Free Republic

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Wedding bells will ring this summer for Marvel Comics’ first openly gay hero, super speedster Northstar. The New York-based publisher said Tuesday that Canadian character Jean-Paul Beaubier will marry his beau, Kyle Jinadu, in the pages of “Astonishing X-Men” No. 51. That’s due out June 20.

New Jersey's well organized gay rights advocates are finding their adversaries are also getting prepared for a coming legislative debate over gay marriage. The National Organization for Marriage, established earlier this year in Princeton, made itself known over the past few weeks with radio advertisements urging people to call their lawmakers to tell them that allowing gay couples to marry would undermine the institution. The group set up in left-leaning New Jersey because it is one of a few states where there's a realistic chance in the next few years that lawmakers will vote to allow gay marriage. That makes...

"THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that language related to the practice and nature of homosexuality be removed from the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such language be replaced with language that is more theologically compatible with United Methodist tradition, utilizing the medical, theological and social science disciplines to reflect a deeper understanding of God’s good gift of human sexuality."

Gay rights advocates expect Congress will soon move closer to approving a federal ban on job discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender workers. Rep. Barney Frank, a leading proponent, predicts the ban will win House approval in coming weeks. But he and other gay rights supporters are less optimistic about the fight ahead in the narrowly divided Senate, where they would need 60 votes — rather than a simple majority — to overcome anticipated GOP stall tactics, such as a filibuster. "You don't know if anything can pass the Senate," said Frank, D-Mass., one of two openly gay members of...