Category: FAMILY

White House Meeting on Immigration Unbalanced Unserious Unconscionable

January 8, 2018

Just like the White House Insistence on Poison Pills in Exchange for the Dream Act On Tuesday, the White House will host nearly twenty lawmakers to discuss immigration. The list of White House-selected invitees is an unfortunate reflection of where the Administration and Republican strategy seems to be leaning: it is loaded up with anti-immigrant … More White House Meeting on Immigration Unbalanced Unserious Unconscionable

87 Faith and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Support of DACA Recipients in New York

December 26, 2017

Washington, DC – Last week, Muslim Advocates and the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, LLP filed an amicus brief on behalf of 87 religious groups and organizations representing or working with faith communities asking the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York to suspend the government’s planned termination … More 87 Faith and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Support of DACA Recipients in New York

Group Seeks Justice for Those Assaulted During Vietnam War

November 6, 2017

International Organization  Hosts Event In U.S. On Eve Of Trump Visit To Vietnam New Orleans, La. ( Nov. 6, 2017) — The international group Justice for Lai Dai Han is hosting a U.S.-based event – on the eve of President Trump’s visit to Vietnam to speak at the APEC Summit – to raise awareness of … More Group Seeks Justice for Those Assaulted During Vietnam War

Information on Marin County Wildfire Relief Coordination

October 13, 2017

Marin Exhibit Hall Center shelter remains open; donations still not needed San Rafael, CA (2:45 PM)–  The Marin County Office of Emergency Services and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue to operate a temporary shelter for North Bay wildfire evacuees at Marin Center Exhibit Hall at 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. … More Information on Marin County Wildfire Relief Coordination

Congressman Huffman Annual Political Fundraiser will be Fire Victim Fund Relief

October 12, 2017

Our Congressman Jared Huffman was set to have his annual political fundraiser this week- and has so kindly turned it into a fundraiser for Fire Victims – THANK you!  Statement: “This is no time for politics or political fundraising. It is a time to help our neighbors in need, and that’s what we’ve decided to … More Congressman Huffman Annual Political Fundraiser will be Fire Victim Fund Relief

Two Days Before Arbitrary DACA Renewal Deadline, Tens of Thousands of Dreamers May Be Left Unprotected

October 3, 2017

October 05 is #DACA Renewal Deadline – Trump Administration should extend arbitrary deadline and Congress should move Dream Act forward with renewed urgency=Washington, DC – With just two days remaining before we reach the October 5th DACA renewal deadline affecting more than 150,000 DACA recipients, the Trump Administration seems insistent on keeping the new and artificial … More Two Days Before Arbitrary DACA Renewal Deadline, Tens of Thousands of Dreamers May Be Left Unprotected

Dreamers and Allies Speak Out in Purple and Red States Across America

September 29, 2017

Washington, DC – Across the country, DACA recipients and a broad range of their allies are urging Congress to act quickly to legalize America’s Dreamers. This is happening not only in traditionally Democratic states, but in purple and red states as well, and is quantified in a range of recent polling. Below, we highlight some … More Dreamers and Allies Speak Out in Purple and Red States Across America

FOX News Poll Overwhelming Support for Pathway to Citizenship for Dreamers & Undocumented Immigrants

September 29, 2017

With Trump Disapproval ratings in the HUGE range! Washington, DC  –  A new FOX News poll is the latest in a swell of recent national polls to find overwhelming support from Americans, including Republicans, for Congress passing legislation that puts Dreamers on a path to citizenship.  Some key takeaways: 57% disapprove of the job President … More FOX News Poll Overwhelming Support for Pathway to Citizenship for Dreamers & Undocumented Immigrants

University of California sues Trump administration on unlawful repeal of DACA program

September 8, 2017

The University of California today (Sept. 8) filed suit in federal court against the Trump administration for wrongly and unconstitutionally violating the rights of the University and its students by rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on “nothing more than unreasoned executive whim.” The lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California … More University of California sues Trump administration on unlawful repeal of DACA program

Jewish Lesbian Mom Regains Custody of Children

September 7, 2017

By Melanie Nathan, A Court reinstated custody to an ultra religious Jewish mother in Brooklyn, New York, The parent, an ex member of Hassidic Judaism, lost custody of her three children after coming out as a lesbian and finally regained her custody after more than two years of appeals. The Appeals Court ordered that Chavie … More Jewish Lesbian Mom Regains Custody of Children

Protesting DONALD’s DUMPING of DACA

September 5, 2017

PLEASE – SIGN Senator Kamala Harris  PETITION BELOW: Via CNN:  The Trump administration on Tuesday formally announced the end of DACA — a program that had protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will stop processing any new applications for the program as … More Protesting DONALD’s DUMPING of DACA

Asian Americans Defending DACA to gather at White House

August 30, 2017

Asian American and Pacific Islander Groups Defend Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals   Leaders from national Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations will gather in front of the White House on August 31 in support of immigrants to urge President Trump to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The president has threatened … More Asian Americans Defending DACA to gather at White House

Harmful Surgery on Intersex Children in the United Sates

July 25, 2017

Medically Unnecessary Operations Risk Lifelong Suffering (Chicago, July 25, 2017) – Doctors in the United States continue to perform medically unnecessary surgeries that can inflict permanent harm on intersex children, Human Rights Watch and interACT said in a report released today. Despite decades of controversy over the procedures, doctors operate on children’s gonads, internal sex … More Harmful Surgery on Intersex Children in the United Sates

US Jewish Leaders Plea to Israel for Same-Sex Adoption Rights

July 25, 2017

In response to the growing controversy in Israel regarding adoption by same-sex couples, A Wider Bridge organized a public letter which was published today. The letter, signed by nearly 200 Jewish Community Leaders from across America, calls on the Israeli Ministries of Justice and Social Affairs to treat same-sex couples equally in the adoption process. Lesbian, … More US Jewish Leaders Plea to Israel for Same-Sex Adoption Rights

Critical Truth in Telling Gay Love Stories of Africa

July 24, 2017

By Melanie Nathan, July 24, 2017. The importance in showcasing love stories and the relationship evolution to marriage, illustrating how couples avail themselves of tradition and of the laws that equally pertain to all, is critical to an LGBT movement in Africa-  where homophobia is rampant through the lies that have perpetuated misunderstanding. This outward … More Critical Truth in Telling Gay Love Stories of Africa

Will Trump Intervene as Saudi Arabia About to Behead University Student

July 16, 2017

A Saudi Arabian student who was arrested five years ago as he was about to fly to Michigan to attend college, is believed to be facing imminent execution by beheading. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is asking U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently visited Saudi Arabia and concluded an arms deal with the country, … More Will Trump Intervene as Saudi Arabia About to Behead University Student

OHIO Urgent Call to Action to RESIST Judicial Appointments

July 13, 2017

Thanks to Lambda legal for providing the following call to Action: Two Trump judicial appointees with vicious anti-LGBT views are poised to become some of the most powerful judges in the country. People in Ohio have the chance to stop it. John K. Bush, nominated to fill a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals … More OHIO Urgent Call to Action to RESIST Judicial Appointments

2017 Hearst National Championships Winners Announced

June 8, 2017

JUNE 5, 2017 HEARST – 2017 HEARST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED Special congratulations to first place winner of the Hearst National Championship Annual Multi-Media Competition: Claire Collins, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who themed an LGBT refugee.  I was also pleased to participate in the short winning piece – especially because it gives this … More 2017 Hearst National Championships Winners Announced

Help Amnesty International get Ivanka Trump to Visit Baby Jail

June 7, 2017

Candles, birthday cake, presents, friends and family. That’s what every parent hopes for their child’s birthday. Instead of festivities, Tomás spent his eighth birthday behind bars—for the second year in a row. The reason why? Because Tomás and his mom were jailed in the only place in the country where you can hold a child … More Help Amnesty International get Ivanka Trump to Visit Baby Jail

Shame on Texas Governor Pushing Anti-LGBT Agenda

June 6, 2017

Texas Governor Calls Special Legislative Session to Advance Anti-LGBT Agenda – Abbott’s decision is a capitulation to the Lone Star State’s rabidly anti-LGBT lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick WASHINGTON – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced today that he is calling a special legislative session to tackle an inordinate agenda — including HB 2899, discriminatory legislation that bans municipalities … More Shame on Texas Governor Pushing Anti-LGBT Agenda

LGBTQI Documentary to Premiere at Soho International Film Festival.

May 24, 2017

On its road to acclaim, the new LGBTQI documentary, Between the Shades, has been given a weekend block to premier at The Soho International Film Festival. The film, premiering at the New York venue on June 17th, examines the immense power of labels and the transcendence of love, while putting faces to the letters that … More LGBTQI Documentary to Premiere at Soho International Film Festival.

SC Mom Reflects on Gay Son’s Murder Speaking Out Against Anti- LGBTQ Violence

May 16, 2017

Greenville, South Carolina– On Tuesday, May 16, Greenville resident Elke Kennedy will observe the 10-year anniversary of her son Sean Kennedy’s death. Sean was brutally murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in 2007.  Ms. Kennedy has spent much of the last decade traveling the country and advocating for an end to hate violence. A decade after … More SC Mom Reflects on Gay Son’s Murder Speaking Out Against Anti- LGBTQ Violence

Backlash – The UNFeminist Movement Mastered by Gretha Wiid

May 14, 2017

When Women Regress in the Name of Progress – This milieu is ripe for scapegoating and what better than to use religion as the tool and women as the fool! By Melanie Nathan. When we move closer to parity between the races and sexes, equality in the realm of sexual orientation, and as we move further … More Backlash – The UNFeminist Movement Mastered by Gretha Wiid

My Mom is a Lesbian – A Foster Adopt Child’s Letter to Donald Trump

May 4, 2017

 “My Mom is a lesbian…” We are told that Donald Trump is scheduled to sign an Executive Order today:  “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom”. The name is a hideous mask – a guise – a ruse.  While it seems to invoke religious freedom, in truth it is an excuse to trample on the constitutional … More My Mom is a Lesbian – A Foster Adopt Child’s Letter to Donald Trump

Trump Executive Order With Religious Exemptions Would Allow Discrimination Against LGBT People

May 2, 2017

Order Could Impact Hundreds of Thousands of LGBT People, Including Tens of Thousands of LGBT Youth in Foster Care and Same-Sex Couples Seeking to Foster or Adopt Los Angeles – A federal executive order carving out broad religious exemptions to existing laws and policies could provide sweeping protections for employers, service providers, and others that … More Trump Executive Order With Religious Exemptions Would Allow Discrimination Against LGBT People

On Passover LA Police Arrest Rabbis Protesting Immigration Persecution

April 14, 2017

On the third day of Passover in downtown Los Angeles, 35 Rabbis, Priests, and Muslim activists — in a coalition of local faith-based groups were arrested for an act of civil disobedience. In protest of the Trump administration’s inhumane efforts to tear immigrant families apart, these leaders physically blocked the entrance to the local detention … More On Passover LA Police Arrest Rabbis Protesting Immigration Persecution

Marin County Resolution for Immigrants

March 22, 2017

With Board of Supervisors  resolution, relationship of trust and respect urged for everyone (County Press Release): Social equity has been a top priority for the County of Marin for many years, and the Board of Supervisors emphasized its importance again after the Marin community expressed concerns about the changing immigration policy in Washington, D.C. At … More Marin County Resolution for Immigrants

Take Action to Stop Alabama Bill that will hurt LGBT Families

March 15, 2017

The deceptively-named “Alabama Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act” will be debated in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday, March 17, and we need your help to stop it. This bill would allow allow state-licensed, religiously-affiliated foster and adoption placing agencies to deny placements with individuals and families with whom they have a religious dispute … More Take Action to Stop Alabama Bill that will hurt LGBT Families