Hawaii Governor Abercrombie Signs Civil Unions Senate Bill 232 Into Law, Utah-Registered Web Site Suggests New Zealand Earthquake Act Of God Triggered By Country’s Acceptance Of Homosexuality, Some Gay Polish Soccer Fans Seek Separate Seating For 2012 European Championships, Lance Bass And Chris Evans Tramp Up Trousdale

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, signed into law Senate Bill 232, a bill that affords all couples, same sex and opposite sex, to enter into civil unions, a legal status with all the same benefits, responsibilities, and rights as traditional marriage, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Abercrombie signed the legislation at a ceremony today at historic Washington Place. "E Komo Mai: It means all are welcome," Abercrombie said before signing the bill into law. "This signing today of this measure says to all of the world that they are welcome. That everyone is a brother or sister here in paradise. The legalization of civil unions in Hawaii represents in my mind equal rights for all people." Senator Mike Gabbard, an opponent of the legislation, said "It's a sad day for the people of Hawaii. Politicians have shown that they just don't care about the views and values of the majority of Hawaii's residents." Another opponent, the Hawaii Catholic Conference, released a statement that read in part "Passage of this legislation is just a step towards the legalization of same-sex marriage." Former Governor Linda Lingle, a Republican, had classified civil unions as same-sex marriage by another name, which she opposed, saying the issue was too important for government to decide and should be put to the people for a vote. She vetoed the proposal in July. Couples are able to enter into civil unions beginning January 1st, 2011. Hawaii has been fundamental in advancing the movement for equality since the early 1990s, when the state Supreme Court came close to legalizing same sex marriage. The 1993 ruling would have made Hawaii the first state to allow same-sex couples to wed, but it did not take effect while voters were given a chance to decide the matter. They responded in 1998 by overwhelmingly approving the nation's first "defense of marriage" state constitutional amendment, giving the Legislature the authority to define marriage as between one man and one woman but leaving the door open for civil unions.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a website claims that the catastrophic earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand was an act of God that was triggered by the tolerance of homosexual behaviour in the city, gay and lesbian advocates denouncing the site as “despicable and appalling. The website Christchurch Quake, which was registered on September 20th to an address in Utah, suggests the destruction was a result of ''lesbians running loose on the South Island as if they own the place'' and general ''amoral'' behaviour. Among other inflammatory accusations, the website alleges that the earlier September earthquake, which coincided with the start of Gay Ski Week in Queenstown, was a warning from God to ''End the Evil - or else!''.

The Associated Press reports that a contingent of gay soccer fans from Poland have requested that organizers of the 2012 European Championship to set aside separate seating from gays and lesbians in order to protect them from possible aggression from fellow fans. Teczowa Trybuna 2012, or Rainbow Stand 2012, calls itself the first-ever gay fan club for Poland's national team. A statement on its website reads in part that its members fear aggression from other fans and want to feel safe during the tournament in Poland and neighbouring Ukraine, stating that “During trips to matches of our beloved clubs ... we unfortunately are often faced with unpleasantness, harassment and violence from the 'real' fans. We dream of being able to relax in the stands - we can't imagine not being at the Euro 2012 matches, which will be held in our country!'' Polish soccer matches sometimes see violent attacks and fights involving hooligans, and homophobia also remains rampant in Poland, largely because of the legacy of communism, which treated homosexuality as a taboo, and the teachings of the church in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. One match venue, the city of Gdansk, rejected the group's call for separate seating, saying it would only further stigmatize gays, and some gay rights groups are distancing themselves from the appeal. Gregory Czarnecki of the Campaign Against Homophobia, a leading gay rights group in Warsaw, said he believes that very few gays and lesbians would willingly choose separate seating. "I understand their initiative, and what they are trying to do,'' Czarnecki told The Associated Press.”But the message might be counterproductive in Poland,'' he said. "I don't think many people would be brave enough to not only come out, but also to sit in this section.''


Tuesday night, Lance Bass and a mystery man (who looks oddly familiar) spotted leaving Trousdale in West Hollywood, while separately, Captain America, Chris Evans leaves looking a little petulant.