Arkansas

10-year old won't pledge allegiance to a country that discriminates against gay citizens

Brave Will Phillips - an elementary school student - refuses to say the pledge of allegiance in school because of discrimination against gay people:

"I've always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer," Will said. "I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all."

The AP reports that an Arkansas judge has ruled that a challenge to ban on unmarried adoption, fostering can proceed.

The voter-approved ban went into effect Jan. 1. It prohibits unmarried couples who live together from adopting or fostering children. Its authors acknowledge it was aimed at gay people.

The Fairness Campaign is opposing Kentucky Senate Bill 68 [sponsored by state Sen. Gary Tapp, R-Shelbyville] that would bar gay and lesbian couples from adopting children.

The AP reports that the measure would allow children to be placed only in adoptive or foster homes with people who "are not cohabiting outside of a marriage that is legally valid in Kentucky."

Family Equality Council is responding to the disappointing losses in Arizona [Prop 102], Florida [Amendment 2], Arkansas [Act 1], and California [Prop 8] with a new campaign - called DECLARE YOUR FAMILY EQUAL.

The Associated Press reports that exit polls - conducted for the gay parenting ban in Arkansas - showed it passed because of the support of evangelical or born-again Christians.

According to the AP, rural and evangelical voters propelled Arkansas to adopt one of the nation's few bans against unmarried couples becoming foster or adoptive parents.

Arkansas voters have approved a measure banning unmarried couples who are living together being adoptive or foster parents.

The AP reports that more than 56 percent of voters supported the ban, said by its proponents to be aimed primarily at keeping gays from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The measure's sponsor, the Arkansas Family Council, tried to paint its as a battle against a "gay agenda."

A proposal to ban unmarried couples from fostering or adopting children in Arkansas is likely to fail, according to a major poll taken by University of Arkansas.

The ballot measure that will be voted on Nov. 4 is opposed by 58 percent of those surveyed and supported by 38 percent of participants. 7 percent told pollsters they were undecided or refused to answer.