Today, the President Barack Obama signed into law S. 47, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,” which reauthorizes several Violence Against Women Act grant programs through FY 2018; and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 through FY 2017. An extract from the president’s remarks at the signing ceremony: ” … And today,…
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Struggling again with an issue important to women and minority groups, House Republicans on Thursday failed to pass their version of a new Violence Against Women Act and then split over a Senate version that won approval with unanimous Democratic support. The measure now goes to President Barack Obama, who said in…
On the heels of the controversy surrounding the Boys Scouts of America’s policy to exclude members of the LGBT community as scouts or adult leaders, today state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach) and Equality California announced the introduction of new legislation that would remove a state tax exemption for any youth group, including the Boy…
Clive Davis, the man credited with bringing Whitney Houston to prominence, has come out as bisexual. With the release of his new memoir,The Soundtrack of My Life, Davis admits his bisexuality. From 1967 to 1973, Davis was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975 through 2000 until founding J Records. From 2002…
According to Gallup surveys conducted from June-December 2012, the percentage of U.S. adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) ranges from 1.7% in North Dakota to 5.1% in Hawaii and 10% in the District of Columbia. Residents in the District of Columbia were most likely to identify as LGBT (10%). Among states,…
A New Jersey teen who came out during a high school awards ceremony is speaking out about that experience. Jacob Rudolph, 18, tells MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts he deliberately chose to identify himself as “LGBT” rather than bisexual, gay or straight because he felt “those are the labels of the past, especially in modern times.” He…
The first set of national prevalence data on intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and stalking victimization by sexual orientation was released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study found that lesbians and gay men reported IPV and SV over their lifetimes at levels equal to or higher than…
RICHMOND, Va. – Today, Senate Bill 701 was moved out of the General Laws and Technology Committee with an 8-7 vote and will be scheduled in the Senate. “We’re glad the committee listened to the thousands of Virginians that messaged their delegates and senators on this issue.” James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, said. …
Jeanne Manford, the founder of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and an all-around pioneering straight ally in the LGBT rights movement, has died at the age of 92. Manford died at her home in Daly City, Calif. after a series of health problems. Manford became active in LGBT rights when in…
(CNN) — Who in Congress doesn’t want to pass a bill that helps protect women against acts of violence? No one, of course. But the Violence Against Women Act, first passed in 1994 and reauthorized previously without fanfare, hit a snag this time around. The hiccup in the bill involved groups of vulnerable people: Native…
