Gay weddings create business boom in DC

A study by the nonprofit Williams Institute says that newly legalized same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia will create over 700 jobs and pump $52.2 million into the economy there over the next three years. Read more about the impact gay marriage is having on businesses in Washington, D.C. in the “Washington Post.”

Virginia newspaper owner blasts new attorney general

Nicholas Benton, owner of the award-winning “Falls Church News-Press” in Virginia, today sent a public letter to that state's post-secondary schools to criticize the "unprovoked, inflammatory act of bigotry" by Virginia's new Republican attorney general, Kenneth Cuccinelli. Last week Cuccinelli sent notice to the state's colleges and universities advising them to remove any policy language that protects the rights of lesbians and gays.

Benton denounced Cuccinelli's action not only for removing existing equal rights protections for gay and lesbians, but also for its negative impact on economic development in Virginia. He says the action undermines civic efforts to embrace diversity and perpetuates a mood of hate, intimidation and violence fueled by the far right.

"The unprovoked, inflammatory act of bigotry by the new Republican Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli last week, in the form of a letter advising Virginia colleges and universities to remove language protecting lesbians and gays from discrimination, takes away existing protections from an embattled minority, and represents a profound threat to the Commonwealth in a number of important ways,” writes Benton.

He continues, "I urge every fair-minded citizen, every civil libertarian, every elected official of any party, and every proponent of economic growth in Virginia, every advocate of civility, to go on record in strong opposition to the Attorney General's incendiary action and to affirm that every Virginian enjoys equal protection under the law. Wherever public resolutions or pronouncements can be enacted to this end by local jurisdictions, political action or religious groups, or business or other organizations, I urge this to be done with the sense of clarity and urgency it deserves.”

Benton has owned the “Falls Church News-Press” for 19 years. He has also served for 19 years on the board of directors of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and is also on the board of directors of the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.

Atlanta named gayest city

Okay, so maybe it’s not the most scientific study, but this recent article from “The Advocate” is sure fun to read. It tries to determine the gayest city in the country. Perhaps Atlanta tops its list because the South is so conservative that its queer population tends to move where they can stay close to their roots and still be themselves. 

New LGBT social networking site launches

Queerbook.com has lay dormant since 2003. Recently, the URL’s owner logged on to Google Analytics and noticed hundreds of thousands of hits on the direct URL entry alone. Afterward, the owner took the site, which was originally planned as a "year book" for local gay and lesbian bars, and decided to use it to launch a LGBT social networking venture.

"It's a competitive niche, but we are focusing on non-porn, non-quickie, agenda items,” says Rick Setter of Advocate USA, LLC, the corporation responsible for Queerbook.com. “We want to bring advocacy, education, interaction and fun to our LGBT members. We commissioned a study by Texas Research and Investment which showed both the increasing acceptance of the 'queer' moniker within the community and the ideals of having a site not dedicated to finding the hottest porn and quickest hookup."

Queerbook.com offers its members blogs, groups, chat and photo and video sharing. More features are on the way, including multiple profiles and privacy options. In addition, a speed-networking and speed-dating feature will be offered.

"The investment in initial research has allowed us to build a site optimized for desired features. We may be skewed toward the 30 to 40 set because of the values we represent, but advertisers will find a rich market to reach on Queerbook.com," says Setter.  

Find out more at http://www.queerbook.com.

Sea of bare human flesh

Video credit: Independent Television News (UK)

A crowd of more than 5,000 people shed their clothes and gathered on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in Australia on Sunday to pose for Spencer Tunick, a U.S. photographer famous for shooting nude groups in public places. The project intentionally coincided with Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. It aims to promote diversity and equality.

Expo taps into new same-sex wedding market in nation’s capital

As the nation's capital gears up for same-sex marriage, RainbowWeddingNetwork.com (RWN) plans to hold a Gay & Lesbian Wedding Expo in the city’s gay-friendly Dupont Circle neighborhood. 

The event, called the “Same Love, Same Rights LGBT Wedding Expo,” is slated for May 2 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Dupont Circle Hotel. It targets gay and lesbian couples planning weddings as a result of new legislation allowing gay marriage in the District of Columbia.

The expo will host over forty Wedding-related exhibitors who actively support equal rights in marriage and adoption. It will also showcase travel, gift, legal, real estate and family-related businesses. Admission is free.

"It is truly a victory for our minority that same-gender marriage is being recognized in our country's capital," says Cindy Sproul, co-founder, RainbowWeddingNetwork. "It's a time to celebrate and for all citizens to actively, enthusiastically join together and envision the next steps for the LGBT community. This Expo will provide a forum in which advocates and allies, both gay and straight and from all walks, classes and backgrounds, to communicate, become more cohesive and connect with others seeking to end discrimination.

Launched in 2000, RWN has grown into one of the largest gay wedding companies in the United States. RWN has produced over thirty-five wedding trade shows throughout the country since 2003. In 2006, the company began publication of the first wedding magazine specifically dedicated to gay & lesbian weddings. Read more at RainbowWeddingNetwork.com and SameLoveSameRights.com.

Philadelphia to host nationwide Mr. Gay competition

The Noble Beast Foundation and organizers for the Mr. Gay contests have named Philadelphia as host city this year for the United States National Mr. Gay Competition.  

Don Spradlin, Noble Beast Foundation president and Mr. Gay founder, will work with Bruce Yelk and Nightlifegay.com, Philadelphia's premier LGBT event promotions company to plan, promote and execute the competition. It will be held Nov. 13 at Voyeur Nightclub.

"I'm thrilled that the national organizing committee has selected Philadelphia to host the National Mr. Gay Competition," says Bruce Yelk, president, Nightlifegay.com.  "This is a testament to the support of our local LGBT community, and I'm incredibly excited to help coordinate what's certain to be one of Philadelphia's most innovative special events."

Mr. Gay United States features contestants, celebrity judges, performers and hosts from cities across the country.  A series of competitive categories and performances will culminate in the naming of the winner, who will compete in the International Mr. Gay (IMG) Competition Grand Finale.

“The Mission of the foundation is to advocate international equal rights by confirming the essential nature and contributions of gay men to a healthy society where being gay is not a stereotype.  We are especially concerned about the damage done by our society's acceptance of the gay stereotype to define all gay people.  We showcase real gay men to show that we are not stereotypes."

Go to www.mrgaycompetition.com for more information about the Mr. Gay competition and Noble Beast Foundation. To learn more about what Philadelphia offers to LGBT travelers, click on Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s LGBT web pages to be linked to information on gay-friendly amenities and attractions.