Congressional sponsors of a constitutional ban on gay marriage have unveiled changes in the wording to leave state legislatures with the unambiguous right to recognize civil unions and grant benefits to same-sex couples.

Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave -- both Republicans from Colorado -- said their changes clarify that courts couldn't mandate civil unions, but lawmakers could approve them.

The deletion of five words and other minor changes did nothing to lessen the opposition of Democrats, who responded by seeking an indefinite delay in Senate hearings on a proposed amendment.

Allard says on his Web site that the proposed amendment says that no law, at any level, would "be construed to require that marital status or legal incidents thereof be conferred on unmarried couples or groups."

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Oregon Changes

Under threat of a lawsuit, some county commissioners in Oregon have backed off their plan to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

But they didn't stop there. Benton County will halt issuing marriage licenses for heterosexual couples, too.

The ban will stay in place until there's a court ruling on whether gay marriage is legal in the state. The case could be on its way to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The director of a group that's lobbied for same-sex marriage says it's unfortunate the county felt it had to stop issuing licenses to everyone.

Officials say it shouldn't inconvenience heterosexual couples, because they can still get marriage licenses from nearby counties.

Black Clergy Deny Civil Rights Link

In Atlanta, several dozen black pastors gathered Monday to voice their opposition to the gay marriage movement.

They rejected rhetoric equating the campaign for same-sex marriage with the struggle for racial equality.

The pastors rallied at an Atlanta-area church where they signed a declaration outlining their beliefs on marriage and religion. They are pressing for a state constitutional ban on gay marriages, which will be considered again by the Georgia House as soon as this week.

Same-sex marriage is already illegal in Georgia, but supporters of the ban say the constitution needs to be changed to make sure a judge does not direct Georgia to recognize gay marriages performed in other states.

But the Rev. Richard Richardson said he and other members of Boston's Black Ministerial Alliance believe a constitutional amendment is needed. He says children do best when they're raised by their mother and father united in marriage.

N.Y. Ministers Plead Not Guilty

Two ministers facing charges for officiating at same-sex weddings pleaded not guilty Monday at an arraignment in New Paltz, N.Y. Unitarian Universalist ministers Kay Greenleaf and Dawn Sangrey are charged with criminal offenses for marrying 13 gay couples earlier this month during a public ceremony.

The ministers stepped in after New Paltz Mayor Jason West was temporarily barred from performing more gay and lesbian weddings due to a civil suit.

After their arraignment, Greenleaf and Sangrey were greeted outside the courthouse by about 100 supporters singing hymns. The ministers said they believe their actions were both legal and moral.

Greenleaf said the issue is particularly poignant for people like her who are in long-term same-sex relationships.

N.M. County Changes Course

Just hours after saying she would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the Sandoval County, N.M., clerk said it would not happen.

The state attorney general and Sandoval County attorney announced they were drafting a restraining order against Clerk Victoria Dunlap and threatening to sue her.

Dunlap said she would not issue marriage licenses to gay couples Tuesday because if she had to go to court, she could not afford to defend herself.

Dunlap, a Republican, said, in her opinion, the state marriage law is unclear, and that this was an equal-rights issue.

State Attorney General Patricia Madrid said New Mexico's law is clear that marriage is legal only between a man and a woman.

Dunlap said Tuesday that she is not trying to play politics. She said she feared that if she issued a license to a same-sex couple, it would be invalid. If she issued a license after the restraining order was imposed, Dunlap said she would be in contempt of court.

The news that the clerk would not issue licenses to same-sex couples was disappointing Tuesday for the 20 or so same-sex couples waiting to get licenses and get married.

Many of them were turned away a month ago when the clerk issued licenses in February.

Minnesota Rally For Amendment

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday the people of Minnesota should get to vote on a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Pawlenty addressed thousands of people who rallied on the steps of the state Capitol.

The Minnesota House is expected to pass a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday, but the Democrat-controlled state Senate could kill it in committee.

Roman Catholic Bishop Frederick Campbell told the crowd that "marriage was instituted by God," and societies that redefine it put their children's welfare and their future at risk.

"Marriage and family life are essential to a proper social and political order," he said.