Three gay marriage advocates arrested in New Paltz
By Jesse J. Smith , Freeman staff 03/05/2004
NEW PALTZ - A SUNY New Paltz rally in support of Mayor Jason West and the same-sex marriages he favors spilled into the streets of the village on Thursday and led to the first arrests of activists since West touched off a firestorm of controversy by presiding over 25 gay weddings a week ago.


Three of about 80 protesters who marched along village streets were arrested for violating a section of New York state's loitering law that prohibits wearing masks at public events. The three male demonstrators were arrested after they ignored orders from police to remove bandannas worn over the lower half of their faces.


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Md. Assembly Debates Bills on Gay Rights, Same-Sex Marriage
By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 5, 2004; Page B01
Maryland lawmakers considered a measure yesterday that would give homosexual couples certain rights afforded to married people, while other delegates scrambled to line up votes for bills outlawing recognition of same-sex marriage.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote as early as today on whether to reinforce the state law declaring that marriage in Maryland is between a man and a woman.Committee members say the vote is too close to call, although gay rights supporters say they are growing increasingly confident it will fail.



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Ill. questions same-sex marriage
By Craig Colbrook | Staff writer
Published Friday, March 5, 2004
As the same-sex marriage debate expands across the country, legal experts, legislators and activists in Illinois are considering the dynamics of the issue.

No action has been taken in Illinois, but there are major hurdles to gay marriage in the state, said David Meyer, a University law professor.


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Panel discusses strategies for backlash against homosexuals