Obama supports marriage equality!

Today is an historic day.  Finally our President has said what many of us have known for a long time: gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights as everyone else.

This is what America is all about.  Treating people equally, being tolerant of others, embracing diversity, fairness.  And part of being an American is accepting that sometimes, people do things you don't agree with.  But as long as it doesn't hurt you, doesn't cost you anything, doesn't impose upon others and doesn't take anyone else's rights away, then we have to be mature enough to accept things we don't necessarily like or agree with sometimes.

So if you're opposed to gay marriage, I have a question for you: what does it matter to you?  I mean that seriously and sincerely.  If a gay couple gets married, what harm or impact does that have on you (and if you're married, on your marriage)?  There are six states in the US today where gay marriage is legal: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire.  Also, the District of Columbia.  Are heterosexual marriages any less meaningful in these states?  Is there really any harm being done?  What possible reason could you have for being opposed to this for loving, committed gay couples?  If you don't like the idea of gay marriage, then don't have one.  Really.  But don't deny that right to others just because you think it's icky.

Denmark to legalize gay marriage!

From The Advocate, it appears that Denmark is on the verge of legalizing gay marriage.  Another win for marriage equality!

According to the Copenhagen Post, the government plans to introduce a bill after the New Year that would allow same-sex couples, who are currently entitled to the civil status of “registered partnerships,” to hold weddings in the Church of Denmark and be considered “married” under the law.

Not surprisingly, this has made some religious people mad.  Because people falling in love and committing themselves to each other is just too much love to be allowed to go unchallenged.

Also:

Civil unions between same-sex partners became legal in Denmark in 1989. Recent polls show that almost 70% of the population supports allowing same-sex couples to marry in the church. 

Nice!  Way to go Denmark!

What is Natural?

Daniel Florien of the Unreasonable Faith blog has a wonderful post challenging religionists to defend their stance against LGBT marriage equality.  The primary line of attack has to do with the argument that gay marriage is not "natural," and he destroys this argument masterfully.  I'll summarize the points after the jump, but you should really read his post, it's a thing of beauty.

Pentagon certifies repeal of DADT

Via NBC News:

Senior defense officials tell NBC News that the Pentagon will announce tomorrow that both Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and all of the Joint Chiefs have certified that the military is ready to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Each member of the Joint Chiefs had to submit a recommendation to Secretary Panetta, indicating that they are far enough in their training to repeal DADT, and that it will not have an impact on military readiness.

The next step is for President Obama to certify the repeal, which then begins a 60-day waiting period to implement the repeal -- before "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is officially a thing of the past.

About flippin' time.   Let's see what actually happens in 60 days.

Miss Universe stands up for LGBT rights

With the recent kerfuffle over the views that Miss USA contestants had about teaching evolution (only 2 supported the idea of teaching, you know, science in our science classrooms), it is refreshing to see a more enlightened beauty pageant title holder.