Baptist Official Leaves Over Gay Policy
The Associated Press


RICHMOND, Va. - The director of student life at Richmond's Baptist Theological Seminary has resigned, saying he could not enforce a policy that excludes practicing homosexuals, including those in committed relationships.

"I couldn't stay at the seminary and support a policy I didn't agree with and wouldn't comply with," the Rev. Warren Hammonds said in an interview published Saturday in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "I would have had to turn in homosexuals or lie about it. I couldn't do either and live with myself."


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Judge orders new election for New Orleans juvenile court judge
The Associated Press  


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Civil District Court judge ordered a new election Saturday for a juvenile court judge after one unsuccessful candidate sued, saying she may have lost votes in the Sept. 18 primary because of the late delivery of voting machines to dozens of New Orleans precincts.


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Gay Partners Of UN Staff To Keep Benefits
by Edith Lederer
The Associated Press


(New York City)  A new U.N. directive which took effect Friday dropped problematic language about domestic partnerships, but still allows U.N. staffers' same-sex partners to collect benefits if permitted by the laws of their home countries.

The powerful U.N. budget committee asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan to re-examine a directive that took effect Feb. 1 which allowed gay and lesbian partners of U.N. staffers to receive benefits.

That directive angered many Muslim and African nations but was hailed by the gay and lesbian rights organization at the United Nations which lobbied for years for medical, pension and other benefits for same-sex partners.

The 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference said it was "seriously concerned about extending the scope of the family" eligible for benefits and opposed "the presumption" that same sex partners should qualify — a view backed by a number of African nations.


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Judge upholds lesbian adoption
By Scott E. Williams
The Daily News

Published October 02, 2004
GALVESTON — A state district court judge Friday upheld a ruling granting full parental rights to a woman who adopted a child born to her lesbian partner.

Attorneys for Julie Hobbs claimed that Kathleen Van Stavern’s 2001 adoption of Hobbs’ 6-year-old daughter was void from the beginning, but family court Judge Janis Yarbrough of the 306th State District Court upheld it.

In doing so, she cited part the state Family Code that requires any challenge to an adoption be made within six months of its ratification.

Hobbs gave birth to the girl on June 6, 1998, after becoming pregnant through artificial insemination. Hobbs, a lesbian, lived with her partner, Van Stavern. In 2001, the couple filed for and received termination of parental rights of the biological father, a matter of course in artificial insemination cases.