News

LANSING, Mich. — Lawmakers could vote this week on bills letting faith-based agencies refuse to participate in adoptions that violate their beliefs, despite accusations that they would permit discrimination against gays and others.

NEW YORK — The U.S. gay-rights movement has achieved many victories in recent years — on marriage, military service and other fronts. Yet one vestige of an earlier, more wary era remains firmly in place: the 30-year-old nationwide ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men.

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian Christian Lobby, a powerful anti-gay political faction, announced this week that it will exert pressure on Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott, to override the Australian Capital Territory’s proposed marriage equality law by passing a bill in the federal parliament to block the effort.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An Indiana University alumni group has launched what it’s calling the nation’s first scholarship campaign intended to assist gay and lesbian students.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A southern New Mexico county clerk who is facing a challenge for his decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses has garnered close to $30,000 in donations.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The city council in Idaho Falls, Idaho, has passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against LGBT residents in the areas of housing and employment.

SEDONA, Ariz. — Another Arizona community is moving toward recognizing civil unions of couples regardless of gender.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The city council in Topeka, Kan., has scheduled a vote on an anti-discrimination proposal that would amend responsibility of the city’s Human Relations Commission to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Superior Court says it is adding a second marriage ceremony room and boosting marriage bureau staffing to accommodate an increase in applications believed to be the result of the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling.

LINDEN, Mich. — Another Michigan community has approved an ordinance that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.