Displaying 1 - 10 of 24
Beyond the Fight for Marriage Equality
“DOMA’s principal effect is to identify a subset of state-sanctioned marriages and make them unequal…for it tells those couples, and all the world, that their otherwise valid marriages are unworthy of federal recognition.” – Justice Robert Kennedy, Majority Opinion in U.S. v. Windsor
On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in this landmark case, declaring Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act – which defined a spouse as someone of the opposite sex and marriage as a union between one man and one woman – unconstitutional. Following this decision, there was a surge in the fight for marriage equality all over the country. There are currently 19 states along with the District of Columbia that have removed bans on same-sex marriage. Recently, states have been overturning bans on same-sex marriage every other week. It seems that the movement for marriage equality and LGBT rights is at its highest and most successful point. But it’s not.
Reform Rabbis Weigh in on Marriage Equality
As marriage equality legislation advances in Washington state, New Jersey and Maryland, pro-equality faith voices have been making their voices heard at legislative hearings – and Reform Jews have wasted no time in speaking u
Fighting for Marriage Equality in Maine
Here in the Maine wilderness, fighting for justice can feel lonely.
A Welcome Achievement of Marriage Equality in Washington State
Rabbi David Saperstein: This progress has been a long time coming and brings our country closer to fully reflecting our founding values of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all.
Sanctifying the Fulfillment of a Covenant: A Same-Sex “Re-Marriage”
We got married on a Wednesday.
Former RAC Staffer Testifies for Marriage Equality in MD
Marriage equality advocates have had much to celebrate over the last few days: An appeals court struck down California’s anti-marriage equality Proposition 8,
Court Strikes Down Discriminatory "Defense of Marriage Act"
The month of February has been a good one for those of us who believe that all Americans deserve the equal protection of the law.
Appeals Court Strikes Down Proposition 8
Today, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth District issued a ruling in the Perry v.
Religion in Israel: Democracy and Pluralism Must go Hand in Hand
As the only thriving democracy in the Middle East, Israel is a beacon of light in a region often filled with despair. And yet, despite its democratic nature, when it comes to religious pluralism, Israel has a long way to go. In 1947, Israel adopted the Ottoman Millet system, formerly in place under the British Mandate, which allowed for religious groups within Israel to establish their own legal systems governing personal status laws (marriage, divorce, alimony, etc.) The URJ notes that there are presently 13 recognized religions in Israel, including Judaism, Islam, Druze, and several Christian denominations. Within the Jewish tradition, however, only Orthodox Judaism is recognized by the state under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. All other Jewish denominations, including Reform and Conservative, function under the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
January Hate Crimes Watch: Real Violence, Real Victims
Discussions of hate crimes often revolve around statistics and numbers, sometimes making it easy to lose sight of the human cost and the horrific nature of many of these attacks.