Massachusetts

Hawaii and Delaware join the list of states which recognize same-sex civil unions. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island already recognize civil unions providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples. Six other states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriage - creating a patchwork of U.S. legislation for same-sex couples who want to legalize their unions. Marriage licenses are given to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and D.C. California's struggle for marriage equality is stayed pending an appeal.

Proud Parenting recently posted that the HPV vaccine works for gay males. Now Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has announced it will start covering the human papilloma virus vaccine for males. The other major insurers in the state already pay for boys and young men to get the vaccine, which costs nearly $400 for the three shots required for full protection. HPV causes anal and throat cancers in both genders.

Anything that makes someone feel mistreated by others in the school community (not only physical but any form of social, emotional or verbal abuse) can be defined as "bullying".

At a different type of high school assembly, Northampton High School students shared experiences of bullying. Two students who both have lesbian moms, shared real-life experiences such as anti-gay slurs in the school's hallways. Students clapped and cheered both students on when they kindly asked their schoolmates to choose their words more carefully.

Amy Mesirow and her husband got involved with the struggles of gay youth when their son came out to them three years ago. They assured him of their love immediately, but found they needed help for themselves. Mesirow is now a board member of PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), as well as at Cape & Islands Gay & Straight Alliance, which runs a safe house for youths 22 and under in Hyannis.

Marriage equality has helped Massachusetts earn over $111 million since 2004. The state recently celebrated the six-year anniversary of its first same-sex marriage license, and gay couples are moving to Massachusetts in droves.

Why not visit Massachusetts with your family - and enjoy a liberal, relaxed, and welcoming environment?

Massachusetts could lose millions in funding - due to the Defense of Marriage Act - if it allows Army veteran Darrel Hopkins [65] and his husband Tom Casey Hopkins [58] to be buried in a veterans’ cemetery in Winchendon. The couple has approval from the Massachusetts state Department of Veterans’ Services to be buried in the cemetery.

The Boston Globe reports:

Two Texas moms got married in Massachusetts but separated in 2007. They worked out a custody arrangement for their 4 1/2-year old adopted son - but the state of Texas says a same-sex marriage can't be dissolved with a divorce there because Texas doesn't offer marriage equality.

The Associated Press reports: