Conservatives won't tolerate gay groups says Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) - Singapore said Wednesday that it would ban gay support organisations because its conservative population doesn't believe such groups deserve legitimacy.

"As the mainstream moral values of Singaporeans are conservative, it is hence contrary to public interest to grant legitimacy to the promotion of homosexual activities and viewpoints," the Home Affairs Ministry said in a written response to questions.

The statement follows a government decision on Tuesday to deny freedom of association to People Like Us, a support and advocacy group for gay people, because it believed the group was "likely to be used for unlawful purposes or for purposes prejudicial to public peace, welfare or good order in Singapore," the ministry said.

The government said in its formal rejection notice that the group must halt all activities, warning that members of unregistered societies face heavy punishments under the law, People Like Us co-founder Alex Au said.


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Gay, lesbian scholarship established The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has announced the launch of a new national college scholarship program for students. Scholarships will go toward providing college funds for high school graduates who have been active leaders in student-led lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered activities, while other grants will underwrite participation by current high school students in GLSEN Leadership Team activities.


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Gay marriage ban wording OK'd
By ALLISON FARRELL
Gazette State Bureau
HELENA - The Montana Family Foundation's proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state cleared its first hurdle this week when the Legislature's chief lawyer declared the language of the proposed amendment legal


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Gay nominee a victim of bias, Iowa governor says
DES MOINES (AP) - Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Wednesday that he has no plans to withdraw the nomination of a Des Moines gay activist to the state school board.


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Chicago Cardinal Mulls Sanctions On Pro Gay Politicians
by Steph Smith
365Gay.com Newscenter
(Chicago, Illinois)  John Kerry, Mayor Richard M. Daley, and other Catholic "pro homosexual" politicians could be denied the sacrament under sanctions being considered by Chicago's Cardinal Francis George. In unusually tough talk by a prince of the church during Holy Week Cardinal George attacked public figures who do not follow Catholic teachings during a speech a City Club luncheon. Some Catholic bishops across the country have refused communion to out gays and politicians who support gay marriage.  Recently, George met with Mayor Richard M. Daley after the mayor announced support for gay marriage, but he has refused to say what he said to the mayor.


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In New Mexico, a defiant county clerk at heart of gay marriage debate
RICHARD BENKE, (AP) -- Victoria Dunlap has made a habit of shocking her fellow Republicans. At her swearing in four years ago as county clerk, the landscape painter-turned-politician insisted on using Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man" instead of the Bible, and she's been wrestling with the system ever since. But nothing quite prepared the local GOP for her latest foray into controversy: In February, she followed ultra-liberal San Francisco's lead and issued dozens of gay marriage licenses.


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Firm sues city over
same-sex benefits
Policy shuts out contractors who don't cater to homosexuals
A construction company sued the city of Minneapolis yesterday for requiring certain contractors to provide unmarried employees with "partners" the same benefits as married couples. The city's ordinance prohibits any company that won't provide the benefits from bidding for municipal contracts of over $100,000.