ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ Same-sex couples in Alaska are equally entitled to the same state property-tax exemptions for senior citizens and disabled veterans as married couples, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday.

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) _ A big public turnout is possible as leaders in Bay County consider a measure to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

An upcoming update for the popular PlayStation and PC game, "Final Fantasy XIV," will allow players to enter into same-sex marriages after the game’s officials initially decided to exclude gay marriage, Gawker’s video game news site Kotaku reported on June 10.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) _ The South Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is expanding its staff ahead of expected legislative debates on transgender and women's issues.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a western Indiana school district seeking to force it to recognize a club for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and those that support them.

The U.S. Army has agreed to "fully recognize" the new legal names of two transgender military veterans, the American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday.

HAVANA (AP) — Yet another revolutionary tradition has been broken in Cuba: A lawmaker voted "no" in parliament.

HOUSTON (AP) — Actress Sally Field says that as a mother of a gay son, she hopes Houston voters will pass a nondiscrimination ordinance on Tuesday.

Two Alaska state representatives plan to reintroduce separate bills that would make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Bethel city employees could soon be protected from sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination under changes to the city’s municipal code.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Anchorage Assembly members have passed an ordinance making it illegal in the city to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Anchorage Assembly is considering a gay rights ordinance that would ban discrimination in the city on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

East Baton Rouge, LA (WGMB) -- Members of the East Baton Rouge Metro Council will not debate a controversial plan to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in housing and employment.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Exxon Mobil Corp. has said it will comply with the new protections for gay and transgender employees required of federal contractors, while still sidestepping the question of whether it will formalize that by changing the language of its corporate policy.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Apple chief executive Tim Cook, the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, is donating money to help fund a gay rights initiative in his native Alabama and two other Southern states, organizers said Thursday.

(CNN) -- In an uncharacteristically personal address, Apple CEO Tim Cook is speaking out about civil rights, saying equality for all is "at the core of my beliefs and values."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Monday banned local governments from expanding anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a move criticized by retail giant Wal-Mart and gay rights groups who said the prohibition damaged the state's image.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — The spouse of a Fort Bragg lieutenant colonel will lead the nation's largest organization for partners, spouses and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members and veterans.

SYDNEY (AP) — Chief executives of Australia's major sports leagues have signed a commitment to eliminate discrimination against gay people among their teams, players and spectators.

A union-management squabble that temporarily prevented SEPTA’s union workers from accessing workplace benefits for their same-sex spouses has been resolved.

The passage of the Equality Act would change the lives of LGBT people drastically.

The regional premiere of “Billy Elliot the Musical” opened at the Maltz-Jupiter Theatre on Dec 1, 2015. It runs through Dec. 20. It’s a great way to get a couple of hours rest from shopping and holiday preparations to watch this production mounted exclusively for the Maltz.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ North Carolina's largest insurer has cancelled family insurance policies sold to 20 gay and lesbian couples on a federal insurance marketplace because of restrictive contract language the company plans to remove next year.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's largest insurer now offers spousal coverage to legally married gay couples in order to comply with a federal rule that insurance companies must treat married couples the same regardless of sexual orientation.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly said Monday she will not stop fighting for equal rights for lesbians, gays, transgender people and bisexuals despite years of character assassination and threats to her life and the lives of her 2-year-old twins.

(CNN) -- The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it's lifting the ban on gay adults as Scout leaders.

The Boy Scouts of America will accept openly gay youths starting on New Year’s Day, a historic change that has prompted the BSA to ponder a host of potential complications — ranging from policies on tentmates and showers to whether Scouts can march in gay pride parades.

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Bozeman city leaders have given their initial backing to a measure creating protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

A UK equality charity has named Britain's domestic spy agency its employer of the year.

After a transgender person was denied entry to a female changing stall, British retail chain Topshot will be adding gender-neutral changing rooms.