Proud Parenting

LGBTQ Parents - Lesbian Moms & Gay Dads

New NYC hotel depends on thriving GLBT-friendly tourism

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The OUT NYC hotel has the title of Manhattan’s first boutique hotel built specifically to cater to millions of gay tourists to New York. The hotel, not far from Times Square and Broadway theaters, also hopes to cater to the friends and families of its gay clientele. The inspiration for the hotel came long before New York’s same-sex marriage law came into effect in July 2011 and was built specifically with the gay travel market in mind. “Of the 50 million tourists that came to New York City last year, it’s estimated that 8 million were LGBT travellers. With 105 rooms, we don’t expect to house many people, but we expect The OUT NYC will become the epicentre of gay life for LGBT New Yorkers. With New York’s recent legislation, we look forward not only to hosting countless gay couples, but marrying them as well,” said co-owner Ian Reisner. The OUT NYC boasts two hot tubs, a secret garden, and its own nightclub.

[via CANOE Travel]

Is yours on the list of U.S. Mayors who support marriage equality

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Here’s a complete list (so far) of U.S. mayors who support Freedom to Marry. The statement the group signed includes: “As mayors of great American cities, we proudly stand together in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry. We personally know many gay and lesbian people living in our cities who are in committed, loving relationships, who are active participants in the civic life of our communities, and who deserve to be able to marry the person with whom they share their life…”

Is Your Mayor On The List?

  • Michael Bloomberg – New York, NY (Chair)
  • Thomas Menino – Boston, MA (Chair)
  • Annise Parker – Houston, Texas (Chair)
  • Jerry Sanders – San Diego, CA (Chair)
  • Antonio Villaraigosa – Los Angeles, CA (Chair)
  • Samuel Adams – Portland, OR
  • Tom Bates – Berkeley, CA
  • William Bell – Durham, NC
  • David Berger – Lima, OH
  • Richard Bloom – Santa Monica, CA
  • Cory Booker – Newark, NJ
  • Bruce Botelho – Juneau, AK
  • Ardell Brede – Rochester, MN
  • Christopher Cabaldon – W. Sacramento, CA
  • John Callahan – Bethlehem, PA
  • Stephen Cassidy – San Leandro, CA
  • Craig Cates – Key West, FL
  • Mark Chilton – Carrboro, NC
  • Joshua Cohen – Annapolis, MD
  • Chris Coleman – St. Paul, MN
  • Dennis Coombs – Longmont, CO
  • Joy Cooper – Hallandale Beach, FL
  • Frank Cownie – Des Moines, IA
  • John Duran – West Hollywood, CA
  • Paul Dyster – Niagara Falls, NY
  • Rahm Emanuel – Chicago, IL
  • Bill Finch – Bridgeport, CT
  • Peter Fosselman – Kensington, MD
  • Bob Foster – Long Beach, CA
  • Laura Friedman – Glendale, CA
  • Ava Frisinger – Issaquah, WA
  • Marie Gilmore – Alameda, CA
  • Mike Gin, Redondo Beach, CA
  • Vincent Gray – Washington, D.C.
  • George Heartwell – Grand Rapids, MI
  • John Hieftje – Ann Arbor, MI
  • Bobby Hopewell – Kalamazoo, MI
  • Sylvester James, Jr. – Kansas City, MO
  • Edward Kelly – Cleveland Heights, OH
  • Mark Kleinschmidt – Chapel Hill, NC
  • Mark Kruzan – Bloomington, IN
  • Don Lane – Santa Cruz, CA
  • Timothy Leavitt – Vancouver, WA
  • Edwin Lee – San Francisco, CA
  • Lee Leffingwell – Austin, TX
  • Craig Lowe – Gainesville, FL
  • David Lublin – Town of Chevy Chase, MD
  • Karen Majewski – Hamtramck, MI
  • Jan Marx – San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Mike McGinn – Seattle, WA
  • Alex Morse – Holyoke, MA
  • Lori Moseley – Miramar, FL
  • Jeri Muoio – West Palm Beach, FL
  • David Narkewicz – Northampton, MA
  • Don Ness – Duluth, MN
  • Michael Nutter – Philadelphia, PA
  • Frank Ortis – Pembroke Pines, FL
  • Kitty Piercy – Eugene, OR
  • Steve Pougnet – Palm Springs, CA
  • Jean Quan – Oakland, CA
  • Thomas Richards – Rochester, NY
  • Clarissa Rowe – Arlington, MA
  • Matthew Ryan – Binghampton, NY
  • RT Rybak – Minneapolis, MN
  • Robert Sabonjian – Waukegan, IL
  • Helene Schneider – Santa Barbara, CA
  • Ann Schwab – Chico, CA
  • Pedro Segarra – Hartford, CT
  • Eric Senter – Franklinton, NC
  • Jeffrey Slavin – Town of Somerset, MD
  • Paul Soglin – Madison, WI
  • Marilyn Strickland – Tacoma, WA
  • Angel Taveras – Providence, RI
  • Nick Tell – Manhattan Beach, CA
  • Elizabeth Tisdahl – Evanston, IL
  • Setti Warren – Newton, MA
  • Bruce Williams – Takoma Park, MD
  • Dana Williams – Park City Park, UT

Same-sex couples credited with nearly 14 percent rise in New York City marriages

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There’s been a sharp increase of marriage licenses issued in NYC over the past six months. Actually 14% more than last year during this time period. Almost all of them are believed to have been granted to same-sex couples. “We’re overwhelmed,” Michael McSweeney, NYC city clerk, said. “It’s been much busier for us than this time last year, but we’re delighted to see the extra business because we understand the impact. We’re handling it. We’re thrilled.” New York legalized marriage equality in June and the law took effect in July.

[WSJ.com]

NYC homeless gay youth need more resources

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In NYC, nearly 4,000 young people are homeless every night – many of them gay. On the Christopher Street pier in Greenwich Village, where dozens of gay and transgender youths hang out, Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Project hand out snacks, condoms and information. The organization sends out several nightly teams to find homeless youths. Not all are thrown out of their houses, but many are. “The parent might not say, ‘You have to get out now,’ like, ‘I am kicking you out,’ especially since that is illegal if they are under 18,” she says. “It’s a fine line between what is their choice and what is not.”

[via NPR]

Cyndi Lauper opens housing for homeless GLBT youth

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The True Colors Residence for homeless GLBT youth opens in Harlem on September 1. The idea behind the 30-bed facility was conceived by Cyndi Lauper, her manager and a non-profit that provides housing and support for homeless families and seniors. It will be the first permanent housing facility in New York for homeless GLBT youth. “In New York City, a very disproportionate number (up to 40 percent) of homeless youth identify as L.G.B.T.,” Lauper said in a letter urging donors to support the project. “Even more disturbing are reports that these young people often face discrimination and at times physical assault in some of the very places they have to for help. This is shocking and inexcusable!”

[via WNYC Culture]

Giuliani says GOP should stay away from marriage controversy

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Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani believes the Republican Party should stop fighting marriage equality and focus on fiscal policy. “We’d be a much more successful political party if we stuck to our economic, conservative roots,” Giuliani said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He’s considering a run for the GOP presidential ticket in 2012, and has long supported civil unions. Although he said he believes marriage should be limited to a man and a woman, he can “live with” the legalization in New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. A Democrat and Independent in the 1970’s, and a Republican since the 1980’s. He served two terms as Mayor of NYC, having run along Republican and Liberal lines. He was credited with initiating improvements and with a reduction in crime pressing the city’s quality of life initiatives.

[via WPXI Pittsburgh]

NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg to officiate adviser’s same-sex wedding

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg has offered to officiate the wedding of NYC’s commissioner for consumer affairs and his longtime partner on the lawn of Gracie Mansion. “If you’d like me to do it, I’d really love to,” Mr. Bloomberg asked. Mayor Bloomberg, who held fund-raisers and lobbied lawmakers to legalize marriage equality, is now showing his official advocacy with a personal gesture: presiding at a wedding between the two men on New York’s first possible day (July 24) under a tent packed with city officials and food from around New York State. Pictured: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg with John Feinblatt, left, and Jonathan Mintz, and the couple’s daughters, Maeve, 8, front, and Georgia, 6.

[via NYTimes.com]

Image: Kristen Artz/Office of the Mayor

New York City clerk required to educate public about marriage equality

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NYC City Council Speaker Christine Quinn [pictured] helped pass legislation which requires the City Clerk to inform couples registering for domestic partnerships about other states and countries where they can get married. Same sex marriages performed elsewhere are recognized as valid marriages by the state of New York.

The information will be provided on the City Clerk’s website, and will be posted and available in hard copy at all of the marriage bureau locations. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn says the law helps couples know where they can legally wed.

Said Quinn regarding the measure: “I think it will speak volumes about the inequality in our state. And the need for our state Senate to follow the lead of other states.”

New York City same-sex couples traveling to Connecticut to legally marry

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The AP reports that Greenwich, Connecticut officials say 139 same-sex couples applied for a marriage license and wed there from November 12, 2008 [the day same-sex marriages became legal in Connecticut] through the end of May.

Barbara Lowden, the town’s assistant registrar of vital statistics, says all but three of them were from out of state – most from New York City.

Greenwich is the first municipality over the state line by Interstate 95 or Metro-North. The town has the most same-sex marriages in Connecticut, followed by Stamford.

Same-sex marriage isn’t allowed in New York. However, Gov. David Paterson last year ordered state agencies to recognize such marriages legally performed elsewhere.

New York City changes birth certificate policy for lesbians

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The AP reports that married lesbian couples in New York City can now be listed as parents on birth certificates as soon as their children are born.

Before, the women would have to go through an adoption process to be listed as the official parents.

The city Board of Health voted Tuesday to make the change. The state made a similar move in December, after a court ruling and a directive from Gov. David Paterson ordered state agencies to respect out-of-state gay marriages.

The city says married male couples still will need to adopt their children in order to be officially declared their parents.