Catholic Mass disturbed after anti-gay marriage video shown
By MARK PRATT
Associated Press Writer
BOSTON- A gay Catholic man interrupted Mass at a Canton church to protest an eight-minute anti-gay marriage video shown during the Sunday morning service.

The man "chose to disrupt" the service at the conclusion of the video supplied to the parish by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference which defends traditional marriage, said the Rev. Michael Doyle of St. John the Evangelist church.

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Mass. resuming debate on gay marriage ban
By JENNIFER PETER, Associated Press
Last updated: 4:15 p.m., Sunday, March 28, 2004
BOSTON -- Witnesses to Massachusetts' marathon gay marriage debate have heard the anger of a black senator who grew up in the segregated South. They have heard the fear of a gay lawmaker who felt helpless to protect his sick child. And they have heard the pain of a House member whose vote against gay marriage tore his family apart.


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Catholic Nun Sr. Rosemary Brennan Joins Protestant, Jewish Leaders Today in Song, Prayers Today for Marriage Rights for Gay, Lesbian Families
3/28/2004 9:41:00 AM
To: City and Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Rabbi Devon Lerner, 781-643-7759, or Brad Reichard, 617-536-1122 Web: http://www.rcfm.org
News Advisory: On the eve before the Massachusetts legislature resumes its Constitutional Convention, the Right Rev. Thomas Shaw, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; Rabbi Ronne Friedman, senior rabbi of Temple Israel, the largest Temple in New England; United Church of Christ Rev. Carl Schultz, interim minister of Old South Church -- and others -- join clergy from across the commonwealth in an interfaith service titled "Praying for Freedom, Confronting Oppression, Celebrating Justice" at Old South Church in Boston's Copley Square.
Why:
As the Constitutional Convention resumes, there has been a crescendo of support for equal marriage rights from people of faith across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts State constitution protects individuals' civil rights and freedom of religion, and the hundreds of clergy who have been active in the freedom to marry movement help remind legislators that there is no rational basis upon which to deny gay and lesbians their civil rights. This service serves as a testament to these religious leaders' commitment to equality.

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Marriage debate has featured best, worst of legislative process
By JENNIFER PETER
Associated Press Writer
BOSTON- Witnesses to Massachusetts' marathon gay marriage debate have heard the anger of a black senator who grew up in the segregated South. They have heard the fear of a gay lawmaker who felt helpless to protect his sick child. And they have heard the pain of a House member whose vote against gay marriage tore his family apart.

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Groups call for safeguards to protect gays in schools
Sunday, March 28, 2004
xBy Kurt Cobb
Special to the Gazette
BATTLE CREEK -- To Deb Peterman, mother of a gay son, safe schools mean something a little bit different from what they might mean to most parents. For Will Connolly, a freshman at Loy Norrix High School, safe schools also take on a different meaning. For a school to be safe, he says gay and straight students must join together to address the ongoing harassment of gays and lesbians. Peterman and Connolly were among about 60 teachers, parents, students and other professionals who attended a conference on making schools safer for gay and lesbian youth held Saturday at Kellogg Community College. The event, dubbed "The Children Left Behind Conference," focused on both the physical and emotional abuse that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students regularly experience in the nation's schools. The free conference was funded by the Kalamazoo-based Arcus Foundation. "We are so concerned with the harassment that goes on in the schools," said Peterman, a physical education teacher who lives in Stevensville. "I see it all the time."