Susan Davis introduces bipartisan bill to stop LGBT discrimination for jury service

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) introduced the Juror Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit removal from a jury based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA) joined Davis as lead cosponsor of the bill. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. “Equal treatment is a…

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Gonzalez Fletcher Bill to aid deported veterans advances

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher won approval from the Assembly Judiciary Committee today for her legislation to create a legal assistance fund for veterans who have been deported in contradiction of the promise of expedited citizenship that immigrant soldiers receive. The measure, AB 386, was approved on a 8-1 vote. “Immigrants…

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Arkansas birth certificate bill targets transgender people

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A proposed bill in the Arkansas State Legislature would prohibit changes to a person’s gender marker on their birth certificate, a move that would disproportionately affect transgender Arkansans. The bill, H.B. 1894, doubles down on discrimination, and would make an onerous process even more difficult for transgender Arkansans seeking to have…

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Gov. Jerry Brown signs Equality California-sponsored HIV+ organ donation bill

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Friday that allows organ transplants between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients.  Senate Bill (SB) 1408 was authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and co-sponsored by Equality California, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and Positive Women’s Network-USA.  The four organizations are part…

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California Legislature approves bill allowing donation of HIV-positive organs

SACRAMENTO — The California legislature today passed a bill that would allow organ transplants between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients.  Senate Bill (SB) 1408, authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and co-sponsored by Equality California, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and Positive Women’s Network-USA, would bring state law in line…

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South Dakota House fails to override governor’s veto of bill attacking transgender children

Failing to reach the required two-thirds majority needed, today the South Dakota House of Representatives voted 36 to 29 to override Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard’s veto of HB 1008 – reckless legislation attacking the dignity and rights of transgender children in public schools by attempting to prevent them from using restrooms and other facilities consistent…

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Coalition of organizations delivers more than 80,000 signatures to South Dakota governor urging him to veto HB 1008

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) joined with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of South Dakota, Believe Out Loud and Reconciling Ministries, Freedom for All Americans, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Transgender Law Center to deliver over 80,000 petition signatures to South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard urging him…

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Major child advocacy groups urge nation’s governors to reject attacks on transgender children by state legislatures

As South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard faces a decision on whether to veto HB 1008 – legislation that would prevent transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity – seven national health, education, and child advocacy groups joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in calling on Daugaard…

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