Roundup: DC City Council Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages from Other States

May 5, 2009, 11:07am

DC City Council votes to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states; Randall Terry arrested at Notre Dame; pregnant British woman to face firing squad in Laos; anti-choice voices on Souter's legacy.

DC City Council Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages Performed in Other States
The Washington, DC, City Council has voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, the Washington Post reports.
The vote was a unanimous 13-0, but Council member Marion Barry asked
that the bill be reconsidered because he didn’t know what he was voting
on, the Post explains. "If Congress does not intervene, council member
David A. Catania
(I-At Large) has said that he will introduce a separate bill this year
to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in the District."

Randall Terry Arrested at Notre Dame
Anti-choice crusader Randall Terry has been arrested at the University of Notre Dame for violating a no-trespassing order, the Kansas City Star reports. "The Operation Rescue founder has been in South Bend protesting Notre Dame’s decision to invite President Barack Obama to speak at the school’s May 17 commencement. Friday’s protesters pushed carriages containing dolls covered in fake blood."

Pregnant British Woman to Face Firing Squad in Laos
A pregnant British woman arrested in Laos, allegedly carrying 680g of heroin, may face a firing squad, the Guardian reports: "Samantha Orobator was arrested at Wattay Airport in Laos in August last
year after she was allegedly caught with 680g of heroin. In Laos,
smuggling more than 500g carries a mandatory death sentence."

[Reprieve director Clive] Stafford Smith said:

"She is five months pregnant, without ever having met a lawyer, facing a show trial for her life

"If this provokes a miscarriage, the Laotians should understand that they have caused the death of this baby.

"There can hardly be a circumstance where scheduling a capital trial is less appropriate."

Anti-Choice Voices on Souter’s Legacy, Obama’s Court Pick
Catholic News Service weighs in on Souter’s legacy: "As Justice David Souter prepares
to retire this summer after 19 years on the Supreme Court, he leaves a
mixed legacy of jurisprudence: not so friendly to pro-life perspectives
on cases involving abortion, but sometimes strong for religious
interests in First Amendment areas." CNS also observes that though Casey reaffirmed the central holding of Roe, "In some ways Casey made it
easier for states to regulate abortion. The ruling upheld requirements
for informed consent, parental consent, 24-hour waiting periods and
record keeping and reporting. But it reaffirmed the part of Roe that
said a woman has a right to abortion for any reason before viability
and for any maternal health-related reason after viability."

LifeNews reports on Obama’s looming Supreme Court pick:

The
concern for pro-life advocates is that Obama will replace Souter with
a young pro-abortion judge who will keep Roe v. Wade and its allowance
of virtually unlimited abortions in place for decades…
"I think you always assume, rightly so, that whomever you choose
is going to have a significant impact on the court for quite some
time," [White House spokesperson Robert] Gibbs said.

The Boston Globe
offers a roundup of what reproductive rights, civil rights, and
conservative legal groups have to say on Obama’s pending Supreme Court pick.

Other News to Note
May 4: HuffPo: The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

May 4: The News-Dispatch (Michigan): Nurse-run sex ed course teaches abstinence

May 4: WSJ Blogs: The Souter Situation Makes it Harder to Dodge Some Tough Ones

May 4: LifeNews: South Carolina Republicans Discuss Abortion Waiting Period, Pro-Life Group Calls

May 4: BeliefNet: Ethical Riddle for Pro-Choicers

May 4: America Blog: Is Cantor suggesting that the GOP will go pro-gay and pro-choice?

May 4: Salt Lake Tribune: Study links fertility and longevity

May 4: AP: Delay on "conscience in health care" bill in La.

May 4: Intellectual Conservative: Barack Obama, Notre Dame, and Abortion

May 4: Racine News: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin: Gets Wisconsin Tested

May 4: The American Prospect: Neglecting the Swine Flu Frontlines

May 1: Dallas News: Texas Senate gives tentative OK to ultrasound bill, ‘Choose life’ license plates

May 3: LA Times: Abortion issue looms over Supreme Court choice