Welcome to the Pink Guide

As a gay couple planning a Civil Partnership you need a reliable source of advice and information, plus a directory of gay-friendly wedding suppliers. Following the success of Guides for Brides, The Pink Guide was launched in 2005 to put gay couples planning a Civil Partnership or Commitment Ceremony in touch with local suppliers, from cake makers to lavish venues. Many of the businesses listed are gay-owned, gay-run, and all of them specifially want to serve the gay market. Our dedicated staff have a knowledge and understanding of the industry in order to provide an up to date service for couples planning a partnership.

Finding good, reliable, local businesses

We have divided the database into counties and categories, so that you can look for businesses close to you first. You can also search by postcode or keyword. Inevitably some areas, in particular London, Brighton and Manchester, are better known for Civil Partnerships.

The Pink Guide & Pink Weddings

The Pink Guide is excited to announce that we are working in conjunction with www.pinkweddings.biz and Gino Meriano to ensure that we have up to date, honest information on all of the issues related to same sex weddings.

We feel that this is important in making sure that we offer the most outstanding service to all of our clients.

Pink Weddings™ launches “TogetherTV™”

Together TV logo

On the 1st September 2009, Gino Meriano founder of Pink Weddings™ the group launches UK’s first and dedicated channel for same-sex couples, their families and friends – TogetherTV™.

Gino Meriano, founder of Pink Weddings comments “It has been an amazing 2009 so far seeing the launch of the designer civil partnership show hosted at the Andaz Hotel London, our book Civil Partnership - a guide to the perfect day and now TogetherTV”.

The channel will aim to offer a wide range of high quality productions from real-life documentaries, movies, topical news from around the world, valued ideas and actual weddings with couples in the UK and beyond.
Meriano continues “We are constantly seeking new ways to let same-sex couples know the unique and different ways they can show their love and commitment. It will also go further to breakdown stereotypes and build a more inclusive society. I am very excited about the launch and a chance to finally have a channel that is the voice for same sex couples, their families and friends”.

At launch, TogetherTV will be available on IPTV* and online giving everyone the opportunity of being able to view the channel anywhere around the world, from a laptop, TV to a mobile phone and iPod”.

Building into the overall package of the TV Polari Group, the team at Pink Weddings believes this will become an exciting channel and one that will grow over time as has the Civil Partnership market since 2005. Over 30,000 couples have already entered into a Civil Partnership with an estimated market equating to an additional £10 million per year and the rolling survey already shows planning well into 2012 (34% for 2009, 52% for 2010, 12% for 2011 and 3% for 2012, dated July 2009 source - Pink Weddings Ltd Survey)

STOP PRESS!! Town Hall ready to appeal against gay ‘sinners’ registrar tribunal decision

COUNCIL chiefs say they are determined to overturn an employment tribunal decision that found in favour of a Christian registrar who refused to marry gay couples because they were “sinners”. But the Town Hall’s legal team, which spent £35,000 before losing the case, is yet to receive confirmation from the court service that there are grounds for an appeal. Lillian Ladele, from Skinner Street, Finsbury, won a ruling in May after being threatened with the sack for refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies in Islington Town Hall. The 47-year-old was awarded compensation and costs after the tribunal found she had been discriminated against because of her religious beliefs. The Employment Appeal Tribunal court service is expected to reach a decision on the second hearing by the end of the year.

Executive member for human resources Cllr John Gilbert said: “This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly, but we believe an important question is at stake and the law must be clarified.”

Gino Meriano, Founder of Pink Weddings Ltd and gay rights campaigner for same-sex families says ”It must be time to stop all this nonsense. Civil Partnerships are now part of history and definitely law now.

Registrars have a duty to uphold the law and leave their religious beliefs at home. Lillian has a duty to act upon and using the faith card is a joke. Our fight for equality is no joke.

If Lillian has such strong religious beliefs (she feels obliged to live by) then the registration service is not a place for her, but the church is. It would have been an interesting argument if she was challenged over race, belief, divorce and even mixed race marriages - but these are now part of society as are Civil Partnerships. One can only imagine that Lillian must of experienced similar issues prior to the Civil Partnership Act being passed with performing Marriages for divorcees.

We as an inclusive community must stand together and help Islington Council win their case and prove we will not be bullied back into the closet by short sighted people.

CALL FOR ACTION

CALL FOR ACTION : I call on the community to support a campaign to help Islington Council rid Homophobia from its statutory services. How ?

· Sign our petition - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/LillianLadele

· When the date/details of the appeal are announced, join us outside the court to show support for Islington Council and our rights for equality.

Gino Meriano
Gay Rights Campaigner for same-sex families