Oklahoma lawmakers introduce measure attacking transgender youth

A new anti-transgender bill has been introduced in the Oklahoma State Legislature. The proposal would force schools to make accommodations for students who purport to have religious objections to sharing a sex-segregated space with transgender students. Going a step further, the legislation also strangely states that allowing students with religious objections to use a single-user…

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House anti-LGBTQ amendment to Defense Budget Bill ‘designed to destroy people’s livelihoods’

WASHINGTON, DC—The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is describing yesterday’s passage of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act — that would strip non-discrimination protections from the millions of employees of federal contractors— as “designed to destroy people’s livelihoods.” “It’s an absolute disgrace that the House Majority Leadership would push this outrageous amendment…

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More than 1,000 San Diegans come out to celebrate legacy of Harvey Milk

Today, more than 1,000 San Diegans turned out to the San Diego Bayfront Hilton Hotel to celebrate San Diego’s eighth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. Milk became one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated just 11 months…

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Republicans block Maloney amendment protecting LGBT people from discrimination

WASHINGTON – Following House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (FY17 NDAA) – which included a provision to overturn basic workplace protections for LGBT Americans – Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) introduced an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2017 (MilCon-VA) to prevent taxpayer dollars from going…

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Statewide awareness campaign highlights need for CalFresh in San Diego County

SAN DIEGO – An estimated 33 percent of San Diego County’s food-insecure households are eligible for, but not enrolled in, CalFresh, an effective anti-hunger program that supplements a household’s food budget. San Diego Hunger Coalition, an organization working to ensure that no one in San Diego County has to go to bed hungry, welcomes the…

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Equality California endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate

LOS ANGELES— Equality California has endorsed California Attorney General Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate in 2016. “Among the candidates running for U.S. Senate this year, we were fortunate to choose from two strong LGBT allies, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California.  “However, Harris has an…

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Reps. Joe Kennedy III and Bobby Scott introduce ‘Do No Harm Act’ to clarify RFRA

WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Joe Kennedy III and Bobby Scott introduced the “Do No Harm Act.” The Act clarifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people. The Do No Harm Act would amend RFRA and restore the original intent of…

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House Committee rejects vote on amendment safeguarding critical LGBT federal contracting protections

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Republican Leadership prevented a debate and vote on an amendment to remove an anti-LGBT provision from the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) offered the bipartisan amendment to strike the provision, which would allow, under the guise of religious liberty, taxpayer-funded discrimination in contracts…

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Historic confirmation as Eric Fanning becomes first openly-gay secretary of the U.S. Army

The Senate has confirmed Eric Fanning to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Army. Fanning is the first openly-gay leader of a U.S. military service, and is now the highest-ranking, Senate-confirmed openly-LGBT appointed official. Fanning was nominated by President Barack Obama in September, and the nomination was reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee in…

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