EJ is a student at NYU and has a close relationship with his parents:
Earvin Johnson III -- aka EJ -- is one of
Magic's 3 kids. The Lakers legend tells TMZ, "Cookie and I love EJ and
support him in every way." Magic goes on, "We're very proud of him."
“I’ve supported Delaware’s journey toward marriage equality because I believe the law should recognize the committed relationships of same-sex couples. As a Catholic and as an elected official, I’ve been dedicated to striking the balance between honoring the religious sacrament of marriage, while allowing same-sex couples to enjoy legal recognition of their committed relationships.
“That’s why -- starting as Lieutenant Governor -- I supported civil unions, culminating with the passage of Delaware’s civil union law in 2011. And that’s why I support marriage equality in Delaware.
“I continue to respect and support the rights of religious institutions to define marriage in accordance with the tenets of their faith. However, I do not believe it is right for the government to treat couples differently based on their sexual orientation. Marriage equality will ensure that same-sex couples in Delaware receive the same treatment under the law.
“For over a generation, we as a society have honored the truth that separate is not equal. On the surface, this may just sound like a debate about words. But marriage is also symbolic -- it gives honor to a lifelong partnership in a way that civil unions do not. This June, I will be married 20 years. I know that marriage is about commitment, love, and mutual respect.
“All Delawareans should have the privilege of participating in this institution.”
Yesterday, I posted that Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) was the only true "blue state" US Senator who had not come out for marriage equality. And now, he has. From his Facebook page:
As our society has changed and evolved, so too has the public's opinion on gay marriage – and so has mine. I pray every day for God to grant me the wisdom to do what is right. Through my prayers and conversations with my family and countless friends and Delawareans, I've been reminded of the power of one of my core values: the Golden Rule. It calls on us to treat others as we want to be treated. That means, to me, that all Americans ultimately should be free to marry the people they love and intend to share their lives with, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that's why today, after a great deal of soul searching, I'm endorsing marriage equality.
Carper joins a list of Democratic Senators who have come out for marriage equality in the last week.
Only seven remain who haven't declared their support.
They are: Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Mark Pryor, (D-AR).
Beautiful and thoughtful open letter to Supreme Court Justice Scalia & company.
Jack Montgomery and his husband adopted three African American siblings from D.C.'s Child and Family Services, and were caught sideways by some of the conservative justices musings last week that social science has yet to return a verdict on the "consequences" of marriage equality and same-sex parenting. The word "deleterious" was of particular note to Montgomery.
Full text of the video:
Dear Justice Scalia as well as your distinguished peers serving on the Supreme Court,
First let me thank you for hearing the historic cases this week on California's Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). My husband, Kelly Vielmo, and I adopted three beautiful siblings from DC's foster care system last year. Being an inter-racial, same-sex family we are used to being conspicuous and sometimes the center of attention on a local level depending on where we happen to be. With the cases being heard in the Supreme Court this week our family is now on debate at the national level. With that said I am following with interest your ruling on these cases. One comment that stuck with me was the speculation of potential "deleterious" effects of kids having same-sex parents. After I looked up deleterious (adj. causing harm or damage) I had to reflect on the harm and damage that has been done to my children. I know that you are listening to these cases from a nationally-scaled legal point of view, but the intent of this letter is to offer you the lens and point of view of one individual family your rulings will affect.
Children who are placed in the care of foster systems throughout this nation have suffered from either the neglect or the abuse of their biological families. For all intents and purposes, we will call this deleterious parenting. Sadly my children were born into these circumstances. They further had statistics against them. The adoption rates of both African American children and sibling pairs (not to mention trios) are greatly reduced. When my husband and I looked at our options for growing our family, DC's Child and Family Services Administration seemed to be our natural choice. We knew we wanted siblings, had no racial preference for our children, and living in the District were able to help our local community at the same time.
I do not want to go into too much detail of my childrens' history for the sake of their privacy. When our children arrived we welcomed a five-year-old who was not potty trained, a two-year-old who was withdrawn, and an almost two-year-old who never learned to walk. Please understand that there were no biological impediments to the development of these children. Their situation was entirely brought on by deleterious parenting. Since their arrival our children quickly graduated from the need of any additional services to include physical, speech, and play therapy. They are now happy and active members of their community.
I do not tell you these facts to paint ourselves as the saviors of these children. These children have done more for us than we have for them. Having the extraordinary privilege of watching these childrens' souls grow and thrive despite the obstacles placed before them has been the lesson of our lives. I tell this story to establish myself as an expert witness to the effects of deleterious parenting. As you prepare your response on Proposition 8 and DOMA you now have the opportunity to decide what further obstacles will face these children. What are the deleterious effects your decision will have on my children? What states within our nation can these children live in and still declare their family legal? Next year during tax season will their parents have to hire a CPA to determine who and how to list the children as dependents? When the first of their parents passes away will their family's assets and property be preserved and passed between parents as a married family or be treated as legal strangers?
I am not naive enough to think that any verdict of your court will change the opinions or hearts of the individuals we encounter on a daily basis. I accept that the stares our family receives walking down the street on a daily basis elicits both judgment and inspiration. What I do not accept is that the United States of America is willing to devalue my childrens' family more than others and have a separate grouping of laws and benefits. I pray that as you rule on these cases that you keep Cardel (6), Raine (4), and Ravyn (3) in your hearts and do all in your power to keep deleterious obstacles from their lives.
Are you an aspiring writer?
Listen in to hear how Robyn Peterman, first-time author, cut through
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Robyn Peterman, author of "How Hard Can It Be,"
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In addition, Robyn shares some of the pit-falls she avoided from advice from friends in the industry.
If you dream of being a published author, listen in to hear how one
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Last year, NYC Pride's famous Pier Dance - which has closed gay pride festivities for the past 26 years - was forced to use an indoor venue for the first time due to their usual location was facing structural issues.
Via press release comes the news that "Dance on the Pier" has found a new outdoor home: Hudson River Park’s Pier 26 in Tribeca on Sunday, June 30th.
NYC Pride is very excited about the move back to an outdoor venue. While last year’s Dance and Rapture were a great success and Pier 57 a phenomenal host, producing the event indoors was a detour from tradition necessitated by the loss of Hudson River Park’s Pier 54. Dancing unabatedly in full view of this great city is something that many of the events’ attendees have come to love and expect. It is with great pride that we bring the Dance and Rapture back outside to their rightful place in the sun.
“We wanted this year’s dance events to be more than just memorable; we wanted them to be historic. With Supreme Court decisions looming and major changes on the horizon, we felt it was our duty to bring these events back in line with their original intention: to be a celebration of acceptance, love and community, outdoors, for all to see! We look forward to creating another world-class dance experience that our attendees will love,” said Chris Frederick, Managing Director of NYC Pride.
Last week, Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims wrote an open letter to PA US Sen. Bob Casey asking him to "come out" openly in support for marriage equality. Sims was just one of many LGBT rights individuals and organizations (like Equality Pennsylvania, Keystone Progress and MoveOn.org) that was looking to Casey for same-sex marriage support.
Today comes the news that Sen. Casey has finally made a statement in support of the repeal of DOMA and full marriage equality:
“After much deliberation and after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil-rights questions presented, I support marriage equality for same-sex couples and believe that DOMA should be repealed,” Casey said in a statement exclusively first released to PGN Monday afternoon.
Casey referenced one lesbian woman from Southeastern Pennsylvania who contacted him, detailing the financial and societal setbacks she, her partner and their children have faced from being denied the right to marry.
“As a senator and as a citizen, I can no longer in good conscience take a position that denies her and her family the full measure of equality and respect,” Casey said.
This leaves only eight Senate Democrats who have not yet endorsed marriage equality: Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Bill Nelson of Florida, Tom Carper of Delaware, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana.
Sen. Carper of Delaware is the only true "blue state" Democratic senator to not announce full support.
