Category: Law

President Biden’s Swift Immigration Action brings added Hope for LGBTQI Refugees

January 20, 2021

Thanking President Biden on Quick Immigration Action with a Hope for added considerations for LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden signed several executive orders today including the repeal of the Trump administration’s travel bans, which barred people from many African and Muslim-majority countries from coming to the United States. The Biden administration … More President Biden’s Swift Immigration Action brings added Hope for LGBTQI Refugees

Historic Opposition as 7,000 Lawyers Sign Letter Against Amy Coney Barrett for SCOTUS

October 22, 2020

Judge Amy Coney Barrett has officially been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. We need to make sure that every American knows that the legal community is vigorously opposed to this nomination. More than 7,000 lawyers have now signed this letter, which is the largest attorney opposition letter to a Supreme Court nominee in American … More Historic Opposition as 7,000 Lawyers Sign Letter Against Amy Coney Barrett for SCOTUS

California New LGBTQ Civil Rights and Health Care Bills Signed into Law

September 26, 2020

Governor Newsom Signs Senator Wiener’s LGBTQ Civil Rights and Health Care Bills into Law SACRAMENTO- Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two of Senator Scott Wiener’s bills promoting LGTBQ rights and equality: Senate Bill 932 mandates that health care providers in California report sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data, if known, for all reportable communicable … More California New LGBTQ Civil Rights and Health Care Bills Signed into Law

Stop Trump from Using Pandemic Fears to Ban Asylum Seekers

August 7, 2020

THIS IS THE SECOND RULE ASK WE ARE WORKING ON: On July 9 the Trump administration introduced yet another hateful asylum rule – this time exploiting pandemic fears and weaponizing specious public health claims against asylum seekers. We have just a few days left to speak out and submit public comments opposing the rule before the … More Stop Trump from Using Pandemic Fears to Ban Asylum Seekers

Canadian Court Strikes Down Safe Third Country Agreement with United States

July 22, 2020

Marin, CA (July 22, 2020) –  The Federal Court of Canada,  returned an historic decision today, striking down the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States. The decision from Justice Anne Marie McDonald found the agreement to be unconstitutional, holding that it violates the guarantee in the Canadian Charter of Rights and … More Canadian Court Strikes Down Safe Third Country Agreement with United States

Responding to Trump Killing Asylum

July 20, 2020

In his 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump claimed Mexico was offloading ‘rapists’ at the border. And he vowed his administration would no longer accept this. Four years later, his trajectory of scapegoating and lies has yielded the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office of Immigration Review’s new rule. This rule effectively destroys the asylum process … More Responding to Trump Killing Asylum

Gabon Votes to decriminalize Same-Sex Relations

July 7, 2020

In a landmark decision, on Monday, 6 July 2020, the Senate of Gabon voted to decriminalize same-sex relations with 59 votes in favor, 17 against and 4 abstentions. The move to decriminalize was supported by the lower house of Parliament on June 23, 2020. Unlike numerous countries across the African continent, Gabon did not have … More Gabon Votes to decriminalize Same-Sex Relations

UNHCR Reminds about the Importance of respecting Kenyan Law

July 3, 2020

Any activists providing funding that has served to assist refugees to leave Kakuma Camp, need to be aware that they are aiding and abetting in the commission of crime that could subject the refugee to detrimental repercussions that negatively impact chances of resettlement. Refugees in host country Kenya are asked not to break the law.  It … More UNHCR Reminds about the Importance of respecting Kenyan Law

Trump Loses in Federal Court as Deportation of Boy under Public Health Laws Halted

June 24, 2020

Federal Court Again Blocks Removal of Honduran Youth in First Challenge to Trump Administration’s Illegal Border Expulsion Order – Judge Says Trump Order Likely Unlawful A federal court has once again provisionally blocked the deportation of a Honduran boy in the first legal challenge to the Trump administration’s order restricting immigration at the border based on … More Trump Loses in Federal Court as Deportation of Boy under Public Health Laws Halted

NO NO NO to the Rabidly Anti-LGBTQI Cory Wilson for Fifth Circuit Lifetime Appointment

June 22, 2020

Rep. Thompson, Civil Rights Groups Oppose Cory Wilson for the Fifth Circuit – Part of a sweeping effort by President Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate to pack the courts with extremely conservative justices, Mississippi judge Cory Wilson has been open with his anti-LGBTQ political views…. and more… WASHINGTON – On a press call today, civil … More NO NO NO to the Rabidly Anti-LGBTQI Cory Wilson for Fifth Circuit Lifetime Appointment

In Defeat of Trump Supreme Court Blocks Attempt to End DACA

June 18, 2020

Immigrant communities and the many Americans with heart are rejoicing today at this news which comes as a HUGE defeat for Trump and a triumph for immigrants: Today the Supreme Court protected DACA- our Dreamers are safe for now from the monstrous hell they have been through by this administration and its supporters, now in … More In Defeat of Trump Supreme Court Blocks Attempt to End DACA

San Anselmo Council Fails to Hold White Town Accountable in George Floyd Statement

June 15, 2020

San Anselmo finally came out with a statement about the George Floyd murder and surge in Black Lives Matter call for action: This would have been the time for the Town of San Anselmo to own and acknowledge and commit to change. But it failed miserably. When you are a town in America that has … More San Anselmo Council Fails to Hold White Town Accountable in George Floyd Statement

CGRS Asylum 21St Century Victories

June 5, 2020

Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at Hastings Law School, San Francisco (CGRS), has published two new videos discussing the recent Sixth Circuit victories in Juan Antonio v. Barr and Guzman v. Barr, as a part of their “Asylum in the 21st Century: What’s New?” video series. Take a look: Juan Antonio v. Barr: In this case involving an indigenous … More CGRS Asylum 21St Century Victories

George Floyd’s Murder Reflects on an America that is Unsafe for African Refugees and Asylum Seekers

May 31, 2020

African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) Statement on how the Murder of George Floyd Denotes America Unsafe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers from African Countries at this time: African Human Rights Coalition expressed its condolences and outrage on social media the moment we saw the video evidencing the cold blooded murder of George Floyd, a black … More George Floyd’s Murder Reflects on an America that is Unsafe for African Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Lawyers Denied Access to LGBTI Group in Ugandan Prison Pending Trial

April 24, 2020

Today, Friday 24th April 2020, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) filed a case before the Civil Division of the High Court of Uganda challenging the denial of the 19 LGBT persons currently on remand at Kitalya Mini Maxi Prison access to their lawyers by refusing to grant permission to the lawyers to access … More Lawyers Denied Access to LGBTI Group in Ugandan Prison Pending Trial

Trump Scapegoats Immigrants Attempting to Deflect from Failed Pandemic Response

April 21, 2020

Last night Donald Trump current President of The United States,  announced by tweet plans to issue an executive order temporarily suspending all immigration to the United States. Comments in  response: Decrying the Trump Threat to Suspend Immigration Karen Musalo, Director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), shared the following comment: “Once again, … More Trump Scapegoats Immigrants Attempting to Deflect from Failed Pandemic Response

Concern as COVID-19 Restrictions Trigger Escalated Human Rights Abuses in Uganda

March 30, 2020

Following my post yesterday ( referenced below) where Ugandan authorities raided a homeless shelter, beating people and threatening beatings in exchange for confessions as to sexuality, reflects not only an abuse of basic human rights, but also an insidious and opportunistic excuse to cite COVID-19 as a justification to victimize the most vulnerable.  As well … More Concern as COVID-19 Restrictions Trigger Escalated Human Rights Abuses in Uganda

2019 LGBT Law Changes

December 30, 2019

2019 This year, per EQAULDEX – there were 10 recorded legal changes made affecting LGBT people. In the previous year, there were 76 changes made. A total of 1256 legal changes have been made so far since 2010 in the decade….. July 8 Ecuador Same-sex marriage becomes legal. Civil marriage between same-sex couples is already a … More 2019 LGBT Law Changes

Zambian President Complains About U.S. Ambassador Gay Support

December 14, 2019

Zambia Complains to U.S. After Ambassador Condemns Jailing of Gay Couple- And how to start changing the narrative! The president of Zambia plans to issue an official complaint to the United States over remarks its ambassador made after a homosexual couple were jailed for 15 years in the African country. Read my Dec 01 Article … More Zambian President Complains About U.S. Ambassador Gay Support

 History Made as Transgender Woman Awarded Damages by Zimbabwe High Court

December 1, 2019

The High Court in Bulawayo in a groundbreaking judgment, awarded damages against Zimbabwean police in favor of a transgender woman. Honorable Justice Bere awarded Ricky Nathanson, a transgender woman and activist $400,000 in damages for unlawful arrest, malicious prosecution and emotional distress. Ms. Nathanson sued Zimbabwe police in 2014, after she was arrested by six riot … More  History Made as Transgender Woman Awarded Damages by Zimbabwe High Court

Zambia Jails Gays for 15 Years and US Ambassador Calls Out Hypocrisy

December 1, 2019

TWO men who were caught having sex at a lodge in Kapiri Mposhi in 2017 have been sentenced by the High Court in Lusaka, Zambia to 15 years imprisonment. Japhet Chataba, 28, a carpenter of Ndeke Township, and Steven Samba, of Kasenshi in Kapiri Mposhi. The Judge ruled that the men had committed an “act against … More Zambia Jails Gays for 15 Years and US Ambassador Calls Out Hypocrisy

History Made as the Rainbow Flag Ruled for Love Against Apartheid Hate

August 21, 2019

The banning of the South African Apartheid Flag as a symbol of hate now historically stands in stark and judicial contrast to the LGBTQI Rainbow flag – in effect expressly ruled a symbol of love! The Black Monday protests, which flared-up in October 2017 in South Africa, forced the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SA Human … More History Made as the Rainbow Flag Ruled for Love Against Apartheid Hate

Despicable Trump Anti-LGBT Anti-Women Labor Discrimination Rule up for Public Comment

August 14, 2019

The Trump administration is attempting to legitimate workplace discrimination against LGBTQ employees and other vulnerable people, to include unmarried pregnant women, after the Labor Department unveiled a rule that would allow federal contractors to cite religious beliefs to protect themselves from bias claims. The rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, … More Despicable Trump Anti-LGBT Anti-Women Labor Discrimination Rule up for Public Comment

Coalition Fight the Illegality of Healthcare Discrimination against LGBTQI People

August 14, 2019

Fighting HHS: Health Care Discrimination Against LGBT People is Illegal – The first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, and allies participated in a broad coalition of organizations by submitting more than 132,400 comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the federal government to … More Coalition Fight the Illegality of Healthcare Discrimination against LGBTQI People

L4GG Win Ruling Against Nazi Publisher of Daily Stormer

August 10, 2019

A Federal judge ruled in favor of a woman who was barraged with racist, sexist, and threatening messages after a known white supremacist used his neo-Nazi website to encourage his followers to harass her. Taylor Dumpson was awarded $700,000 against white supremacist Nazi Andrew Anglin who founded and publishes website the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi … More L4GG Win Ruling Against Nazi Publisher of Daily Stormer

Denouncing Trump’s New Rule Shutting Down Access to Asylum

July 15, 2019

The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new interim final rule announced by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security today, which will deny asylum to those seeking protection at our southern border if they do not first apply for asylum from a third country while en route to the United States. This new … More Denouncing Trump’s New Rule Shutting Down Access to Asylum

Planned Raids – Helping Immigrant Communities – What You Can Do

July 12, 2019

After postponing last month’s planned immigration sweep, the Trump Administration is now preparing to launch a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across major U.S. cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco. These raids, which are scheduled to commence on Sunday, will harm … More Planned Raids – Helping Immigrant Communities – What You Can Do

UN Renews Mandate of Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Independent Expert

July 12, 2019

UN Renews Crucial Mandate for Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identit In a defining vote, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert focusing on the protection against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. … More UN Renews Mandate of Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Independent Expert

Navigating the new landscape of LGBTQ divorce for Lawyers and Therapists

June 27, 2019

A new book by Adam Romero, the Williams Institute’s Arnold D. Kassoy Scholar of Law and federal policy director, and Abbie Goldberg, a former Williams Institute visiting scholar and professor of psychology at Clark University, provides a comprehensive resource for navigating the new world of LGBTQ relationship dissolution. The right to marry means same-sex couples have gained … More Navigating the new landscape of LGBTQ divorce for Lawyers and Therapists

No Place for Kacsmaryk’s Bigotry on the Federal Bench

June 18, 2019

The Senate voted today to move forward with confirming Matthew Kacsmaryk to be a lifetime federal judge, despite strong protests from Democrats ― and one Republican ― over his record of opposition to LGBT rights and abortion rights. The Senate voted 52-44 on a procedural step to advance Kacsmaryk’s nomination to the U.S. District Court … More No Place for Kacsmaryk’s Bigotry on the Federal Bench