HRC condemns Ben Carson’s latest attack on transgender people

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the latest attack on the LGBT community by leading GOP candidate for president Ben Carson. In an interview today with Fusion’s Jorge Ramos, Carson suggested creating transgender bathrooms. Questioned about Houston voters’ rejection of a law banning LGBT discrimination this week, Carson said: “How about…

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Law School Center for Gender & Sexuality Studies supports transgender high school student

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Leading experts in transgender legal concerns, Professors Erin E. Buzuvis and Jennifer L. Levi of Western New England University School of Law Center for Gender & Sexuality Studies filed briefs in support of  Virginia high school student Gavin Grimm  who sued his school for excluding him from using the boys’ restroom facility…

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Letters

SB 731: A step in the right direction for LGBTQ youth in foster care Dear Editor The California legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown took vital action by passing into law Senate Bill 731 (“Protections for transgender foster youth signed into law,” Oct. 12, 2015), a step that could vastly improve the lives of California’s transgender…

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Sylvia Rivera, first transgendered person in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection

Earlier this year, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery installed the portrait of Sylvia Rivera in the “Struggle for Justice” exhibition. Rivera is the first transgendered person in the museum’s collection. A forerunner in the fight against gender identity discrimination, Ray Rivera rechristened himself as Sylvia as a teenager. When cast out by her family, she…

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ViiV Healthcare awards 23 small grants to help alleviate the stigma of HIV and AIDS in the MSM and transgender community globally

ViiV Healthcare Monday awarded its first round of small grants to support men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender community-led interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and/or HIV status. 23 non-governmental and community-based organizations will receive up to £25,000 ($38,000) per year over a two year period…

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NY Gov. Cuomo takes historic step to protect transgender New Yorkers from discrimination

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo took a bold step Thursday by extending vitally important non-discrimination protections to transgender New Yorkers and visitors in employment, housing, and public accommodations. In a historic move, Gov. Cuomo’s administration will be issuing regulations clarifying that gender identity is included in the definitions of sex and disability which are protected…

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Kroger health insurance to include full coverage for transgender employees

Finally some good news from the world of supermarkets! Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the United States and one of the country’s largest employers, confirmed today that it will be providing full health benefits to transgender employees, including coverage of gender-affirming surgeries, reports The Advocate. According to Kroger spokeswoman Patty Leesemann, the new health…

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Protections for transgender foster youth signed into law

SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Sen. Mark Leno that provides new protections for transgender foster youth in California was signed into law Saturday by Gov. Jerry Brown. Senate Bill 731 ensures that all foster youth, including those who identify as transgender, are placed in appropriate homes where they feel safe and accepted. It requires caregivers…

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Sir Ivan to launch campaign to raise awareness of transgender issues

NEW YORK, — Pop-dance recording artist Sir Ivan aka “Peaceman” announced Thursday that he is kicking off a campaign to raise awareness of transgender issues.  This is also a new area of focus for The Peaceman Foundation, Sir Ivan’s philanthropic organization, which has been a longtime supporter of LGBT issues, fighting hate crime, bullying and Post…

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