WATCH: A Tale of Two Dads

Mark Maxwell and Tim Young, a gay couple from North Carolina, share what marriage equality would mean to them and their four foster children.

Mark Maxwell and Tim Young, a gay couple from North Carolina, are foster parents to four young boys ranging between 13 to 24 years of age.

Though the two men have been together for more than 20 years, and were legally married in Washington D.C. earlier this year, they are currently unable to jointly adopt the boys under the laws of North Carolina because they are a same-sex couple.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the organizations Freedom To Marryand Campaign for Southern Equality have teamed up to tell this family’s story of love and perseverance in a touching new video promoting the marriage equality, “A Tale of Two Dads.”

Watch the video at this link:
http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/06/15/watch-tale-two-dads

HRC Blog: A Father’s Day Open Letter on Marriage Equality

Post submitted by John McCarty, guest contributor

This Father’s Day I am not requesting gifts of ties, golf clubs or even familial peace. Instead I am asking for the dreams that I have for my daughter to no longer be blocked by bigotry.

Any partnership is difficult to maintain after the novelty has worn off and day-to-day life has taken over: job, finances, finding a parking place. For those who are demeaned to second-class citizenship because of whom they love, the path is complicated by intolerance.

My wish is for my daughter to find someone, regardless of gender, with whom to share her life. One who respects her as I do and is willing to share the joy, the mundane, the tears, the anger, and through it all still loves her.

And I wish the world would love and respect that commitment.

To read entire blog, click on this link:
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/a-fathers-day-open-letter-on-marriage-equality/

Secretary of State John Kerry declares US foreign policies include gay rights and equality

08 JUNE 2013 | BY JAMES WITHERS

The face of US foreign policy honored June as LGBT Pride Month and asserted a commitment to gay rights around the world.

Secretary of State John Kerry released a video on the State Department website. He connected gay pride celebrations to larger human rights struggles.

'This month is about the assertion of equality and dignity,' the secretary said.  'It is about the affirmation of fundamental freedoms and human rights.  It is about people taking pride in who they are, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.'

Entire article is here:  
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/us-secretary-state-releases-video-honor-gay-pride-month080613

Hollande Signs French Gay Marriage Law

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: May 18, 2013

PARIS — The rush toward France’s first same-sex marriage officially began Saturday morning, after President François Hollande signed the country’s “marriage for all” act into law.

The mayor of the southern city of Montpellier, sometimes called “the French San Francisco,” intends to officiate at the first gay wedding, which is likely to be no sooner than May 29, because by French law an application for a marriage must be filed at City Hall 10 days before the ceremony itself. 

Find the entire article at this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/world/europe/hollande-signs-french-gay-marriage-law.html?_r=0

Transgender rights: A priority for LGBTQ advocates

By Sonja Eide
Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 04:05

While marriage equality has been a controversial and popular topic to tackle since 2008 when California’s infamous Proposition 8 passed, the overwhelming focus on the right to marry has overshadowed many other important issues in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) community.

People who are transgender do not identify as the sex they were assigned at birth. Transgender people are underrepresented in the media and the lack of information surrounding the community has left many individuals vulnerable to violence due to ignorance.

Though being transgender is often associated with the gay community, organizations that claim to cater to LGBTQneeds often ignore or purposely neglect transgender people. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is a prominent organization that claims to be “working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equal Rights.”

To read entire article, please click here:
http://www.laneytower.com/opinion/transgender-rights-a-priority-for-lgbtq-advocates-1.3043516#.UZYpOaLvuSp