A survey of gay and lesbian parents undertaken by Rainbow Family Holidays has found that more than half of the men and women surveyed preferred the company of similar families when on holiday. 

When asked “If you had the choice of whom you holiday with, would you choose to go with other gay & lesbian families, with mixed (straight & LGBT) families, with an LGBT group (not just families) or with just your family”, the largest number said they would choose other gay and lesbian families. 

Children do seem to be the priority here, as the second most popular choice was ‘with mixed (straight & LGBT) families’. According to one of the survey respondents, “we want to feel comfortable ourselves and let our children meet other children from similar families. If that’s not possible, we would rather they be around other children.” 

Surprisingly, no major operators cater to this market. This has led to the rise of small, niche companies such as Rainbow Family Holidays who specialise in providing holidays for LGBT parents and their children. 

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The Design Museum is one of London’s most sought-after venues for events and corporate hires and is already a first choice destination for the ultimate wedding lunch or reception. 

In response to the growing demand for wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships, the Design Museum has recently been granted a marriage licence.

The contemporary setting of the Design Museum Space can accommodate up to 100 guests, with its floor to ceiling glass windows and expansive balcony area offering spectacular views of the City of London and Canary Wharf, it is perfect for any stylish London wedding.

Larger receptions can also be accommodated in the Riverside Hall and the galleries, where up to 500 family and friends can be invited to join in the wedding celebrations later in the evening.

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Breeding of a rare species of duck has not gone to plan after the only two remaining males fell for each other.

Blue ducks Ben and Jerry were introduced to the last remaining female, Cherry, at the Arundel Wetland Centre in West Sussex. However they seemed much more interested in each other than her.

The blue duck is a dark slate-grey with a chestnut-flecked breast and a paler bill and eye. The pinkish-white bill has fleshy flaps of skin hanging from the sides of its tip. The male's call is an aspirated whistle, and the female's is a rattling growl - perhaps just a bit too butch for Ben and Jerry!

Warden Paul Stevens said he was disappointed that efforts to produce offspring had failed but said the two male birds made "a lovely couple". Read more...

Pink Weddings LLC and its sister companies in the UK have fought hard for 6 years for Equality and same-sex couples’ rights. In December 2005, the Civil Partnership Act became a reality and couples across the United Kingdom were able to register their Civil Partnership and finally gained equal legal rights and responsibilities.

 A Civil Partnership gives lesbian and gay couples the same legal rights as opposite-sex couples without the use of the word “Marriage” and separate from any religious attachments that have been the issue preventing equality across the USA.

Gino Meriano, Founder of the Pink Weddings™ Group and gay rights campaigner for same-sex couples says “A Civil Partnership is a legally binding contract between two people and one that should not be taken lightly. This allows our community the same rights as opposite-sex couples without the need for us to call it a marriage”. Read more...

California voters have approved a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage that overturns the state Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to wed just months ago.

 

The passage of Proposition 8 represents a crushing political defeat for gay rights activists. They had hoped public opinion on the contentious issue had shifted enough to help them defeat the measure.

 

It also represents a personal loss for the thousands of couples from California and others states who got married in the brief window when they could. Legal experts have said it will have to be resolved in court whether their unions still are valid.

 

Gino Meriano, Founder of Pink Weddings LLC says “It’s now time for change, we have rights - human rights and under no circumstances must we accept anything less that equal rights when couples look to seal and protect their relationship”.

 

Mr Meriano will now look to introduce a proposition that gains equal legal rights for same-sex couples called  the “Civil Partnership Proposition”. 

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