SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – California’s largest teacher’s union has given another $1 million to defeat a Nov. 4 ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.

The contribution recorded Oct. 14 makes the California Teachers Association the largest institutional donor to the No on 8 campaign. CTA also gave $250,000 in August to Equality for All, a coalition of GLBT advocacy and civil rights groups opposing Proposition 8.

Union spokeswoman Sandra Jackson says CTA’s 800-member policy body voted overwhelmingly to oppose the same-sex marriage ban. Jackson says the issue concerns educators because “teachers teach the importance of equal rights for all.”

She says CTA leaders made the second contribution this week because the “no” campaign seems to be struggling.

Also, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa donated $25,000 to defeat Proposition 8.

In a statement released Oct. 14 by Courage Campaign, an online political organizing Web site, the mayor noted that he has officiated many weddings for same-sex couples since same-sex marriage was legalized in California in June.

He said he entered politics because “the America of my dreams includes everyone, not just a few.”

Like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose words and image have appeared in television ads by Proposition 8’s supporters, Villaraigosa is mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2010.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) – Officials at St. Paul Newman Center are looking for a replacement for the Rev. Geoffrey Farrow, who was removed two weeks ago for telling congregants he opposed a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex couples from marrying.

John Supino, interim administrator, said that on Sunday he read worshippers a letter from the Bishop calling Farrow’s comments a contradiction to the teachings of the Catholic Church. He said the comments “brought scandal to the parish.”

Before the Oct. 5 mass at which Farrow revealed his opposition Proposition 8, he told a Fresno television reporter he was gay. He packed and left the parish after the mass.

Farrow said he made his decision after someone asked for guidance and he realized he had to go against the church.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) – A San Diego County-based biotech company co-founded by the late Jonas Salk to develop an AIDS vaccine has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The North County Times reported Oct. 15 that Orchestra Therapeutics, formerly known as The Immune Response Corp., filed court papers Monday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of California.

The newspaper reports the Carlsbad company listed $32.61 million in liabilities and $1.64 million in assets.

In the 1990s, the company gained national attention when it developed Remune, a vaccine to treat HIV. But investors lost interest when it failed to show Remune helped those infected with HIV.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Oct. 14 that she opposes same-sex marriage, but wouldn’t vote to change the Connecticut Constitution to ban it.

There are currently no plans for such an amendment. Instead, there’s a question on the ballot next month about whether Connecticut should hold a convention to consider possible changes to its constitution.

Some proponents of the convention want to use it as a means to eventually get a public referendum on same-sex marriage. The constitution currently does not allow laws to be changed through public referendums.

Rell said she supports the constitutional convention and the concept of amending the constitution to allow a limited system of initiative and referendum. But, she said if the question should ever come up, she won’t support changing the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

“I would not stop that as a question on there. I simply don’t support it,” she said. “I don’t think that we want to change our constitution to ban same-sex marriage. It’s a decision that’s been made by the courts. Let’s live by it.”

The Family Institute of Connecticut, which opposes same-sex marriage, is urging its members to vote in favor of the constitutional convention in November. In a message sent on Oct. 14, executive director Peter Wolfgang called it “our best – very likely our only – chance to restore marriage and self-government in Connecticut.”

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A new poll says 53 percent of Connecticut residents support last week’s state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriages.

The University of Connecticut surveyed 502 adults over the weekend for The Hartford Courant. The poll says 42 percent of state residents don’t agree with the ruling, and it shows Democrats and Republicans differ widely over the issue.

Seventy-two percent of Democrats say they support the court’s decision, while 69 percent of Republicans are against it. Fifty-two percent of independent voters agree with Friday’s 4-3 ruling.

The poll’s margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Opponents of gay marriage are leading an effort to try to change the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) – The Bozeman School Board voted 6-1 Oct. 13 to update its discrimination policy to protect gay and lesbian students.

Trustee Carson Taylor first argued for adding the words “sexual orientation” to the policy. He said the district’s long-range plan calls for teaching students to be accepting, and the school board should lead by setting an example.

Chairman Gary Lusin voted against the proposal, saying he believes that gay and lesbian students already are protected, and to identify them separately is a disservice because it sends the message, “You’re different.”

The new policy says the district “will make equal educational opportunities available for all students without regard to race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or political beliefs.”

Schools Superintendent Kirk Miller argued in favor of following state and federal law and leaving sexual orientation off the list.

“I’ve yet to dig up a problem at Bozeman or other schools on sexual orientation,” he said.

“If we don’t have a problem, why do we want to create an issue?”

CLEVELAND (AP) – Representatives from Cleveland will fly to South Africa next week to promote the city as a good spot for the 2014 Gay Games.

The international sporting competition held every four years drew 11,500 athletes and tens of thousands of spectators when it was held in Chicago in 2006.

Helping to lead the charge for Cleveland is Douglas Anderson, an organizer of a local volleyball league in the GLBT community. At a news conference with civic leaders on Oct. 15, Anderson said Cleveland is perfect to host the Gay Games because of its diverse population and its city government, which he described as “very progressive.”

The Federation of the Gay Games holds its annual meeting in South Africa next week but won’t receive Cleveland’s formal pitch until March.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A group of Mormons who support same-sex marriage delivered 300 protest letters to church headquarters.

Andrew Callahan says church leaders need to know that not all members agree with the faith’s stand against same-sex marriage.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of a coalition of conservative groups working to pass a California proposition that bans same-sex marriage in the state constitution.

Mormon leaders in June asked members to support Proposition 8 by giving their time and money to the cause.