Marriage on the rocks? Honeymoon by the beach: Malaysia state offers free vacations to couples

October 9th, 2009 New survey shows rising support for civil unionsNEW YORK — An increasing majority of Americans favors allowing same-sex couples to obtain most of the same rights as married straight couples, but only 39 percent support legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a poll released Friday. The Pew Research Center said support for civil unions has risen to 57 percent, up from 54 percent a year ago and 45 percent when the question was first asked by Pew in 2003.

October 1st, 2009 DC councilman to introduce gay marriage billWASHINGTON — A Washington, D.C., councilman says he'll introduce a bill next week to allow same-sex couples to wed. D.C. Councilman David Catania says he plans to introduce the bill Tuesday.

September 21st, 2009 Census: 150,000 gay couples report they're marriedWASHINGTON — Nearly 150,000 same-sex couples reported being in marriage relationships last year, many more than the number of actual weddings and civil unions, according to the first U.S. census figures released on same-sex marriages.

September 14th, 2009 Backers of gay marriage want to repeal federal lawWASHINGTON — Gay marriage supporters are moving to repeal a law that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, but there's little chance of a vote this year. Repeal legislation to be introduced Tuesday has at least 76 House sponsors.

September 3rd, 2009 Correction: Thailand-Free Vacations storyBANGKOK — In stories Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 about Thailand offering free vacations to Internet-savvy travelers, The Associated Press misspelled the contest's Web site address.

September 1st, 2009 Free trips to Thailand for the Internet savvyBANGKOK — Attention Internet-savvy travelers: Thailand is giving away free trips to five lucky couples who don't mind sitting in front of a computer while on vacation. The Tourism Authority of Thailand launched a new campaign Tuesday offering five couples fully paid trips to the country's most popular cities and beaches.

August 26th, 2009 Group that opposes gay marriage targeting IowaDES MOINES, Iowa — A group that opposes gay marriage is focusing on Iowa, hoping to overturn a state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. The National Organization for Marriage has launched the Reclaim Iowa Project, targeting legislative races in the state in an effort to elect candidates who support putting the issue of gay marriage before voters.

August 3rd, 2009 Wis. same-sex couples sign up as domestic partnersMADISON, Wis. — Same-sex couples in Wisconsin have started signing up for the state's new domestic partnership registry.

August 1st, 2009 American-Dutch gay couples to wed in AmsterdamAMSTERDAM — The mayor of Amsterdam is officiating at the weddings of five American-Dutch homosexual couples on a boat during the city's Gay Pride festival, in part to challenge the United States to legalize gay marriage. Mayor Job Cohen also performed the first Dutch ceremonies after the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001.

July 23rd, 2009 Church of England offers combined wedding, baptismLONDON — The Church of England is offering couples a two-for-one service — marriage for them and baptisms for their children. The church is recognizing the changing reality of British families, it said Thursday.

May 26th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Bad relationship with their mother-in-law ranked as the top reason for divorce among ethnic Indians, and one of the main reasons given by divorced ethnic Chinese and Malay couples in Malaysia, a government study revealed Tuesday. A total of 30 percent of divorced ethnic Indian couples cited "interference" from in-laws, specifically mothers-in-law, as the main reason for their break-ups, the National Population and Family Development Board said.

May 2nd, 2009 Gays say Maine marriage law can be 'unbearable'AUGUSTA, Maine — Diane Sammer and her partner, Pam Dennis, were careful to sign papers giving Sammer power of attorney over Dennis' affairs. Yet after Dennis died of a heart attack and her body was to be cremated, the undertaker refused to accept Sammer's signature.

April 30th, 2009 NH moves a step closer to allowing gay marriageCONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire is a step closer to allowing gay marriage after a state Senate vote.

April 30th, 2009 Gay couples keep Iowa's border counties busyIOWA CITY, Iowa — Dozens of out-of-state same-sex couples have flocked to Iowa since it legalized gay marriage. More than half the same-sex couples who applied to be married in Pottawattamie (pah-tuh-WAH'-tah-mee) County in western Iowa came from Nebraska, one of four neighboring states with constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.

April 23rd, 2009 Conn. lawmakers pass update of gay marriage lawHARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut state lawmakers have passed a bill that updates the state's marriage laws to conform with a state court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.