Danica Roem makes history as VA’s first out transgender public official

Danica Roem made history last night becoming Virginia’s first out transgender public official and the nation’s only out transgender state representative. Roem unseated Bob Marshall, a 26-year member of the state’s House of Delegates, in the Virginia District 13 election. Marshall, who described himself as the state’s “chief homophobe,” never debated Roem and referred to…

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GLAAD: Trump’s USDA promotes anti-LGBTQ religious exemptions

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today called attention to new USDA religious exemptions policy statement that furthers the Trump Administration work to further undermine LGBTQ non-discrimination protections. The new statement appeared on the USDA website yesterday and states that the USDA supports the discussion, display, and distribution of religious…

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U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, colleagues introduce legislation to expand services for LGBT seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, along with Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced the LGBT Elder Americans Act to improve services available for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults. This legislation would build on the Older Americans Act to include LGBT…

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Transgender military ban fight: Plaintiffs hit back in Stockman v. Trump

LOS ANGELES  –The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a response today in the Equality California case Stockman v. Trump challenging Trump’s transgender military ban in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Today’s court filing is the first in Stockman since Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling last week in NCLR…

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HRC statement on shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sunday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas where at least 27 people have been killed and dozens more have been injured. HRC President Chad Griffin released the following statement. “Our hearts go out to those impacted by this senseless tragedy today in Sutherland Springs,…

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San Diego City Attorney’s office is statewide leader in adopting sustainability practices

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — City Attorney Mara W. Elliott announced Friday that the San Diego City Attorney’s Office has adopted an office-wide Sustainability Policy to reduce its carbon footprint and lower operational costs. The Sustainability Policy (attached) contains voluntary guidelines to reduce paper use, eliminate disposals, reuse equipment and supplies, minimize energy use, purchase sustainable…

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Civil rights organizations: Our immigration policies must reflect our nation’s values

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following President Trump’s meeting with Republican senators to discuss the future of immigrant youth who have been thrust into legal limbo, civil rights leaders from across the country have united to call on President Trump and policymakers on both sides of the aisle to adopt inclusive immigration policies instead of racially divisive…

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Virginia legislator says trans opponent defies ‘Laws of Nature’

Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall, who is up for re-election next week, told Religious Right radio host Sandy Rios that he would not refer to his opponent, who is a transgender woman, by using her correct pronouns because he “never flunked biology” and understands the “laws of nature,” writes Jared Holt on Right Wing Watch. Marshall…

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HRC president calls on Secretary Tillerson to speak out on global anti-LGBTQ attacks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released a letter from HRC President Chad Griffin to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about the growing attacks against the LGBTQ community around the world. In the letter, Griffin calls on Secretary Tillerson to speak out against the anti-LGBTQ human rights abuses occurring in Egypt, Chechnya, Bangladesh,…

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