New father Elton John has attacked opponents of gay marriage and backed efforts to overturn California's ban at a Beverly Hills event to raise funds for a legal challenge.
"It seems so ridiculous I could be with my partner for 17 years and we have a son, and my partner and I can't get married," Sir Elton, 63, said during the 90-minute set in which he banged out Your Song, Sixty Years On, Levon and other hits he wrote before he came out as gay.
Sir Elton disappointed some gay activists after the California ban, known as Proposition 8, passed in 2008 when he said he had no desire to get married and was satisfied with the civil partnership he and his long-time partner, David Furnish, had.
"If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word 'marriage' I think, puts a lot of people off," he said at the time.
But Sir Elton was singing a different tune at the concert, which raised three million dollars for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.
He praised the effort to overturn the ban and promised to do everything he could to support it.
"As a gay man I think I have it all," he said. "I have a wonderful career, a wonderful life. I have my health, I have a partner of 17 years and I have a son.
"And you know what, I don't have everything, because I don't have the respect of people like the church, and people like politicians who tell me that I am not worthy or that I am 'less than' because I am gay."
He then punctuated his remark with an expletive, to cheers and applause from the crowd.
Furnish and Sir Elton became parents to a baby boy on Christmas Day. Their son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born in California through a surrogate mother.
Chris Hughes, cofounder of Facebook plans to marry longtime boyfriend Sean Eldridge, political director for Freedom To Marry, reports New York Post.
The Post reports Eldridge announced his engagement to Hughes at the New York City reception in Support of Freedom To Marry at the couple's SoHo loft before guests that included City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
"This is very timely for Chris and I to have you here tonight to celebrate marriage and work on marriage," Eldridge said. "We got engaged two weeks ago, so there is a real sense of urgency."
The two men haven't set a date, but Eldridge says they'll try to wait until gay marriage is legal in New York."As you know, we can't get married in New York, so there is more of an urgency to approve gay marriage, so we can get married here," Eldridge said. "We're going to get married in the next year or two for sure. We're hoping as soon as possible."
Hughes is now the founder and director of Jumo.com.
The CEO of the online gaming company behind Facebook favorites like Farmville, Mafia Wars, and Frontierville said there are 650,000 same-sex marriages between Frontierville users internationally.
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus touted recent successes by his expanding empire of 1,300 employees and 320 million overall users at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.
Speaking about the high number of gay and lesbian couples registered on Frontierville alone, he said, "That’s amazing, that’s probably more than any country in the whole world,” according to Tech Crunch.
The 2000 U.S. Census shows 594,391 gay and lesbian couples living together in the United States, but the census did not signify whether those couples were married, in domestic partnerships, or in civil unions.
Ricky Martin says he will marry his partner when his home country legalises gay marriage.
The star has not revealed the name of his long-term boyfriend, but says they would get married if they could.
Appearing on the Larry King show, he said: “I would get married… There are many countries around the world where same-sex marriage is a right. Not in Puerto Rico, unfortunately. And not in many states in America.
“Yes, we could go to Spain and get married. We can go to Argentina and get married. But why do we have to go somewhere else? Why can’t I do it in my country where the laws are – you know, protecting me?”
He added: “I can go to Spain. I have many friends in Spain. And get married. And make it very beautiful and symbolic. But… I [can't] do it in the backyard of my house. I want to have that option. I don’t want to be a second class citizen anymore. I pay my taxes. Why can’t I have that right?”
Martin came out last year. He is currently promoting his autobiography Me, which was published this week in English and Spanish.
Betty White is speaking out in favor of gay marriage.
The 88-year-old actress, who gained newfound cult icon status in the aftermath of her Super Bowl commercial and Emmy-winning "Saturday Night Live" hosting stint, said she believes everyone should have the right to say "I do."
"I don't care who anybody sleeps with," she told Parade magazine. "If a couple has been together all that time - and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones - I think it's fine if they want to get married. I don't know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don't worry about other people so much."
White's status as a gay icon dates back to her role as Rose on "The Golden Girls," the magazine noted. When asked about the phenomenon, she explained, "Gays love old ladies."
The actress also discussed her jam-packed schedule (she gets up at 6 every morning and goes to bed at 1:30 a.m.), whether or not she still drives ("Of course!" she said) and her taste in men.
"I've always liked older men," she told the magazine. "They're just more attractive to me. Of course, at my age there aren't that many left!"
Actress Kelly McGillis and sales executive Melanie Leis, who have known each other since 2000, were joined in a civil union this week, The New York Times reports.
Judge Robert T. Zane III, municipal presiding judge for New Jersey's Camden County, officiated at the Collingswood Municipal Court on Wednesday, says the paper.
The couple met when Leis tended bar in the Key West, Florida., restaurant McGillis owned with her second husband, Fred Tillman, with whom she has two daughters: Kelsey Laure, 20, and Sonora Ashley, 17.
As a then-single McGillis, now 53, said in May 2009, a reporter had asked if she were looking for a man or a woman. "It was like a moment of truth," she said. "I thought, Hmm, do I say the truth, or do I just say, It's none of your business, which is my standard answer? I said you know, I'm just going to say the truth. Definitely a woman."
Among McGillis's best-known film roles were opposite Harrison Ford in 1985's Witness, opposite Tom Cruise in 1986's Top Gun and opposite Jodie Foster in 1988's The Accused. Leis, 42, reports The Times, works in Philadelphia for Independence Communications, which supplies Muzak to businesses.
Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson is fighting for gay rights in New York - the actor has filmed an internet promo calling for same-sex marriage to be made legal in his adopted home state.
The openly gay actor, who moved to the Big Apple in the 1990s to attend drama school, is backing the Fight Back New York campaign, a drive to remove from office all the state senators who voted against marriage equality.
In the web film, Ferguson admits to a crush on actor Alec Baldwin, but states that even if his idol returned his feelings they would be unable to wed because 38 politicians voted against the legalisation of gay marriage.
He says, "We can't get married in New York. And you want to know why? Because a bunch of stupid senators last year voted against my rights and the rights of hundreds of thousands of others who just want to marry the person that they love! Yeah... it's ridiculous."
A California appeals court has extended the ban on gay marriage until the end of this year.
After US District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the ban was unconstitutional, weddings were to begin today at 5pm.
However, opponents took the case to the 9th District Court of Appeals last night, successfully arguing that the ban should stay in place until they have appealed.
But the court also demanded that gay marriage opponents must argue why they have the legal standing to bring the case to court.
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown are the legal defendants in the case but both have refused to support it. Last week, they both called for Judge Walker to lift the ban immediately.
The main defenders of Proposition 8 were groups such as ProtectMarriage.com, which led the campaign to get the issue on the November 2008 ballot.
In their appeal, gay marriage opponents argued that the vast majority of countries around the world restrict marriage to heterosexual couples as it serves a "vital societal interest".
Equality California executive director Geoff Kors said in a statement: "We are extremely disappointed that loving same-sex couples will have to wait to marry, and that we are once again being denied our fundamental rights.
"However, we are optimistic for a favorable ruling, and we?re hopeful that same-sex couples will be able to marry as soon as possible."
Earlier this month, Judge Walker ruled that the ban was unconstitutional. Last Thursday, he ruled that ceremonies should begin again, giving opponents a week to appeal.
His ruling after a three-week trial in the spring, in which gay groups argued that allowing gay couples to marry would protect their children and give them more political power.
Around 18,000 gay couples married in 2008, before the ban came into power.
Further appeal proceedings against the lifting of the ban will take place on December 6th.
Experts expect the case will come before the Supreme Court in two years' time.
Portia de Rossi's second anniversary gift for Ellen DeGeneres? A name change.
The actress, who tied the knot with the talk show host, 52, on August 17, 2008, has asked the court to legally change her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres, according to a petition filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
As for the reason, the papers, which were initially signed by Rossi, 37, in March, say, "Petitioner is taking the last name of her spouse."
But de Rossi isn't a DeGeneres just yet. The name change won't be official until a hearing, scheduled for September 23rd, takes place.
A rep for the talk show host had no comment.
TMZ.com was first to report on the filing.
Score one for the gays! After a call to action by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, NBC’s Today show has announced that it will officially allow gay couples to enter its annual “Modern Day Wedding” contest, which each year features one couple getting hitched on live television, after voting by the show’s viewers. GLAAD reached out after it discovered that Today hadn’t been allowing same-sex couples into the competition. And what a lovely surprise: NBC listened.
Apparently relations with the gay and lesbian community are important to the network and the show. “Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive to all couples,” NBC said in a statement. The network had initially argued that it excluded gays and lesbians because “the couple must be able to be legally married in New York, which is where the wedding will take place.” The smarties at GLAAD, however, pointed out that New York legally recognizes same-sex marriages that are licensed in other states.
“We’re thrilled that Today Show’s ‘Modern Wedding Contest’ now recognizes what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded—a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay,” said Jarrett Barrios, president of GLAAD. “NBC heard GLAAD and the thousands of viewers who contacted them. And they have moved to make their contest a truly modern wedding where any couple can share their story … we encourage qualified same-sex couples to submit their applications.”
And the network responded: “Our intent was not to be discriminatory or exclusive,” the network said. “In 2005 when the wedding took place outside of New York, the application process was open to same-sex couples. We have listened to every voicemail and read every email. We take this feedback seriously, and we will change our application process. Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive of all couples.”
How refreshing is this news? I’m loving it, not that I ever have any intention to get married on live television. But if my fellow gays want to do it, more power to them! Why shouldn’t they be able to get married with Meredith Vieira, Al Roker, and Matt Lauer standing nearby?
The pop superstar had added her voice to the furore after the incarceration of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga and were both sentenced to 14 years behind bars for being homosexual.
She urged Malawians and her followers across the world to stand against the judge's decision by adding their names to a petition against the ruling.
After receiving the petition and meeting with United Nation ambassadors, Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned the pair and ordered their immediate release on Saturday.
And Madonna - who adopted two of her children, David and Mercy, from the country and is financing the construction of a girls' school in the capital - is delighted by the news.
But the singer admits she is still concerned for the pair, adding: "Though they are free from prison, sadly their safety and future in Malawi is still unknown. I hope this is just the beginning of our work together.
Reactions to the conviction of gay Malawi couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labor for "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" for having an engagement ceremony in late December, came today from Madonna and the White House.
Madonna, who many have been calling on throughout this human rights travesty to make a statement, and who is building a school and has adopted two children from Malawi, said:
"I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison. As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved. I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi—and around the world—to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all."
And the White House released a statement through Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
"The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution."
I'm so happy for Jane Lynch.
She’s not only enjoying the role of a lifetime as Sue Sylvester on Glee but is experiencing the love of a lifetime with fiancee Lara Embry.
“It’s a great and wonderful thing at the tender age of 49 to have finally found somebody that I want to be with,” Jane said in a recent interview. “I’m so lucky. … “I’m looking forward to spending every day with this woman all the time, and we’re making that happen.”
Even though Jane’s singing has been a highlight of the last few episodes of Glee (first Madonna’s Vogue followed by Olivia Newton-John’s Physical) she isn’t planning to be the entertainment at the wedding: “I will not be singing and don’t expect any track suits at my wedding.”
So how is Jane like her TV alter-ego?
“I can be aggressive like her. One of the things Sue Sylvester is – she’s a warrior,” she said. “She’s always looking for a fight, and I go through stuff like that. With the wedding plans and even when I got to my hotel here in New York, I was looking for everything to be wrong and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m doing my Sue Sylvester.’ “
Lorenzo Martone has confirmed he and fashion designer Marc Jacobs are married.
Reports last month said the pair had tied the knot but a representative for Jacobs denied they had, despite a wedding cake being delivered to the house.
But Martone, a Brazilian PR executive, told magazine Butt this week that the rumors were true.
He said: "In the end, we just had an intimate ceremony at a friend's house with people who were already on the island.
"Although the official wedding documents won't be signed till later this year, so legally we're not married yet."
They became engaged in March 2009 after a year together and held their ceremony on New Year's Eve in St Barts.
Actress Jane Lynch, who plays cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester in Glee, is to marry her long-term girlfriend.
The star and her partner, psychologist Dr Lara Embry, will reportedly tie the knot in May, after the second series of the hit comedy begins airing in the US. It is not clear where their ceremony will take place.
Lynch, 49, is also known for roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Two And A Half Men.
Embry was successfully involved in a high-profile same-sex custody lawsuit in Florida last year, for which she won the National Centre For Lesbian Rights' Justice Award.
At a press conference for the Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl at Sundance, E!'s Ted Casablanca and Taryn Rider asked actors Jon Hamm and James Franco about the trial in that film in relation to the courtroom proceedings playing out in California against Proposition 8.
Said Hamm: "There's a line in the movie [that says] 'I think that publicity engendered by this trial is going to bring this poem to a much wider audience than it ever would have had.' I think that argument can certainly be made for the Prop 8 situation, where publicity engendered by all this brings to light the absurdity of ascribing second-class status to an entire group of people. The more people that see that...I just think in a lot of ways the publicity and press surrounding these issues will only serve to help."
Said Franco: "Like I said before when Milk was coming out, I hope we'll get to a time soon where we'll look back and say, 'I can't believe that we were discriminating against this whole group of people and saying, 'You don't have the same rights as everybody else.'' I hope that the time comes very, very soon, when we can all look back and say that was ridiculous."
Colin Farrell will help bless his gay brother Eamon's wedding this weekend in Ireland, according to local media:
"Eamon Farrell is having a blessing to mark his union with artist boyfriend Steve Mannion. According to the Irish Independent, the pair actually got married in Canada this summer, with Colin as Eamon's best man. At the time Eamon lamented the fact he and his partner could not wed in Ireland...After the wedding blessing the couple will spend the evening with a host of well-wishers in Krystle nightclub, a funky venue on Harcourt Street in Dublin. The club has private booths, a pent house and a VIP suite – ideal for accommodating the VIP party. It will be a family night out, including Farrell’s mother Rita and sisters Claudine and Catherine, the Independent reports. A gang of other Irish celebs will be there too."
On the heels of the New York legislature voting down a bill allowing same-sex marriage in their state, New Jersey lawmakers had the chance on Thursday to make a different decision and they were urged to do the right thing by their state’s most famous resident: Bruce Springsteen.
The Boss posted this message on his website last week: “Like many of you who live in New Jersey, I’ve been following the progress of the marriage-equality legislation currently being considered in Trenton. I’ve long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same sex couples and fully agree with Governor [Jon] Corzine when he writes that, ‘The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is — a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law.’ ”
“I couldn’t agree more with that statement and urge those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now.”
It’s an uphill battle though with Democrats saying they may not have enough votes. Then there’s this: incoming Republican Gov. Chris Christie has said he will veto the measure if it is passed.
Still, the fight goes on and it will never end until equality is achieved.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, has signed bills to introduce Harvey Milk Day in the state and to recognize gay marriages performed in other states.
The governor had 700 bills to sign or veto by midnight on Sunday. Gay rights activists feared he would veto all in a row over water supplies for the state.
Harvey Milk Day will be a special commemorative day to encourage schools to recognise the activist's work. Nearly 40,000 California residents signed the petition for the commemorative day. It will not be an official holiday, but will encourage schools to remember Milk's actions.
The other bill allows the state to recognise marriages performed in places where gay marriage is legal.
In a signing message, Schwarzenegger said the move will "provide the same legal protections that would otherwise be available to couples that enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships out-of-state.
"In short, this measure honours the will of the people in enacting Proposition 8 while providing important protections to those unions legally entered into in other states."
The bill is an "everything but marriage" measure – meaning that gay couples who married in other states will have all the rights and benefits given to straight married couples but will not have the "designation" of marriage.
Gay marriage was legal in California until the state's voters decided against it in November 2008. Gay rights activists are gearing up to get the issue on the November 2010 ballot.
Mad Men star Bryan Batt is reportedly set to exchange vows with his longtime partner in a same sex marriage later this year.
The gay actor, 46, has been dating Tom Cianfichi, an actor-turned-event planner, for two decades and the couple is now ready to make its union official with a wedding in Vermont, where same sex unions are legal.
A source tells the National Enquirer, "Bryan is at the top of his game professionally, and they've never been happier.
"They're leaning toward a Christmas wedding in Vermont."
Batt and Cianfichi, who own homes in Louisiana, Los Angeles and New York, have begun planning for their wedding, which promises to be an extravagant occasion.
The insider adds, "Bryan and Tom already consider themselves married, and are registered as domestic partners in New Orleans.
"Tom's working on the wedding arrangements, and with their combined style and taste; it's certain to be a big event. They intend to pull out all the stops." »
New father Elton John has attacked opponents of gay marriage and backed efforts to overturn California's ban at a Beverly Hills event to raise funds for a legal challenge.
