Now it's the Presbyterians' turn to wrangle over gays and the church
RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer Friday, June 25, 2004


Deep rifts over homosexuality have worsened among Episcopalians and United Methodists over the past year, and now the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is getting ready to continue its divisive debate over gay clergy.

The 2.4 million-member church's weeklong national legislative assembly begins Saturday in Richmond, Va., where liberals will take up new attacks against the church's strict law barring actively gay clergy and lay officers.

Conservatives will defend that law and, frustrated because some ignore it, seek a clampdown and new church leadership.

Gay activists and their allies have three proposals regarding the ban:


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HRC Joins African-American Church Leaders In Opposition To Federal Marriage Amendment


The Human Rights Campaign joined prominent African-American church leaders at a press conference opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment - a measure that would amend the U.S. Constitution to deny marriage to same-sex couples. Tampering with the Constitution to restrict rights for some Americans- for the first time ever - is a threat to all Americans, says HRC.

"Most Americans are united against discrimination," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "This amendment would not only put discrimination into the Constitution, but it would undermine the very intent of the Constitution -- and that is to provide freedom."

"Trying to change the Constitution to deny rights is wrong," said HRC Senior Constituent Organizer Donna Payne, who is also the vice president of the National Black Justice Coalition. "No one knows the cost of restricting rights better than African-Americans. As a community, we may disagree about marriage for same-sex couples but we know the Constitution and discrimination should never mix."

"We believe the high-profile posture of some African-American clergy in support of the FMA is misleading and we're here to counter that message," added Alexander Robinson, strategic director of the National Black Justice Coalition. "Our community has historically held strong family values and those values continue, regardless of sexual orientation. We must come together to tackle the real problems that confront our communities, like the need for good jobs, education for our children and health care for all, not to change the Constitution to deny human rights."


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Borough OKs resolution giving benefits to domestic partners
By: Jennifer Potash
Princeton is one of the first municipalities in the state to offer health and pension benefits to same-sex partners.


   Princeton Borough has become one of the first New Jersey municipalities to offer health and pension benefits to employees in domestic partnerships.

   The Borough Council voted unanimously on two resolutions Tuesday that recognize domestic partners of municipal employees as eligible for state pensions and authorize participation in the
state health plan.

   The state's domestic partnership law, available only to New Jersey same-sex couples over the age of 16 and opposite-sex couples above the age of 62, takes effect on July 10. The law makes registered, same-sex partners of state employees eligible for health insurance and pension coverage.


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Counter demonstration called for gay vicar installation
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


A demonstration intended to counter a march by far right extremists will be held at Canon Jeffrey John's installation next week.

The march has been called after the Nazi National Front announced it would be protesting the ceremony, which will make Canon John the Dean of St Albans.

They are angry that John, who is gay, will be given the high profile position, and claim the decision to appoint him was a "subversion" of the Church.

However, the counter demonstration's organisers say they hope a large turnout could reduce the effect of the extremist group.


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Annual Gay Pride Parade under way in Tel Aviv
Tens of thousands turn out for seventh annual parade
Tzach Shpitzen and Gil Horev
 

Tens of thousands of homosexual, lesbians, transsexuals, bisexuals and their straight supporters turned out for Tel Aviv’s seventh annual Gay Pride Parade today.

Many of the marchers are carrying signs supporting the right of single-sex couples to marry. MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) told marchers at Tel Aviv's Gay Pride Parade that he would work toward legislation allowing single sex marriages. He also said that work to stregthen the Israeli AIDS Task Force.


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'Gay hate' website sparks fury
25/06/2004 16:46  - (SA)  
 

Cape Town - South Africa's oldest lesbian and gay service organisation, the Triangle Project, on Friday reacted with outrage at a website that called for the "reclaiming of Cape Town from the homosexual plague".

In a statement, the Triangle Project said the website -www.menagainstmoffies.co.za - contained several irrational and "deeply insulting" statements steeped in homophobia.

"For example, it purports a link between Satanism and homosexuality," said the gay activists.

The website hosted a survey that posed the question: "What should be done with South Africas (sic) moffies?"