Baltimore OUTloud - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trangender - LGBT - Equality - News - Arts - Culture - Baltimore OUTloud - An Independant Voice for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community

This issue of Baltimore OUTloud a milestone for us as we celebrate 10 years of activist journalism in service to Baltimore’s sexual-minority communities. In our first issue on May 16, 2003, founding publisher Mike Chase described the launch of the paper as time-consuming, nerve-wracking, and exciting – the beginning of an adventure. It has indeed been all of these with ups, downs, triumphs and tragedies, successes to celebrate and obstacles to overcome. Yet, despite the economic crisis of the last five years and the demise of much of the print media, here we are, ten years and counting! Our success against the odds and conventional wisdom, rest squarely with our superb staff, loyal columnist and writers – volunteers all, committed advertisers, and most importantly you, Baltimore’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

The Delaware Senate on May 7 approved a bill that will allow same-sex marriage in the First State. The 12-9 vote came more than three hours after lawmakers began to hear testimony from House Bill 75 supporters and opponents.

Known for appealing to everyone from everywhere, New Hope Celebrates (NHC) will present a week of events and activities May 11-19 to commemorate LGBT Pride in New Hope, Pennsylvania (Bucks County) and Lambertville, New Jersey. The week-long mixture of history, fact, frolic, and fun is having its tenth-year anniversary and has become an area tradition.

Minnesota is 12th state to allow same-sex marriage

St. Paul, MN. -- Minnesota is set to become the 12th U.S. state where gay couples can get married after a final legislative vote Monday that will let the weddings start on Aug. 1.Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has pledged to sign the bill, and scheduled a ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the front steps of the Capitol in St. Paul to do so. Minnesota is now the first state in Midwest to legalize gay marriage by legislative vote, and the third nationwide in just 10 days, joining Rhode Island and Delaware. Thousands of gay marriage supporters thronging the Capitol erupted into deafening cheers after the Senate's 37-30 vote; the House passed it last week on a 75-59 vote. Supporters and opponents were close to evenly matched during the House debate, but Monday was dominated by gay marriage backers.