Put President Obama and Gilbert & Sullivan together and what do you get?
Short video: Gay couples marry in NY
Celebrate! Great day in NY state!
If you click here, you can see a terrific slideshow of the marriage celebrations going on in NYC at the City Clerks Office. Lots of happy couples here. Thanks to Tony Adams for posting his fantastic pics.
Marriage equality a reality in NY state
With a rainbow-lit Niagara Falls as a backdrop early Sunday, Lambert, 54, and Rudd, 53, were among the first gay couples to tie the knot with the blessing of the state, which last month became the sixth and largest to sanction gay marriage. Couples in Albany, Hudson and Long Island also exchanged vows just after midnight Saturday, kicking off what was expected to be a Sunday packed with weddings.
Lambert and Rudd, grandmothers with 12 grandchildren between them, have been together for more than a decade and had long been fighting for the right to marry.
The women, both of Buffalo, smiled broadly as they exchanged traditional marriage vows, promising to love and cherish each other in sickness and in health. The crowd of several hundred people cheered as they were pronounced married and shared their first kiss.
New posters released for next year’s THE AVENGERS
In addition to the new movie poster for next summer’s The Avengers, Marvel Studios has released four character posters that were designed for this year’s Comic-Con.
There’s great commentary on how the design of the posters and look of the characters was approached – click here to read.
The interlocking posters, which were created by Marvel’s co-visual development supervisors Ryan Meinerding and Charlie Wen, so far feature Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye.
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| Iron Man |
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| Hawkeye |
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| Captain America |
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| Black Widow |
Bob Fosse dances Michael Jackson
It’s common knowledge Bob Fosse was a huge inspiration to Michael Jackson and his choreography.
Here’s a terrific mix of Bob Fosse’s appearance in the movie “The Little Prince” set to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
Amazing how well it works together. But then, talent is talent.
NY marriage equality good for business
Excellent opinion piece on CNN by Bob Witeck on the economic upside marriage equality will bring to New York state.
Witeck points to the fact that to attract the brightest and the best – which includes same-sex couples – you have to offer strong and equal benefits.
New York’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and city leaders must be cheering the economic shot in the arm as hotels, restaurants, caterers, florists and legions of vendors welcome the wedding and honeymoon brigades. Some estimate nearly $400 million in revenues for the state over the next three years.
These rewards are also the result of changing tides among American corporations and employers over recent decades. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s same-sex marriage legislation was endorsed not only by major corporations like Xerox and Google but by scores of smaller business owners across the state.
78% of all LGBT adults said that they would prefer jobs in states that recognize marriage equality.
The Williams Institute, an LGBT-related think-tank at the University of California, estimates $155 million will roll into the Empire state economy in the first year of marriage equality alone.
Amy Winehouse reported found dead in her London flat
Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in London, it has been reported.
The Back To Black singer was apparently found at the property in by emergency services at 3.54pm this afternoon, according to sources, and her death is being treated as ‘unexplained’ by police.
On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Winehouse had been seen with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield earlier this week as the teenager took to the stage at the iTunes festival.
She refused to join in for Mama Said, but did support the 14-year-old with a few dance moves before urging the crowd to buy Dionne’s new album Good For The Soul.
A source said: ‘Amy staggered onstage and grabbed the mic to beg the crowd to buy her protege’s new album.’
Winehouse’s appearance at the concert came after she cancelled her European tour following a disastrous performance in June when she stumbled onto the stage in Belgrade and gave an incoherent performance appearing very disorientated and removed from reality.
Winehouse had been working on her long-awaited new album, the follow-up to her 2006 breakthrough multi-million selling Back To Black, for the past three years.
Winehouse has had a troubled life which has included various stints in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.
In an interview in 2008, her mother Janis said she would be unsurprised if her daughter died before her time.
She said: ‘I’ve known for a long time that my daughter has problems. But seeing it on screen rammed it home. I realise my daughter could be dead within the year. We’re watching her kill herself, slowly.
‘I’ve already come to terms with her dead. I’ve steeled myself to ask her what ground she wants to be buried in, which cemetery. Because the drugs will get her if she stays on this road. I look at Heath Ledger and Britney. She’s on their path. It’s like watching a car crash – this person throwing all these gifts away.’
The baby birds are gone…
Yesterday, we walked out to our courtyard and realized the mama bird and baby birds who we’ve walked past for two weeks had grown up and flown away…
We were pretty used to walking past them and saying ‘hello’ and trying not to disturb the mama and kids. It’s been amazing to see this whole ‘miracle’ unfold at eye level.
Sigh. They grow up so fast…
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| Mama bird in the nest |
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| Mama’s eggs while she’s taking a break |
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| Mama and the baby birds |
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| Baby birds on their own while mama is out looking for food |
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| Baby starting to explore… |
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| Empty nest… 🙁 |
President and Pentagon certifies DADT repeal
After hearing from senior military leaders that repeal posed no threat to the armed forces, President Obama certified the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” His signature of the certification sets in motion the open service of lesbian, gay and bisexual troops. The certification step was part of the legislation he signed in December and now after a 60 day period built into the law, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be a relic of the past.
HRC President Joe Solmonese released the following statement: “For far too long, the ban on openly gay service members has harmed our security and tarnished our values. The President’s certification of repeal is a monumental step, not just for those forced to lie in order to serve, but for all Americans who believe in fairness and equality.
“There are many people who brought this historic day to fruition starting with the President’s tremendous leadership and the steadfast allies in Congress who refused to give in to the lies and fear mongering. Additionally we thank all of the brave men and women who have continued to wear the uniform under a policy that forced them to hide who they are. The end of that shameful time is thankfully near.”
(via the HRC)
‘Drop Dead Diva’ episode focuses on lesbian prom couple
Drop Dead Diva, Lifetime’s legal comedy-fantasy series, honors Constance McMillen’s inspirational triumph with a powerful episode about a young lesbian couple barred from attending their high school prom.
“The Prom,” which airs July 24, features very special appearances by out performers Clay Aiken, Lance Bass, Amanda Bearse, and Wanda Sykes. Also look for a cameo by McMillen herself as a bailiff.