Homosexual protest brewing
New York-AP -- President Bush's efforts to ban gay marriage are spurring gay rights activists to plan some high-profile events this summer during the Republican convention in New York.

The activists say the four-day event starting August 30th is an ideal forum in which to raise money and stimulate national debate. An estimated 15-thousand journalists are expected to converge on the site.


The National Stonewall Democrats -- a gay political group -- says it wants its approach to be creative and unique.

Some of the larger protests associated with the convention include an anti-war rally and march on the day before the convention begins, and an AIDS rally in midtown Manhattan. Convention headquarters are at Madison Square Garden.


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State fight over gay marriage heats up
Ban debated in Massachusetts
By JENNIFER PETER
Associated Press
BOSTON -- Gay-rights supporters are training activists to become door-to-door campaigners. Conservatives are planning a legislative guide for voters.

Both sides already are gearing up for the fall legislative elections as they jockey for influence in the fight over a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

After the state's highest court said Massachusetts couldn't ban such marriages, the Legislature adopted a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban them but also would legalize civil unions for gay couples.

It was adopted by only a four-vote margin, and lawmakers who will be elected this fall must pass it again -- in the exact same form -- during the 2005-06 legislative session before it can go to voters on the November 2006 ballots.

Advocates on both sides have started surveying voters, analyzing lawmakers' records and recruiting candidates.



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Advocates push same-sex marriage as basic civil right
By Steve Silverman
BLOOMINGTON -- Gay rights activists on Saturday contended that marriage is a basic civil right that all people are entitled to regardless of sexual orientation.

Speakers at a panel discussion at the Unitarian Church Interweave of Bloomington also charged fundamentalist Christians with advocating blatant discrimination and expressed concerns that attempts to build support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage will lead to a backlash against homosexuals.

But the overall message was hopeful. The Rev. Greg Dell predicted that growing public support and acceptance of gays eventually will lead to the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriages.

"God is not going to let this rest until full justice prevails," said Dell, who was suspended by the United Methodist Church in 1999 for marrying a gay couple in his Chicago congregation. He appealed and was reinstated about a year later.