MONDAY KICKSTARTER: First Same-Sex Couples Marry in New Jersey and More

The big news heading into this week is undoubtedly the beginning of marriage equality in New Jersey. In Newark, Mayor and Senator-elect Cory Booker opened the courthouse at midnight to marry seven couples early. And the first couple in Lambertville, Joanne Schailey and Beth Asaro, who have been together 27 years, became one of the state’s first to be joined in matrimony by Mayor David DelVecchio. Watch video of their big moment above.

More weekend LGBT headlines after the jump

PROGRESS REPORT

• Gay Couple Together 46 Years Finally Ties the Knot
• Online Wedding Magazine Love Inc. Will Fully Integrate Same-Sex And Straight Couples

HEADLINE MAKERS

• Lambda Legal Appeals Decision Barring Gay Couples From Marrying In Nevada
• New Mexico Supreme Court to Hear Gay Marriage Case Next Week

BIGOT WATCH

• Anti-gay activist Matt Barber slams USPS for Upcoming Harvey Milk Stamp
• Rick Santorum Warns that Republican Support of Gay Marriage Would Be “The Destruction of our Republic”
• Arkansas School Fires Teacher for Same-Sex Marriage

INTERNATIONAL

• Bermuda Premier Says Gay Marriage Not On The Legislative Agenda This Year
• Russian Bill That Would Take Children Away From Gay Parents Is Withdrawn
• Dozens Injured in Montenegro During Gay Pride March
• New Highly Virulent Strain of HIV Emerges in Russia
• France Approves First Spousal Adoption by Same-Sex Couple

ENTERTAINMENT

• Is Eminem Bashing Gays on New Album?
• Ben Whishaw Tipped to Play Freddie Mercury in Upcoming Queen Biopic
• Miss Universe Pageant Owner Donald Trump Tells Married Gay Pageant Co-host He’s Still Against Marriage Equality
• Chely Wright Fans Launch Petition to Get Openly Gay Country Star Invited Back to Grand Ole Opry