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Katy Perry Champions LGBT Youth

UPDATE: The United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear arguments in United States v. Windsor which challenges the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The Court also granted a hearing to Hollingsworth v. Perry, the challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Arguments before the Court are likely to take place in March 2013. Updates to Come…:)
The Trevor Project honored international super star Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award at “Trevor Live” in Los Angeles. This high-profile annual event benefits the life-saving, life-affirming work of The Trevor Project which provides crisis intervention & suicide prevention services to LGBTQ teens & young adults. Katy Perry stated, “I am so proud to be honored by The Trevor Project as a Trevor Hero. I hope all LGBTQ youth know that they are as valuable as anyone else, that they are amazing & unique & make the world a more vibrant place. Trevor’s life-saving, life-affirming work helps youth find the future they deserve. I want every young person to choose to have a tomorrow & to dream for the future. And if they don’t get to hear it enough, I hope they know that they can pick up the phone to call the Trevor Lifeline, or log on and talk to someone on TrevorChat. It’s okay to ask for help. You are worth it. Make a pledge to yourself to get help if you need it, because we need you in our lives.” LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers & every day The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free & confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials, online resources & advocacy. The Trevor Project has been honored by the White House as a Champion of Change as a leader & innovator in suicide prevention.
 For More Info & Video: TheTrevorProject.org
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Gay Marriage In Washington State

With Washington, Maryland & Maine winning their ballot fights passing gay marriage, Washington will be the first to issue marriage licenses to couples beginning Thursday Dec 6th. Washington’s final vote tally shows the largest margin of victory at 7.4%. The final vote shows R74 winning by 53.7% to 46.3%. County clerks across the state are expecting hundreds of couples to line up for licenses today as soon as clerk’s offices open. Two counties King & Thurston, started issuing licenses at midnight Thursday morning. Washington will be the first state among the 3 to actually hold gay marriages on Sunday, Dec. 9. The Sunday nuptials follow the state law requiring couples to wait 3 days after receiving their marriage licenses before marrying. The City of Seattle is opening the Grand Lobby at City Hall for a day wedding celebrations. Local judges have volunteered to officiate marriages, artists are working to provide colorful backdrops for ceremonies in the lobby & volunteer witnesses will be on hand. Florists, photographers, event planners, caterers & other wedding-related businesses are looking forward to a big boost in business from the passage of Referendum 74. A study released earlier this year by UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates gay marriages will add 57 million dollars to Washington’s economy in the first year alone. Zach Silk, campaign manager of Washington United for Marriage, which led the R74 campaign stated, "This is always what it's been all about -- making peoples' dreams come true. Thursday is a proud & joyful day for all Washingtonians. And for those of us from the campaign, we are so very grateful to the thousands of volunteers & donors who made it possible for everyone to marry the person they love." Now let’s see if the US Supreme Court will address marriage equality on Friday so that federal rights & benefits will be coming our way.
Updates to Come…:)
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LGBT OUTMUSIC AWARDS

In Las Vegas from Dec. 14th to Dec. 16th get ready to party hard during the most anticipated weekend in LGBT music & entertainment when the 8th Annual OUTMUSIC Awards rocks Las Vegas for the first time ever live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts is presenting 3 days of the most astounding events & performances to honor the contributions & achievements of LGBT artists. Celebrating the best recordings artists, performers & industry contributions in music each year with a message of inclusion, equality & freedom of expression, the OUTMUSIC Awards has become one of the most anticipated events in LGBT music & entertainment since its founding 22 years ago. This year’s OUTMUSIC Awards will pay homage to 7 outstanding individuals who have positively impacted the LGBT music industry & community. Honorees include Bishop Yvette Flunder (Heritage Award), Ari Gold (Visionary Award), Joey Arias (Lifetime Achievement Award), Diana King (Vanguard Award), Storme Delarverie (Living Legend Award), Labi Siffre (Spirit Award) & Jobriath (OUTMUSIC Icon Award). Tickets are on sale now & can be purchased by visiting OUTMUSIC Awards. Prices range from $31.00 to $81.00; Three-day event passes are also available.
For More Info & Tix: outmusicawards.com 
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Mike Ruiz & Carmen Electra Event

New York City XL Nightclub has become notorious for their electrifying parties. This Friday, Dec. 7th, celebrity & fashion photographer, Mike Ruiz will host his very own birthday bash at XL. You remember Mike from the gay TV show on LOGO The A List. The night will be full of dance, humor & incredible performances. Special guest, Carmen Electra, will be there to celebrate Ruiz’s birthday. Electra plans to give him a special birthday gift by wowing the guests with her debut performance of her new smash hit single, “I Like it Loud.” Guest performances will also include Martha Wash, The Ones, Janice Robinson & Jason Walker, who will keep the entertainment going all night. The party will be spun by DJ’s Whitney Day & Bill Coleman. The birthday will also serve as a fundraising opportunity to benefit The Ali Forney Center, an organization that shelters homeless LGBT youth. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction, the organization’s main drop-in center was flooded & rendered uninhabitable. Ruiz’s goal this year is to raise $15,000 on behalf of the homeless LGBT youth cause. The Ali Forney Center (AFC) helps make a difference in the lives of homeless LGBT youth by rescuing them from the dangers of the streets & placing them into safe, homelike environments. AFC is working hard to provide youth with the support & nourishment they need to succeed & thrive. AFC strives to help and support the broader community to make NYC a safer place for homeless LGBT youth.
For More Info: xlnightclub.com/cabaret 
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U.S. Supreme Court DOMA Conference

UPDATE: Again, no gay marriage orders. The Supreme Court on Monday released added orders from its Friday Conference but the list did not include any on the 10 cases dealing with the gay marriage issue. It now appears that those cases will be rescheduled for the Conference this Friday morning. An announcement could come after that session. Updates to Come...:)
Again we’re in a holding pattern waiting for the United States Supreme Court to decide if they will hear arguments this term in one or more cases related to DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act). GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) is party to 2 of the cases the Court may review, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management & Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management. In both of these cases a Federal Appeals Court has ruled Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional, which denies federal recognition & rights to legally marriaged of same-gender couples. Then we have AFER (American Foundation for Equal Rights) in California also waiting to hear if the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to grant review in Hollingsworth v. Perry (formerly Perry v. Brown), the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. These cases all challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) & were distributed for discussion at the Justices’ private Conference scheduled last Friday, November 30th & now they’re scheduled for Monday, December 3rd at 9:30A EST. We’re standing by to bring you all the updates exclusively through GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto & from the Prop 8 case Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel Theodore B. Olson & David Boies; plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier & Paul Katami Jeff Zarrillo as well as AFER co-founder Chad Griffin now President of HRC & AFER executive director Adam Umhoefer. Updates to Come…:)
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Lesbian Couple Marry At West Point

West Point Cadet Chapel performs its first gay marriage. Army Veteran & OutServe-SLDN Board member Brenda “Sue” Fulton married Penelope Dara Gnesin at the Cadet Chapel at West Point on Saturday. A member of the first class to include women at West Point in 1980, Fulton now serves as a presidential appointee to its Board of Visitors. She was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of captain. Fulton is also the Executive Director of Executive Director of Knights Out, an organization of LGBT West Point graduates & allies. She joined OutServe-SLDN’s newly combined Board in October 2012. The ceremony is the first same-gender wedding at the Cadet Chapel. Last week, Army 1st Lieut. Ellen Schick married Ms. Shannon Simpson at the Old Cadet Chapel, a smaller venue on Academy grounds. Fulton stated, “West Point holds special significance to both me & Penny. From the time I was a cadet, what West Point stands for – integrity, leadership, selfless service – have been my touchstones. When Penny & I worked on ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ we kept coming back to the core value of integrity & that’s what made a difference. To be able to legalize our union here, especially at the Cadet Chapel, is really important to us.” The couple met in 1995 during a community sing. Penny attended a local event with singer-songwriter Carolyn McDade. While most of the participants sang melody, Sue’s contralto harmony caught Penny’s ear & ultimately brought the two to together. The couple is postponing their honeymoon until next year. Congrats to Sue & Penny!!
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Boston World AIDS Day Film Events

December 1st is World AIDS Day. This day is to commemorate & honor those in our community we have lost. The Boston LGBT Film Festival is presenting three screenings to raise awareness & bring our community together. On Saturday Dec 1st at the Museum of Fine Arts from 2:15P to 3:35P is the New England premiere of Rohan Spong's wonderful & uplifting documentary ALL THE WAY THROUGH EVENING. The film celebrates pianist Mimi Stern-Wolfe as she plans & performs her annual concert of works by her friends who were lost to HIV/AIDS. Mimi will be attending the screening & will be performing following the film. This screening is free & cosponsored by Kimpton Hotels. The Boston LGBT Film Festival & the Institute of Contemporary Art are bringing back two amazing documentaries on Saturday as well. UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP (Festival 2012), Jim Hubbard's moving documentary on the origins of ACT UP will be screening at Noon & WE WERE HERE (Festival 2011), David Weissman's powerful documentary on the arrival of AIDS in the San Francisco gay community will be screening at 3pm. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is sponsoring the education programs associated with this screening & the exhibition This will have been: Art, Love & Politics in the 1980s. For More Info: bostonlgbtfilmfest.org
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