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‘Religious Freedom’ bill an effort ‘to reincarnate the Defense of Marriage Act’
WASHINGTON — A group of lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to “prohibit discrimination through the federal tax code” against individuals or institutions that exercise religious conscience regarding marriage as between one man and one woman.
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Alaska personnel board includes same-sex partners as ‘immediate family’
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska State Personnel Board has voted to include the same-sex partners of state employees in the definition of “immediate family” for purposes of leave.
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Australian Prime Minister signals challenge to capital’s gay marriage bill
Newly elected Australian prime minster Tony Abbott said this week that his government is considering possibly blocking the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) proposed same-sex marriage legislation.
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Family Research Council shooter sentenced to 25 years in prison
WASHINGTON — A man who planned a mass shooting at a conservative Christian lobbying group’s Washington headquarters in 2012 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the failed plot.
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Pope Francis criticizes Catholic Church’s obsession with gays, abortion
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is warning that the Catholic Church’s moral edifice might “fall like a house of cards” if it doesn’t balance its divisive rules about abortion, gays and contraception with the greater need to make the church a merciful, more welcoming place for all.
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Domestic Partner bills would ensure all federal employees receive equal benefits
WASHINGTON — Legislation that would extend employee benefit programs to cover same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits was introduced Thursday in the U.S. House and Senate.
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New campaign in Ariz. aims to build support for marriage equality by 2016
PHOENIX — Marriage equality advocates have launched a public-education campaign to build support in Arizona for same-sex marriage, with an eye toward the 2016 election.
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Labor Dept.: Same-sex spouses have benefit rights, regardless of residence
WASHINGTON — Legally married same-sex couples enjoy the same federal rights as other married couples when it comes to pensions, 401(k)s, health plans and other employee benefits, even if they live in states that don’t recognize their union, the Labor Department said Wednesday.
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Ark. AG rejects wording on same-sex marriage ballot proposal — again
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has again rejected the wording of a ballot proposal that would legalize gay marriage in Arkansas.
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Battle for marriage equality in Ind. makes for odd political pairings
INDIANAPOLIS — The battle over amending the Indiana Constitution to ban same-sex marriage is splitting pretty clearly along ideological lines but making for some odd pairings of otherwise partisan foes.