SACRAMENTO – State Treasurer John Chiang today urged CalSTRS board members to divest the pension fund’s holdings in wholesale or retail sellers of military-style assault weapons, ammunition and other devices such as “bump stocks” that are banned in California. Below is a transcript of the Treasurer’s speech: “Chairman Keiley and Investment Committee members… “Exactly one month…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) announced today the filing of an Amicus Brief in support of equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community and other marginalized groups in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. A ruling for Masterpiece Cakeshop could…
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution condemning the violence and persecution against LGBTQ people in Chechnya. Last night, the Senate adopted the resolution by voice vote. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a nearly identical bipartisan resolution in June. To date, neither President Trump nor U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A broad coalition of civil rights organizations led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief Monday for the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which the justices will decide whether discrimination by businesses is…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal court in Washington today blocked the Trump administration from implementing the president’s directive banning transgender service members from continuing to serve in the military. This preliminary injunction will prevent the ban from going into effect during the time it takes to hear and decide the case Doe V. Trump, a…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the weekend, U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris delivered remarks at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 21st Annual National Dinner, an event recognizing the LGBT community’s history of progress and honoring champions of equality. In her remarks, Harris highlighted attacks on LGBT rights under the Trump administration, and urged attendees to recommit…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sent a letter to senators on the Foreign Relations Committee urging them to oppose Donald Trump’s nomination for the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, staunch anti-LGBTQ politician Sam Brownback. “Given Gov. Brownback’s anti-LGBTQ record, it is deeply worrying that he could use this position to promote…
People For the American Way, a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values, has called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to file cloture on four nominees to U.S. Courts of Appeals—Amy Coney Barrett, Joan Larsen, Stephanos Bibas, and Allison Eid. “This move is obviously the outcome of two…
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Senate has voted to advance a discriminatory anti-transgender amendment to the re-authorization of the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Introduced by State Senator Don White, the amendment would cut transition-related surgical services for transgender youth out of the program. HB1338 passed the Senate by a 37-13 vote and…
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, condemned Georgia State Rep. Betty Price for her vicious remarks suggesting that Georgians living with HIV and AIDS should be “quarantined” on Wednesday evening at the 2017 GLAAD Gala Atlanta, a celebration of national and local leaders working to accelerate acceptance of the…
