Watch: Kristin Chenoweth Picks A Volunteer and Gets a Diva!

I’m a huge fan of Kristin Chenoweth. She has an incredible voice, of course, but her stage presence and humor sets her apart. Also, it amazes me the power such a small body can generate.

During a concert at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night, Chenoweth asked an audience member, Sarah Horn, on stage to sing a duet from “Wicked”, in which Chenoweth starred in on Broadway. No one expected Ms. Horn, a singing teacher, to not only hold her own, but actually match Chenoweth’s voice beautifully.

I can’t get enough of this video!

Stone Cold Steve Austin Comes Out for Same Sex Marriage

Steve Austin photo courtesy of www.fanpop.com

Retired WWE wrestler Steve “Cold Stone” Austin came out for same-sex marriage on his radio program. In a delightfully expletive filled section, he states,

” I’m for same-sex marriage… . I don’t give a shit if two guys, two gals, guy gal, whatever…. whatever it is, I believe any human being in American or any human being in the God Damned world who wants to be married.. and if it’s the same-sex, more power to ’em.”

http://youtu.be/YS_Ni438QpI

Hey! That’s My Husband!

We had a family tragedy recently. There has been an outpouring of love and support from family and friends – amazing words and kindness and good wishes. We’ve been overwhelmed by it all. But something struck me. Many people have sent messages of sympathy to me and my ‘partner’. These are people who know me. These are people who know that Michael and I, because of the discrimination in our own state of Colorado, had to travel thousands of miles to be married in New York. These are people who know we had to sacrifice a wedding surrounded by loved ones and families because we couldn’t ask people to spend thousands of dollars to travel to witness our wedding. These are people who know that, until 2 weeks ago, I could not apply for a green card for my Canadian husband like any heterosexual bi-national couple can. These are people who I have introduced to Michael as my husband. These are people who read my blog posts and Facebook updates that talk about my husband. There is no confusion on how we refer to each other. So knowing these things… why would they call us ‘partners’?

It reminds us that we still have a long way to go in this country. Even though we are slowly gaining equality in a legal sense, there is still a feeling that our relationships are still ‘other’. That we are still not the same as straight couples. How long will it take until the terms husband and wife roll off the tongues of straight allies without a second thought? How long until we are referred to as couples instead of gay couples? When will we just plain ol’ boring like everybody else? I guess, for the first time in my life, I’m hoping for a little mediocrity.

Out of curiosity, how many gay, married couples use husband and wife, and how many still use partner?

Lambda Legal/ACLU Seek Marriage Equaltiy in Virginia

Lambda Legal announced today in a press release that they and the ACLU are planning to file a federal lawsuit in Virginia to allow same sex couples to marry in the state.

“The end of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act opens a new chapter in our work to ensure same-sex couples and their families across the country are treated with dignity and respect,” said Greg Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. “We know that many same-sex couples and their families have waited a long time and we are excited to announce that the campaign for the freedom to marry is coming south.”

Lambda legal is asking couples who have been discriminated against in VA to fill out a survey explaining their situations.

The right-wing called it…. if DOMA falls, the gays would start chipping away at state laws prohibiting gay marriage until it is legal everywhere – they’re pretty smart! Here we come, haters!

No SCOTUS Decision Today on Either Prop 8 or DOMA

The court did not issue rulings on the two marriage equality cases today. The next possible date is tomorrow at 10 Eastern.

Does anyone else find this maddening?

AMA Opposes Ban on Gay Blood

photo courtesy of codingnews.com

I’ve given blood all my life. I started in high school, continued in college. When I started working in a hospital, we had frequent blood drives and I always signed up. Then I came out of the closet, and that changed. It didn’t matter that my husband and I are monogamous. It didn’t matter that he and I are both HIV negative and have not had other sexual partners. Because we are gay we cannot give. The policy states that any man who. “…has had sex with another man even once since 1977 cannot give blood.”

Really? How about a man who sleeps with 4-5 women a week? I know several. How about the college kid who favors hook-ups over an LTR? According to my daughter, this is common. Why is it that based on my sexual orientation and NOT my sexual behavior, I’m banned from giving blood?

This might be changing. This past Tuesday, the American Medical Association voted to oppose the FDA’s ban. According to an article on ABC News’ website, the AMA issued the following statement:

“The lifetime ban on blood donation for men who have sex with men is discriminatory and not based on sound science. This new policy urges a federal policy change to ensure blood donation bans or deferrals are applied to donors according to their individual level of risk and are not based on sexual orientation alone.”

The organization has suggested the policy be changed to include men who have abstained from sex with another man for a certain period. This would follow policies in other countries such as Canada and the UK. Although not perfect (and still excluding monogamous gay couples) it is a step in the right direction.

The policy change is also supported by The Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and AABB (a non-profit support blood therapies).

A Successful Marriage

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”

Mignon McLaughlin

Give the couple a gay wedding cards made just for them!

Or look through our full line. Enter the code GAYPRIDE for free shipping during June, 2013!!

Gay Dating Site Blog Offers Great Advice

I came across a great blog recently. Gay Dating Sites offers advice on navigating gay dating sites safely. With so much anti-gay violence recently, and the increasing number of gay dating sites available, finding love and happiness in a safe way is paramount. You should check it out.

Also on the site is a great list of marriage equality blogs – I’ve been having fun checking out a bunch of sites I didn’t know about, as well as seeing some of my old favorites – take a look for yourself – Top 100 Marriage Equality Blogs

Study Finds Gay Marriage Has No Effect On Straight Marriage

We’ve heard it over and over again…. If gays are allowed to marry, the entire institution of marriage (and perhaps civilization itself) will crumble. Although few thinking people agreed with that assessment, there are now data to support that, no, gay marriage has exactly zero effect on straight marriage…. go figure!

A study conducted by researchers at Portland State University looked at marriage rates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1989 to 2009. They found that despite the constant hand wringing and furious warnings from politicians, preachers and judges alike, “…such claims do not appear credible in the face of the existing evidence, and we conclude that rates of opposite sex marriages are not affected by legalization of same sex civil unions or same sex marriages.”

No Ruling in DOMA or Prop 8 Case Today

Neither the DOMA not Prop 8 cases were ruled on in this mornings SCOTUS decisions. The next possible date is this Thursday.