Miami-Dade commissioners have rejected a ban on gay-conversion therapy for minors. The Miami Herald reports that the 4 to 7 vote followed hours of public testimony, most of it from opponents of the proposed ordinance by Commissioner Sally Heyman. Supporters wanted Miami-Dade to join a list of local governments banning the discredited practice of trying…
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Founded in November of 1977, California Cryobank has spent four decades helping create tens of thousands of traditional, LGBT, and single parent families. To celebrate their 40th “Spermiversary”, Cryobank has set out to help make 40 family dreams come true by giving away free donor sperm for 40 days. “We wanted to…
In honor of St. Francis of Assisi Day, come to St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral for their annual Blessing of the Animals celebration at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. All animals, big and small, are welcome. And all are welcome, too—no matter who you are or where you are on your journey of faith. Musician Pavel…
ILGA-Europe have launched an urgent appeal to help organizations on the ground support victims of the crisis in Azerbaijan, where members of the LGBTI community are being targeted by police raids. Members of the LGBTI community in Baku are being actively targeted by police raids, with those detained being assaulted, forcibly medically examined, fined or…
FLORIDA KEYS — The Florida Keys have reopened to visitors, exactly three weeks after Hurricane Irma impacted the island chain Sept. 10. Local officials chose Sunday, Oct. 1, as the official reopening date based on the speedy completion of significant infrastructure repairs, almost total restoration of utilities, and necessity of resuming the tourism-driven economy that…
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The San Diego City Council unanimously declared a shelter crisis Monday in an 8-0 vote as it related to the Hepatitis A outbreak that has killed 17 people, most of whom were homeless. Mayor Kevin Faulconer endorsed the action, saying it would help in setting up three temporary shelters for the…
GENEVA — The United States has voted against a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution condemning the use of the death penalty against those convicted of consensual same-sex sexual relations. The resolution passed by a 27-13 vote margin. Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador,…
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Equality California announced today that the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the LGBT legal organizations leading the fight against the Trump Administration’s transgender military ban, have joined as co-counsel in its lawsuit challenging the ban, Stockman v. Trump. Equality California is a plaintiff in the suit together with seven…
BALTIMORE, Md. – The upcoming feature-length documentary film, The Sunday Sessions, will have a special one-day premiere in 15 cities on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in recognition of National Coming Out Day. The Sunday Sessions is an intimate portrait of one man’s struggle to reconcile his religious conviction and sexuality. The observational documentary chronicles the turbulent journey…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the mass shooting in Las Vegas where at least 58 people have been killed and 515 injured. HRC President Chad Griffin said: “After Newtown, our nation called for action. After Tucson, Virginia Tech, Aurora, San Bernardino, Charleston, and Alexandria, we called for action. After the shooting…
