Tag: gender identity

On World AIDS Day AHRC Calls for Decriminalization of Sexual Minorities and Gender Identity

December 1, 2022

Given the following, on this WORLD AIDS DAY, 2022, African Human rights Coalition calls for the decriminalization of LGBTQI+ people, in Africa and worldwide. It is our belief that for as long as any community or minority is so unjustly abused as a direct result of criminalization, the secrecy, hiding and resulting failed transparency only … More On World AIDS Day AHRC Calls for Decriminalization of Sexual Minorities and Gender Identity

Trans Women Get 5 Years Jail in Cameroon and America is Silent

May 23, 2021

Several years ago at an event in San Francisco I asked renowned trans American Actress Laverne Cox if she would be interested in speaking out for transgender people who are being criminalized in African countries. She was on an event stage when asked the question, and in front of all present answered along the following … More Trans Women Get 5 Years Jail in Cameroon and America is Silent

Day One: President Biden’s Historic Executive Orders for LGBTQ Rights

January 21, 2021

President Biden’s Historic EO for LGBTQ Rights Yesterday, President Biden issued Executive Orders impacting our LGBTQI communities. President Biden signed a sweeping executive order directing federal agencies to adopt a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including in federal employment, policies, programs, and services. This is the first day one executive order by a … More Day One: President Biden’s Historic Executive Orders for LGBTQ Rights

UNHCR Calls for Investigation into Murder of Transgender Woman in Guatemala

August 2, 2020

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expresses its deep dismay at the violent death of a Salvadoran transgender woman who had applied for asylum in Guatemala. The woman’s body was found on August 1 at her home in Guatemala City. She had fled El Salvador in 2017 after having suffered violence due … More UNHCR Calls for Investigation into Murder of Transgender Woman in Guatemala

IDAHOT 2020 LGBTI Refugees and UNHCR Breaking the Silence

May 16, 2020

IDAHOT – International Day Against Transphobia and Homophobia, IDAHOT: 2020 Theme BREAK THE SILENCE Today, May 17th is the day millions of people around the world commemorate IDAHOT, a special day, to raise awareness and commit further to impact the right to liberty, equality, justice and happiness for LGBTI people around the globe. However violence … More IDAHOT 2020 LGBTI Refugees and UNHCR Breaking the Silence

Lawsuit against Steuben County alleges Jail Violates Rights of Transgender People 

August 22, 2019

BATH, NY – The New York Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, and the law firm BakerHostetler filed a lawsuit yesterday against Steuben County, the Steuben County Sheriff, and several officials and employees at the Steuben County Jail on behalf of a transgender woman whom jail officials housed in a men’s facility … More Lawsuit against Steuben County alleges Jail Violates Rights of Transgender People 

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

UN LGBT Expert Says Policymakers are Making Preconceived Prejudiced Decisions

June 17, 2019

Sexual orientation and gender identity: policymakers are taking decisions in the dark, says UN expert Information about the lived realities of LGBT people around the world is, at best, incomplete and fragmented, but in most countries it is simply non-existent, said the United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual … More UN LGBT Expert Says Policymakers are Making Preconceived Prejudiced Decisions

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order

January 7, 2019

Whitmer’s order will provide nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression WASHINGTON, D.C. – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order this morning which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in state employment, public services, and state contracting. Employees of Michigan’s executive branch and state contractors are now protected on … More Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order

Historic: Republican Governor Kasich Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order

December 19, 2018

Ohio state employees will now be protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed an historic executive order protecting LGBTQ state employees from discrimination. In what will be a defining element of Governor Kasich’s legacy, he will be the first Republican … More Historic: Republican Governor Kasich Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order

Nearly 250,000 LGBT in Arizona vulnerable to discrimination

March 26, 2018

Statewide civil rights laws offer no protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas such as employment, housing and public accommodations.  Arizona’s legal landscape and social climate put the state’s 203,000 LGBT adults and 45,500 LGBT youth at risk of discrimination and harassment. The social, economic and health effects of stigma … More Nearly 250,000 LGBT in Arizona vulnerable to discrimination

Trump Admin Selects Anti-Transgender Activist to Lead HHS Civil Rights Office

March 23, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week President Trump’s administration quietly appointed Roger Severino, a longtime opponent of transgender equality, as the head of the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services. Severino formerly ran the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at the Heritage Foundation, an anti-LGBT think tank and lobbying … More Trump Admin Selects Anti-Transgender Activist to Lead HHS Civil Rights Office

Virginia House Bill 1612 Would Negatively Impact Transgender Adults and Trans Youth

January 11, 2017

HB 1612 Would Also Create Costs for State Businesses, Budget and Economy  On January 11, a Virginia lawmaker offered House Bill 1612 (HB 1612), which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings, and public universities based on “sex,” as determined by one’s “original birth certificate.”  Additionally, the bill would require schools to inform … More Virginia House Bill 1612 Would Negatively Impact Transgender Adults and Trans Youth

United Nations Makes History on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

June 30, 2016

UN human rights body establishes an Independent Expert In a defining vote, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on “Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity”, to mandate the appointment of an Independent Expert on the subject. It is a historic victory for the human rights of … More United Nations Makes History on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Challenges for Transgender Youth and Masquerading Orgs

May 24, 2016

Revealing the Transphobic Organizations Fighting Trans and LGBT Freedom while Masquerading as Safety and Privacy Groups The organization Freedom for All Americans provides this report: Background on the Department of Education’s Recent Guidance re: Title IX and Gender Identity Earlier this month, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice issued a letter outlining what a … More Challenges for Transgender Youth and Masquerading Orgs

Consortium Reports Violations against LGBT People in Uganda Implicating Police

July 23, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2015. A new revealing report on persecution and discrimination against Uganda’s LGBTI community has been released by the Consortium on Monitoring Violations Based on Sex Determination, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation. The report refers to 89 verified documented violations in 2014 in Uganda. That was the year the Anti-Homosexuality Act … More Consortium Reports Violations against LGBT People in Uganda Implicating Police

Ugandan LGBTI Human Rights Violations Report Released

November 21, 2014

Posted by Melanie Nathan,  21st November 2014, The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CSCHRCL), Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), Rainbow Health Foundation (RHF), and Support Initiative for Persons with Congenital Disorders (SIPD) released a report on violations based on Sex Determination, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation (SDGISO) (SOGI) . … More Ugandan LGBTI Human Rights Violations Report Released

Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman

Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity

October 9, 2014

Willing to die rather than live without authentic identity By Melanie Nathan, October 09, 2014. Nadia Swanepoel from Gauteng South Africa is willing to die rather than to be forced to continue to live with the legal identification of a man. Swanepeol began transitioning to a woman over four years ago, has started a hunger … More Trans Woman Hunger Strike as South Africa refuses to Change Identity

The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

May 15, 2014

You might be thinking that hearts and minds have transformed. Society might have evolved on gender identity, but not the military’s old guard. By L.S. Kove, May 15, 2014. The Department of Defense (DoD) is different than the rest of the federal government. Not only is it large enough to swallow the rest whole, but … More The Tale of Two Feds | Transgender and The Department of Defense

Commonwealth Secretary-General on Protection of Dignity for Gays

January 30, 2014

AS critical to promoting equitable, peaceful and prosperous societies in which we all wish to live: “The people of the Commonwealth are committed to equality and human rights for all…” By Melanie Nathan, 30 January 2014. In the wake of the rising terror now facing LGBT people in Commonwealth countries, where old draconian penal codes … More Commonwealth Secretary-General on Protection of Dignity for Gays

Help Call for California Governor Jerry Brown to Sign Transgender Law

July 8, 2013

Help California Action Alert for Transgender Youth Posted by Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2013. On July 3, 2013, The California State Senate passed the School Success and Opportunity Act (Assembly Bill 1266), sending the bill that ensures transgender students have the opportunity to succeed in school to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature. Authored by … More Help Call for California Governor Jerry Brown to Sign Transgender Law

MA Bill for Equal Access in Public Accommodations gets public hearing

July 8, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, July 07, 2013 This Tuesday July 9th, a hearing will be held for the Massachusetts Equal Access in Public Accommodations bill – officially (H.1589/S.643)  An Act Relative to Equal Access in Hospitals, Public Transportation, Nursing Homes, Supermarkets, Retail Establishments, and all other places open to the public – in front of the Joint … More MA Bill for Equal Access in Public Accommodations gets public hearing

Council for Global Equality on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

May 17, 2013

Posted by Melanie Nathan, May 17, 2013. This week we join with the worldwide LGBT community in celebrating IDAHO – the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. IDAHO is less known in the U.S. than in many other countries around the world. Here in the U.S., LGBT communities have a greater focus on Gay Pride, … More Council for Global Equality on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

New Zealand Marriage Equality Law Clear on Trans and Intersex People

May 9, 2013

Reposted from Article by JURIST Guest Columnist Elisabeth McDonald of the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law evaluates the recent legalization of same-sex marriage by the New Zealand House of Representatives.. New Zealand passed same-sex marriage into law which will take effect on August 19, 2013. It does not just provide that same-sex couples … More New Zealand Marriage Equality Law Clear on Trans and Intersex People

Medical schools innovate on care for LGBT patients

April 15, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 15, 2013. As Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered patient, especially those who have yet to come out,  and others who are less pronounced in their declaration of being gay, those who live in less accepting  communities, can pose different challenges for doctors and professional medical staff, starting with language and trust.  … More Medical schools innovate on care for LGBT patients

$300 billion in federal contracts granted where no LGBT job protections exist

April 10, 2013

20% of the American workforce is ‘dreaming and waiting’ for you, Mr. President…  By Cathy Kristofferson, April 10, 2013 Following the Supreme Court hearings on marriage equality, I wrote a piece here on this BLOG titled ‘Marriage is nothing without job protections’.  One of the described protections that could be put in place was an executive … More $300 billion in federal contracts granted where no LGBT job protections exist

Paid Lobbyist Attempts to Derail MA Dept. of Ed Gender Identity Policy Guidance

March 13, 2013

The issue comes down to this: there’s a big difference between uncomfortable and unsafe By Cathy Kristofferson, March 13, 2013. Last night at the Medford City Council meeting we witnessed round three of the organized attempt to derail the MA Dept. of Ed’s Gender Identity Policy guidelines at the hands of one city councilor and … More Paid Lobbyist Attempts to Derail MA Dept. of Ed Gender Identity Policy Guidance

School policy for Gender Identity draws legislative bullies

March 7, 2013

Transgender students bullied by legislators and hate groups line up to oppose implementation and launch attack on Commissioner By Cathy Kristofferson, March 07, 2013. A couple of weeks ago I saw a post “Massachusetts Takes The Lead On Rights For Transgender Students“.  Being a MA native I smiled and perused probably while mumbling “of course … More School policy for Gender Identity draws legislative bullies

Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA

August 30, 2012

By Melanie Nathan, August 30, 2012. An historic public meeting took place Thursday between the South African majority party, the ANC and the Gay Flag of South Africa (GFSA) an NPO to condemn recent homophobic violence against the LGBTI community in South Africa, as well as the anti-gay commentary by Traditional leaders who are reviewing … More Gay Flag of South Africa and ANC Hold Historic Public Meeting to Condemn Homophobia in SA

HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines

January 30, 2012

HUD has officially announced publication of the final rule entitled Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today new regulations intended to ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all eligible persons, regardless of … More HUD Announces LGBT Equal Access to Housing Guidelines