election 'blacklist'
Coaltion wants candidates opposed to gay marriage defeated
FROM CANADIAN PRESS
Gay-rights leaders are urging Canadians to "vote for equality" as they mobilize to be a force in the federal election with a blacklist of candidates opposed to gay marriage they want to see defeated.

"This is more than just the gay vote," said Laurie Arron, a spokesman for Egale Canada.

"This is about people who care about the charter," he told a crowd gathered outside the riding office of Toronto Liberal MP Dennis Mills.

Mills is on a preliminary blacklist of candidates released by Canadians for Equal Marriage, which held simultaneous gatherings in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver to launch its Vote Equality 04 election campaign plans.


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Lawmakers take up gay marriage ban issue again
By Scott Rothschild, Journal-World
TOPEKA — Right out of the chute, the Kansas Legislature today renewed the debate over a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

At the outset of the wrap-up session, Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, announced the formation of a conference committee on a resolution dealing with voter registration lists, which several lawmakers said would be gutted, and then used as a vehicle for a gay marriage prohibition.
"The Taliban would be proud of these procedures," said state Sen. David Adkins, R-Leawood, who has opposed anti-gay measures.

State Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, was one of those named to the conference committee.
Schmidt said he doesn't believe a constitutional amendment is needed to prohibit same-sex marriages in Kansas, but he said, he is willing to vote for a proposal to give voters the chance to decide the issue.
Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate before being placed on the ballot for voter consideration.

Earlier this year, the House approved by two-thirds a proposed amendment barring gay marriage, but the Senate rejected the measure.

Proponents of the constitutional ban vowed that the issue would be brought up again during the wrap-up session.