Because it’s National Proposal Day (and because we just love seeing people pop the question!), we wanted to share this heartwarming video of a Canadian couple getting engaged at a hockey game over the weekend.
On Saturday night at Scotiabank Place, an Ottawa Senators fan named Alicia was pulled onto the ice, blindfolded, during the second intermission. As she pulled the blindfold off, she was directed to the video screen as music began blaring and the words “MY LOVE FOR YOU IS A JOURNEY, STARTING AT FOREVER AND ENDING AT NEVER. YOU’RE MY WORLD. ZING XOX” scribed across the screen.
On cue, her girlfriend Christina, dressed in Toronto Maple Leafs attire, walked out toward her love, whispered in her ear during an embrace and dropped to one knee as the crowd roared.
As they shared a celebratory kiss, the Senators mascot danced around, raising a sign that read “SHE SAID YES.”
Minnesota marriage equality supporters are gearing up to fight a proposed constitutional amendment—defining marriage between a man and woman. The national organization, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is standing with them, the Post-Bulletin reports.
PFLAG National Executive Director Jody Huckaby
"Our place in the movement is rather unique in that we are a national family organization," PFLAG National Executive Director Jody Huckaby said Sunday at a Rochester Community and Technical College gathering.
Huckaby and his brother, both gay, were raised in a conservative Catholic family. Their father became more supportive after considering the thought of losing his grandchildren. Huckaby's brother and partner have children.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops claims refusing to legally recognize same-sex marriage isn't discriminatory, since marriage and civil unions are “different realities.” Per Minnesota law, marriage is between a man and woman. The amendment would cement that into the state's constitution.
Marriage equality in New Hampshire hangs in the balance. The state's House is expected to vote on House Bill 437, which would replace its gay marriage with civil unions, wcax.com reports. New Hampshire has legally recognized gay marriage since 2010.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch
If the legislation passes, voters would cast ballots in a non-binding vote in November. That allows lawmakers to stop the repeal. The Boston Globe reports legislators plan to vote on the bill Wednesday.
Nearly 60 percent of New Hampshire voters support marriage equality. Same-sex marriage became legally-recognized in Jan. 2010 after passing in 2009.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch pledges to veto the bill, queerty.com reports.
Efforts to repeal Washington state’s gay marriage law have cleared a hurdle—language was finalized. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee ruled Tuesday “redefine marriage” cannot be included in Referendum 74, according to The Advocate and Associated Press.
Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the state's marriage equality bill in February
Both sides objected to the phrase. Marriage equality supporters called Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna’s original wording—“would redefine marriage to allow same-sex couples to marry"— a loaded term.
Preserve Marriage Washington began collecting signatures Wednesday. The law, which Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed in February, takes effect June 7. It’s on hold pending referendum results. Opponents must have 120,600 signatures by June 6.
Anti-gay forces in Maryland began their fight against marriage equality, The Advocate and Associated Press report. Maryland Marriage Alliance officially started collecting nearly 56,000 signatures needed to put a referendum on November’s ballot—by June 30.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who signed the marriage equality bill early this month
“Against the will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Maryland, the legislature has voted to legalize same-sex marriage. But the people of Maryland will have the final say on marriage,” the group said on its website.
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed a marriage equality bill on March 1. The state Senate passed the legislation by a vote of 25-22, leading Maryland to become the nation’s eighth state supporting marriage equality. The law takes effect in Jan. 2013.
Maryland Marriage Alliance partnered with mdpetitions.com to mail petitions to registered voters requesting them to sign the petition to allow voters to decide on the gay marriage bill. A January Washington Post poll noted 44 percent of Marylanders oppose marriage equality, while 50 percent support it.
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