Were you a Victim of Prop 8? Take the Survey…

Were you a Victim of Prop 8? Take the Survey…

Hello from Rainbow Wedding Network...Were you and your partner a victim of Prop 8? Did you travel to California from another state to obtain a marriage license?

Take this survey so we can tell real stories of the LGBTQi community and our quest for Equal Rights in Marriage.

Also, after the survey visit www.SameLoveSameRights.com and sign the Commitment Petition. Send in a photo of your family to share in the Commitment Photo Album to help put a face to same-gender marriage.

Help us survey the LGBTQi community by sending this email to your friends or add this survey link to your myspace or facebook page and twitter your friends so they can take part. By standing together we CAN make a difference!

Here is the Survey Link…

http://www.surveyconsole.com/console/TakeSurvey?id=526185

Valentine’s in November!! Rainbow Wedding Network’s New Look

Rainbow Wedding Network
Amanda Hager, correspondent
(866) 251-1564
http://www.SameLoveSameRights.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 14, 2008

Valentine’s in November!! Rainbow Wedding Network’s New Look

November 14th Brings a Fresh Look for America’s Most Popular Online Gay Wedding Resource!

The national web resource, RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, announces a vast update to its website as of November 14, 2008. An array of interactive features will be offered to site users, including social networking for couples in the planning stages, engagement announcements, and a zip code search for screened gay-friendly businesses within an active online Directory of over 5000 members. High graphic appeal and fresh content focused on GLBTQ wedding trends and legislative highlights will polish the new look. Most features will be free for site users.

The elections may have been disheartening with regard to Proposition 8 in California, bans on gay marriage in Florida and Arizona and a ban on adoption for same-sex couples in Arkansas... but RainbowWeddingNetwork.com continues to provide important legitimization for couples all across the nation and by offering a directory of screened gay friendly businesses that support marriage equality. The company (RWN) was originally launched in 2000, designed to offer the nation’s first-ever Wedding Gift Registry for the LGBTQ community. The lesbian-owned website soon expanded to include the most extensive Directory on the web of screened, gay-friendly businesses of all kinds, primarily wedding, travel, family and home-related; today the RWN directory boasts over 5000 businesses!

Fresh Look to RWN on November 14th! Check out these exciting new Features!

• Free Customized Couples’ Web Pages & Photo Galleries
• Zip Code Search for Gay-friendly Businesses
• Engagement Announcements
• Couples’ Forum
• Improved Gift Registry with Options for Charitable Gift Donations
• Easy Links to GLBTQ Wedding Expos and RWN Magazine
• Tips, Trends & Helpful Articles for Ceremony Planning
• E-Invites, Save-the-Date Announcements & More!

To preview the site and to get started, visit www.gayweddings.us.com for all the information you’ll need to create your own Couples’ Web Page, Browse for Vendors, Advertise as a gay-friendly Business in the Directory, or enjoy all the other many exciting features now available.

For more information visit these exciting websites www.GayWeddings.us.com www.RainbowWeddingNetworkMagazine.com www.SameLoveSameRights.com

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More thoughts on Prop 8

America was supposedly founded on the separation of Church & State; yet the conservatives who saw to it that Proposition 8 was passed in California this week completely overlooked this. They say their concern with gay marriage is that all churches will be required to embrace the idea of same-sex marriage; this is not true. Liberal-thinking Americans WANT to keep church & state separate; therefore no church would be regulated to the point of requiring recognition of a rite its members do not believe in.

But a majority-vote in CA to restrict the rights of a minority (the gay minority) is outrageous, especially when it was subsidized by conservative groups based beyond California's borders.

The gay minority in America will coalesce and ultimately see victory with regard to equal rights in marriage and adoption. And history will record it as another chapter in America's quest for true equality for all its people. This remains a civil rights issue, not a moral one.

Election Highs, Election Woes...

Of course we're thrilled about PRESIDENT-ELECT Obama!!!

Of course we're thrilled about the impact of this election for our African American brothers & sisters. ...About what it says about Americans, in general.

Of course we're thrilled about the changes in Congress and the bounty of Senate and House seats that are now Democratic.

But... What about Proposition 8 in California, bans on same-sex marriage now in Florida & Arizona and a ban on adoption for same-sex couples in Arkansas?? What about the gay minority in America and our equal rights as citizens??

Hmm. There is no one to blame but ourselves, folks. It always comes down to that fact. The conservatives (based beyond California's borders, btw) are the ones who became cohesive enough and spent enough money and got out their volunteers in order to pass Proposition 8. They are the ones that solidified their message and swung voters in their direction.

Our gay community did not.

We had advocates stand with us, such as Brad Pitt, who generously donated $100K to fight Prop 8. But where were the bullhorns and the rallies and the marches from gay celebrities and the gay masses plastered over the news in uproar over this move to further discriminate against us?? Where were the ads and the billboards promoting the realities of same-sex marriage and the dangers of further intolerance? Why did we fail?!

Certainly, great strides have been made in recent years with regard to gay rights in America. But today California's state constitution has been amended to write limitation, fear and discrimination into its lines. ...When will we, as a minority, decide that enough is enough?

I'd love to hear from you. Write me anytime with your comments and ideas. Meanwhile, check out our online forums at http://www.samelovesamerights.com/ and GET INVOLVED, GAY AMERICA!

Marianne Puechl, co-founder
http://www.rainbowweddingnetwork.com/
http://www.samelovesamerights.com/
http://www.rainbowweddingnetworkmagazine.com/
rwneditor@gmail.com