Rally In NJ For Same Sex Marriages
WESTFIELD, N.J. Proponents of same-sex marriage want New Jerseyans to push for legislation that would make it legal.

A standing-room only crowd came out Thursday night to show their support and hear from several people involved in the cause, including New Paltz, N.Y., Mayor Jayson West, who performed weddings for 25 same-sex couples in February and now faces misdemeanor charges for officiating.

``This meeting is important because we need to make sure that issues stay in the forefront,'' West told a crowd of about 600 at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield. ``It's important to keep pushing for (the legislation).''

Other speakers included Louis Navarrete, 42, and Ric Best, 44, the two men who were married in Asbury Park last month after city officials granted them a marriage license, and seven same-sex couples who are plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking recognition of gay marriage in New Jersey.


~

Singapore halts activities of gay rights groups
Singapore isn't ready to accept gay rights groups, an official tasked with overhauling the country's conservative image said Thursday. "The vast majority of Singaporeans are not ready and will not accept the formation of groups who may...be seen to promote gay or alternative lifestyles," said Vivian Balakrishnan, a government minister of state for national development. Balakrishnan heads the "Remaking Singapore Committee," appointed by the government to help the Southeast Asian island nation shed its authoritarian reputation and market itself as a media and arts center. "To stridently go out and campaign [for] the registration of groups like this will actually be counterproductive to these groups at this point in time," Balakrishnan said. He was referring to People Like Us, a gay support group that was denied permission last week to officially register as a society.