Tuesday night was a big night for Obama and an historic night for gay rights proponents. Alas, after the issue had been presented to state voters 32 times, Maine and Maryland both voted by a 52-48 percent margin to legalize gay marriage, adding to the total of states that have approved same-sex marrriage which include: Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia. Maine’s new marriage equality will take effect 30-days from now on December 7, while Maryland’s will take effect on January 1, 2013. (Update: As of this afternoon, it’s been reported Washington State voted to pass Referendum 74 allowing same-sex marriage!)

This isn’t shocking as a 2010 poll showed that more Americans supported gay marriage than opposed it and this past year President Obama publicly endorsed same-sex marriage. Other celebrity activists openly took a stand on gay marriage this year including Anne Hathaway who donated all the proceeds from her wedding photos to a marriage equality group, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson who announced his engagement to fiance Justin Mikita in a YouTube video along with the launch of a new organization, Tie the Knot, which sells bow ties to raise money for marriage equality.

Some gay rights activists and same-sex couples were concerned a Romney-Ryan administration would hault the legalization of gay marriage, but after last night, we can recognize this as a human rights victory.

Where do you see the issue of marriage equality going from here? Tell us below or tweet me at @jamiemariemiles.

> Planning a gay wedding? Let us help!
> Watch as a dad shares his perspective on his daughter’s same-sex marriage in this adorable video.

Aren’t we all looking for a good cry now and then? No? Okay, maybe that’s just me. Regardless, this video, told from Artie Goldstein’s perspective (the father of the bride), is a must-watch if only to hear how he views his daughter’s marriage and life choices. It’s all about how he found his own understanding of her relationship. Not only is it incredibly heart-felt, it’s also absolutely adorable. Congratulations Kim and Nikki!

> Other awesome wedding videos

> Find inspiration for gay weddings here

Jesse Tyler Ferguson a.k.a Mitchell from Modern Family (plays a lawyer) and his fiancé Justin Mikita (is actually a lawyer!)  announced their engagement the 2012 way today: with a YouTube video! That wasn’t their only announcement though, the couple also launched a new organization, Tie the Knot , which will sell handsome bow ties with all of the proceeds going to organizations that support marriage equality. I’ll take ten please!

You can sign up now to be notified as soon as they launch their line, which will each be produced in limited quantities and will get snapped up fast. As you can see from the image above, these guys can rock a bow tie.

I literally LOLed my way through the video, and then cried with happiness when I realized they got engaged too! So, check out the video if you want an elevator to the moon filled with joy (and puppies)!

Huang Mei-yu and Yu Ya-ting married in Taiwan’s first same-sex Buddhist wedding this past Saturday. The couple wore traditional white gowns and exchanged prayer beads, instead of rings at a Buddhist monastery in northern Taiwan.

According to the Taipei Times Buddhist Master Shiah Chao-hewi performed the ceremony and gave the women his blessing:

“I am certain you will lead a life of happiness together, especially after you have overcome so much difficulty and societal discrimination. You have blessings not only from the Buddha, but also from those whom you may or may not know who are in attendance.”

Even though the couple’s parents weren’t in attendance (because of the media exposure it would receive), Huang and Ya-ting said that they felt the presence of their parents.

The couple hopes that with the Buddhist master’s support, their wedding will change people’s perspective on same-sex marriage and hoping that Taiwan will be the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.

Congratulations Huang Mei-yu and Yu Ya-ting!

> Planning a same-sex wedding? Check out GayWeddings.com

A year ago yesterday, on June 24, 2011, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law into effect that legalized same sex marriage. New York City celebrated the occasion with the annual Gay Pride Parade (which had, for the first time, legally married same sex people marching in it!). Since then, Maryland and Washington state have passed laws to legalize gay marriage as well, but both states will face referendums in November that may nullify the laws.

But right now, we’re busy reliving our big event from last year, the Pop Up Chapel, where we helped wed 24 same sex couples in Central Park. Congrats to all the couples who’ve gotten hitched in the last year, and here’s to many more!

> Browse 30+ real same sex wedding photo albums

> Get the details about Dick Cheney’s daughter Mary’s wedding to partner Heather

> See our guide to gay and lesbian weddings (we support marriage equality!)

In the wake of recent same-sex marriage news (namely, North Carolina passing a ban against gay unions in its state constitution Tuesday), President Barack Obama has gone on the record that he personally supports equality for all couples.

He tells Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America:

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed, monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage — at a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

The full interview will air Thursday morning on ABC.

> Find out more about planning a same-sex ceremony.

While the recent news that North Carolina’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage has passed is disheartening, let’s not forget that the country is still making strides, or at least steps, towards legalizing gay marriage. Just the fact that President Obama said outright that he was “disappointed” by the outcome, shows that things might be looking up in the next few years.

To lift your spirits a little bit, here are a list of the states that have passed same-sex marriage laws:

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Iowa
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Vermont
• Washington D.C.

> Find inspiration for your own wedding at our niche gay weddings site!