LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A bill banning cities and counties from creating domestic partner registries has failed before a House Committee.

The bill, by Rep. Bryan King of Green Forest, targeted Eureka Springs, which began issuing domestic partnership certificates to same-sex and straight couples in 2007.

King, a Republican, says the registry is an attempt to circumvent the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, but opponents say King’s bill would amount to the Legislature meddling in local affairs.

The bill failed March 27 before the House City, County and Local Affairs Committee on a voice vote.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A lesbian Presbyterian deacon’s application for ordination has been stopped, at least for now.

A church commission Wednesday rejected the process used by the Presbytery of San Francisco to approve 45-year-old Lisa Larges’ candidacy for ordination.

That approval came last year after Larges stated her disagreement with a ban on sexually active gays serving as clergy within the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Larges said Wednesday’s ruling was technical and limited in scope. Still, she said it has “deeply personal and painful repercussions” for her and other gay, bisexual and transgender people who want to serve the church.

Larges has twice been denied ordination because she is a lesbian.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Groups representing social workers, psychologists and children’s interests spoke out in favor of a same-sex marriage bill in the Maine Legislature.

At a news conference Thursday, the groups said their research shows that children thrive in homes where the parents have loving and committed relationships. Dr. David Lilly of the Maine Psychological Association says the development, adjustment and well-being of children does not differ markedly whether their parents are gay or straight.

A hearing on the same-sex marriage bill is scheduled for April 24 at Cony High School in Augusta.

The Catholic Diocese of Portland and Family Council of Maine oppose the bill, saying it hits on a fundamental issue for many people.

SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say they are investigating an assault on two men on the beach at Seaside as an anti-gay hate crime.

Seaside police say two 22-year-old Washington state men reported early Sunday that three to four people in black beat them unconscious.

The two were treated at an area hospital. One victim is from Bothell, the other from Issaquah.

Police Chief Bob Gross says the hate crime designation could bring a penalty in addition to the assault charges.

The two told police they were leaving a bonfire gathering when they were assaulted. Seaside police say they’ve asked for public help in identifying people who were at the party before the attack.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon House members approved a bill Wednesday to strengthen the state’s 8-year-old law against bullying in the public schools.

Backers cited a recent study showing that despite the 2001 law, more than 40 percent of Oregon eighth-graders reported being subjected to name-calling, bullying or other harassment, with the highest rates among students of color, girls and gays.

Among other things, the bill that won approval Wednesday will require school districts to establish clear policies on bullying and designate a “point person” to handle complaints.

The bill was sent to the state Senate on a 50-9 vote.

One who voted no was Rep. Sal Equivel, who said local school officials should be allowed to use common sense.

But Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, said he’s heard from parents frustrated with school districts’ lack of action against bullies.

The measure would set statewide standards for districts to follow in drafting and enforcing their policies and make the anti-bullying process available to parents, students and others.

It also would expand the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying to include interfering with the “psychological well-being” of a student. It would broaden the definition to say bullying can be based on a student’s “protected class status,” which includes race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.

Because of the state’s money squeeze, the bill’s supporters earlier deleted a requirement that school districts track and report which groups of students are being targeted by bullies, as well as a teacher-training requirement.

During Wednesday’s House debate, several lawmakers raised concerns about broad language in the bill defining harassment, intimidation and bullying as any act that interferes with the “psychological well-being” of a student.

A supporter, Rep. Sara Gelser, said the bill aims at what she called the unacceptably high incidence of bullying in Oregon schools.

“Unfortunately, too many Oregon students are afraid when they go to school,” the Corvallis Democrat said.

NEW YORK (AP) – Mayor Michael Bloomberg is reaffirming his support for legalizing same-sex marriage.

The mayor told an audience Wednesday night that he will again ask state lawmakers to allow same-sex couples to tie the knot in New York. But he doesn’t know whether Albany is ready to support such a measure.

Bloomberg made the remarks at an annual dinner of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

He says the tide of public opinion is turning in support of same-sex marriage. Bloomberg offered to testify in favor of any bill considered in the capital.

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) – The Aberdeen School Board has decided not to include sexual orientation on the items listed in a district policy that defines what cannot be discriminated against.

The board’s lawyer, Rory King, said people with nontraditional sexual orientations already are protected by the policy without adding words to the list. No school employees who perform their jobs are in danger of losing those jobs because of sexual orientation, he said.

Supporters of adding the category said Monday the South Dakota Board of Regents and the state’s 50 largest employers prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in policy.

“Let’s be courageous, not fear driven,” David D. Fischer of Aberdeen told the school board.

Aberdeen’s policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of “race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, disability, national origin or ancestry.”

King said it would be better for the Legislature to tackle the emotional issue of sexual orientation than for school boards statewide to decide it independently in differing ways.

He also said it is inappropriate for school board policies to take on ideological battles. Adding it to the anti-discrimination policy would increase the district’s risk of being sued, according to King.

The board lawyer said his recommendation does not mean he endorses discrimination against a person because of sexual orientation. Several who spoke Monday said they have friends and loved ones who are gay and that they do not want them to experience discrimination.

Fischer and three others from the audience spoke in favor of the wording change. King and two audience members spoke in favor of leaving the policy as is.

POULTNEY, Vt. (AP) – Same-sex marriage supporters have been shadowing Gov. Jim Douglas since his announcement last week that he intends to veto same-sex marriage legislation if it reaches his desk.

Roughly 200 protesters greeted the governor and his wife when they showed up at Green Mountain College for a maple sugaring event Saturday. The crowd watched quietly, sang or chanted while Douglas used a hand-cranked drill to tap a tree in an arboretum decorated with rainbow ribbons.

Douglas did not address the crowd or respond to the protesters. He has said he believes marriage should be the union of a man and woman and complained that lawmakers were being distracted by the issue from addressing the state’s reeling economy and budget woes.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams has withdrawn an application to join a Catholic service society.

Members of the Order of Malta have complained that because Williams supports abortion rights and protections for same-sex unions, he should not be allowed to join the group. Among the organization’s members are U.S. lawmakers who give time and money to charities.

Williams’ critics used Internet blogs to voice their concerns. Noreen Falcone, the order’s president, says anonymously putting incomplete information on Internet sites was unfair to Williams and his sponsors.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates says both he and President Barack Obama have “a lot on our plates right now.” As Gates puts it, “let’s push that one down the road a little bit.”

The White House has said Obama has begun consulting with Gates and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on how to lift the ban. Gates says that dialogue has not really progressed very far at this point in the administration.

The Pentagon policy was put in place after President Bill Clinton tried to lift the ban on gay service members in 1993.

The policy refers to the military practice of not asking recruits their sexual orientation. In turn, servicemembers are banned from saying they are gay or bisexual, engaging in homosexual activity or trying to marry a member of the same sex.

Gates appeared on “Fox News Sunday.”