Aw! How fabulous is this marriage proposal video of such a fun lesbian couple, Michelle and Janet, from Cherry Grrl TV? Getting your friends involved, either in recording it for you to preserve the memory or in making the presentation of your love, is a great idea.
Reverend Ed Bacon, a priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Calif., appeared on a recent webisode of Oprah's Lifeclass show and lifted my spirits by saying that "being gay is a gift from God." Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, the founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, agreed with Rev. Bacon, saying that gay people are born that way, that we are "gay by divine right" and that we have a purpose on Earth.
It was inspiring to me not just for my own spiritual journey, but because I know Oprah has millions of followers, many of whom I believe need to open their hearts and their minds to the truth that people who are not exactly like them can still be morally good and deserve the same rights and privileges (such as the right to legally marry and enjoy the 1,338 Federal benefits and responsibilities that federally recognized marriage brings) that they already enjoy just for simply having been born heterosexual.
I'm not trying to write a massively persuasive, ground-shattering essay on the subject in this space. I don't even think religion and government should go together. However, many people in the United States of America vote with their conscience and their religious beliefs. I simply felt moved by this uplifting message and wanted to share it with you.
Chaz Bono presents Jennifer Elia with an engagement ring in a trip to Seattle on "Being Chaz."
Chaz Bono has called off his engagement to Jennifer Elia, TMZ reports. He gave her an engagement ring this year atop the Seattle Space Needle, which was filmed for "Being Chaz," a documentary for OWN that aired in November. Contrary to what every other news outlet seems to reporting, the couple has actually been engaged for several years. He was just only able to afford the Tacori engagement ring this year, which he suprised Elia with on her birthday.
Last month, Bono told me how he proposed to his girlfriend, which included cooking her a nice dinner at home. I asked him about the specifics of their wedding plans, and he didn't seem too excited to share, telling me, "I don't know if that stuff is terribly important. I think, to me, as long as you have, you know, the people that you love there, everything else, I think, kind of comes second." Of course, I agree with the sentiment, but he just didn't seem to be in love.
The couple has had their share of challenges, working through Bono's gender change and Elia battling alcoholism (which Bono was supportive of, considering his own bout with pill addiction).
Bono's rep, Howard Bragman, tells TMZ, "They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection toward one another. No further amplification will be forthcoming and they ask that you respect their privacy at this time."
Though a called-off engagement is always sad, an unhappy marriage, be it 72 days long (ahem, Kim Kardashian) or decades long, is a tragedy. Most people go through with their weddings even if they feel that it is a mistake long after they've accepted the engagement ring. There are so many reasons for this, but it usually boils down to not wanting to disappoint loved ones or the wedding money has already been spent.
Tell me: Have you ever called off a wedding? What's your advice for people thinking about doing it?
I'm loving the winter-inspired wedding post by Annie Scudder over at TresSugar. She gathered 10 fab images to help readers pull together a winter-themed wedding of their own. Below are my two fave photos. When planning your own winter wedding, consider keeping your colors simple, such as silver, cream, white and gold, instead of buying into the expected red/green or blue/silver combos.
A gorgeous color-neutral palette whispers romance as sweet and subtle as the winter snow.
Black ribbons, calla lilies and dragees (tiny edible sugar pearls) make for a dramatic winter wedding cake. The backdrop of the Christmas tree adds to the festive spirit if you're getting married anywhere close to Dec. 25.
I'm loving the jazz-age wedding-day hairstyle featured on BHLDN.com, which channels a nightclub-inspired 'do from the Roaring Twenties. Hairstylist Moiz Alladina created it with gel and a Titian comb placed atop a chignon sold on BHLDN. For the complete instructions and more wedding-day hair inspirations from the vintage-inspired site we can't get enough of, click here.
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