Maine gay marriage opponents submit petitions
Gay marriage opponents hoping to derail Maine’s new law before it can take effect have submitted petitions they say contain more than enough signatures to force a people’s veto referendum. Leaders of the Stand for Marriage campaign delivered a stack of cartons holding petitions with more than 100,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, which has until Sept. 4 to certify at least 55,087 of them. If it does so, voters will be asked on Nov. 3 whether to repeal the law.
First openly gay member joins US Air Force board
A Democrat who last year became the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to Congress is taking his place on the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors. Rep. Jared Polis is thought to be the first openly gay member serving on an oversight board at any service academy. The Board of Visitors is made up mostly of members of Congress who review the nation’s service academies and suggest changes to the Pentagon and Congress.
Suspect in gay sailor’s death commits suicide
A sailor accused of killing another sailor was found dead in his cell in a southern California military jail, according to officials.Petty Officer Jonathan Campos was found dead in the brig at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego. The cause of death was self-inflicted asphyxiation. Campos had been charged with murder in the June 30 shooting death of Seaman August Provost. Provost, who was gay, was killed while he was standing guard at Camp Pendleton. Provost’s body was set on fire at his guard post.
Albania plans to legalize gay marriages
Albania’s governing Democrats have proposed a law allowing same-sex civil weddings in the small, predominantly Muslim country. An announcement on the government Web site said the bill “may spark debate” but was needed to stop discrimination against gay couples.
