NM delegate to have same-sex wedding before leaving Boston
By: Associated Press


BOSTON (AP) - One New Mexico delegate to the Democratic National Convention plans to take care of some personal business before leaving Massachusetts.

Gloria Nieto plans to marry her lesbian partner of 14 years, Jo Kenny.

Nieto is the executive director of the People of Color AIDS Foundation in Santa Fe. Nieto and Kenny plan to exchange vows before family and friends on Saturday at a bed-and-breakfast in Boston.

They’ve lined up an officiant, flowers, a cake and a restaurant for a celebratory lunch.


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Vatican Document Criticizes Feminism, Gay Marriage


BERLIN -- An upcoming Vatican statement on the roles of men and women criticizes feminism for trying to ignore the biological differences between the sexes, German and Italian media reported Friday.

The 37-page document, expected to be released by the Vatican on Saturday, also calls on governments "to manage conditions so that women do not need to neglect their families if they want to pursue a job," according to the German daily Bild.

The Italian daily Corriere della Sera said the document attacks the "ideology of gender" and stresses that a woman "is not a copy of a man." It repeats the prohibition on women becoming priests, but suggests that women should have an important role in the church, the paper said.

The document also addresses homosexuality, Bild reported, saying that "God wanted a Christian marriage, a marriage between a man and a woman," and not between people of the same gender.


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50-plus-one in 95 days
Our effort against the marriage amendment is unraveling, leaving us with a headless campaign unfit for the coming battle.


We need a strong leader and a clear message.

What we’ve got is a headless campaign, political infighting and bruised egos.

Our effort to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Georgia is in trouble. About two-thirds of the state’s 3.9 million registered voters will head to the polls on Nov. 2 — 95 days away — and answer the following question: Shall the Constitution be amended so as to provide that this state shall recognize as marriage only the union of man and woman?

We’ve yet to convince them that “no” is the correct answer.


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Death is how Iran deals with gay men
While we debate gay marriage here at home, homosexuals in Iran just seek to live another day.
By NAVID AFSHAR


Iran is a country full of history and vitality, but following the Iranian revolution, many things changed, including rules of clothing, relationships and foreign policy.

One thing that hasn’t changed much if at all, is Iran’s treatment of homosexuals. The punishment for acts of homosexuality is harsh.

For two men caught engaged in sodomy, the punishment is death. For women convicted of being lesbian, it is 100 lashes.

The Iranian government articulates it this way: “Homosexuality in Iran, treated according to the Islamic law, is a sin in the eyes of God and a crime for society.”


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Don’t forget about ENDA
With lawmakers focused on gay marriage, it’s important to remember that gays are still subjected to workplace discrimination and harassment. It happened to me.
By Kevin Naff


WITH THE NATION’S attention focused on the same-sex marriage debate, the long-suffering Employment Non-Discrimination Act remains all but forgotten as lawmakers adjourn for the summer and the Democrats wrap their national convention in Boston.

The Democrats, for all the support they receive from gay men and lesbians, claim in their platform that their commitment to civil rights is “ironclad.” But a closer look reveals mixed messages.

The official position on the question of gay marriage reads as follows:

“We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush’s divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a ‘Federal Marriage Amendment.’ Our goal is to bring Americans together, not drive them apart.”


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Thirteen states may vote on gay marriage bans
First constitutional amendment goes to Mo. voters on Tuesday
By DYANA BAGBY
Friday, July 30, 2004


Across the country, gay marriage opponents and proponents are gearing up for serious battle as voters in up to 13 states may weigh constitutional amendments this year.

The first state to take the marriage test will be Missouri on Tuesday. Louisiana follows in September, with the bulk of states, including Georgia, deciding on Nov. 2.

To date, other states where voters will decide whether to include a gay marriage ban in their constitutions are Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Ballot measures are also likely in Michigan and Ohio, though petition drives are still under review by state officials. A petition drive to put a marriage ban on the ballot in North Dakota is due Aug. 3.


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Lawyer drops gay couple
Commitment to marriage questioned
By JOAN D. LAGUARDIA, jlaguardia@news-press.com
 Published by news-press.com


Miami attorney Ellis Rubin has dropped two Fort Myers men from his campaign to stop Florida from refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Rubin said Thursday he was upset that Fred A. Blumberg, 46, and Gerald T. “Pete” Costello, 50, gave the impression that they didn’t really want to get married but were seeking publicity for the gay rights issue.

“They said that they are doing this for the cause. That’s not good enough. I don’t represent people who are not sincere,” Rubin said.

Blumberg, owner of Cafe Roni in downtown Fort Myers, said he wants to get married but also understands that Rubin’s efforts call important attention to the issue.


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Baptists reject gay marriages 
Decision delayed on women voting
By Peter Smith
psmith@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal


Members of a statewide body of African-American Baptists adopted a resolution opposing same-sex marriage, declaring that it is not a civil right that can be compared to the struggle for racial equality.

The General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, comprising more than 500 churches, unanimously approved the measure during its annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Louisville yesterday.

On another issue, the group delayed a decision on whether to allow women to vote at meetings.


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Baroness O’Cathain steps down from BA after gay protests
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


House of Lords peer Baroness O'Cathain has stepped down from the board of British Airways, after the company was threatened with a boycott for her reportedly anti-gay comments.

The Baroness, who tabled a movement that would extend the Civil Partnerships bill to carers and siblings, despite legal and care associations saying the move would negate the importance for same-sex relationships and confuse the issues surrounding those involved, had faced harsh criticism from gay lobby group Stonewall.

The organisations's chief executive Ben Summerskill had called for consumers to make "an ethical choice" about which airline to use for future flights.

Stonewall says that thousands of its supporters have already signed up to a Boycott BA campaign, because of her comments. Baroness O'Cathain is an executive director of the company.


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European gay groups urged to "mobilise against" reggae stars
Ben Townley, Gay.com UK


Gay rights groups across Europe are being urged to "monitor and mobilise against" the Jamaican musicians at the centre of a row over homophobic lyrics.

The call comes from UK activist group Outrage!, which has been at the centre of the campaign to stop reggae and dancehall artists such as Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer from appearing in Britain.

Group leader Peter Tatchell says the musicians should be constantly monitored so as to limit the amount of times they can appear on tour across the continent.

Already the campaign has seen concert delays and cancellations in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.