Gay marriage amendment inches forward
ROBERT SANDLER
Associated Press


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Legislative leaders formally signed off Friday on a proposed state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, completing another step in the process toward putting it before voters later this year.

But it's still unclear exactly when voters will decide the amendment's fate.

The state constitution requires amendments to be on November ballots unless the governor calls a special election earlier. On May 19, Gov. Bob Holden called for the amendment to be put before voters on the Aug. 2 primary election ballot.

The state's top elections official, Secretary of State Matt Blunt, refused to follow Holden's wishes, saying that the actual resolution that lawmakers previously voted to approve had not been officially sent to him. No matter when the House and Senate vote to approve legislation, each chamber's top-ranking member has to sign it - typically just a formality.



~

Judge rules against wording of gay marriage ban
Associated Press


A Franklin County judge on Friday ruled that the summary of an amendment to the Ohio Constitution banning gay marriage was misleading. The proposed amendment and the summary:

Amendment:

"Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."

Summary:

"The amendment denies the validity and prohibits the legal recognition as marriage in Ohio of same-sex relationships and relationships comprised of three or more persons, and forbids according non-marital relationships a legal status intended to approximate marriage in certain respects."


~

Episcopal Bishop To Perform Blessing Service for Gays

College Park, Md. (AP) - The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington will perform a blessing service for a gay couple at a Glenn Dale church in June.

It will be the first time a bishop has conducted the service in the diocese.

A diocese spokesman says Bishop John Crane will perform the ritual June 12th at Saint George's Episcopal Church for the parish's pastor and his partner.

While not a marriage ceremony, the blessing is a recognition by the diocese of the gay couple's partnership.


~

Torquay woman slams `absurd' ban
Geelong Advertiser


A TORQUAY woman in a 21-year same-sex relationship yesterday asked what Prime Minister John Howard was afraid of in trying to ban gay marriages.

``It seems quite absurd that John Howard would go to such lengths,'' Monica Hingston said yesterday.

Ms Hingston, who has been with her partner Peg Moran for more than two decades, said the Federal Government's views perpetuated myths and stereotypes about same-sex relationships.

``It just keeps saying your relationships are unacceptable,'' she said.

Mr Howard has moved to tighten Australia's marriage laws to make it clear there can be no recognition of same-sex marriage, while allowing equal rights to a partner's superannuation death benefits.


~

Appeal filed in Oregon gay marriage ruling
Eric Johnston, PlanetOut Network


The legal battle over marriage rights for same-sex couples in Oregon is headed to the state Court of Appeals.

On Thursday lawyers for the state filed an appeal seeking to delay an order by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Frank Bearden that required the state to recognize more than 3,000 marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples.

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers had previously stated that registering the marriages licenses before the constitutional issues are settled might create a privileged group of same-sex couples.

Multnomah County officials issued 3,022 marriage licenses to same-sex couples between March 3 and April 20, after making a legal interpretation that it was unconstitutional to ban applications.


~

Gay-rights rally organizer strikes plea bargain with Baylor
By Robert Marus
Associated Baptist Press

WACO (ABP)--A recent Baylor University graduate says he signed, under protest, a statement admitting he violated the school's conduct code by organizing a gay-rights rally because he feared he wouldn't be allowed to graduate if he refused to sign.

Pawnee, Okla., native Darrin Adams graduated from the school May 15. In late April, school officials informed him he was being prosecuted under Baylor's student conduct code for his role in organizing the off-campus rally.

In a letter informing Adams of the charges, a school official said his involvement in planning the event made Adams "part of an advocacy group that promotes understandings of sexuality that are contrary" to traditional Christian beliefs.

The charge was a reference to a Baylor policy that reads: "The university affirms the biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God. Christian churches across the ages and around the world have affirmed purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm. ... It is thus expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching."