One More US State may Soon Allow Gay Marriage

The northwestern US state of Washington may soon permit gay marriage after a favourable vote was cast by a renowned lawmaker.

Mary Margaret Haugen, a Democrat, said she had thought long and hard before deciding which way to cast her vote, which should ensure passage of a bill granting equal marriage rights to gay couples.

US Lawmakers Propose Bills to Seek Ban on Chimp Experiments
Law makers from the last major industrialized country to still use to the apes for experiments, the United States, proposed bills Wednesday banning medical research on chimpanzees in the US.

"I have very strong Christian beliefs... For me personally, I have always believed in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. That is what I believe, to this day," she said, explaining the decision on her website.

"But this issue isn't about just what I believe. It's about respecting others, including people who may believe differently than I. It's about whether everyone has the same opportunities for love and companionship and family and security that I have enjoyed."

Speaking after hundreds of people attended a debate on Senate Bill 6239, which would allow same-sex marriage, she said she would prefer the issue to be put to a referendum, but did not know if that would be possible.

Same-Sex Unions Legalized by Hawaii Lawmakers
Hawaiian lawmakers passed a bill giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married partners on the US island state

"So, forced to make a choice, my choice is to allow all men and women in our state to enjoy the same privileges that are so important in my life. I will vote in favor of marriage equality.

"I know this announcement makes me the so-called 25th vote, the vote that ensures passage. That's neither here nor there. If I were the first or the seventh or the 28th vote, my position would not be any different.

A Bill to Castrate Sex Offenders Proposed by US Lawmaker
A bill has been proposed by a member of the Senate of Virginia to castrate sex offenders with a view to saving the government from expenses due to state treatment programs.

She added: "I happen to be the 25th because I insisted on taking this much time to hear from my constituents and to sort it out for myself, to reconcile my religious beliefs with my beliefs as an American, as a legislator, and as a wife and mother who cannot deny to others the joys and benefits I enjoy.

"This is the right vote and it is the vote I will cast when this measure comes to the floor."

Stricken 9/11 Workers to be Helped by US Lawmakers
A 10-year, four-billion-dollar program to help September 11 emergency workers sickened in the ruins of the worst terrorist attack on US soil has been voted upon by the US Congress.

Six US states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont -- plus the District of Columbia already allow same-sex marriage, but the issue remains highly controversial.

A group of 80 US mayors -- including New York's Michael Bloomberg, Chicago's Rahm Emanuel, Antonio Villaraigosa from Los Angeles and Annise Parker from Houston -- last week unveiled a campaign to win support for same sex marriage.

Source-AFP