German zoo: Gay penguin pair raising chick


By The Associated Press
06.05.2009 7:00am EDT

(Berlin) A German zoo says a pair of gay male penguins are raising a chick from an egg abandoned by its parents.

Bremerhaven zoo veterinarian Joachim Schoene says the egg was placed in the male penguins’ nest after its parents rejected it in late April. The males incubated it for some 30 days before it hatched and have continued to care for it. The chick’s gender is not yet known.

Schoene said the male birds, named Z and Vielpunkt, are one of three same-sex pairs among the zoo’s 20 Humboldt penguins that have attempted to mate.

Homosexual behavior has been documented in many animal species.

The zoo said in a statement on its Web site Thursday that “sex and coupling in our world don’t always have something to do with reproduction.”

in Family Stories  by Anthony Brown 0 comments

UPDATE: Lynch signs NH marriage bill

By Jennifer Vanasco, editor in chief, 365gay.com

06.03.2009 4:28pm EDT

Gov. John Lynch has signed the New Hampshire equal marriage bill, making New Hampshire the sixth state to have gay marriage. The law will take effect January 1, 2010.

The Senate passed the equal marriage compromise bill this morning; this afternoon, the House passed the bill 198-176.

“With Gov. Lynch signing legislation passed by the state Senate and House, New Hampshire has become the latest state to recognize that loving, committed couples, and their families, should receive equal dignity and respect under the law,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “No religious institution will have to recognize any marriage under this law, as the language proposed by Gov. Lynch and agreed to by the legislature made abundantly clear.”

Only Rhode Island is the outlier in New England – the very Catholic state will be a much longer fight, even though a May poll showed that most Rhode Islanders actually favor a gay marriage bill.

Five states—California, New Jersey, Oregon, Nevada (effective October 1, 2009), and Washington (as of July 26, 2009, pending possible repeal effort)—plus Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Hawaii provides same-sex couples with limited rights and benefits.  New York recognizes marriages by same-sex couples validly entered into outside of New York.  The New York legislature is considering marriage legislation that would permit same-sex couples to marry in those states, and the D.C. Council has passed legislation that would recognize marriages by same-sex couples legally entered into in other jurisdictions (that legislation is going through a Congressional review period).
Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state.  HRC has an great interactive map of marriage equality state-by-state.
in In the News  by Anthony Brown 0 comments

Becoming Pregnant

We are there…..What can we expect next?

Once you get over the hurdles of an IVF cycle and get the invigorating call, you can begin the emotional rollercaoster of being pregnant. As many say no pregnancy is alike nor are the few extras that come with it.

If you follow our footsteps, the carrier has to continue taking the progesterone shots until 12 weeks and the estrogen pills. You will continue to get monitored by your IVF team until your 12th week where if all looks good you will be turned over to your OBGYN.  At this point it becomes a “normal” pregnancy in the sense where you now follow OB’s instructions and planned sonograms.

You will find yourself having much more sonograms and ultrasounds then if you did it differently but this is just protocol, no need to worry if your heterosexual best friend has only had 3 in total and you are going on your sixth.

I would also recommend that you start your adoption paperwork as soon as you become regnant because it can take a few months to get things rolling.

If you qualify begin your estate planning, there are alot of essential bases you need to do to protect your family.

Wishing every family great success.

I wanted to invite you to ask me any questions that you may have during this type of procedure. I know It is alot of information to receive but Maria and I would be so excited to share our stories with you all .

in Issue Forum / Personal Stories  by Anthony Brown 0 comments