Rightists split by gay ruling

Mike Huckabee.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told conservatives the Supreme Court tried to "unwrite the laws of nature and the laws of nature's God" when it legalised gay marriage across the United States.

The former Arkansas Governor suggested yesterday that Americans flout the ruling, as President Abraham Lincoln did in the wake of the justices' 1857 decision that blacks could not be citizens. Huckabee also pointed out that President Barack Obama opposed gay marriage until 2012. "He was either lying in 2008, or he's lying now, or God has rewritten the Bible and only Barack Obama has gotten the new edition," Huckabee said at the Western Conservative Summit.

The Republicans offered few suggestions on what to do about the gay marriage ruling, highlighting the party's challenges on social issues ahead of the 2016 elections.

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry derided the ruling but did not suggest a next step. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who has called for a constitutional amendment to undo the marriage ruling, talked broadly about judicial appointments.

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum said the gay marriage ruling was "based on a lie" that gay-marriage opponents were motivated by discrimination.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said he was disappointed by the ruling. But he indicated he would not fight it. He said long-term loving relationships should be respected as well as a person's ability to express their religious beliefs.

Meanwhile, to the casual observer, the black flag with unfamiliar white symbols looked out of place among the colourful outfits and banners at London's gay pride march. Maybe Isis really had infiltrated what jihadists see as a symbol of Western sexual deviance and decadence. CNN certainly thought so, running photographs of the flag above a banner headline, saying: "Isis flag spotted at gay pride event." The segment was billed as an exclusive. Just one problem - the flag was a spoof, displaying what might politely be termed "sex toys" against a black background.

- AP, Telegraph Group Ltd