US Surgeon General warns about the dangers of e-cigarettes particularly to young people

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, warned Thursday that e-cigarettes are dangerous, especially for kids. In a new report Dr. Murthy states, “Adolescent years are times of important brain development. Brain development begins during the growth of the fetus in the womb and continues through childhood and to about age 25. Nicotine exposure during…

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Congress passes annual defense bill without anti-LGBTQ amendment

Thursday, the U.S House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final version of the legislation did not include a House-passed provision that would have dramatically expanded religious discrimination with taxpayer funds and undermined President Obama’s executive order prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in federal contracting. The provision —…

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New survey shows need to protect transgender youth from conversion therapy

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the National Center for Transgender Equality released the findings of the U.S. Transgender Survey, the largest survey of transgender people in the United States.  Conducted in 2015, the anonymous, online survey examines the experiences of 27,715 adults from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as three U.S….

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Donald Trump is ‘Time Person of the Year’ – the president of the divided states of America

Time has named President-elect Donald Trump its 2016 Person of the Year. Time’s managing editor, Nancy Gibbs revealed the choice on the Today Show, Wednesday. “I don’t think that we have ever seen one person operating in such an unconventional way have an impact on events of the year quite like this,” said Gibbs. Explaining the choice on…

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Sen. Atkins introduces legislation to create new housing for lower-income Californians

SACRAMENTO—Shortly after being sworn in as the senator representing California’s 39th District Monday, Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced legislation, SB 2, to create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. “The Legislature must address California’s severe housing crisis,” Atkins said. “While local communities largely control housing development, there are ways the state can…

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National civil rights organizations underscore commitment to #StopTheHate

WASHINGTON, D.C. and MONTGOMERY, Ala., – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) issued the following statement today in response to nationwide spike in hate-filled incidents nationwide. “Hate crimes and hate-filled incidents stand as a dark cloud over our democracy,” said Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights…

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New survey: Despite election of Trump-Pence, majority of 2016 voters back LGBTQ equality

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality North Carolina released the results of major post-election polls conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research showing that the majority of the electorate — including voters that supported Donald Trump and Mike Pence — has in no way backed down from supporting LGBTQ equality. Additionally, North…

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2017 Corporate Equality Index reveals record number of top U.S. companies embracing inclusive policies for LGBTQ workers

WASHINGTON – The nation’s major companies and law firms are advancing in record numbers vital policies and practices to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workers around the world, according to the 2017 Corporate Equality Index released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ…

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Pa. physician general emphasizes the importance of enhancing transgender health care at World AIDS Day Conference

PITTSBURGH—Speaking at the World AIDS Day Conference, Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine emphasized the importance of HIV disease education for health professionals working with transgender individuals. “Helping medical professionals better understand how to prevent and treat HIV disease in the transgender community can be a matter of life and death,” said Dr. Levine. “Today…

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