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Fat Fags In Heat
N.J. Town Stops Gay Marriage Applications
By JEFFREY GOLD
Associated Press Writer
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) -- City officials voted Wednesday to stop accepting marriage license applications from gay couples, but also voted to file a lawsuit seeking court approval to continue issuing such licenses.
The City Council acted after sta
e Attorney General Peter C. Harvey threatened criminal prosecution if city officials did not stop granting the licenses.
"I've had friends who were beaten for no other reason than they were
gay,
" Councilman John M. Loffredo said. "For us to deny anyone the right to marry is wrong."
Council members said they would s
eek a court judgment affirming that a gay marriage ceremony performed Monday by the deputy mayor was legal and that the city could continue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Gov. James E. McGreevey urged gay couples to take advantage of the state's recently passed domestic partnership measure instead. "The state is bound by the court, and the court has held that it is not legal," he said.
No U.S. state yet recognizes same-sex marriages, but San Francisco city officials have performed more than 3,600 such marriages in recent weeks.
In New York, Mayor Jason West of New Paltz faces possible jail time for officia
ting at same-sex weddings for couples who lacked a license. Meanwhile, hundreds of gay couples were granted wedding licenses last week in Portland, Ore.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All right
s reserved.<
br>
Fat Fags In Heat
N.J. Town Stops Gay Marriage Applications
By JEFFREY GOLD
Associated Press Writer
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) -- City officials voted Wednesday to stop accepting marriage license applications from gay couples, but also voted to file a lawsuit seeking court approval to continue issuing such licenses.
The City Council acted after sta
e Attorney General Peter C. Harvey threatened criminal prosecution if city officials did not stop granting the licenses.
"I've had friends who were beaten for no other reason than they were
gay,
" Councilman John M. Loffredo said. "For us to deny anyone the right to marry is wrong."
Council members said they would s
eek a court judgment affirming that a gay marriage ceremony performed Monday by the deputy mayor was legal and that the city could continue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Gov. James E. McGreevey urged gay couples to take advantage of the state's recently passed domestic partnership measure instead. "The state is bound by the court, and the court has held that it is not legal," he said.
No U.S. state yet recognizes same-sex marriages, but San Francisco city officials have performed more than 3,600 such marriages in recent weeks.
In New York, Mayor Jason West of New Paltz faces possible jail time for officia
ting at same-sex weddings for couples who lacked a license. Meanwhile, hundreds of gay couples were granted wedding licenses last week in Portland, Ore.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All right
s reserved.<
br>