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US Judge: Halt Deportation of Gay Spouse

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

A U.S. Immigration judge on Thursday afternoon halted deportation proceedings against Alfonso Garcia, the bi-national spouse of a gay man, and instead ordered that a routine green card petition process be initiated.

While seemingly “routine and unremarkable” that the judge ordered a Green Card petition case be heard — and stopping the deportation — the mere fact that the judge and the government lawyers acknowledge Garcia’s being legally married to his American husband Brian Willingham, is a victory for gay and lesbian bi-national couples who find themselves in similar situations, said Garcia’s attorney, Lavi Soloway in a phone call with LGBTQ Nation.

Full Story from LGBTQ Nation

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: california, deportation, gay spouse, halt, us judge

Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Albert Postel Art of Photography, Los Angeles, California

Saturday, March 17th, 2012

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.

“Albert is absolutely amazing!” one of Albert’s clients said about having him photograph her wedding day. He “achieved the impossible – he made it possible for me to have fun at my own wedding.”

Albert Postel has made many couples happy over the last twenty years, bringing innovation, creativity, and professionalism to his work as an acclaimed Los Angeles wedding photographer. He’s one of those very rare photographers who knows how to gently guide anyone he photographs into the perfect pose, and he also manages to blend into the crowd to bring you those impossibly candid shots everyone loves.

Albert Postel was born in Europe, and loved photography as a boy. When he came to the US, he followed his childhood passion and became a very successful photographer. Many of his clients think his European background gives him an inherent advantage over many others in his profession.

See the Albert Postel Expanded Listing on Purple Unions Here

Gay Friendly Wedding Vendors in Los Angeles

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Tags: Albert Postel Art of Photography, california, gay weddings, lesbian weddings, los angeles

Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Behind the Bash Parties & Events, San Diego

Monday, March 12th, 2012

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.

Behind the Bash! Parties and Events can help you create the perfect event – let us orchestrate your dream wedding and reception – we know how to put together a premier event that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives together.

Behind the Bash! Parties and Events has the know-how, experience, and connections to execute your entire event from behind the scenes. We’ve also done many business retreats, concerts and charity events – no event is too large or small.

Let us bring our creativity and attention to detail to bear for your wedding – we’re enthusiastic about every event, and we can make the day everything you dreamed about! Our rates are very competitive, and we guarantee that our partner vendors will also give you excellent customer service.

See the Behind the Bash Expanded Listing on Purple Unions Here

Gay Friendly San Diego Wedding Vendors

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Tags: Behind the Bash Parties & Events, california, gay weddings, lesbian weddings, san diego

Featured Gay Friendly Wedding Vendor: Weddings by the Sea, Santa Barbara

Friday, March 9th, 2012

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.

I am Alma Rose Middleton, and I live in Santa Barbara, California, where I perform wedding ceremonies. I specialize in same sex couples and gay marriage, and am thrilled that California now acknowledges same sex marriage as legal, binding, and worthy of respect.

I am married to a wonderful man, and know firsthand that there is such a thing as marital bliss – he inspires my work as a Wedding Celebrant & Officiant.

I offer very affordable wedding packages that include the officiant, marriage licnese and photographer, starting for less than $500. I serve the greater Santa Barbara area and Los Angeles county, and would love to be your guide as you prepare for the most important day of your lives – so you can be a “guest” at your own wedding celebration.

See the Weddings by the Sea Expanded Listing on Purple Unions Here

Gay Friendly Wedding Vendors in California

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Tags: california, gay weddings, lesbian weddings, santa barbara, weddings by the sea

CA: Prop 8 Repeal Proposal This Year Lost at Equality CA By One Vote

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

A proposal to try to repeal Proposition 8 in 2012 failed an Equality California board vote by one vote, officials from Love Honor Cherish claim in a recent letter to EQCA.

The Los Angeles-based LHC, which recently dropped its bid to repeal Prop 8 in 2012, began circulating the letter this week.

A Field Poll released Wednesday, February 29 shows that 59 percent of registered California voters support same-sex marriage, the highest level ever recorded during 35 years of polling on the issue in the state.

Full Story from BAR

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: california, eqca, equality california, prop 8, repeal, vote

CA: New Poll Shows 59% Now Support Marriage Equality

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Marriage Equality USA is thrilled that Californians now support the freedom to marry for lesbian and gay couples by a 59% – 34% margin, according to a new California Field Poll released today. “Today’s poll results mark a turning point in public opinion in favor of the freedom to marry for all loving, committed same-sex couples in California,” said John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA’s Legal Director.

“Coupled with the Ninth Circuit’s opinion striking down Proposition 8 earlier this month and legislative victories in the states of Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland, the momentum in favor of marriage equality has never been stronger,” said Lewis.

However, despite a substantial majority of Californians now in favor of marriage equality, loving, committed same-sex couples are still prohibited from marrying because the Ninth Circuit’s decision invalidating Proposition 8 is currently stayed as the opponents of equality attempt to appeal it further.

Full Story from Gay USA

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: california, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, poll

CA: Mark Leno Introduces Bill to Affirm Religious Freedom

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

SB 1140 reinforces that no clergy member will be required to perform any marriage that is against his or her belief system. So maybe the religious right can stop whining about lesbian and gay civil rights to marriage equality.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Mark Leno introduced legislation today that clarifies the religious freedom of clergy members in California. Senate Bill 1140 reaffirms the separation of church and state and clarifies under state law that no member of clergy will be required to perform a marriage that is contrary to his or her faith. SB 1140 also protects churches from losing their tax-exempt status if they refuse to perform a marriage that is contrary to their faith. The bill is sponsored by Equality California and California Council of Churches IMPACT.

“With the recent appellate court decision on Proposition 8, we know that it is only a matter of time before same-sex couples in California will again have the freedom to marry,” said Senator Leno, D-San Francisco. “Under SB 1140, churches and clergy members who fear their religious views are threatened by allowing marriage for same-sex couples will have clear and solid protections under state law. Similarly, churches that welcome same-sex couples will be able to fully recognize those families within their faith.”

Full Story from GayUSA

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: california, mark leno, marriage equality, religious freedom

CA: The Prop 8 Case, A Primer

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

The proponents of Proposition 8 have filed the necessary paperwork today asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reconsider the three-judge panel’s decision on Feb. 7 in Perry v. Brown that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

The lead attorney for the proponents of Proposition 8 told Metro Weekly earlier today that they would be filing such a motion. After the judges receiving a full briefing from the parties as to whether the matter should be reheard, all active circuit judges will vote as to whether an en banc rehearing should be held.

If a majority vote in the affirmative, the chief judge of the circuit, Alex Kozinski, and 10 other randomly selected circuit judges will hear the appeal.

Full Story from Metro Weekly

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: appeal, california, lawsuit, marriage equality, primer, prop 8

CA: Supporters Ask for Full 9th Circuit Ruling on Prop 8 Case

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

With Tuesday serving as the deadline for Prop. 8 proponents to request another appeal on the ruling that declared the voter initiative unconstitutional, proponents of California’s same-sex marriage ban say they’re seeking a full review by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prop. 8 attorney Charles Cooper tellsMetroWeekly that he is seeking en banc review for the case — Prop. 8 was declared unconstitutional in 2010 by a federal judge, and a three judge appellate panel upheld that ruling two weeks ago.

Now, the group ProtectMarriage, behind the 2008 antigay initiative, are seeking more of the Ninth Circuit to review the case. A majority of the approximately 20 Ninth Circuit judges have to approve an en banc review. Because the Ninth Circuit is a large circuit, they could approve a partial en banc, which would allow 11 judges to rule on the constitutionality of Prop. 8.

Full Story from The Advocate

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: 9th circuit, appeal, california, en-banc, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, proo 8

CA: Love Honor Cherish Gives Up On 2012 Prop 8 Repeal Effort

Monday, February 13th, 2012

The efforts to collect signatures to qualify an initiative to repeal California’s Proposition 8 law, which bans same-sex marriage, have ceased.

Eric Harrison, interim executive director of Love Honor Cherish, which was leading the efforts, said via email today that the signature-gathering would cease.

“Following last week’s victory in the 9th Circuit, we are now hopeful that weddings of gay and lesbian couples will resume by the end of this year, or even, at the end of this month,” Harrison wrote. “And what an incredible day that will be when gays and lesbians are able to marry again in California!”

Full Story from SDGLN

Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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Tags: 2012, california, love honor cherish, prop 8, repeal effort