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• 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

• Foreclosure settlement close; will CA and NY join?
• Google and Facebook take down content from Indian domains
• International nurse-in calls on Facebook to stop blocking breast feeding photos
• Oakland demonstrators gather at court house
• Park police enforce no camping ban at Occupy DC encampments
• China tells airlines to ignore EU greenhouse gas laws
• Egypt names those arrested for working for foreign groups operating without permission

Today, in Syria, attacks and shelling continued in cities throughout the country. Homs, long a center of the resistance to the regime of Bashar al Assad, received the brunt of bombardment. A video posted on Youtube appears to show residential buildings of Homs with the sound of rockets falling nearby. Other Videos showed smoke rising along the skyline with the whine of shots in the distance. Residents told local media that they were starting to collect medicine, food and water and described the city surrounded by armed forces.

As tensions continue to escalate between Iran and the United States and Israel, thousands of activists demonstrated in dozens of cities across the globe over the weekend. Protesters say they’re against war and sanctions in Iran and in support of that country’s pro-democracy movement. While most of the demonstrations were small, they did take place widely. Organizers estimate that rallies and marches took place in more than 80 cities.