Three Catholics who were arrested in connection with a SoulForce demonstration against the Conference of Catholic Bishops were convicted but not sentenced. According to the Washington Post, the three were refused Holy Communion twice during the week of Nov. 12. Judge Mildred Edwards apologized on behalf of the Catholic Church and disposed of any sentence.
New syphilis cases in New York City doubled last year, according to the AP. The largest increase came in the group of men who have sex with men. Syphilis untreated can cause heart and brain damage.
Seattle's first openly gay United Methodist minister won her second battle to avoid church court. Rev. Karen Dammann admitted in 2001 that she was a lesbian in a committed relationship. Bishop Elias Galvan filed a complaint. The investigative committee and now the appeals committee both dismissed the complaint.
A Los Angeles activist sued the Boy Scouts for allegedly defrauding the federal government, reports the L.A. Times. Glenn Goodman, an ACLU Southern California board member, sued the Old Baldy Council of Boy Scouts, alleging the group concealed the discriminatory manner in which they intended to use the $15,000 grant they received.
One of the men convicted for murdering a gay Arizona man will spend his life in prison. According to the Arizona Republic, Federal Marshals took Aaronray Miguel, 26, away as he interrupted the judge during sentencing. Miguel was convicted of killing Justin Fidelis Enos, 54, after a beer party on a reservation south of Phoenix. Dorian C. Brown, 22, is awaiting sentencing.
Conservative members of the Presbyterian Church failed to gain enough signatures to debate the issue of banning gay clergy, reports AP. The assembly called for by the conservatives would have been a first for the Church. Thirteen members who signed the petition to hold the assembly withdrew their names, effectively ending the challenge.
As the Southern Baptist Convention makes plans to move its 2005 Conference from Nashville if the city approves anti-discrimination legislation, the denomination also may toss out congregations that affirm female pastors and gays, according to the Tennessean. Rev. April Baker, an out lesbian, preaches at Glendale Baptist Church in Nashville. The church has been under fire from the SBC for its liberal views. The Convention tosses an average of about one congregation each year that 'approve, affirm or endorse' homosexual behavior.
Connecticut legislators this year will examine three bills that affect gay marriage. Two would create official partnerships sanctioned by the state, while the third would add Connecticut to the growing list of states that ban gay marriage, according to the New Haven Register. Last year, a bill gave basic rights to gay couples.
Eugene, Oregon's new domestic-partnership registry will open on Valentine's Day, according to 365gay.com . The registry is largely symbolic and confers no specific rights on the applicants. New domestic partners will pay $50 to cover the costs of the program. Portland and Ashland, Ore., already have domestic-partner registries.