By Meghan Holt for the Ball State Daily News .Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Ball State Daily News-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration. “Come in as a stranger, leave as a friend” brands the doors of the Mark III Tap Room, known colloquially as “the Mark” in downtown Muncie, Indiana. Established in 1968, the Mark is the state’s oldest gay bar. Since its initial opening, the bar has moved buildings, closed and reopened its doors multiple times while going through ownership changes. Regardless, it remained a staple of Indiana and the Muncie LGBTQ+ community. .
Members of Nebraska s LGBTQ+ community and their supporters saw positive actions at both the state and federal level this month. At the state level, LB-575 failed to pass. The bill would have required Nebraska transgender youth to participate in the sports and use the facilities that correspond with their biological gender, as determined by their chromosomes. .
Advocates for end-of-life care options in Montana have asked the state Supreme Court to uphold an injunction of a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors, to keep it from going into effect. Critics said the measure violates civil liberties and goes further. The group Compassion & Choices has asked the court to uphold the injunction. .