Category: LGBT

South African Lawyers Deported From Tanzania Amidst Accusations of Promoting Homosexuality

November 2, 2017

African Human Rights Coalition Reports: Tanzania has deported three South African lawyers after they were accused of promoting homosexuality. They were among 13 people arrested on October 17 for taking part in a meeting to discuss challenging a law stopping private health clinics from providing HIV and Aids services.  However, Sibongile Ndashe says they had no right … More South African Lawyers Deported From Tanzania Amidst Accusations of Promoting Homosexuality

African HRC Reports on New Delays for LGBTI Refugees After Trump Suspension Ends

November 1, 2017

In my capacity as executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition (African HRC), where we advocate for LGBT asylum seekers and refugees from African countries, I report as follows on the African HRC website: : Since the suspension on the United States refugee program has expired, the Trump administration has ordered new measures, supposedly a stronger vetting … More African HRC Reports on New Delays for LGBTI Refugees After Trump Suspension Ends

Serious Harm to Transgender People if Supreme Court Sides with Bakery Owner Challenging Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Law

October 31, 2017

New York, NY – Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) has filed an amicus or “friend of the court” brief  to the United States Supreme Court in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, spotlighting the immense need for public accommodations laws that protect more than two million people in our nation who identify … More Serious Harm to Transgender People if Supreme Court Sides with Bakery Owner Challenging Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Law

TLDEF Applauds Federal Court Blocking Enforcement of Trump Admin’s Transgender Military Ban

October 30, 2017

New York, NY- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund applauds news that a federal court in the District of Columbia has blocked enforcement of the Trump Administration’s transgender military ban. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a preliminary injunction today. Earlier this month TLDEF filed an amicus or “friend of the court” brief with the federal court in Washington, D.C. … More TLDEF Applauds Federal Court Blocking Enforcement of Trump Admin’s Transgender Military Ban

Trump Admin Failing LGBTI Refugees Bound for U.S.A.

October 24, 2017

Here is what the BBC Reports today (And I have chosen the BBC report to make my point for good reason): “US President Donald Trump will allow refugee admissions to the US to resume while announcing stricter rules for vetting applicants, US media report. It comes as the 120-day ban on refugees expires on Tuesday. … More Trump Admin Failing LGBTI Refugees Bound for U.S.A.

Suing Trump Administration for Failing to Provide Information on Muslim Ban Waiver Process

October 6, 2017

Melanie Nathan, African HRC  No Information on Eligibility or Application Process for Case-by-Case Waivers Has Ever Been Published  Washington, DC – Last night, Muslim Advocates, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and Southern Poverty Law Center filed Muslim Advocates v. Department of Homeland Security to compel the Trump Administration to release critically important details on … More Suing Trump Administration for Failing to Provide Information on Muslim Ban Waiver Process

Multiple LGBT Cases on SCOTUS Docket as New Term Begins 

October 2, 2017

Freedom for All Americans releases new online hub tracking LGBTQ nondiscrimination litigation   WASHINGTON – Today marks the first day that the U.S. Supreme Court is sitting for oral argument in the 2017-2018 session. As the court returns to work, Masterpiece Cakeshop looms as one of the landmark cases for the term. But the Court could … More Multiple LGBT Cases on SCOTUS Docket as New Term Begins 

DOJ and EEOC Rare Opposition in Gay Discrimination Case at 2nd Circuit 

September 25, 2017

Tuesday: DOJ and EEOC to Oppose Each Other in Gay Discrimination Case at 2nd Circuit  – The en banc 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals will reconsider longstanding legal precedent concerning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, while the federal government is a house divided NEW YORK CITY – This week, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in NYC will hear … More DOJ and EEOC Rare Opposition in Gay Discrimination Case at 2nd Circuit 

Campus Pride Releases Shame List of Worst Campuses for LGBTQ

September 13, 2017

Campus Pride today releases its 2017 Shame List highlighting for the second year in a row a national listing of “The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth.” Up from 102 campuses last year, the national listing includes 139 campuses that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth in policies, programs and practices as documented on the site … More Campus Pride Releases Shame List of Worst Campuses for LGBTQ

Report Finds Arabic Media Perpetuates Homophobia Transphobia in Region

August 30, 2017

OutRight Action International has launched a new report titled, ‘Arab Mass Media: A Monitoring Report Looking at Sexuality and Gender Identity in Arabic Media from 2014 to 2017.’ The report is available in both English and Arabic. The report monitors widespread local and national newspapers in 14 countries in the Arab region, radio, TV channels, … More Report Finds Arabic Media Perpetuates Homophobia Transphobia in Region

More than 1 Lesson from Thiel’s Affair with Trump

August 10, 2017

I too have had some months to soak in all those Trump assurances.  Not that I was ever stupid enough to believe them: The “oh don’t worry about LGBT rights going backwards, Trump will be great to gays, after all he has ‘Ivanka the Wonderful’, who has sooo many gay friends, she will surely influence … More More than 1 Lesson from Thiel’s Affair with Trump

TLDEF Files Federal Lawsuit Against Amazon in Transgender Harassment Case

August 9, 2017

TLDEF Files Federal Lawsuit Against Amazon for Relentless Harassment of Transgender Woman and Her Husband at its Kentucky Shipping Facility Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund today filed a federal lawsuit against Amazon on behalf of a married couple who faced cruel and persistent discrimination at an Amazon shipping facility in Hebron, Kentucky. Allegra Schawe-Lane … More TLDEF Files Federal Lawsuit Against Amazon in Transgender Harassment Case

Legal Victory Against Walmart Sam’s Club – Transgender Workplace Discrimination

August 7, 2017

TLDEF Wins Legal Victory Against Workplace Discrimination: Walmart Discriminated Against Transgender Employee Says EEOC New York, NY- A U.S. government commission has ruled in favor of Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and its client, Jessica Shyne Robison, in her battle against workplace discrimination by Walmart subsidiary, Sam’s Club East, Inc. Ms. Robison faced bigotry … More Legal Victory Against Walmart Sam’s Club – Transgender Workplace Discrimination

Transgender Education Network of Texas Advisory – How to Testify Tomorrow

July 20, 2017

Details for the hearing – Austin Texas The Senate State Affairs committee will hold a hearing on a SB3 and SB91 (the “Bathroom Bills”) this Friday at 9:00am.  We would like to see as many of you turnout to testify as we can. Registration for testifying will be outside of the committee room E1.036 by … More Transgender Education Network of Texas Advisory – How to Testify Tomorrow

NY State Department of Corrections called out on Abuse of Transgender Woman

July 14, 2017

Transgender Legal Calls on New York State Department of Corrections to Immediately Address Reports of Abuse Targeting a Transgender Woman at the Franklin Correctional Facility in Malone, New York New York, NY- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is deeply disturbed by reports that Eyricka King, a transgender woman being held at the Franklin Correctional … More NY State Department of Corrections called out on Abuse of Transgender Woman

U.S. Refugee Program Can Continue under SCOTUS Ban Decision

June 27, 2017

 So what should happen to LGBT and other Refugees already accepted by the USA for resettlement after the US Supreme Court decided to allow a limited portion of the Muslim Travel Ban to stand: …. Read the position of CGRS in their response and the bottom line is we too at African Human Rights Coalition … More U.S. Refugee Program Can Continue under SCOTUS Ban Decision

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

7th Circuit Issues Groundbreaking Ruling for Transgender Student 

May 31, 2017

Ruling upholds transgender boy’s right to use boys’ restroom at school; first-ever ruling of its kind by a federal appellate court Today the full 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a groundbreaking ruling in Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District, a case involving a 17-year-old transgender Wisconsin student whose school had denied him access to … More 7th Circuit Issues Groundbreaking Ruling for Transgender Student 

WORLD BANK Organizes Events to Commemorate IDAHOT

May 16, 2017

The World Bank: Despite some legal and social advances in the past two decades, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people continue to face widespread discrimination and violence in many countries. This leads to exclusion and adversely affects both the lives of LGBTI people as well as on the communities and economies in which they … More WORLD BANK Organizes Events to Commemorate IDAHOT

JENNIFER HUDSON TO HEADLINE 2017 PITTSBURGH PRIDE IN THE STREET

May 10, 2017

DELTA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES: Note: Central Outreach Wellness Center located on the North Side, participants who schedule a free wellness exam will receive a discount of $20.00 off their Pride in the Street ticket. May 10, 2017—Pittsburgh, PA—The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning recording artist and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson … More JENNIFER HUDSON TO HEADLINE 2017 PITTSBURGH PRIDE IN THE STREET

Army Secretary Nominee Mark Green hurtful to LGBT and Muslim Americans

May 1, 2017

Donald Trump’s choice to be the next Army secretary is Tennessee Republican state Sen. Mark Green. Although trying to walk some of this back, Green could not be a worse choice for the job, and  not only for failure to respect diversity but also for his active statements which only serve to harm inclusion and acceptance … More Army Secretary Nominee Mark Green hurtful to LGBT and Muslim Americans

Growing List of Cities and States Banning Official Travel to North Carolina

April 13, 2017

An ever-growing chorus of cities and states are not fooled by North Carolina’s discriminatory “bait and switch” on HB2 WASHINGTON — Today,  Equality NC hailed the news that Chicago and California are maintaining their bans on taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina. The announcements come after North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Senate President Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore passed … More Growing List of Cities and States Banning Official Travel to North Carolina

LGBQ Youth Disproportionately Incarcerated in the U.S. Juvenile Justice System

April 4, 2017

Almost 60 Percent of incarcerated girls are sexual minorities Los Angeles – This time focused on youth in detention, a new study by scholars at the Williams Institute found that sexual minority youth are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates.  Once they are incarcerated they are more likely to be held for long periods of time and experience sexual … More LGBQ Youth Disproportionately Incarcerated in the U.S. Juvenile Justice System

Women’s March San Francisco Panel Series – We Marched We Rallied Now What?

March 29, 2017

By Melanie Nathan, March, 29, 2017. Last night Women’s March San Francisco launched the first in a series of panel discussions: “We Marched. We Rallied. Now What?” And it was a great success. The event was held at the JCC, San Francisco and was attended by over 150, mostly women. The panelists included: Amina from … More Women’s March San Francisco Panel Series – We Marched We Rallied Now What?

Anti-LGBTI Hate Bus Hits Streets of New York

March 22, 2017

The so-called FreeSpeechBus, is currently spreading its hateful message through the streets of New York City. The organizers behind the bus include the notoriously anti-LGBTI groups International Organization for the Family and National Organization for Marriage. The bright orange bus is covered in the message, “It’s Biology: Boys are boys…and always will be. Girls are … More Anti-LGBTI Hate Bus Hits Streets of New York

California LGBT Caucus Chair Comments on Trump Admin Reversal of Transgender Protections

February 22, 2017

School Districts Must Still Comply or Risk Being Sued SACRAMENTO—Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s recent reversal of transgender bathroom protections. “President Trump’s unrelenting assault on the LGBT community is shameful. This latest directive singles out transgender youth and proves that … More California LGBT Caucus Chair Comments on Trump Admin Reversal of Transgender Protections

Kenyan Court Compels Trans Name Changes

February 15, 2017

The Kenyan Court has handed down a compulsion order, requiring the Principal Registrar of Persons to change the names in the identification documents for five transgender individuals in Kenya. The Principal Registrar of Persons has 21 days to effect the name changes in the national identification cards. A lawyer representing the trans clients told Justice George Odunga … More Kenyan Court Compels Trans Name Changes

SCOTUS Sets Oral Argument in Historic Transgender Rights Case

February 3, 2017

Today the Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral argument in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board on March 28. The case is being brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a Virginia transgender boy named Gavin Grimm. Grimm is challenging a policy in his local school district that singles out transgender students for … More SCOTUS Sets Oral Argument in Historic Transgender Rights Case