Gay Aussie Politician Weds Partner in Spain

in: http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/12/20/gay-aussie-politician-weds-partner-spain



                           Hunter and Semmens

Ian Hunter has become apparently the first Australian politician to marry a same-sex partner, wedding artist Leith Semmens in Spain Wednesday.

Hunter, the social inclusion minister for the state of South Australia, said he and Semmens were sorry their home country wouldn’t recognize their union, but they couldn’t wait for it to enact a marriage equality law.

“Without a doubt it’s inevitable in Australia, but you’re looking at six or seven years, and me and my partner weren’t willing to wait that long,” Hunter told the Associated Press. Spain has allowed same-sex marriage since 2005.

The two men were married at an art gallery in the town of Jun, in southern Spain, with the city’s mayor officiating. In keeping with a local tradition, they kissed for 17 seconds at the ceremony’s close.

“Hunter, 52, is believed to be the first sitting member of an Australian legislative body to marry a gay partner,” the AP reports. “The former scientist has long been a vocal advocate for gay rights, and a lawmaker in the ruling Labor Party in the South Australian state legislature since 2006. He became a state Cabinet minister last year.” On the national level, the Labor Party has endorsed marriage equality, but Prime Minister Julia Gillard is opposed.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2012/12/20/gay-aussie-politician-weds-partner-spain

NUS launches “I saw daddy kissing Santa Claus” equal marriage campaign

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/28/nus-launches-i-saw-daddy-kissing-santa-claus-equal-marriage-campaign/

 

The equal marriage cards will be sent to David Cameron (Image: NUS)

 

 

 

The National Union of Students today launched a campaign aiming to push the Prime Minister to move forward legislation which could legalise equal marriage in Britain.

The campaign, which aims to tackle the ongoing issue of equal marriage in a fun and festive way, encourages members of the public to come out in support of equal marriage, and to download and send the equal marriage card to David Cameron, to urge him to do the same.

One of the officers involved in organising the campaign, Finn McGoldrick, NUS LGBT Officer, released a statement alongside the launch of the campaign. She said:

“We are excited to see students getting involved and telling the government we are tired of waiting for equal marriage. It’s important because separate is never equal and lgbt students know they have a right to equality.

“It’s a different campaign because it’s grassroots, it’s the community coming together to demand equal marriage now. No more stalling Mr Cameron, all we want for Christmas is a vote on equal marriage!”

In order to achieve “equal Marriage and Civil Partnerships for all,” the site recommends that students refer to sites such as Out4Marriage, write to MPs, and sign the petition at the Coalition for Equal Marriage’s website.

Sky Yarlett, LGBT Officer, also made a statement, saying:

“I think that this campaign will put a positive light back onto the issue of equal marriage and reinvigorate the campaign. We’re incredibly proud of the students who have been campaigning within their institutions and will be involved in this.”

The card which reads “I saw daddy kissing Santa Clause” can be posted directly to the Prime Minister, or supporters have the option to send it online, and have the NUS deliver it prior to Christmas is also available.

Last week, David Cameron announced that he intends to fast-track legislation to introduce equal marriage within weeks.

This announcement did not come without criticism however, as the MP for South Dorset swiftly wrote an open letter voicing his strong opposition to equal marriage and saying that marriage should only be between one man and one woman.

 

 

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/28/nus-launches-i-saw-daddy-kissing-santa-claus-equal-marriage-campaign/

Actor Morgan Freeman narrates gay marriage advert

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/actor-morgan-freeman-narrates-gay-marriage-advert251112


The 30-second commercial advocating for same-sex marriage started airing in the US during Sunday morning news shows


 

American actor Morgan Freeman has lent his voice in support of gay marriage.

The Golden Globe winner has narrated a marriage equality advert for the Human Rights Campaign titled Dawn of a New Day for Marriage Equality.

In the advert, Freeman says: 'Freedom, justice and human dignity have always guided our journey toward a more perfect union.'

'Now, across our country, we are standing together for the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry the person they love. With historic victories for marriage, we've delivered a mandate for full equality.'

HRC President Chad Griffin said: 'As we continue the march toward full equality in legislatures and the courts, it is crystal clear that the prospect of an equal future is no longer up for debate; the question now is how soon it will arrive'.

This isn't the first time the actor has expressed his support of gay rights.

The actor told Newsweek earlier this year: 'I grew up in the South but I started dancing in my twenties when I got out of the Air Force, and studying dance, you’re surrounded by gay guys all the time. You get to know them and you have to shift gears!'

Freeman's image as God from the film Bruce Almighty is also used on a Twitter account @MorgonFreeman to comment on homophobia.

Click below to see the Dawn of a New Day for Marriage Equality advert.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/actor-morgan-freeman-narrates-gay-marriage-advert251112

Thousands march for marriage equality in Australia

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thousands-march-marriage-equality-australia251112

Thousands took to the streets this weekend in support of marriage equality, while the Australian Green party has pledged to move legislation in every parliament in the land until the issue is settled


 

Nearly a thousand people marched for marriage equality in central Sydney on Sunday, with thousands more marching in other cities over the weekend.

Speakers at the rally included New South Wales (NSW) state Upper House Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener Rodney Croome and Vietnam veteran and father to a gay son Jeff Thomas who has previously challenged the Australian Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to explain their opposition on live TV.

Thomas told the crowd about his journey out of the homophobia that had been instilled in him in the military that had begun after his son came out to him seven years ago.

‘I took the telephone and told my son that I loved him and that I support him and that I would look at my attitudes and change my ways,’ Thomas told a crowd to cheers.

‘[Today] the only thing that I don’t like about my son being gay is that he is not treated equally in his own bloody country.

‘Being gay is not a lifestyle choice … all the opposition to the gay community is based in fear, ignorance and prejudice.’

Faehrmann pointed to the success of a NSW Upper House motion directing Australia’s national parliament to legalize same-sex marriage in a state parliament where conservative parties held power as proof that progress could still be made in Australia on the issue.

‘You can rest assured that the Greens will continue to introduce marriage equality legislation in every single [state] parliament across this country until we win. And we will continue to do that at a federal level as well whether it is convenient for [other] political parties or not.

Faehrmann pointed to the formation of an LGBT working group in the NSW Parliament with members from the Greens, Labor, Liberals and Nationals parties to contrast the refusal of federal parliamentarians to pass legislation to solve the problem.

Protestors then took to the streets, marching from Sydney’s Town Hall to Taylor Square, with the crowd swelling as pedestrians joined in.

Half way up Oxford Street the march halted while two same-sex couples had a brief marriage ceremony conducted by a pastor from the Metropolitan Community Church.

After the march reached Taylor Square a forum on the future of the marriage equality movement in Australia was held at a nearby venue.

AME’s Rodney Croome told the room that he was ‘60 percent’ sure that his home state of Tasmania would legalize same-sex marriage in 2013 and 100 percent sure that an Australian state or territory would do so - which would make the issue real for mainstream Australians, while the legalization of it in the UK, France and New Zealand would further bring the issue home.

Croome said there were important lessons that could be learned from the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in more states during the US Presidential Election – particularly the benefits of involving religious supporters and telling personal stories about the families of same-sex couples.

A rally in Brisbane on Sunday saw a turnout of close to five hundred, while marches held the day before in Perth and Melbourne attracted hundreds more.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thousands-march-marriage-equality-australia251112

Thousands protest in France against gay marriage bill

in: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/11/19/news/foreign/thousands-protest-in-france-against-gay-marriage-bill/

Tens of thousands of people have protested in France against plans to legalise same-sex marriage and allow gay couples to adopt.

Police said at least 70,000 took to the streets in Paris; there were other demonstrations in the cities of Lyon, Toulouse and Marseille.

They included Catholic groups and other backers of traditional family rights.

President Francois Hollande has promised to change French law so that gay and lesbian couples can marry.
Despite opposition from more than 1,000 mayors and the Catholic Church, his socialist government approved a bill on the issue earlier this month which will be debated by parliament in January.

France already allows civil unions between same-sex couples, but extending their rights was a campaign pledge of Hollande before he was elected in May.

PINK: Protesters in Paris wore pink T-shirts and scarves and carried pink balloons emblazoned with images of a man and woman holding two children’s hands.

“A child needs a father and a mother, he needs the paternal and the maternal side and with this bill that might not be possible any more,” said one protestor, Marthe Vignault. “That’s the way it is and we can’t go against nature.”

Saturday also saw counter-rallies in support of same-sex marriage.

The issue is one of the most divisive Mr Hollande has faced, correspondents say. The head of the French Council of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, recently described gay marriage as “the ultimate deceit”.

At present only married couples - not civil union partners - can adopt in France.

A number of European nations, including Germany, Sweden and the UK, already allow gay adoption.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/11/19/news/foreign/thousands-protest-in-france-against-gay-marriage-bill/

Jason Silva Supports Gay Marriage (video)

Rio terá casamento gay coletivo em dezembro

in: http://www.athosgls.com.br/noticias_visualiza.php?contcod=33883

O Rio de Janeiro se prepara para mais uma cerimônia coletiva de uniões estáveis homoafetivas, dia 9 de dezembro, no auditório do Tribunal de Justiça, no Centro da cidade, promovida pelo Governo do Estado. No primeiro evento do gênero, há mais de ano, 43 casais homossexuais tiveram suas uniões registradas. O número cresceu e, desta vez, reunirá 100 casais loucos para juntas os trapinhos. “É mais uma oportunidade para que casais homoafetivos possam reafirmar seus direitos. Com essa cerimônia, damos continuidade aos avanços conquistados na área dos direitos civis da comunidade LGBT”, disse Cláudio Nascimento, superintendente e coordenador do Programa Estadual Rio Sem Homofobia. A quem interessar, as inscrições para o casório vão até dia 12 deste mês pelo site do Rio Sem Homofobia.



Em tempo: dia 21, o Rio também fará o primeiro Seminário Estadual de Direitos das Famílias Homoafetivas, no Museu da República, no Centro da cidade. O encontro é para esclarecer dúvidas sobre o surgimento dos novos arranjos familiares e a crescente demanda da sociedade, especialmente lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais. Um tópico interessante é sobre os diretos a adoção de um filho. “É de extrema importância que os direitos da comunidade LGBT sejam discutidos por representantes das diversas áreas. O direito de formar uma família não pode ser restrito a somente uma parcela da sociedade. Com essas ações, como o seminário e a cerimônia coletiva, continuamos lutando pelos nossos direitos”, esclarece Nascimento, que, no encontro, terá a companhia do desembargador Siro Darlan, do secretário do Meio Ambiente Carlos Minc, entre outros.



Revista ÉPOCA

http://www.athosgls.com.br/noticias_visualiza.php?contcod=33883

Lady Gaga Gets Out the Vote for Marriage Equality

Gaga reminds voters in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington that they can weigh in on marriage equality-related measures Tuesday:

Former US Olympic skater Matt Savoie marries partner in Massachusetts

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/former-us-olympic-skater-matt-savoie-marries-partner-massachusetts221012


He was teammate of Johnny Weir at 2006 Winter Olympics


 

He may not be as famous as Johnny Weir but Matt Savoie does have a few things in common with the popular ice skating star: both have represented the US in the Olympics and both got married this year to their male partners.

Savoie, 32, married attorney Brian Boyle earlier this month in Massachusetts while Weir married Victor Voronov last January in New York City.

'One thing that even our officiant talked about in our ceremony, and that Brian and I have experienced in this process, is that it’s really wonderful to be in a state that recognizes marriage between gay couples, to be able to be understood as a couple in the same way that our parents understood each other and understand other married couples,' Savoie tells Ice Network. 'That validation is hard to describe. It’s very important to us. We’re really proud to live in a state that supports it.'

It was back in 2006 that Savoie reached both the pinnacle then the end of his skating career.

He won the bronze medal at the US Championships that year which earned him a spot on the Olympic team, along with Weir, to compete in Turin, Italy.

Savoie finished seventh in the Olympics and retired from the sport that year. He had deferred his acceptance into the law school at Cornell University a year earlier in able to compete in the Olympics.

The skater met Boyle in law school and they both graduated in 2009. They became engaged last November.

'We had a really lovely ceremony,' he said. 'Everyone was participating in the ceremony in some way. It was wonderful to have them there.'

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/former-us-olympic-skater-matt-savoie-marries-partner-massachusetts221012

Anne Hathaway irá doar dinheiro das suas fotos de casamento para instituição que apoia união gay

in: http://virgula.uol.com.br/

Anne Hathaway irá doar dinheiro das suas fotos de casamento para instituição que apoia união gay

A atriz Anne Hathaway, que teve suas fotos de casamento divulgadas por diversas revistas, aproveitou o dinheiro que recebeu para doar a algumas instituições, entre elas uma que apoia a união de pessoas do mesmo sexo. As informações são do site “Advocate”.

O objetivo da atriz é garantir que casais do mesmo sexo desfrutem de um casamento de conto de fadas como o dela.

Em 2008, ela chegou a declarar que estava do lado de todos os homossexuais: "Eu não me considero apenas um aliado para a comunidade LGBT, eu me considero sua família. Eu estou fazendo o que todos nós devemos fazer com nossas famílias - Eu estou amando, apoiando, e aceito completamente como você é.", disse.

Anne se casou em setembro deste ano com Adam Shulman, usando um vestido belíssimo desenhado pelo estilista Valentino. A cerimônia e a festa foram realizadas em Big Sur, na California, para 180 convidados.

Parece que enquanto algumas celebridades aproveitam a falta de privacidade para se darem bem e engordarem seus cofrinhos, Hathaway usa para uma boa causa.

Fofíssima, não? 

http://virgula.uol.com.br/

Federal Court in New York rules Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

in: http://gaystarnews.com/article/federal-court-new-york-rules-defense-marriage-act-unconstitutional181012

Comes after appellate court in Boston had similar ruling
 

A federal appeals court in Manhattan on Thursday (18 October) ruled 2-1 that the US Defense of Marriage Act, defines marriage as between a man and a woman, is unconstitutional.

A federal appeals court in Boston also found DOMA unconstitutional earlier this year and the issue is expected to be taken up by the US Supreme Court during its current term.

The New York case was filed by Edith Windsor who sued because she was required to pay a $350,000 federal estate tax bill. The government does not recognize her marriage to her late wife Thea Spyer.

Judge Dennis Jacobs, who wrote the majority opinion, rejected a section of DOMA which states that 'marriage' only means a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife and that the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.

'Even if preserving tradition were in itself an important goal, DOMA is not a means to achieve it,' wrote Jacobs who also stated that the law is written too broadly.

Judge Chester Straub, the one dissenting vote, believes it is up to the American people, not the courts, to define marriage.

Said Straub: 'Courts should not intervene where there is a robust political debate because doing so poisons the political well, imposing a destructive anti-majoritarian constitutional ruling on a vigorous debate.'

DOMA prevents the US government from recognizing same-sex marriages even in states where such marriages are legal so couples cannot file joint federal tax returns or receive survivor benefits if one spouse dies.

DOMA was passed by both houses of Congress by wide margins in 1996 and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. Last year, President Barack Obama instructed the Justice Department to no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA.

President Barack Obama asked the Justice Department not to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act in courts last year so the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives stepped in.

It was revealed this week that the Republicans have exhausted nearly all of the $1.5 million they had budgeted to defend DOMA.

'The federal courts keep coming to the same conclusion - treating married same-sex couples differently than married different-sex couples is just plain unconstitutional,' Susan Sommer, Lambda Legal's director of constitutional litigation said of the ruling.

http://gaystarnews.com/article/federal-court-new-york-rules-defense-marriage-act-unconstitutional181012

Bahia é o terceiro estado a reconhecer o casamento gay no Brasil, e o primeiro a regulamentar

in: http://revistaladoa.com.br/2012/10/noticias/bahia-terceiro-estado-reconhecer-casamento-gay-no-brasil-primeiro-regulamentar

 

Depois do dia 26 de Novembro, casais do mesmo sexo poderão se casar em qualquer cartório do estado da Bahia. Os corregedores do Tribunal de Justiça da Bahia desembargadora Ivete Caldas, corregedora geral da Justiça e o desembargador Antônio Pessoa Cardoso, corregedor das comarcas do interior do estado da Bahia, assinaram na última quarta-feira (10) um provimento solicitando a adequação dos cartórios em respeito à decisão do Superior Tribunal Federal, que em maio do ano passado reconheceu por unanimidade a união estável de homossexuais.

Com a medida, a Bahia se torna o primeiro estado a regulamentar oficialmente a decisão histórica. Atualmente, na maioria dos estados, os casais gays precisam entrar com ações ou pedidos na Justiça para conseguirem casar ou passarem antes pela união estável para depois pedirem a conversão em casamento. Agora, na Bahia, basta se dirigir a um cartório com a documentação padrão como já acontecia em São Paulo e Alagoas, primeiro estado que regulamentou o casamento gay no Brasil. Com o casamento reconhecido, também são garantidos todos os direitos, e se extingue a diferenciação da união estável, que além de não alterar o estado civil ou nome de solteiro, não concede diversos direitos imediatos.


Dr. Luiz Mott, presidente de honra do GGB, Grupo Gay da Bahia, comemorou a decisão: "Portanto, temos a felicidade de incluir agora o CASAMENTO HOMOAFETIVO NA BAHIA entre as muitas e maravilhosas conquistas do GGB para a cidadania homossexual nestes 32 anos de militância, esperando que a mesma iniciativa seja concretizada em todos os demais estados da federação. Parabéns ao GGB e a seus coordenadores e ativistas por mais esta vital vitória pela cidadania lgbt. Planejemos, juntamente com o Forum Baiano LGBT a realização de um grande casamento coletivo para demonstrar a sociedade baiana e brasileira que a história está do nosso lado!", escreveu o militante em um email.

http://revistaladoa.com.br/2012/10/noticias/bahia-terceiro-estado-reconhecer-casamento-gay-no-brasil-primeiro-regulamentar

Census: Here come the brides: Same-sex marriages soar in Canada

via: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/

Kevin Bourassa (L) and his partner Joe Varnell are congratulated by Reverend Brent Hawkes (R) during their wedding ceremony in a Toronto church January 14, 2001. The men were one of two gay couples married in a ceremony at Toronto's Metropolitan Community Church. Both couples were issued marriage licenses believed to be first ever in Canada. The Ontario Provincial government has vowed not to register the marriages. REUTERS/Andy Clark

Seven years after Canada legalized same-sex marriage, gay and lesbian couples are running to the altar.

Between 2006 and 2011, the number of same-sex married couples nearly tripled, according to new census data released Wednesday.

While the number of opposite-sex couples who took the leap into matrimony grew by only three per cent since the last census, the number of same-sex couples tying the knot jumped by 181 per cent over the same period, from about 7,500 in 2006 to 21,000 in 2011.

Same-sex unions make up only 0.8 per cent of all couples of Canada, but they are the fastest-growing group of married couples, up 42 per cent from 2006.

The 2006 census followed on the heels of Canada’s Civil Marriage Act, which legalized same-sex marriage across the country in July 2005. Some provincial and territorial courts had already ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, beginning with Ontario and British Columbia in 2003. This may explain the higher number of same-sex marriages in those two provinces as of 2011 — 8,370 in Ontario, and 3,445 in B.C. — along with Quebec, with 3,655 couples.

In 2006, only 16 per cent of same-sex couples had married. By 2011, the share had jumped to 32 per cent.

Canada’s biggest cities boasted the highest numbers of same-sex couples with 45 per cent living in Toronto (19 per cent), Montreal (16 per cent) or Vancouver (10 per cent).

While Ontario was home to, by far, the most married same-sex couples in both 2006 and 2011, the biggest jump in those five years was seen in Alberta. In 2006, only 510 Albertan same-sex couples had married, but by 2011, over 3,000 couples had exchanged vows, a five-fold increase, most of whom live in Calgary and Edmonton.

“It validates things,” said Marlow Lange, who married her longtime partner, Jill, in a traditional ceremony at the Art Gallery in Edmonton. “We knew we wanted a family and making it official was really important to us,” she said. The couple has a newborn son, Kade.

Same-sex couples — both married and common-law — were younger than opposite-sex couples. One quarter of same-sex couples were age 15 to 34 compared to 17 per cent of male-female relationships in the same age group. On the other end of the age spectrum, only six per cent of same-sex partners were 65 and over, compared to almost 18 per cent of opposite-sex couples.

Lange said that trend rings true in her experience. She said some of the couple’s friends who have been in committed same-sex relationships for many years didn’t opt to marry when the law changed in 2005. “To them, it wasn’t an option ever, so they just haven’t thought of it as something that they would do in their future – whereas for us, it’s always been there.”

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/

Escócia apresenta projeto de lei para legalizar casamento gay

in: http://sul21.com.br/

O casamento gay deve ser legalizado na Escócia até 2013, anunciou nesta quarta-feira (25) o governo do país, responsável por elaborar um projeto de lei que estabelece aos casais do mesmo sexo os mesmos direitos de casais heterossexuais. A proposta será publicada ainda neste ano, mas deve ser aprovada pelo Parlamento e pela monarquia britânica. A primeira ministra do país, Nicola Sturgeon, está confiante de que a lei será aprovada. Todos os líderes de partidos escoceses apoiam a medida e a coroa britânica já demonstrou sua predisposição a aceitar a mudança. Além disso, grande parte da população do país se mostrou a favor (65%) do casamento gay em uma pesquisa do governo que obteve 77 mil respostas.

“Nós acreditamos que esta é a coisa certa a fazer em um país que aspira a ser uma sociedade igualitária e tolerante, como é o caso da Escócia”, explicou Sturgeon. A medida encontrou apoio de grupos de direitos humanos e de ativismo LGBT no país e ao redor do mundo, que comemoraram a decisão.

Apesar disso, a proposta encontrou forte resistência entre setores religiosos e conservadores da Escócia. De acordo com o diário britânico The Guardian, a Igreja Católica criou uma campanha online contra o projeto de lei com o apoio de grupos islâmicos e presbíteros. “Nós acreditamos que o tempo irá mostrar que a Igreja está totalmente certa em dizer que relações homossexuais são prejudiciais para qualquer tipo de amor expresso em amizades profundas”, disse o porta-voz da Igreja Católica na Escócia segundo a rede BBC.

Nem todos os grupos religiosos, entretanto, desaprovaram a medida. “Estamos conscientes que as opiniões divergem entre os nossos próprios membros, e que muitas pessoas estão ansiosas e chateadas com a situação atual”, disse o Reverendo Alan Hamilton, organizador do comitê de assuntos legais da Igreja Presbítera da Escócia, à BBC. “Acreditamos que a homofobia é um pecado e reafirmamos nosso forte compromisso pastoral a todas as pessoas da Escócia, independente de sua orientação sexual ou crenças”, completou ele.

Por conta destas divergências, o projeto de lei garante a liberdade religiosa das organizações e indivíduos que discordam do casamento de casais do mesmo sexo, excluindo qualquer tipo de punição a estes. Nenhuma instituição religiosa será obrigada a conduzir as cerimonias matrimoniais caso discorde da medida, explicou Sturgeon. Além disso, membros de grupos que decidirem incluir o casamento gay não são obrigados a conduzir os casamentos.

“O casamento gay diz respeito a igualdade e liberdade – liberdade dos casais, de grupos religiosos e humanistas que desejam este tipo de união, mas da mesma forma, liberdade de outros grupos que querem dizer não ao casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo”, disse Tom French, coordenador da organização Equality Network.

A medida fará da Escócia o primeiro país do Reino Unido a legalizar o casamento gay. Desde 2005, os países permitem apenas a união civil, que difere até mesmo do casamento civil, de casais do mesmo sexo. Nesta terça-feira (24/07), o primeiro ministro britânico, David Cameron, disse que gostaria de ver o casamento gay legalizado no Reino Unido até 2015.

Com informações do Opera Mundi




http://sul21.com.br/

Irlanda admite referendo para legalizar casamento gay

in: http://www.jn.pt/

A Irlanda deverá realizar um referendo sobre o casamento homossexual, num país que apenas reconhece alguns direitos aos relacionamentos de gays e lésbicas, afirmou o ministro da Educação, o trabalhista Ruari Quinn.

De acordo com o ministro, o Partido Trabalhista, parceiro minoritário do Governo do conservador Fine Gael (FG), apoia a legalização destes matrimónios, que no entanto não figuram na Constituição irlandesa.

Os irlandeses deverão ser convocados às urnas para se pronunciarem em consulta popular sobre uma eventual alteração da sua lei fundamental, como está previsto na legislação do país.

O ministro dos Transportes, membro dos conservadores do FG, admitiu entretanto que "provavelmente" apoiará a legalização dos matrimónios entre homossexuais caso a questão seja colocada ao conjunto do país.

Em julho de 2010 a Irlanda ratificou a lei das Relações Civis, que pela primeira vez no país concedeu o reconhecimento legal das uniões de facto entre o mesmo sexo.

Desde então, as pessoas que coabitam garantem apoio legal em questões de propriedade imobiliária, bem-estar social, direitos de sucessão, pensões e impostos.

http://www.jn.pt/

Today in LGBT History - July 3

July 3, 2005 – Same-sex marriage in Spain becomes legal.

Facebook Outs Timeline Icons For Married Gay, Lesbian Couples

in: http://www.ontopmag.com/

Facebook has added new icons to identify gay and lesbian users who are married.

The social networking site added the new married icons to timeline, Facebook's alternative profile which allows users to highlight photos, posts and life events chronologically.

One icon includes two brides, the other two grooms.

Last year, Facebook gave users the option of choosing “In a Civil Union” and “In a Domestic Partnership.” Together the options represent the relationship status of a majority of committed gay couples in America.

The site has also incorporated features aimed at preventing anti-LGBT bullying.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) honored Facebook last month at its annual GLAAD Media Awards for its support.

The move comes just weeks after Apple included new gay and lesbian icons in its newest iteration of its popular iPhone. The phone's new iOS 6 operating system sports an expanded emojis keyboard which supports graphic emoticons for text messaging and e-mails. Two of these pictograms represent gay and lesbian couples for the first time.

http://www.ontopmag.com/

IGLA Releases 2012 Report On Gay And Lesbian Rights Worldwide (IMAGES)

in: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Every year, The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) releases a map of lesbian and gay rights around the world. The most recent edition, released in May 2012, is a reminder that, while things are certainly getting better for some LGBT people, much of the world's queer population still faces life-threatening consequences for being themselves.

Check out the maps below, and be sure to check out the ILGA report for more information.

Click the images to view larger versions.

World Map:

Latin America and The Caribbean:

Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands:

Africa:

About the ILGA: Founded in 1978, ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is now a association of over 900 groups in over 115 countries campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) rights.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Jamaica's First Lesbian Wedding

in: http://www.theroot.com/buzz/jamaicas-first-lesbian-wedding


Ebony.com



When Nicole Y. Dennis married her longtime partner, Dr. Emma Benn, the festivities were memorable for the reasons you'd expect -- friends, family, love and plenty of emotion. But there was something else: The ceremony was Jamaica's first lesbian wedding.

Dennis (now Dennis-Benn) shared with Ebony.com a first-person narrative of coming out to her father, the ups and downs of planning the nuptials and the day she and her bride made history on the island. Read an excerpt here:

More promising to me as a Jamaican was the plethora of positive reactions on my blog and some on the Jamaica Gleaner's comment section from strangers back home -- people who felt trapped in silence because of their sexuality. Or strangers showing support in general. Their individual voices joined the chorus of support my wife and I have been getting, expressing their pride and joy. Other gays and lesbians have acknowledged us as an inspiration. Had it not been for this highly publicized wedding, I would never have felt the true pulse of the gay community in my country, and the nation as a whole. For the first time in their lives they were not invisible. The unbiased publication also allowed people to look pass gender and see the rawness and truth in love. That we're not sexualized vultures or heathens, but two women in love. Most importantly, I observed men and women removing their cloaks of shame and guilt to step forward, beautifully naked in the eyes of freedom. Gay and lesbian Jamaicans are tired of hiding; tired of camouflaging who they are with decorations of societal norms. They're tired of pretending to be okay with the bigotry they are exposed to at work, in school, or in the church.  Tired of forcing those half smiles and weak nods of acquiescence. Tired of being invisible.

Read more at Ebony.com.

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/jamaicas-first-lesbian-wedding

Aussie stars say ‘I do’ to support gay marriages

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Actress Rachael Taylor fronts the cover of the latest issue of Marie Claire, joining forces with a sea of other Australian big names who have signed on to the magazine’s marriage equality campaign.

‘I think Australians are big-hearted and open-minded people, and embracing same-sex marriage is just a logical extension of who we are,’ said the cover girl.

‘I can’t wait to celebrate the weddings of ALL my friends in the coming year,’ she added. ‘It’s time.’

Marie Claire, together with the Seven Network's Sunrise and Morning Show programs and the GetUp! lobby group, launched the ‘I do’ campaign today (3 Jun).

Celebs that have put their names behind the campaign include former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, TV personality Charlotte Dawson, fashion designers Jayson Brunsdon and Alex Perry, comedian Magda Szubanski, gay Olympic gold medallist Matt Mitcham and gay Greens ex-senator Bob Brown.

Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank has also penned a letter in the glossy’s current issue to explain the campaign and criticizing political leaders.

‘When I got married more than 15 years ago, I was able to declare my love for my husband in front of my friends and family, and have it recognised under Australian law. It angers me that this basic human right is not open to all Australians. We live in the last developed, English-speaking country in the world whose leader hasn’t expressed support for marriage equality. The last one.’

‘Love is love. If you care about equality for all people – whether you’re gay or straight – we need your voice. Join us in our push for change,’ she concluded.

Gay rights campaigners have welcome the move to make everyone treated equally.

‘We're over the moon that so many Australian celebrities are not only endorsing marriage equality but actively campaigning for it,’ said Alex Greenwich, national convener for Australian Marriage Equality.

Special ‘I Do’ events to be broadcast on 7’s Sunrise breakfast show will take place on Thursday (7 June)at Martin Place in Sydney and at Bourke St Mall in Melbourne.

Same-sex marriages in Australia are currently not recognized under the Federal Marriage Act.

Prime Minister Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott are both opposed to gay marriage.

Lawmakers will be voting on two different bills calling for the right of two peopleto marry regardless of their sexual orientation to be legally enshrined, after the findings from inquiries into the bills are tabled in Parliament on June 18.

There is an online petition calling for the Act to be changed to allow same-sex marriage here.

Watch the celebs say ‘I do’ here:

http://www.gaystarnews.com/