Lauderdale Wants Gay Honeymooners

Fort Lauderdale tourism officials are hoping that New Yorkers will consider South Florida when it comes to making honeymoon plans. Therefore, they've launched a contest.

Just in time for New York's first gay marriages set for Sunday, Greater Fort Lauderdale is launching a contest for gay newlyweds a chance to win honeymoon packages at The Royal Palms Resort & Spa or The Atlantic Resort & Spa. The 62-room Royal Palms offers a winning couple a five-night stay, a couples massage, chocolate strawberries, rainbow roses, plus dinner for two at G.G.'s, with a wine flight and special cake dessert. The Atlantic Resort & Spa, a 124-room luxury hotel overlooking the ocean, offers a contest winner a three-night stay in an ocean-view studio with private balcony, kitchenette and marble bathroom, plus a couples massage, two welcome cocktails and if available, a room upgrade.

More people already visit Florida from New York than from any other state.

Westboro To Picket NYC Weddings

It's a pity they won't be attending NOM's hate rally. That's a side-by-side photo that is long overdue.

VERMONT: Lesbian Couple Sues Hotel For Refusing Their Wedding Reception

A lesbian couple has filed a lawsuit against a Vermont inn for refusing to host their wedding reception. Their suit was filed by the ACLU.

Kate Baker and Ming Linsley filed the suit on Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court, accusing the Wildflower Inn of Lyndonville of abruptly turning them away after learning they are lesbians. They claim the inn violated Vermont’s Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, which prohibits inns, hotels, motels and other establishments with five or more rooms from turning away patrons based on sexual orientation. The law makes an exemption for religious organizations. Twenty-one other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws. Greg Johnson, a law professor at Vermont Law School, said the suit could set a precedent as more states legalize same-sex marriage. Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in six states and the District of Columbia, all of which protect gay men and lesbians in their public-accommodations laws.

According to the suit, the inn has turned away at least two other gay couples.

TOO MANY HAPPY COUPLES: NYC To Hold Lottery To Get Gay-Married On First Day

New York City officials today announced a "marriage lottery" to deal with the high numbers of gay couples looking to tie the knot on the first day of legalized same-sex marriage.

Fearing demand for same-sex weddings will be too great for the City Clerk’s Office to handle this Sunday, city officials have announced a lottery for weddings on the first day that gay couples can legally wed in the state. Officials said couples could be stuck waiting in long lines all day and, though the city has added extra clerks for Sunday, ultimately would not be able to get married because of the high volume. The lottery will guarantee 764 couples – either opposite- or same-sex — access to marry at one of the City Clerk’s five offices Sunday. The 764 couples to marry would be the largest number of marriages on any single day in city history.

NYC has received over 2500 online marriage applications since the day of the historic vote. Hit the link to learn how to enroll for the first day lottery. What a wonderful problem to have!

UPDATE: The Human Rights Campaign comments.

"The record breaking number of couples registering to marry shows how popular--and right-- passing marriage equality was. The lottery is a good compromise. Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn took this great problem to have and came up with a good solution. There will be a lot of love at the City Clerk's Office on Sunday. Every lawmaker, Democrat and Republican, should take heart that New York families are all the stronger."

Bloomberg To Officiate Gay Wedding

Rainbow Falls

In order to highlight what they predict will be booming gay marriage tourism, city officials in Niagara Falls say they are working to have the falls illuminated in the colors of the rainbow on the first days of legalized same-sex unions.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said “This event, which will highlight Niagara Falls on an international level as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination, will serve as a tremendous economic shot in the arm for not only the area’s hotels and attractions, but for the florists, bakeries and restaurants throughout the city.” Dyster said. “Those who come here will see the efforts made by this administration in reinventing our downtown tourist district and be welcomed into a city that will once again reclaim its title as the honeymoon capital of the world.”

The (Gay) Edge Of Glory

NEW YORK: Judges Rush To Volunteer For First Day Of Same-Sex Marriage

Dozens of New York judges have volunteered to officiate at same-sex marriages across the state on Sunday, July 24th, the first day they become legal.

As one of several dozen judges across the state who have volunteered to play an official role in the new law’s first day, Justice Raffaele is part of one of the most unusual judicial mobilizations in years. From Buffalo to the Bronx and pretty much everywhere else in New York, judges are signing up for rare Sunday duty. If same-sex couples want to marry that Sunday, only judges would have the authority to dispense with the 24-hour waiting period required by law. And those judges could then officiate on the spot. Another of the volunteer judges, Sherry Klein Heitler of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, said she was expecting something of a party at the city clerk’s office. “I think there will be a lot of people,” Justice Heitler said. “I think there will be a lot of emotion. I think there will be a lot of happy tears.”

Happy tears, indeed. I'm going to be torn over covering the NOM/Diaz hate rally or whether to be at City Hall.

First NY Wedding Set For Niagara Falls

A lesbian couple plans to be married at Niagara Falls moments after same-sex marriage become legal in New York.

"Prince William and Kate didn’t have as many people at their wedding as we will,” Lambert, one of the region’s most prominent gay rights activists, said Tuesday. “It’s going to be amazing. We’ve joked that we’re inviting 1,800 of our closest friends.” And yes, Lambert and Rudd promise to be the first couple legally married under the state’s historic marriage equality law, which takes effect that day. And what a party they have planned. The celebration will start with a reception on Goat Island at 7 p.m. July 23 and end with a civil marriage ceremony on Luna Island shortly after midnight. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster will officiate. “Everyone is invited,” Lambert said. “We’re doing this because of what it will do for Western New York, and media is coming from all over the world to see it.” For Rudd, the wedding marks the end of a more-than-eight-year wait. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “We’re finally getting the same rights as everyone else. Nobody can take that away from us anymore.”

NYC To Open Offices On Sunday, July 24th For First Day Of Same-Sex Marriages

New York City will take the "unusual step" of opening city offices on Sunday, July 24th so that gay couples may be married on the first day it becomes legal.

The city clerk’s offices in all five boroughs will open that day, and judges will be on hand to officiate at the weddings after couples receive marriage licenses. The decision by city officials to expedite same-sex weddings comes as city and town clerks across the state are grappling with the fact that the law goes into effect on a day when municipal offices are usually closed. Officials in some cities and towns say they are expecting a surge in marriage applications from same-sex couples. The announcement came a day after the city began allowing gay couples to apply online for marriage licenses, though they cannot be issued until July 24 — 30 days after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the same-sex-marriage legislation following its approval by the Legislature.

It's unknown how many couples may show up on the first day, but city officials say they are bracing for long lines and big crowds of well-wishers.

QUEENS: Restaurant Offers Free Gay Wedding Reception

Popular Queens eatery Molly Blooms is offering a free gay wedding reception to one lucky couple whose names will be randomly selected from a bowl in the venue's lobby.

Ciaran Staunton, the owner of Molly Blooms in Sunnyside, is offering a free wedding reception to a gay couple who plan to tie the knot after the law legalizing same-sex marriage goes into effect July 24. "I think it's important to be part of this groundbreaking civil rights victory," said Staunton, who lives with his wife and two children in Sunnyside. "It's a wonderful moment for New York State and its residents." Staunton's offer, while generous, is also savvy. Queens has a large population of gay and lesbian couples who will be on the hunt for that perfect place to celebrate their nuptials.

The reception will include a buffet for 75 people and three hours of open bar. Not too shabby, but surely worth the goodwill Molly Blooms will win in return.

(Tipped by JMG reader Caleb)