Philadelphia touted as gay destination

PHILADELPHIA -- The City of Brotherly Love has launched the first US television advertising campaign to promote a city as a gay destination, officials said yesterday. In the commercial, a young man in colonial attire writes a letter inviting his beloved to meet him at Independence Hall. The man is approached by a woman who glances at him but passes by before another man greets the letter writer and accepts flowers. The spot emphasizes the city's historic attractions and its friendliness to gay travelers and is part of a three-year, $1 million campaign. (Reuters)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

House rejects doomsday proposal

WASHINGTON -- House lawmakers rejected a proposed constitutional amendment yesterday that would have allowed governors to name replacements if half of the 435 members in the chamber died in a terrorist attack. Opponents said the House should never abandon direct election. Lawmakers supporting the amendment said that without the succession plan, the House would expose itself to a lengthy period of powerlessness should hundreds of members die at the same time. Representative Brian Baird wrote the amendment to keep the House functioning with appointees until special elections could be held to restore depleted numbers. His proposal was defeated, 353 to 63, well short of the two-thirds needed. (AP)