North Dakota
*A senate committee in North Dakota heard testimony on a bill that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity despite opposition from religious leaders. From the Jamestown Sun:

Lawmakers heard testimony Monday on a bill that would have North Dakota join more than 20 states that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, housing and government services.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several gay and lesbian residents ask lawmakers’ approval of Senate Bill 2279. Residents and religious leaders in opposition said the bill would infringe on people’s personal religious beliefs and create a special class of individuals under state law.

South Dakota
*The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to hear marriage equality cases in South Dakota, Missouri, and Arkansas, instead of waiting for the U.S Supreme Court to rule in mid-2015. The move has surprised those watching the cases, the Associated Press reports.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has appealed a South Dakota court’s ruling that struck down a ban on same-sex marriage. He told the AP:

“So to the extent that the Supreme Court doesn’t fully answer of all the questions,” Jackley said, “however the 8th Circuit rules in the Missouri, South Dakota and Arkansas cases will be the law of the land, so to speak (in the 8th Circuit).”

Iowa
*A conservative radio host is coming under fire for calling the head of Iowa largest LGBT advocacy group, One Iowa, a “thug” after a Christian business was sued for refusing to serve a same-sex couple. Askarbent has the exchange:

Steve Deace, former extremist WHO talk show host and current extremist USA Radio Network host says the head of Iowa’s biggest gay advocacy group, One Iowa, is a straight-up “thug.”

In a press release, One Iowa’s Donna Redwing responded:
“Red Wing is a thug, pure and simple. Instead of a Tommy Gun, she has a decadent culture and soft-headed legal theory to use as her accomplices.”
He is talking about me, and he is talking about you. Don’t let Steve Deace get away with this kind of damaging rhetoric. Help support the work that One Iowa does for the LGBT community.

*Iowa State Daily takes a look at the state of anti-discrimination laws and finds that they do a good job of protecting LGBT Iowans:

Those who identify as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning community can take a bit of ease in knowing Iowa bans discrimination based on gender identity.
Iowa is one of 19 states to adopt policies that protect people from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity, according to alcu.org.

*Bob Vander Plaats, head of the Family Leader, a religious right group, made some startling claims about marriage equality, according to the Iowa Republican:

“A lot of the things that we said early on, that people said were red herrings that we’re just trying to scare people, they’re starting to come true,” Vander Plaats said. “A woman wants to marry herself, a dad wants to marry a daughter, three people out on the East Coast want to get married, polygamy laws are getting labeled as unconstitutional. So, it’s not about redefining marriage, it’s about undefining marriage. I’m extremely hopeful today to get legislators back to the Truth.”

*The University of Iowa has its first gay fraternity, the Daily Iowan reports:

Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity founded “by gay men for all men,” and the first of its kind on campus, has undergone chartering and is now recognized as an official chapter.
“I feel fantastic, and I’m so proud of my members who have come through and how much support and dedication all our men have given to the organization,” said Trevor Leeper, the chapter president.
The national fraternity, which started during a conversation among four gay men in 1986, aims to be inclusive to all groups and be a progressive social fraternity, according to its website.