• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

I really should read my own blog.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

“woke” is the new caravan.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Civil Rights / LGBTQ Rights / Gay Rights are Human Rights / Open Thread – Things that make Maggie Gallagher sad #342

Open Thread – Things that make Maggie Gallagher sad #342

by Sarah, Proud and Tall|  July 19, 20111:20 am| 25 Comments

This post is in: Gay Rights are Human Rights, Open Threads, Assholes

FacebookTweetEmail

From the website of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation:

In an effort to partner tourism related opportunities with the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York State, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. (NTCC), unveiled plans Friday to hold a group wedding ceremony on July 25 in Niagara Falls, N.Y., as well as a new ‘Rainbow Romance’ package on the agency’s Niagara-USA.com reservation system.

The event, which is aimed at highlighting the passage of the marriage equality act, is expected to be one of the first official LGBT group wedding ceremonies in New York State. This wedding ceremony, being held at Niagara Falls State Park, will reinvent Niagara USA as a premier marriage and honeymoon destination, as well as translate to a tremendous economic impact for the regions tourism industry.

“According to Empire State Development, New York State would garner upwards of $400 million in economic benefits over a three-year period due to the passage of the marriage equality act,” said NTCC President and CEO John Percy. “Niagara Falls has long been considered a premier wedding and honeymoon destination throughout the world. Now, with the influx of a new demographic of romance tourists, Niagara USA will once again be viewed as the Honeymoon Capital, for all.”

The City of Niagara Falls clerk’s office has agreed to open its doors on Sunday July 24, which will allow couples to obtain their marriage license 24-hours in advance of the planned ceremony. The office hours will be set in the coming days.

The NTCC has coordinated with different partners in Niagara USA, to plan an event which will hosted on Goat island in Niagara Falls State Park free of charge to LGBT couples, on July 25 at 10 a.m.

The following is a breakdown of partners who have signed on to assist in the “First Official” group wedding ceremony in Niagara Falls.

Wedding Officiates will include: Pastor Marna Pritchard (First Congregational United Church of Christ), Rev. Terry Klime (Unitarian Universalist Church of Niagara), Hon. Kristen M. Grandinetti (City of Niagara Falls), Sally Fedell (The Falls Wedding Chapel)

Following the event there will be a cake and champagne toast at Niagara Falls State Park.

Harris & Lever Florists to provide flowers.

We are working with members of the Illumination Board to have the Falls be illuminated “Rainbow” colors the evening of July 24 and July 25.

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said “This event, which will highlight Niagara Falls on an international level as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination, will serve as a tremendous economic shot in the arm for not only the area’s hotels and attractions, but for the florists, bakeries and restaurants throughout the city.” Dyster said. “Those who come here will see the efforts made by this administration in reinventing our downtown tourist district and be welcomed into a city that will once again reclaim its title as the honeymoon capital of the world.”

In addition, Niagara-USA.com will feature a ‘Rainbow Romance’ package which can be booked on its online Reservation System, providing couples with a romantic getaway that including hotel, champagne, breakfast and the option of visiting Niagara USA’s most iconic and romantic attractions such as the Niagara Wine Trail and Maid of the Mist Boat Tour.

The NTCC is now in the process of reaching out to different LGBT organizations across New York State in hopes of attracting couples to Niagara USA for this event.

Welcome to the new normal, Maggie.

H/t: Joe my God

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « “The Simpsons” defense
Next Post: House Freshman to Obama: “Not It!” »

Reader Interactions

25Comments

  1. 1.

    Yutsano

    July 19, 2011 at 1:28 am

    I see rainbows. The symbolism has been noted.

    And normal is a cycle on a washing machine. And has been in Canada since 2005. The worst thing to happen to them is a Harper majority.

  2. 2.

    Alison

    July 19, 2011 at 1:38 am

    I want to gay marry SP&T’s new (or new to me at least) addendum to her name.

  3. 3.

    Spaghetti Lee

    July 19, 2011 at 2:12 am

    I too am a fan of the new addendum. I can picture a bunch of Balloon Juice FPers wearing sunglasses and standing in front of a 40-car pileup and John says “Consider your discourse…coarsened.” Then they all walk towards the camera and something blows up behind them.

  4. 4.

    JGabriel

    July 19, 2011 at 2:15 am

    @Alison: That’s SP&T-ASIotCoDfo93Y to you.

    .

  5. 5.

    Alison

    July 19, 2011 at 2:18 am

    @JGabriel – Well, *that* won’t be easy to yell out in bed.

  6. 6.

    JGabriel

    July 19, 2011 at 2:20 am

    @Alison: Win.

    .

  7. 7.

    Cain

    July 19, 2011 at 2:29 am

    I was looking at some old stuff on balloon-juice and ran into this thread

    haha.. John asking whether George R. R. Martin is any good..

    cain

  8. 8.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 19, 2011 at 2:31 am

    There’s money to be made off gay weddings.

    Let’s make some money!

  9. 9.

    MikeJ

    July 19, 2011 at 2:32 am

    I love FEC filings.

    Did you know the Obama campaign spent $151.05 at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Canton, MA and $26.93 at Einstein’s Bagels in Chicago?

    Still building buckets to aggregate the free form entries on donors (make sure attorney and lawyer both pop up as the same thing, etc.)

  10. 10.

    Cain

    July 19, 2011 at 2:43 am

    Oh yeah, here’s another one. Sorry couldn’t help myself. It’s when John starts complaining at DougJ for queering the thread.

    John sure was reasonable for a right winger back then.

  11. 11.

    burnspbesq

    July 19, 2011 at 2:43 am

    @Villago:

    Nothing inherently wrong with making money. You make money. Why shouldn’t the florists and bakers in Buffalo get in on the act? They’re providing a valuable service, for a price that can be presumed to be fair if people are willing to pay it.

    These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.

  12. 12.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 19, 2011 at 2:50 am

    No, nothing inherently wrong with making money.

    Just sayin’, there’s money to be made in gay weddings, just like straight weddings, so the Niagara Falls Tourism and Convention Corp is jumping in to seize the opportunity. Can’t blame them for doing it…it’s what they do.

    I can’t figure out why the Mammon worshipers of the right can’t figure this part of the issue out, myself.

  13. 13.

    Sarah Proud and Tall - A Shameful Instance of the Coarsening of Discourse for over 93 Years

    July 19, 2011 at 2:54 am

    There’s money to be made off gay weddings.
    __
    Let’s make some money!

    Yep. Ain’t it great? If people are on our side (in which Maggie Gallagher is on the other side), then I don’t care if they are doing it because they might make a bit more money.

    It’s all part of the normalization process that will defeat Maggie in the end – it’s hard to want to take away people’s rights when they are the ones who stayed in your hotel or ate in your restaurant or bought matching honeymoon dildos in your shop or left you a big tip when you worked behind the bar at their wedding.

  14. 14.

    Dennis SGMM

    July 19, 2011 at 2:59 am

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    I can’t figure out why the Mammon worshipers of the right can’t figure this part of the issue out, myself.

    If there was that much money to be made Walmart would be doing weddings.

    Oh, shit.

  15. 15.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 19, 2011 at 3:07 am

    @Yutsano: Oh my god! Double rainbow! All the way!

    And, I have no problem with people making monies. In fact, it’s a good reason to allow same-sex marriages!

    How you be, hon?

    Ms. Sarah, I want to gay-marry you and Alison. Polygamy is next!

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    July 19, 2011 at 3:22 am

    @asiangrrlMN: I’m not a big believer in polygamy. No spouse of either gender can treat the two others equally. So one of them ends up with the shaft. And not in the good way.

    I’m edging my way back into Her Eminence’s good graces again. A clean litterbox helps.

    EDIT: Denobulan marriage is a different story. Just keep adding partners until everyone is happy.

  17. 17.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 19, 2011 at 3:23 am

    @Yutsano: Yeah, three is a not the best number for inclusiveness. Maybe four? Glad that the princess is deigning to associate with you once again. Yes, a clean litterbox does wonders for human-cat relations.

  18. 18.

    Yutsano

    July 19, 2011 at 3:53 am

    @asiangrrlMN: True. But three is a magic number.

  19. 19.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 19, 2011 at 3:59 am

    @Yutsano: Holy shit. I don’t remember that one at all. Woah. That’s trippy.

    Here’s another song about the number 3. You’re welcome.

  20. 20.

    Yutsano

    July 19, 2011 at 4:09 am

    @asiangrrlMN: I couldn’t do it. That fucking twit drives me apeshit. And she can’t sing.

    I need an antidote, possibly something swarthy who shares my first name.

    (it’s true, look it up!)

  21. 21.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 19, 2011 at 4:20 am

    @Yutsano: I bailed after three seconds (poetic justice).

    As for swarthy, I knew who you meant before I even clicked. Really? His real name is the same as yours? Interesting. Ohhhhh myyyyyy, he’s such a guilty pleasure!

    Oldie, but goody.

  22. 22.

    Yutsano

    July 19, 2011 at 4:32 am

    @asiangrrlMN: I think he hit the weights for that video. Or just has for his own purposes. Either way NOM and STILL unmarried!

    I go sleep now hon.

  23. 23.

    Pococurante

    July 19, 2011 at 7:41 am

    Uh oh, Israel is continuing its plans of Arab genocide.

  24. 24.

    Dave Ruddell

    July 19, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Stealing jobs from hard-working Canadians.

  25. 25.

    Ash Can

    July 19, 2011 at 10:35 am

    What a charming story to start the day off right. Thanks for the post, SP&T!

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - BarcaChicago  - Off the Gunflint Trail/Boundary Waters 8
Image by BarcaChicago (7/11/25)

World Central Kitchen

Donate

Recent Comments

  • bbleh on Open Thread: ‘Look, Everyone Dies’ (Jul 11, 2025 @ 10:46am)
  • WTFGhost on Odds & Ends (Open Thread) (Jul 11, 2025 @ 10:45am)
  • ErikaF on Open Thread: ‘Look, Everyone Dies’ (Jul 11, 2025 @ 10:45am)
  • They Call Me Noni on Odds & Ends (Open Thread) (Jul 11, 2025 @ 10:44am)
  • Betty on Open Thread: ‘Look, Everyone Dies’ (Jul 11, 2025 @ 10:44am)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Feeling Defeated?  If We Give Up, It's Game Over

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!