Coverting your civil partnership to a marriage?

As of the 29 March 2014, marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales became a reality and many have already tied the knot. At the time the Same Sex Couples (Marriage) Bill was passed there was no immediate provision for those in a civil partnership to be able to convert this to a marriage if they chose. However, in the recently published ‘The Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014’ it is now the case that from 10 December 2014 civil partnerships can be converted to marriage. But how will this work and what does it mean in practice? In order to convert a civil partnership into a marriage, most couples will need to follow the prescribed ‘standard procedure’. There are specified procedures for the less common scenarios, such as couples that are housebound, detained persons and for couples where a person is seriously ill and is not expected to recover. No matter which procedure is used, there is to be no religious service used at a conversion. The standard procedure involves a fairly straightforward process where couples must attend a register office together. They must give the registrar the following information in order to be able to sign an official declaration: forenames, surname, date of birth, sex, rank or profession, address and the date and place of the formation of the civil partnership. Afterwards, the registrar must register the conversion declaration as soon as is practicable. There should also be no need to pay a fee provided the civil partnership was registered before the 29 March 2014 and the conversion takes place before 10 December 2015. It should therefore be an easy process to convert a civil partnership into a marriage and couples may use this as an opportunity to celebrate the ability to have their union recognized as now being a marriage. Prior to the change in law allowing same-sex marriage, the distinction between a marriage and civil partnership was always an uncomfortable one in terms of terminology as it seemed to suggest same-sex couples were the ‘same, but different’. The ability to convert should now at least address that imbalance, but in actual fact, does this somehow undermine the status of a civil partnership? From a legal perspective, the distinctions between a civil partnership and a marriage are minimal, as was the original intention of Parliament when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was created. When couples in a civil partnership separate and they wish to formally bring the legal relationship to an end then they need to apply to the court to dissolve their civil partnership. The process is the same as for heterosexual couples when getting divorced other than same-sex couples cannot rely on adultery as a ground for dissolution. With same-sex marriage it will be possible to become divorced as opposed to dissolution and adultery can be relied upon as a ground, but only if the adultery took place with a member of the opposite sex. Additionally, when trying to resolve financial matters, the parameters that lawyers and judges use are identical as for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples. This means that, for those who wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage, it should make no practical or legal difference. It would appear therefore that for those who wish to convert their legal union, it really comes to down to personal choice as to whether they wish to become married or to simply remain as civil partners. It will no doubt be very important for many couples to be allowed the status they always felt they should have had and be recognized as legally married. There is a wealth of further information at nataliegambleassociates.com Article: 28th October 2014 www.gaystarnews.com

Gay and lesbian couples can now legally marry in England and Wales

Gay and lesbian couples who married overseas are now recognised as married in England and Wales. The bulk of same-sex marriage legislation came into effect at midnight, meaning couples who have entered into same-sex marriages overseas are now recognised as married. Before the 13th March, same-sex couples who got married overseas had their marriages treated as a civil partnership in England and Wales, but the Equalities office says from today “they will instead be recognised as being married”. Unwed couples still have to wait until March 29 before getting married, as new marriages require a 16 day notice period, but they can now declare their intent to marry. However, couples who have already entered into civil partnerships in the UK have to wait until later this year before they can convert them to marriages. Christopher and Andrew Bannister Bailey, who married in New York in 2012, are thrilled to have their marriage recognised for what it is. They said: “We are super happy this evening, and feel under prepared champagne-wise. One of the reasons we married in NYC was the terminology. “We are actually heading back to New York this week, primarily for work but we also have a weekend to ourselves where I am sure we will be celebrating all over again!” Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger, who married in Canada in 2003, fought a long battle to get to where they are tonight. Wilkinson, a social sciences professor at Loughborough University, told the Northern Echo yesterday: “I think for me it is disbelief more than anything else. “Its kind of suddenly crept up on us from nowhere, only eight years after we lost a court case to declare our marriage legal in this country. But now it will be legal in this country and that’s pretty stunning.” Kitzinger told Buzzfeed: “It’s like being turned into a pumpkin on the stroke of midnight!” “We’re going away to a hotel, having a nice meal and then at midnight we’ll be wife and wife again!” From today, same-sex couples where one or both of the partners is terminally ill can also begin to marry. Article: 15th March 2014 www.pinknews.co.uk

US gay marriage and adoption trial tries to overturn ban

Detroit — Testimony continued Wednesday in the federal trial on a lawsuit seeking to overturn Michigan’s bans on adoption for same-sex couples and gay marriage. This week, attorneys for the state of Michigan, defending the state’s bans on same-sex adoption and marriage presented testimony from their experts who so far have maintained that children raised by heterosexual parents experienced better outcomes. The lawsuit was brought by plaintiffs April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, two nurses from Hazel Park who hope to adopt each other’s adoptive children and legally marry. Testifying Wednesday, Louisiana State University family studies professor Loren Marks, criticized a 2005 American Psychological Association study that found there was no difference in the outcomes of children raised by heterosexual or gay and lesbian parents. That study has been cited by witnesses for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit brought by DeBoer and Rowse. Marks denounced the APA’s stance on same-sex families, saying the research it based the policy on was not complete and in some instances flawed. Marks said he analyzed the 59 cases the APA studied before taking its position. “I was struck by the strength of the language used in the claims,” said Marks, who published his analysis in the Social Science Research journal two years ago. “Not a single study seemed strong to me. I found the language strong and lacking caveat.” Marks said the studies lacked racial diversity and did not include enough gay men. He said the sample size was too small. Experts for the plaintiffs, such as Stanford University Michael Rosenfeld, have testified that children raised in same-sex couple households do just as well as children raised in other households. Testimony is expected to wrap up Thursday and closing arguments are expected to be done Friday. Article: 5th March 2014 www.detroitnews.com

Gay marriage bill passed in Scotland allows same-sex couples to marry

Scotland has followed England and Wales in changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill passed its third stage in a free vote at the Scottish Parliament as MSPs voted 105-18 in favour. The vote means Northern Ireland is now the only country in the UK that does not permit gay people to marry. After the vote was passed, Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "This is a historic moment for equality in Scotland. “I am proud that the Scottish Parliament has taken this progressive and hugely important decision in favour of equal rights in our country. “It is right that same sex couples should be able to freely express their love and commitment to each other through getting married. Marriage is about love, and that has always been at the heart of this issue. “That was the clear message from Scotland’s Parliament today. We must no longer allow same sex couples who wish to get married to be barred from doing so. “Thanks to this bill, same sex couples now have the same access to marriage — one of our most important institutions — as everyone else. “There has been overwhelming support for this Bill from the beginning and many MSPs from across the political spectrum have expressed considered, personal opinions. “We now need to work quickly and in close co-operation with Westminster on implementation. On that basis, I very much look forward to seeing the first same sex marriages taking place in Scotland as soon as is possible.”The issue had polarised public opinion between supporters who championed it as a move towards equality and opponents who raised concerns about the impact on religious freedom. Scotland becomes the 19th country in the world in which gay marriage is permitted in all or part of its jurisdiction. Legislation to allow gay marriage in England and Wales was passed at Westminster in July 2013. Article: 4th February 2014 www.news.stv.tv

Equal gay marriage has been passed in law in England and Wales

Following our blog earlier in the year where we reported on the progress of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill we are delighted that the Bill has now received royal assent. After much debate and somewhat of a furore, this means that same sex marriage is now law, even though the first UK same sex marriages won’t take place until Spring 2014 once all the procedures and paperwork have been put in place. Perhaps unsurprisingly there is some confusion around what the changes in the law actually mean. The key points to note are as follows: 1.It will be legal for couples of the same sex to marry in England in Wales. 2.Same sex couples can have a civil or religious wedding, but can only have a religious wedding if the relevant religious group decides to ‘opt in’ (which every religious group except the Church of England can do). 3.Civil partnership will remain an option for same sex, but not heterosexual, couples. (The legal differences between marriage and civil partnership are minimal in practice). 4.Same sex couples already in a civil partnership can convert their civil partnership into a marriage if it was registered in England and Wales. This will not apply to couples who registered a civil partnership in Northern Ireland, Scotland or abroad (who will not be able to marry unless they dissolve their civil partnership first). 5.For those splitting up, adultery is not a ground for dissolving a civil partnership and is only a ground for dissolving a same sex marriage if the adultery takes place with a member of the opposite sex (although in practice unreasonable behaviour usually gives grounds for dissolving a relationship where there has been infidelity anyway). 6.There is no international harmonisation of how or if a same sex marriage will be recognised in other countries. However, it is likely that a same sex marriage will be recognised in countries where same sex marriage is legal (such as France which has recently undergone similar changes). The change in the law is certainly welcomed by us at NGA but the rules are undoubtedly complex. There has already been controversy over the decision to allow religious groups to opt in but this doesn’t apply to the Church of England. It seems an awkward concept that same sex couples are to be able to enter into a civil partnership but for there to be no option for heterosexual couples to do likewise. There will be complex questions from couples in England and Wales who have married or registered a civil partnership abroad as to how their relationship will be recognised in England and Wales. Similarly, relocating couples will need to know whether their marriage will be recognised abroad. This will impact on issues such as tax planning or the breakdown of the relationship. Much like with our campaigning work for a global harmonisation of surrogacy laws we feel that a more universal approach to same sex marriage is needed, but this is herculean task at a global level. In the meantime, UK same sex marriage is a huge step in the right direction. Here at NGA we specialise in helping alternative families and have a strong background in cases involving the breakdown of relationships. We help with civil partnership dissolution, divorce and disputes relating to children and financial matters. We also help with pre registration and pre nuptial agreements to give clarity and prevent disputes in the future. If you would like to discuss your circumstances with us please contact Richard Perrins for more information. Article: 13th August 2013 www.nataliegambleassociates.co.uk Read more about gay parenting at www.prideangel.com

Lesbian couple want their son to have 'married mummies'

Among the supporters of same-sex marriage outside the Palace of Westminster last week, PinkNews reported spotting a lesbian couple with their son who are desperate to marry. Stella and her partner Lucy attended the vigil with their son Bailey. Stella told PinkNews.co.uk: “We have booked to get married next August. We just want our son Bailey to have same equivilent as all his friends, married parents. He knows the difference between marriage and civil partnership, that they are simply not equal. He just wants married mummies!” Stella added: “We’re desperate for the law to pass in time for our wedding.” She praised the Out4Marriage campaign, initiated by PinkNews for its work on same-sex marriage equality. Last night, the former Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Lord Dear, had tabled a “fatal” amendment to deny the bill its second reading. In voting against the amendment, with 390 votes to 148, a majority of 242, the House of Lords allowed the passage of the bill to committee stage. Article: 5th June 2013 www.pinknews.co.uk Read more about gay and lesbian parenting at www.prideangel.com

Children of gay families can help win the fight for gay marriage

Braiden Neubecker was sitting on the bed and her dad was shaving at the sink as the president made his historic remarks about gay marriage during his second inaugural address. President Barack Obama talked about "our gay brothers and sisters," and declared "if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." In the kitchen after the address with her dads, David and Lee Neubecker, Braiden, who is 10, had a question. "Aren't you guys married?" she asked, confused. Her dads, in fact, were married -- in a service in California, but the marriage was nullified in 2004 after the state's Supreme Court declared all marriages performed from February to March that year invalid. "I don't think she realized before that gays and lesbians couldn't marry," David Neubecker recalled in a recent phone interview with his daughter and The Huffington Post. "I got upset," she agreed, singing into the phone, "everybody should be treated equally." Plus, she continued to her father, "it's safer to be married because when you guys aren't married it's easier to break up and split apart." Braiden is now one of a number of children, many of them raised by gay or lesbian parents, who have stepped into the spotlight to directly address the courts and public as part of a debate in which they have long been central figures, but have rarely taken part. A week after Obama's address the Neubeckers started talking again about the speech and the laws that prevented Braiden's dads, who live in a suburb of Chicago, from getting married. Braiden had so much to say that David encouraged her to get out her journal and write it down. A couple of drafts later, a letter written by Braiden was included in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in time for the court's two landmark cases on gay marriage in March. The amicus brief was from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), meant to show how the families of same-sex parents are affected when they are not allowed to marry. For decades, those opposed to legalizing same-sex marriage have argued that they might somehow harm the children same-sex couples raise or adopt. In court in March, Justice Antonin Scalia, arguably the court member most staunchly opposed to gay rights, offered "one concrete thing" about legalizing same-sex marriage that could harm society. "If you redefine marriage to include same-sex couples … you must permit adoption by same-sex couples," he said in the hearing to determine whether Proposition 8, California's law banning same-sex marriage, was constitutional. "And there's considerable disagreement among … sociologists as to what the consequences of raising a child in a … single-sex family, whether that is harmful to the child or not." But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg pointed out that California gay couples already can legally adopt children. Sociologists, child welfare experts and pediatricians have argued that those raised by same-sex couples do just as well as their counterparts raised in heterosexual households. "Its very surprising in many ways how uniform he results of the research have been," said Charlotte J. Patterson, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, who has been researching child development in same-sex households for more than 20 years. "What we've found is that what's important is not the sexual orientation of the parents but rather the resources the parents can offer the kids and the quality of relationships with their children, and of course that's true for gay and straight parents." Read more... Article: 13th April 2013 www.huffingtonpost.com

Gay marriage: MPs to vote on new proposals

MPs are set to get their first chance to vote on plans to allow same-sex marriages in England and Wales. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill will be debated in Parliament on Tuesday 5 February, the leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley has announced. The bill will allow same-sex marriage and let religious organisations which want to, to offer them, the culture department says. The plans have divided the Conservative Party - its MPs will get a free vote. Labour and the Lib Dems back the proposals to legalise same-sex marriage, but Labour said the exemption for the established Church was "disappointing". The Church of England and Roman Catholics, among other denominations, have voiced opposition to the plans and are expected to oppose the bill, even with its caveats. But some religious groups, including Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Judaism, are in favour. Culture Secretary Maria Miller told the Commons in December that no religious organisation "will ever be forced to conduct marriages for same-sex couples". She said the legislation - which will published on Friday ahead of the bill's second reading - would include a "quadruple lock" to protect religious freedom. Faith schools The bill is set to specifically exclude the Church of England and Church in Wales to avoid a clash between Canon Law - which defines marriage as that between a man and a woman - and UK civil law. But a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that if the Church of England did want to opt-in to offering same-sex marriages it could, saying a process for doing so was to be set out in the bill. A public consultation on plans for same-sex marriage received 228,000 submissions. In its response to the consultation the government says it has no plans to change the definition of adultery or non-consummation of a marriage - which means neither could be cited as grounds for divorce in a same-sex marriage, unless the adultery was with someone of the opposite sex. Culture Secretary Maria Miller outlining the government's approach last month They also dismiss the fear that the terms "husband" and "wife" could be removed as a result of same sex marriages. They also say that teachers "particularly in faith schools will be able to continue to describe their belief that marriage is between a man and woman whilst acknowledging and acting within the new legislative position which enables same sex-couples to get married". The Scottish Government has published proposed legislation of its own to introduce gay marriage. Under the plans, religious and faith groups would need to "opt in" to perform same-sex marriages. Article: 24th August 2013 www.bbc.co.uk

Maryland gay couples celebrate new year by getting married

Numerous gay couples across Maryland will be celebrating the New Year with a bumper toast as they share the occasion with their marriages, the first to be conducted following a referendum to legislate for marriage equality. The US state of Maryland voted in favour of civil equal marriage in November with 52.4% of voters backing equality. In the run up to the vote, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt agreed to donate $100,000 (£62,000) to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support equal marriage initiatives in several US states, including Maryland. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who previously studied in the state, also donated $250,000 (£155,000) to the pro-marriage equality campaign in Maryland last week. A bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Maryland was passed by the state General Assembly in February 2012 and signed into law on 1 March 2012, by Governor Martin O’Malley. However, opponents of marriage equality successfully gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on the decision. In Baltimore, the state’s largest city, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will attend ceremonies at City Hall. Same-sex couples celebrated the first equal marriages in the state of Maine on the 29 December. Article: 31st December 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk The Pride Angel team wishes you all a very Happy New Year!

Three in five voters are in support of gay marriage

More than three in five voters support David Cameron's wish to introduce gay marriage, according to a poll conducted for the Guardian. The strong backing for a change in the law comes after the archbishop of Westminster queried the democratic legitimacy of the coalition plans. Vincent Nichols, head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales, used a strident Christmas Day message to blast the "shambolic" process that could soon put provision for same-sex weddings on the statute book. "There was no announcement in any party manifesto; there's been no green paper; there's been no statement in the Queen's speech. And yet here we are on the verge of primary legislation," Nichols told the BBC. The plans also came under fire from a high court judge, who said the government should instead be looking at the "crisis of family breakdown". Sir Paul Coleridge said too much time and energy had been put into the debate on gay marriage for "0.1% of the population". The ICM poll conducted just before Christmas found 62% of voters now support the proposals, with half this number – 31% – opposed. Most previous polls have found opinion leaning the same way, although the two-to-one margin revealed on Wednesday is particularly emphatic. An ICM online survey for the Sunday Telegraph in March asked the identical question – which expressly reminds people that the option of civil partnerships already exists for gay couples – and established a 45%-36% lead for the reformers. That significant hardening of opinion during the year will encourage Cameron, whose embrace of gay marriage has proved controversial, not only with religious leaders but also with the Tory backbench. And the new poll reveals a particularly significant swing towards the reform among the Tory base. Although Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters remain more likely to support gay marriage, with respective majorities of 67% and 71%, there is now also a majority among Conservative supporters. Among those who voted Tory in 2010, gay marriage now enjoys 52%-42% backing, a big turnaround from ICM's survey in March, which recorded 50%-35% opposition from 2010 Conservative voters. Both men and women support gay marriage, although the majority is bigger among female voters, 65% of whom support gay marriage, compared with 58% of men. Gay marriage is backed by 60%+ majorities across every nation and region, the 74% majority recorded in Wales being the most emphatic. There is a pro-gay-marriage majority, too, in every social class – although the majority is somewhat smaller in the DE class, which contains the lowest occupational grades. Fifty-one per cent of this group is in favour of the change, as opposed to 68% in the C1 clerical grade, which emerges as the most enthusiastic. Sharper differences emerge when the results are analysed across the age ranges. The over-65s resist the proposal, by 58% to 37%, but support is progressively stronger in younger age groups. The pro-reform majority is 64% among 35-64s, 75% among 25-34s, and an overwhelming 77% among 18-24s. The results will encourage the view of Cameron and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, who has also set significant store by the proposal, that they are on the right side of history. But with opinion moving so fast in favour of gay marriage, enthusiasts on Wednesday demanded to know why the government had provided for such sweeping exemptions for religious groups. Among other things these provide for a wholesale exemption for the Church of England, such that – were the currently opposed C of E to embrace gay marriage at some later date – fresh legislation would be required to extend the reform to it. As the Guardian poll findings were released, the Liberal Democrat minister Lynne Featherstone said that Roman Catholic leaders who were attacking the government's gay marriage plans were being "shameful". In a Boxing Day post on her blog, she singled out comments from Nichols and from the Rt Rev Mark Davies, the Roman Catholic bishop of Shrewsbury, and said they wrong to suggest that churches would be forced to conduct gay weddings and wrong to dismiss the policy as illegitimate on the grounds that the coalition did not have a mandate for it. "It is very disappointing that religious leaders who object so forcefully to equal marriage seem to have so little faith in their own beliefs," said Featherstone, an international development minister who used to be minister for equalities. "If their religious beliefs are that marriage can only be between a man and a woman – they should have the confidence in their flocks to believe that too. And if it is their own flocks' potential for disagreeing with them that is their real fear – then that is a matter for religious leaders and their congregations to sort out." Article: 26th December 2012 www.guardian.co.uk

Changing the law for gay marriage will benefit children of gay parents

The Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, Anne Marie Carrie, has welcomed the government’s decision to allow gay couples to marry from 2013. Writing for PinkNews.co.uk, she says it will be of enormous benefit to gay parents and their children. Amid the debate around equal marriage rights for gay couples, very little has been said about the importance of this move for children and young people. On Father’s Day, Barnardo’s announced it supported gay marriage. This won’t have come as a surprise to anyone who was aware of our campaign to have more gay couples come forward as foster carers or adoptive parents. Equality and respect are at the very heart of Barnardo’s basis and values because we believe every person is different but equal. And throughout this debate, I have been saddened that so little attention has given to some very important people: the children and young people who live with gay parents or carers. We work with some wonderful same-sex couples who offer stable and loving homes to children and young people, and I believe offering those couples the right to marry would help them and their children feel even more accepted and included. Because, for me, this debate touches on two very important issues – homophobic bullying of young people, and Barnardo’s efforts to find loving homes for vulnerable children. Equalisation of marriage could have a big impact in both of these areas, and that is why I am speaking up again. Barnardo’s works with 200,000 vulnerable young people every year, and many of the young gay people we work with have told us that homophobic bullying is a major concern for them. Equalising marriage will not solve this problem, but it will contribute towards a society in which sexual orientation is not a barrier to acceptance for young people. Equalising marriage will also send a message to potential gay parents and carers, that if they want to start a family they will have the same options for legal recognition as heterosexual couples. Barnardo’s leads in encouraging people of all orientations to consider becoming adopters or foster carers. When the number of children being taken into care is growing, it’s not just right that we do this but vital. I feel it is difficult for schools or, indeed, the government to promote genuine equality for gay couples when the law makes an unnecessary distinction between them and heterosexual couples. As the debate rumbles on, I hope more consideration will be given to the UK’s gay parents and carers and, of course, their children. Because the current law on marriage doesn’t just discriminate against couples but entire families. Article: 14th December 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk

118 MPs may vote against the new Gay Marriage Bill

118 Conservative MPs could potentially vote against government plans to legalise marriage rights for gay couples the Daily Mail has reported. The story was carried large on Saturday’s front page and has been written by the paper’s columnist Andrew Pierce Mr Pierce has previously voiced his opposition to equal marriage despite claiming to be a supporter of gay rights. According to the Mail, 118 out of 303 Conservative MPs have reportedly written to their constituents about their unease over the policy. Unlike Labour and the Lib Dems, Tory MPs have been granted a free vote on the issue. Even if 118 Conservative MPs voted against an equal marriage bill – it would still be likely to pass through the House of Commons as most of Labour and nearly all Lib Dem MPs are expected to back the measure. Conor Burns, the gay Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, Branksome East and Alderney, is cited in the Mail as a key parliamentary opponent. Last month, the MP told the Belfast News Letter that civil partnership legislation had granted gay couples all of the necessary legal entitlements. However, Sky News reports on Saturday that Mr Burns hasn’t decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn’t understand why it’s being brought forward now. It is the second time the Daily Mail has splashed heavily on equal marriage in successive days. Claims made by the paper on Thursday evening, that David Cameron was looking to “fast-track” equal marriage legislation have since been downplayed by Whitehall officials. Article: 23rd November 2012 www.pinknews.co.uk

YouTube - Social message about civil rights and same sex marriage

Bye June has announced the premiere of their eagerly awaited new music video, “Shades of Purple.” The track from their album “My Life is an Independent Film” is available now at all leading digital retailers.
“Shades of Purple” is the first pop music video to employ the ancient art of shadowgraphy, or hand shadows. Bye June teamed with world-renowned shadowgrapher Mr. Sati Achath; Resulting in an innovative melding of state-of-the-art video technology and old world shadowgraphy, which created a unique and outstanding medium.

In addition, Bye June’s social message about civil rights in general and same sex marriage in particular is the premise of the video’s story. “We asked our fans to choose a track for a music video, and they voted online for this song. I am very pleased, since this song has deep meaning and an important social message. Also, we were fortunate to have Mr. Achath on our team, he truly brought the characters to life," says Gil Kline, Bye June’s vocalist. “Shadowgraphy is a very old art-form, and I am very excited to bring this art-form to a whole new generation. I fell in love with this project for the music, message and medium.” says Sati Achath.

Bye June is a socially conscious band originally from the Washington DC area. They released their first CD “My Life Is An Independent Film” in August 2011. Bye June is: Gil Kline: guitars, vocals, composition and lyrics *Gunner Sledgeski: drums * Daniel McGreal: Bass.

Sati Achath is a world-renowned shadowgrapher. His shadowgraphy has been featured on "The Late Show with David Letterman”, CNN, ABC, CBS, and many other television channels in the U.S. and abroad. He was also a quarter-finalist in NBC's 2008 America’s Got Talent contest.

For up-to-the-minute news and information about Bye June, please visit www.byejune.com

For more information, please contact: Gil Kline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ehE6wuc9C1s

Zack Wahls defends gay marriage and being raised by lesbian mums

Zach Wahls a 19-year-old University of Iowa engineering student defended gay marriage in a rousing testimony in front of the Iowa House of Representatives this month. Zack Wahls spoke out against a resolution which would end civil unions in Iowa by describing his own experience as the son of two lesbian partners.
"Our family really isn't so different from any other Iowa family," said Wahls. "When I am home, we go to church together, we eat dinner, we go on vacations."

Wahls emphasized the typical nature of his upbringing, as well as his own success. He is an Eagle Scout and a small business owner. He also scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. "If I was your son, Mr. Chairman, I believe I would make you very proud," he said.

A sixth-generation Iowan, Wahls finished his testimony on an impassioned note. "In my 19 years not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple," he said. "And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character."

Wahls had previously written about the issue in the University of Iowa's student newspaper:

Last fall, I had the opportunity, courtesy of Iowa Public Radio's "The Exchange," to talk with a Tea Partier about this very topic. When I mentioned that two lesbian women raised me, her face turned to shock and then concern. She asked if I ever had yearning to meet my father — an anonymous sperm donor.

My answer was — and remains — "no." And no, I don't feel damaged or that my childhood was somehow scarred. Maybe I have, in some way undetectable to me, been permanently harmed by having two moms. I guess I can't be sure.

Watch Zach Wahls's inspirational speach on youtube

Article: 11th February 2011 huffingtonpost.com

Read more about gay and lesbian parenting at www.prideangel.com

To read more go to http://bit.ly/fvin5T

Marriage is the gold standard for gay couples

It's a common refrain of politicians (and some lobby groups) to say that while they are not against equal civil marriage, it is not clear how many gay people actually want it.
A poll by pinknews.co.uk - conducted over two days with almost 800 responses – shows otherwise. LGBT people demand marriage equality.

They see Argentina, Mexico City and other countries in Europe making the move and question why the UK – a supposed world leader on LGBT rights – hasn't yet got that far.

PinkNews.co.uk has said time and again that civil partnerships were an excellent and much-needed addition to UK law, giving gay couples access to the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples, plus protection and dignity. However, our readers don't believe in 'separate but equal'.

Things are changing fast and they need to. We have a Tory-led government which has said it will consider the case for equal marriage, while the majority (if not all) of the Labour leadership contenders support changing the law. Next month, the Liberal Democrat party is expected to pass a motion cementing its pro-gay marriage policy.

To read more go to http://bit.ly/cdh20i