National Cathedral to Perform Same Sex Weddings

The Washington National Cathedral announced on Wednesday, January 9th, that they will soon host same sex marriages. The National Cathedral, where new presidents are celebrated and national tragedies are mourned, will be among the first episcopal congregations to host gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender weddings.

The cathedral’s dean, Very Rev. Gary Hall, explained more behind the decision for the National Catedral to perform same sex weddings. “As a kind of tall-steeple, public church in the nation’s capital, by saying we’re going to bless same-sex marriages, conduct same-sex marriages, we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest group for gay rights in the U.S., applauded the move and said that the cathedral’s actions sent a strong message to LGBT Episcopalians, that they are loved for just the way they are.

Gay weddings are allowed immediately but the Cathedral will most not likely see any marriages until this summer due to being booked for the next six months.

Read the full article by Brett Zongker here, on The Big Story.

National Cathedral Same Sex Marriage
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Marriage Equality Bills Introduced in Rhode Island

We are only a week into the New Year and there are already exciting developments. Two brand new marriage equality bills for Rhode Island have been introduced. Also, while the vote on same sex marriage stalled in Illinois, the bill will be presented again and may be voted on as soon as February. Marriage News Watch covers the above as well as the latest news on a Congressional bill to repeal DOMA in the video below. 2013 will be an exciting year indeed.

A Year in Review – Marriage Equality in 2012

Marriage News Watch’s Matt Baume brings us full circle as 2012 draws to a close. He takes us back through the year to review the progress the country has made towards marriage equality in 2012. With the amazing strides made in one year we are excited to see what 2013 brings in our movement to full marriage equality and equal human rights.

Gore Vidal Dies at 86

Gore Vidal, author and playwright has died of complications of pneumonia.  I remember seeing him on The Tonight Show when I was a kid.

Read about his life and career here

Bodies

I came across this great story in a special edition of Out Front Colorado Magazine – It’s all about bodies.  Not just “fabulous” bodies, but real people talking about what their bodies mean to them.

It’s really refreshing to see something about a bunch of very beautiful people in all shapes and sizes and body types – rather than the airbrushed fitness models everywhere.  Check it out here, you’ll be glad you did!

Want to tell your man he’s the most beautiful person in your eyes?  Give him a romantic card from Homoquotables.com

Ray Bradbury Dies at 91

The Washington Post has a nice remembrance of Ray Bradbury, the science fiction writer, who died today at age 91.  I read a few of his works when I was in school, but the one that always stuck with me was “Fahrenheit 451”.  I loved how, when all the books were burned by “firemen”, the leaned few dedicated their lives to passing on literature and knowledge.  Mr. Bradbury’s work is more social commentary than science fiction.

In remembering that book, it struck me how poignant it still  is.  Just this week, a Utah school district is disallowing books that feature same sex families, or a book that teaches that bullying gay teens is wrong.  Similarly, an Illinois school district has banned Todd Parr’s “The Family Book”, because it claims some families have two moms or two dads.

I understand parents not wanting the intricacies of sex, gay or straight,  explained to their young children, but trying to deny that our families exist?  I wonder how that little girl or boy who has two mommies feels when their family is never acknowledged at school.   I hear the right constantly screaming about “the children”, but what about ALL the children?

 

Target Offering Gay Pride T-shirts Online

Update:  I just got mine in the mail!  Thanks Target!

 

Target, perhaps in an attempt to smooth over the damage it caused with the gay community over donating funds to an anti gay GOP candidate last year, is offering Pride T-shirts online.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Family Equality Council.

 

The Olympic Hopeful with Two Dads

This picture caught my eye when I was reading Towle Road yesterday.  Andy Towle wrote, “Do yourselves a favor and head to the Indianapolis Star to read this story…”  I am really glad I did.

With the right wing vilifying the idea of same sex families as unnatural or harmful, it is so great when you get the chance to read something that proves them so very wrong.  What a wonderful story of a loving, normal family who happens to be gay. It sounds like this kid is not only an amazing athlete, but an amazing child as well.  Adopted by his dad, Jerry, who was single at the time, from a Cambodian orphanage, Jordan showed real promise as a diver at an early age.   He will be the grand marshal of the Circle City Indiana Pride Parade this month as well as heading to Seattle for the Olympic trials.  All this, and he appears to be a laid back, humble kid who just takes it all in stride.

Its a sweat story about a very cool family –  I’m guessing we’ll be hearing about him a lot in the future!

 

Gareth Thomas Has Attitude

Out retired rugby star Gareth Thomas dons nothing for the cover of Attitude Magazine.  I think he still works out a bit.

 

The Naked issue is designed to increase HIV awareness.  Read the entire story here.