I’m a business owner who sees a new beginning over the horizon. I can see a ray of hope that brings a tear to my eye.
I’m a business owner who sees a new beginning over the horizon. I can see a ray of hope that brings a tear to my eye.
Does love conquer all? The members of the Gay Wedding Network would like to think so… Marriage is the union between two people who love each other, who want to be partners for life. Whether your choice is to be gay or straight, lesbian, bisexual or anything in between your lifestyle should not be dictated by a government entity. Our goal is to raise awareness to end discrimination in civil marriage so that same-sex couples can enjoy the same legal marriage protections and social status as opposite-sex couples.
The Gay Wedding Network is an organization of gay friendly and gay owned and operated wedding related businesses that are here to support the GLBT community. This is an opportunity for all of us to start new traditions that will stand the test of time.
We would like to invite those businesses that support the GLBT community and those couples who want to profess their love to join the Gay Wedding Network. This is a new beginning for all of us. Let’s stand together and be proud.
What are the rights and responsibilities of marriage?
There are 1,138 rights and legal protections and obligations in federal civil marriage law that are unavailable to same-sex couples. There are hundreds more in state law.
Don't we already have marriage in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has taken a great step forward by recognizing the right of all its citizens to marry. As of now, New Yorkers in same-sex relationships can choose to marry in Massachusetts, but it is uncertain if their marriages will be recognized in our state. Also we have no way of gaining rights on a federal level if only one state recognizes our marriages. This is why we need to change the law in every state, and that includes New York.
What about religion?
Government-licensed civil marriage is separate from the many kinds of religious marriage. Each religion has its own rules for who can marry, and its own concept of what marriage means. Some religious orders already permit same-sex couples to wed; some never will. The government can never pass any law telling religious orders how to practice marriage. Government-licensed civil marriage should belong to all citizens equally, whatever their religious beliefs, just like the rest of our civil laws.
What about the children?
About 30% of LGBT couples have children. Because their parents can't marry, these children lose rights too. Every child of a married couple has the right to receive support from both parents, and to see both parents, even if the parents separate. The children of LGBT parents have no such rights. They lose out on the fundamental right to have two parents because of prejudice in the law.
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