OMG! Gay Wedding! Boycott!

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is sponsoring a same-sex wedding to take place atop a float in the coming Rose Bowl Parade. And that has some busybodies very upset.

Karen Grube, of San Diego, said the Tournament of Roses should remove the AHF float from the parade. She has also called on corporate sponsors to remove their support of the parade if the wedding goes on as planned. And, she has set up a Facebook page seeking support for her cause. “Gay marriage is illegal in over 30 states, why would they promote something that is blatantly illegal?” Grube said. “That’s just stupid.” The 2014 Rose Parade is the first where gay marriage has been legal in California, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that deemed Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Grube also said she didn’t think the Tournament should be involved in a group’s “political agenda.” “It used to be a family thing, to get up on New Year’s Day morning and watch the parade,” she said. “It no longer is.”

Here's the Facebook page for the boycott.

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Posted in: California,gay weddings,religion,Rose Bowl Parade

Houston Mayor Annise Parker To Marry?

Houston Mayor Annise Parker had previously said that she wouldn't marry her partner of 23 years until it becomes legal in Texas.  But according to Culture Map Houston, a wedding is now planned for next month.

"The world is changing so fast, maybe I won't wait that long," Parker said last week in a year-end interview with CultureMap when asked when she would marry. "I'm no longer worried that (gay marriage in Texas) is not going to happen in my lifetime. After the Supreme Court ruling and the number of states that now have equal marriage, it's coming." Since then CultureMap has learned that Parker and Hubbard are making wedding plans. Several sources close to the couple said they plan to marry in mid-January in a low-key ceremony in Palm Springs, Calif.

A spokesperson for the mayor declined to confirm the report. (Tipped by JMG reader Joe)

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Posted in: Annise Parker,gay weddings,Houston,Texas

Gays Shatter Utah Marriage Records

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

In the week since a federal judge overturned Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage, the number of weddings in the state has skyrocketed, shattering records and accruing thousands of dollars for Utah’s 29 counties. As of close of business Thursday, more than 1,225 marriage licenses had been issued in Utah since last Friday, according to numbers obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune. Of those, at least 74 percent were issued to gay and lesbian couples. Salt Lake County had the most marriages in the state this week, which is typical. But the numbers themselves were anything but. Shattering a previously held record of 85 marriages in a given day, Salt Lake County handed out 353 on Monday — their first full day of issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

And these number don't include today.

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Posted in: gay weddings,marriage equality,Utah

Kate Kendell's Daughter Just Got Married

The daughter of National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell just got married in the Salt Lake County office. Hundreds of others are still waiting for their turn and all eyes are on phones as they await Shelby's ruling.

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Posted in: gay weddings,Kate Kendell,NCLR,Utah

UTAH: Salt Lake City Mayor Performs Wedding For Gay State Senator

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Posted in: gay politicians,gay weddings,LGBT History,marriage equality,Salt Lake City,Utah

UTAH: Gay Couples Rush County Clerk Office To Marry Ahead Of Expected Stay

According to an unconfirmed report from the first couple to marry, those who were in line by 5PM local time will be allowed to marry today.

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Posted in: gay weddings,LGBT rights,Utah

Gay Wedding Video Of The Day

Via press release:

A gay military couple has released a one-of-a-kind video citing their journey of love that lead to their marriage and covers their euphoric feelings about the historic steps the LGBT military community has taken in these short three years. The video is titled Jonathan & Dwayne | A Story About Love. The video features Jonathan and Dwayne Beebe-Franqui. They tied the knot not too long ago and show the unique moment of their engagement - the historic 2012 Uniformed Military March in San Diego Pride. The march made national headlines and global news due to the Pentagon issuing a blanket ruling for all LGBT service members and allies to march in uniform for the first time in a Pride parade in United States history.

You might need a tissue.

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Posted in: gay weddings,military,San Diego

ACLU's Big Gay Illegal Wedding Contest

The New York Times explains:

The A.C.L.U. is sponsoring a contest for same-sex couples who live in states that prohibit gay marriage but are next to where it is legal, places like Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Those couples are being asked to submit imaginative ideas for weddings — balloon rides, kayak trips and so on — that involve crossing the border from their home states, where same-sex marriages are barred, to states where they are legal. Based on votes on the microsite, five couples from five states will win prizes like cash, assistance from a wedding planner and a trip to New York for an event, planned for March, styled like a wedding reception. The winning couples will be encouraged to return home and present to their governors in April “guest books” signed by visitors to the microsite that will double as petitions calling for marriage equality. “We want to push the envelope on marriage equality in a fun, creative way,” said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the A.C.L.U. in New York.

Here's their promo clip. Enter at this website.

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Posted in: ACLU,activism,gay weddings,marriage equality

Meredith Baxter Gets Married

People Magazine has the story:

Baxter, 66, and her longtime partner, contractor Nancy Locke, were married in an intimate ceremony on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles. Close friends and family – including Baxter's five children –, looked on as the couple exchanged handwritten vows. Music played a central theme in the celebration. A friend sang and played guitar during the ceremony and at the reception, Locke's band took the stage. Locke and Baxter even took lessons to prepare for their first dance as a married couple.

(Tipped by JMG reader David)

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Posted in: gay weddings,Meredith Baxter,television

Marriages Begin In Australian Capital

Shortly after midnight local time, one hour ago at this writing, the first same-sex marriages took place in Australia's Capital Territory.

As most Australians were sleeping, Alan Wright and Joel Player were celebrating history with the nation's first same-sex wedding ceremonies held at one minute past midnight in Canberra. The threat of the High Court striking down the ACT's same-sex marriage laws next week was to have been momentarily set aside as they exchanged vows and rejoiced with friends beneath the 55 bronze bells of the National Carillon at Lake Burley Griffin at 12.01am. "To have it finally legalised, it's a big step for us in our relationship, so we're just wanting to get it done," Mr Player said. Mr Wright, 34, said the decision to get married in the middle of the night was made not for a grab at history, but to fulfil the words of their celebrant Sharyn Gunn, who performed the couple's commitment ceremony - which they consider the start of their marriage - four years ago. "She said the minute it becomes legal, you two are going to be the first I marry," he said.

The marriages may have a brief run as on Thursday the High Court will rule on the federal government's bid to overturn the law.

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Posted in: Australia,Canberra,gay weddings