Social Issues

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Rev. Wiliam Owen, president and founder of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, launched a national campaign to oppose President Obama's support of gay marriage during a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Washington D.C. "I'm ashamed that he choose this disgraceful road," Rev Owen says. The CAAP say they are urging black pastors around the country to oppose the president's actions and to withdraw support for him in the upcoming November elections. (Raymond Thompson/The Washington Times)

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Rev. Wiliam Owen, president and founder of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, launched a national campaign to oppose President Obama's support of gay marriage during a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Washington D.C. "I'm ashamed that he choose this disgraceful road," Rev Owen says. The CAAP say they are urging black pastors around the country to oppose the president's actions and to withdraw support for him in the upcoming November elections. (Raymond Thompson/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Barney Frank, a member of the committee drawing up the Democratic Party platform, said the draft document includes language backing gay marriage. The Republican platform is expected to still define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. (Associated Press)

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In November 2008, Cassandra Calderon and her sister, Jennifer Calderon, of Manassas volunteered to campaign for Sen. Barack Obama. Dennis Barrow, a volunteer from the District, praises their efforts. Obama supporters came to Virginia to encourage people to vote for Mr. Obama. (The Washington Times)

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase Utley goes through stretching exercises prior to the start of their game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, May 6, 2012, in Washington. Utley physically rejoined the team yesterday, May 5th, but remains at least a few week away from rejoining the Phillies lineup. He is on the disabled list with chondromalacia in his left knee. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

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Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., speaks at the XIX International Aids Conference, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Kelleen Benway is detained July 28, 2012, by a police officer after she returned to her home in Oxford, Mass., where multiple shootings occurred. Daryl Benway, 41, who had recently separated from Kelleen, shot his two children, killing his 7-year-old daughter, before committing suicide, prosecutors said. Kelleen was later released. (Associated Press/Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst makes a campaign stop, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Amarillo, Texas. U.S. Senate hopefuls Dewhurst and Ted Cruz are crisscrossing the state three days before a runoff election for the Republican nomination. (Associated Press)

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The front of the Benway house on Main Street in Oxford, Mass., is seen here on July 29, 2012. Daryl Benway, 41, who had recently separated from his wife, shot his two children, killing his 7-year-old daughter, before committing suicide, prosecutors said. (Associated Press/The Telegram & Gazette)

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** FILE ** In this Thursday, July 12, 2012, photo, a health worker from The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) health worker speaks with patients waiting for treatment in Kampala, Uganda. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera)

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**FILE** Lawrence Stallworth II (left), 20, of Cleveland, who was diagnosed with HIV at age 17, speaks July 22, 2012, on a youth panel at the International AIDS Conference in Washington. Stallworth learned he was infected with HIV at age 17, when he was a high-school senior, after a hospitalization. A black gay man, he's among one of the nation's highest-risk groups. (Associated Press)