New Williams Institute data visualization: U.S. benefiting from $2.6 billion same-sex wedding spending boom

LOS ANGELES – The Williams Institute, in partnership with Credit Suisse, has released a new, interactive resource exploring the amount of money state economies have to gain by allowing same-sex couples to marry. Based on a series of state-level studies authored by Williams Distinguished Scholar, M.V. Lee Badgett, and other Williams Institute scholars, the resource…

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Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley proposes broader LGBT nondiscrimination bill

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon has proposed legislation in Congress that would significantly expand civil rights for the LGBT community. According to PortlandTribune.com, Merkley plans on “[introducing] legislation to bar discrimination not only in employment but extending to financial transactions, housing and public accommodations.” Merkley, who was just elected to a second six-year term…

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Fayetteville votes to repeal non-discrimination ordinance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Voters in Fayetteville, Ark. Tuesday  passed a measure to repeal Ordinance 119, an anti-discrimination city policy, reports Ozarksfirst.com. The now-repealed Civil Rights Administration ordinance was to protect against specific types of discrimination because of sexual orientation, gender identity and several other criteria. It would have also created a municipal civil rights administrator…

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PFLAG National unveils new ‘Guide to Being a Trans Ally’

WASHINGTON — There are nearly 700,000 people who identify as transgender in the U.S., according to The Williams Institute at UCLA, yet there has not been a handy, accessible tool for the millions of other Americans, all current or prospective trans allies, to know how to engage respectfully with trans people—until now.  PFLAG National—the nation’s largest…

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School athletic officials debunk horror stories about transgender student athletes

Conservative media are criticizing the Minnesota State High School League for adopting a policy that will allow transgender student athletes to play on the sports teams that correspond with their gender identity, warning that the policy will cause gender confusion, inappropriate behavior in locker rooms, and unfairness for female athletes, reports Media Matters for America….

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‘Bingo’ at Bourbon Street to support Christmas Toy Drive: Dec. 11

Join host Nicole Murray Ramirez, Thursday, Dec. 11 at Bourbon Street, 4612 Park Blvd. in  San Diego for Bingo! The evening will benefit the Imperial Court de San Diego’s annual Christmas Toy Drive and is from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. It’s $5 to play or a donation of an unwrapped new toy. Come join the…

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