Tag: National Center for Lesbian Rights

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

NCLR Pushes for LGBT Rights in Call to Action for Equality Act

October 6, 2016

Now is a Critical Time to participate in your Equality Finally we are seeing a national  LGBTI organization push for passage of the Equality Act that is currently before Congress. Today the National Center for Lesbian Rights, NCLR,  launched a national campaign,  Support the Equality Act,  to urge municipal and state leaders across the country … More NCLR Pushes for LGBT Rights in Call to Action for Equality Act

Push for California to pass State Funded Travel Ban to North Carolina

March 31, 2016

 Call to Action Ask California State representatives to Pass North Carolina Travel Ban Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights have asked the state of California to stand up to these attacks. Assembly Bill 1887, authored by Asm. Evan Low, (D-Campbell), is pending before the California Assembly. It would ban state-funded travel by … More Push for California to pass State Funded Travel Ban to North Carolina

Florida House & Senate Avert Disaster of Expanded Pastor Protection Bill

March 2, 2016

Legislature to clarify controversial measure and simply reaffirm current law

Screen Shot 2016-03-02 at 8.35.45 AMTallahassee – Avoiding the disastrous route of their Georgia colleagues, the Florida House of Representatives today is expected to pass an amended version of the so-called Pastor Protection bill (HB 43) to limit its scope and send the message that controversial amendments allowing discrimination would not be entertained.

The bill had been widely criticized as a vaguely worded and unnecessary duplication of existing laws that served as a Trojan Horse for more nefarious measures to be added. That was the route Georgia lawmakers took by amending their pastor protection bill last month to allow any individual or faith-based business, for-profit entity, or taxpayer-funded organization to ignore nondiscrimination protections or any law that conflicts with their religious beliefs about marriage. The state is roiling from the public outrage and the economic backlash that has been strong enough to draw the threat of a veto from the Georgia governor. … More Florida House & Senate Avert Disaster of Expanded Pastor Protection Bill

California Protections for Transgender Foster Youth Signed into Law

October 11, 2015

Posted by Melanie Nathan, Oct 11, 2015. SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Senator Mark Leno that provides new protections for transgender foster youth in California was signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown. Senate Bill 731 ensures that all foster youth, including those who identify as transgender, are placed in appropriate homes where they … More California Protections for Transgender Foster Youth Signed into Law

California Governor Signs Bill Ensuring Equal Benefits for Transgender Employees

October 7, 2015

SB 703 takes effect on January 1, 2016. By Melanie Nathan, October 07, 2015. SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark legislation today that prohibits state agencies from doing business with companies that fail to offer transgender employees the same health care coverage and benefits they provide all other workers. Senate Bill 703, authored by … More California Governor Signs Bill Ensuring Equal Benefits for Transgender Employees

Transgender Bills By State Senator Leno Pass California Assembly

September 2, 2015

Leno Bills Ensuring Equal Benefits for Transgender Employees, | Protections for Transgender Foster Youth Pass Assembly Posted by Melanie Nathan, September 02, 2015. SACRAMENTO – The Assembly today passed two bills authored by Senator Mark Leno that provide protections and equal benefits to transgender Californians. The first bill, SB 703, prohibits state agencies from doing … More Transgender Bills By State Senator Leno Pass California Assembly

NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It

June 5, 2014

#ENDAIsNOTequal #DeadENDA #ENDENDA #WTFHRC By Melanie Nathan, June 05, 2014. Washington Blade is reporting that The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)  announced today that it does not support the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act pending before Congress because of the bill’s religious exemption. A schism has developed amongst activists with grassroots pitted … More NCLR Takes A stand Against Onerous ENDA While HRC Fights for It

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

Julian Bond gives powerful statement opposing ENDA’s religious exemptions

June 14, 2013

“Religious liberty, contrary to what opponents of racial equality argued then and LGBT equality argue now, is not a license to use religion to discriminate.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 14, 2013 Back in April when the 2013 version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced into Congress we posted here and here on OBLOGDEE … More Julian Bond gives powerful statement opposing ENDA’s religious exemptions

LGBT Groups Challenge Medicare’s Refusal to Provide Healthcare to Transgender Patients

April 2, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 02, 2013. (Washington, D.C., March 29, 2013)—Last week, several national LGBT groups and a cooperating attorney filed an administrative challenge to Medicare’s ban on medically necessary healthcare for transgender patients. Medicare, which provides healthcare to Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with certain qualifying disabilities, currently prohibits all forms … More LGBT Groups Challenge Medicare’s Refusal to Provide Healthcare to Transgender Patients

National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR hires New Deputy Director

February 6, 2012

by Melanie Nathan, Feb. 06, 2012, 10.20 am. After a long and thorough national search for a new deputy director, NCLR is announcing that they have found the perfect fit in Arcelia Hurtado,  who is one of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys. Hurtado will be joining NCLR staff in April as the new deputy … More National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR hires New Deputy Director

USA GAY Lesbian Advocates Applaud Geneva Speech of Secretary of State Clinton

December 6, 2011

We applaud the First Major Speech to push LGBT rights Abroad. by Melanie Nathan  San Francisco, CA, December 6, 2011—Amongst the many accolades this morning, The National Center for Lesbian Rights applauds Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for her groundbreaking speech today on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people … More USA GAY Lesbian Advocates Applaud Geneva Speech of Secretary of State Clinton

Lawsuit Sheds Light on Anoka-Hennepin School District’s LGBT GAG Policy

July 21, 2011

By Melanie Nathan, (Minneapolis, MN, July 21, 2011)—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and Faegre & Benson, LLP, filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the alarming anti-gay harassment in schools within the Anoka-Hennepin School District as well as the district’s “gag policy” that prevents teachers from discussing issues … More Lawsuit Sheds Light on Anoka-Hennepin School District’s LGBT GAG Policy

NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

May 30, 2011

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) presented its highest honors to five trailblazers, including country singer Chely Wright, in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at its 34th Anniversary Celebration … More NCLR’s 34th Annual Celebration in San Francisco Honors Chely Wright, Kye Allums

Breaking – Equal Ca Benefits Awarded To Same-Sex Bi-National Spouse

February 18, 2010

Breaking by Melanie Nathan “We are pleased that the Alameda County Fire Department and CalPERS are complying with SB 54, and providing benefits to LGBT employees and their spouses just like they do for all other married couples,” said Ilona Turner, a staff attorney with NCLR. “We trust that other public agencies in California will … More Breaking – Equal Ca Benefits Awarded To Same-Sex Bi-National Spouse