Footage of Billie Jean
She’s Overjoyed at the renaming of the tennis centre!
(thanks to towleroad)

Tennis legend Billie Jean King knows now that it’s official. The USTA facility has, in fact, been renamed to include her. You can watch the packet below for an overview.

Who is the victim of a gay marriage?
An Op/Ed in this morning’s The Argus
by Ron Galbreath of Hayward

Charles Barkley Supports Gay Marriage?
“Thank you (I think)”
Special to the blog by MW Savant, CEO, savvyplanners.com

INSPIRATION ABOUNDS!

Oakland lesbian couple redefines family
As women prepare for Dyke March Saturday, minds on national debate
By Momo Chang, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND (California) — Women who love women are gearing up for an annual celebration around Lake Merritt Saturday: the 5th annual Sistahs Steppin’ in Pride East Bay Dyke March and Festival.

It’s no wonder the festival takes place in Oakland, which has more lesbian couple households per capita than San Francisco, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

While one associates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parades with San Francisco, during the last few decades same-sex couples, particularly lesbian couples, have been quietly moving to Oakland because of affordability and space issues.

And in addition to couples, individuals and friends, there will be children.

Maya Scott-Chung, 40, of Oakland, says she plans on bringing her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Luna, to the march and festival.

Maya, a lesbian of Irish and Scottish descent, said it’s important to speak out about today’s social, cultural and political challenges around same-sex marriage.

“Our family right now is at the center of this national debate around human and civil rights,” she said, adding many couples she knows are hesitant to talk to the media…Read more about this inspiring family via insidebayarea.com?

Actor Tomlin slams same-sex opposition
By Jonathon Moran

ACTOR Lily Tomlin has criticised the United States and Australian governments over their opposition to same-sex marriage, saying everyone should have the right to wed.

The openly-gay Hollywood veteran, 66, has been with her female partner, Jane Wagner, a writer and producer, for 35 years.

While she and Wagner have no plans to marry, Tomlin feels all people should have the choice.

US President George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard have both spoken out against same-sex marriage, and the Federal Government recently quashed ACT legislation allowing homosexuals to create civil unions.

“I am happy for anybody who wants to get married and I think they should have every right to,” Tomlin said today. “It is an aggressively negative rejection,” she said of the governments’ responses to the issue.

“You have had an amendment here against same sex marriage. We have, too, in many of the states (in the United States) and I expect it will get more.” continue at The Australian?

Gay Nuptials in Nepal Stuns the Media
UK Gay News

KATHMANDU– In a colourful ceremony, two gay(s) were married today, watched by the media, community activists and a few family members.

It was the first public “same-sex marriage” in Nepal and challenges the culture, tradition, family values and constitution of the country.

With the Nepali popular music, beautiful metis (effeminate cross-dressing males), young gay men, cheerful women and children, Diya as a bride and Anil as a groom exchanged rings, were garlanded to each other and kissed in front of a curious – and stunned – media.

Cheerful and courageous Diya Kashyap (21) and Anil Mahaju (31) hope Nepalese society will accept their relationship and love – and the country’s new constitution will recognize their union…

Same-Sex Marriage: Mental Health Perspectives

How denial of same-sex marriage impacts mental health
By Arline Kaplan (A Psychiatric Times exclusive)

A strong link exists between discrimination and psychological distress, according to Robert Kertzner, MD, and Gilbert Herdt, MD, who recently published an article on the topic in the journal Sexuality Research & Social Policy.³ Their research, supported by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, was an analysis of 150 studies and articles published during the past 30 years on marriage, discrimination, and denial of marriage to same-sex couples.

…Asked about the mental health effects of the ban, Haller said, “Being treated as a second-class citizen conveys the message that one is less worthy than others. Lack of equal civil rights can degrade people’s self-esteem and can ultimately lead to a sense of negative self-worth, and possibly depression and substance abuse.”

Continue at Psychiatric Times?

Sweden Considers Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Stockholm) The Swedish government will consider next year whether to abolish its civil partnership law and replace it with full marriage.

The civil partnership law was enacted in 1995 and gives most of the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples who register. But the country’s LGBT community has recently stepped up lobbying to have the law amended to permit gays and lesbians to marry.

A parliamentary committee studying the issue calls civil partnerships outdated and is recommending Parliament allow same-sex marriage. It also would allow gay couples to marry in churches.

The head of LGBT rights group Riks-Ekho welcomed the recommendations. “Those of us who have entered a civil union would have chosen to marry if the opportunity had existed,” Arthur Thiery told Swedish broadcaster SVT. “The important thing for us is that marriage in church is upheld. We don’t want to do away with the church ceremony.”

continue reading at 365Gay.com

INTERESTING OPINIONS:

Ruling upholding gay-marriage ban throws logic in reverse
ELLEN GOODMAN – Home News Tribune Online

Now I got it. After hours spent poring over Washington state’s Supreme Court decision upholding the ban on same-sex marriage, I’ve finally figured it out. The court wasn’t just ruling against same-sex marriage. It was ruling in favor of “procreationist marriage.”

This is the heart of the opinion written by Justice Barbara Madsen: “Limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers procreation, essential to survival of the human race, and furthers the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are reared in homes headed by the children’s biological parents.”

This is the heart of the opinion written by Justice Barbara Madsen: “Limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers procreation, essential to survival of the human race, and furthers the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are reared in homes headed by the children’s biological parents.” In short, the state’s wedding bells are ringing for procreators. Continue at Home News Tribune (NJ)

South Africa’s cabinet gives nod to gay marriage
By Rebecca Harrison