James Jeffords, the former Republican congressman and senator from Vermont who famously dropped his party affiliation in 2001 has died at age 80. A moderate with a clear-eyed independent streak, Jeffords was an early supporter of LGBT equality within the Republican Party—jointly introducing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the U.S. Senate with Senators Edward Kennedy…
Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams was found dead Monday at his northern California home. Williams, 63, apparently took his own life according to police reports. He had been battling severe depression. His media representative Mara Buxbaum told CNN, “This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during…
Today, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), in partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), launched Accelerating Children’s HIV/AIDS Treatment (ACT). ACT is an ambitious $200 million initiative to double the total number of children receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) across ten priority African countries over the next two years. This investment…
Today, Broward Circuit Judge Dale Cohen struck down Florida’s marriage ban, affirming that the denial of marriage equality to same-sex couples in Florida is unconstitutional. The judge’s ruling applies to recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages, as well as overturning Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage – Broward County only. This marks the third time in the…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled today that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The Huffington Post reported the 2-1 ruling upheld a previous decision issued earlier this year by a Virginia district court, which struck down the state’s ban on gay marriages. In the ruling, Judge Henry Floyd argued that…
Today, a state trial court in Miami issued a decision striking down Florida’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples and ordering Miami-Dade County to allow same-sex couples to marry. The court stayed the order pending appeal. The case was brought by Equality Florida Institute and Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello, Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and…
Today U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore ruled against Colorado’s constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. In Burns v. Hickenlooper, attorneys with Kilmer, Lane and Newman, LLP sued the state on behalf of six same-sex couples who argue that Colorado’s ban on marriage equality violates the U.S. Constitution. Judge Moore stayed his ruling until August 25 to…
MELBOURNE, Australia – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today three major HIV and AIDS awards, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to support global efforts to help end extreme poverty by creating an AIDS-free generation. The new programs support implementation of the PEPFAR Blueprint: Creating an AIDS-Free Generation…
Today, the White House released further amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity. Essentially the amendments added the words “gender identity” to the appropriate sentences of the Executive Orders. The Orders ensure that federal employees – who are already protected on the basis…
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today in a White House ceremony, President Obama signed a sweeping executive order protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers from job discrimination. The order, profoundly consequential in its own right, dramatically underscores President Obama’s own LGBT legacy of achievement, unmatched in history: three landmark pieces of legislation; 90 significant policy or…
