ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 24, 1996 TAG: 9608260052
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
Same-sex marriages outlawed in Miss.
ATLANTA - Gov. Kirk Fordice of Mississippi has issued an executive order banning same-sex marriages in the state in a move he said was intended to strengthen the state's existing anti-sodomy law while a legal review of the issue is proceeding in the courts and in Congress.
Gay rights advocates and other opponents of such restrictions accused the two-term Republican governor of pandering to the religious right and trying to accomplish by executive fiat what should be done by the state legislature.
Fordice said Friday that ``same-sex marriage makes a mockery out of the institution of marriage, which is already embattled.''
The intended effect of the executive order is to prevent county clerks from issuing marriage licenses for people of the same sex, and to invalidate in Mississippi such licenses issued by other states.
In Washington, legislation that would bar same-sex marriages has already passed the House, and is scheduled for a vote Sept. 5 in the Senate. President Clinton has said he will sign the bill if Congress approves it, although his administration supports efforts to add amendments to soften its impact.
- The New York Times
Welfare law impact eased for aliens
WASHINGTON - Keeping his promise to reduce the impact of the new welfare overhaul law on legal aliens, President Clinton acted Friday to make sure benefits are not cut off mistakenly and to speed the citizenship process.
The White House also said legal aliens who lose welfare benefits will not be denied non-cash services needed to protect life and safety, such as access to soup kitchens, medical services and child protection.
Clinton ordered that states be given the maximum time allowed by law to ensure that legal immigrants eligible for food stamps continue to receive them. The Department of Agriculture will grant waivers allowing any state to extend the certification periods for food stamp eligibility for legal immigrants receiving assistance.
- Associated Press
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