Updated international human rights principles for the treatment of LGBTI people released

LOS ANGELES – International human rights experts today released a supplement to the groundbreaking Yogyakarta Principles, a universal guide to human rights related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics which applies to all United Nations member states. The original Yogyakarta Principles were drafted by human rights experts in 2006 in Yogyakarta,…

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Israeli TV authority bans PSA for backing gay marriage and Arabic language (VIDEO)

A PSA entitled “Human Rights: Because without I’m not Equal,” produced by the Association for Civil Rights (ACRI) in Israel has been banned from Israeli TV because of its backing of gay marriage. The ad ad includes appearances by such well-known Israeli celebrities as model and actress Galit Gutmann, former Miss Israel Titi Aynow, social…

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Elton John: New HIV fund makes ‘horribly clear’ how LGBT human rights abuses are a barrier to ending AIDS

BRIGHTON, England — A Rapid Response Fund to support HIV services at risk as a result of human rights violations has been launched by the International HIV AIDS Alliance. In its first few weeks the $4 million LGBT Rapid Response Fund received more than 235 applications from organizations providing HIV services. The fund supports organizations…

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Egyptian envoy boycotts UN’s new monitor on anti-gay violence

GENEVA — A 5-member UN human rights committee announced that a Thai law professor is its choice to be the UN’s first monitor against anti-gay violence, yet an Egyptian diplomat on the panel is boycotting the mandate. In a report circulated by the president of the UN human rights council (UNHRC), its Consultative Group—comprised of…

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Clinton Campaign Debuts ‘Equal’ Marriage Video

Today Hillary Clinton debuted a video expressing her support for marriage equality rights in America. While many LGBT leaders anticipate a Supreme Court ruling in support of marriage equality within the next week, the Clinton Campaign launched the video to bring into stark contrast her position versus that of her potential Republican opponent. Some in…

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Human rights groups call on White House to condemn abuses in The Gambia

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has joined the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center) to urge the Obama Administration to take additional action against Gambian leaders as the regime continues to persecute LGBT citizens, calling on the White House to condemn the horrific human rights abuses taking place…

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HRC unveils Website highlighting GOP candidates’ record on LGBT equality

WASHINGTON – As potential Republican candidates gather this week in Washington, D.C. for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released a new microsite 2016: Republican Facts that will serve as an online resource for documenting the record and rhetoric of potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates, and where they stand on…

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Anti-LGBT activist Jay Sekulow to receive human rights award

WASHINGTON – Last week, The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, representing one of the world’s largest Christian denominations, announced that Jay Sekulow will be the next recipient of their annual Athenagoras Human Rights Award. Sekulow is the chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a group that actively advocated against…

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Ambassador Susan E. Rice addresses White House Forum on Global LGBT Human Rights

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ambassador Susan E. Rice, the National Security Advisor, delivered keynote remarks at the White House Forum on Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights. The Forum brings together the faith community, private sector, philanthropy, HIV and health advocates, LGBT activists from around the world, and the broader human rights…

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HRC urges action to stop the expansion of the Sultan of Brunei’s hotel chain to New York

WASHINGTON – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) called on lawmakers, activists and allies of the LGBT community to speak out against the planned expansion to New York of a hotel chain owned by the anti-LGBT Sultan of Brunei.  The Sultan recently announced that he will soon introduce flogging, amputation, and stoning as possible punishments…

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