Two major stories are coming through from this nation's innards, and it's not good news. Following New York's lead, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Nebraska has put a noose around the possibility of gay marriage. The court overturned a previous judge's dismal of the ban, which was ruled to be too broad and in violation of the rights of gays and lesbians. But the Circuit Court judges felt otherwise: they ruled the ban – passed by voters in 2000 and going so far as to remove legal protections like shared health benefits for gay couples – "and other laws limiting the state-recognized institution of marriage to heterosexual couples are rationally related to legitimate state interests and therefore do not violate the Constitution of the United States."

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a lawsuit filed American Civil Liberties Union – which "that the state failed to meet its own notification requirements for the ballot measure asking voters to ban gay marriage" – was unanimously dismissed by the state's high court. Tennesse already has a gay marriage ban but some lawmakers wanted a – get this – back up gay marriage ban. Based on the court's ruling, this effort will find its way to voters.

Two Victories for Supporters of Gay Marriage Ban [AP]