Sam Smith to release new album Nov. 3; announces North American tour dates

Sam Smith’s sophomore album, The Thrill Of It All, will be released worldwide Nov. 3 via Capitol Records. The pre-order is underway now at http://samsmith.world/TTOIAUS. Fans who pre-order the digital album will instantly receive the new track “Pray” plus the first single, “Too Good At Goodbyes.” See below for full track listing. Friday, Smith announced the North…

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ACLU: DOJ anti-LGBT guidance ‘isn’t consistent with religious freedom’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice Friday issued guidance to federal agencies encouraging a dangerously broad interpretation of religious freedom laws that will open the door to discrimination against LGBT people, women, and religious minorities. The guidance is a follow-up to President Trump’s May executive order that signaled an intent to expand religious exemptions….

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HRC, Equality NC and MeckPAC endorse Vi Lyles for mayor of Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Equality NC and the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) announced their endorsement of Vi Lyles for mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. “Vi Lyles is committed to building a stronger community and advancing equality for LGBTQ Charlotteans,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “With the experience and vision needed…

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Trump-Pence administration unleashes sweeping anti-LGBTQ ‘License to Discriminate Guidance’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued guidance today, which invites taxpayer funded federal agencies, government employees, and government contractors to legally discriminate as long as they cite a religious belief as the reason for doing it. This guidance follows the anti-LGBTQ executive order signed by President Trump – which could ultimately…

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Trump rolls back Obama’s birth control access under ‘religious exemptions’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today,  the Trump Administration rolled back a mandate in President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) which required employers and insurers under the ACA to provide health insurance that allowed affordable opportunities to acquire birth control and contraception access. Instead, employers can now claim so-called “religious exemptions” as an excuse to deny healthcare…

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Kashish Forward – India’s travelling Campus LGBTQ Film Festival is on the move

INDIA — Kashish Forward, the LGBT campus film festival, organized by Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is creating waves across India with eight screenings in six cities in October 2017. India’s first travelling LGBTQ campus film festival will screen path-breaking films in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kharagpur, Kolkata and Sonepat. With screenings lined up…

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Governor signs Disaster Assistance Bill to protect vulnerable Californians

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Thursday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law legislation by California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) that will protect California’s most vulnerable during and after declared states of emergency. AB 607, known as the Community Resiliency and Disaster Preparedness Act of 2017, takes steps to ensure that Californians who receive public…

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Gov. Jerry Brown signs two immigrant protection bills

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills today that continues California’s challenge to Trump’s deportation machine and goes further than any state to put immigrant protections into law. The bills, both authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), are AB450, the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, that affirmatively protects workers from immigration enforcement through…

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On the same day, Trump administration lands two punches against trans community

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration today landed two punches against transgender Americans, first asking the courts to dismiss a legal challenge to President Trump’s ban on military service by transgender people, and then separately rolling back important employment discrimination protections for transgender workers across the country. Taken together, the two actions reinforce an agenda focused…

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California’s LGBTQ youth report more negative school experiences than non-LGBTQ youth

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – LGBTQ youth in California reported less connection with school, poorer academic outcomes and more frequent victimization than their non-LGBTQ peers, according to a new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. The report, titled LGBTQ Youth in California’s Public Schools: Differences across the State, explored disparities in school…

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