Pope Francis Confirms 2015 US Visit

Via NBC Philadelphia:

The pontiff confirmed Monday he plans to attend the highly-anticipated World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year. "I wish to confirm according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families," he told a gathering of religious leaders in Rome. The three-day visit will include a public Sunday mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway on Sept. 27, 2015. Officials estimate up to 2 million people could come to see the pope. "This will be the largest event in the city's modern history," Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said. The mayor called the visit a "massive undertaking" that will require a "tremendous amount of coordination."

According to the Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis will also visit New York City and Washington DC, but the Vatican has not yet confirmed that. 

NOTE: The Philadelphia event has no relation to the NOM-backed and viciously anti-gay World Congress Of Families, which recently called for more nations to criminalize homosexuality.

PENNSYLVANIA: Philly Mayor To Officiate Today As Marriages Officially Begin

While a few couples have already married after being granted waiting period waivers by judges, today is the official start of same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. The mayor of Philadelphia has reportedly offered to officiate for hometown couples.

Catherine Hennessy and Kristin Keith rushed to get a marriage license in Philadelphia this week, even though they didn't plan to marry right away. Those plans have now changed. Thanks to an unexpected offer from City Hall, they have moved up their wedding to be married Friday by Mayor Michael Nutter, Hennessy said. "When the mayor calls you and says he wants to marry you, you don't say no," Hennessy said Thursday. Several Philadelphia judges have announced plans to be at City Hall both Friday and Saturday to officiate weddings. Nutter's office would not confirm his plans, and said he has no public appearances scheduled. However, spokesman Mark McDonald said his schedule could change. Hennessy and Keith are among the 18 gay or lesbian couples who got licenses before City Hall closed on Tuesday.

Mayor Nutter At #LGBTmedia13

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter spoke today at the Haas Convening for gay journalists, where he explained his desire to make Philly "the nation's most progressive city." Tomorrow we'll visit the construction site for Philadelphia's coming housing center for gay seniors, which had its groundbreaking with Nutter in November.

UPDATE: When Nutter took the podium, lots of folks took out their phones to tweet out photos.  He turned the tables on us by taking out his own phone. I had just crept up to the front of the room to get a better shot.