OutRight honors LGBTIQ human rights defenders at United Nations

Monday, OutRight Action International honored Caleb Orozco, the man who successfully challenged Belize’s sodomy law and won, with the Felipa De Sousa Award at the organization’s annual gala, a Celebration of Courage. OutRight’s award ceremony held in the United Nations exclusive Delegates Dining room, was attended by more than 300 activists, human rights defenders, diplomats…

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SOHO to celebrate 35th annual People In Preservation Awards May 18

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) will celebrate its 35th annual People In Preservation Awards during National Preservation Month with ceremonies May 18 at the historic Marston House formal gardens. The winners’ accomplishments range from restoring downtown’s iconic Horton Plaza Park and its signature Irving Gill Fountain to restoring and adapting the decrepit,…

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Lambda Legal: Sessions’ newfound sympathy for transgender people is a cynical ploy

NEW YORK— Monday, Joshua Vallum was sentenced to 49 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Mercedes Williamson, who was transgender. His sentencing marked the first application of the federal hate crimes law for the murder of a transgender person and, following the news, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the tragedy in…

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National leaders, groups file briefs at Fourth Circuit supporting Gavin Grimm and transgender rights

WASHINGTON — Individuals and institutions from across the country today filed friend-of-court briefs in support of Gavin Grimm, an 18-year-old Virginia high school student who is challenging his school board’s refusal to allow him access to the boys’ restroom because he is transgender. The briefs in the case, which is currently being considered by the…

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Trump expands Global Gag Rule putting millions at risk worldwide

The Trump administration has massively expanded the so-called “Global Gag Rule” (GGR), which stops any U.S. aid to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide abortion information, referrals or services — even when they provide those services with their own, non-U.S. funding. The Trump administration’s announcement comes at the beginning of National Women’s Health Week, a…

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San Diego beach trash data reveals 80 percent of shoreline litter contains plastic

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Today, San Diego Coastkeeper and Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter released data about trash collected by more than 6,500 volunteers at San Diego County beach cleanups in 2016. 80 percent of all trash removed contained plastic, with cigarettes containing plastic foam filters remaining one of the most common types of…

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AMPA announces new scholarship program to help military spouses through higher education

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest non-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military spouses and their families, announced the launch of the AMPA Military Spouse Scholarship — a new program aimed to help military spouses pursue their higher education goals. AMPA also announced that Hilton will be the presenting sponsor of the new military spouse…

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Think tank urges Congress to address the LGBT data gap

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report out today from the Center for Data Innovation—a data-policy think tank—outlines 10 concrete steps Congress can take to optimize the way data is collected, shared, and used in the United States, including addressing the LGBT data gap. According to the think tank, government-sponsored data collection often omits demographic information…

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HRC to honor ABC News’ Robin Roberts with Visibility Award at the 2017 HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced that award-winning broadcast journalist Robin Roberts of ABC News’ “Good Morning America” will be honored with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2017 HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner on Saturday, June 17, 2017, in New Orleans. “As one of the most trusted and beloved broadcast journalists…

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