Multiple Marriage Bills near Vote - April 15 marriage news watch

AFER's bringing you a backstage look at what it's like to bring a case to the US Supreme Court. Cindy McCain announces her appearance in "8," Dustin Lance Black's play about the Prop 8 trial. There's also new marriage lawsuit in Utah, more good news in state polls, and six more Senators come out for the freedom to marry. At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Baume, and welcome to Marriage News Watch for April 8, 2013. Well the excitement from the Supreme Court arguments two weeks ago is simmering down. Now we wait for an ruling, which could come at any time but most likely will happen at the end of June. In case you haven't seen it already, AFER released an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court arguements. We followed the plaintiffs and legal team as they assembled in Washington DC and prepared for their day in court. Click the video below or visit AFER.org to watch this inside look at what it's like to bring a case before the highest court in the land. While the Supreme Court considers the freedom to marry, public opinion continues to rapidly shift in our favor. A new Quinnipiac poll shows 50% of Americans supporting marriage equality. Although other surveys have found higher levels of support, this is the first time this particular survey has reached 50%. Among the Americans who have come to support the freedom to marry is Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain. She'll appear next month in a Phoenix production of "8," Dustin Lance Black's play about the Prop 8 trial. Visit 8theplay.com for more details about the show, and to find a production near you. Meanwhile, more and more politicians are standing up for equality. Six sitting senators, Republican and Democrat, endorsed the freedom to marry this week, bringing the total to 53. They're Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Tom Carper of Delaware, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. Turning to states, Minnesota may be the next to implement marriage equality. But a handful of politicians have proposed civil unions as a compromise or backup plan. So far their civil union proposal has yet to attract the support already pledged to a full marriage bill. Three gay couples have filed a federal suit in Utah, challenging that state's constitutional amendment barring marriage. A Utah Voter Poll from 2012 shows that 71 percent of Utahns favor some form of relationship recognition, but just 28% support marriage. In contrast, a new Field Poll in California shows support for marriage is up to 61 percent to just 32 percent opposed. A Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey shows support at 64 to 30 percent. And voters in Virginia are split, with 45 percent in favor of marriage equality and 46 percent opposed. And finally this week we're about to get a final vote on a marriage bill in France. The French Senate will hear the measure starting on Tuesday of this week, with debate scheduled to end on Friday. Passage there appears likely. Those are the headlines this week. With oral arguments complete, we're now closer than ever to the conclusion of our years-long work to overturn Prop 8. Visit AFER.org to get the latest news and sign up for breaking alerts. At the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Baume. We'll see you next week.