Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback today issued Executive Order 15-05, “Preservation and Protection of Religious Freedom,” protecting the religious freedom of Kansas clergy and religious organizations. EO 15-05 prohibits state government from taking any discriminatory action against any “individual clergy or religious leader,” or any “religious organization” that chooses not to participate in a marriage that…
In the week since the historic Supreme Court decision that established nationwide marriage equality, LGBT advocates across the country have spoken in unison about the need for federal non-discrimination legislation. The reason for this is clear: despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, LGBT Americans lack explicit protections in federal law that prohibit discrimination on the basis…
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has cancelled the public relations contract it had signed to help repair the tremendous damage caused when Gov. Mike Pence signed the anti-LGBT so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law. According to Chris W. Cotterill, executive vice president of the IEDC, the contract was cancelled in part because…
Today, The Huffington Post welcomed Caitlyn Jenner as its newest blogger. Today’s blog, the first in a special original series provided to HuffPost will explore issues and people in the LGBT community. In this post, Caitlyn looks back at the first few weeks of her inspiring new journey and her hopes for shining a light on the…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) applauded the President’s announcement that the Department of Labor will propose extending overtime pay protections to nearly 5 million salaried American workers, including more than 400,000 in California. This proposal would increase the current overtime protection threshold, guaranteeing overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than…
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The United States Supreme Court’s endorsement of same-sex marriage is a huge victory for the gay rights movement but it is hardly the end of the battle for equality. With only 21 states banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, it is not illegal in most places in America…
WASHINGTON – Thursday, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families, responded to the news that the Secretary of the Navy has raised the level of authority required to discharge transgender Sailors and Marines. According to the memorandum dated July, 1, 2015, “Separations initiated…
On the day GOP Senator Jesse Helms died, July 4, 2008, America celebrated with fireworks. As a longtime target of the senator’s hate tactics, I bought drinks for friends in San Francisco’s Castro. My hate mail from Helms’s followers has diminished some over the years. After more than 20 years, the anonymous letters and “No…
The Episcopal Church voted July 1 to allow clergy to preside over religious ceremonies for same-sex couples as of Nov. 1. According to the Episcopal News Service the Episcopal House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ approval the day before of a canonical change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and…
