Indiana, Arkansas revise religion bills
After much backlash over religious-freedom bills that many saw as anti-gay, lawmakers in Indiana and in Arkansas approved new measures April 2 to remove the most controversial language.
In Indiana, legislators passed a series of changes that, while not outlawing anti-gay discrimination, clarified that the religious-freedom law does not authorize such bias.
In Arkansas, legislators, at the behest of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, passed a measure that is nearly identical to the federal Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, but does not directly address discrimination.
Many critics felt that the newer versions did not go far enough to deal with the issue of discrimination. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement, "Today, LGBT Arkansans are still unequal, and today's battle points toward a broader struggle ahead—a fight where full and complete equality for all Arkansans that cannot be undermined is the only acceptable outcome."
Chicago rally planned during court hearing
On Tuesday, April 28, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about striking down bans on same-sex marriage in four states, with a decision expected in June.
Chicago LGBTA activists plan to hold a rally that same day at Federal Plaza, 50 W. Adams St., at 5 p.m.
More details will be announced as they become available. Those would like to help organize the Chicago rally should email LGBTliberation@aol.com, or go to the Facebook event ( www.facebook.com/events/1606362122931865/ ) and message the hosts.
WIU survey includes LGBTQ information
During last summer's orientation and registration sessions, incoming Western Illinois University ( WIU ) students were asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, making WIU among the first universities to directly ask students about those topics.
According to Craig Tollini, chair of the University Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression ( UCOSOGIE ), having this information will aid WIU's efforts to provide resources and programming to students.
Of the 1,548 students who completed the College Student Inventory, 92.4 percent selected straight or heterosexual; 3.4 percent selected bisexual or pansexual; 1.1 percent selected gay, lesbian, or homosexual; .5 percent selected questioning; and 0.3 percent selected asexual. Thirty-seven students preferred not answer the question.
Sperm suit to bedecided in DuPage
A white Ohio woman's lawsuit over an apparent sperm bank mix-up that led to the birth of her biracial daughter will be decided in DuPage County, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Lawyers for Midwest Sperm Bank successfully argued that the litigation, filed six months ago in Cook County, instead belonged in the west suburban county where the Downers Grove company is based.
In the lawsuit, Jennifer Cramblett said she became pregnant in December 2011 through artificial insemination with sperm donated by a Black man, instead of a white donor as she and her same-sex partner had intended.
The original article is at www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/downers-grove/news/ct-dgr-lesbian-couple-sperm-suit-met-0404-20150403-story.html .
