Gay adoption law to stay

Federal cabinet has backed away from intervening to overturn the ACT's new law that allows gay couples to adopt children - despite John Howard's strong condemnation of it.

Mr Howard signalled last month that the law might be overruled, saying: "I am against gay adoption, just as I'm against gay marriage."

But when the matter was considered again the week before last, intervention was rejected. The more ministers delved into what had at first seemed to some to be a relatively simple issue, the more complications arose. Intervention would have put the ACT at odds with Western Australia, which allows gays to adopt. Critics also pointed out that a ban might jeopardise the interests of a child in certain circumstances, such as when the child's parents died and a ban prevented adoption by a relative in a gay relationship.



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Gay police 'angry at earring ban'
A police force has defended itself against charges of discriminating against gay officers after banning men from wearing earrings.

Hampshire Constabulary has introduced a new dress code that allows women to wear studs but bans male officers from sporting ear jewellery.

Gay officers are said to be angry at the change they see as discrimination.
Force bosses claim that the public does not approve of male police officers wearing earrings

Maureen Adamson, the force's director of personnel, said: "Many men who wear earrings are not gay and the policy was certainly not designed to discriminate against gay men.


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Same-gender marriages planned in Sarasota, Fla.
Gay couples seek equal rights
RICHARD DYMOND

Bradenton (Fla.) Herald
After being together for 25 years, a local lesbian couple have decided to request a marriage license.
Wendy LaChaunce and Bonnie Alberti of Sarasota expect to join three other gay or lesbian couples from East Manatee's Church of The Trinity in applying for marriage licenses this morning at the Sarasota County Courthouse.
Although the requests are expected to be denied, the church plans to perform its first-ever public marriage ceremonies in the courthouse courtyard.
"We have made peace with who we are and our God, and we believe anything less than marriage is unacceptable for us," LaChaunce said.

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Bill to ban gay marriages approved by committee

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages in Alabama moved Thursday to within one step of going to Alabama residents for a vote.

The amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman was approved by the House Constitution and Elections Committee on a voice vote. The measure has already passed the Senate and now goes to the House floor for possible final passage.

"The issue is to recognize how important it is to protect the institution of marriage as it has been known for 1,000 years," said Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, a proponent of the measure.

The bill calls for Alabama residents to vote on the proposed amendment when they go to the polls for the Nov. 2 presidential election.

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House votes to block recognition for gay marriage
By NORMA LOVE
Associated Press Writer
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - After an emotional and often personal debate, New Hampshire's House voted Thursday to block recognition of gay marriages.
The key 213-140 vote for the change comes in response to a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision giving gay couples the right to marry there starting May 17. Many lawmakers fear New Hampshire would be forced to honor those marriages.

The bill now goes back to the Senate for review. The Senate passed a similar version of the bill last month.

The House version also would establish a committee to look at what laws would need to be changed to make civil unions legal in the state. An attempt to change the bill strictly to a study failed by a vote of 210-143.

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Anti-Gay Marriage Group Gets Petition Go-Ahead
Reported by: AP

Petitioners may begin collecting signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot that would require Ohio and local governments to recognize marriage as only a union between a man and a woman, the secretary of state's office said Thursday.

Attorney General Jim Petro said the proposed ballot language "is a fair and truthful statement of the measure" and the Franklin County Board of Elections certified the petitioners had collected more than 100 valid signatures of registered voters needed to begin the petition drive.

The push to add an amendment atop a state law outlawing gay marriages was prompted by this year's 4-3 decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court making gay marriage legal in that state as of May 17, backers said. Gay-rights groups oppose the amendment.

The petitioners must submit 322,899 valid signatures of registered voters -- 10 percent of the total vote in the 2002 election for governor -- to Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell by Aug. 4 to qualify for the November ballot, Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said.