Groups aiming to further expand gay rights at state level

Groups aiming to further expand gay rights at state level

Published Apr. 4, 2015 11:44 a.m. ET

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Campaigns to win broader anti-discrimination protections for gays and lesbians are getting a boost in several states from the national focus on new religious objections laws in Indiana and Arkansas.

As Indiana and Arkansas reworked laws amid criticism from leading businesses such as Apple and Wal-Mart, the Republican governors of Michigan and North Dakota both urged their legislatures to extend discrimination protections to gays.

The American Civil Liberties Union says 29 states currently don't include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination laws.

Gay-rights activists in both Arkansas and Indiana hope to build support for such a move in their states. Indiana Equality co-founder Kathy Sarris says they aren't going to let lawmakers off the hot seat.

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DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas.

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