Two Maryland LGBT equality bills to become enacted without governor’s signature

June 3, two vital bills will go into effect in Maryland, further expanding the rights and protections of its LGBT community, writes Maureen  McCarty on the HRC Blog. Gov. Larry Hogan has said that he will neither sign nor veto these bills, meaning that they become law through a “pocket pass.” The first, SB 743/HB…

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HRC applauds Girl Scouts for transgender inclusion

While the Girls Scouts’ policy of including transgender girls isn’t anything new – a Denver troupe made headlines in 2012 for including a transgender girl – recent criticism from anti-LGBT groups, along with the increasing visibility of transgender youth and adults in the media, have brought the Girl Scouts’ policy back into the limelight, writes…

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New Jersey Assembly passes bill protecting LGBT parents and modernizing state law

Thursday, by a vote of 43 to 25, the New Jersey Assembly passed the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act – an important bill that would modernize New Jersey law by giving legal parental rights and duties of a child carried by a gestational surrogate to the intended parent at birth. The bill will now…

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HRC Global highlights a message of love and hope in honor of IDAHOT (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON –– Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a video celebrating the eleventh-annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT). This year’s IDAHOT theme is “youth,” celebrating LGBT youth and their contributions to their communities.  In the video, HRC’s youth ambassadors…

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Nevada Assembly passes LGBT inclusive anti-bullying protections for students

Yesterday, by a vote of 36 to 6, the Nevada Assembly passed a sweeping anti-bullying initiative seeking to ensure the safety and well being of the state’s youth. The Human Rights Campaign praised the passage of the bill that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill now heads to the desk…

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HRC and Gender Proud launch partnership to raise visibility of the transgender community in the Philippines

Today HRC and Gender Proud, a transgender advocacy and awareness organization, announced a three-city public education campaign to inform the public about, and destigmatize the lives of, transgender people in the Philippines. In conjunction with a three-city speaking tour headlined by Gender Proud Founder Geena Rocero, HRC will help support and organize three day-long media…

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Alarming number of transgender people killed worldwide in the last seven years

An updated report by a human rights group in Europe found that over 1,700 transgender people have killed worldwide in the past seven years — and those are just reported murders, writes Adrian Gonzalez on the HRC Blog. Transgender Europe (TGEU), a human rights organization working towards the elimination of all forms of discrimination against…

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Anti-LGBT Texas lawmakers set to vote in an attempt to stop marriage equality in the state

Tuesday, the Texas House of Representatives is expected to vote on HB 4105, a last ditch effort to try to stop marriage equality in the state as the Supreme Court considers a case that could lead to nationwide marriage equality. Prohibiting state or local employees from recognizing, granting, or enforcing a same-sex marriage licence or…

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As Huckabee puts hate on display in Hope, Hot Springs presents a brighter vision for Arkansas’ future

LITTLE ROCK — Last night, the city of Hot Springs took a tremendously important step forward in the fight for inclusiveness and equality under the law for all Arkansans. Its powerful actions stand in remarkable contrast to the vision for America that former Governor Mike Huckabee, who earlier that morning announced his presidential campaign up…

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Major child advocacy groups strongly oppose extreme anti-LGBT adoption bill in Texas

Today, major child advocacy groups joined the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in opposing an extreme anti-LGBT adoption bill in Texas that is dangerously close to becoming law. Texas HB 3864, which has passed through the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, would enshrine special discrimination rights into law by allowing adoption agencies contracted by…

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