New Zealand approves same sex marriage, bursts into love song

[Kuya]

Religious homophobes are reported to have burst into flames, more at 11.

[Andalusian girls]

not bad, planet earth

[Moss]

wow I figured the second part of the title was a joke

[Mazmaz]

[Indalecia]

All the feels

[Ashmada]

Meanwhile, in France (earlier in the week):

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Paris over plans to give gay couples in France the right to marry and adopt children.

Three big marches converged on the Champs de Mars, a large park next to the Eiffel Tower.

France's Socialist government is planning to change the law this year.

But the demonstrators, backed by the Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition, argue it would undermine an essential building block of society.

The organisers put the number of marchers at 800,000, with demonstrators pouring into Paris by train and bus, carrying placards that read, "We don't want your law, Francois" and "Don't touch my civil code".

Police said the figure was closer to 340,000 and one government minister said the turnout was lower than the organisers had predicted. A similar march in November attracted around 100,000 people.

The "Demo for all" event was being led by a charismatic comedian known as Frigide Barjot, who tweeted that the "crowd is immense" and told French TV that gay marriage "makes no sense" because a child should be born to a man and woman.
'Test for president'

Although France allows civil unions between same-sex couples, Francois Hollande made a pledge to extend their rights part of his presidential campaign.
A Femen activist is restrained by a policewoman at the Vatican (13 Jan 2013) Four topless feminist activists staged a protest in St Peter's Square in favour of gay rights

Centre-right UMP President Jean-Francois Cope said the rally would be a "test" for the president because there were "clearly millions of French people who are probably concerned by this reform".

The far-right National Front is also opposed to the change, although its leader Marine Le Pen stayed away from the march, arguing the issue was a diversion by politicians from France's real problems.

Despite the support of the Church and political right, the organisers are keen to stress their movement is non-political and non-religious, and in no way directed against homosexuals, BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports.

An opinion poll of almost 1,000 people published by Le Nouvel Observateur newspaper at the weekend suggested that 56% supported gay marriage, while 50% disapproved of gay adoption.

The poll also said that 52% of those questioned disapproved of the Church's stand against the legislation.

Earlier polls had indicated stronger support for the legalisation of gay marriage.

As the marchers began arriving in the centre of Paris, four Ukrainian activists staged their own protest in St Peter's Square in the Vatican in support of gay rights.

The women from feminist group Femen appeared topless while Pope Benedict recited his traditional Angelus prayer.

Police moved to restrain the activists, one of whom was attacked by a worshipper brandishing an umbrella.

Sauce.

[Waraji]

Despite the support of the Church and political right, the organisers are keen to stress their movement is non-political and non-religious, and in no way directed against homosexuals, BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports.

That was my favorite part. Oh you.

[Kuya]

France approved homo gay marriage today. I hope the religious right keeps protesting cause i need a fap.

[Waraji]

You think this gay wave will have any affect on the supreme court rulings? (I wouldn't expect as much seeing as this is amurica...)

[Blarg]

Who is the woman in the colourful shirt they keep showing.

[zoobernut]

Who is the woman in the colourful shirt they keep showing.

I think she is the author of the bill. In that one guys speech he congratulates the author of the bill by name and they cut to her briefly.

[Milkster]

Here you go Kuya.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/%...age-vote230413

A Twitter hashtag loosely translated as ‘Homosexuals must be killed’ is going viral before France's National Assembly votes on gay marriage today (23 April).
It is unknown where ‘Il Faut Tuer Les Homosexuels’ started from, but thousands of social networking users are tweeting about the trending topic.
As Yagg.com points out, many are pointing to a user called Mamadou Neutron for the original tweet.
He has since deleted the tweet but continues to publish homophobic messages.
While some anti-gay Twitter users have just posted the hashtag, others have added messages like ‘Kill them all’ and ‘For a better world…’
Gay rights organization SOS Homophobie is inviting everyone to screen capture the homophobic tweets and send the pictures to them.
They wrote: ‘Waiting for your screen captures of homophobic tweets on Twitter #ilfauttuerleshomosexuels.’
As the National Assembly prepares their final vote, legions of French police and water cannons are being readied in case of violent protests.
Since the National Assembly and Senate both voted in favor same-sex marriage, homophobic attacks have spiked in France.
Gunpowder was sent in a death threat letter to the head of the French parliament, ordering him to postpone the final vote in the National Assembly.
The one-page letter warned: ‘You wanted war, and you’ve got it.’
On 19 April, the French President Francois Hollande warned anti-gay violence will be punished.
‘I cannot accept homophobic acts and violence against property in the midst of protests, or any defiance of law enforcement officials,’ he said.
‘Procedures must be respected, sensibilities must be respected, and everyone must be heard…But the law and parliament also need to be respected.’
UPDATE: France's National Assembly has voted in favor of gay marriage and same-sex couples adopting children. Click here to read more.

[Milkster]

Nevada passes Same-sex marriage bill (to put it on the ballot in 2016); Senator comes out during the debate.

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com...13/04/23/65770

[Milkster]

Delaware passes Same-sex marriage bill (4/23)

Adding to the good news of the day, the Delaware House of Representatives has approved marriage equality (HB 75) by a vote of 23-18. It now proceeds to the Senate, where it must pass out of committee before the full chamber considers it. Advocates are optimistic about passage. Governor Jack Markell (D) has strongly backed the bill. Marriage equality has the support of Delaware’s entire Congressional delegation, DuPont chemicals (one of its largest employers), and 54 percent of voters. The state easily passed civil unions in 2011.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/0...iage-equality/

[ringthree]

Man, when gay marriage finally gets universally approved I am going to lose one of my major sources for bitching.

I have to say though that I am absolutely thrilled about the pace of the turn around on gay marriage. I thought the zealots would hold out for a little longer, at least.

[quannum]

the worst generation is finally dying off.

[RKenshin]

It just passed in the Rhode Island Senate today, too.

[Niiro]

Senator comes out during the debate.

I had to read this like 3 times before I could believe it.

I didn't see it mentioned in the article but is this guy's term up before the 2016 vote?

[archibaldcrane]

Not so fast!

http://www.towleroad.com/2013/04/hale.html - Gay HS gym teacher fired from Catholic school in Ohio after being "outed" because her mother's obituary lists her and her lesbian partner as "surviving".

[BaneTheBrawler]

Well that has to be one of the shittiest ways to come out.