Nevada governor signs bill protecting LGBTQ youth from dangerous ‘conversion therapy’

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 201 — legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” State Sen. David Parks sponsored the bill and shepherded it through to the governor’s office. Nevada becomes the tenth jurisdiction…

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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: Anti-LGBT legislation in Nevada threatens jobs, economy and minorities

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sounded the alarm on anti-LGBT legislation in Nevada – SB272 in the Senate and AB277 in the Assembly – that threatens jobs, the state economy, and undermines the state’s civil rights laws. The legislation would allow people to use their religion to challenge or opt out of various laws,…

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A funny thing happened on the way to Idaho

It’s been an interesting week at the Supreme Court. Monday, the Court declined to take up any challenges to Circuit Court rulings in favor of marriage equality, apparently adding the five states involved to the 19 states already allowing same-sex marriage. (Those who remember this column, https://lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com/2014/02/27/marriage-equality-its-not-over-til-its-over/, will understand why I’m feeling a little smug.)…

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Unanimous Ninth Circuit ruling strikes down Idaho, Nevada marriage equality bans

Today a three-judge panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that state bans on marriage rights for same-sex couples are unconstitutional. In a decision authored by Judge Reinhardt, who was joined by Judge Gould and Judge Berzon, the court found that Idaho and Nevada’s marriage bans violate the 14th Amendment to the U.S….

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Juror discrimination case will not be appealed

In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in a pharmaceutical contract dispute, Abbott Laboratories v. SmithKline Beecham, that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection to exclude someone from jury service because of his or her sexual orientation.  In doing so, the court also concluded that discrimination based on…

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Kentucky ruling is the latest sign of growing marriage equality momentum

Kentucky has become the latest state to have its ban on marriage equality ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge, and the case will soon join others based in Utah, Nevada, Ohio and Oklahoma at the appellate level. U.S. District Court Judge John G. Heyburn II ruled that Kentucky ’s marriage amendment violates the constitutional principal…

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In historic turn, Nevada votes to repeal same-sex marriage ban

In a historic turn, Nevada became the first legislative body in the United States to vote to repeal a ban on same-sex marriage Monday night. The Nevada senate voted 12-9 to overturn a constitutional ban that was enacted in 2002 that permitted only opposite-sex couples to enter into marriage. The new language would permit Nevada…

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