WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Georgia Equality have called on House Leadership and Gov. Nathan Deal to put a stop to the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act of Georgia,” H.B. 757. The bill, which passed the Georgia Senate Friday by a vote of 38 – 14 goes far beyond protecting the right to practice…
Two anti-fur activists who were described by a federal prosecutor as “hardcore animal rights extremists” have both pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to conspiring to vandalize fur industry farms and owners’ homes. Both defendants have agreed to pay $398,272 in damages to the owners of seven mink farms, stores, restaurants, and two homes…
Zion Square, the iconic center in the heart of downtown Jerusalem, is also at the center of a huge controversy over plans by the Jerusalem Municipality to redesign the public space in honor of then 16-year-old Shira Banki who was fatally stabbed in 2015 during the city’s Gay Pride Parade by a religious extremist. Reporting…
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi House of Representatives has advanced H.B. 1523. Sponsored by House Speaker Philip Gunn, this piece of legislation will allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Mississippians, in some of the most important aspect of their lives, including at…
As South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard faces a decision on whether to veto HB 1008 – legislation that would prevent transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity – seven national health, education, and child advocacy groups joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in calling on Daugaard…
JACKSON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Mississippi, decried the decision by Mississippi lawmakers to move forward with H.B. 1523. Dubbed the “Religious Liberty Accommodations Act,” this horrific legislation would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Mississippians, in some of the most…
New polling shows that a majority of Americans in all 50 states support a bill like the bipartisan Equality Act, which was introduced last year with an unprecedented number of original co-sponsors and would extend existing civil rights protections to LGBT people. The polling released by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute involved more than…
Denise Louise Gunderson, 50, who is better known as the Bridal Bandit, pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to two counts of grand theft and two counts of identity theft that involved stealing credit cards from brides during their weddings. Gunderson, who is also known as Denise Burns, has agreed to accept a 7-year term in state…
Lambda Archives of San Diego, a nationally-recognized nonprofit archive dedicated to the local history of LGBT people, will host the Heroines, Pioneers & Trailblazers awards gala brunch Saturday, March 19 at 12 noon at the San Diego Woman’s Club. The event includes an awards program to honor women, LBTQ and straight, who stepped up and…
SACRAMENTO – Equality California (EQCA) is sponsoring two bills authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) that would prohibit the use of state funds to support entities that allow discrimination by creating exemptions based on religious beliefs. “I’m proud to be a voice for the LGBT community throughout the state and across the country,” Low said….
