A gay couple in Winnipeg ties the knot in what is believed to be a first in Canada: a same sex marriage performed at a conservative synagogue. The Shaarey Zedek synagogue is one of the oldest in Western Canada and is known for its strong ties to tradition. Arthur Blankstein told CBC News Friday, on the eve of his ceremony, that while the event will be historic it will also be like any other wedding ceremony. "There's nothing like being in a room full of family and friends and declaring to everybody that you love another person and that's the person you want to live with," Blankstein said. The couple were married in a civil ceremony eight years ago and are looking forward to a religious ceremony. "I'm pleased that we are making history. Because somebody has to do it," Blankstein added. "I'm going to have the same apprehension I had eight years ago as to whether I'm doing the right thing. But I'm also going to have the same joy." Orthodox synagogues do not acknowledge same sex marriage. Reform synagogues endorse it and conservative synagogues like Shaarey Zedek fall in the middle. Executive director Ian Staniloff said attitudes are changing, especially towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. "We wanted to display to our GLBT members, and we would be naive to think we wouldn't have any, that this is a warm welcoming affirming community," Staniloff said.
In Australia, the first openly gay state MP, Ian Hunter, will marry his long-term partner, Leith Semmens, in Spain at the end of the year. According to The Adelaide Advertiser, it is believed Hunter will be the first sitting gay politician of any Australian parliament to be married, although the ACT's Andrew Barr has entered a civil union with his partner. Hunter and Semmens, who have been together for more than 20 years, had planned to marry in New York last year but were held up because the Federal Government refused to grant the necessary paperwork that would have allowed the ceremony to be conducted in the United States. "We have had a long-term plan to go to Spain ... so we decided to get married there," Mr Hunter said, adding it would be a "very traditional" ceremony. Hunter was elected to Parliament in 2006 and promoted to Cabinet last October by Premier Jay Weatherill. His portfolios include social inclusion, disabilities, social housing and communities. Spain changed its legislation to allow same sex marriage in 2005 and more than 20,000 ceremonies have been held since then. However, the marriage will not be recognised under Australian law. But the national convenor of lobby group Australian Marriage Equality, Alex Greenwich, said the marriage of Mr Hunter and Mr Semmens would send a positive message that the law should be changed. "Things like that have a huge impact," he said Friday. "This is a marriage that will be recognised in something like 20 countries but not in Australia where he is a ... respected politician." A bill to recognize same sex marriages is likely to be introduced in Parliament this year. In December, the Australian Labor Party altered its platform to support same sex marriage but agreed to allow MPs a conscience vote instead of being bound by the policy to appease Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who opposes reform.
The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Natatorium boasts 10,000 members. The recreational center offers more than 100 memberships, but one married couple is made to feel out of place. Shane and Coty May have been members of the natatorium for two years. Coty, an Army veteran, uses the pool as part of his rehabilitation from a severe injury he sustained in a helicopter crash, during the Iraq war. "It does wonders for me," he said. "It relaxes my muscles; Helps a lot with the pain." Shane and Coty married in Washington D.C., this past fall. The Mays decided to combine their individual natatorium memberships into a spousal family plan, to save money. But, on Thursday WKYC-3 reported that they were shocked when an employee denied their request. "She proceeded to look me in the face and tell me my marriage wasn't real," Shane said. The natatorium's spousal policy adheres to Ohio state law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. "We felt like we were being treated like second class citizens," said Shane. "This didn't seem right; Not only for gay couples, but domestic partners as well as everybody else." Group memberships for domestic partners and same sex couples are offered at many recreational centers today. The Twinsburg Fitness Center recognizes same sex married couples for family membership, as does the Medina Community Recreation Center and the Akron area YMCA. Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart says he thinks the natatorium has a fair policy. He says until the Ohio state law changes the definition of marriage, the natatorium will not either. "It's a gym," Shane says. "We're not trying to say that Cuyahoga Falls needs to legalize gay marriage or anything. All we're saying is update your policy." The Mays have started a petition at www.change.org, hoping to spark just such a change. "The law does not prohibit you from changing a policy," Shane says. "That's all it is; Updating a policy to allow families to be families."
On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio sent a letter urging officials in Cuyahoga Falls to expand the types of families who may receive discounted passes at the city-owned natatorium. The facility's policy made news recently when two Akron men, one an injured Iraq war veteran, asked to convert their individual memberships to a family membership after they were legally married in Washington, D.C. Natatorium employees denied their request; claiming only married couples recognized by the state of Ohio qualify for the plan. "Cuyahoga Falls should be a welcoming place for all Ohio residents," said ACLU of Ohio Executive Director Christine Link. "However, the city natatorium is behind the times compared to many other facilities that do not allow this type of discrimination," adding, "Communities around the state have recognized that in order to attract skilled people, they must be inclusive of a wide variety of people. City pools should be a place where families can congregate and forge bonds with their neighbours, yet Cuyahoga Falls' policy sends the message that some members of the community are simply unwelcome. This is unfair and harms the children in these families who are stigmatized by the policy." After receiving a number of e-mails, Cuyahoga Falls city leaders are now considering whether to broaden the rules to allow same sex couples, and other non-traditional families access to the discounted natatorium plan. Discrimination based on marital status is illegal in Ohio in the context of employment and housing. Additionally, some cities like Cincinnati have added marital status to anti-discrimination laws governing access to public accommodations. In its letter, the ACLU pointed out that the natatorium's policy could affect a whole spectrum of families including households where a parent passes away, grandparents or siblings who are raising a family member's children, foster parents, and same sex couples. "In today's world, communities need to welcome families of all shapes and sizes," said Link. "We hope Cuyahoga Falls will listen to the feedback they have received and create a fair, inclusive policy that is welcoming of all residents."
Joe McElderry and three male friends “snow-dip” in their underwear while on vacation in Switzerland.
Lloyd Daniels tweets a picture of himself in a pair of white Calvin Klein briefs before heading to the bath.
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