Ending the stigma of HIV starts with changing what we think about each other

“The worst thing you can do to another person is to pretend they don’t exist.”   Oprah Winfrey First, let me start off by saying that the AIDS Walk 2015 was a great experience. It was well managed and the weather was great. With an unofficial theme of “Ending the Stigma” it was a great success….

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California Coastal Commission bans SeaWorld from breeding whales

The California Coastal Commission, which oversees seaside developments in the state, has barred SeaWorld from breeding whales at the facility, a ruling that could means the 11 orcas now at the park would be the last, reports CBS News. The ruling could mark the beginning of the end for SeaWorld’s killer whale shows, the park’s…

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Business leaders speak out in support of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance

Today, prominent business leaders gathered in Houston, Texas to voice support for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), reports HRC’s Mauren McCarty. Key participants included Ed Wulfe,  Chairman and CEO of Wulfe & Co. and Board Member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership; Charles Foster, Chairman of Foster; Gilbert Herrera, former president of…

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Speaker Atkins’ Pacific to Plate Bill signed by Gov. Brown

SACRAMENTO—Seafood markets will be allowed to operate in the public square just like farmers markets, now that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins’ Pacific to Plate Act. AB 226 removes red tape, making it easier for shoppers to purchase local seafood. “The massive growth of farmers markets across the state shows…

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Kevin McCarthy pulls out of speaker’s race

Today, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) pulled out of the race to be speaker of the House. McCarthy announced his withdrawal during a meeting in which the House Republican Conference was scheduled to pick its candidate for speaker, reports The Huffington Post.  The election for the Republican candidate for the next speaker has also been postponed. “If we are…

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Bill to give teachers support resources for LGBTQ students signed into law

SACRAMENTO – Thursday,  Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 827 by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D – Long Beach) into law. The new law provides greater support for LGBTQ students by ensuring schools provide teachers information on related school site and community resources available to their students. “My experience as a classroom teacher has taught me one…

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Governor signs bill ensuring equal benefits for transgender employees

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark legislation today that prohibits state agencies from doing business with companies that fail to offer transgender employees the same health care coverage and benefits they provide all other workers. Senate Bill 703, authored by Sen. Mark Leno, builds on existing California law that requires gender nondiscrimination in employee…

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HRC calls on Turing CEO to lower price on HIV drug

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) once again called on Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli to make good on his unfulfilled promise of Sept. 22 to lower the price on Daraprim — a crucial and often lifesaving treatment for those living with HIV — and urged officials to expeditiously investigate Turing’s reckless overnight 5,000…

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