Gay marriage advocates

Gay marriage advocates have won a stream of court victories since the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June 2013 in a case called U.S. v. Windsor to strike down a key part of a federal law that had restricted the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples for the purpose of federal government benefits. The momentum within America's courts in favor of gay marriage reflects a sea-change in public opinion in the past decade, with polls showing a steady increase in support. Politicians, mostly Democrats but also some notable Republicans, have increasingly voiced their support for ending bans.

Gay marriage advocates

Gay marriage advocates have won a stream of court victories since the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June 2013 in a case called U.S. v. Windsor to strike down a key part of a federal law that had restricted the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples for the purpose of federal government benefits. The momentum within America's courts in favor of gay marriage reflects a sea-change in public opinion in the past decade, with polls showing a steady increase in support. Politicians, mostly Democrats but also some notable Republicans, have increasingly voiced their support for ending bans.

The students began

The protesters oppose Beijing's decision in August that all candidates in Hong Kong's first direct election in 2017 for the territory's top post must be approved by a mostly pro-Beijing committee. They accuse the central government of reneging on a promise that the chief executive would be chosen through "universal suffrage." The students began occupying the area outside the entrance of the imposing government compound housing Leung's office late Wednesday, at times reluctantly moving to allow police vehicles and an ambulance to enter. As Thursday wore on, they grew increasingly resistant to allowing more vehicles in after police hand-carried in tubs labeled "rubber batons" and tear gas.