National LGBT organizations urge Big 12 Conference to skip BYU

NEW YORK, N.Y. –Athlete Ally, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and 20-plus national LGBT organizations submitted a letter to the Big 12 Conference and its member schools urging it not to consider Brigham Young University (BYU) as a potential new conference member because of the school’s express policy of discriminating against same-sex couples…

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Federal judge refuses to block Mississippi’s anti-LGBT H.B. 1523

A federal judge has refused to block Mississippi’s discriminatory H.B. 1523 law, one of the most draconian and hateful pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation passed in recent history. H.B. 1523, deceptively titled “The Religious Liberty Accommodations Act,” enables almost any individual or organization to discriminate against LGBTQ Mississippians at work, at school and in their communities….

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HHS implements new regulation to protect LGBT people from discrimination in healthcare

WASHINGTON – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has implemented a regulation that provides explicit protections from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex stereotyping, including for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, in healthcare and insurance under the provisions of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)….

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Dept. of Education publishes list of institutions receiving right to discriminate against LGBT students

WASHINGTON –  The U.S. Department of Education has published a list of educational institutions who have received an exemption from federal civil rights law in order to discriminate against LGBT students. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) first called on the Department of Education in December to take action in light of this growing and disturbing trend by some…

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Federal court decision upholds civil rights protections for transgender students

Today the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. Department of Education’s assertion that federal civil rights laws protect transgender students from discrimination. In a 2-1 decision, the court affirmed the Department of Education’s interpretation of Title IX of the Education Act of 1972 as protecting transgender students from discrimination, including allowing them to use…

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The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issues statement condemning recent state laws and pending proposals targeting the LGBT community

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights today issued a statement regarding recent state laws passed, and proposals being considered, in the states of North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kansas. The full statement follows: The United States Commission on Civil Rights strongly condemns recent state laws passed, and proposals being considered, under the guise…

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Commentary: Corporate economic testicular strangulation in Dixie

During my totally unpleasant 5-year association with the San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee, reportedly a non-profit membership organization responsible for the city’s annual LGBT Pride festival and parade, I listened to moronic debate about acceptance of corporate donations, “sponsorship,” and inclusion of corporate groups carrying their corporation’s identifying brand name with pride colors, and slogans….

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ASPA stands in support of an anti-discriminatory society

WASHINGTON— The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) has called on governments and organizations at all levels to reaffirm their commitment to an inclusive society and to reject laws and policies that are counterproductive to it. ASPA’s Code of Ethics highlights the critical need to increase awareness and commitment to ethical principles and standards among…

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Mississippi: More than 60 major CEOs and business leaders demand repeal of H.B. 1523

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign announced that more than 60 leading CEOS and business leaders, including executives from Bloomberg LP, CVS Health, Dropbox, Hilton Worldwide and Salesforce have signed onto an open letter calling on Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, and House Speaker Philip A. Gunn to repeal H.B. 1523. H.B. 1523, the so-called “Religious…

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Commentary: Southern surrender on LGBT rights needed

The economic backlash against the anti-LGBT North Carolina law which prevents cities from passing anti-discrimination laws aimed at protecting the rights of LGBT residents has produced a number of predictable reactions from canceled rock concerts to politically motivated bans on government and business travel to the state. D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser banned all official…

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