May 09, 2003   | COMMENTS     

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A British Colombia appeals court ruled May 1 that Canada's ban on gay marriage is discriminatory and told the government to change the law. The ruling, which overturned a lower court decision that marriage should be restricted to heterosexuals, was the latest court challenge to the federal ban. Courts in two other provinces — Quebec and Ontario — also have ruled in favor of same-sex marriage rights. John Manley, Canada's deputy prime minister, said last week he favors legislation to legalize gay marriage. Manley, who is also the Finance Minister and a candidate for the Liberal leadership, told the National Post he favors same-sex marriages just one day after Paul Martin, the leadership front-runner, took no firm position on the issue. Sheila Copps, the third candidate in the race to succeed Jean Chrétien as prime minister, has also said she favors gay marriages. "I think the issue here is if people make a life commitment then it is a matter for them to decide and the state should treat that kind of commitment the same regardless of who it is, or whether they are same sex or different sex or whatever," Manley said.

Malaysian newspaper editor convicted of sedition

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The editor of an opposition newspaper was fined but escaped a jail sentence May 2 after being convicted of sedition for an article criticizing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Zulkifli Sulong, editor of Harakah, the official newspaper of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, was fined $1,315 for publishing an article three years ago that accused Mohamad of orchestrating a conspiracy against his ousted deputy Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia's sedition laws allow for a maximum sentence of three years in jail. The charges stemmed from a late 1999 article written by then deputy president of the opposition National Justice Party, Chandra Muzzafar. Mohamad sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister in 1998, accusing him of being an immoral homosexual unfit for public office. Anwar was charged with corruption and sodomy — a crime in mostly Muslim Malaysia — and eventually sentenced to prison terms totaling 15 years. Anwar claims the charges against him were concocted to prevent him challenging his former mentor Mohamad.

Gays in U.K. lobby against law exemption for church

LONDON — Gay Christians lobbied the government last weekend against attempts by the Church of England to gain exemptions from planned anti-discrimination employment regulations, the Guardian reported. They accuse church leaders of sabotaging legislation aimed at outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. The row is an early challenge for Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has already fallen foul of some evangelicals for supporting some gay issues. "Churches and other faith-based organizations must not find themselves in a position where the law of the land is preventing them from conscientiously applying their own sincerely held doctrines and beliefs on moral issues," according to a statement from the Church's executive council.

Puerto Rican government appeals high court ruling

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Government officials filed a motion for a reconsideration of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruling to exclude same-sex couples from benefiting from the a domestic violence law. In a 20-page document, the General Advocate's Office objected to the analysis made by the court regarding the law. "The court use of legislative intention as a tool to interpret this case is mistaken," according to the court filing. Government officials added that if lawmakers intended to exclude people from the law it would have explicitly said so. Government officials said the law should all victims of domestic violence, regardless of sexual orientation.

Election of trans candidate in Japan shows signs of change

TOKYO — Aya Kamikawa's election to public office is a further sign that Japanese society is slowly opening its mind, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. In her fight for the rights of transsexuals in Japan, Aya Kamikawa organized petitions and knocked on plenty of politicians' doors. It was a frustrating experience for Kamikawa — a biological male — in a country where conformity and uniformity are often regarded as virtues. This week she became the first transsexual in Japan elected to public office, when she won a place on the local assembly for Setagaya, one of Tokyo's biggest local government areas. "Japan is a society where you can easily live a 'typical' lifestyle," said Kamikawa, 35. "But Japanese don't respect our real choice, our real personalities." Her victory may be an indication that old Japan is changing, and becoming more inclusive, she said.