Newspaper under fire for wedding policy

FARGO, N.D., July 25 (UPI) -- A North Dakota newspaper says it is reviewing the paper's policy after being criticized on social media for refusing to print same-sex wedding announcements.

The Fargo Forum says it has taken the matter under review after an e-mail Monday from an editor rejecting a couple's announcement sparked a petition on Change.org, CNN reported.

Allison Johnson, who was told the newspaper wouldn't publish the wedding announcement, used Twitter, Facebook and CNN iReport to voice her frustration.

"It is a sad day when two people so in love, about to commit their lives to one another, cannot even engage in the smallest of privileges to honor this union," Johnson wrote.

"I ask each of you reading this to explain to me WHY, in a city that we call home, where we are days away from becoming homeowners in Fargo, where we support every person that does good for their community, are we excluded from being able to announce our wedding celebration? What makes two women or two men any different from other taxpaying married citizens of Fargo, N.D.?"

By the end of the day, the newspaper had posted a statement on the paper's Facebook page saying it was reviewing the policy. Johnson and her fiancee, Kelsey Smith, met Tuesday with the newpaper's editor and publisher.

"This is the second such request in recent months. We will communicate a decision once it's made," editor Matt Von Pinnon was quoted as saying.