UNAIDS welcomes passage of India’s landmark HIV legislation

NEW DELHI, India—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has welcomed a new law passed by the Indian Parliament providing strong legal protection against HIV-related discrimination. The law provides a broad legislative framework for the response to HIV in India and is the first national HIV law in South Asia. The legislation prohibits discrimination…

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LGBT data collection legislation passes first committee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Assembly Bill 677, a proposal by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) that would help ensure California public policy meets the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities, Wednesday passed unanimously out of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee. “We need real data to better understand the obstacles facing…

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Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Betty Yee introduce legislation to help human trafficking victims get on their feet

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D- San Diego) and State Controller Betty Yee announced Thursday their effort to allow victims of human trafficking to be compensated by the state crime victims fund for the income they lost and for other damages that resulted while they were enslaved. “Whether they are forced to…

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House LGBT Caucus denounces hearing on ‘License to Discriminate’ legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus today denounced the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s decision to hold a hearing on H.R. 2802, which would give a government ‘license to discriminate’ to businesses and non-profits to discriminate against LGBT people.  The Committee’s decision to hold a hearing on this anti-LGBT legislation comes in the…

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Reform Movement leaders speak out against state-level anti-LGBT legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to numerous anti-LGBT laws being introduced, and in many cases passed, at the state-level, the leadership of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the North American Federation of Temple Youth issued the following statement: “As leaders in…

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Health care professionals speak out against legislation targeting trans youth (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released a new video highlighting health care professionals who are speaking out against dangerous legislation targeting transgender students – including bills currently pending in Tennessee and South Carolina. As anti-equality activists across the country push for laws targeting transgender youth and adults, these experts – including pediatricians, a…

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South Dakota governor vetoes bill attacking transgender children

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed HB 1008 — legislation attacking the rights of transgender children in public schools by attempting to force them to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity. Before making his decision, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said meeting with transgender South Dakotans “put a human face” on the…

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HRC renews call on South Dakota governor to veto legislation attacking trans children

With a little more than 24 hours to go until a proposal attacking transgender youth automatically becomes law in South Dakota, the Human Rights Campaign renewed its call on South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to listen to the broad chorus of organizations urging him to veto the legislation. Gov. Daugaard has until 11:59 PM CT…

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New HRC report reveals unprecedented onslaught of state legislation targeting transgender Americans

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released a report detailing an alarming onslaught of legislation nationwide targeting transgender people, and particularly children. An unprecedented 44 anti-transgender bills are being considered in 16 states, and the quantity of these harmful bills is as striking as their diversity: some undercut the ability of transgender people to access gender-affirming health…

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South Dakota Legislature unleashes second attack on trans kids

As the nation waits to see if Gov. Dennis Daugaard will veto the legislation targeting transgender children that the South Dakota Senate passed yesterday, today the state’s House State Affairs Committee voted 8 to 4 to advance yet another attack on trans kids. HB 1209, which is wholly different from the bill that passed yesterday, focuses…

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