Social Issues

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Openly gay Colorado state Sen. Pat Steadman (center) speaks at a rally in support of civil unions at the Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

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Signs backing and against the Constitutional Marriage Amendment line a sidewalk outside a polling site at Leesville Road Middle School in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday. A constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was driving turnout for the state's primary. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Sandy Adams, Florida Republican, is the lead author of a bill to renew the nation's domestic-violence prevention law. A House panel passed the bill during a daylong session Tuesday despite the objections of Democrats. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** The popular HIV-fighting pill Truvada can help healthy people avoid contracting the virus that causes AIDS, a federal drug panel has affirmed. (AP Photo/Gilead Sciences)

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Education Secretary Arne Duncan chimed in Monday in support of federal recognition of same-sex marriage. (Associated Press)

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Vice President Joseph R. Biden made his remark in favor of gay marriage two days before voters in the swing state of North Carolina are to weigh in Tuesday on a ballot measure that would codify the traditional definition of marriage as only the union of one man and one woman. (Associated Press)