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This one out of Western Pennsylvania... Some interesting comments about the trends in those couples marrying in Western PA this past year. Features Allison Roth, one of RainbowWeddingNetwork's proud online advertisers! She owns Allison Roth Studio located in the South Side of Pittsburgh.
http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/8262024-74/couples-sex-makeup#axzz3YhaiAPTy
Beautiful, on many levels!
https://www.yahoo.com/style/vogue-shoots-transgender-model-for-the-first-117009884638.html
Photo: Patrick Demarchelier, VOGUE
Opinion piece written by filmmaker Yoruba Richen (THE NEW BLACK) expressing her views on the potentially devastating Religious Freedom Restoration Act:
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"When I began documenting the same-sex marriage quest in Maryland which ultimately became the award-winning film THE NEW BLACK, I was intrigued by the many nuances explored and positions justified when people were taking a stance either for or against. Of particular note were those against same-sex marriage in the name of their religious platforms (e.g. “I can’t support this because the Bible says it’s wrong.”). Even now, that viewpoint resonates with me because it is laced with such innuendo, assumption and in some instances downright fiction.
Today, there are 37 states with legal same-sex marriage laws which demonstrates a quantum leap since THE NEW BLACK premiered. To give you an idea of how far we’ve come, in February 2014 there were only 17 states with such laws. And to hopefully further progress, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to render a decision on whether states can institute a gay marriage ban. If victorious in favor of the LGBT community, it will overthrow existing bans in the remaining 13 states, declaring them unconstitutional. That would be a civil rights coup in the name of love and justice.
It brings to mind when less than 50 years ago a similar civil rights battle was presented before the U.S. Supreme Court—Loving v. Virginia (1967). This landmark ruling overturned Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage and was subsequently applied to the remaining 15 states that outlawed matrimony between people of different ethnicities. The similarities between today’s quest and the Loving story are astounding: Today, 13 states still have bans on gay marriage; during the Loving battle there were 16 declaring interracial unions illegal. Today, the LGBT community simply wants the right to a legal marriage in the states where they reside; Richard and Mildred Loving wanted to live in wedlock in their home state of Virginia. Both battles call into question whether bans violate human and civil rights.
While similarities are stark, today’s challenge facing the LGBT population has an additional layer which is cloaked in the Bible. Some who oppose legalizing same-sex marriage cite their belief that it is forbidden according to the “Good Book.” Though we are making great strides, choosing to discriminate against the LGBT community for sacred reasons continues to create a convenient, thorny cross for us all to bear-pun intended.
Let’s take the resurgence of The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) which has recently passed in Indiana and Arkansas with a potentially blaring version being contemplated in Louisiana. Even with revisions to the language in Indiana, RFRA’s blatant legislation affords people legal legs to discriminate—and they can do so by applying sketchy and selective interpretation of religious doctrine.
For instance, a small business refuses to cater a wedding for a lesbian couple because Christian beliefs don’t support the lifestyle. In the Old Testament it states that sex with the same gender is an abomination. It also applies this same judgement to any sexual acts other than those between husband and wife. The New Testament condemns all forms of sexual immorality. There is no reference in the Bible admonishing gay marriage. So, I’ll argue that unless this establishment inquired about the lesbian couple’s sexual behavior and based its service refusal on the answer, it is unconstitutional to stand on religion. And for that matter, a heterosexual couple would also have to be polled to glean whether they’ve had premarital sex. Or, what if a heterosexual couple samples cake and the husband exclaims, “Oh my God, that is delicious!”? Will they be escorted from the building since one of the Ten Commandments reads, “Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”?
In order to base service decisions on religious freedom, one would have to investigate each customer and determine if they’ve violated doctrine in any way. Anything short of this is cherry-picking, exercising selective rights-of-refusal. In other words, it is DISCRIMINATION, and enacting legislation which makes such behavior legal is the real abomination.
As we continue the quest for the LGBT population’s right to legally marry in every state, we must also be vigilant about opposing legislation that allows someone to discriminate in the name of the Lord."
Yoruba Richen
Promised Land Film
THE NEW BLACK is scheduled for Video-On-Demand and DVD release in June
$840,000 in just a few days? Seriously, Indiana?
A brief follow-up about our recent 'Same Love, Same Rights'® LGBT Wedding Expo in Chicago, courtesy of Carrie Maxwell and the Windy City Times. (image Victor Lim, HRC Chicago and RWN co-founder Marianne Puechl, courtesy Windy City Times)
Actor Johnny Galecki (yup, that's Leonard from The Big Bang Theory) says motions in Alabama to overturn marriage equality are "absurd." Check out thiis clip from his interview on Larry King Now!
http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/johnny-galecki-clip1-0_28vpqmyqshf2
The full episode of "Larry King Now" also includes Johnny's take on his future with The Big Bang Theory, reminisces on "Roseanne" and his own dabbling with bathroom and spa design... Click below for all the fun!
http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/johnny-galecki-0_4m5wbvaj7re4
379 businesses urge Supreme Court to do the right thing!
This is worth the read, as we journey toward the Supreme Court decision this spring!...
To name a few of the mighty advocates:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Capital One, Ben and Jerry's, Citigroup, Colgate-Palmolive, Delta, CVS, Apple, ATT, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, Levi, Marriott, Microsoft, General Electric, General Mills, Hilton, HP, Nike, Pepsi, Target, Starbucks, Staples, Verizon, Walt Disney, Wells Fargo, SF Giants, Twitter, UBS, Xerox
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/big-business-lobbies-us-supreme-court-back-same-sex-marriage060315-1
This is a quick read... but it's worth a few minutes' consideration to just look at the list of 37 states (plus DC). Such motions forward since 2004!!
http://www.rainbowweddingnetwork.com/component/k2/item/123-porgession-of-national-marriage-equality
Alabama Court of Appeals Recognizes Adoptions by Same-Sex Parents
(Montgomery, AL, February 27, 2015)—Today, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals unanimously held that a second parent adoption granted to now separated same-sex parents by a Georgia court in 2007 must be recognized in Alabama—and that V.L., the adoptive mother of their three children, must be recognized as their parent and allowed to seek custody or visitation. The court explained that the “Georgia judgment is entitled to full faith and credit throughout the United States, including Alabama,” and ordered the case sent back to Family Court for a hearing on visitation. This decision reverses the same court's earlier ruling last fall, which ruled that the adoption was void and could not be recognized because the Alabama court interpreted Georgia law as not allowing second parent adoptions.
Article Courtesy:
Erik Olvera
Communications Director, NCLR
Office: 415.392.6257 x324
Click to view the slideshow from our recent 'Same Love, Same Rights'® LGBT Wedding Expo in Baltimore! Our thanks to Sue Bupp, a non-denominational officiant associated with Weddings by Sandy, who created this lovely keepsake of the event! You'll be able to see the beautiful & historic architecture of the Grand Historic Venue, as well as many of the vendor displays and couples who attended the event in January. ENJOY!
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9fnPtHUd3SWLUxicjk2NXFYcUk/edit
Weddings by Sandy is a group of wedding officiants who pay great attention to the details. Our clients say, we are with you every step of the way, creating unique, interesting and captivating ceremonies that literally give you a magical moment, making you feel like your ceremony is the only one on our calendar. One phone call and let us set your crazy wedding mind at ease!
You might go into this article thinking the worst, but it's not actually just another conservative's watered down version of gay bashing. At least with regard to what's quoted herein, Mr. Huckabee simply says we need to agree to disagree... that's something we could build on, eh? Do you think these quotes are genuine??
Here at www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com we have always seen the value in helping universities, students and other information-gathering sources, as they work to quantify the minority experience of the LGBTQ community. It is important! Numbers aren't everything, when it comes to living life, but pooling information into statistics that the general public can see and measure, is one form of validating and legitimizing the actualy day-to-day experiences of LGBTQ citizens.
THANK YOU for considering taking time to participate in the following survey!
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A University of Arkansas graduate student is conducting a study to obtain information on Same-Sex Marriage and Heterosexual weddings cost comparisons. Your contribution is very important to the success of this study. Participation is voluntary. Complete responses will help with this research and will assist the hospitality industry better serve you in the future. It will take about 5-10 minutes of your time. However, if you need to take a break during the survey, you may return to the place you left off using the same computer. If at any time you wish to end participation, you may.
The survey is not designed to sell you anything, or solicit money from you in any way. You will not be contacted at a later date for any sales or solicitations. Participation is anonymous. All responses will be kept confidential and will be used only for statistical analysis by the research personnel. No personal data will be asked and information obtained will be recorded in such a manner that you cannot be identified.
If you have any questions or if you would like to know the results of the study, please contact Lydia Perritt at 479-575-2500 or email at
For questions about your rights as a subject, contact the University of Arkansas Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, 479-575-2208.
By accessing the survey, you consent to participate. Please follow the arrow below to access the survey:
https://qtrial2014az1.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8wR5LOMvbgoegUB
Thank you!
Lydia Perritt
HESC Graduate Assistant
University of Arkansas
CASTING CALL!
Are you an engaged or soon to be engaged couple whose family disapproves of your relationship?
Have family members made it clear that they will not attend your upcoming wedding?
Have you found the love of your life, and desperately want the support of your entire family?
Introducing a new docu-series that follows star-crossed lovers who have family that disapproves of their relationship because of sexual orientation, race, religion, class, or culture.
Many families still struggle with finding family balance and acceptance. We’d like to take this journey with you on your way to the aisle in a groundbreaking new doc-series in hopes to give open-mindedness and empathy a platform. Our dream is to bring the couples together with their loved ones and initiate a dialogue of openness.
For couples who are willing to share their story for this program, there is generous compensation in return for allowing us to join on your journey. We want to have the couple be able to start their married life off with the support of their family, as well a nest egg to start their new life together.
To be considered for the show, please submit a brief bio, contact info, and recent photos of yourself and your significant other to:
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