Newspaper regrets gay marriage photo

Spooked by reader complaints and canceled subscriptions, The [Lowell, Mass.] Sun apologized to its readers Thursday for publishing a photo of two men kissing at Cambridge Hall on Monday, the day same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts. In an editorial, newspaper officials said the image represented shock value, something the paper tries to avoid. "To some readers, the photograph pushed the envelope too far," the Sun editorial said. "Those contacted by the Sun said it represented an unnecessary, in-your-face intrusion, especially for parents with young children." The editorial also stated that if the staff had the opportunity again, it would most likely choose a different, less intrusive photograph that would fit the "go-slow approach we've endorsed for a better understanding of this sensitive issue."