Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld California SB 1172 which prohibits dangerous and disproved efforts designed to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender expression that have proven to inflict great emotional harm. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law last year. A similar bill in New Jersey…
In our scripture reading for this morning, Paul is obviously very much in love with the Thessalonian congregation. Listen how he begins his letter with these affirming words, “We always give thanks to God for all of you, and constantly pray for you … remembering your work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of…
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed into law AB 3371, a bill that will put an end to dangerous and disproved efforts designed to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender expression that have proven to inflict great emotional harm. New Jersey becomes the second state to ban these dangerous practices after California…
Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry on LGBT Pride month The Department of State joins people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Forty-four years after Stonewall, we see incredible progress in the fight to advance the human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBT people, both here in…
There is an Asian-Pacific Islander (API) community, and there is API community activism. There are differences between those of Samoan ancestry and those of Chinese ancestry; there are differences between those Americans who have familial or ancestral ties to Japan, and those Americans who have familial or ancestral ties to Indonesia. But along with differences…
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has issued guidance clarifying the obligations of California’s health plans under the Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act. In a groundbreaking directive to health plans, the DMHC confirmed that California’s Insurance Non-Discrimination Act of 2006, authored by former Assemblymember Paul Koretz, guarantees all people the right to…
(CNN) — The dean overseeing Johns Hopkins University Medical School said Friday that controversial comments made by faculty member Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and outspoken conservative, went against the “core values” of the school. This follows remarks last week by Carson which some saw as equating homosexuality with criminal acts of pedophilia and bestiality. He…
In a historic 3-2 ruling the First Chamber of the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice has determined that homophobic expressions such as “maricones” or “puñal” are not only offensive and discriminatory but are also not protected under the freedom of expression laws. A statement released by the Court (translation) read: In session on March 6…
WOLCOTT, Conn. (CTNow/CNN) — A high school student who was threatened with suspension or expulsion for wearing an anti-gay T-shirt last year will be allowed, in the future, to wear shirts expressing his views on homosexuality. School officials said Tuesday that they recognized 17-year-old Seth Groody’s right to free speech, in response to a draft…
RICHMOND, Va. – Senate Bill 701, a measure to protect Virginia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state employees from workplace discrimination, passed today with a 24-16 vote in the Senate. Now, the bill moves forward to the House of Delegates. “We’re going to press forward with this momentum,” said Senator Adam Ebbin, a chief patron…
