Big Gay News: 497
BigGayNews from Oregon:
Oregon Ruling Marks 13th Gay Marriage Win In A Row
ABC News reports that a federal judge threw out Oregon’s same-sex marriage ban Monday, marking the 13th legal victory for gay marriage advocates since the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned part of the federal ban.
Officials for the state have said that they would not appeal the ruling, and county clerks across the state saw a rush as many same-sex couples hurried to file for licenses to marry.
Patty Reagan, who filed to be able to marry her partner Kelly in Portland, stated: “It’s the final step to truly be a family. Everyone else takes for granted that they have this right.”
BigGayNews from Florida:
Don Jones, Dolphins Player, Fined For Negative Tweet About Michael Sam
The Huffington Post reports that Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones was fined an undisclosed amount Sunday and will undergo educational training after sending a negative tween about Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL draft.
Jones tweeted “OMG” and “Horrible” after Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams, although the comments were later deleted and he made a public apology on Sunday.
The Dolphins coach, Joe Philbin, said that Jones’ comments were “inappropriate and unacceptable” and that they are “not consistent with the values and standards of our program.”
BigGayNews from Pennsylvania:
Judge Throws Out Pennsylvania’s Ban On Gay Marriage
USA Today reports that a federal judge declared Pennsylvania’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional Tuesday, saying it’s time to toss such laws “into the ash heap of history”.
Judge John E. Jones III’s ruling came after several couples sued the state for the right to marry last July, challenging a state law passed in 1996 that defined marriage as being only between one man and one woman.
Judge Jones stated that it was his feeling that banning same-sex couples from marrying legally causes them daily harm “in the area of child-rearing, healthcare, taxation and end-of-life planning”, and that “all couples deserve equal dignity in the realm of civil marriage.”
BigGayNews from New York
33% of Gay Newlyweds Are Over 50
New York Magazine reports that it’s probably not an accident that when the Times began to feature gay wedding announcements, they contained their own demographic revelations.
This first wave of gay marriages has been made up disproportionately of older men and women. A Connecticut analysis showed that 58% of the gay newlyweds are over the age of 40, compared to a mere 27% of the straight.
The reason: many of these gay couples are now cementing relationships that have been in place for years. Gay marriages tend to reinforce a life that’s already completely assembled with merged mortgages, finances, and children.
BigGayNews from California:
Transgender Couple Photographs Their Opposite Transitions
ABC News reports that transgender artists Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst are transitioning in opposite directions and have captured their individual transformations in the “Relationship” series, a collection of photographs on exhibit as part of Biennial 2014 at The Whitney Museum of American Art from March 7 to May 25th.
Drucker, who is transitioning male to female, and Ernst, from female to male, wanted to use their photography as a sort of intimate visual diary that spans five years of their lives and love affair.
The couple acknowledges that, while it has been a difficult road, they are very fortunate to have supportive families and to be able to help bring more attention to the transgender community.
BigGayNews from Cyprus:
Cyprus To Hold First Gay Pride Festival
ABC News reports that Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian Church lashed out against homosexuality Thursday after activists announced the country’s first gay pride festival.
The Holy Synod, the highest decision-making body of the Church, expressed its dismay after members of Accept LGBT Cyprus announced that they would be holding a two-week festival capped off with a parade in the capital of Nicosia on May 31st.
Church officials say that while they condemn homosexuality, they do “love and support the ‘fallen’ and pray that they seek God’s mercy”.
BigGayNews from the United Kingdom
Gay Penguins Best Parents Ever
The Daily Mail reports that gay penguins adopted an abandoned chick – and the wildlife park claims they are the ‘best parents’ its’ ever had.
Gay couple Jumbs and Kermit have taken on the chick of a female who had to abandon her egg to find food.
It is the second egg the pair has been given, after the first failed to hatch last year,
The one-month old male chick doesn’t yet have a name, but a spokesman for the Wingham Wildlife Park said he’s doing ‘really well’, and that Jumbs and Kermit are the two ‘best penguin parents’ the zoo has ever had.
BigGayNews from Costa Rica:
Costa Rica’s Presidential Palace Displays Gay Pride Flag
The Huffington Post reports that Costa Rica hoisted the gay pride flag at the presidential palace on Friday in a landmark act of solidarity with the gay, lesbian and transgender community in the Americas.
President Luis Guillermo Solis, who was elected last month on the leftist platform, ordered the rainbow flag flown proudly alongside the Costa Rican flag to call attention to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
It is believed to be the first instance of a gay pride flag being flown from the offices of a head of state in the Americas, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.
