Ontario Elects Canada's First Gay Premier, Kathleen Wynne, After Inspiring Speech | Advocate.com

 Kathleen Wynne spoke with infectious optimism about the chances of an openly gay politician like her leading Ontario. Then she won.

Ontario made history on Saturday by selecting Kathleen Wynne as premier after she delivered an inspiring defense of whether a gay woman is electable in Canada.

Wynne is the first woman to lead Ontario and the first openly gay person to lead any province in Canada. After three ballots, Wynne won by a vote of 1,150 to 866, according to the Globe and Mail.

Wynne's speech before the 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership convention in Toronto addressed the notion that an openly gay person could not win her party's leadership post. She did it by addressing concerns that, if a general election is triggered by the opposition, an openly gay premier would be a losing proposition for voters.

"I want to put something on the table," she said during a speech Saturday while seeking the leadership post. "Is Ontario ready for a gay premier? You've heard that question. You've all heard that question. But let's say what it actually means: can a gay woman win? That's what it means. Not surprisingly, I have an answer to that question. When I ran in 2003, I was told that the people of North Toronto and the people of Thorncliffe Park weren't ready for a gay woman. Well apparently they were."

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BBC News - Gay marriage: the debate in the Republic of Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, same-sex couples can enter a civil partnership, but now the debate has moved on to whether or not they should be permitted to marry.

New laws to allow gay marriage are expected to be introduced in England and Wales before the next election in 2015.

There are no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland, assembly members as recently as October rejected a proposal that same-sex couples should have the right to marry.

But the issue of gay marriage is on the political radar in the Republic.

In Dublin, a group of tourists are taking photographs of Leinster House - home of the Irish houses of parliament - through the railings on Kildare Street.

Jackie Mullins is standing close by, holding a large placard.

'Human rights'

"I'm in support of the right of gay and lesbian persons to marry in this country" she said

If we want to see an Ireland of equals then the next logical step for me is the achievement of marriage equality”

Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael

"I don't believe that the state should pick out people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender and say to them, 'you're the wrong orientation so we're going to say you can't get married'.

-more at  BBC News 

Rhode Island Gay Marriage Battle Heats Up

Hundreds of people have gathered at the Rhode Island Statehouse to weigh in on legislation that would allow gays and lesbians to marry in the Ocean State.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hear several hours of testimony Tuesday evening from gay marriage supporters and opponents.

Rhode Island currently allows same-sex couples to create civil unions but efforts to pass gay marriage here have fallen flat.

House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, wants the House to vote on the issue by month's end.

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed remains opposed to the legislation but has said she expects the Senate to consider it if it passes the House.

Nine states and the District of Columbia currently allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.

- Huffington Post