Free Republic

TORONTO (CP) - A bronze statue of one of Canada's first gay public figures was unveiled in the heart of the city's gay village Saturday. Hundreds of people were on hand to witness the first glance of the 2.5-metre monument of Alexander Wood, a 19th century city magistrate. "Two years ago, we decided we wanted to do a public art project," said Dennis O'Connor, chair of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area, the organization that decided to honour Wood as a forefather of the gay community. "We chose him because he has a connection to our community, and this particular...

OTTAWA — The head of PrideVision TV, Canada's gay-television channel, is caught in a bitter divorce battle with his ex-wife that could cost him control of the network. Twelve years ago, Bill Craig was a onetime CRTC staffer turned entrepreneur who lived with his wife and two children. Now, after setting up successful businesses in Bermuda, and a failed webcaster in Canada, he's in a seven-year-long same-sex relationship and is trying to rebuild the gay-TV channel he runs. But this week, a $1.4-million debt owed to his ex-wife, Sally Craig, as part of their divorce settlement caught up with him....

Homosexual activists blast man who posted warning to families ___ A promoter of tourism in a Colorado ski town has stirred up a controversy among local residents after posting a warning to potential visiting families about the city's Gay Ski Week. Al Heirich runs an online guide to Telluride, Colo., offering information about the town, its skiing, lodging and restaurants. Telluride is a world-class ski resort with a population of about 3,000. Heirich says promoters of the homosexual event, including the Telluride Ski Resort, have demanded he remove his warning to families on his website, claiming it is discriminatory. The...

OTTAWA (CP) - Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is expected to release a document this week exploring the possibility of federal civil unions for same-sex couples, The Canadian Press has learned. Cauchon will submit four options for gay marriage: modifying the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples; maintaining the status quo; eliminating the role of the federal government in marriage and transferring the responsibilities to religious authorities; or the creation of federal civil unions. Sources close to the minister said Cauchon is leaning toward the civil union option. Cauchon's plan would allow same-sex couples across the country to enter into...