Category: NEWS

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

Discrimination Complaint Against Aeroflot Airlines

March 23, 2018

Flight Attendants or Deportation Agents? Washington, DC – Today, Muslim Advocates and the law firm Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss PLLC filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) on behalf of five U.S. citizens who were subject to grossly discriminated against by Aeroflot Airlines simply because of their perceived race and national origin. … More Discrimination Complaint Against Aeroflot Airlines

Feinstein Calls for Gun Safety Legislation

March 22, 2018

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) remarks on gun safety at a March 14th hearing on the tragic mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. Video here. Feinstein’s remarks follow:             “This hearing comes on the one-month anniversary of the heinous attack at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, by … More Feinstein Calls for Gun Safety Legislation

119 Faith and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Support of DACA Recipients

March 22, 2018

Standing  with Dreamers Washington, DC – This week the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, LLP filed an amicus brief on behalf of 119 religious groups and organizations representing or working with faith communities asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to suspend the government’s planned termination of the Deferred … More 119 Faith and Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Support of DACA Recipients

Kenya Appeal Court Rules to End Forced Anal Exams of Men Suspected of Being Gay

March 22, 2018

In a significant win for human rights in Kenya, the Court of Appeals has ruled that the use of forced anal examinations by the state is unlawful. On Thursday 22n d March 2018, a three judge bench handed down a ruling in a case appealing the state’s cruel and degrading treatment of two Kenyan men … More Kenya Appeal Court Rules to End Forced Anal Exams of Men Suspected of Being Gay

Unsolved Robberies and Murders as Uganda Fails to Protect Human Rights Defenders

March 22, 2018

Break-ins and violence against security personnel of human rights organizations seems endemic in Uganda, as elucidated in an article penned by an Ugandan human rights defender, who concludes that the State is failing to protect its human rights community, with police refusing to see human rights defenders as community partners: ADRIAN JJUUKO, Executive director of Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) … More Unsolved Robberies and Murders as Uganda Fails to Protect Human Rights Defenders

Marin County to Consider Interim Golf Vendor for San Geronimo

March 21, 2018

Board of Supervisors to review contract with Touchstone Golf and grant from Coastal Conservancy for community engagement and visioning San Rafael, CA – A proposal to operate the San Geronimo Golf Course for the next two years is going before the Marin County Board of Supervisors on March 27, and approval of a contract with … More Marin County to Consider Interim Golf Vendor for San Geronimo

Mark Leno Leads San Francisco Mayoral Campaigns by Example

March 20, 2018

We should celebrate our diversity – not use it as a tool of division. Heather Knight’s recent article — “Mark Leno: his final quest is a run for the city’s top job” — was informative and seemingly-balanced until a particular unchallenged, ad hominem remark sent me back for a second read. The article quotes Nicole … More Mark Leno Leads San Francisco Mayoral Campaigns by Example

Marin Budget Hearings Ask for Reductions for First Time in 5 Years

March 19, 2018

Public invited as Supervisors are briefed on each department’s workplan San Rafael, CA – Next week the Marin County Administrator will present recommendations to close a $5.6 million budget gap over the next two years. It’s the first time in five years that the County is asking for budget reductions from departments. Each County department … More Marin Budget Hearings Ask for Reductions for First Time in 5 Years

Mark Leno Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Promises to End Street Homelessness

March 17, 2018

Former State Senator, Mark Leno, a favorite in the highly competitive and formidable race for San Francisco Mayor, is promising to end San Francisco’s critical street homeless crisis by 2020. As San Francisco Chronicle opinion writer Heather Knight noted back in January: “You have just 20 weeks to decide who should lead our economic powerhouse of a … More Mark Leno Candidate for San Francisco Mayor Promises to End Street Homelessness

Challenging the Trump Administration’s Arbitrary Detention of Asylum Seekers

March 15, 2018

Washington, D.C. (March 15, 2018) – The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Human Rights First, and Covington & Burling LLP filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s arbitrary detention of asylum seekers fleeing persecution, torture, or death in their countries of origin. All the plaintiffs have passed credible fear screenings — … More Challenging the Trump Administration’s Arbitrary Detention of Asylum Seekers

Texas Steps After Fifth Circuit Court Ruling on Anti-Immigrant Law SB4

March 14, 2018

Texas Immigrants, Advocates, Legal Experts Outline Steps Forward After Fifth Circuit Court Ruling on Anti-Immigrant Law SB4 A recording of today’s event is available here. Austin, TX – The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that Senate Bill 4, the state’s so-called sanctuary cities ban, can remain the law of the land in Texas … More Texas Steps After Fifth Circuit Court Ruling on Anti-Immigrant Law SB4

San Rafael Boxing Program With Help of Marin Probation Department

March 14, 2018

Canal Friday Night Boxing starts with March 16 reception and registration event San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Probation Department has collaborated with the Canal Welcome Center in San Rafael to establish the first-of-its-kind Canal FridayNight Boxing program. The opening reception and registration event is set for 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the … More San Rafael Boxing Program With Help of Marin Probation Department

Marin Ranks as Healthiest County in California Amidst Glaring Disparities

March 14, 2018

Marin Regains Ranking as Healthiest County in State – As Work remains for local officials to address health disparities and substance misuse San Rafael, CA – For the eighth time, Marin has been ranked the healthiest county in California by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The 2018 County Health Rankingssurveys more than 3,000 counties to measure … More Marin Ranks as Healthiest County in California Amidst Glaring Disparities

Person Hospitalized with Shellfish Poisoning in Marin

March 13, 2018

High levels of naturally occurring poison detected in waters off Marin coast San Rafael, CA – Marin County Public Health has confirmed a case of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), a naturally occurring toxin found in bivalves such as mussels, clams and oysters that are harvested in uncontrolled conditions. One person, an adult who will not … More Person Hospitalized with Shellfish Poisoning in Marin

SCOTUS Ruling Stings Immigrants in Detention

February 28, 2018

In a long awaited opinion, the Supreme Court in Jennings v. Rodriguez disappointingly reversed an appellate court decision holding that U.S. immigration statutes do not authorize immigrants to be held indefinitely and affording those individuals bond hearings after six months to evaluate if detention remains justified. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the appellate court to consider the constitutional limits of the statutes, if any, … More SCOTUS Ruling Stings Immigrants in Detention

Why this Progressive Liberal Endorses and Will Vote for Senator Dianne Feinstein

February 26, 2018

California Democrats rebuked Sen. Dianne Feinstein at their annual convention this weekend, denying her the party’s endorsement in this year’s Senate race, and giving a majority of their votes to her apparently more liberal primary challenger, Kevin de León. While many may slot Feinstein in the ‘moderate’ zone, I have seen her, through the years, as … More Why this Progressive Liberal Endorses and Will Vote for Senator Dianne Feinstein

Kenyan Court to Hear Case That Challenges Anti-LGBTI Penal Codes

February 20, 2018

This week, the Kenyan Court will be hearing a matter, at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, to challenge the Colonial Penal Codes that in essence serve to criminalize homosexuality and target the LGBTI community. The case has been brought by the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC). The case seeks to enforce the … More Kenyan Court to Hear Case That Challenges Anti-LGBTI Penal Codes

The VIEW Allowed Meghan McCain to Offend the Memories of The Parkland Massacre Victims, While Whoring Happy Cheers for her Father!

February 17, 2018

I am PISSED OFF with The View: I rarely BLOG about my Social media commentary – I am angry enough to hope that this gets its spot on Google Search Engines. Here is my Facebook post: I don’t understand how the producers of the View allowed this to happen: I am in #NYC and went … More The VIEW Allowed Meghan McCain to Offend the Memories of The Parkland Massacre Victims, While Whoring Happy Cheers for her Father!

Withdrawal of Anti-Muslim North Dakota Senate Candidate

February 13, 2018

Washington, DC – Republican Gary Emineth has withdrawn today from the North Dakota senatorial race. This comes after a recent report from CNN regarding a pre-campaign tweet calling for “no more mosques in America.” When questioned in a radio interview, he doubled-down, stating “the bottom line is, a lot of the radicalization that’s turned on … More Withdrawal of Anti-Muslim North Dakota Senate Candidate

U.S. Department of Education Leaves Transgender Students Behind

February 12, 2018

Office of Civil Rights will no longer take action on transgender discrimination WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education will not investigate or take action on any complaints filed by transgender students who are not able to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity. BuzzFeed was first to report the news. Under President … More U.S. Department of Education Leaves Transgender Students Behind

Learn About Emergency Preparedness Grants in Marin

February 12, 2018

San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Board of Supervisors is sponsoring three workshops offered by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) about how to apply for federal grants earmarked for emergency preparedness uses. The 90-minute workshops will take place at: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, Corte Madera Community Center, 498 Tamalpais … More Learn About Emergency Preparedness Grants in Marin

When it Comes to the Trump Shithole Comment The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating!

February 11, 2018

President Trump’s “shithole” comment on immigrants from unspecified countries in Africa, as well as those from Haiti and El Salvador, is reflected in the numbers. In the year after Trump took office, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported a drop in total number of overall “removals”—except for African migrants who have seen a … More When it Comes to the Trump Shithole Comment The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating!

Ugandan Human Rights Organization Suffers Second Break-In

February 9, 2018

Police Failed to Solve First Break In Where Guard was Murdered, Despite Video-Cam Photos of Perpetrators  Approximately 2 years ago a break in occurred at the offices of  HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS AND PROMOTION FORUM-UGANDA (HRAPF), a human rights organization in Kampala, Uganda.  A guard was murdered. The faces of the perpetrators were caught on camera. (see … More Ugandan Human Rights Organization Suffers Second Break-In

Marin County Considers New Rules for Short Term Rentals

February 8, 2018

New Short-Term Rental Rules Go to Supervisors Hearing set for March 13; quality of life for longer-term residents is key factor San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider a new County of Marin ordinance on short-term rental properties to require that signage be posted to identify a property as a … More Marin County Considers New Rules for Short Term Rentals

Republican Speaker of Virginia House Kills Pro-LGBT Legislation

February 8, 2018

House Subcommittee Votes Down Four Nondiscrimination Bills, Including Two That Passed Virginia Senate in January RICHMOND, V.A — Lawmakers in Virginia’s House of Delegates today summarily killed four bills that would have ensured more equal treatment under the law for LGBT people across the Commonwealth. Several of the bills dismissed today enjoyed bipartisan support in … More Republican Speaker of Virginia House Kills Pro-LGBT Legislation

Marin County Asks Your Input on Pollution

February 7, 2018

Online Survey Seeks Input on Pollution County initiative to understand residents’ awareness of stormwater contamination Marin County, CA – Pollution in our waterways is a significant problem that stems from many sources – from trash that ends up in San Francisco Bay to pesticides swept from lawns into creeks by gardening practices or stormwater. The … More Marin County Asks Your Input on Pollution

Wildlife Conservation, Education Grants Available in Marin

February 5, 2018

March 1 is deadline for nonprofits to land grants worth up to $5,000 Novato, CA – Environmentally conscious nonprofits have a chance to secure a grant worth up to $5,000 for promotions of educational and habitat restoration projects in Marin County. The Marin County Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting proposals through March 1 for … More Wildlife Conservation, Education Grants Available in Marin

9000 DACA Teachers May have their Lives Stolen by Trump

February 2, 2018

ICYMI in New York Times: “With DACA in Limbo, Teachers Protected by the Program Gird for the Worst” Washington, DC – A powerful New York Times story by Erica Green explores the contributions and fears of the 9,000 teachers with DACA status whose lives and students are facing an uncertain future due to President Trump’s decision to end … More 9000 DACA Teachers May have their Lives Stolen by Trump