TOP6NEWS - Date 1.11.05

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1-NEWS:  Pope puts ssm at top of Vatican agenda
2-NEWS:  Canadian PM says ssm should be law by summer

3-NEWS: More on Lofton

4-NEWS:  NY judge: ss partner dispute shows need for ss relationship recognition

5-NEWS: Things are moving in KS; m amendment may be on ballot by April 5

6-NEWS: SO discrimination bill passes IL Senate; likely to pass House

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1-NEWS: Pope puts ssm at top of Vatican agenda Pope Denounces Gay Marriage By JASON HOROWITZ NY Times

Vatican City:  Pope John Paul II unequivocally condemned gay marriage and weighed in on a host of other social questions on Monday in a strongly worded message meant to define the position and agenda of the Roman Catholic Church.

The 84-year-old pope addressed the 174 ambassadors who make up the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See with an incisive account of the Vatican's definition of family.

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2-NEWS: Canadian PM says ssm should be law by summer Gay Marriage To Be Legal In Canada by Summer Gov't Says by Jim Brown, Canadian Press

Ottawa) A bill to legalize gay marriage from coast to coast will come before Parliament in early February and should be law by summer, says Justice Minister Irwin Cotler.

``It will be introduced and there will be the customary debate,'' Cotler said Monday in an interview with The Canadian Press.

``I'd like to think that it would pass . . . before the House rises in June.''

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3-NEWS: More on Lofton

Gay-Adoption Ban In Florida to Stand

Justices Decline to Hear Challenge

By Charles Lane

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it would not hear a challenge to Florida's unique-in-the-nation ban on adoptions by gays, sidestepping a case that could have thrust the court into a bitter culture war.

Without comment or published dissent, the court declined a petition from four gay foster parents and their foster children, who argued that the Florida law, adopted in 1977, violates constitutional rights the Supreme Court recognized when it struck down Texas's ban on same-sex sodomy in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas.

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4-NEWS: NY judge: ss partner dispute shows need for ss relationship recognition Judge says better laws needed for same-sex partners Dispute over money between woman, ex-girlfriend led to criminal prosecution.

By Jim O'Hara

An Onondaga County Court judge Monday said the lack of civil recognition of same-sex relationships in New York led to the criminal prosecution of a Manlius woman on theft charges.

Judge Anthony Aloi said it was "unfortunate" the dispute between Lori Clapper and her former girlfriend resulted in criminal charges against Clapper, instead of being handled under state Domestic Relations Law, as happens with most issues between spouses.
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5-NEWS:  Things are moving in KS; m amendment may be on ballot by April 5

BY ABE LEVY AND FRED MANN

The Senate plans to vote this week on a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage, part of a plan to put the issue before voters on April 5.

The Senate's decision came on the opening day of the legislative session, which drew hundreds of protesters on both sides of the issue to the Capitol.

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6-NEWS: SO discrimination bill passes IL Senate; likely to pass House Gay rights bill advances Illinois Senate OKs bill; House approval expected

By Ray Long and Christi Parsons, Tribune staff reporters.

For the first time ever, the Illinois Senate approved a controversial measure Monday that would ban discrimination against gays and lesbians in matters of housing and employment, clearing a long-standing hurdle to passage and inspiring one key sponsor to proclaim a victory for "fundamental freedom."

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