Christian and Daniel have been a couple for 20 years and counting. It was always clear to them that we wanted to get married – and did as soon as the law allowed it in Switzerland.In December 2020, Switzerland’s government finally announced that they would introduce marriage equality. “We thought that our time had finally … More Help Couples Fight Switzerland’s Anti-Marriage Equality Referendum
Today the Equality Act (H.R. 5) was reintroduced into Congress. The Bill is a comprehensive federal civil rights bill that would create permanent protections for LGBTQ individuals, women, and people of color from discrimination in seven critical sectors, including healthcare, housing, education, employment, federal funding, and public accommodations. The bill was passed by the House … More The Equality Act Re-introduced into U.S. Congress
Women’s rights in the U.S. have made leaps and bounds since the passage of the 19th Amendment. Yet many women still struggle to break the glass ceiling because of unequal treatment in society. Unfortunately, the gender gap in 21st century America has only expanded. In 2018, the U.S. failed to place in the top 10 … More 2019’s Best & Worst States for Women’s Equality
Today the House of Representatives took the historic step of passing the Equality Act, the federal bill that would finally afford basic civil rights protections for the LGBTQI community. If it passes the Senate and is signed by the President, it would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual … More History Made as Equality Bill Passes House – BUT NOW is the Time for HUGE LGBTQ Advocacy
African HRC Mourns the Passing of Sam Deetz, by Melanie Nathan, Executive Director, African HRC. African Human Rights Coalition is deeply saddened to report the sudden passing of our Advisory Committee member, Sam Deetz, from Pennsylvania. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends, to Sam’s devoted husband Jim Zeigler, who he had shared … More Sam Equality Deetz Remembered by African HRC
On 20 March, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) launched the 13th edition of its flagship publication, State-Sponsored Homophobia, authored by Lucas Ramón Mendos. This publication compiles data on laws that affect people on the basis of their sexual orientation – a fundamental resource for researchers, civil society organisations, governments and the general … More ILGA’s 2019 State Sponsored Homophobia Report Reveals Much Needed For LGBTQ Equality & Human Rights
Simply stated the Equality Act would provide protections to millions of LGBT people – All members of our LGBTQI community and allies should be speaking loudly about this and contacting our representatives, regardless of their level of support, or party affiliation. Let representatives in the House and Senate know just how important this is to us and … More Why The Equality Act is Critical for LGBT People
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, the Equality Act will be introduced by Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. The Equality Act would extend existing civil rights protections to include on the bases of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex. … More National Black Justice Coalition Statement on the Introduction of the Equality Act
Equality Act Introduced by House and Senate Leaders Washington, DC – Today the Equality Act – a federal civil rights law that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodations and education – was introduced by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, including out LGBTQ Senator Tammy Baldwin and out LGBTQ Representative … More LGBTQ Members of Congress Lead Effort for Floor Vote on Equality Act
Tampa, FL – Today, Equality Florida Action PAC, Florida’s largest political committee working to elect pro-equality candidates, joined with LGBTQ Victory Fund to announce the endorsement of Jane Castor’s historic race for Mayor of Tampa. Term limits restrict current Mayor Bob Buckhorn from seeking a third term making this an open and highly competitive race … More Jane Castor for Mayor Endorsed by Equality Florida Action PAC and LGBTQ Victory Fund
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Says “We Will Make America Fair by Passing the EQUALITY ACT for LGBT Americans. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco Representative, has been elected today as speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time, cementing her legacy as one of the most effective female legislators in American history. Democrats … More Speaker Pelosi Says “We Will Make America Fair by Passing the EQUALITY ACT for LGBT Americans”
By Melanie Nathan- Last month we reported a victory for LGBTQI equality and same-sex couples in South Africa, when the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament adopted a Civil Union Amendment Bill that could lead to full marriage equality for South Africa’s same-sex community. Now that journey to becoming law is one step closer to … More South African Parliament votes to approve Civil Union Amendment for Full Marriage Equality
NEW YORK, NY January 3, 2018 — The Business Equality Network announces its second annual BEQ Pride LGBTQ Business Equality Excellence Awards. Our recipients include 156 major employers and four sports organizations, all of which have demonstrated their comprehensive commitment to LGBTQ business equality. The full list of winners and a geographic breakdown by state … More Business Equality Network Announces Second Annual LGBTQ Business Equality Excellence Awards
By Human Rights Campaign Based on TLDEF’s Anti-Discrimination Cases Based on two successful proceedings brought by the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Walmart’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) rating has been suspended by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The CEI is a rating of LGBT equality at corporations … More Walmart Corporate Equality Index Rating Suspended
County and community collaborating on addressing challenges – San Rafael, CA – Marin County’s track record of being one of the healthiest counties in California is intact, according to new statistics, but several significant issues remain for those who deliver health care and other wellness services. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released its annual rankings … More Marin Second Healthiest County in California – While Worse than State Average for Income Inequality
Order follows Trump administration’s withdrawal of nonbinding federal guidance on how to protect transgender student WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Supreme Court announced that it will not hear G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board, the historic transgender equality case on behalf of a Virginia transgender boy named Gavin Grimm. In light of President Trump’s decision to … More Supreme Court Sends Historic Transgender Equality Case Back to Lower Court
Today in the United Nations General Assembly, a cross-regional group of states affirmed the principles of universal human rights by blocking a hostile attempt to prevent the work established by the UN Human Rights Council of the Independent Expert on Discrimination and Violence based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A small group of States … More Equality Wins at UN General Assembly with Protection of SOGI Independent Expert
“That’s why the stakes in this election are so high.” Clinton While Donald J. Trump and his henchman Mike Pence continue to promise to negate LGBT equality gains, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has penned an historic OP-ED in the Philadelphia Gay News, highlighting her support for LGBT rights (PGN) The editor comment notes the historic … More Hillary Clinton addresses LGBT Equality in Historic PGN Exclusive
Now is a Critical Time to participate in your Equality Finally we are seeing a national LGBTI organization push for passage of the Equality Act that is currently before Congress. Today the National Center for Lesbian Rights, NCLR, launched a national campaign, Support the Equality Act, to urge municipal and state leaders across the country … More NCLR Pushes for LGBT Rights in Call to Action for Equality Act
Sign the Petition: It’s time for full equality for LGBT Americans! For many years, while the focus of our community has been on marriage equality, many of us have been calling for FULL equality legislation for LGBT people. Not the crappy ENDA with its ridiculous religious exemptions that Human Rights Campaign (HRC) supported even as … More Grave Timing A Petition for LGBT Equality
URGENT CALL TO ACTION: This coming Wednesday, June 15th, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner will ask his colleagues to stand in solidarity with our Tampa Bay and Orlando communities by doing three things: – Raise the Pride Flag at the County Center – Officially recognize June as LGBT Pride Month in Hillsborough County – Set … More Equality Florida’s Urgent Call to Action Noting Gay Bans
One Year Later: 100+ Anti-LGBT Bills Defeated as FFAA Celebrates Anniversary New FFAA interactive map highlights status of LGBT-related bills across the nation as state legislative season winds down WASHINGTON – Freedom for All Americans (FFAA) launched one year ago with the goal of advancing comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people at the municipal, state … More Freedom for All Americans Celebrates Anniversary and Contributions to LGBT Equality
Several high profile LGBT community members, activists and leaders have written articles expressing disdain at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) decision to endorse Republican Senator Mark Kirk, instead of Rep. Tammy Duckworth, for the Illinois U.S. Senate seat. HRC did not budge. Duckworth has been endorsed by President Obama, VP Biden, MOVEON.ORG, Daily Kos, and … More Equality Activists Ask HRC To Reverse Endorsement for US Senate
Los Angeles — Equality California today announced the endorsements of 10 strong LGBT allies for office in Congress and the California Legislature. “These candidates represent the length and breadth of the state and come from a variety of backgrounds and experience,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “However, they share a commitment to … More Equality California Endorses 10 Pro-Equality Candidates for State and Federal Office
Sacramento – Equality California will honor Assemblymember Rich Gordon, Mario Guerrero of SEIU, Executive Secretary to Governor Brown Nancy McFadden, and Dana Williamson, former cabinet secretary to Governor Brown and principal of Grace Public Affairs, for their steadfast support of the LGBT community. This year’s Sacramento Equality Awards will take place Monday, March 7, 2016 at … More Sacramento Equality Awards to Honor Members of the LGBT Community
“…. conference organizers failed to defend these organizations and correct the false information and gross distortions….,” EQCA By Melanie Nathan, January 26, 2016. Equality California (EQCA) has posted a strong and pointed statement, calling out The National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Task Force, for its poor handling of the debacle at Creating Change 2016, … More Equality California Calls Out National LGBTQ Task Force for Disservice to LGBT Movement
By Melanie Nathan, October 20, 2015. BETWEEN THE SHADES is a feature film documentary exploring the shades of being gay; discussing what connects us all: Our desire to love. I had the great privilege of interviewing award-winning filmmaker, Jill Salvino. We discussed Between the Shades, her new project, and first feature length documentary. As an … More Documentary that Transcends Equality
And warns that treating people unequally leads to bad things By Melanie Nathan, July 25, 2015. At a news conference held in in Nairobi with U.S. President Barack Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, both spoke in agreement on all issues, except that of gay human rights. President Obama responded to the question with brazen … More Obama Defies Kenya Anti-Homosexuality Stance by Speaking for Equality
Public opinion polling indicates that 78% of Americans support federal protections from discrimination for LGBT people. Posted by Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2015. According to the Williams Institute, The Equality Act, introduced today in Congress, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, federal funding and … More 9.5M LGBT Adults in U.S. would be Protected under New Equality Bill
By Melanie Nathan, July, 23, 2015. The Equality Act, was introduced today by U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) to provide protections against discrimination for LGBT Americans in all aspects of life, including housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, and education. Finally, federal comprehensive … More Landmark LGBT Equality Act Introduced into U.S. Congress
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