http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=9393&sd=07/25/03After much contentious debate and strong opposition from gay rights advocates, the U.S. House of Representatives early Friday narrowly approved a retooling of the federal Head Start preschool program. The new version of the program shifts control to some states and allows religious centers to hire people based on their faith, a move decried by many as taxpayer-funded discrimination. The bill was passed by one vote despite Democratic efforts to remove the discriminatory wording. "It's in these circumstances that even pro-gay Republicans cave under party pressure," said Dave Noble, executive director for the National Stonewall Democrats. "They can try to dismiss their actions as just another procedural vote, but in reality these votes usually result in a long-lasting, negative impact on our community."