County clergy members aim to stamp out homophobia
By SHANNA McCORD
On Wednesday, Johnson joined 15 other ministers, rabbis and priests in a planning session for "Out in Our Faith," a three-day event in June featuring multi-faith worship and workshops. Participants will analyze excerpts from the Bible and discuss the sanctification of gay marriage.


~

Democrats take heat for stalled gay marriage vote
By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage have accused key Democrats of being "obstructionists" for allowing the proposal to stall in a committee as the legislative clock ticks down.


~

ok..Arizona its time to take action cal your representatives today... or if you know someone in Arizona , have them call, let them know... today is the day..

2 legislators debate gay marriage
Elvia Díaz
The Arizona Republic
Sharply divided over same-sex marriage, state senators are expected to cast preliminary votes today on a measure designed to encourage Congress to pursue a constitutional amendment banning such unions.


~

Subcommittee kills civil union bill for year
By BONNA de la CRUZ
Staff Writer
Democrats stack deck in voting, says bill sponsor, who vows '05 tryIt took reinforcements, but House Democrats yesterday succeeded in killing an effort to prevent Tennessee from legally recognizing same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships.


~

Scrap marriage amendment
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and Sen. Wayne Allard have modified the text of their proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in what they describe as an effort to ensure that it would not prevent states from enacting civil union laws such as those adopted by Vermont. In our view, the two Colorado lawmakers would be wiser to simply abandon their effort to write social policy into the Constitution. Their new language is at least as ambiguous as their old wording.


~

Gay gov't employees lose their protection
Last month the White House removed information from government Web sites about sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace. That's because federal employees can now be fired for being homosexual. On Feb. 23 Washington Post columnist Steven Barr reported that references to sexual orientation discrimination were removed from Federal employment complaint forms posted on agency Web sites. At the time, President Bush's new appointee to head the Office of Special Counsel, Scott Bloch, said the policy was under review.
Last week, Bloch issued his brief on the matter. According to Bloch, federal employees will now "have no recourse if they are fired or demoted simply for being gay."


~

this is a good step in recognition of equal rights..

Citing SJC ruling, judge dissolves gay civil union
By Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff, 3/25/2004
 
In a decision built on the Supreme Judicial Court's historic rulings allowing gay marriage, a Massachusetts probate court judge has legally dissolved the union of a gay couple joined in a Vermont civil union two years ago.


~

Gay marriage: Many gay youths agree they need to keep fighting for rights
Michelle Tan Many more young people are confronting their sexuality earlier in life, leading them to question how they fit into the very public and ongoing debate about whether gays should have the right to marry. This battle between tradition and change has divided everyone from politicians in Congress to residents in Central Minnesota.


~

Press for clarity on gay marriage
By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 3/25/2004State Senate President Robert E. Travaglini began drumming up support yesterday for a more "clear and precise" constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and create civil unions, amid signs that House Democrats loyal to Speaker Thomas M. Finneran will abandon the measure.
In a letter to lawmakers, Travaglini and Senate minority leader Brian P. Lees, an East Longmeadow Republican, wrote that the latest proposal represents "an effort to broaden this emerging consensus," primarily by ensuring that the state would not be have to pay for federal benefits to same-sex couples once civil unions are established.


~

David A. Mittell Jr.: Mass. marriage machinations