Archive

• Court rules California’s Prop 8 ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional
• Civil rights groups say voting laws disenfranchise poor, people of color, women
• Minnesota’s Susan Allen, Native American and lesbian, brings distinct experience to state legislature
• In Indonesia, those fleeing violence in home countries trapped in search for asylum

• UNICEF says children continue to suffer in Syria
• France recalls diplomats from Damascus
• Arab countries recall ambassadors
• HRW: epidemic lead poisoning in Nigerian kids working in gold mines
• Maldives President quits amid clashes between military and police
• Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners begin gradual hunger strike
• Komen executive quits on heels of Planned Parenthood controversy

Today, a US appeals court ruled that California’s Proposition 8 measure that bans same sex marriage is unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upheld a previous decision that also struck down the state measure. Backers of Proposition 8 vowed to challenge the decision and the case may make its way to the US Supreme Court. After the ruling was issued, Sandra Stier, one of the lead plaintiffs in the case along with her partner, Kristin Perry, spoke about the decision in reference to the couple’s two teenage sons.

The race for a Republican presidential nominee continues today, with a primary in Missouri and caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota. As the contest for the 2012 elections heats up, more and more states are passing laws requiring residents to present photo ID at the ballot box, which supporters say is in response to voter fraud. But civil rights groups are joining with unions to launch a national campaign today to combat these efforts, saying such laws will disenfranchise people of color, women, students, the elderly and the poor.

As voters head to the caucuses in Minnesota today, they’re also getting ready for a controversial amendment later this year. This November, voters will decide on a measure that would ban same-sex marriage. Groups for and against the amendment are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, but as the campaigns compete to win over voters, the state did make history recently. Last month, voters elected the first openly gay Native American to a state legislature. Democrat Susan Allen is Lakota, Dakota and Anishinabe. She is a tax and tribal law attorney.

Many people fleeing violence in war-torn countries like Iraq, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, make a long journey to reach Australia, where they have a chance to start a new life as asylum seekers. Along the way, Indonesia has become a major transit point. For those attempting the journey by sea, it can be dangerous and sometimes vessels are rescued or intercepted in Indonesian waters. This often leads to long periods of detention or an uncertain life in a refugee camp. FSRN’s Rebecca Henschke recently visited some of these asylum seekers and files this report.

• After UN resolution fails, deadly strikes in Syria increase
• Anti-war rallies call for end to sanctions on Iran, support for pro-democracy forces
• FAA bill in Congress draws fire for weakening unions, increasing domestic drones
• Two veteran Democrats forced to compete for Ohio seat in redrawn map