Iowa Sen. Sandy Greiner, R-Keota, is among the co-sponsors of a statehouse bill that would outlaw same-sex marriage in the Iowa Constitution.

A group opposed to equal marriage in the US state of Minnesota has pledged half a million dollars to defeat any Republican legislator voting to legalise marriage equality in the state.

Senate lawmakers shot down a bill Thursday that would have given gay and lesbian North Dakotans the weight of state law behind legal battles against employers or landlords who discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

Senate Bill 2252 failed by a close 21-26 vote. It was a step back for the state, according to Rep. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, after the Senate voted for a similar bill in 2009, which failed in the House.

The Democratic-led Senate delivered a Valentine’s Day victory to gay and lesbian couples today, passing legislation for the first time that would allow same-sex marriage in Illinois.

The gay marriage measure now goes to the House, where the fight is expected to be tougher. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

A Democratic lawmaker in Missouri has introduced a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the state -- the fourth year he's pushed the bill.

The legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia), would extend the state's human rights law to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in providing housing, employment and public accommodations. Missouri already has banned discrimination based on sexual orientation against those seeking employment in the state's executive branch, which Gov. Jay Nixon (D) implemented by executive order in 2010. Webber stressed that the bill, introduced on Thursday, is needed for the Show Me State's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population.

The Southern Poverty Law Center on Thursday accused the Scott County Central School District in Sikeston of discrimination and gave the district until Feb. 25 to revise the school dance policy or face a potential lawsuit. District superintendent Alvin McFerren declined comment.

The district has one elementary school and one high school that serve a combined 330 students.

A former teacher is suing a central Michigan school district that did not renew her contract following a dispute over a poster raising awareness for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history month.

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) passed a resolution last week that calls for an end to federal and state HIV-specific criminal laws and prosecutions.

While the resolution is only advisory, it recommends that the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services issue guidance and offer incentives to state attorneys general and state health departments to eliminate HIV-specific laws. The advisory group also asks these federal agencies to develop guidelines for how to approach HIV within criminal and civil justice systems that are “consistent with the treatment of similar health and safety risks.”

The recent Republican effort in swing states to game the electoral college by changing to a district system died a quick death, in large part out of its own shamelessness.

But as usual, the Johnson County Republicans are behind the curve, so they're getting ready their own local If You Can't Win, Change The Rules plan. After failing to get the signatures two years ago, they're making another attempt to change the Board of Supervisors to a district system.

On Friday evening's episode of "Iowa Press," Iowa Republican Party chair A.J. Spiker was asked how he felt about the members of that state's GOP who either no longer want to push for the 2009 marriage equality law to be overturned or who accept same-sex marriages altogether.