Free Republic

The University of St. Thomas today said it will not let staff or faculty who travel officially with students share a room on those trips with an unmarried partner. The decision by St. Thomas President Rev. Dennis Dease, posted on the St. Thomas Web site this morning, puts into policy the university's position. But it's unlikely to end the controversy that's divided the campus the past few months. While the travel policy affects only a few professors, it became a flashpoint on campus after two professors who live together as unmarried, heterosexual partners were told in December they could travel...

From the time he was in grammar school, George Takei - Sulu from "Star Trek" - knew he was gay. "You know, all the other guys would say, 'Janey's cute.' I'd say, 'Yeah, she's all right,' " Takei told a Madison, WI audience. "But Jimmy..." Takei, who last fall disclosed his sexual orientation publicly, is touring on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign to draw attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. The "Star Trek" star, who turns 69 Thursday, likens the gay rights movement to the civil rights struggles of African-Americans and women in American history. "It's a...

Saudi Author Dr. Muhammad Al-'Arifi on Show Produced by Saudi Ministry of Religious Endowments: Women in the West Marry Dogs and Donkeys; 54% of Danish Women Do Not Know Who Fathered Their Babies Following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi author Dr. Muhammad Al-'Arifi, which aired on Al-Risala TV on April 6, 2006. Dr. Muhammad Al-'Arifi: One of the most important things that distinguish Man from beast is the ability to control one's desires. Allah said about some of the infidels: "They are like cattle; nay, they stray farther off the path." If you look at them, you will...

A Missouri couple say they were denied an occupancy permit for their new home because they're not married. Olivia Shelltrack and Fondray Loving have been together for 13 years and have three children, ages 8, 10 and 15, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The couple are appealing the occupancy permit denial from the Black Jack, Mo., board of adjustment, which requires people living together to have blood, marriage or adoption ties. Loving is not the father of Shelltrack's oldest child. I was basically told, you can have one child living in your house if you're not married, but more than...

Some Afghan refugees returning home after years abroad are bringing back foreign ways -- the most controversial being the practice of temporary marriage. Temporary marriage, or sigha, is an agreement between a man and a women to get married for a specified time. It has long been practised by Shi'ite Muslims, especially in mostly Shi'ite Iran. Now, the practice is being imported into Afghanistan by some members of the minority Shi'ite community returning home from Iran, to the disapproval of many in conservative, mostly Sunni Afghanistan. "I don't want a permanent husband," said Fatima, a 34-year-old woman divorcee in the...

In the 1978 movie "Same Time, Next Year," a man and a woman meet by chance at a romantic inn, end up in bed together and, though each is married, repeat the rendezvous each year. The film's promo line ran, "They couldn't have celebrated happier anniversaries if they were married to each other." But if palimony were at issue, neither of the trysters could have collected, at least not in New Jersey. On Feb. 6, a state appeals court ruled that without cohabitation, an extramarital romantic relationship -- even one that spanned 70 years -- cannot be a basis for...

The riots in France have made the world suddenly aware of a reality which city dwellers in Europe have known for some years: that there are no-go areas surrounding almost every major European town. These have become virtually self-ruling enclaves, abandoned by European authorities and police. A case in point is the Swedish town of Malmö, which is said to be unique because creeping anarchy has spread to almost the entire town. Another thing which many people have known, but which has never been said aloud, is the spread of polygamy across Western Europe. Since yesterday, when French officials, including...

A proposal to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman in Minnesota's Constitution is one of the biggest issues our state will face in the next legislative session. Some people argue that same-sex marriage wouldn't change anybody else's marriage but merely expand the institution to provide equal rights for all. Canada made same-sex marriage the law of the land in June. What's happened there in recent months suggests a different story. Bishop Frederick Henry of the Catholic Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, has been at the forefront of Canada's battle over marriage. On Thursday, he will address...

The Netherlands and Belgium were the first countries to give full marriage rights to homosexuals. In the United States some politicians propose “civil unions” that give homosexual couples the full benefits and responsibilities of marriage. These civil unions differ from marriage only in name. Meanwhile in the Netherlands polygamy has been legalised in all but name. Last Friday the first civil union of three partners was registered. Victor de Bruijn (46) from Roosendaal “married” both Bianca (31) and Mirjam (35) in a ceremony before a notary who duly registered their civil union. “I love both Bianca and Mirjam, so I...

Muslim second wives may get a tax break NICHOLAS HELLEN, SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR THE Inland Revenue is considering recognising polygamy for some religious groups for tax purposes. Officials have agreed to examine “family friendly” representations from Muslims who take up to four wives under sharia, the laws derived from the Koran. Existing rules allow only one wife for inheritance tax purposes. The Revenue has been asked to relax this so that a husband’s estate can be divided tax-free between several wives. The move is bound to create controversy if it leads to a change in the rules. It is seen...

Sen. Kennedy Says Opponents of “Gay Marriage” Are Bigots Sen. Edward Kennedy has told A.P. that opponents of “gay marriage” are bigots. The news service reported last week: “Meanwhile, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy criticized supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, saying that would be a civil rights setback. “Kennedy said bigotry should not be written into the federal constitution, and constitutional amendments should be about expanding rights and liberties.” Unitarians Confirm Our Forecast that Group Sex Will be Next The Unitarian Church is now welcoming those who believe in group relationships including the practice of “romantic love.”...

OTTAWA -- A convicted killer with a record of drug addiction and fleeing parole has earned a 72-hour conjugal visit with his gay lover at Ontario's Joyceville penitentiary. Kevin Joseph Humphrey, a former fugitive who became subject of a Canada-wide warrant in 2002, spent the past weekend at the so-called "love shack," according to a prison source. When he repeatedly went on the lam, police considered Humphrey dangerous because of his drug addiction and violent criminal record. The former Toronto man was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1983 robbery slaying of Charles Palmer in Minden, Ont. Correctional Service of...

BISMARCK -- First, a series of heterosexual couples kiss. Then, two men are shown about to lock lips. All are dressed for a wedding. That is followed by three people, depicting a wedding of two men and a woman. The campaign commercial's message: Sen. Byron Dorgan supports gay marriage and unless North Dakotans vote for Republican Mike Liffrig for the U.S. Senate, they can "kiss their morals goodbye." Democrats demanded Tuesday that Liffrig pull the plug on that ad and another commercial that claims Dorgan supports human cloning, saying the allegations are lies. The ads began running statewide Monday and...

Last year, singer Melissa Etheridge promised to love and protect her new partner, actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, until death do them part, but she may not be able to leave her songs to Michaels. U.S. copyright law discriminates against homosexuals by not allowing songwriters and other artists to determine conclusively who gets the rights to their work at the time of their death. No matter what an artist's intention, spouses, children and grandchildren, in that order, are the first in line to recapture the copyrights, followed by next of kin, executors and administrators. Since most states do not recognize gay...

To: National Desk Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of the House Committee on the Judiciary WASHINGTON, July 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The House Judiciary Committee today approved by a 21-to-13 margin legislation that would ensure States continue to decide state marriage policy. H.R. 3313, introduced by Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.) and amended today by the Committee, removes the federal courts' jurisdiction to hear cases involving the provision in the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that allows States to decide whether to legally recognize out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses. Article III, Section 2, clause 2 of the Constitution...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Efforts to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage foundered Wednesday afternoon when the proposal failed to garner enough votes in the Senate to stay alive. After final arguments by the leaders of each party, Republicans mustered 48 votes, 12 short of the 60 they needed to overcome a procedural hurdle and move the proposed amendment to the floor.

Ohio University is offering "domestic-partner" benefits to employees, but only same-sex couples can apply. Some critics say the school is setting itself up for a lawsuit by employees who want to add a live-in boyfriend or girlfriend to their insurance plans, the Athens, Ohio, News reported. Eric Clift, a technical services specialist in OU's College of Osteopathic Medicine, told the paper if a heterosexual employee were to legally challenge the new policy as discriminatory, the university might have to either revoke the benefits for gay and lesbian employees, or extend them to straight employees, "which I have to think would...

A new government regulation that requires Muslim men seeking Irish residency to reject polygamy is racist and possibly illegal, Ireland's main civil liberties group said today. The government introduced the written oath this month after rejecting an application from a Lebanese man for both of his wives and all 13 children to be granted residency. A married Muslim man seeking residency must now declare he has "one spouse only" and "has no intention of entering into a simultaneous marriage". The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said the rule amounted to religious discrimination and appeared to contravene the European Convention on...

STRANGE how some people behave! She is in love with a man more than twice her age – which could be usual. She had a ten-year affair with the same man from the age of 15 – that is unusual. But most unusual of all – she has declared her undying love for the same man, but he is her own paternal father! But, that’s not all. The couple sired two siblings from the incestuous affair. This did not take place in one of those Saturday evening African movies but in Harare, the magistrates’ court heard Tuesday. Statement Gamara (52)...

(CNSNews.com) - In a letter to a conservative, pro-family group, the Internal Revenue Service established this week that homosexual couples filing joint tax returns would be in violation of the law under the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton in 1996, says the states will not be forced to recognize homosexual marriages and it legally defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. "Because of this statute, only married individuals under this definition could elect to file a joint tax return," said the June 14 letter addressed to Public...