Category: Law

Lawsuit Filed Seeking Information on ICE Policies for Asylum Seekers

October 20, 2016

San Francisco – The ACLU of Northern California, the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP), the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at UC Hastings College of the Law (CGRS), and pro bono counsel at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila (RSHC) today filed suit against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for refusing to release … More Lawsuit Filed Seeking Information on ICE Policies for Asylum Seekers

Report on Belize Judgment Striking Down Sodomy Law

August 11, 2016

A media consultant at Amnesty, United Kingdom, has provided the following judgment report, an unofficial summary of the Belize Court’s conclusion striking down the sodomy laws of that country. Unofficial : Judgment Report: The Court was called to order at 10 am. The case was called and appearances made by Lisa Shoman SC for all … More Report on Belize Judgment Striking Down Sodomy Law

Breaking: Governor of Massachusetts Signs Transgender Bill Into Law

July 8, 2016

MA becomes first and only state this year to pass transgender -inclusive protections, including restrooms and locker rooms  BOSTON – Today Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed a transgender public accommodations bill into law making Massachusetts the only state this year to pass a bill updating state law to ensure full protections for transgender people from … More Breaking: Governor of Massachusetts Signs Transgender Bill Into Law

Examining Hawaii and the Protection of Transgender Inmates in Prison

June 7, 2016

On paper, at least, Hawaii is doing everything right in how it treats transgender inmates in the state’s prison system, according to an article by Rui Kaneya, published in Civil Beat, who asks, whether it is enough. According to the piece, which incorporates great visuals showing from Hawaii: Under the state’s policy, the Hawaii Department … More Examining Hawaii and the Protection of Transgender Inmates in Prison

New York Bill to help LGBT, Disability, and Veteran Owned Businesses

May 25, 2016

LGBT, Disability, and Veteran Owned Businesses to Gain Access with “New York State Supplier Diversity Act” Introduced into NY State Senate with Support of NGLCC Washington, D.C. — The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, is excited to announce that New York State Senator Brad Hoylman … More New York Bill to help LGBT, Disability, and Veteran Owned Businesses

Help Push California AB 1888 to stop funding for Bigotry against LGBT Students

May 22, 2016

Equality California is urging action – please alert you California lawmakers to pass AB 1888. Read on: “Californians don’t like discrimination.  Over the past 15 years, that’s been abundantly clear as our state has passed some of the world’s strongest laws protecting LGBT people. But did you know there are islands of discrimination within California … More Help Push California AB 1888 to stop funding for Bigotry against LGBT Students

Breaking: Justice Department Says HB 2 Violates Federal Law

May 4, 2016

North Carolina one step closer to losing nearly $1 billion in federal funding over anti-transgender law WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice notified North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory this afternoon that HB 2, the state’s discriminatory anti-transgender law, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as well as Title IX. Federal officials have given … More Breaking: Justice Department Says HB 2 Violates Federal Law

Ugandan Attorney General Fails to Show up at Court Hearing in Case Impacting LGBT Rights

April 26, 2016

The Ugandan Constitutional Court has finally allowed argument, for a second time, in a case which has been waiting to be heard for the past 8 years, despite the Defendant’s absence.  Back in July 2015, when the case was previously postponed, the Plaintiff expressed bewilderment at the Court’s perennial lack of a quorum and wondered … More Ugandan Attorney General Fails to Show up at Court Hearing in Case Impacting LGBT Rights

Anti-Trans North Carolina is home to Pharma Company led by Visionary Trans woman

April 6, 2016

In 1995, Martine Rothblatt, a trans American lawyer, author, philosopher and entrepreneur published “The Apartheid of Sex,” a brief manifesto that made the case for an overhaul of “dimorphic” (her word) gender categories. New York Magazine , in a must read feature on Rothblatt, quotes her as saying: “There are five billion people in the … More Anti-Trans North Carolina is home to Pharma Company led by Visionary Trans woman

TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

March 24, 2016

North Carolina Law Strikes Down LGBT Protections, becoming First State to Exclude Transgender Students from School Bathrooms and Locker Rooms New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) condemns a new law passed by North Carolina lawmakers and signed by Governor Pat McCrory, which will ban transgender students in schools and all transgender … More TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

Outrage as South African Court Grants Parole to Killer of Anti-Apartheid Hero

March 10, 2016

A South African court ruled Thursday that a Polish immigrant Janusz Walus, 63, who shot and killed the South African anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani in 1993, should be released on parole after 23 years behind bars. Many South Africans, including the ruling ANC party are outraged by this decision. Walus is serving a life sentence … More Outrage as South African Court Grants Parole to Killer of Anti-Apartheid Hero

TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

March 1, 2016

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund applauds South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard for vetoing a bill that would have singled out transgender students for discrimination by prohibiting them from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match who they are as boys and girls. In February, South Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1008. The bill would have restricted facility access to students of the “same biological sex,” and defined that to mean “the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person’s chromosomes and identified at birth by a person’s anatomy.”

Last week the governor met with transgender students who explained how harmful it would be to their health and well being to deny them use of bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with who they are. Thousands of activists across the nation joined them in urging the Governor to reject the legislation. Today the Governor did just that. Had the bill been enacted, it would have been the first law in the nation targeting transgender students for bias. … More TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

California Legislation Introduced to Increase Transparency in Law Enforcement Records

February 19, 2016

“We are still at the back of the bus in areas of criminal justice” said Alice A. Huffman, president of the California-Hawaii State Conference of NAACP. “Every day we are still being victimized. Police misconduct and racial injustice is at an all-time high in our country and one has to wonder just what did the civil rights movement accomplish. That’s why the California-Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP stands with Senator Leno on this very timely bill to ensure that the veil of secrecy on inappropriate behavior among law enforcement personnel, who have a sworn duty to protect and serve all citizens, will be lifted.” … More California Legislation Introduced to Increase Transparency in Law Enforcement Records

HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

January 14, 2016

Transgender activists, Trans Community and all who care please take note of this call to action by the Federal Government and leading organizations! Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently published a new regulation that it is considering adopting, one that would, for the first … More HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family

January 14, 2016

Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016 Lambda Legal today filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a Boulder County property owner who violated the federal Fair Housing Act and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to rent a housing unit she owns in Gold Hill, Colorado, to a same-sex couple, one of whom is transgender, … More Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family

Reassuring LGBT Refugees – Donald Trump is not the Voice of America

December 8, 2015

Trump’s remarks are so outrageous and irresponsible that at this point, although we are not a political organization, we cannot keep silent, to reassure the Muslim community of refugees and to condemn these statements. It is our opinion that all civil society organizations, especially those in the field of equality and human rights should speak out vehemently against Donald Trump’s continued use of the presidential campaign as a security risk and bully pulpit. … More Reassuring LGBT Refugees – Donald Trump is not the Voice of America

BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

November 10, 2015

While Failing to Note that the Choices are Few to None! By Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. Here is a BBC TV report for which I provided consultation.  I have posted the BBC transcript report here.  The TV version with pictures can be seen on the BBC website. The report  while providing crucial exposure, leaves … More BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

Houston Equal Rights Ordinance Repealed

November 3, 2015

Houston voters reject non-discrimination protections for gay and transgender people Posted by Melanie Nathan, Nov 03, 2015. The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to news that voters have repealed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which banned discrimination against Houstonians in housing, employment, public accommodations and city services. It protected residents from public … More Houston Equal Rights Ordinance Repealed

Condemnation for New York State Senator’s Criticism of Transgender Rights

November 2, 2015

TLDEF Condemns New York Senate Majority Leader’s Disingenuous Criticism of Transgender Rights Regulations Posted by Melanie Nathan, November 02, 2015. New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to comments made by New York Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan suggesting that Governor Andrew Cuomo went beyond his authority by proposing new … More Condemnation for New York State Senator’s Criticism of Transgender Rights

Russians who Tortured Gays on Video get Jail Time

October 19, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, October 19, 2015. Finally a measure of justice has been attained in Russia as nine members of the gang known as Occupy Paedophilia have been sentenced to prison terms or suspended sentences for luring, torturing and publishing the humiliating recorded videos of young men perceived as gay. Here on Oblogdee we covered … More Russians who Tortured Gays on Video get Jail Time

Tell Mayor Ed Lee NOT to Veto Tenant Protections 2.0

October 7, 2015

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Let the Mayor of San Francisco Know your thoughts! Posted by Melanie Nathan, Oct 07, 2015. Last week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the crucial measure, Tenant Protections 2.0,  to protect tenants in the City of San Francisco. However, Mayor Ed Lee is apparently considering a veto of these … More Tell Mayor Ed Lee NOT to Veto Tenant Protections 2.0

Suspicious Timing in Release of Transgender Prisoner

October 6, 2015

October 06, 2015, Cross Blog from The Recorder. A federal appellate panel on Monday questioned whether California prison officials accelerated the release of a transgender female prisoner to avoid having to provide her with sex-reassignment surgery. In April, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of the Northern District of California ordered state officials to provide sex-reassignment … More Suspicious Timing in Release of Transgender Prisoner

Hate Group Leader Visits CA Coastal Community Under Protection of Republican Women’s Group

September 17, 2015

1AngryOldLesbian.org puts spotlight on Brad Dacus and Pacific Justice Institute Update: Event photos below An otherwise idyllic year-round vacation spot became host today to a fear mongering, falsehood generating, anti-LGBT hate group—The Pacific Justice Institute and its President, Brad Dacus—speaking at the Estero Bay Republican Women Federated luncheon at the Morro Bay Golf Course, the … More Hate Group Leader Visits CA Coastal Community Under Protection of Republican Women’s Group

Transgender Bills By State Senator Leno Pass California Assembly

September 2, 2015

Leno Bills Ensuring Equal Benefits for Transgender Employees, | Protections for Transgender Foster Youth Pass Assembly Posted by Melanie Nathan, September 02, 2015. SACRAMENTO – The Assembly today passed two bills authored by Senator Mark Leno that provide protections and equal benefits to transgender Californians. The first bill, SB 703, prohibits state agencies from doing … More Transgender Bills By State Senator Leno Pass California Assembly

See Shackled Rapist Murderer of South African Lesbian as Judge announces Sentence

August 1, 2015

Sitting in the dock, shackled in chains, a murdering rapist awaits his fate.  By Melanie Nathan, July 31, 2015. Thabo Molefe, 47, has been sentenced to a concurrent 22 years for murder and 12 years for raping Lihle Sokhela, 28, a lesbian from Daveyton, Gauteng, South Africa. A large group of lesbians and supporters descended … More See Shackled Rapist Murderer of South African Lesbian as Judge announces Sentence

9.5M LGBT Adults in U.S. would be Protected under New Equality Bill

July 23, 2015

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

Landmark LGBT Equality Act Introduced into U.S. Congress

July 23, 2015

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

LGBT Evangelicals March in Indianapolis to Offer Olive Branch to IN Lawmakers

July 6, 2015

The Message is Clear: Get to know us before making laws against us. The Evangelical Network (TEN), an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight Christians held its annual conference this year in Indianapolis, culminating in a march and prayer vigil held at the steps of the Indiana Statehouse. LGBT and Straight evangelical Christians … More LGBT Evangelicals March in Indianapolis to Offer Olive Branch to IN Lawmakers