September, 2011

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Scotland: Gay Minister Backs Marriage Equality

Monday, September 26th, 2011

An openly gay minister in the Church of Scotland has backed calls for marriage equality.

The Rev Scott Rennie, whose 2009 appointment threatened to split the church, said the change should be “celebrated”.

The Scottish government is holding a consultation on opening up marriage to gay couples.

Click here for gay wedding resources in the United Kingdom.

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Tags: gay minister, marriage equality, scotland, united kingdom

Retraction: Filipino President Does NOT Support Marriage Equality

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Malacanan Palace has denied that Philippines President Benigno Aquino III supports same-sex marriage, following widespread media reports last week that he had. On Thursday they said:

“President Aquino is not ready to tackle the issue of gay marriage for now. We have so many problems in the government. I think we would like to address concerns on poverty and corruption before anything else.”

Pressed for a date for Aquino to announce his stand on the matter anytime soon, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said: “That answer is ambiguous. He is not ready to discuss the issue of gay marriage.”

Full Story from Care2

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Tags: marriage equality, philippines, president benigno aquino iii

Matt Baume’s Marriage News Watch 9/26/11

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Holy cow. Where to begin? Dustin Lance Black’s play about Prop 8 hit Broadway for an incredible night. The tapes of the Prop 8 trial might actually get released. Florida’s working on domestic partnerships, North Carolina’s marriage ban is even worse than we thought, New Hampshire might repeal marriage, and Missouri — yes, Missouri — favors legal recognition for gay couples. All that, plus the first Republican co-sponsor for the repeal of DOMA. Wow.

Full Story from MNW

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Tags: Gay Marriage, marriage news watch, matt baume

Arizona Should Legalize Marriage Equality

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Heck, maybe I’m too close to the dialogue. Someone close to me who was gay died a few years ago. He was a special guy named Buddy, who had good friends, a family who loved him, and a witty sense of humor. Through that experience, our family met Buddy’s incredible friends who knew and loved him, in his life and as he died.

They shared their lives with Buddy and, in his death, shared their lives with our family in warmth, comfort and genuine affection.

Never – in any era or generation or ideology – could I ever look upon a single one of them as less than pure or undeserving of Heaven’s grace on the basis of whether they prefer women or men romantically. And even if they were those things to an arbitrary mind, that would not make it anyone’s right to legislate a prohibition on one of our society’s most basic civil rights: to marry for love.

Full Story from the Daily Courier

Click here for gay wedding resources in Arizona.

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Tags: arizona, Gay Marriage, legalize

DOMA Cases Make Way to US Supreme Court

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Consider this bit of braggadocio about the advances of gay rights: More than two-thirds of Americans say they would vote for their party’s “well-qualified gay candidate for president.”

The first openly gay male federal judge was just confirmed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate, and President Obama has nominated four other gay candidates for the bench.

California requires public school textbooks to include the historical contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Americans; New York lawmakers defied the Catholic Conference to legalize same-sex marriage; Congress allowed homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

Full Story From The Washington Post

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Tags: defense of marriage act, doma, lawsuits, supreme court

Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Caprice Strings, San Diego

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Periodically we’ll feature one of our vendors here to let our readers know about some great people who can help you plan the perfect wedding.

Gay Friendly San Diego Wedding Vendors

Caprice Strings provides elegant wedding entertainment, including beautiful strings (violin, viola, and cello) blended into a trio ensemble. Caprice Strings has more than twenty years of experience, and we have an extensive repertoire including baroque, classical and contemporary works – from Bach to Mozart to Gershwin and The Beatles.

Caprice Strings has alo performed at a wide variety of events. We’ve been featured at the daily luncheon in the Garden Room of the U.S. Grant Hotel, appeared at the historic Villa Montezuma, performed at exclusive Nordstrom events, and have even played for special occasions like the Challenger reception for Sail America, and the inaugural cruise of the Royal Viking Sun.

Caprice Strings has performed for weddings and receptions in a broad range of styles and settings, from formal catholic masses to outdoor ceremonies at Balboa Park. We’ve performed at almost every major hotel in the San Diego area.

We can provide music for preludes, ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, cocktails, receptions, or celebration breakfasts. We tailor our performances completely to our client’s wishes.

See the Caprice Strings Expanded Listing on Purple Unions Here

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Tags: caprice strings, gay weddings, lesbian weddings, san diego, wedding entertainers

Marriage Equality Events Today/Tomorrow: Tampa, Chicago, Louisville, Lexington, Poughkeepsie, Portland

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Gay Marriage Events Here’s our list of events today and tomorrow around the world relating to marriage equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and other LGBT equality issues. If you know of any other events – rallies, meetings, phonebanking, etc – please use the link below to add your event to our list!

–USA, FL, Tampa: 09/25, Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, 12:30-3:30 PM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 09/25, Out at the Fire Fundraiser for Equality IL, Crew, 10:30 AM-6 PM.
–USA, KY, Louisville/Lexington: 09/23-09/25, HRC “On the Road to Equality” Bus Tour, TBA, TBA.
–USA, NY, Poughkeepsie: 09/26, A Panel Discussion on Family & Marriage, The Bardavon, 6-7 PM.
–USA, OR, Eugene: 09/26, Phone Bank for Marriage Equality w/Basic Rights Oregon, TBD, 6-9 PM.
–USA, OR, Portland: 09/25, Phone Bank for Marriage Equality w/Basic Rights Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon Office, 4-7 PM.
–USA, OR, Portland: 09/25, 5K On The Parkway Fundraiser for Basic Rights OR, TBD, 12 PM.
–USA, OR, Portland: 09/26, Phone Bank for Marriage Equality w/Basic Rights Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon Office, 6-9 PM.

Full Events List/Add Your Own Event: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html

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Tags: events, Gay Marriage, marriage equality

MD: Democrat Who Turned Against Marriage Equality Bill Allegedly Stole Campaign Funds For Wedding

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Maryland Delegate Tiffany T. Alston is in deep trouble. The Democrat from Prince George’s district has been charged with felony theft, misdemeanor theft, fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary and she also violated two election laws.

She apparently stole all of this money to pay for the expenses of her wedding. Here is the kicker, Alston is dead set against same-sex marriage.

Apparently, marriage is so sacred and homosexuality so bad, that Alston would vote against it no matter what, but has no problem breaking one of the Ten Commandments because she was getting married. It is alleged that she wrote herself checks and cashing them for at least $3,560 in expenses for her wedding. She also diverted some funds to help pay the salary of an employee in her law firm.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay wedding resources in Maryland.

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Tags: maryland, theft, tiffany alston, wedding

Olbermann: God Loves Marriage Equality, Apparently

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

On last night’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann, something occurred that really makes one wonder if someone on his staff reads LezGetReal.

Olbermann pointed out that right after Governor Rick Perry held his prayer rally, wildfires broke out in Texas. This was in response to comments made by Pam Olsen, co-chair of Perry’s Florida presidential campaign.

Olbermann also points out that the majority of the states in which these disasters occur are in states which are heavily anti-gay.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay wedding resources.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: Gay Marriage, god, keith olbermann, natural disasters

NOM’s New “Marriage Anti Defamation Alliance Releases First Ad

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

A day after Maggie Gallagher stepped aside as chairman of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the anti-gay marriage group announced the Marriage Anti-Defamation Alliance (Marriage ADA), which will be headed by Gallagher.

The new project, according to NOM President Brian Brown, will shine a spotlight on the people “whose rights and dignity are denied by too many gay-marriage advocates.”

Marriage ADA is a “supportive community for those who have been threatened for standing for marriage, to nip the climate of fear being created in the bud, to expose for fair-minded Americans on both sides of the debate the threats being made, to conduct high-quality qualitative and quantitative research documenting the extent of the harm, to develop legislative and community proposals to protect Americans right to engage in the core civil rights: to organize, to vote, to speak, to donate, and to write for marriage.”