LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Supreme Court Friday upheld a lower court decision which strikes down a decades old ban on gay and lesbian foster parents. Nebraska was the only state in the country with such a ban still in place. ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Danielle Conrad had the following statement in response to…
SANTA FE, N.M. — Today, New Mexico Republican Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 121 — legislation protecting LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” “Conversion therapy,” sometimes referred to as “sexual orientation change efforts” or “reparative therapy,” encompasses a range of practices that seek to change an individual’s…
WASHINGTON — Today, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate to a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States. He becomes the 113th justice of the Supreme Court. Vice President Pence presided over the Senate on the final vote, which was 54-45, as three Democrats crossed party lines to confirm…
RALEIGH, N.C. — The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of North Carolina are seeking documents from cities and educational institutions throughout North Carolina to establish how those venues intend to guarantee a nondiscriminatory environment for LGBT people if they are chosen to host NCAA events. The NCAA announced this week that they would consider…
STRASBOURG, France — Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that requiring sterilization of individuals seeking a change in their legal gender recognition violates human rights. Twenty two countries in Europe currently still require sterilization to access gender identity recognition, however this decision mandates that these countries amend their laws to reflect this positive…
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—This week, three bills authored by Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) cleared key policy committees. SB 179, the Gender Recognition Act, passed through the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on a 9-1 vote. The bill would make California the first state in the country to create a third gender marker on state-issued identification…
WASHINGTON — Today, Senate Republicans changed the Senate rules in order to approve Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) pulled the so-called nuclear rules trigger Thursday, ending the filibuster rule for Supreme Court nominees after Democrats blocked President Donald Trump’s conservative pick. Republicans on their own did not have enough…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two Victory Fund endorsed candidates – Felix Rivera and Christopher Constant – won their races for Anchorage Assembly to become the only openly LGBTQ elected officials in Alaska. Tuesday’s wins are groundbreaking for Anchorage and the entire state, as both candidates faced numerous opponents and campaigned on their commitment to LGBTQ equality…
CHICAGO, Il. –In a groundbreaking, 8-3 decision, the full Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation violates federal civil rights law. The court found that such discrimination is a form of sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal law…
WASHINGTON — Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of LGBT military spouses and their families, expressed deep concern over reports that President Donald Trump is expected to nominate state Senator Mark Green (R-TN) as Secretary of the Army. “We are deeply concerned over reports that Mark Green will be nominated as Secretary of the…
