Photo: Tense Times At The G7 Summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces off with Donald Trump
(Image via Instagram)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel posted the above pic to her Instagram account this morning showing what was clearly a tense moment between Donald Trump and the other leaders of the G7 summit.

The caption read, "Day two of the G7 summit in Canada: spontaneous meeting between two working sessions."

The saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

As has been reported extensively, Trump went into the meetings with tensions already high over proposed trade issues.

From The New York Times:

The president also repeatedly made clear his level of anger about the longstanding trade policies that he said have hurt America’s workers and undermined the country’s national security by weakening America’s “balance sheet.”

Mr. Trump said that the United States continues to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, which he has said is one of the worst trade deals that the United States ever agreed to.

On Saturday, he said that the United States might have to negotiate separate trade deals with Mexico and Canada if they can’t reach a three-way agreement to make the broader trade agreement fair for Americans.

Angela Merkel's office has released this photo taken today at the G7, which tells you a lot about how things went. pic.twitter.com/IXX6K3ayys

— David Mack (@davidmackau) June 9, 2018

Merkel has a PhD in Physical Chemistry, but she will also beat Trump at his own social media game if she so chooses. 😂 https://t.co/LkAgfmuPFi

— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) June 9, 2018

Trump's Openly Gay Nominee Confirmed As U.S. Ambassador To Germany

Richard Grenell during Senate confirmation hearing

By a vote of 56-42, openly gay nominee Richard Grenell has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Ambassador to Germany making him the most high-profile openly gay appointee in the Trump administration.

From Chris Johnson at The Washington Blade:

Grenell — who has faced Democratic opposition over mean tweets he made about the appearance of women and other comments downplaying the significance of Russia’s influence in the 2016 election — was confirmed by a largely party line vote of 56-42.

Among the Democrats who joined Republicans in voting to confirm Grenell were Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Claire McCaskill (D-M0). All Republicans present voted for Grenell’s confirmation.

Both of the senators from Grenell’s home state of California — Sen. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein — voted “no” on his confirmation.

First nominated by President Trump in September, Grenell’s confirmation means an openly gay person high-profile seat in the administration and serve as U.S. envoy to the world’s fourth largest national economy.

Resistance to Grenell's nomination came in part due to comments he made on Twitter years ago about the appearance of women, including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Callista Gingrich and Rachel Maddow.

He has since deleted the comments online and apologized, but in the context of the #MeToo movement today the comments became a flashpoint anew.

Grenell famously resigned from the Mitt Romney presidential campaign in 2012 after only two weeks as a foreign policy adviser due to pressure from conservatives over his sexuality.

Marriage Equality Comes To Germany

Marriage ceremonies between same-sex couples began today in Germany after a June vote of 393-226 in Parliament legalized same-sex marriage.

German's had allowed civil unions since 2001, but the change in marriage laws now gives same-sex couples full and equal rights as Germany becomes the 15th European country to embrace marriage equality.

From the New York Times:

Cheers rang out in the City Hall of Berlin’s Schöneberg district on Sunday as two men, who met 38 years ago, when the German capital was a divided city, became the country’s first same-sex couple to legally marry.

The couple, Bodo Mende, 60, and Karl Kreile, 59, were wed in a civil ceremony, surrounded by a crush of photographers and television cameras eager to capture the historic moment.

“This is an emotional moment with great symbolism,” Mr. Kreile told reporters before the event. “The transition to the term ‘marriage’ shows that the German state recognizes us as real equals.”

Across the country, city halls that are normally closed on the weekend opened their doors to allow marriages on the first day the law took effect. Dozens of couples were expected to exchange vows in Berlin, as well as in Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover and Kiel on Sunday and the days beyond.

Among those exchanging vows on Sunday was Volker Beck, a member of the Greens party and a former lawmaker who fought for decades for marriage equality.

Months after he was showered with confetti on the floor of Parliament as the law passed, he celebrated his marriage to Adrian Petkov under shiny gold balloons spelling out “Love.”

Herzlichen Glückwunsch @Volker_Beck & Adrian! 💕#EheFürAlle pic.twitter.com/bl0HiEpLCp

— Charlotte (@MissCharlez) October 1, 2017

Germany's President Signs Marriage Equality Into Law

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has signed into law legislation making same-sex marriage legal in the most populous state in the European Union.

The German Parliament approved the legislation on June 30th and the new law will come into force October 1.

However, that's if the state of Bavaria doesn't file a challenge with Germany's Constitutional Court. Bavaria's Minister President Horst Seehofer is reportedly considering such action.

Stay tuned.

Podcast: Anti-Trans Bathroom Measure Fails In WA; Germany Close To Adopting Marriage Equality; New Out Music From Superfruit

In this week's headlines on The Randy Report podcast:

• An anti-trans bathroom measure in Washington state fails in epic fashion

• Germany is close to adopting marriage equality

• Chechnya resumes rounding up and torturing gay men

• UK Prime Minister Theresa May sends best wishes for "Happy Pride" in London

• Nelsan Ellis (TRUE BLOOD's "Lafayette Reynolds") passes away at 39

• New music from Superfruit - the disco-tastic "Bad 4 Us"

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

Germany's Upper House Approves Marriage Equality Bill, Now Heads To German President's Desk

Germany's marriage equality bill sailed through the upper House of Parliament with no challenges, and now heads to the desk of the German President.

From Pink News:

Equal marriage passed through the lower house in the German Parliament last week, after Chancellor Angela Merkel caved in to demands from opposition parties.

The country’s right-wing Chancellor, who has blocked equal marriage for more than a decade, reversed her long-standing policy to allowed her own MPs to vote with their conscience on the issue.

Though Merkel still cast her own vote against the law, it gathered enough support to pass through the Bundestag (lower house) by a vote of 393-296.

Today, the legislation also cleared the Bundesrat (upper house).

Unlike the Bundestag, where Chancellor Merkel’s Grand Coalition holds control, the Bundesrat is controlled by the 16 state governments, with a left-wing majority.

The law effectively passed through the house unanimously, as no state challenged the bill and no vote was called.

The Bundesrat has passed several motions on same-sex marriage before, leading to much of the political pressure on Merkel in the lower house that sparked her climbdown.

A coalition of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left previously submitted a bill to the Bundesrat that would recognise marriages between same-sex couples, which was the basis for the legislation in the Bundestag.

The law will now head to the desk of the country’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Upon becoming law, Germany would join 13 other European nations that current celebrate marriage equality - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Germany's Parliament Approves Marriage Equality By Vote Of 393 - 226

Germany's lower chamber of Parliament, the Bundstag, approved a measure by a vote of 393 to 226 to legalize same-sex marriage.

The vote came suddenly after Chancellor Angela Merkel softened her stance on the issue to allow a legislator's to "vote their conscience" on this last day of the country's legislative session.

Merkel herself voted against the measure, saying after the vote, "For me and the basic law, it’s about the marriage of a woman and a man. That’s why I voted against it. I hope that the vote today shows not only the mutual respect for different opinions but that this also leads to more peace and social cohesion as well.”

More from the New York Times:

“If the Constitution guarantees one thing, it is that anyone in this country can live as they wish,” Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, said in opening the floor debate. “If gay marriage is decided, then many will receive something, but nobody will have something taken away.”

“It’s very positive for the self-esteem of gays and lesbians; it’s very important for people coming out, knowing that they have this equality; and it sends a clear message to any homophobic refugees coming to Germany: We have equality here,” said Arnd Bächler, a counselor and addiction therapist at Berlin’s gay counseling center.

Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany illustrated the difference that opposition parties could make.

The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament, The Bundesrat, which has approved marriage equality before. The legislation will then be signed into law by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Polls show upwards of 80% of Germans support marriage equality.

Germany joins more than a dozen European countries that have approved same-sex marriage.

In 2001, Germany approved civil unions which conferred some but not all rights of marriage.

Conservatives in the country's government have blocked the issue from coming to a vote in Parliament.

Congratulations Germany!

Germany has just made same-sex marriage legal - making it the 14th European country to do so pic.twitter.com/h6ieXQW1kq

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 30, 2017

Germany Schedules Vote On Marriage Equality For Friday

Chancellor Angela Merkel

Wow, this happened fast.

According to the AP, the German Parliament has scheduled a vote to legalize same-sex marriage this Friday.

In the wake of Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent comments indicating she could see legislators viewing the issue as a "decision of conscience," Parliament's legal committee has approved the vote.

Merkel has announced she will allow the vote to occur without any "party whip" and to vote their conscience.

Marriage equality is expected to pass easily according to sources.

Germany has allowed same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships since 2001.

Germany's Chancellor Merkel Signals Possible "Conscience Vote" On Same-Sex Marriage

Chancellor Angela Merkel

Via The Guardian:

Angela Merkel has signalled a change in her party’s opposition to gay marriage after stating MPs should be allowed a free vote in the German parliament.

Speaking at an event organised by the magazine Brigitte, the German chancellor said she felt aggrieved that debate was mainly carried out along party lines and that she hoped it would be “headed towards a conscience vote”.

It is widely believed the Bundestag would legalise gay marriage in a free vote on the issue.

Germany is one of a few western countries where same-sex marriage is still not legal. Civil partnerships have been allowed since 2001, but Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union has resisted calls to open up marriage to same-sex couples.

The centre-right CDU, which has been governing as senior partner in a coalition with the centre-left SPD since 2013, has said it prefers to amend legislation so couples in a civil partnership have the same tax status and adoption rights as married couples.

Coming less than three months before federal elections, Merkel’s comments could take the wind out of her critics’ sails and open her party up to the widest possible range of post-election coalitions.

UPDATE: Check out the tweet below from Martin Schulz, leader of the Social Democratic Party, the second largest party in parliament:

We will push through marriage equality in Germany. This week.

— Martin Schulz (@MartinSchulz) June 27, 2017

Poll: Huge Support For Marriage Equality In Germany

A new poll conducted for German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, shows huge support - 75% - for marriage equality in Germany.

The survey indicated only 20% oppose legalizing same-sex marriage.

While Germany legalized civil partnerships in 2001, it remains one of the few nations in Western Europe without the freedom to marry someone of the same-sex.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel opposes same-sex marriage having told the media, "For me, marriage is a man and a woman living together."

Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency published similar results from a poll in January found that 83% of Germans supported legal equality for same-sex marriage.

According to Berlin’s Dalia Research company,  Germany has the largest LGBT+ population in Europe.

Currently , there are 13 countries in Europe that recognize same-sex marriages – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Britain.

(source)

No Same-Sex Marriage For Germany Despite 75% Approval For Marriage Equality

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel

Germany will not be following in Ireland's footsteps in joining the 21st century by legalizing same-sex marriage.

Reuters reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition has agreed to small improvements in the country's domestic partnership laws, but according to spokesman Steffen Seibert, "Same-sex marriages are not a goal of this government."

Although there are growing divisions within the party, Merkel's Christian Democrats are still overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex marriages partly due to fears it could upset voters on the right.

However, polls show 75 percent of Germans are in favour of legalising gay marriages, as are the Social Democrats (SPD) and all opposition parties.

Merkel's cabinet gave same-sex couples more rights but this move was dismissed by critics as inadequate for a country that in 2001 became one of Europe's first to allow registered civil partnerships.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas, of the SPD, sounded disappointed that Germany could not take a bigger leap.

"Expanding rights for registered partnerships is another step toward giving same-sex unions the same rights as marriages," said Maas. "We haven't reached the goal yet."

German GQ launches unique campaign to battle intolerance

GQ in Germany has launched a new campaign to battle intolerance, and it's definitely unique.

#MundPropaganda (translates roughly as “word of mouth”) brings together guys — straight men, specifically — in photos of tender kisses. Innocuous in some regions of the world, a simple kiss between men in conservative or repressive places could be the enticement to deadly violence.

Watch the video below of the photoshoot for GQ's project featuring actors Herbert Grönemeyer and August Diehl; rappers Moses Pelham and Thomas D; all three members of hip hop group Fettes Brot; Olympic champion volleyball players Julius Brink and Jonas Recker; ad actors Kostja Ullman and Ken Duken; and Johannes Strate and Jakob Sinn from rock band Revolverheld.

GQ.de (the site is in German) has images of the campaign, and tracks reactions from blogs and social media.

Although the video below is in German, you get the light-hearted sense of fun everyone brought to the photoshoot.

President Obama mentions LGBT rights in G8 speech in Berlin

At the 14:18 mark:

"When we stand up for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and treat their love and their rights equally under the law, we defend our own liberty as well.

"We are more free when all people can pursue their own happiness. And as long as walls exist in our hearts to separate us from those who don’t look like us, or think like us, or worship as we do, then we're going to have to work harder, together, to bring those walls of division down." - President Obama, speaking at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate today during the G8 Summit.