Not to be outdone by Canada (OK, the timing was just coincidence), Spain has just fully legalized gay marriage. According to the AP, gay couples will be able to get married within two weeks. Madrid’s a little hot this time of year, but still…. (And again, best read HRC’s advice about getting married before you take the plunge.)

Canada’s House of Commons has just approved legislation to legalize gay marriage. The Senate has yet to pass the measure, but is expected to do so by the end of July. If you’re a U. S. citizen thinking about getting married in Canada, you may want to read the HRC’s information about marriage in Canada and the legal rights or lack thereof you may expect back in the States.

Last Thursday, the U. S. House of Representatives passed HR 3010, which restored $100 million in funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB supports production of quality children’s programs like Sesame Street, as well as other public TV and radio programs. It also funds local public TV and radio stations across the country. Despite saving $100 million for CPB, the House eliminated another $100 million also originally allocated to CPB for children’s programming and digital technologies.

If you wish to write to your representative on this issue (either to say “thanks” or express your displeasure), you can find out how he/she voted through Project Vote Smart’s Voting Records page. (Looks like they might need a few days to get the HR 3010 records posted.) You can then send an e-mail directly from the U. S. House’s Web site. No need to know your rep’s name in advance–you can search by zip code.

Coming up tonight on Showtime, “Same Sex America,” a documentary following the path of the seven couples who spearheaded the successful effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The show is repeated several times through July 9; check the SHO site for details.

For those of you struggling to find yummy summer recipes, check out Epicurious’ special “Serving Up Summer” section. From oven-free meals to ideas for picnics, entertaining, and eco-friendly cooking, there’s a lot here to whet your appetite.

There’s just over a month now until the 10th Annual Provincetown Family Week. The week-long festivities are organized by the Family Pride Coalition, and include a variety of activities for children and adults, both fun and informative. Further information and registration is available online.

On a political note, Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Pride Coalition, has invited Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to attend Family Week. Governor Romney recently announced his endorsement of an effort to pass a ban on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. No word yet on whether he will attend Family Week.

It’s the season for gardens. Before you plant, get your soil tested. Many universities provide this service free of charge. Do a Google search for "soil testing name-of-your-nearby-university" (inserting the appropriate name) to find information.

The Uniting American Families Act was introduced yesterday in the U. S. House and Senate by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt, with bipartisan co-sponsors from both chambers. The bill seeks equal treatment for same-sex and opposite-sex couples for the purposes of immigration. You can read the official bill summary and list of co-sponsors, and read HRC’s response.

Delight your kids (and maybe even yourself) with live-action animal cams from some of the best institutions in the U.S. The Animal Cams from the National Zoo in Washington, DC show you what the elephants, giraffes, gorillas, pandas, and other animals are doing right now. (Sometimes the answer is "staying off camera," so you may need to try a few animals till you find some action.) Likewise, the Web cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California display penguins, sharks, otters, and more. (Note that all the cams may take a few moments to load even after the Web page appears.)

For the butch/femme in all of us: Homemade Baby Wipes using large shop tools. (Thanks to MAKE for the original sighting.)