蘇利文：「今晚我們要好好慶祝，少談政治。」
不過目前美國仍然有３８個州，在州憲法中明令禁止同性婚姻。在亞利桑納州
的鳳凰城，星期六就有十多對同志伴侶舉行婚禮，抗議州政府對同性婚姻下達的禁
令，麻州能夠成功打破禁令，允許同志伴侶合法結為連理，實在得來不易。
福斯新聞網的民調顯示，目前仍有８０％的共和黨人以及三分之二的美國民眾
反對同志婚姻，布希總統也想要提出憲法修正案，把婚姻定義成一男一女的結合，
而麻州參議員出身的民主黨總統候選人凱利也反對同性婚姻，隨著１１月美國總統
大選將近，同志婚姻勢必會成為熱門話題。
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作者: Kukulza (小鬆餅) 看板: gay
標題: Re: 重大新聞：美國麻州正式允許同性戀結婚
時間: Tue May 18 12:58:41 2004
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/16/rights.gay.marriage.reut/index.html
Massachusetts to allow same-sex marriages starting Monday
First state in U.S. to allow such unions (Monday, May 17, 2004)
BOSTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) -- Same-sex couples will legally exchange
vows Monday when Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to allow gay
marriage, an election-year milestone likely to fuel legal and political
battles nationwide.
Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples are expected to seek marriage licenses
as of Monday from city and town clerks in Massachusetts, followed by the
customary ringing of church bells and the cutting of wedding cakes -- many
topped with the figures of two brides or two grooms.
"May 17 is a historic day: It's the day that marks a new chapter of equality
for gay and lesbian families," said gay rights activist Marty Rouse. "For
the first time in U.S. history, we can receive the critical legal rights and
protections that come only through marriage."
Thousands of same-sex couples were married at San Francisco City Hall earlier
this year but the marriages were not recognized by the state of California.
A mayor in New York state is being prosecuted after performing gay marriages
in February.
The famously liberal city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to Harvard
University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has ordered its
clerk to begin accepting applications at midnight, and the first weddings are
expected later that morning.
The issue has catapulted Massachusetts into the national spotlight, especially
in an election year when its junior senator, Democrat John Kerry, is expected
to face Republican President Bush in the race for the White House.
Both candidates oppose gay marriage, with Bush backing a constitutional ban
and Kerry favoring limited legal recognition for same-sex couples.
Conservatives have blasted Massachusetts' top court, which ruled last year
that a state ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional and allowed same-sex
couples to wed legally.
Final hurdle cleared
The final hurdle was cleared Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court failed to
block a last-minute legal challenge filed by conservative opponents of same-
sex weddings.
A federal appeals court has agreed to hear the case next month, but by that
time clerks will probably have granted hundreds of marriage licenses to
homosexual couples.
Some may be given to out-of-state gay couples who come to Massachusetts in
defiance of Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, who has told them to stay home amid
fears his state could become "the Las Vegas of same-sex marriage."
Citing a 1913 state law that prevents Massachusetts from marrying any couple
if the marriage would be "void" in their home states, Romney's administration
has warned clerks they can issue licenses to out-of-state couples only if
they plan on settling in Massachusetts.
Several clerks, noting the statute has not been applied to heterosexual
couples for many years, plan on issuing licenses to all gay couples from out
of state who request them. Gay rights advocates say they plan to challenge
the law.
It is expected some couples will take their marriage licenses back to states
where they may not be not recognized, setting up legal test cases that courts
around America will have to resolve.
"The creation of a right to same-sex marriage in the end will not strengthen
the institution of marriage within our society but only weaken it as marriage
becomes only one lifestyle choice among many others," said Boston's Roman
Catholic archbishop, Sean O'Malley.
Tourism officials in Cape Cod's Provincetown, where many gays live, say they
expect at least $1 million in extra business from a wave of gay unions.
Owners of a gay wedding registry, Rainbow Wedding Network, say thousands of
couples from New England have signed up for gifts.