A federal appeals court on Thursday declined the Trump administration’s urgent request to restore the controversial executive order restricting refugees and travel by immigrants from a number of Muslim-majority countries. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit determined unanimously that “the judiciary has a proper role in safeguarding people’s rights,” and rejected arguments that…
A PSA entitled “Human Rights: Because without I’m not Equal,” produced by the Association for Civil Rights (ACRI) in Israel has been banned from Israeli TV because of its backing of gay marriage. The ad ad includes appearances by such well-known Israeli celebrities as model and actress Galit Gutmann, former Miss Israel Titi Aynow, social…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1887, authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) and sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. AB 1887 bans non-essential, state-funded travel by California state employees to North Carolina, Mississippi and other states that enact discriminatory laws after June,…
Exhibiting a growing intolerance toward the LGBT community, Indonesia is moving toward banning gay networking apps. Time reports that a government official has confirmed that authorities are already moving to block at least three apps — Grindr, Blued and BoyAhoy — after a request from police. “We are starting to block LGBT applications,” the report…
SACRAMENTO – State senators Tuesday approved a bill by State Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) that would ban smoking or disposal of tobacco products at a state owned or operated beach or park. The measure, SB 1333, will now head to the governor. Block said his bill is an overdue step in protecting California’s natural…
The Seattle City Council yesterday unanimously approved an ordinance protecting youth from “gay conversion therapy.” The Seattle ordinance provides for a fine of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for any violation after that, The Advocate reports. There will also be misdemeanor charges for advertising conversion therapy. Seattle becomes the 10th jurisdiction to enact…
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Council City voted 6-3 today to become the 150th community in the state to ban single-use plastic bags from grocery stores and convenience stores, joining the state’s other major cities in enacting a ban. “San Diego’s vote provides added momentum for Prop. 67, which would protect the statewide ban…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the one-month anniversary of the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and just days after the horrific tragedy in Dallas, Tuesday people who lost loved ones in Orlando, gun owners, LGBTQ advocates, and gun violence prevention activists joined together to deliver 1,201,758 signatures to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus,…
LGBT and human rights advocacy groups reacted swiftly and favorably to today’s Department of Defense’s (DoD) decision to lift the ban on transgender people openly serving in the military. As the U.S.’s largest employer, the DOD’s decision today will allow the approximately 15, 000 transgender active and reserve service members (as well as countless veterans)…
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter today announced that transgender individuals will now be able to openly serve in the U.S. armed forces. The DoD policy announced today also establishes a construct by which service members may transition gender while serving, sets standards for medical care and outlines responsibilities for military services and commanders to develop…
