Overview

We’re counting down the days to a Supreme Court ruling on Prop 8. Marriage may go to voters in Ohio, but there’s some dispute over timing. New polls show ongoing progress in California and across the nation. And New Mexico’s Attorney General addresses the challenges to the state’s marriage ban.

Transcript

We’re counting down the days to a Supreme Court ruling on Prop 8. Marriage may go to voters in Ohio, but there’s some dispute over timing. New polls show ongoing progress in California and across the nation. And New Mexico’s Attorney General addresses the challenges to the state’s marriage ban.

At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I’m Matt Baume. Welcome to Marriage News Watch for June 10, 2013.

There’s only a few days left for the Supreme Court to rule on Prop 8. So far they’ve set aside June tenth, thirteenth, seventeenth, and twenty-fourth for rulings. But they could add more days as we get closer to the end of the month.

Visit AFER.org for an illustrated guide to the various ways the court could rule. And subscribe here you YouTube for breaking alerts on the case.

In a surprise announcement this week, an FreedomOhio unveiled plans to bring marriage to the ballot in 2014. They also claimed to be working with Human Rights Campaign, Equality Ohio, Freedom to Marry, and various other organizations.

But within a few hours, those other groups sought to distance themselves from the move. According to various spokespeople, there has been conversation but no agreement on timing.

An Ohio ballot measure in 2014 would face tough challenges. Although polls show support growing and opposition falling, public opinion is still very close. For comparison, organizers in Oregon have announced plans for a ballot measure of their own in 2014. Polling there shows marriage with a lead of nearly ten percentage points. When Maine successfully brought marriage to the ballot, polling showed a lead of nearly fifteen points.

And new polling in California shows support is stronger than ever, with 55 percent in favor to 37 percent opposed.

National attitudes continue to trend in our favor, according to multiple new polls released last week. We have more data on marriage right now than ever before, which allows us to paint a highly precise picture of the growth in public support. We’ll be keeping a close eye to see how that trend is affected by the ruling on Proposition 8 expected before the end of the month.

Meanwhile in New Mexico last week, Attorney General Gary King called the state’s marriage laws “vulnerable to challenge.” The ACLU has already filed suit over the state’s refusal to issue marriage licenses. And last week a second couple filed a lawsuit of their own.

Minnesota has begun issuing marriage licenses. The first documents were issued last week, and take effect on August First.

Subscribe here on YouTube and at AFER.org for breaking news alerts on the Prop 8 case. And remember to like this video and share it with your friends.

At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I’m Matt Baume. We’ll see you next week.