Republicans may not be able to count on the support of evangelical Christians to the extent they have done, the New York Times reports, saying “There is an undercurrent of concern that some evangelicals, unhappy that the GOP-led Congress and President Bush haven’t paid more attention to gay marriage and other ‘values’ issues, may stay home on Election Day or even vote Democratic.” At the same time, religious progressives are also taking the offensive, and speaking out in favor of same-sex marriage.- The New York Times called for the state to recongize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, despite the Court of Appeals ruling last July that said it was constitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.
- The Borough Council of West Chester, Pennsylvania voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It will apply to the workplace, housing and public accommodation, and is the fourth such ordinance passed this year in the state.
- The Washington Post slammed Virginia’s proposed same-sex marriage ban, saying it is “muddle-headed and absurdly broad, duplicates what is already in state law and carries the germ of a thousand unintended consequences.” Separately, the Associated Press reported that opponents of the ban raised more than twice as much money this summer as its supporters.
And internationally:
- Ontario Premier Dalton MyGuinty named openly gay health minister George Smitherman the province’s deputy premier.
- The city assembly of Miyakonojo, Japan is debating proposed changes to the city’s antidiscrimination ordinance that would eliminate “sexual orientation” as a protected category. The group Human Rights Watch has written to the mayor asking him not to take away rights from any citizens.
- Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will sign new national labor legislation that includes protections for gay and lesbian workers. Latvia had been the only EU member state without legislation specifically outlawing labor and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Vike-Freiberga pressured her parliament to pass the new laws.