October, 2011

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WA: New Poll Shows 55% Approve of Marriage Equality

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Washington Gay Marriage PollA new statewide poll by the University of Washington Center for Survey Research found most voters would support a state gay marriage law if it’s approved by the Legislature.

Of voters surveyed, 55 percent indicated they would uphold a Legislature-approved same-sex marriage law if it were challenged by referendum. The poll found 38 percent would oppose the law and 7 percent were undecided.

However, additional questions in the poll found that 44 percent of voters surveyed said gays and lesbians should have the same legal right as straight couples to marry; and 22 percent said they should have the same legal rights as married couples, but it should not be called marriage.

Full Story from the Seattle Times

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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The Real History of Marriage

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Homosexual acts between men are presently illegal in the tiny Central American nation of Belize, with punishments as harsh as ten years in prison. But according to the quite nasty alert I’ve just been forwarded, Belize’s sodomy law will be reviewed by the nation’s highest court on December 5th.

The homosexual organization UNIBAM (United Belize Advocacy Movement) and Caleb Orozco has brought a lawsuit against the Attorney General, and thus, Govt. of Belize, seeking to change Section 53 of the Criminal Code, which says: “Any person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or any animal shall be liable to 10 years imprisonment.”

Orosco & UNIBAM are seeking to remove the words “any person or” so that this law would not apply to interpersonal relationships but only that of sex with animals.

Full Story from the Huffington Post

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Scotland: Glasgow Votes to Support Marriage Equality

Monday, October 31st, 2011

UK Transgender Couple MarriesCouncillors in Glasgow have agreed a motion supporting Scottish Government proposals to allow same-sex marriage.

Councillor Alex Dingwall, who tabled the motion, said: “I’m immensely happy that today Glasgow has continued our city’s proud record of opposing discrimination in all its forms and unanimously supporting the campaign for marriage equality.

“In doing so we have rejected those who want to tell our LGBT community in Glasgow that they are not equal, that they are wrong, that they are evil. We are happy to join with the Unitarians, Quakers, Metropolitan Church, Liberal Judaism and others who want to provide equal marriage.”

Full Story from Pink News

Click here for gay wedding resources in the United Kingdom.

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Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Pearl’s Key West

Monday, October 31st, 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 Key West Wedding Vendors

Pearl's Key West - Key West, FloridaPearl’s Key West is a caribbean resort in Key West, perfectly situated a half block from the quiet end of Duval Street, only two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. Our buildings includes a former cigar factory, cigar-makers’ cottages and a wood-frame motel Pearl’s Key West is one of the largest properties in Old Town.

Pearl’s Key West, formerly a women-only property, is now open to everyone, and mixes the best of old Key West with the modern amenities travelers expect today, all in the tropical surroundings of the American Caribbean.

Pearl’s Key West is a clothing-optional (tops only), mostly adult, gay-friendly, straight-friendly (and, in some rooms, pet-friendly) resort. We still offer special weeks just for women travelers – and some for families as well – contact us for details. Pearl’s Key West embodies the true One Human Family spirit that Key West is known for.

See the Pearl’s Key West Expanded Listing on Purple Unions Here

Marriage Equality Events Today/Tomorrow: Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Iowa City, Boston, Minneapolis

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Gay Marriage EventsHere’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, IA, Cedar Rapids: 10/31, Absentee Ballot Return Chase Action (Door-to-Door), 5-8 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd
–USA, IA, Des Moines: 11/01, Phonebanking for Equality w/One Iowa, One Iowa Office, 6-9 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd
–USA, IA, Iowa City: 11/01, Phonebanking for Equality w/One Iowa, Wesley Ctr, 6-9 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd
–USA, MA, Boston: 11/01, Phone Bank for Transgender Equal Rights Bill, Mass Equality Offices, 6-9 PM. http://bit.ly/uLxUQw
–USA, MN, Minneapolis: 11/01, Doing Justice: An Interfaith Panel on Same-Gender Marriage and Social Movements, Univ. of Minneapolis, 7 PM. http://bit.ly/o0LEYs

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

NC: Marriage Equality Group Takes Message to Asheville

Monday, October 31st, 2011

North Carolina Gay Marriage FightSometimes, all it takes is a little conversation. That’s what Neighbors for Equality is hoping with its latest initiative, Coffee and Conversation.

Neighbors for Equality, a grassroots initiative based in Boiling Springs, expanded its efforts to prevent the passing of Amendment No. 1 to the North Carolina Constitution by traveling to Asheville for Coffee and Conversation. If voters pass the amendment in May, the amendment would prohibit same-sex marriage in North Carolina and define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Tyler J. McCall and Collyn Warner, Neighbors for Equality executive directors, said Coffee and Conversation is designed to facilitate open dialogue about Amendment No.1 and develop strategies to defeat its passing.

Full Story from the Gaston Gazette

Click here for gay wedding resources in North Carolina.

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Full-Court Press to Repeal DOMA, One Way or Another

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Defense of Marriage ActEfforts to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act are in full swing, as a major lawsuit advances, another lawsuit is filed, and a Senate panel meets soon to consider legislation to overturn the law.

“We are working hard to strike the blow that will end DOMA,” said Mary Bonuato, civil rights project director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and lead attorney in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management.

Gill is one of several lawsuits filed by gay spouses who say their lives have been injured by DOMA, which defines marriage, for federal purposes, as the union of a man and a woman. DOMA also tells states they do not have to recognize out-of-state gay unions.

Full Story from the Washington Times

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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NH: New Grassroots Coalition to Fight Marriage Equality Repeal

Monday, October 31st, 2011

New Hampshire Gay Marriage RepealA bipartisan coalition of business, civic, community leaders, and residents who support marriage equality have launched a grass-roots campaign to stop lawmakers from repealing New Hampshire’s same-sex marriage law.

A spokesman for the group — Standing Up for New Hampshire Families — said that GOP lawmakers should focus solely on creating jobs, assisting businesses, and reinvigorating the economic climate in the state, and not on repealing the law that has been in effect almost two years which legalizes same-sex marriages.

Former New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick, who is currently dean of the University of New Hampshire Law School, is a supporter of the new group. Broderick issued a statement Thursday coinciding with the announcement, saying “it would be tragic to turn back the clock to the dark days of discrimination, intolerance and false stereotypes.”

Full Story from LGBTQ Nation

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Hampshire.

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Santorum: Marriage Equality’s All Romney’s Fault

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Rick Santorum on Saturday told a crowd of conservative Republicans that he’s finished making apologies for his opposition to gay marriage and blamed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for its legalization.

Speaking in Des Moines, Iowa at the Presidential Preference Convention hosted by the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, Santorum said he was being targeted in the media for his socially conservative stances.

“If you look at the debates, every single moral, cultural question has come to me first. I was in a conversation with Mike Huckabee the other day. I said, ‘Mike, they’re trying to Huckabee me.’ They’re trying to paint [me] into that box that you’re the social conservative candidate and ask you all these social conservative questions.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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New Jersey Tries to Get Marriage Equality Lawsuit Dismissed

Monday, October 31st, 2011

New Jersey Marriage EqualityThe latest lawsuit that seeks to force New Jersey to recognize gay marriage will soon be going before a judge for the first time.

State Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg has scheduled a hearing for Friday on the state’s motion to have the suit dismissed. The state Attorney General’s Office says the matter is already settled.

Full Story from nj.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Jersey.

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