Category: Advocacy & Activism

Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

May 3, 2018

Advocates call on Gov. Mary Fallin to veto discriminatory bill WASHINGTON – At the eleventh hour, lawmakers in Oklahoma approved a bill that would allow adoption agencies receiving taxpayer funding to discriminate against legally married same-sex couples and LGBTQ youth, among others. The bill, SB 1140, was approved by both the House and Senate chambers … More Oklahoma Lawmakers Pass Dangerous Anti-LGBTQ Child Welfare Bill

California Bill to Establish June as Pride Month Passes Committee

May 2, 2018

SACRAMENTO—Legislation to establish June as Pride Month in statute passed the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization by a vote of 15-0. Assembly Bill 2969 is authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, and co-authored by all members of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. AB 2969 is supported by … More California Bill to Establish June as Pride Month Passes Committee

America Say Hi To Africa – there are floods…. and other stuff…

May 1, 2018

Some international news … absolved from cabin fever – you know that insular stuck in MERICA feeling – read: Thousands strand in flood: Central Somalia has experienced heavy rains which have flooded parts of the country. The resultant effect has been the displacement of thousands. The United Nations estimates that almost half a million people … More America Say Hi To Africa – there are floods…. and other stuff…

Marin Probationers Arrest May have Saved lives

April 30, 2018

Public safety workers and the friends and family members of those at risk for overdose are being encouraged to carry naloxone. San Rafael, CA – Two probationers who have histories of being hospitalized for opiate abuse were booked into Marin County Jail following arrests that Marin County Probation Department officials said might have saved their … More Marin Probationers Arrest May have Saved lives

Top 10 Reasons why we should STFU about the pillory on Sarah Huckabee Sanders

April 30, 2018

Will everyone please just stop talking about how poor ‘ol Sarah Huckabee Sanders was affronted at the White House Correspondent dinner this weekend. STFU! Here are 10 TOP reasons why! 10. The White House Correspondents dinner traditionally is a roast where people can be expected to be made fun of – that is its tradition. … More Top 10 Reasons why we should STFU about the pillory on Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Marin County, Community Should Take Hard Look at Equity

April 27, 2018

San Rafael, CA – Marin County’s poorest residents have much different needs from their local government than those more financially fortunate. For instance, there aren’t as many construction permits filed for home additions in some ZIP codes, and there aren’t as many applications for food assistance in others. The County of Marin knows that there … More Marin County, Community Should Take Hard Look at Equity

Condemnation as Trump ending TPS for Nepalis

April 26, 2018

ADHIKAAR CONDEMNS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO END TEMPORARY – PROTECTED STATUS (TPS) FOR 9,000 NEPALIS; CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ACT New York, N.Y. – TODAY, the Trump Administration announced that it is terminating the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Nepal. The termination will take effect June 24, 2019. The TPS program has benefited 14,791 Nepalis … More Condemnation as Trump ending TPS for Nepalis

Why Sacramento State LGBTQI Community Should Welcome the President of Ghana

April 24, 2018

Our responsibility as American LGBTQI on the global front is to first and foremost follow the lead and direction of the Ghanaian gay community … In writing this response to “EDITORIAL: Sac State shouldn’t break bread with repressive leaders – Persecution of LGBTQ, …….”,  and the Article of Claire Morgan, Managing editor, published in the online Sacramento State student … More Why Sacramento State LGBTQI Community Should Welcome the President of Ghana

Prosecutor: Not talking to your kids about their body is parental malpractice

April 24, 2018

In light of child abuse prevention month – well, let every day be child abuse prevention day! That said:- Florida state prosecutor Stacey Honowitz who has supervised the Child Sex Crimes unit for 27 years, said child sexual assault has become an epidemic. “I had a 3-year-old in my office the other day, three and … More Prosecutor: Not talking to your kids about their body is parental malpractice

Colorado Congressman Silent on Children Separated from Parents

April 23, 2018

What is Congressman Coffman Doing for the Children? –  Trump Administration Separating Hundreds of Children from their Parents WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday evening, a New York Times report detailed how the Trump Administration is separating hundreds of children from their parents at stations along the southern border. The practice is part of the Administration’s larger agenda of targeting, separating, and deporting … More Colorado Congressman Silent on Children Separated from Parents

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Urges Trump Admin To Extend Nepali Temporary Protected Status  

April 23, 2018

Trump Administration to Decide By April 25th |Whether to Protect or Deport 9k Nepali Immigrants New York, NY – A TimesLedger piece highlights New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s push to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nepali TPS holders, who will learn on or before April 25th if the Trump Administration will extend or terminate the program.The … More NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Urges Trump Admin To Extend Nepali Temporary Protected Status  

Time to Purge that Medicine Cabinet for Safety’s Sake

April 20, 2018

Prevent misuse and abuse on Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28 San Rafael, CA – The opioid abuse crisis is a national phenomenon these days – there’s even a White House webpage devoted to it – but it’s been lingering in Marin County for decades. One in four Marin adults needs help for substance … More Time to Purge that Medicine Cabinet for Safety’s Sake

Bill to Declare Conversion Therapy a Fraudulent Practice Passes in California Assembly

April 19, 2018

SACRAMENTO—Assembly Bill 2943 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, to declare conversion therapy a fraudulent practice in the state of California, passed the Assembly today by a bipartisan vote of 50-18. Although conversion therapy with minors is illegal in the state, there are no such protections for adults. … More Bill to Declare Conversion Therapy a Fraudulent Practice Passes in California Assembly

LGBT Protests in London at Commonwealth Meeting Calling for Decriminalization

April 19, 2018

Global human rights activists and LGBT community in London launched a robust protest today at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, urging Commonwealth leaders to scrap anti-LGBT laws. Commonwealth leaders were blasted for refusing to discuss the persecution of at least 100 million LGBT people who live in Commonwealth countries where being gay is a crime. Protestors … More LGBT Protests in London at Commonwealth Meeting Calling for Decriminalization

Acceptance of LGBT people and rights has increased around the world

April 18, 2018

Conversely, the analysis showed that the least accepting countries have become less accepting over time | New Global Acceptance Index ranks 141 countries on LGBT acceptance and legal protections and provides a link between inclusion and GDP per capita. LOS ANGELES – New research from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds average levels … More Acceptance of LGBT people and rights has increased around the world

HRC Endorses California Senator Dianne Feinstein for Re-Election:

April 18, 2018

You may know that back in February 26, 2018, I endorsed Senator Dianne Feinstein for U.S. Senate. I was upset that the Democratic Californian progressives had cast an inaccurate  shadow on her, in favor of her contender, Rep. Kevin de Leon and that prompted me to write a piece about the Senator, indicative of her … More HRC Endorses California Senator Dianne Feinstein for Re-Election:

Meet the Obama Foundation’s First Group of Fellows

April 16, 2018

Congratulations to the 20 Fellows chosen out of 20,000 applicants. When the Obama Foundation opened applications for the inaugural Obama Foundation Fellowship,2018, over 20,000 people from 191 countries applied. From that incredible pool, they selected 20 inaugural Fellows who represent 11 countries around the world. Welcome to the Fellows: Erin Barnes, Veronica Crespin-Palmer, Clarissa Delgado, … More Meet the Obama Foundation’s First Group of Fellows

Republican Senator John Kennedy Assails Facebook with Offensive Racist Swahili Comment

April 15, 2018

“This disgustingly ill-placed comment has no place in our American Congress and John Kennedy should be censured for it!” Melanie Nathan, as ED of African Human Rights Coalition. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Facebook, faced a tough crowd on the House side of Capitol Hill in his two days of congressional testimony. … More Republican Senator John Kennedy Assails Facebook with Offensive Racist Swahili Comment

Endorsing A Champion For Office of Marin County Assessor

April 15, 2018

I am so proud to endorse Shelly Scott for Marin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. Shelly served on the Marin Human Rights Commission with me and I have known her personally for many years.  And if you go to her endorsement page you will see so many fellow former Human Rights Commissioner’s have endorsed Shelly. I assure … More Endorsing A Champion For Office of Marin County Assessor

Americans Must Help As Trump Threatens Rosenstein and Mueller

April 14, 2018

DO YOUR PART TO PROTECT THE RULE OF LAW: “A few so-called “legal experts” have recently claimed that the President has the right to fire Mueller and/or interfere with the investigation for any reason. They’re wrong: When it comes to obstruction of justice, motives matter.” When Trump instituted his first Muslim travel ban and refugee suspension, … More Americans Must Help As Trump Threatens Rosenstein and Mueller

Trinidad and Tobago Decriminalize Onerous Anti-LGBT Sexuality Laws

April 12, 2018

The High Court in Trinidad and Tobago delivered a verdict today striking down the old buggery law that criminalized homosexuality. ​Justice Devindra Rampersad will deliver his final ruling in three months and the Island LGBTQI communities celebrate: In March 2017, Jason Jones, an LGBT activist, took the government of Trinidad and Tobago to court, filing a lawsuit to strike down the so-called “buggery law”, … More Trinidad and Tobago Decriminalize Onerous Anti-LGBT Sexuality Laws

Trump Admin Full Steam Ahead to Reshape America’s Treatment of Immigrants and Refugees

March 29, 2018

Washington, DC — Congress may be essentially done for the year, but the Trump Administration is moving forward aggressively to fundamentally reshape the way America treats immigrants and refugees. Just in the past few weeks alone, we’ve seen the Trump administration: Abandon ICE’s presumed release policy that kept most pregnant women out of immigrant detention facilities; … More Trump Admin Full Steam Ahead to Reshape America’s Treatment of Immigrants and Refugees

Short Memo on Trump Transgender Military Ban by Palm Center

March 27, 2018

Offers Expert Analysis of Meaning of Latest DOD Announcement  SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Palm Center today released the below short memo describing the impact and status of the Trump administration’s ban on transgender service members. “Breaking Down the March 23, 2018 Transgender Military Ban” outlines what the Pentagon and White House released on Friday; explains … More Short Memo on Trump Transgender Military Ban by Palm Center

Nearly 250,000 LGBT in Arizona vulnerable to discrimination

March 26, 2018

Statewide civil rights laws offer no protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas such as employment, housing and public accommodations.  Arizona’s legal landscape and social climate put the state’s 203,000 LGBT adults and 45,500 LGBT youth at risk of discrimination and harassment. The social, economic and health effects of stigma … More Nearly 250,000 LGBT in Arizona vulnerable to discrimination

Trump Pence Trans Military Ban is as UnAmerican as a Commander-in-Chief or anyone can get!

March 24, 2018

Imagine an American Commander in Chief turning on American soldiers? That is what Donald Trump did as he sneaks the implementation of his Ban on Transgender people serving in the Military, just yesterday. The White House on Friday announced a policy to ban most transgender people from serving in the US military. Following a Pentagon … More Trump Pence Trans Military Ban is as UnAmerican as a Commander-in-Chief or anyone can get!

Discrimination Complaint Against Aeroflot Airlines

March 23, 2018

Flight Attendants or Deportation Agents? Washington, DC – Today, Muslim Advocates and the law firm Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) on behalf of five U.S. citizens who were subject to grossly discriminated against by Aeroflot Airlines simply because of their perceived race and national origin. … More Discrimination Complaint Against Aeroflot Airlines

Feinstein Calls for Gun Safety Legislation

March 22, 2018

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) remarks on gun safety at a March 14th hearing on the tragic mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. Video here. Feinstein’s remarks follow:             “This hearing comes on the one-month anniversary of the heinous attack at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, by … More Feinstein Calls for Gun Safety Legislation

Unsolved Robberies and Murders as Uganda Fails to Protect Human Rights Defenders

March 22, 2018

Break-ins and violence against security personnel of human rights organizations seems endemic in Uganda, as elucidated in an article penned by an Ugandan human rights defender, who concludes that the State is failing to protect its human rights community, with police refusing to see human rights defenders as community partners: ADRIAN JJUUKO, Executive director of Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) … More Unsolved Robberies and Murders as Uganda Fails to Protect Human Rights Defenders

Mark Leno Leads San Francisco Mayoral Campaigns by Example

March 20, 2018

We should celebrate our diversity – not use it as a tool of division. Heather Knight’s recent article — “Mark Leno: his final quest is a run for the city’s top job” — was informative and seemingly-balanced until a particular unchallenged, ad hominem remark sent me back for a second read. The article quotes Nicole … More Mark Leno Leads San Francisco Mayoral Campaigns by Example

Mark Leno Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Promises to End Street Homelessness

March 17, 2018

Former State Senator, Mark Leno, a favorite in the highly competitive and formidable race for San Francisco Mayor, is promising to end San Francisco’s critical street homeless crisis by 2020. As San Francisco Chronicle opinion writer Heather Knight noted back in January: “You have just 20 weeks to decide who should lead our economic powerhouse of a … More Mark Leno Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Promises to End Street Homelessness