BCC responds to Wilchcombe statement on gay cruise protests
By LaKEISHA McSWEENEY,Guardian Staff Reporter


Minister of Tourism Obie Wilcombe is coming under fire by the Bahamas Christian Council for his recent statements on protests against gay cruises voyaging to The Bahamas.

In a press statement sent to The Guardian on Friday, Rev. Dr. William Thompson, president of the BCC, said comments made by Mr Wilchcombe were "being viewed with grave concern by the the Bahamas Christian Council and the vast majority of Bahamians."

Rev. Thompson said the BCC took great exception to the statement made in the July 3 publication of The Tribune where Mr Wilchcombe was quoted as saying, "We live in a democracy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and expression thereof."

Rev. Thompson said while The Bahamas is a democratic nation, "it is not true that everyone is entitled to express their opinion in any way they wish, this would result in anarchy."



~

NEW: Aspen council says no to gay-marriage ban

By The Associated Press


Aspen - The Aspen City Council has approved a resolution opposing the proposed constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

The resolution passed unanimously Tuesday, the eve of a test vote in Congress on a bill sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, both Colorado Republicans, to define marriage as a "union of a man and a woman."

The resolution that was passed in Aspen said, "The city of Aspen has a proud history of protecting the civil rights of all of its citizens and guests and remains committed to the protection of civil rights for all people as expressed in the United States and the Colorado Constitutions and the city of Aspen Municipal Code."  


The Boulder City Council expressed its opposition to the amendment in May.