OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Almost 2,500 same-gender couples were married in Washington between Dec. 6, 2012 and March 31, 2013, according to the state's Department of Health.

Same-gender marriages represented more than 20% of the 11,661 marriages that occurred in Washington during this 16-week period, the agency reported.

Not only that, but same-gender marriages occurred in 35 of Washington’s 39 counties during this time period, which began on the first day same-gender couples could legally get a marriage license in the state.

LOS ANGELES -- Peter Staley and Garance Franke-Ruta, cast members of the Oscar-nominated documentary film "How To Survive A Plague," will participate in a screening and panel discussion presented by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) on Wednesday, June 12, at 7:30 pm at the Silver Screen Theater in the Pacific Design Center.

The special “One City One Pride” event is presented by Collective Effect at APLA, and is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood and Symphonic Love Foundation.

According to preliminary findings from the world’s largest study on the issue, the children of gay parents are doing equally well or better than the children of straight parents on a number of key health and well-being indicators. (Not that it’s a competition or anything!)

WASHINGTON -- Brigadier General Tammy S. Smith, U.S. Army Reserve, will be one of the Capital Pride Parade’s Grand Marshals when it steps off on Saturday, June 8.

She joins Lynda Carter, who was announced last week as the Parade’s Super Grand Marshal.

Smith made history in August 2012 when her wife, Tracey Hepner, placed a general’s star on her shoulder. With that simple act, Smith became the first openly gay or lesbian flag officer to serve in the United States military. Her promotion occurred less than one year after the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."