Category: NEWS

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender news and perspectives of LGBT community

Trump Admin Family Separation Policy Initiated by Sessions and Nielsen Draws Fire

May 9, 2018

Washington, DC – In response to the announcements by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen that their new “zero tolerance” strategy means that infants and toddlers will be separated from their parents, a range of voices –  from editorial boards, to mothers and children staging walkout protests when DHS … More Trump Admin Family Separation Policy Initiated by Sessions and Nielsen Draws Fire

WaPo: “U.S. embassy cables warned against expelling 300,000 immigrants. Trump officials did it anyway.”

May 8, 2018

Washington, DC – This evening, Washington Post’s Nick Miroff, Seung Min Kim and Joshua Partlow report that, despite warnings from experts contained in U.S. embassy cables, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 300,000 immigrants. These decisions are aimed at expelling legal immigrants with deep family, business, work and community ties in America. The … More WaPo: “U.S. embassy cables warned against expelling 300,000 immigrants. Trump officials did it anyway.”

The Cruel America of Trump and Sessions: Where Children are Torn from Loving Parents

May 8, 2018

Separating Children from Parents as a deterrent to immigration? This is OUR America!?! How could we? My great grandmother was ‘forced’ to separate from her two youngest children when faced with her “Sophie’s choice” during the anti-Jewish Pogroms of Eastern Europe, sending two small children to an orphanage in a remote corner of the globe, … More The Cruel America of Trump and Sessions: Where Children are Torn from Loving Parents

Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

May 7, 2018

May is National Foster Care Month – Orientation scheduled to inform, dispel myths about foster care San Rafael, CA – Marin County has 85 children in out-of-home care, also known as foster care, and nearly 35 percent of them are placed in homes outside of Marin. The Marin County Recruitment Collaborative seeks more homes in Marin so … More Strong Need for Resource Families in Marin

Trump has “Already Told 1 Million Immigrants Who Had Legal Protections To Get Out”

May 7, 2018

Washington, DC –  Elise Foley of HuffPost puts the latest disturbing news about the end of TPS for Hondurans into a larger context, explaining in a new must-read article “more than a million people in total who have been living and working legally in the U.S. who, thanks to Trump, now face an uncertain future, … More Trump has “Already Told 1 Million Immigrants Who Had Legal Protections To Get Out”

WAPO: “The Trump administration’s new plan to punish legal immigrants”

May 7, 2018

“In the administration’s plan, working-class immigrants would be penalized if they claimed practically any benefit for which they qualified — even the earned-income tax credit, which is used by tens of millions of American workers and whose effect is to promote employment.” >Washington, DC –  For all the focus on Trump’s assault on undocumented immigrants … More WAPO: “The Trump administration’s new plan to punish legal immigrants”

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film festival Announces Lineup

May 5, 2018

 FULL LINEUP FOR 28TH EDITION RUNNING MAY 24 – JUNE 3. Brett Haley’s HEARTS BEAT LOUD to close festival; World Premiere of Christiaan Olwagen’s CANARY selected as Centerpiece Gala. TORONTO, ON – May 4, 2018 – The 28th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, one of the largest events of its kind in the world, revealed its … More Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film festival Announces Lineup

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

Some News Americans May Not Be Interested In

April 25, 2018

Cameroon is not an ideal place for journalists to thrive in, due to laws that constantly threaten their freedom and independence, a recent report by a media rights group has said. Imagine that!  The 2018 Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders said Cameroonian authorities have imposed a climate of fear and self-censorship on … More Some News Americans May Not Be Interested In

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  

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

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:

California Fire Price Gouging DA Assists State in Filing Charges

April 17, 2018

Real estate agent accused of hiking property rent in wake of wildfires San Rafael, CA – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed three misdemeanor charges against Melissa “Missy” Echeverria, a real estate agent, for allegedly raising the monthly rent on property she owns in Novato by more than 10 percent following the devastating fires in … More California Fire Price Gouging DA Assists State in Filing Charges

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

Barbaric Trump Attack on Immigrant Family

April 6, 2018

In just one of many stories that highlight the barbarism of Trump’s attacks on immigrants and their families, we learn of a Las Vegas Mom Detained at her Green Card Interview. This hideously cruel treatment of an American family and outrageous misuse of US tax dollars is yet another finger point at Trump as he pretends to care … More Barbaric Trump Attack on Immigrant Family