Senate blocks vote on bipartisan amendment to protect the rights of transgender service members

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate has blocked the Gillibrand-Collins Amendment, that would have protected transgender service members from President Donald Trump’s discriminatory transgender military ban. This amendment received bipartisan support, however, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has refused to bring it up for a vote during floor debate for the FY2018 National…

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Health, human and civil rights advocates warn Trump HHS will weaken health law’s nondiscrimination provision

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Even as another attempt surfaces in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid funding, the Trump administration is working to revise a provision of the law (Section 1557) that outlaws discrimination against sex and gender identity in federally funded health programs. In a media briefing call today, experts from…

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Trump’s ban already harming transgender troops and the U.S. military, Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN tell court

SEATTLE, Wash. – Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN Thursday asked a federal court to halt immediately all steps taken to implement the Trump Administration’s discriminatory plan to ban transgender individuals from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Services. “Before the President’s vicious attack on transgender Americans, transgender service members had been serving openly and proudly in…

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ACLU seeks immediate halt to Trump’s transgender service member ban

BALTIMORE — The American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Covington & Burling LLP today asked a judge to immediately halt to the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military while their lawsuit challenging the ban moves through the court system. The motion for preliminary injunction was filed on behalf…

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Los Angeles County takes bold steps in support of immigrants

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Moving across multiple fronts, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted today to intensify its support for immigrants in the face of federal efforts to roll back protections on vulnerable populations, including young “dreamers” studying and working under the DACA program. The Board of Supervisors, acting on a motion by…

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Anti-LGBTQ activist Mercedes Schlapp expected to join White House Press Office

NEW YORK – GLAAD today released background information on Mercedes Schlapp, a former Fox News contributor and former President George W. Bush spokesperson, who is expected to join President Trump’s press office. Schlapp once pushed false statistics on FOX News about alleged opposition to President Obama’s school guidance protecting transgender students, advocated for so-called “religious…

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Equality Federation: Tell swing vote lawmakers to support the Dream Act of 2017 and stand-up to Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Equality Federation has issued a call to action to tell swing vote lawmakers to support the Dream Act of 2017, and stand-up to Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. “President Trump’s announcement that he will end DACA, a program that protects undocumented young people who grew up in America from deportation, is a cruel and…

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