Elvira Kurt to Host Second Season of My Fabulous Gay Wedding

The hit show, which showcased same-sex couples exchanging vows, returns for a second smash season with a captivating new host! Second City alumnus and television personality Elvira Kurt’s successful career extends from live stand up, to television and film. Her comedy specials have been featured on HBO, The Comedy Network, Showtime and CBC. A Toronto native, and married to a woman herself, Kurt will be guiding the engaged couples on the new season of My Fabulous Gay Wedding through their final weeks of engagement up to their final “I do’s”.

MTV’s gay and lesbian oriented station LOGO has recently announced the renewal of the queer nuptial reality program known as First Comes Love in the United States. Canadians will watch on a soon-to-be-announced network north of the border.

Since the Canadian Senate passed the bill for equal marriage in July 2005, the country has been in the spotlight for its progressive stance on gay rights. This season, new couples will share the spotlight with their experiences and lives, as well as their ultimate expression of love and commitment.

The show is actively seeking couples that plan on getting married in the greater Toronto area between the months of June and December 2006. This season will highlight the diversity of the queer community focusing on the rich and dramatic stories of each relationship. Articulate, energetic and enthusiastic couples that are eager to share their story and their wedding are encouraged to apply at castingfabwedding@yahoo.ca.

Equality and Freedom Do Not Apply to Gay Marriage

Bill Bennet, the well known conservative writer, politician and radio host discussed his book America: The Last Big Hope on The Daily Show. The book stresses the importance of freedom and equality, but that the nation must draw the line somewhere, somewhere apparently being equal rights to the queer community.

Please watch as Jon Stewart galantly strengthens the Equal Rights Movement with his wit.

Rhode Island Lesbians Fight for Massachusetts Wedding

Rhode Island residents Wendy Becker and Mary Norton have been together for 18 years and have 2 children together. Yesterday, they fought for their right to marry in the state of Massachusetts. MA law allows same-sex marriage, but dissalows marrying couples who reside in states where it would be forbidden.

Becker and Norton's lawyer, Michele Granda, claims that the RI law does not specifically outlaw same-sex marriage. The attourney general pointed out that the RI law indicates marriage as a union of a "male party" and a "female party".

Read the full article from The Boston Globe.

My Fabulous Gay Wedding Casting Call Announced for Second Season

Toronto, June 26th 2006 The hit show, which showcased same-sex couples exchanging vows, returns for a second smash season! Since the Canadian Senate passed the bill for equal marriage on July 19th 2005, the country has been in the spotlight for its progressive stance on gay rights. This season, new couples will share the spotlight with their experiences and lives, as well as their ultimate expression of love and commitment.

The show is actively seeking couples from anywhere in North America that plan on getting married in the greater Toronto area between the months of June and November 2006. This season will highlight the diversity of the queer community and focus on the background stories of each relationship. Articulate, energetic and enthusiastic couples that are eager to share their story and their wedding are encouraged to apply at castingfabwedding@yahoo.ca.

Gay Marriage Ruins State

This clip from Jon Stewart's The Daily Show adequately portrays all the "issues" and "problems" that arise from legalizing same-sex marriage. Please watch!

Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine Signs National Distribution Contract with Source Interlink Companies

Asheville, NC- In April of 2006 RainbowWeddingNetwork.com (RWN), the oldest online wedding and gift registry for the GLBT community, launched the nation’s first, full color, quarterly magazine dedicated to the GLBT weddings, family and equal marriage rights. Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine has accepted a national distribution contract with Source Interlink Companies. Source Interlink Companies is a leader in the industry and provides marketing, merchandising and fulfillment of various entertainment products, including DVD’s, magazines, books and other related items. Source Interlink serves approximately 110,000 retail store locations in North America.

Each issue of RWN Magazine includes marriage equality news, weddings and honeymoon tips, political reports, family and parenting information, along with a directory of business professionals nationwide who support GLBT rights. Magazine issues will be published in conjunction with special events produced by Rainbow Wedding Network, the Same Love, Same Rights™ GLBT Wedding and Family Expos. Expos are scheduled for October 2006 in Seattle and November 5, 2006 in Philadelphia.

RWN has educated the public about same-sex marriage, GLBT families, parenting rights and health issues for five years. In addition to the network, expos and magazine RWN owns and manages its sister web sites RainbowWeddingExpo.com and RainbowWeddingNetworkMagazine.com.

Co-founder Cindy Sproul states "We are ecstatic about the response we have had from readers and from Source Interlink. We are thrilled with this new opportunity." Co-founder Marianne Puechl adds "It takes time, but equal rights for everyone is the future of our country and society."

Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine is currently available online and in bookstores, cafes, offices and other locations across the country. Yearly subscriptions are available online and plans for expansion of national distribution will begin this fall

Pride Week Begins in Toronto

The 2006 Pride celebration in Toronto officially begins today. Mayor David Miller will read the proclamation at City Hall today at noon for the Gay Pride Flag Raising Ceremony. The rainbow striped symbol of gay pride will be elevated all week to show the support of the city for the important celebration. The theme for this years celebration is Fearless . Pride's website explains that Fearless is " about the courage to be open about who you are, and to celebrate people in our past and present who make it increasingly possible to live without fear".

Other community events will be held throughout the week including youth group activism, AIDS vigils, art galleries and discussion panels. As for the nightlife, Prism has returned to be the main attraction assembling a 5 part event series. Gabe Shpilt, a promoter for Prism explains "it is important for many people who come to Pride who don't live in metropolitan areas to feel as if they are part of a larger community. The Prism events help unite the community through music and dance in larger venues not usually home to queer events". Prism kicks off on Thursday the 22nd with Ignition at 5ive Nightclub.

Pride Toronto is one of the largest Pride events in the world, and the third largest in North America. The Pride Parade draws in a crowd of millions and this year will be held on Sunday the 25th at 2pm.

For more information of Pride and Prism events, please visit their websites: Pride Toronto and Prism .

Canadian Band The Habit's Song "Fighter" Stands up for Same Sex Marriage

Stephen Harper's recent announcement that he will be holding a free vote for MPs to revisit the law on same-sex marriage has caused on uproar in the gay community. It has only been since July 2005 that the Canadian senate passed the law making it legal for same sex couples to marry at the federal lever. Now Harper wishes to tap the sensitive subject again, despite concerns of upsetting various groups and communities. Fighter, the latest single from Canadian group The Habit shouts the political message that marriage should be up to the individuals and the love between them.

"We are hoping to get Fighter on every Member of Parliament's iPod this summer so they vote the right way this fall!" claims lead singer Darren Rogers. This Ottawa based band was formed in November 2004 and made its way up to its 8 member group and remains a popular staple in the indi-music crowd.

The Habit had thought they could wait until the summer to release the song Fighter, when their upcoming album would be finished. However, with the Harper government confirming that it plans to re-open the debate “sooner rather than later”, The Habit felt they had to speak up now.

Fighter is available for free download on The Habit’s website www.thehabit.ca, and at www.myspace.com/thehabitca.

Gay marriage PSA in Austin film festival

Parents, one of three television public service announcements produced in support of equal marriage for same-sex couples, will appear at the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (August 26 thru September 6, 2004). Festival programmer Mo Ratel is presenting a segment that will focus on same-sex marriage, including our little 30-second gem.

The spot is part of a multi-media campaign that began airing on radio and television stations and networks across Canada this year. American radio stations began playing our PSAs last month. Our printed media public service announcements begin publication this month.

The campaign was created for us, and our friends at PFLAG, by the inspired team at Zig Inc. The television spots were produced by award-winning Industry Films (with partner companies).
All talent, equipment, time, and expenses were donated by the people and companies involved: a tremendous contribution from the advertising/film/radio industry.

Read the full article at samesexmarriage.ca