HRC highlights California LGBTQ protections, laws and legislative proposals in new national report

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation in partnership with the Equality Federation, today released its third annual national report assessing the status of state legislation affecting LGBTQ equality across America, including in California. HRC’s State Equality Index reveals that in many states opponents of equality are ramping up efforts to sanction discrimination against…

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President Obama thanks federal employees (VIDEO)

Today, the President issued a video message thanking Federal employees for their service, and recognizing the enormous difference they make in the lives of Americans. To celebrate the accomplishments of the Federal workforce, today the Administration is releasing a list of examples demonstrating the impact Federal employees have had in making Government work better for…

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New group launches to stop LGBTQ conversion therapy

WASHINGTON — A new grassroots group, 50 Bills 50 States, launched this week seeking to protect LGBT youth from the practice of conversion therapy. The discredited therapy seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity using what many consider torturous techniques. Samuel Brinton, a survivor of conversion therapy and one of the group’s…

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Trial begins in civil rights case against San Francisco police officers for police brutality

SAN FRANCISCO — Queer Arab-American public interest attorney and musician Nyla Moujaes is no stranger to the courtroom. But today (Dec. 12), she will pursue social justice in a new role – as a plaintiff in a civil rights and police misconduct trial in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California – Oakland Division. A lawyer…

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Mississippians unite in Jackson, march on governor’s mansion, rally for equality for LGBTQ community

JACKSON, Miss. –  Saturday, LGBTQ advocates and opponents of House Bill 1523 (HB 1523) – the so-called “Religious Freedom” bill that gives special rights to opponents of marriage equality and encourages discrimination against the LGBTQ community – rallied to raise their voices for equality and acceptance. Although HB 1523 was blocked by a federal court,…

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LGBT groups call on authorities and media to honor the names and genders of transgender Ghost Ship fire victims

OAKLAND — In the aftermath of the tragic fire at the Ghost Ship artist community Dec. 2 that claimed the lives of more than 35 people, local authorities and media have continued to disrespect transgender victims by not honoring their correct names and gender identities. The following joint statement was issued by Equality California, National…

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Mic launches ‘Unerased,’ a database tracking transgender murders in the US

NEW YORK — In the most comprehensive investigation of transgender-related homicide to date, Mic Thursday released “Unerased: Counting Transgender Lives,” a project looking at trans murder in America. Working in collaboration with transgender advocacy organizations, activists, academics and victims’ loved ones and families, a team of reporters at Mic has launched an interactive database of…

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Sens. Durbin and Graham introduce bill to protect DREAMers (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Friday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced The BRIDGE Act, bipartisan legislation to provide legislative relief to nearly 800,000 DREAMers with DACA. The act would maintain the protections of President Barack Obama’s DACA program. More than 740,000 young people were granted deportation reprieve and work permits under the…

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New survey shows 82 percent of LGBT Americans fear Trump/Pence administration

The first large-scale survey of LGBT people following the election of Donald Trump reveals a growing climate of fear about what a Trump presidency will mean for the 6% of all adults in the US who from part of the LGBT communities. In a survey conducted by the global LGBT consulting body Out Now – http://OutNow.LGBT – Mike Pence,…

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GLSEN commends the U.S. Department of Education Office for civil rights for progress and accomplishments during Obama administration

WASHINGTON – GLSEN’s Director of Public Policy, Nathan Smith, thanked the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for its leadership and work to protect and ensure the success of all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students (LGBTQ), upon Thursday’s release of OCR’s Fiscal Year 2016 Report to the…

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