A joint press release (read below) was released yesterday by major Catholics reform groups, expresses their support of same-sex marriage rights to bishops who are meeting at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, MD. And at the same time, during the first day of the conference today, president Cardinal Francis George urges bishops to continue to confront President-elect Obama's support on abortion rights. Had Obama supported same-sex marriage, you know for sure that would be their #1 agenda.

As a sidenote, Andrew Sullivan pointed out earlier today that the SF Coronicle reported on how the Catholics were in fact working with the Mormons on their Prop. 8 battle.

On Wednesday, the US Senate has voted against the HIV Travel Ban, which has been barring HIV+ foreigners from entering the country since 1987. The bill will now go to the joint committee and GW for final approval. It's most likely going to pass, as GW has already shown approval for it. If it's signed, HIV+ individuals will be allowed to visit the US without a special waiver, although they will still be banned from obtaining permanent residency.

Andrew Sullivan, an HIV+ non-resident alien residing in the US, states that, "it's one of the happiest days" of his whole life. "For two and a half decades, I have longed to be a citizen of the country I love and have made my home. I now can. There is no greater feeling," he says.