California Assembly unanimously approves bill to curb drunk driving

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) Wednesday won the full Assembly’s overwhelming approval of her legislation aimed at curbing drunk driving in California. Assembly Bill 1221 was approved on a bipartisan vote of 56-0. “We need to do everything we can to prevent drunk driving. This simple training program will…

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GOP Rep. Scott Taylor of Virginia endorses Equality Act

WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced that GOP Rep. Scott Taylor (VA) will co-sponsor the Equality Act — legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s existing civil rights laws. 242 members of Congress and more than 90 corporations now back the bipartisan legislation. “The growing support for…

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LGBTQ college students face barriers to campus mental health services, study finds

College students who belong to sexual minority groups are more likely to seek help for mental health problems than their straight peers, but they still face many barriers to using on-campus mental health services, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Researchers found that students who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning…

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Veterans to rally at Lincoln Memorial; march to White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 30, at 11 a.m. EDT, veterans and supporters will mass at the Lincoln Memorial. Speakers include Veterans For Peace President Barry Ladendorf, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Medea Benjamin, David Swanson, Chris Hedges, Brian Becker, Col. Ann Wright, Mara Verhayden Hilliard, Michael McPhearson, Jonathan Hutto and Matt Hoh. Music will be provided…

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Sen. Atkins’ landmark affordable-housing legislation among 9 bills advanced Thursday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed nine bills authored by Sen. Toni Atkins, including SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act – which would create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. Also advancing out of the Appropriations Committee were SB 179 – the Gender Recognition Act – which…

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HRC launches ‘Summer of Action’ to spur millions of supporters to ‘Unite. Resist. Enlist.’

WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has launched a nationwide Summer of Action anchored by more than 250 grassroots events from coast to coast. The theme of these events — “Unite. Resist. Enlist.” — reflects the goal of HRC’s Summer of Action: to empower and mobilize millions of equality voters to fight back against…

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Education Secretary DeVos gives license to discriminate on LGBTQ students at schools

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said during a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday that states should have the option to decide whether schools that receive federal dollars can intentionally discriminate against LGBTQ students. Responding to SeVos’ testimonySarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD said, “By turning a blind eye to LGBTQ students who…

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