rainboweddingnetwork's Blog

Same Love, Same Rights GLBTQ Wedding Expo coming to a city near you!!

Rainbow Wedding Network & Same Love, Same Rights have started setting dates for our 2009 GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expos.

New York City – The Wedding Pavilion as part of “The 16th Original GLBTQ Expo”
March 21st & March 22nd

Chicago, IL – Same Love, Same Rights GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expo
April 26th

Detroit, MI – Same Love Same Rights GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expo
May 2nd

More events to come!! Stay in touch at www.SameLoveSameRights.com and don’t forget to register you ceremony at www.GayWeddings.us.com. Rainbow Weddings Networks redesigned site.

Check out these exciting new Features!
• Free Customized Couples' Web Pages & Photo Galleries
• Zip Code Search for Gay-friendly Businesses
• Engagement Announcements
• Couples' Forum
• Improved Gift Registry with Options for Charitable Gift Donations
• Easy Links to GLBTQ Wedding Expos and RWN Magazine
• Tips, Trends & Helpful Articles for Ceremony Planning
• E-Invites, Save-the-Date Announcements & More!

Thanks for your support!! Your Friends @ Rainbow Wedding Network

Hello everyone,

My name is Amanda and I work for the Rainbow Wedding Network. We work everyday to achieve marriage equality nationwide. As a member of the community I try to stay up to date on everything going on and I get active in any event in my area.

I recently learned of some YouTube videos that really upset me. I think I was disappointed and heartbroken all at the same time.

I am talking about the Chris Crocker videos. For those of you who don't know who Chris Crocker is, Chris is an exocentric Brittany Spears fan that made a video about how the press was treating Brittany during one of her crisis. This by its self it no big deal. There are crazy obsessive fans all across America. What make Chris special is he is part of the GLBTQ community. I don't want to label Chris because I too don't believe in labels but he would identify as either trans gender or intersex.

I have no problem with either of these identities, but my problem comes when someone like Chris gets all this media attention and makes us all look bad. I know that there were many members of the trans community who had to be in an outrage because of how he portrays himself.

This is a very bad representation of our community. I hate that this is one of the reasons we don't have equal rights. These types of public figures are what the media focuses on. We do not want Chris's face to pop into the minds of anyone when they are voting on equality.

As a community I think we should be more mindful of how we portray ourselves, especially if we end up in the public's eye. Even on a day to day basis we need to educate the rest of the world not scare them.

So what do you think??

Vote for the LGBT 2008 Person of the Year!

Take part in Rainbow Wedding Network and Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine’s LGBT 2008 Person of the Year award. Visit www.GayWeddings.us.com and cast your Vote for the LGBT 2008 Person of the Year. Thanks for your time and help spreading the word about this poll. Deadline for voting is January 31, 2009.

Your friends at Rainbow Wedding Network & Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine…

Planning a LGBTQ Wedding in 2009 –

Create your own Wedding Page for FREE! Visit the New and Improved Rainbow Wedding Network at www.GayWeddings.us.com

The national web resource, Rainbow Wedding Network, announces a vast update to its website as of December 1, 2008. An array of interactive features will be offered to site users, including social networking for couples in the planning stages, engagement announcements, and a zip code search for screened gay-friendly businesses within an active online Directory of over 5000 members. High graphic appeal and fresh content focused on GLBTQ wedding trends and legislative highlights will polish the new look.

Join the popular online resource at www.GayWeddings.us.com Most features will be FREE for site users during the January 2009 membership drive and feel confident that by using Rainbow Wedding Network you will find screened Gay Friendly businesses nationwide to hire for your wedding!

“Despite the November 4th passage of Proposition 8 in California and the bans on gay marriage in Florida and Arizona,” says co-founder Marianne Puechl, “the services through RainbowWeddingNetwork are thriving. This speaks to the fact that our resources are needed now more than ever: we are a bridge for couples and advocates to find screened businesses they can trust.

RainbowWeddingNetwork.com was originally launched in 2000 and offered the nation’s first-ever Wedding Gift Registry targeted specifically for the LGBTQ community. By June 2001, the lesbian-owned company had achieved over 1 million hits to its website and had expanded its resources to include an online Directory of screened, gay-friendly wedding, travel and home-related businesses. The website has been upgraded once previously in its eight-year history; the fresh look was unveiled on December 1st highlights an addition of diverse resources newly available through the site.

Visit the website today at www.GayWeddings.us.com

Thanks for your help in spreading the word about this FREE January membership ~ forward this message to your friends on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking website.

Your friends @ Rainbow Wedding Network!

Light Up The Night For Equality

ACTION ALERT: DECEMBER 20, 2008

WHAT IS LIGHT UP THE NIGHT FOR EQUALITY?
On December 20th, we ask that you join us again for a nation-wide demonstration that will make an impact on the private sector. Candlelight vigils will be held at commercial centers in cities across the country in vigil for the rights of 18,000 same-sex couples who married and look forward to the day when those rights are available again- for EVERYONE.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

* Please take to your local commercial district -- be it a shopping mall, outdoor financial center, you name it. Check your city page for the time and location of your event.
* This will be a peaceful demonstration in the spirit of the holidays.
* Dress alike. Wear the same t-shirts or signs pinned to your coats. You can make or buy a "2nd Class Citizen" t-shirt, but the message is optional. Learn more about why we suggest "2nd Class Citizen."
* This will be the culmination of our National Food Drive for Equality

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

* Hosting peaceful candlelight vigils
* We will stay silent unless asked a question, we will not yell, instigate, or bear signs. Instead, we will let our shirts do the talking and our candles pay our respects. Bring candles (battery powered if you'll be huddling inside).

* Singing and/or silence encouraged...chanting is not....keep it peaceful and in the holiday spirit.

Visit www.JointheImpact.wetpaint.com to find a location near you!!

LGBTQ Wedding & Equality Expo –Connecticut

Join Same Love, Same Rights- Sunday December 7, 2008 at our upcoming LGBTQ Wedding Expo produced by www.RainbowWeddingNetwork. com and Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine.

Meet face-to-face with wedding professionals who share in your joy and are ready to work with you and your partner as you plan Your Special Day.

Wedding coordinators, officiants, invitation companies, jewelers, DJs and Entertainment Companies, Travel Agents, Reception Venues, Limousine Companies, Legal Representatives and Real Estate Professionals and much, much more!

**Always FREE to Attend - visit www.SameLoveSameRights. com for more information.

Date: Sunday – December 7, 2008
Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: Courtyard by Marriott
                  780 Bridgeport Ave.
                  Shelton, CT 06484

Background Information about Rainbow Wedding Network – Since 2000 this lesbian owned company has provided the largest and most trusted online wedding resource for the LGBTQ community. Connecticut’s expo will be the 25th LGBTQ wedding expo produced throughout the U.S. by Rainbow Wedding Network and since 2006 Rainbow Wedding Network has produced the only LGBT Wedding Magazine – Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine.

For More information please visit – www. RainbowWeddingNetwork. com www.RainbowWeddingNetworkMagazine. com
www. SameLoveSameRights. com

Contact information – 866-251-1564