Before Tuesday, no state had ever legalized same-sex marriage through a popular vote (although numerous states had voted to outlaw it). Today, not one but two states have voter-approved marriage equality laws on the books, and another state shot down a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. We still have a long way to go, not to mention a massive stink-bomb of a federal gay marriage ban to overturn, but in this latest round of love vs. hate, love won in a big way, and that’s something to celebrate. Read on to get the details on all the equality measures that made history last night… Keep reading »
Tag Archives: gay marriage
Appeals Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act
Bigots "Lost" Gay Marriage
Bigots admit they've lost the gay marriage battle in our generation. Read More »
Great gay news today: The U.S. appeals court of New York struck down the contentious Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as strictly that which can take place between a man and a woman.
In a 2-to-1 decision, the panel ruled in favor of Edith Windsor, an 83-year-old lesbian who argued that the law was discriminatory. Windsor’s suit — filed by the American Civil Liberties Union — stems from her relationship with longtime partner Thea Clara Spyer. The two were engaged in 1967 and married in Canada in 2007. When Spyer died in 2009, Windsor was unable to claim her estate, because the pair’s marriage wasn’t legally recognized in the United States. Instead, Windsor was forced to pay a $363,000 estate tax — a fee she wouldn’t have had to pay if her marriage had been recognized.
“Same Love” By Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: A Rap/Short Film Supporting Marriage Equality
I can’t change / even if I wanted to
Such is the chorus for “Same Love,” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert, a new song released this summer which was released in a short film today. I want to say the rap is pro-gay marriage or even pro-gay rights, but really both the song and the incredibly touching video are really just pro-human decency. Keep reading »
Adopt Me Please: Family Portrait That Gets Attacked By Zombies
“We don’t like to say LGBT families are better than hetero families,” writes the gay blog Queerty, “but, um, this one kind of is.” Truth.
Pseudodad blogger Evan Stoskopf, his hubby Ken, and their three kids wanted a family portrait, but didn’t want it to have one of those lame-o backgrounds they have at Sears. So the family engineered a zombie attack on their precious family moment and Ashley Jones Collichio from Luke Austin Photography shot the clan kicking some zombie ass, together as a family. How sweet! (No, seriously, I am a big sap and this happy family is totally making me tear up.)
Click through the gallery to see all their (fake) bloody pics! [Queerty via Pseudodad]
A Pink Shirt With Power
As of right now, there are only six states that recognize gay marriage. That’s ridiculous, but what’s not? The Pink States Project, which allows you to wear your support of gay marriage on your chest — in a cool (and pink!) fashion. Right now, you can choose from among the six states where gay marriage is legal and as more and more states pass pro-gay marriage laws, more tees will be added. Show your support for gay marriage with one of these shirts. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go to the Human Rights Campaign. [$30, Pink States]
Watch This: Maine Firefighters Stand Up For Marriage Equality
On November 6th, the citizens of Maine will vote on a ballot measure that aims to legalize gay marriage. Polls are hinting that it’s going to be a close contest, but this new campaign ad, featuring four volunteer firefighters–three straight, one gay–presents a powerful message in favor of marriage equality. “When we clear a call, I get to go home to my wife,” says firefighter Eric Humphrey. “The guys I work with should be able to marry the person they love.” Major props to these guys for speaking out to support the civil rights of their friends and coworkers. Hopefully their words will strike a chord with voters. [The Advocate]
Lady Gaga: The Pope’s View On Homosexuality “Does Not Matter To The World”
“I think that gay marriage is going to happen. It must. We are not actually equal — humanity — if we are not allowed to freely love one another. What the Pope thinks of being gay does not matter to the world. It matters to the people who like the Pope and follow the Pope. It is not a reflection of all religious people.”
– Lady Gaga on a French radio show spit some truth that the Vatican probably found hard to hear. But I like the way Gaga said this: she didn’t say the Pope is wrong, she just said his opinion doesn’t matter to people who don’t follow him. We can fight all we want about who’s right and who’s wrong about the “morality” of homosexuality and gay marriage, but you can’t really argue with the fact that the opinions of other people’s religious leaders don’t matter to most of us. That is precisely why when bigots try to explain to me that their anti-gay beliefs are just religious, I immediately invoke my all-loving, all-accepting deity, the Flying Spaghetti Monster. [Fox News]
“Modern Family” Star Launches Bow Tie Campaign For Marriage Equality
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who stars as the lovable, tightly wound Mitchell in “Modern Family,” has a lot of big news to share. Not only is he newly engaged to his partner Justin Mikita, the couple is launching a foundation called “Tie The Knot,” which will advocate for a “more stylish and equal America” through the sale of limited edition bow ties. “We’ve teamed up with The Tie Bar to create a series of bow ties that are inspired by art and fashion, things that we love,” Ferguson explains. “All the proceeds will go to various organizations who are in the trenches fighting for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans every day.” The accessories will be available in November, but even if you’re not in the market for a new bow tie, I’d encourage you to watch this video, which is a touching and funny appeal for marriage equality, featuring two people who are very obviously in love and want nothing more than to make it official. [Tie The Knot]
Gay Marriage Scaremongering Is The Most Hilarious Campaign Ad Of The 2012 Election
I thought the very intense lady who claims she “survived” an abortion, despite the fact that logic makes no sense, was the most guffaw-inducing campaign ad of the 2012 election. Wrong! It’s this anti-gay marriage scaremongering ad about how President Obama is “forcing” gay marriage on Americans, which is seemingly targeted at your racist grandma who worried that integrating the schools was “forcing” interracial marriage. If you can spare a moment away from your mandatory butt-sex, you should give it a watch. [YouTube]
Ann Romney Is Offered A Plum Role On “Modern Family”
“Thrilled Ann Romney says [Modern Family] is her favorite show. We’ll offer her the role of officiant at Mitch & Cam’s wedding. As soon as it’s legal.”
–”Modern Family” creator Steve Levitan tweeted this response to Ann Romney after she told “Entertainment Tonight” that the sitcom was her favorite TV show. As you probably know, “Modern Family” features a gay couple, Mitch and Cam, who are in a committed relationship and raising an adopted daughter together, although federal law prohibits them from marrying. Meanwhile, Ann’s husband Mitt has promised to define marriage as between one man and one woman if he is elected president. [Us Weekly]
