Oct 26: This past week in LGBTQ marriage news

MENY blog readers I though this week we might try a different format.

Austria introduces draft law for gay marriage In an attempt to end years of political dispute Austria's Social Democrat Justice Minister Maria Berger Wednesday introduced a first draft for a law granting gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals.

Group Encourages Blacks To Support Gay Marriage The Maryland Black Family Alliance is a coalition of Black families and leaders. They will hold several forums open to the public on the issue of marriage to continue the dialogue. They'll have one later this year in Prince George's County and one early next year in Baltimore

Church of Sweden split over gay marriage The Church of Sweden's governing body voted on Thursday in to retain the right to carry out legally binding weddings. The issue has risen to the top following a recent government recommending the introduction of a new gender-neutral marriage law. If parliament pushes through the bill,the church will be forced to either lawfully wed homosexual couples or abstain completely from the legal element of the marriage ceremony.

Florida Prison Guards Disciplined For Allowing 'Gay Wedding'
One prison guard was fired, another resigned and six others were handed suspensions for allowing what the Florida Department of Corrections calls a gay wedding between two female inmates at the Lowell Correctional Institution.