Dominican Republic Won't Recognize Gay Marriage Performed At UK Embassy
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic says it will not recognize a same-sex marriage performed for the first time in the conservative Caribbean country.

In a Thursday statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Miguel Medina said “our legislation does not recognize this type of marriage.” The statement comes two days after the British embassy tweeted that a Dominican man and his British partner had exchanged vows in its Santo Domingo offices.

The U.K. announced in June that same-sex couples could marry at British consulates in 25 countries. The Dominican Republic is the only Caribbean nation on that list. Embassy officials say more same-sex ceremonies will be performed in the future.

The chairman of the Dominican Council of Evangelical Churches said the embassy ceremony “brings a curse to the nation.”

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/02/dominican-republic-gay-marriage-_n_6406484.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Best of 2014: HRC Fights for LGBT Communities Worldwide

In 2014, HRC put anti-LGBT leaders on notice.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/best-of-2014-hrc-fights-for-lgbt-communities-worldwide?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

What a Year It Has Been: 2014 in 4 Minutes – WATCH

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/01/what-a-year-it-has-been-2014-in-4-minutes-watch.html

People to Watch in 2015

Actors, writers, activists, comedians and more make of the list of people to watch in the new year.

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Matt Baume

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/people/2015/01/02/people-watch-2015

Shhhh! What’s Your Favorite Undiscovered Place To Visit?

Nashville. Columbus. Omaha. Albuquerque. San Antonio. Savannah.

The country is filled with all sorts of places that don’t necessarily pop to mind when you think of destinations, but they are actually hidden gems that benefit from being undiscovered.

Where do you like to go when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city for some quiet time?

Vote for your favorite Hidden Gem in the 2014 Best of GayCities for a chance at a free trip for two to any destination in the continental U.S., courtesy of our friends at Hyatt.

Voting is easy. Just sign into your GayCities account and make your selections. You’ll automatically be entered into the prize sweepstakes.

Polls close January 5. You must be a U.S. resident to win the prize. See the complete rules.

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/oI4rfI7JFtI/shhhh-whats-your-favorite-undiscovered-place-to-visit-20150102

Barbara Smith: Soul on Hold

This 1985 essay by Barbara Smith, a scholar-activist who made contributions to social justice movements in civil rights, feminism, lesbian and gay liberation, anti-racism, and black feminism, recalls early moments of intersectionality between African-American and LGBT rights movements, yet resonates today in the wake of Ferguson.

read more

Barbara Smith

www.advocate.com/politics/2015/01/02/barbara-smith-soul-hold

Gay ists contributed $1.2b to Argentina's economy in 2014, says agency

20% of visitors to Buenos Aires are LGBTI, says ism institute

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jamiet

www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-ists-contributed-12b-argentinas-economy-2014-says-agency311214