News

HONOLULU — Hawaii House lawmakers were poised to take their final vote Friday on a bill to legalize gay marriage on the islands, with strong chances the measure will pass and move to the Senate for its second approval.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s president tested for HIV in public on Friday to encourage millions of untested people to check their status, a critical step to stemming the spread of the virus in the East African country.

WASHINGTON — Moments after the Senate passed a historic measure to outlaw workplace discrimination against gays, activists turned their attention toward President Barack Obama and a long-sought executive order that would have the same effect, though on a much smaller scale.

ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatia moved Friday to hold a referendum on whether to allow gay marriages, but critics say the vote is discriminatory and gay rights groups are challenging its wording as biased and unconstitutional.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A judge violated an Arkansas man’s constitutional rights by barring his gay partner from staying overnight when his son visits, imposing a blanket restriction on unmarried couples living together, attorneys told the state’s highest court Thursday.

CHICAGO — A Cook County judge has issued a temporary stay of a lawsuit that challenged Illinois’ ban on same-sex marriage.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Thursday approved the wording of a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage, clearing the way for supporters to begin gathering signatures to place the measure on the 2016 ballot.

HONOLULU — A Hawaii judge has rejected a move to block lawmakers from legalizing gay marriage in a special session, but said he’ll hear the challenge if a law is passed.

WASHINGTON — The White House issued a statement Thursday from President Barack Obama, just moments after the U.S. Senate approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), urging House leaders to pass the measure.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Pat Quinn says he’s planning to sign same-sex marriage legislation on Nov. 20 in Chicago.