7 MASKS 1 STORY – This is MASK 06 out of 7 MASK stories which will be told each day this week: If you care you will share! If you have been following the series and already read this intro, you can skip to the header MASK 06, below: For the past ten years I have … More MASK 06: UNHCR Deeply Concerned about LGBTI Refugees in Kenya
* Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor: “We will continue to support and celebrate our local LGBTQ culture and act as a welcoming destination for the International gay community.” *International Ambassador for Tel Aviv pride 2019, Neil Patrick Harris: “Tel Aviv Pride has become an important symbol of LGBTQ visibility and acceptance on the world stage. June 14, 2019, … More 250,000 March in Largest Gay Pride Parade in the Middle East
LGBT Pride and Acceptance Across the World LGBT の人々のプライドと包摂 – Japanese Parents share their stories to bring families together in 3 cities TOKYO — Thanks to your support, this Pride Month the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) will embark on a new international tour of their powerful LGBT Family Acceptance Workshops in Japan. The unique … More NQAPIA LGBT Family Acceptance Workshops Comes to Japan
I am so excited to announce African Human Rights Coalition as Co-presenter at Frameline! Hope to see you at the famed Castro Theater! UNSETTLED, DIR Tom Shepard 2019 USA, Produced with Jen Giloman, 88 min,In English: Sunday, June 23 at the Castro theatre at 1PM In this powerful documentary, acclaimed director Tom Shepard (Scout’s Honor, Frameline25) follows four LGBTQ+ refugees … More Three Must See LGBTQI Films at Frameline
It is Pride Month and politicians seem to think this is the time to court LGBT votes- even those ‘dispicables’ who tout our demise! Including Donald Trump: In effect Trump is complicit in the ongoing assault, rapes and deaths of LGBT people worldwide. As many of you know I have been blocked by Donald J. … More Trump’s LGBT Pride Month Tweet is a Lie, Hypocrisy and a Threat
Today the House of Representatives took the historic step of passing the Equality Act, the federal bill that would finally afford basic civil rights protections for the LGBTQI community. If it passes the Senate and is signed by the President, it would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual … More History Made as Equality Bill Passes House – BUT NOW is the Time for HUGE LGBTQ Advocacy
Murray, Baldwin, Pocan Introduce Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to Reduce Bullying and Harassment at Colleges and Universities Across the Country One in five college students are victims of cyberbullying, and LGBTQ students are nearly twice as likely to be harassed than their peers | Legislation would require colleges and universities to establish policies to … More Introduction of Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to Reduce Bullying
Theater on the Cusp presents “Love & Pride” – a new musical that turns the conversation on gender, sex, and sexuality on its head – Support Queer Theatre- See discount code below! San Francisco, CA – Theater on the Cusp presents Love & Pride at the EXIT Theatre for an 8-show run. This will be the 4th production in … More “Love & Pride” a New Musical in San Francisco – Link to Discount Tickets
Equality Act Introduced by House and Senate Leaders Washington, DC – Today the Equality Act – a federal civil rights law that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodations and education – was introduced by Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, including out LGBTQ Senator Tammy Baldwin and out LGBTQ Representative … More LGBTQ Members of Congress Lead Effort for Floor Vote on Equality Act
Amicus brief urges US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to Block Trump Administration’s Challenge to CA Laws Protecting Undocumented Immigrants Today, March 13, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments in U.S. v. California, the Trump Administration’s lawsuit against California’s sanctuary laws that regulate state employers and law enforcement to protect … More LGBTQ Asians Defend California’s Sanctuary Laws
NEW REPORT: Here is a List of 300 Anti-LGBTQ Lawyers Working with Alliance Defending Freedom | Report Provides Names of ADF Allied Attorneys Serving in the Federal Government and the Country’s Top Law Firms (New York, New York) – A new report released by Media Matters provides 300 names of Alliance Defending Freedom’s 3,300 allied attorneys … More Listing 300 Anti-LGBTQ Lawyers Working with Alliance Defending Freedom
Tampa, FL – Today, Equality Florida Action PAC, Florida’s largest political committee working to elect pro-equality candidates, joined with LGBTQ Victory Fund to announce the endorsement of Jane Castor’s historic race for Mayor of Tampa. Term limits restrict current Mayor Bob Buckhorn from seeking a third term making this an open and highly competitive race … More Jane Castor for Mayor Endorsed by Equality Florida Action PAC and LGBTQ Victory Fund
Lesbian Police Officer disinvited from Creating Change When diverse individuals and groups bring their intersections to a conference that purports to ‘create change,’ what we may find is a complex puzzle. The question is whether the connecting of ALL pieces to the puzzle is possible? Not if pieces are lost! Mixing people from diverse backgrounds, … More LGBTQ Task Force’s Creating Change Controversial Decision to Disinvite Lesbian Police Officer
“From the River to the Sea…..” is a chant calling for the genocide and destruction of Jews! When LGBTQ platforms are usurped for an agenda that serves to promote anti-semitism: Creating Change, a preeminent annual LGBTQ conference which took place in Chicago in 2016 spiraled out of control outside a reception held by the Jewish … More Anti-Semitism at Creating Change 2019 Calls for Immediate Public Apology by National LGBTQ Task Force
Anti-LGBTQ forces allied with President Jair Bolsonaro have long-targeted Wyllys – who has resigned and fled Brazil Brazilian Congressman Jean Wyllys – who became the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the National Congress of Brazil in 2011 – announced he has left the country and will not return because of increasing death threats … More LGBTQ Brazilian Congressman Jean Wyllys Flees Brazil After Death Threats
New York, NY – A former field organizer has filed a federal lawsuit against the campaign of JB Pritzker for Governor in Illinois for her firing on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Ms. Emma Todd worked in the Springfield, Illinois office of the campaign … More Transgender Woman Files Fed Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Against JB Pritzker for Governor Campaign in Illinois
After a 16-year battle, New York updates state law to protect transgender New Yorkers, becoming 20th state with explicit and comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people NEW YORK – Today the New York legislature passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, providing explicit protections for transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, public spaces, and education. … More Victory: New York Passes Transgender Nondiscrimination Protections
Ohio state employees will continue to be protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression WASHINGTON, D.C. – On his first day in office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in state employment. This executive order extends a previous order signed by … More Republican Governor Mike DeWine Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Efforts to secure LGBT nondiscrimination protections in Virginia are advancing with bipartisan support. Yesterday, Virginia’s Senate General Laws committee approved bipartisan legislation to protect LGBTQ Virginians from discrimination in housing and public employment. Freedom for All Americans (FFAA) is partnering with Equality Virginia, the state’s LGBTQ advocacy organization, to advance nondiscrimination legislation this … More Virginia Lawmakers Advance LGBTQ Protections
Evers’s order will provide nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression WASHINGTON, D.C. – On his first day in office, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in state employment and state contracting. Gov. Evers is the fourth governor to issue an executive … More Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Signs Pro-LGBTQ Executive Order
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
San Francisco, CA (December 20, 2018) – The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) denounces the new Migration Protection Protocols (MPP) announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this morning. Under this new policy, asylum seekers arriving at the United States’ southern border will be forced to wait in Mexico for the duration … More Condemnation of New Illegal Migration Protection Protocols
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
African HRC and other advocates have been requesting UNHCR plan for the safe protection and humane living conditions for LGBTQ refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp for several years, with only slight ad hoc and ultimately ineffective results. The harsh conditions and insecurities led to a protest this week and an attack by Kenyan police on … More UNHCR Calls out the Violent Kenyan Police Attack on LGBT Refugees
Kenya is a hostile host to LGBTI refugees:– Thirty LGBTI Refugees in Kakuma Camp, Kenya, mostly Ugandans participating in an approved peaceful demonstration, tried to deliver a document to UNHCR, but after being refused entry into the compound were viciously attacked by police. I have reached out to UNHCR for comment and will update accordingly. The conditions … More LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya
The recently appointed President of Botswana has been applauded for publicly speaking out in support of LGBTI people. Now he should take the step to promote repeal of Botswana’s criminalizing laws In April Botswana’s new President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, took office, heralding hope for the furthering of human and civil rights in the country. Launching the country’s … More Botswana’s New President Groundbreaking Support for LGBTI Rights
By Melanie Nathan- Last month we reported a victory for LGBTQI equality and same-sex couples in South Africa, when the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs in Parliament adopted a Civil Union Amendment Bill that could lead to full marriage equality for South Africa’s same-sex community. Now that journey to becoming law is one step closer to … More South African Parliament votes to approve Civil Union Amendment for Full Marriage Equality
It is imperative that South Africa lead the movement to decriminalize homosexuality in Africa. And two major events have occurred this past month in South Africa, in what seems to me an historic push for such leadership. Earlier this month Johannesburg Pride took the bold move of sending an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, … More South Africa’s LGBTQ March Calling Shame on Tanzania and Uganda
Data provides look at sexual orientation and gender identity of candidates Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund released a demographic and informational breakdown of the 432 openly LGBTQ candidates on the ballot this past Election Day – looking at sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, office level, party affiliation, and the equality levels of the … More Victory Fund Candidate Data on 2018 Rainbow Wave
The early box office success, and swift criticism, of the Queen biopic movie Bohemian Rhapsody, is also attracting interest in Freddie Mercury’s African roots: The country of his birth, may not only have failed to embrace him, but most certainly would have persecuted him through its criminalization of homosexuality and bisexuality. Freddy mercury was born in … More Could Freddy Mercury have been the Voice for Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Africa
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