Don't Go Back To The Nazi State
In the past fews days I have been keeping my eyes on the media more than ever - the gay marriage debate has sparked one town/county in Tennessee to TRY TO BAN gay people from living in their county. While I can understand their apprehension to have a Starbucks, upscale clothing, good music, and nicely decorated homes, what I cannot abide is the total arrogance and ignorance with which these people PUBLICALY display their own ignorance of gay men and women.
Like it's some kind of trophy to be that stupid and intolerant in this day and age.


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Business Group Opposes Part Of Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Atlanta -- The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce is taking a stance on the state's push for a constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage. The Chamber sent an e-mail to the State Capitol. Mmbers aren't commenting on the first part of the bill, which defines marriage as a union between a man and woman... But they do have issues with the second part of the bill, which would make it unconstitutional for local governments and businesses to award domestic benefits to gay couples.


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Partner registry suit may be costly
Michael O'Malley
Cleveland Heights
A taxpayers' lawsuit filed by Councilman Jimmie Hicks Jr. to stop the city's new domestic partner registry could end up costing taxpayers $100,000 or more.


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Local legislators weigh in on marriage vs. civil unions
By Suzanne Colonna
MPG Newspapers
PLYMOUTH - With the debate continuing to heat up, constituents may keep a close eye on how local legislators voted last week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage and establish civil unions.


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Couples' rights bill advances in House
By PAUL CARRIER, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.  
AUGUSTA — The House of Representatives gave preliminary approval Friday to a bill that would give unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, the inheritance rights that married couples have when a partner dies without leaving a will. The bill faces another vote in the House next week before it goes to the Senate, but lobbyists on both sides of the issue say it is likely to be enacted by the full Legislature. Gov. John Baldacci has said he will sign the bill into law if the Legislature sends it to him.


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Marriage test case selected
PETER WONG
Statesman Journal
March 20, 2004
A new lawsuit next week is expected to help untangle Oregon’s growing legal thicket about same-sex marriage. Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Friday an agreement about the lawsuit, which will specify the issues eventually considered by the Oregon Supreme Court. The agreement was brokered by Attorney General Hardy Myers.


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Rabbinical group backs gay marriage
Resolution calls for equality in civil benefits
Don Lattin, Chronicle Religion Writer
An association of more than 200 rabbis has unanimously endorsed the right of same-sex couples to obtain civil marriage licenses


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Gay marriage debate delayed by legislator
Senate committee postpones vote on ban until Monday
By Scott Rothschild, Journal-World
Topeka —
Former Lawrence legislator Forrest Swall said Friday that if state senators who opposed a ban on gay marriage voted their conscience the measure would die.



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Mass rape atrocity in west Sudan
More than 100 women have been raped in a single attack carried out by Arab militias in Darfur in western Sudan.


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Iraq War Protesters Arrested in San Francisco


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Gay-marriage foes aim for double ban on '08 ballot
The Boston Globe
By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 3/20/2004
Gay-marriage opponents have filed a petition to put on the 2008 ballot a ban on both same-sex marriage and civil unions, opening a new front in the debate over the divisive issue with which lawmakers will continue to grapple later this month.
The petition was filed by a Wakefield minister who is concerned that lawmakers will send voters a proposed constitutional amendment for a 2006 ballot that would ban gay marriage but allow civil unions. The minister opposes civil unions as well as gay marriage.


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THE BATTLE OVER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Straights working to win legal rights for gay couples


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Lawyer: Gay Minister Broke Church Rules
Saturday March 20, 2004 10:01 AM
By GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
BOTHELL, Wash. (AP) - Telling a jury of 13 pastors that the ``law of the church is not on trial,'' a lawyer for the United Methodist Church argued that a minister ran afoul of its rules when she declared herself a practicing lesbian - and that's all they need to know to find her guilty. Nine votes are needed for conviction, which could mean the Rev. Karen Dammann would lose her ministry. Jurors began deliberating Friday after closing arguments but did not render a verdict; they were to resume Saturday morning.