Another Country Legalizes Gay Marriage...
Norway has had civil unions in place since 1993 but has never legalized full gay marriage rights. That changed on January 1, 2009.

Norway's new law now allows marriage, adoption, and assisted pregnancies for same-sex couples as well as all other benefits available to heterosexual couples.

Norway becomes the 6th nation to recognized same-sex marriages. They join Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005) and South Africa (2006).

In a country that was founded on the concept of equal rights for all of its citizens, why is America trailing so far behind so many other countries? We're supposed to be the shining light of freedom and equality for the world, instead, on this issue, we've become a dim bulb in the darkness of oppression. When are we going to stop letting the religious, right-wing fanatics repaint the portrait of America in their own narrow-minded image?


Gay Man Named Head of Export-Import Bank...
Fred Hochberg, who was the openly gay director of the Small Business Administration under President Bill Clinton, is now poised to be named the director of the Export-Import Bank by President-elect Barack Obama.

According to ABC News, the Export-Import Bank is the federal government's export credit arm that helps finance the sale of goods exported from this country. Hochberg will be the bank's first openly gay director.

Hochberg has long been active in both gay politics and the Democratic party. According to The Advocate, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign where Hochberg has served on the board and is now a member of HRC's public policy committee, said:

"Fred is one of the most highly qualified and experienced public servants in our community, and the fact that President-elect Obama has tapped him for such an important economic position speaks well for the LGBT community."