Lobbying for trans equality at the California statehouse

This year again, the Transgender Law Center organized the California Transgender Advocacy Day (CTAD), and Monday, Aug. 12, approximately 50 trans citizen lobbyists, family members of trans youth and adults and trans allies from across the state lobbied legislators in Sacramento for legislation that positively impacts trans citizens. There were three bills advocated for by…

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Gov. Brown signs historic Transgender Students Bill into law

SACRAMENTO—Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the historic School Success and Opportunity Act into law, ensuring transgender youth have the opportunity to fully participate and succeed in schools across the state. Assembly Bill 1266—which goes into effect  Jan. 1, 2014—was authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and passed the California State Senate and Assembly earlier this…

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Obama cancels Moscow trip amid human rights concerns

WASHINGTON – In an interview Tuesday with Jay Leno on NBC’s The Tonight Show, President Obama condemned a new Russian law that criminalizes even the most modest gestures of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The president stated that such laws violate “the basic morality that I think should transcend every country, and…

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Same-sex marriage bill comes into force in Uruguay

Marriage equality takes effect in Uruguay today. Following Argentina, Uruguay is the second country in Latin America to have passed nationwide same-sex marriage legislation. President Jose Mujica signed the legislation in May, but it took 90 days to come into effect. The BBC reported that hours after the law came into effect, two gay men who…

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Third Way/HRC poll finds marriage for gay couples can co-exist with religious liberty

Third Way and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), two Washington D.C.-based organizations who were heavily involved in crafting the strategy and messaging behind the recent surge in support for allowing gay couples to marry, have joined forces to tackle the movement’s next debate: overly broad religious exemptions to marriage and non-discrimination laws.  Together with Anzalone…

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Russian minister to IOC: international LGBT Olympians at risk

WASHINGTON – Claims made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that international LGBT visitors to Russia would be safe during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi appear to be coming apart at the seams today as Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko declared that all LGBT athletes within Russian borders will be very much at risk…

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Second ministry supports same-sex marriage in Vietnam

Following on the heels of April’s historic announcement by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice’s Ha Hung Cuong has called for the end of marriage discrimination against same-sex couples. In a statement released Monday, the Justice issued a road map for the eventual legalization of same-sex marriage including the recognition of property between two…

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Russian government states anti-gay legislation ‘will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games’

WASHINGTON – Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a statement to Russian news outlets responding to growing international fear about the safety of LGBT individuals and allies living in Russia or traveling to Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.  The fear and outrage is rooted in the recent crackdown on…

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