LGBT COMMUNITY’S NEW BATTLE CRY: ‘DIVORCE EQUALITY NOW’

O'Donnel, right, and second wife Michele Rounds
O’Donnell, right, and second wife Michele Rounds

SAN FRANCISCO, California  (The Adobo Chronicles) – The soon-to-leave The View host Rosie O’Donnell was a poster child (or adult) for marriage equality, having married her spouse Kelli Carpenter  at San Francisco’s City Hall in 2004.

That marriage didn’t last long. In 2012, she married another girlfriend, Michelle Rounds.

O’Donnel, 52, has confirmed that she and Rounds have been living apart for at least three months and have finally decided to divorce.

The problem is, while same-sex marriage is now allowed in 36 U.S. states, same-sex divorce has yet to be legalized.

Many same-sex couples who are married or in civil unions or registered domestic partnerships may not be able to get divorced. All states have some residency requirement for divorce: at least one spouse must be a resident of a state that recognizes their union in order to dissolve it. Same-sex couples who live in states that do not recognize their relationships may not be able to divorce.

Because of the increasing number of married gay couples deciding to part ways, LGBT organizations and advocacy groups are now scrambling to advocate for state legislation that would legalize same-sex divorce.

Same-sex divorce may be the next big battle in the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to rule this year on what could be a federally-mandated gay marriage in the next few months.

In San Francisco’s gay Castro Street last night, members of Equality California blocked entrances to the Muni station, shouting: “What do we want? Divorce Equality! Whe do we want it? Now!”

MANNY PACQUIAO NOW AN OSCAR-VOTING MEMBER OF AMPAS

imageHOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Oscar winners are decided by more than 6,000 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but not every actor, director, producer, writer, cinematographer, etc. is an automatic Oscar voter. One has to be invited by the Academy.

Champion boxer Manny Pacquiao has just been invited to be an Oscar voter, the first known full-blooded Filipino to be afforded such privilege.

The Academy invited Pacquiao by virtue of his newly-released documentary, “Manny” starring himself and narrated by Academy Award winner Liam Neeson.

The honor is yet another feather in the cap for Pacquiao who, aside from being an eight-time world boxing champion, is also a Philippines congressman, recording artist, basketball playing coach, and  beauty pageant judge (he was on the judging panel of the most recent Miss Universe Pageant).

While his documentary is not eligible for this year’s Oscars, it will be for next year.

Asked by The Adobo Chronicles if he would vote for himself and his film, Pacquiao said, “Op kors!” (Of course). Not surprising since Pacquiao is used to many a hometown decision in his long career.

The Internet site NeverTooEarlyMoviePredictions has a list of more than 4,000 confirmed Academy voters — about 70 percent of the total — in case you want to find out if your favorite actor or director is an Oscar voter.

Here’s to Pacman, Fried of the Pilipeens! (Pride of the Philippines)

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS AND DAVID BURTKA TO RENEW MARRIAGE VOWS ON OSCAR NIGHT

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Harris, left, and Burtka (Photo credit: Instinctmagazine.com)

HOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Actors Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka were married in a private ceremony in Italy last September after being together for 10 years. They have two kids.

On February 22, Oscar Night, Patrick, 41 and Burtka, 39 will renew their marriage vows in front of hundreds of witnesses at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles and before millions of television viewers worldwide.

Patrick is this year’s Oscar host.  The  renewal of vows will immediately follow his opening monologue.

This is not the first time that a same-sex wedding will be officiated on live national (and international) TV.  During last year’s Grammy’s, Queen Latifah officiated wedding vows to 33 couples, including same-sex partners. A performance by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Madonna provided the music background for the mass ceremony.

Patrick and Burtka have chosen John Travolta (of the “Adele Dazeem” fame at last year’s Oscars) to officiate the renewal of their wedding vows.

Let’s hope Travolta doesn’t mess up with David’s name and introduce him as Kurt Jabbar or some other gibberish.

 

 

 

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