Starting September 2002, The New York Times will include same-sex union announcements in their Weddings/Celebrations section. This coincides with smaller independent newspaper, Fayetteville Observer, decision to do the same.
On Wednesday, August 21, 2002, Charles Broadwell, editor of the Fayetteville Observer, defended his newspapers decision on WPR's Ideas Network. Other guest included: Joan Garry, executive director of GLAAD, Peter Sprigg, senior director of culture studies for Family Research Council, and Michael Bronski, author of The Pleasure Principle: Sex, Backlash, and the Struggle for Gay Freedom.
Peter Sprigg stated that the Times decision is harmful to the ideals of the traditional american family. And that his organization, Family Research Council, has found that same-sex relationships vary greatly from heterosexual relationships and should not be publicly displayed as being the same.
There is a lot of speculation whether or not this action is political or a step toward legal acceptance of same-sex marriages. Joan Gary from GLADD feels that is a positive advance for the gay/lesbian community. GLAAD's website published a list of newspapers that publish same-sex union announcements.
January 3, 2003: Same-Sex Union Notices Urged by Maryland's Governor Glendening
written on August 21, 2002; modified on January 3, 2003.