Fayetteville votes to repeal non-discrimination ordinance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Voters in Fayetteville, Ark. Tuesday  passed a measure to repeal Ordinance 119, an anti-discrimination city policy, reports Ozarksfirst.com. The now-repealed Civil Rights Administration ordinance was to protect against specific types of discrimination because of sexual orientation, gender identity and several other criteria. It would have also created a municipal civil rights administrator…

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PFLAG National unveils new ‘Guide to Being a Trans Ally’

WASHINGTON — There are nearly 700,000 people who identify as transgender in the U.S., according to The Williams Institute at UCLA, yet there has not been a handy, accessible tool for the millions of other Americans, all current or prospective trans allies, to know how to engage respectfully with trans people—until now.  PFLAG National—the nation’s largest…

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School athletic officials debunk horror stories about transgender student athletes

Conservative media are criticizing the Minnesota State High School League for adopting a policy that will allow transgender student athletes to play on the sports teams that correspond with their gender identity, warning that the policy will cause gender confusion, inappropriate behavior in locker rooms, and unfairness for female athletes, reports Media Matters for America….

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‘Bingo’ at Bourbon Street to support Christmas Toy Drive: Dec. 11

Join host Nicole Murray Ramirez, Thursday, Dec. 11 at Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd. in  San Diego for Bingo! The evening will benefit the Imperial Court de San Diego’s annual Christmas Toy Drive and is from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. It’s $5 to play or a donation of an unwrapped new toy. Come join the…

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NAACP Image Awards nominees include Laverne Cox, Justin Simien and more

The nominees for the NAACP Image Awards were announced this morning and include nods for several LGBT artists and inclusive series and films, reports GLAAD. The Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by people of color in arts as well as those who work to promote social justice through their creative efforts, this year’s show will…

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For the first time ever, FBI reports on hate crimes based on gender identity

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its annual Hate Crime Statistics for 2013, including for the first time statistics for hate crimes reported based on gender identity. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the report by urging all law enforcement to report hate crimes in their jurisdiction in order to…

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Michigan legislature poised to grant special discrimination rights to anti-LGBT adoption services

In addition to passing a Religious  Freedom Restoration Act  through the Michigan House of Representatives Dec. 4, in a surprise move the Michigan legislative body also resurrected three bills that would allow adoption or foster care providers to refuse services on the basis of their personal religious objections—the consequences of which would be immediate, random,…

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Final ad in ‘All God’s Children’ campaign features Mississippi faith leader (VIDEO)

JACKSON—Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its final ad in its LGBT public education campaign, All God’s Children. In addition to Mary Jane Kennedy and State Representative Alyce Clarke featured in the concluding ad, Rev. Stan Wilson also shares his thoughts on welcoming LGBT people into his congregation. Rev. Wilson is a pastor at Northside Baptist Church…

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