KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A gay pastor who married his musical producer boyfriend in New York last year has fulfilled a vow to hold a wedding banquet in his native Malaysia in what they believe is the first such event in the Muslim-majority country.

Malaysian-born Ngeo Boon Lin and African-American husband Phineas Newborn III, quietly held the closed reception Saturday – complete with public kisses and karaoke ballad performances – with about 200 guests, including a handful of Chinese-language journalists who were asked not to report on the event until afterward.

The couple risked the ire of a government that has banned a gay arts festival, prosecuted a politician for sodomy and declared that homosexuality has no place in Malaysian society.

"We're thankful to be able to make Malaysian history here," Newborn said.

Ngeo, an ethnic Chinese pastor who has lived mainly in the United States since 1998, attracted criticism from Malaysian officials and religious groups when he married Newborn, a Broadway musical producer, last August.

Even though Ngeo identifies himself as a Christian, Malaysia's Cabinet minister for Islamic affairs voiced fears at the time that his nuptials could promote "extremism" among Malaysia's 28 million people, including ethnic Malay Muslims who comprise nearly two-thirds of the population. A newspaper owned by the ruling party urged authorities to prevent Ngeo from holding any wedding celebration in Malaysia.

But by this summer, the couple, both in their 40s, believed enough time had passed for them to fly to Malaysia for a few days without fanfare and invite Ngeo's mother, friends, former colleagues and schoolmates for a traditional Chinese wedding feast.

"It's my right to celebrate my joy with the people I care about," Ngeo told The Associated Press. "The government can make noise, the religious conservatives can make noise, but they're not welcome here."

The Malaysian government had no immediate reaction to news of Saturday's event.

Banquet guests ushered to their seats at a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur had found small, heart-shaped chocolates wrapped in Chinese-language notes that translated into "God loves gays."

Two guests serenaded each other with Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' duet "Endless Love," while a transgender entertainer tearfully praised Ngeo and Newborn for reminding everyone that "there is only one sexual orientation: love."

One guest, Eric Goh, said gay Malaysians "need to come out in bigger numbers and we need to have more straight people support us."

Ngeo made his trip back to Malaysia a month after Prime Minister Najib Razak said in in a speech that gay, lesbian and transsexual behavior was part of a "deviant culture" that should "not have any place in this country."

Najib's statement marked a reiteration of the government's stance and did not trigger new concerns. But for gay Malaysians, especially Muslims, it nevertheless meant that the door to public self-expression remained slammed shut.

Most gay Malaysians live free from direct harassment by authorities, and a law that prescribes 20-year prison sentences for sodomy, even consensual, is rarely enforced. The most prominent person charged under that law was Anwar Ibrahim, an opposition leader acquitted this year of sodomizing a male former aide in what he claimed was a politically motivated case.

"I understand the sensitivities. I'm not demanding for gay marriage to be allowed now in Malaysia," Ngeo said, adding that his advice to gay Malaysians was to "keep going and be creative."

Read more: Huffington Post, Fridae

Laura and Lisa as well as their daughter, Mya, are the stars of CafeMom Studios' new webseries, Mya and Her Moms.

"Our family is two people who are devoted to each other, who respect each other, who love each other, who are respectable and honorable, who brought a child into the world who both people give 100% to that child," Laura said in the series premiere, which aired last month.

Laura and Lisa met twelve years ago and decided to get pregnant three years later. Instead of selecting a sperm donor who they knew, they opted for an anonymous donor due to a Florida law that would give the donor more rights to Mya than the couple was comfortable granting.

Mya, now a bespectacled eight-year-old, enjoys swimming, piano lessons, and participating in the Girl Scouts.

"We devote our lives to Mya to make sure Mya has the opportunity to be the best person that she can be," Laura said. "I hope there are a lot of couples out there like that. It doesn't matter if you are two men, two women, or a man and a woman. I hope that if you choose to bring a child into this world, that's what you're doing for your child.”

New episodes of the show air on Wednesdays; you can view and subscribe to Mya and Her Moms on CafeMom Studios YouTube channel. Watch the first episode below:

Find out more: SheWired

Two women plan to tie the knot next month in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist wedding, as gay and lesbian groups push to make the island the first society in Asia to legalise gay marriage.

Fish Huang and her partner You Ya-ting, both 30, will receive their blessings from Master Shih Chao-hui at a Buddhist monastery in north Taiwan's Taoyuan county on August 11.

"We decided to get married last year," Huang told AFP Wednesday. "After being together for six years, we feel we need to make a life-long commitment to each other."

As a group of Buddhist monks and nuns chant sutras, the couple, both wearing white gowns, will declare their love for each other in a ceremony expected to be witnessed by dozens of close friends.

Huang, a social worker at a Buddhist cultural foundation, said her mother had promised to attend the event but her father remained undecided.

"My father likes Ya-ting, and he says the marriage will make him feel like he has one more daughter," Huang said.

"Still, time and again, he has voiced his hope that I marry a man... In fact, my decision to marry Ya-ting is also meant to make him drop the thought."

You's parents are still reluctant to agree to the planned marriage even though it will have no legal force, Huang said.

Taiwan is one of the most culturally liberal societies in East Asia, and gay and lesbian groups have been urging the government for years to make same-sex marriage legal.

In an event aimed at creating awareness about the issue, about 80 lesbian couples tied the knot in August last year in Taiwan's biggest same-sex wedding party, attracting about 1,000 friends, relatives and curious onlookers.

The island's cabinet in 2003 drafted a controversial bill to legalise same-sex marriages and allow homosexual couples to adopt children.

However, President Ma Ying-jeou has said public consensus was needed before the government can move ahead with the law.

Master Shih Chao-hui, who will perform the ceremony and is seen as a liberal on social issues, said her act would reflect the spirit of Buddhism.

"I would like stand up to give blessings to the couple because I hope my step can embody the spirit of Buddhism spreading compassion throughout the world," said Shih, who is also a professor at Buddhist Hsuan Chuang University.

"As a matter of fact, Buddhist teachings do not discriminate against gays and lesbians and do not consider human desires as a sin although they do call for restraint."

However, there is no consensus among Taiwanese Buddhist clerics about the issue, as reflected in the words of Master Huei Kai, a professor at Fo Guang University in the south Taiwan's Kaohsiung city.

"True, no ancient Buddhism scriptures mention gays, but that does not necessarily mean that Buddhism agrees to them," he told the United Daily News, a Taipei-based newspaper.

Given lingering resistance, Taiwan LGBT Family Rights Advocacy, a Taipei-based non-government group that is organising the upcoming ceremony, said Master Shih Chao-hui's involvement was significant.

"As a respected Buddhist master, her move may somewhat change the biased attitude of lots of people," Wu Shao-wen of the rights group said.

From Channel News Asia

Internet search engine Google just launched 'Legalize Love' --- a campaign supporting their employees in countries that criminalize homosexuality. In a written statement Google describes 'Legalize Love' as "a campaign to promote safer conditions for gay and lesbian people inside and outside the office in countries with anti-gay laws on the books."

Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Google's head of diversity, outlined the initiative at a Global LGBT Workplace Summit in London on Saturday, saying "We want our employees who are gay or lesbian or transgender to have the same experience outside the office as they do in the office. It is obviously a very ambitious piece of work."

The campaign was officially launched on Saturday in Singapore and Poland. Google plans to eventually expand the initiative to every country where the company has an office, and will focus on places with homophobic cultures, where anti-gay laws exist. 

Palmer-Edgecumbe also spoke about the decision to launch the initial phase in a country like Singapore, saying, "Singapore wants to be a global financial center and world leader and we can push them on the fact that being a global center and a world leader means you have to treat all people the same, irrespective of their sexual orientation."

In their most recent update, Google explained, "Though our business and employees are located in offices around the world, our policies on non-discrimination are universal throughout Google. We are proud to be recognised as a leader in LGBT inclusion efforts, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. Legalise Love is our call to decriminalise homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world. At Google, we encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. In all of our 60 offices around the world, we are committed to cultivating a work environment where Googlers can be themselves and thrive. We also want our employees to have the same inclusive experience outside of the office, as they do at work, and for LGBT communities to be safe and to be accepted wherever they are."

Megan Rapinoe, the U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star, has officially come out. The 27-year-old hasn't actually been hiding her sexuality, she just never said the words officially to the press.

In an interview with Out Magazine, Rapinoe officially became the first soccer player on the current U.S. Women's National Team to publicly come out as a lesbian:  

I think they were trying to be respectful and that it’s my job to say, "I’m gay." Which I am. For the record: I am gay.

In fact, Rapinoe’s been dating her girlfriend, Sarah Walsh, an Australian soccer player, for three years, and even brought her home to visit her family in Northern California last Christmas.

Rapinoe also spoke about homophobia in sports:

"I feel like sports in general are still homophobic, in the sense that not a lot of people are out. I feel everyone is really craving [for] people to come out. People want -- they need -- to see that there are people like me playing soccer for the good ol’ U.S. of A. …. In female sports, if you’re gay, most likely your team knows it pretty quickly. It’s very open and widely supported. For males, it’s not that way at all. It’s sad."

Anderson Cooper has, after much speculation, publicly said he is gay.

"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud," the CNN anchor, 45, wrote Monday in an open letter to his longtime friend Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast.

"I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist."

Cooper explains why he ultimately decided to speak up:

"It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true. I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible."

The host of CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" ends the letter by saying, 

"I love, and I am loved. In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life."

Read his full letter here: The Daily Beast

Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile announced recently that she and her girlfriend Catherine Shepherd are engaged. In a letter she wrote to her fans in Again Today, she says,

"And my biggest news ever is that I got engaged!!!! Catherine (my fiancée) and I met through her previous job as Charity Coordinator for none other than Sir Paul McCartney! Cath worked for him for the last ten years and lucky for me, Sir Paul gave us his blessing, so she's left her job and her country to come to the ol' USA to be with me! She has amazing ideas and tons of experience in music and philanthropy...she lives for charity and I couldn't feel more blessed to have her in my life."

"The Story" singer went on to write that she and her fiancée are working on The Looking Out Foundation together, the charity Carlile founded in 2008 that seeks to, “support, through music, humanitarian outreach efforts in local communities and beyond.”

Listen to Brandi Carlile's "The Story" below.

Carrie Underwood came out in support of marriage equality in an interview with UK's The Independent recently. She is the musical darling of American conservatives: a God-fearing farm girl from Oklahoma who became a music phenomenon on the back of wholesome hit records about faith, love and family.

In a development that will doubtless outrage her many fans on the religious right, the nation's most popular country singer said, "As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love and want to marry. I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

She said that her attitude towards same-sex marriage comes because of her Christian faith, rather than in spite of it. Though raised a Baptist, Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher, a professional ice-hockey player, now worship in a non-denominational congregation.

"Our church is gay friendly," she said. "Above all, God wanted us to love others. It's not about setting rules, or [saying] 'everyone has to be like me'. No. We're all different. That's what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It's not up to me to judge anybody."

In the interview, she also condemned "people who use the Bible for hate", adding: "That's not how I would want myself as a Christian to be represented."

Read more: The Independent

Out of the heart of North Carolina comes Singer/Songwriter Ashley Jo Farmer, a happily-married heterosexual Christian Mom who supports and stands for marriage equality for ALL HUMANS, both in America and throughout the world.   

She wrote this song inspired by her feelings on the subject and hopes to share it with the world. She says, "Support marriage equality in America and around the world. It's the RIGHT thing to do, and the only fair thing to do. We live in a country that celebrates equality. Make a difference for yourself, your neighbor, and your children."

Check out her new website: www.idmarryyou.com

The song "I'd Marry You" is a love story between two women - Kelly & Jill, who build a happy, successful life together but, because they are a gay couple, cannot get married. Listen to it below:

"I'd Marry You" Lyrics
Kelly grew up in a small house
On the outskirts of town
She would hardly ever go out, no
You’d never see her around

Every Sunday in the back row
Of the church on Potter’s Lane
She would pray that love would find her
So she’d have her wedding day… 
  
Jill was working on the weekends 
In the market on the square 
Kelly came in for some groceries
Instead she found Jill there 

Kelly smiled and from that moment
What began as just a glance
Turned into now and forever
An eternal wedding dance

I’d marry you if I could  
Take your name like any proud wife would  
Why can’t things be the way I know they should  
Cause it'd feel so good…
And I'll spend my life with you   
Making all of our dreams come true  
If I could - I’d marry you…   
What I’d give to say “I do”
If I could just marry you.

When two people love each other  
Who’s to say that it’s not blessed?   
Can we put that fear behind us... 
And let our hearts decide the rest?

Kelly turned to Jill one evening
She said, “Babe, look how far we’ve come
We’ve got two kids, a dog, a mortgage 
Love, our family, our home...”

Jill said “Kelly, I sure love you
And you know I always will
And though I’m happy, there’s this one thing 
I can’t help but wish for still"

I’d marry you - if I could  
Take your name like any proud wife would  
Why can’t things be the way I know they should  - so good
I'm gonna spend my life with you   
Making all of our dreams come true  
And If I could, I’d marry you…   
What I’d give to say “I do”
If I could just marry you
I'd Marry You!

"I'd Marry You" Musicians:
Ashley Jo Farmer - Vocals
Alan Grossman (Co-Writer) - Guitar
Wes Copeland - Lead Guitar at intro

"I'd Marry You" - An original song by Ashley Jo Farmer, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

The documentary film Wish Me Away is the story of Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as gay. Over three years, the filmmakers were given extraordinary access to Chely's struggle and her unfolding plan to come out publicly.

Using interviews with Chely, her family, her pastor, and key players in Nashville interwoven with Chely's intimate private video diaries, the film goes deep into her back story as an established country music star and then forward as she steps into the national spotlight to reveal her secret.

Chronicling the aftermath in her hometown of Nashville and within the larger LGBT community, Wish Me Away reveals both the devastation of her own internalized homophobia and the transformational power of living an authentic life.

Wish Me Away premiered in New York Friday, and critics are warming to the country star's harrowing coming-out story.

The New York Daily News liked the film's coverage of Wright's relationship with her family, while The New York Times calls part of the film "heartbreaking."

"By the end you may not be a fan of her music," writes The Times' Jeannette Catsoulis, "but it's hard not to root for her rebirth."

The film opens June 15 in Los Angeles. Watch the trailer below.