So, And Thus...

We Won't Miss Miss California

She had been in contract violations for a while now. Glad she's gone.

Miss California USA Prejean dethroned - CNN.com

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA for "contract violations," including missing official pageant events, state pageant spokesman Roger Neal said Wednesday.
Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA.

Carrie Prejean has been dethroned as Miss California USA.

Prejean, 22, retained her title last month despite a controversy over topless photos and her statements against same-sex marriage.

Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump was involved in the decision to fire Prejean, Neal said.

Runner-up Tami Farrell, who was Miss Malibu, will immediately assume the Miss California USA title, he said.

"This was a decision based solely on contract violations, including Ms. Prejean's unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization," state pageant Executive Director Keith Lewis said.

Now she's free to do "opposite marriage" commercials.

California Marriage Equlity Sign

I love it!

Marriage Equality 2010 Sign From The Castro - Bearotic

Coming Out Can Help Change Views On Same Sex Marriage

I agree with Andrew Sullivan on this.

Look at the chart from his blog entry. it shows that there is more support for Same Sex Marriage among those who personally know someone who is gay.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

If gays are really serious about marriage rights, they need to accelerate the process of coming out. It's not often that a minority group has this option - African-Americans don't. But gays, like Jews, can "pass", and by passing, we don't even give many people the option of changing their minds and hearts by better understanding who we are, and why our relationships and families strengthen society rather than weakening it.

I know it's a lot easier being "out" here in New York. Also, working for a retail company, it's no big deal to be gay. But in social situations outside of the "gay world", I've made it a point to introduce Ein Oso as my husband and let everyone make the connection on their own. I am proud to be married to Ein Oso. I want people to know that.

I feel both very fortunate and very encouraged that I haven't experienced any negative reactions to my being open about my sexuality and my marriage.

Let's show them!

The License

Funny!

Another example of how marriage has changed over time.

Gaining HoMomentum

This is great!

ABC Washington Post Poll: 49% Support Full Marriage Equality - Towleroad, More than gay news. More gay men

A new ABC/Washington Post poll shows that for the first time ever, supporters of same-sex marriage in the U.S. outnumber opponents. These are even better numbers than the stunning CBS Poll released just two days ago which found that 42% of Americans support marriage equality.

Even the GOP knows this is going to be a non-issue for most people.

DC Recognizes Gay Marriages

Read this over at Towleroad.

What a month for Gay Rights!

D.C. Council Votes to Recognize Other States' Gay Marriages - washingtonpost.com

Domestic partnerships are already legal in the nation's capital. But yesterday's vote, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes relocated gay married couples as married.

The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District and a clash with Congress, which approves the city's laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month.

Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who is gay, called the amendment a matter of "basic fairness."

The city's laws on same-sex unions have been murky, he explained. Couples ask, he said, "Is my marriage valid in D.C.? For years now, it has not been clear."

"It's high time we send a clear, unequivocal message to those persons of the same sex and married in another jurisdiction that their marriage is valid in D.C.," said Graham, who added, "I hope this city recognizes this is a human rights struggle."

Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), who is also gay, predicted it was only a matter of time before the council also takes up a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District. "It's no secret that I have been working on legislation that would take us further," he said. "This is the march toward human rights and equality. This is not the march toward special rights. This is the equal march and that march is coming here."

I guess Ein Oso and I have yet another place to live and stay married. It's a shame that we even have to think that way.

Gay Marriage in Vermont!

I'm glad to see that people are choosing love over hate.

HRC Back Story

BREAKING: Moments ago, the Vermont House voted 100-49 to override the marriage bill veto! The House vote, which followed the Senate voting 23-5 this morning to override Gov. Douglas’s veto, means that Vermont becomes the first state to OK marriage equality through the legislative process.

Okay Obama, it's time to do something for us on the federal level.

Grow Up Before Getting Married?!?!

It's really unfortunate that the full force of the Republican party got involved in life of these kids. Any decision they wanted to make (including the baby, marriage, etc...) was taken away from them because of how Bristol's mother, Sarah Palin, would come across to the voting public.

AP News | Culpeper Star-Exponent

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The former fiance of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter says he hopes they can reconcile at some point.

Levi Johnston told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday that he and 18-year-old Bristol Palin ended their engagement after deciding it would be better if they separated for a while.

The two are the parents of an infant son, Tripp, born on Dec. 27. Johnston says the couple needed time to grow up before following through on marriage plans.

Gay Marriage in Vermont One Step Closer

Stuff like this makes me happy.

AP News : LimaOhio.com

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Nine years after becoming the first state to permit civil unions, Vermont moved a step toward legalizing gay marriage Friday.

A bill that would allow same-sex unions was introduced in the Legislature, causing a crowd of about several hundred supporters to gather at the Statehouse in celebration.

"This really is a great day and a part of moving forward to a time when all Vermont couples will be treated equally under our laws," said a sponsor, Rep. Mark Larson.

A similar bill is expected to be introduced later in the state Senate.

The House legislation has 59 sponsors, none of them Republican, though some GOP lawmakers have said they'll vote for the bill, Larson said.

"I know that there's broad support in the House," he said.

Despite the enthusiasm, it's unclear if the measure will see any action this session, with lawmakers preoccupied with the state's fiscal crisis that has led to voluntary pay cuts, court closings and Gov. Jim Douglas's proposal to lay off more than 600 state workers.

"We're still trying to decide whether it's something that we would do this year," said Democratic House Speaker Shap Smith, who supports the bill.

Supporters don't expect the debate over gay marriage to be as rancorous as the one over civil unions, which triggered a yearlong battle and the ballot-box defeat of some supportive lawmakers.

In nine years, the atmosphere in Vermont has changed, said Rep. David Zuckerman, a co-sponsor from the Progressive Party.

"Nothing significant changed for many, many Vermonters nine years ago. There was this great fear. And what we've really seen in the last nine years is that fear was unfounded," he said.

I love Zuckerman's line about fear (emphasis mine).

The Hat

I've never seen any hat get more attention than this one.

"My count-try, 'tis of thee..."