Gere speaks up for gay marriage
WHILE the California courts have just upheld their voter-approved Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, star Richard Gere has spoken in support of homosexual unions and has a personal reason for doing so.
He has revealed that his brother David is gay and had a civil partnership in the five-month period last year when gay marriages were permitted in the state.
David Gere, a professor at UCLA, teaches a class called Make Art/Stop Aids and helps co-ordinate Richard’s charity work.
Richard said: “My brother is gay and he got married in that brief period when gay marriage was allowed in California. He has two great kids and is a wonderful father.”
He added that there was “no reason” why same-sex legal partnerships should not be allowed.
The 18,000 same-sex couples who wed there before the ban took effect will remain valid.