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MARRIAGE DIGEST: 2000 Gore spokesman ‘marries’ in Mass.; Canada court to rule; La. court hears case; winner in Wash.?

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Doug Hattaway, a prominent spokesman for Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign, tied the knot recently in Massachusetts with his longtime homosexual partner.

Hattaway “married” Massachusetts state Sen. Jarrett Barrios in mid-November, making the couple perhaps the most prominent male homosexual couple in America to “marry” legally.

In May Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex “marriage” — due solely to a court order.

Hattaway and Barrios exchanged vows at First Parish Church, a Unitarian Universalist church in Cambridge, Mass. The reception was held at the Episcopal Divinity School, also in Cambridge, according to the Cambridge Chronicle.

Their two adopted sons — ages 7 and 12 — were ring bearers.

“Sen. Barrios was extremely excited to be able to secure all the rights and protections of marriage for him and his family,” Barrios spokesman Colin Durrant told the newspaper.

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Barrios was an outspoken opponent of a marriage amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution during floor debate earlier this year. The amendment — which would ban same-sex “marriage” while legalizing civil unions — must pass during the next session before going to voters for final approval in 2006.

Hattaway figured prominently on TV during the 2000 campaign, appearing on behalf of Gore during both the campaign and the month-long recount. He still serves as a Democratic consultant.

CANADA COURT TO RULE — The move to legalize same-sex “marriage” in Canada could take a giant step forward Dec. 9 when the Canadian Supreme Court releases its opinion on the subject.

The court is not expected to legalize same-sex “marriage.” Rather, the court is set to rule whether a Parliament bill legalizing same-sex “marriage” upholds the country’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian Press reported.

The ruling Liberal Party, which supports same-sex “marriage,” sent the bill to the high court to get the okay before presenting it to Parliament. If the court, as expected, okays the bill, then Parliament likely will vote to legalize same-sex “marriage” in the coming months. A close vote is expected.

According to the Canadian television channel CTV, the Liberal government asked the court:

— “whether the definition can legally be expanded to include gays and lesbians,

— “whether religious leaders are protected under the Charter of Rights from having to marry same-sex couples,

— “whether the existing opposite-sex requirement for marriage is constitutional.”

LA. COURT REVIEWS AMENDMENT — The Louisiana Supreme Court was asked by homosexual activists Dec. 1 to toss out a constitutional marriage amendment that passed by a margin of 78-22 percent.

In oral arguments John Rawls, a lawyer for the Forum for Equality, argued that the amendment is unconstitutional because it covers two subjects — banning both same-sex “marriage” and civil unions. The Louisiana Constitution allows amendments to cover only one subject, Rawls said.

But Michael Johnson, a pro-family attorney allied with the Alliance Defense Fund, argued that civil unions and same-sex “marriage” do deal with one subject — the defense of marriage.

“The defense of marriage is not only [the amendment’s] name but its sole purpose,” Johnson said, according to the Associated Press.

Some states, such as Louisiana, permit challenges to amendments before they take effect. A lower court judge struck down Louisiana’s amendment.

Amendments are also being challenged in courts in Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Amendments in Arkansas, Ohio and Oregon already have taken effect.

Voters in 13 states passed amendments this year with an average of 70.8 percent of the vote.

WASH. REPUBLICAN WINS — Republican Dino Rossi won the recount in the Washington governor’s race, defeating Democrat Christine Gregoire by only 42 votes out of 2.8 million cast. The initial count had him ahead by 261 votes.

Democrats, though, are pushing for a third count, done by hand. Rossi was certified the winner Nov. 30. A full recount would cost more than $700,000, according to AP.

Social conservatives believe a Rossi administration could be helpful in the coming year, when the Washington state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a same-sex “marriage” case and the state legislature is expected to consider a constitutional marriage amendment.
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For more information about the national debate over same-sex “marriage,” visit http://www.bpnews.net/samesexmarriage [3]