Randall Terry shocked by son's coming-out
Randall Terry, the notoriously militant antiabortion activist and staunch opponent of same-sex marriage, said he is in "a state of shock" following his son's coming-out in the May issue of Out magazine. Terry said his 24-year-old adopted son, Jamiel, first told him he is gay two years ago but that he is very upset about the first-person article in Out and the $5,000 payment Jamiel told him he received for writing it. Terry said he did not bar Jamiel from his home after learning of his homosexuality. But his son is not welcome there now, he says, "because he betrayed our family's privacy...and he could sell us out again. He knows he is going to get his 15 minutes of fame because he's the son of a high-profile Christian leader who has fought against homosexual marriage," added Terry, who led the antiabortion group Operation Rescue in the 1980s and is now a radio talk-show host in Florida.
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EQUALITY CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO PASS 2004 HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Legislation on Marriage Equality, Hate Crimes, Employment Discrimination and Insurance Equality Moving Through Committee Process

SACRAMENTO – Equality California, California’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, announced today that is mounting an unprecedented effort in support of the six major pieces of legislation EQCA is sponsoring this year. Equality California’s grassroots campaign in support of the bills is being supported by a broad coalition of civil rights, labor, religious, business and other community organizations. Working closely with Marriage Equality California Chapters throughout the State, EQCA is asking all supportive individuals and organizations to join together in a campaign that will include: educating the LGBT community and the public about pending legislation; meeting with legislators in their districts and in Sacramento; and contacting EQCA members and members of coalition partners in an all out effort to have more than 100,000 contacts made via emails, phone calls, personal visits, faxes and letters with elected officials by April 30th.

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Rhea County Gay Day organizers ask for help
Contact: Gary Giddings; 832-875-1673; info@gaydayrheacounty.com

DAYTON - Rhea County, Tennessee, site of recent attempts to outright ban homosexual persons and prevent them from living in the area is hosting Gay Day Rhea County planned for May 8, 2004. But the organizers need help.

Gary Giddings, event coordinator, wants to reach out and ask if there are those willing to come forward and assist him in this effort.

"We need your help. We need vendors to feed and water the crowd. We need a basic stage and sound system and sponsors or vendors to help pay for them", said Giddings. "We have not had much luck because it seems that many people have been reluctant to set up."

Rhea County residents or businesses can set up an eight square foot area free of charge. Local vendors will be responsible for getting their own permit from the City of Dayton. Outside vendors will be charged $10.00 for an eight square foot area along with a $25.00 fee if they want event organizers to get the city permit for them. Verifiable charities will receive a free set- up space, but will have to either get their own permit or pay a $25 fee for us to get one for them. Spaces are limited and must be paid for or reserved in advance. Details are available on their Web site referenced below.

Giddings further states that the City of Dayton Police Chief informed him that all businesses in Dayton will be closed that Saturday. All supplies will have to be imported to Dayton City Park, the site of the event. Dayton City Park is available to the group free of charge. The lakeside park has volleyball and baseball areas.
Rhea County Gay Day organizers ask for help

DAYTON - Rhea County, Tennessee, site of recent attempts to outright ban homosexual persons and prevent them from living in the area is hosting Gay Day Rhea County planned for May 8, 2004. But the organizers need help.

Gary Giddings, event coordinator, wants to reach out and ask if there are those willing to come forward and assist him in this effort.

"We need your help. We need vendors to feed and water the crowd. We need a basic stage and sound system and sponsors or vendors to help pay for them", said Giddings. "We have not had much luck because it seems that many people have been reluctant to set up."

Rhea County residents or businesses can set up an eight square foot area free of charge. Local vendors will be responsible for getting their own permit from the City of Dayton. Outside vendors will be charged $10.00 for an eight square foot area along with a $25.00 fee if they want event organizers to get the city permit for them. Verifiable charities will receive a free set- up space, but will have to either get their own permit or pay a $25 fee for us to get one for them. Spaces are limited and must be paid for or reserved in advance. Details are available on their Web site referenced below.

Giddings further states that the City of Dayton Police Chief informed him that all businesses in Dayton will be closed that Saturday. All supplies will have to be imported to Dayton City Park, the site of the event. Dayton City Park is available to the group free of charge. The lakeside park has volleyball and baseball areas.

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Public Learning To Accept Gay Marriage
by 365Gay.com
(Rochester, New York) A new national poll shows that opposition to same-sex marriage is softening, although a majority of people are still opposed to the idea.
Fifty percent of those surveyed for a new Harris poll said they disapproved of same-sex marriage with 27 percent approving. That is a marked improvement from 2000 when Harris found only 16 percent would approve of gay marriage, and 1996 when just 11 percent approved. The new poll also found that when people were given the choice of marriage, civil unions, or allowing nothing, the public is split into thirds. Not surprisingly, when Harris looked only at those respondents who self-identified as being gay or lesbian 71 percent favored marriage as opposed to civil unions or no matrimonial rights.