Black Groups Push for Gay Marriage Rights
by Tracy Baim


In an attempt to counter recent public attacks on same-sex marriages by Black church coalitions, local activists held a press conference May 20 outside the Cook County Building. They are part of a new group in town, Blacks for Gay Marriage.

The National Black Justice Coalition is also firing back at homophobic Black ministers. This comes after a group of Black ministers, led by Bishop Paul Morton Sr., called on the Congressional Black Caucus to support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

In the Chicago region, Bishop Larry Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit and Rev. James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church have both condemned gay marriages.

Trotter and Meeks “do not represent us, nor do they represent the majority of Black folks in this city who are justice-loving people,” said Rev. Karen Hutt of the predominantly gay Church of the Open Door.


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Francisco's mayor says gays' right to marry will be law one day


(Sacramento, California-AP) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he'll continue to push for recognition of gay couples' right to marry.

California's Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday on whether Newsom exceeded his authority by granting same-sex marriage licenses.

Newsom told the Sacramento Press Club the court may rule against him. But he says it will eventually have to deal with the core question of whether barring same-sex marriage is constitutional.

State law defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Newsom says the federal and state constitutions are for protecting rights, not denying them to a particular group.


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Colorado Bishops Disagree Over Gay Vote Communion Ban
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff


(Denver, Colorado) The leading Roman Catholic churchman in Colorado and one of his bishops are at odds over banning people who vote for politicians who support gay issues and abortion rights from receiving communion.

Charles Chaput, the Archbishop of Denver said Tuesday that he would be reluctant to prevent Catholics from receiving the sacrament.  

Chaput said communion should be withheld only in "extraordinary cases of public scandal."

His remarks came two weeks after Michael Sheridan the Bishop of Colorado Springs said Catholics who vote for politicians who do not oppose same-sex marriage, abortion rights, stem-cell research, or euthanasia may not receive Communion until they recant and repent in the confessional.