NewsWrap for the week ending July 5, 2014

SUMMARY

Peace and Security - The United Nations extends spousal benefits to its legally married lesbian and gay workers equal to those given to married heterosexual employees …

Big Fish Worth Fishing - a Finnish parliamentary committee again rejects a marriage equality proposal …

War of Weddings - Kentucky's state ban on civil marriage for same-gender couples is the latest in the U.S. to be declared unconstitutional, an appeals court stops gay and lesbian marriages in Indiana, and Colorado's Attorney General squares off against a marriage license-distributing Boulder County Clerk …

Conversion & Contraception - the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling upholding California's ban on so-called "reparative therapy" for minors, but sides with closely-held businesses like Hobby Lobby that want to deny birth control options for its female workers based on religious belief – which could open the door to religious-based bias against LGBT people …

Freed to Fuzzy Future - Zambia frees two young men charged with engaging in illegal homosexual acts due to lack of evidence …

Marching Backwards - an estimated 25,000 Jamaicans rally against LGBT rights in Kingston …

Homophobe Housing Plan - Seattle, Washington drag queen "Mama Tits" warns homophobic religious protesters at the Emerald City's annual Pride parade to watch out for falling houses ….

Complete NewsWrap text and this week's podcast to be posted July 8, 2014.