14 Stories

Robbie and Allen live in California and are competing to win $100,000 towards their wedding in the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest.  These two grooms are legally marrying in Massachusetts with a big celebration afterwards in California.

You can vote for them here!


Professional photos by Prideful Engagements.

Note:  these grooms are not our clients so we have no investment in their win, other than to see a gay couple win the contest for the first time!

It seems like every day there's news about some state attempting to ban same-sex marriage or another trying to pass it.  Some are moving forward with civil unions....  It's a lot to keep track of, so here's the latest scoop as of today (Feb 18, 2011):

The good news:

• Hawaii - a civil unions bill passed by the House and Senate is on its way to the Governor for approval.  They would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
• Illinois - passed civil unions earlier this month, effective as of June 1
• Maryland - a bill to legalize gay marriage was introduced and approved by a committee of the Senate.  It still has a few steps for approval but the signs look good.
• Rhode Island - three different bills related to same-sex marriage have been introduced (only one for full marriage equality) and hearings are underway

• California - the challenge to Prop 8 is under review and a decision isn't expected until the end(!) of this year.
• Indiana - The Indiana House approved a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions. This now goes before the Senate, and must be passed by both again next year in order to go on the ballot for voters.
• Iowa - nearly two years after same-sex marriage was legalized in Iowa, the House voted to ban gay marriage.  This is the first step in the lengthy process which requires Senate and voter approval.
• New Hampshire - gay marriage is currently the law (as of Jan 2010) but two separate bills are trying to end it.  There have not been any votes yet.
• Wyoming - The Wyoming Senate narrowly voted today to stop recognition of same-sex marriages and civil unions from outside the state. It currently bans them outright, but still recognizes marriages from other states. The House already passed a different version of the bill, so they now have to vote on this version before it goes to the Governor.

Portia de Rossi filed paperwork to have her last name legally changed to DeGeneres to match her wife, Ellen DeGeneres.

They've been legally married for two years now.  The process of changing one's name is pretty easy if you live in a state where gay marriage is legal and you are legally married.  All you have to do is show the certified copy of your marriage certificate to the Social Security administration, then the RMV, then everywhere else.  You're golden.  

If you live in a state where gay marriage is not legal, in all likelihood, you'll have to change your name through the court system.  I actually had a couple tell me that they were denied a name change by a homophobic judge.  It's not just but that's the way it is for now, as long as DOMA stands.

Are you planning to have your name changed when you get married?

We heard the news this week that Judge Walker, a federal district judge in California, overruled the ban on Prop 8.  Tons of people are ecstatic about this ruling - it's a huge step in the right direction of marriage equality.

Since this ruling has been appealed and will likely reach the U.S. Supreme Court, many LGBT individuals fear that the timing is not right and the U.S. Supreme Court will vote unfavorably.  That remains to be seen but I for one, am thrilled that marriage equality won round one in this Prop 8 case.

So, what does this mean right now?  Currently there is a "stay" on the ruling which means that same-sex marriages have not resumed in California.  Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown, among others, have both submitted motions to have those marriages resume.  We're waiting to see what happens and hoping for the best!

I'm currently working with four couples from California on their wedding plans in Massachusetts.  What are your plans and how will this ruling affect them?