Newark strives to prove heart
Council adopts policies that deter discrimination and encourage affordable housing
By Linh Tat, STAFF WRITER


NEWARK -- In a spirit of inclusiveness and making people feel that they belong in the community, the City Council has unanimously passed an anti-discrimination ordinance and an affordable-housing program.

The first prohibits discrimination based on an individual's sex or sexual orientation, while the second provides more opportunities for teachers, public safety personnel and others who work in the community to afford living in Newark.

The anti-discrimination ordinance is the product of eight months of collaboration between the city and Not in Newark, a group of parents, students and community leaders that formed after the 2002 slaying of a local transgender teen.


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'Queers overboard' sparks backlash
By Suzanne Carbone


"Last time it was children overboard, this time it's queers overboard."

David McCarthy, a gay activist who has been approached by the two major parties to stand for Federal Parliament, is horrified at John Howard's move to ban same-sex marriages.

Mr McCarthy, the co-convener of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, said the rights of gays and lesbians would now be a major election issue for homosexuals.

Victoria's gay lobby group, the ALSO Foundation, is already heading a national campaign for federal legislative reform, known as the Equal Rights Network. ALSO's executive officer, Adam Pickvance, said it was the first time gay and lesbian groups had joined to push for national reform, namely the recognition of de facto relationships in areas such as taxation, Medicare, social security law and defence force entitlements.


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Canada synod mulls gay blessings
By Jane Little
BBC religious affairs correspondent


The governing body of Canada's Anglican church is meeting to discuss the highly divisive issue of same-sex blessings.

The church synod in Niagara brings together bishops, priests and lay people for its three-yearly meeting.

It will debate giving local dioceses the option to permit same-sex blessings exactly a year after New Westminster diocese gave its first such blessing.

That move, with the American church's election of a gay bishop, has starkly divided the Anglican church worldwide.

A brittle and embattled Anglican Communion is watching the synod in Canada with keen interest and concern.