Largest NH paper won't print gay marriage notices

[Swede]

New Hampshire's largest newspaper is defending its decision to refuse to publish marriage notices for gay couples.

New Hampshire is one of five states to have legalized gay marriage. Two men getting married in Portsmouth on Saturday wanted to publish a marriage notice in the Union Leader of Manchester but were refused.

The newspaper says it has a constitutional right to choose what to print and opposes the new law. Publisher Joe McQuaid says the paper isn't anti-gay but believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_NOTICES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[yella_dawg]

1. Union Leader

Old school conservative rag.

On the other hand, the Nashua Telegraph used to be a pretty cool paper.

[sarge43]

2. The Concord Monitor will be glad to get the business.

The UL is just sulking because NH is turning blue.

[BadgerKid]

3. Two questions.

1. Aren't newspapers required to print notices of certain legal acts? Usually one sees marriage license applicants, property sales summaries, and public notices of city government, etc., printed?

2. Where does "newspaper" appear in the US Constitution? Yes, the 1st Amendment but that pertains to Congress. There is no Congress in this story.

I guess I can understand newspapers screening their paid ads, but I find this newspaper's stance as anti-gay, contrary to their stated opinion. I believe they would be breaking laws by not publishing any appropriate legal notices and should be challenged accordingly.

[ejpoeta]

4. are they aware newspapapers in general are on their last leg?

do they really want to cause people to refuse to buy their paper right now? sure they may get people who will buy it because they don't like teh gay, but i will bet more people will be mad that they don't post them.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. "Publisher Joe McQuaid says the paper isn't anti-gay"

Gee, of course not. I bet some of his best friends are gay.

Jerk.