While the Girls Scouts’ policy of including transgender girls isn’t anything new – a Denver troupe made headlines in 2012 for including a transgender girl – recent criticism from anti-LGBT groups, along with the increasing visibility of transgender youth and adults in the media, have brought the Girl Scouts’ policy back into the limelight, writes…
With the introduction of a resolution to draw attention to dangerous “conversion” therapy practices, two U.S. Senators are taking a stand for the LGBT community. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Stop Harming Our Kids Resolution of 2015. The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that “conversion” therapy, or so-called “reparative” therapy, is a dangerous and discredited…
Stephen Whitburn, executive director San Diego LGBT Pride announced Friday that the entire trans* community will be their Community Grand Marshal for Pride 2015 with the aim of recognizing and honoring their contributions with the theme Liberty and Justice For All. “Come join in on the fun,” said Whitburn,”Trans* and gender non-conforming individuals, their friends,…
The Republic of Ireland has become the first country in the world to pass marriage equality through a national referendum, and the 21st country to decide to afford same-sex couples full marriage rights. With votes counted from nearly all of Ireland’s 43 parliamentary constituencies, the measure will pass with more than 60 percent of voters…
Yesterday a federal appeals court put on hold a trial court order that transgender woman Michelle Lael-Norsworthy, who is currently being held in Mule Creek California State Prison, receive sex reassignment surgery. This came the same day a California board recommended parole for Norsworthy who was convicted of second-degree murder. According to a report by…
SAN DIEGO — Celebrating the life and legacy of the slain San Francisco supervisor, yesterday’s annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast was a sold-out affair that also paid homage to two Lifetime Achievement Award honorees, Rev. Troy Perry and Phill Wilson. One of the event’s co-founders, Nicole Murray Ramirez, gave the opening remarks and outlined a…
With only a few hours until the first-ever national referendum for marriage equality, now is the time to stand with Ireland, writes Hayley Miller on the HRC Blog. While momentum builds in Ireland, thousands of people from around the country, major organizations, celebrities and big-named brands have come out to show their support for loving, committed same-sex…
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) has passed a resolution opposing so-called “conversion therapy,” which overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm, especially when practiced on young people. ‘Conversion therapy’ generally refers to any practices by mental health providers that seek to…
Today, the president of the Boy Scouts of America called for an end to the group’s blanket ban on gay adult leaders, warning Scout executives that “we must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be,” and that “any other alternative will be the end of us as…
The Equal Protection for All Families Act, authored by Assemblymember David Chiu and co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Our Family Coalition, passed the California Assembly May 18 with unanimous support. The bill updates California assisted reproduction laws to help ensure that all families are protected equally under California law….
