Salt Lake Benefits Did Not Break Anti-Gay Amendment Judge Rules


(Salt Lake City, Utah) Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson did not violate the Utah constitution when he extended health care benefits to domestic partners of Salt Lake City employees a judge has ruled.

But the decision is moot.  After Anderson signed the order city council overruled it and implemented a watered down version that replaces domestic partners with any "adult designee". Anderson, calling the measure "discriminatory" vetoed the measure, but the council overrode his veto and the amended ordinance now stands.

While the same-sex partners of city workers can still enroll in the health benefits program, he and LGBT civil rights activists say the ordinance fails to specifically recognize them.  Still they hailed the ruling by as District Judge Stephen Roth as a significant breakthrough that could benefit other same-sex couples in the state.

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Archbishop sacks advisor because he is gay

The Archbishop of Westminster has dismissed his gay press secretary after telling him his sexuality was “incompatible” with his position in the Church, prompting further rows over Christianity and homosexuality. 

Stephen Noon, in charge of promoting the public image and ethics of the Church, was sacked by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor in 2004 after just a year in the post.

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Laura Bush eschews marriage ban campaigns


WASHINGTON -- Some election-year advice to Republicans from a high-ranking source who has the president's ear: Don't use a proposed constitutional amendment against gay marriage as a campaign tool.
Just who is that political strategist? Laura Bush.

The first lady told "Fox News Sunday" that she thinks the American people want a debate on the issue. But, she said, "I don't think it should be used as a campaign tool, obviously."


"It requires a lot of sensitivity to just talk about the issue -- a lot of sensitivity," she said.

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 Mary Cheney slams Bush on gay marriage stance

Washington - The lesbian daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday hit out at President George Bush's support for a constitutional amendment proscribing gay marriage.

Mary Cheney, 37, told Fox News on Sunday that the idea, which was backed strongly by Bush's Republican Party during his 2004 re-election campaign and continues to be promoted by many conservatives today, was "a bad piece of legislation".

"I think that is what the federal marriage amendment is, it is writing discrimination into the constitution.

"It is writing discrimination into the constitution and, as I say, it is fundamentally wrong."