Defying The Odds, The Rainbow Ride Grannies Are Half-Way Home

Amid death threats and hateful protests, Carrie and Elisia Ross-Stone, the lesbian grandmas who are riding bicycles on the Rainbow Ride Across America, persevere.

The Ross-Stones are lesbian civil rights activists and grandmothers to Jareth, age 2. They are riding their bicycles from San Francisco to New York City to raise awareness and get support for equal civil marriage rights.

With their journey more than half-way completed, Carrie and Elisia feel they are doing what they set out to do.

After 5 weeks and 2,100 miles on the road, they have met with many supporters of LGBT equality and have faced a few foes. They met with elected officials in several cities, including the Mayor of Salt Lake City Utah who spoke out in support of equal civil marriage rights. They have met and rallied with progressive groups from African American, Latino, Native American, Feminist, and Youth organizations, who are working together with the LGBT community to create positive social change in America.


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Gay-marriage license deluge slows to a trickle
By JASON LEFFERTS, Sun Staff


After an initial wave of same-sex applications since gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts three weeks ago, the number has slowed to a trickle, area clerks say.

According to a survey of 20 clerks offices in Greater Lowell, 53 percent of all license applications since May 17 have been filed by gay couples. But an overwhelming majority of those same-sex applications were done in the first week gays were allowed to marry.

In Ayer, the town clerk has handled six marriage applications since May 17, and five of them were from gay couples in that first week. In Bedford, all three same-sex couples who requested licenses applied in the first few days.

"It was the first week, that's been it," said Doreen Tremblay, Bedford's town clerk. "It's been pretty quiet. We don't expect it to be really busy."


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Board against gay marriage ban
BY CHERI BENTRUP


Oak Park trustees on Monday unanimously approved a resolution opposing any state or federal legislation that would define marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman.

The resolution, presented to the village by the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association, was brought to the board table by Trustee Ray Johnson, who is openly gay and a member of OPALGA.

"They were able to draft the resolution based on a model resolution already passed by the Chicago City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners," Johnson said Monday afternoon. "Human rights groups are trying to use consistent language across the country as the (campaign) continues."

According to the resolution, a 1996 U.S. General Accounting Office study found that marriage grants over 1,049 federal protection and benefits on citizens.


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Lambda Lit Awards Handed Out in Chicago


The recipients of the 16th Annual Lambda Literary Awards were announced June 3 at a gala dinner in Chicago.     

Veteran novelist Christopher Bram received the Gay Men’s Fiction Award for Lives of the Circus Animals, a comedy set in the New York theater world. The Lesbian Fiction Award went to Nina Revoyr’s Southland, a study of the intersections of race and class in Los Angeles.


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Politicking at polls may face limits
By Luke E. Saladin
Post staff reporter


With a heavily divided electorate expected to vote this November and state electioneering laws in limbo, it could fall to local government to ensure voters aren't pestered at the polls.

Tuesday, Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor asked the Kenton County Fiscal Court to consider passing an ordinance banning "electioneering" -- actively campaigning -- within 300 feet of a polling place during elections.

A similar ordinance has been passed in Fayette and Leslie counties. The ordinance is being pushed by the Kentucky Association of County Clerks in an effort to head off expected problems following the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that struck down the state's ban electioneering within 500 feet of the polls.

Aylor said he decided to request the Fiscal Court's consideration when the Kenton County Grand Jury, in its routine review of the May 18 primary, asked the count clerk address potential electioneering problems in future elections.


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Far-right to stage gay dean protest
By Aaron Bateman


FAR-RIGHT group the National Front is organising a protest march against the installation of a gay priest as Dean of St Albans.

Deputy chairman Bernard Franklin said the NF was aggrieved at the "subversion" of the Church of England and said up to 150 members would be taking action in protest at Canon Jeffrey John's appointment.

Members will march to St Albans Abbey for the installation ceremony next month and distribute leaflets outside outlining their concerns at the "watering down of the Church's message".

He added: "As Christians we are concerned that the Church is failing as an institution.