Special to ABC news that President Barack Obama has declared his support for gay marriage today:

http://gma.yahoo.com/obama-announces-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html

President Obama is the first U.S. President to openly support gay marriage.

On the 2008 campaign trail I heard Democratic nominee Barack Obama say that he was unsure about taking this stand, though he believed in civil unions. Now running for re-election in 2012, the President has joined Vice President Joe Biden in his support of same-sex marriage.

U.S. States that grant gay marriage (from wikipedia):

“Such licenses are granted by six states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and Oregon’s Coquille and Washington state’s Suquamish Indian tribes. The states of Washington and Maryland have passed laws in 2012 to begin granting same-sex marriage licenses, but each may be delayed or derailed by November 2012 voter referenda. Same-sex marriages could be legally performed in California between June 16, 2008, and November 4, 2008, after which voters passed Proposition 8 prohibiting same-sex marriages. California also recognizes any same-sex marriage from around the world that took place before that end date.”

Gay marriage is a civil rights issue, allowing loving & committed same-sex couples to legally marry, if they choose to. I also see this as an equal protection issue, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution…”nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

It’s “good to go” for recovering Congresswoman Giffords (CD 8)!

Latest from ABC news:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/gabrielle-giffords-ready-shuttle-launch-doctors-report-improvement/story?id=13446310&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4db4674e20f5e3fa%2C0

Endeavour, from wikipedia

“Giffords will have company with her, including her family, her husband’s family, her staff and President Obama, with his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha. Her staff has warned this will not be a public appearance for Giffords though they have suggested they may release a photo post launch.”

A launch party is scheduled at the Trident Grill here in Tucson on Friday, April 29:

Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch Watch Party With The Cactus Roots Team

Friday, April 29, 11:00 a.m.: Mark Kelly will command the Space Shuttle Endeavour as it heads to the International Space Station on Friday, April 29, and while we all can’t be at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to see him and his crew lift off into space, we can watch together here in Tucson. Please join us, and if you have any little astronauts of your own — bring them along. Every child who comes out will receive an official STS-134 mission patch! We will be cheering for both Mark and Gabrielle as we watch the launch at the Trident Grill, 2033 E. Speedway Blvd. (East of Campbell Avenue). Appetizers will be served, and the rest of the menu will be available at a discount. All are welcome, and we hope to see you there.

Event info from Blog for AZ website, go to their website to sign up, click here.

And keep praying for the Congresswoman’s full recovery from that tragic shooting on 1/8/11. More about her current medical condition from AZcentral.com:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/24/20110424gabrielle-giffords-medical-condition.html

UPDATE 4/29/11 9 a.m.: Endeavour launch delayed 48 hours due to mechanical problems with power generator. Stay tuned.