InfoAnda - DOJ reviews Mass. rulings on fed gay marriage ban

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Pakistani Taliban kill 4, calling them US spies | 22 March 2010
Pakistan president moves to end political crisis | 28 March 2009
Ancient bone find may change human history | 3 August 2010

Australia police foil suicide attack on army base | 4 August 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : DOJ reviews Mass. rulings on fed gay marriage ban

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America DOJ reviews Mass. rulings on fed gay marriage ban By DENISE LAVOIE,AP Legal Affairs Writer - Friday, July 9 Send IM Story Print BOSTON – A judge's rulings in Massachusetts that the federal law banning gay marriage is unconstitutional could have implications far beyond the state if they're upheld by a higher court after an appeal by the Obama administration, legal experts say. U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro said the law, the Defense of Marriage Act, interferes with the right of a state to define marriage and therefore denies married gay couples some federal benefits. He ruled Thursday in favor of gay couples' rights in two separate challenges to DOMA, which the administration of President Barack Obama has argued for repealing. The rulings apply to Massachusetts, but if a higher court with a broader jurisdiction were to hear an appeal and agree with the judge's rulings, their impact would spread, said Boston College professor Kent Greenfield, a constitutional law expert. The rulings might encourage other attorneys general who oppose DOMA to sue to try to knock it down, he said. "One thing that's going to be really interesting to watch is whether the Obama administration appeals or not," he said. An appeal would be considered by the First Circuit, which also includes Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire. The Department of Justice didn't immediately say whether it would appeal; it was reviewing the judge's decisions, spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said. Massachusetts had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in the state, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004. The judge agreed and said the law forces Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens to be eligible for federal funding in federal-state partnerships. The act "plainly encroaches" upon the right of the state to determine marriage, the judge said in his ruling on a lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Martha Coakley. In a ruling in a separate case filed by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, or GLAD, the judge said the act violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. "Congress undertook this classification for the one purpose that lies entirely outside of legislative bounds, to disadvantage a group of which it disapproves," he wrote. "And such a classification the Constitution clearly will not permit." One of the plaintiffs in the GLAD lawsuit, Nancy Gill, said she was "thrilled" with the rulings. "I'm so happy I can't even put it into words," she said. Gill and Marcelle Letourneau married in Massachusetts in 2004 after being together for more than 20 years. When Gill, a U.S. postal worker, tried to add Letourneau to her family health plan, she was denied. The couple were forced to get separate insurance for Letourneau, who has a medical transcription business at home and does administrative work for the local Visiting Nurse Association. Letourneau called the rulings "life-changing." "I can get on Nancy's insurance," she said. "That's just a huge victory, and it gives us peace of mind." Coakley called it a "landmark decision" and "an important step toward achieving equality for all married couples in Massachusetts." The Department of Justice had argued the federal government had the right to set eligibility requirements for federal benefits _ including requiring that those benefits go only to couples in marriages between a man and a woman. Opponents of gay marriage said they were certain the rulings would be overturned on appeal. Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, called the judge's rulings "judicial activism" and said he was a "rogue judge." Gay marriage advocates will keep pushing their agenda in the courts, she said, but noted voters consistently have rejected gay marriage at the ballot box, including in a recent California vote. "We can't allow the lowest common denominator states, like Massachusetts, to set standards for the country," Lafferty said. Tom McClusky, senior vice president of the conservative Family Research Council, said the rulings result in part from "the deliberately weak legal defense of DOMA" that the Obama administration mounted on behalf of the government. "While the American people have made it unmistakably clear that they want to preserve marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman, liberals and activist judges are not content to let the people decide," McClusky said in a statement. The law was enacted by Congress in 1996, when it appeared Hawaii would soon legalize same-sex marriage and opponents worried that other states would be forced to recognize such marriages. The lawsuit challenges only the portion of the law that prevents the federal government from affording pension and other benefits to same-sex couples. Since then, five states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage. ___ Associated Press writers Jay Lindsay in Boston and Pete Yost in Washington contributed to this report. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles UK-World Summary Reuters - 45 minutes ago U.S. mulls response after court refuses drilling stay Reuters - 46 minutes ago Russia, US stage Cold War airport spy swap AFP - 49 minutes ago Russia and U.S. swap 14 spies in Cold War-style exchange Reuters - 55 minutes ago Riots break out in US city after police shooting verdict AFP - 1 hour 1 minute ago News Search Top Stories Boeing submits bid for US military mega project Greece to auction 1.25bln euros of debt: officials Actor Ed Norton named UN biodiversity ambassador Eurostar Paris-London service closes over safety fears US, Russia swap 10 Kremlin agents for 4 Western spies More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record Boeing submits bid for US military mega project Eurostar Paris-London service closes over safety fears US, Russia swap 10 Kremlin agents for 4 Western spies IMF's global growth forecast amid financial shocks More Most Viewed » Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts' Amputee cat gets bionic legs Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Friday, 9 July 2010
Iran leader says sanctions will not slow atom work
Obama urges Israel to seize chance for peace
Campaign launched against Comcast-NBC Universal deal
US to deliver billions in equipment to tackle Afghan bombs
US-TECH Summary
News
IMF presses US to cut debt
Cable companies, networks mull smaller TV bundles
Graft fears as massive cash sums fly out of Kabul: WSJ
Iran leader says sanctions will not slow atom work |
Pakistan busts gang of website hackers: official
Israel images 'show Hezbollah hiding arms'
Chechnya's leader hails paintball attacks on women |
News
Mauritania adopts new anti-terrorism law |
France, Netherlands seek to halt Internet censorship
Obama sees Turkey turning eastward if snubbed by EU
U.S., UK urge Iran halt stoning execution |
In Iraq, "young American male" yearns for action
Cuban dissident said to have ended hunger strike |
News
Drug war hits Mexico's richest city |
US to spend $3B to combat Afghan homemade bombs
Ishikawa thrilled with opening 67
2 NATO troops and Afghan police official killed
Indonesian anti-graft activist attacked
Hong Kong police smash large cross-border gambling ring
News
Catholic priest, nun murdered in China
Europe to give US access to bank data for terror probes
News
Cable companies, networks mull smaller TV bundles |
A Minute With: Jane Lynch on her Glee-filled year |
HBO dominates Emmy nods for 10th straight year |
Katy Perry, Eminem lead U.S. singles chart again |
Bomb kills NATO soldier in Afghanistan
Eurostar resumes London-Paris train service
U.S. and Russia to swap spies after 10 plead guilty |
Fujitsu: acquisition targets include software firms
News
Iran will not stone woman to death after outcry
US swaps 10 Russian spies for 4 'agents' held by Moscow
Australia halts web filter plan ahead of polls
Ahmadinejad says sanctions will not alter nuclear drive
Eurostar Paris-London service closes over safety fears
Ten Russian spies leave US after swap deal: report
Mattis named overall US commander of Iraq, Afghan wars
Venezuela nabs 2 for trying to 'Twitter' a run on banks
US, Russia swap 10 Kremlin agents for 4 Western spies
Cuba dissident ends hunger strike
U.S. eavesdropping agency says Private Citizen is purely R&D
Cuba takes first steps toward prisoner release |
News
Turkey still sees chance of Iran nuclear fuel swap deal
Suicide bomb kills 20 in NW Pakistan |
Venezuela arrests two for banking rumor Tweets
Japan PM party may miss vote target |
PayPal, Tesla founder goes public on divorce
China finds fresh trade in toxic milk powder: report |
Russia to free four Western spies for its agents
Fear belies Pakistan boasts of becalmed borderlands |
Slovak president appoints liberal Radicova as PM
U.N. council draft condemns attack on South Korean ship |
Cuba dissident Farinas ends hunger strike: opposition
Russia's Medvedev pardons four jailed spies
U.S. and Russia to swap spies after 10 plead guilty
Presbyterians split on gay-friendly measures
Pakistan bomb attack kills 12, wounds 90
Bangladesh bans religious punishments
Australia backs away from Timor refugee plan
Suicide bomb kills 20 in NorthWest Pakistan
Google confident of getting China web license |
Singer Coco set to step out of father's shadow
Watchdog slams Thai army, protesters over casualties
U.S. eavesdropping agency says Private Citizen is purely R&D |
Whose Emmy strategies worked, and whose didn't?
S.Africans favour 'orange' World Cup final
Anti-UN minister presses on with hunger strike
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Venezuela arrests two for banking rumor Tweets |
U.N. response on South Korea ship raises calls for North talks
Drake NY concert cancelled after security concerns
China seizes melamine-tainted milk powder
Fujitsu: acquisition targets include software firms |
South Africa's Bushmen try to adapt to modern life
Google confident China will renew licence
Rookie series rock the Emmys
Seoul shares rise as investors welcome rate hike
Japan PM party may miss vote target, policy at risk
"Inception" is no dream for marketers
South Korea unexpectedly raises key interest rate
Taiwan forecasts GDP, jobs rise from China pact
Winners and losers emerge at summer box office midpoint
Pakistan c.bank sells 10 bln rupees of T-bills in repo
News
Bank of Korea lifts rates; more hikes expected
PAKISTAN
News
US avoids labeling China currency manipulator
Seoul shares open up on U.S. gains, techs
World Bank approves $6.2 bln Pakistan lending plan
Police probe claims Gibson abused ex-girlfriend |
Fresh faces add zest to Emmy nominations |
Drake NY concert cancelled after security concerns |
Whose Emmy strategies worked, and whose didn't? |
Inception is no dream for marketers |
Winners and losers emerge at summer box office midpoint |
Scorsese sued by receiver for celebrity money man |
Italian media on strike over bill to curb wiretapping
Iran 'yet to confirm' woman's stoning stay: lawyer
Google says China has renewed its operating licence
Russia, U.S. swap 14 spies in Cold War-style exchange |
Gameworld: Motion games broaden uses beyond exercise
'Miscommunication' behind Afghan friendly fire deaths
Greece to auction 1.25bln euros of debt: officials
Amid gunfire, U.S. troops try to bring governance to Kandahar |
British soldier killed in Afghanistan
Google's Schmidt undaunted by Apple or Facebook
Suicide bomber kills five in Baghdad: ministry
U.N. council draft condemns attack on South Korean ship |
Google to resume gathering map data in 4 countries
West uses e-networking to subvert China: Study
India and Pakistan in first substantive talks since Mumbai |
Fujitsu plans to beef up cloud computing business
Aid ship to sail from Greece for blockaded Gaza |
Italian journalists strike over Berlusconi law |
Taliban commander captured as US raids intensify
Bettencourt affair heats up with raids, reports |
Sri Lanka war crimes rift with U.N. widens over protests |
K.Rouge prison chief sacks his international lawyer
Russia and U.S. swap 14 spies in Cold War-style exchange
N.Zealand anti-whaling activist deported from Japan
DOJ reviews Mass. rulings on fed gay marriage ban
Ex-officer convicted in Calif. train killing
Suicide attack kills 65 in Pakistan tribal belt
Gameworld: Motion games broaden uses beyond exercise |
Presbyterians split on gay-friendly measures
Google says China has renewed its operating licence
Online news site leads charge in French scandal |
Emmy snubs! Master grouse list
Thai PM plans first Myanmar visit next month
Google's Schmidt undaunted by Apple or Facebook |
Helicopters revolutionise mountain rescue in Nepal
Chinese monk held for murder of priest and nun
Al-Qaeda: poor Yemeni town cursed by its name
Google to resume gathering map data in 4 countries |
North Korea says jailed American attempted suicide
Fujitsu plans to beef up cloud computing business |
Pakistani rupee eases to new low; stocks post gains
Asia markets edge higher on US, Europe lead
India expects bumper harvest to ease prices: minister
Peugeot Citroen announces China joint venture
WRAPUP 1-S.Korea surprises with rate rise, more to come
China auto sales up nearly 50% in first half: report
Japan's DoCoMo plans new app platform for phones
Emmy snubs! Master grouse list |
Keeping up with self-made star Kim Kardashian |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01