West

The Washington House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on Wednesday and now supporters on both sides of the issue are preparing for a legal fight that will likely end in a referendum vote.

The House voted 55-43 in favor of the same-sex marriage bill a week after the state's Senate passed the measure. Gov. Christine Gregoire hailed the bill's passage and said she is eager to sign the bill into law.

"This is truly a historic day in Washington state, and one where I couldn't be more proud," Gregoire said in a statement. "With today's vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love. more >>

The first homosexual couple to be married in Southern California announced their plans to divorce recently, with the news coming as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has found the state's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

Robin Tyler filed for divorce from Diane Olson on Jan 25, after years of challenging California's same-sex marriage ban. The pair were lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit that resulted in the state Supreme Court reversing California's ban on same-sex marriage in 2007.

The former couple visited the Beverly Hills Courthouse every year for seven years to apply for a marriage license and oppose Proposition 8, which maintained the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. After years of being denied, Tyler and Olson became the first lesbian couple to be married in Southern California when they exchanged vows in 2008. more >>

Washington is poised to be the seventh U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage after the state legislature passed the bill Wednesday evening and the governor has vowed to sign it.

In a 55-43 vote, the state House passed the bill today, exactly a week after the state Senate approved the legislation. The Senate's vote last week, however, was closer: 28-21.

Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire said, "With today's vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love." more >>

Crystal Cathedral, the Garden Grove, Calif., megachurch founded by the Rev. Robert Schuller more than 50 years ago, appears to be headed for a name change as well as a new design of the iconic church building, according to the property's new owner, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. 

The diocese finalized the $57 million purchase of the iconic property, complete with a stunning glass church building, on Friday. The ministry has been struggling financially for years, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Oct. 2010. The diocese will allow the Crystal Cathedral congregation to stay on the campus for the next three years before moving in. However, that is not stopping the new owners from making public some of its intended changes.

This week, Bishop Tod Brown announced that the diocese is looking for suggestions for a new name for the building. The suggested name should refer to Christ or to his activities as illustrated by the Gospels and can be submitted through the diocese's website. Following a review of all suggestions, Bishop Brown will determine the cathedral's name. The deadline for suggestions is Feb. 20, the diocese said in a statement. more >>

Proposition 8, which sought to maintain the traditional definition of marriage in California, was struck down by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco Tuesday, with the measure being deemed unconstitutional. Pro-family groups are likely to appeal the court's ruling.

The case will most likely head to the U.S. Supreme Court provided the court decides to hear it. No same-sex marriages are likely to be solemnized before the case is resolved.

The three-member panel in the 9th Circuit Court ruled 2-1 that Prop. 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. more >>

Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, held a grand service for the first time in Hawaii, at the "Night of Hope" worship event on Friday, Feb. 3. During his visit to the state, Osteen was asked by local media to address accusations that he preaches a "watered-down" Gospel. 

The Texas megachurch pastor had been spotted earlier in the week at the Pacific state wearing only his swim trunks, a hat and sunglasses, gathering a lot of media attention for his in-shape physique. An image of Osteen's abs was released by TMZ.com that made headlines and put the spotlight on the 48-year-old pastor's advocacy for healthy living and dieting.

At the Night of Hope event, however, Osteen talked on some serious issues in his first ever sermon at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. more >>