LGBT News

BREAKING: US House Approves LGBTQ Equality Act

Via press release from GLAAD: “LGBTQ Americans are one step closer to being protected by federal law instead of living in a country where hard-working Americans in a majority of states can be fired from their jobs, denied housing opportunities, and turned away from other critical services – including access to health care – simply for being who they are. …

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LIVE VIDEO: US House Debates LGBTQ Equality Act

Via press release: Today, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) delivered the following statement in support of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity: “I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5, the “Equality Act,” which amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other core civil rights …

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BREAKING: Taiwan Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

The New York Times reports: As tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the rainy streets of Taipei on Friday, lawmakers in Taiwan voted to legalize same-sex marriage, a first for Asia. “We want to marry!” supporters outside the legislature chanted in approval of the measure, as they applauded and waved signs and rainbow banners. “On May 17th, 2019 in #Taiwan, …

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AOC Tears Into Gilead CEO: Why Does Truvada Cost Almost $2000/Month Here When It’s $8 In Australia?

The Washington Post reports: The chief executive of Gilead Sciences, the nation’s leading manufacturer of HIV drugs, insisted before a House committee Thursday that a government patent on Truvada, a key drug that prevents the infection, is invalid. “Our well-supported view is that the U.S. government does not hold valid patents on the use of Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (‘PrEP’), …

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IL Rep. Dan Lipinski Reverses, Will Vote For Equality Act, Is Only House Democrat Not To Co-Sponsor Bill

The Hill reports: Rep. Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), a centrist Democrat facing a liberal primary challenge, announced Wednesday that he will vote for legislation to expand civil protections for LGBT people despite his concerns that it could conflict with religious liberty. Lipinski is the only House Democrat not to co-sponsor the Equality Act, which is expected to hit the floor later …

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Activists File Class Action Suit Against Major Pharma Companies, Allege Conspiracy To Delay HIV Generics

STAT News reports: In a bid to maintain its dominance in the HIV market, Gilead Sciences (GILD) allegedly conspired with other drug makers whose medicines were part of a so-called combination cocktail in order to block generic competition, according to a lawsuit filed by AIDS activists and two unions. The complaint describes an unusual scheme concerning these cocktails, which are …

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NEVADA: Dem Gov Signs Ban On “Gay Panic” Defense

The Nevada Current reports: The bill, SB 97, was sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on behalf of the Nevada Youth Legislature and bans the “gay panic” or “trans panic” defense, which attempts to reduce sentences for alleged criminals by arguing that their violent actions were provoked or justified because their knowledge of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender …

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NORTH CAROLINA: “Bathroom Bill” Author Wins GOP Primary In Election Fraud Do-Over Of US House Race

The Charlotte Observer reports: State Sen. Dan Bishop easily won Tuesday’s 9th District Republican primary, three months after state officials took the unprecedented step of throwing out a 2018 election marred by fraud allegations. Bishop will face Democrat Dan McCready and two third-party candidates on Sept. 10 in what’s expected to be the nation’s most closely watched special election. In …

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Chinese Company To Sell Grindr After US Demand

The Associated Press reports: Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co Ltd said on Monday it had agreed to a request by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to sell popular gay dating app Grindr, setting a June 2020 deadline to do so. Kunlun’s decision came after Reuters reported in March that CFIUS, an inter-agency government …

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PBS Kids Show Character Comes Out, Gets Married

Yahoo News reports: PBS has just confirmed what those with heightened gaydar have suspected for years — Mr. Ratburn, Arthur’s no-nonsense-with-a-heart-of-gold teacher, is gay. Beyond that, in the Season 22 premiere of the PBS Kids show, the admirable educator gets married. The animated children’s series Arthur entered its 22nd season with a celebration in an episode titled “Mr. Ratburn and …

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Trump Opposes LGBT Equality Act In “Current Form”

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: With a vote on the Equality Act in the U.S. House expected on Friday, a senior administration official indicated exclusively to the Washington Blade that President Trump opposes the bill. “The Trump administration absolutely opposes discrimination of any kind and supports the equal treatment of all; however, this bill in its current form …

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TEXAS: Senate Revives “Save Chick-Fil-A” Bill That Would Protect Anti-LGBT Discrimination By Businesses

The Dallas News reports: After the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A” bill was sunk in the Texas House last week, a Senate committee on Monday quietly revived the legislation which LGBTQ advocates say perpetuates anti-gay discrimination. The Senate Bill 1978, filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is the companion bill to Fort Worth GOP Rep. Matt Krause’s House Bill 3172, which was …

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CUBA: Activists Arrested At Unsanctioned Pride March

Miami’s ABC News affiliate reports: An independently organized show of gay pride ended with several arrests in Havana on Saturday afternoon. The march started in Old Havana’s Parque Central, where activists had been urged to meet at 4 p.m. Under significant police presence, some with dogs, activists and their supporters started arriving with gay flags and other rainbow-type expressions. Half …

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TEXAS: Gay Lawmaker Derails “Save Chick-Fil-A” Bill That Would Protect Anti-LGBT Business Discrimination

The Corpus Christi Times reports: An openly gay freshman member of the Texas House derailed a bill backed by religious conservatives but denounced by opponents as a tool to target the LGBT community for discrimination. “Hopefully, this is the day of discrimination against the LGBT community dies in Texas,” said State Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Carrollton, after using a procedural maneuver …

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AUSTRALIA: Rugby Star Dropped By Top Sponsor Over Anti-LGBT Instagram Posts, Land Rover Takes Back Car

The Guardian reports: Israel Folau has been dropped by Asics in response to homophobic social media posts he published last month. The sportswear company is a personal sponsor for Folau as well as the Wallabies and has acted after the 30-year-old was found to have committed a high-level breach of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct. “Asics is dedicated to sport …

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Poland Jails Activist For Rainbow Halo Mary Posters

The Guardian reports: A woman has been arrested on suspicion of offending religious sentiment, after posters bearing an image of the Virgin Mary with her halo painted in the colours of the rainbow flag appeared in the city of Płock in central Poland. The Polish interior minister, Joachim Brudziński, announced on Twitter on Monday that a person had been arrested …

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State Department Appeals Federal Ruling Granting Birthright Citizenship To Child Of Bi-National Gay Dads

Via press release from Immigration Equality: Yesterday, the U.S. State Department appealed the decision of a California federal district court that recognized the birthright citizenship of Ethan Dvash-Banks, the child of a same-sex bi-national couple. The government refuses to recognize the validity of Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks’ marriage, and continues to defend its discriminatory policy, which conditions the recognition of …

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CUBA: Government Cancels LGBT Pride Parades

Michael Lavers reports at the Washington Blade: The organizer of Cuba’s annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia marches on Monday announced they have been cancelled. The marches were to have taken place in Havana on May 11 and the city of Camagüey on May 17. The National Center for Sexual Education, directed by Mariela Castro [photo], the daughter …

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Brunei Claims It Won’t Enforce Gay Death Penalty

Reuters reports: Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday extended a moratorium on the death penalty to incoming legislation prohibiting gay sex, seeking to temper a global backlash led by celebrities such as George Clooney and Elton John. The small Southeast Asian country sparked an outcry when it rolled out its interpretation of Islamic laws, or sharia, on April 3, punishing …

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Madonna Honored At GLAAD Media Awards [VIDEO]

The Associated Press reports: Madonna, a pioneer for gay rights, accepted the Advocate for Change Award at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards with a rousing speech that went from playful to emotional, bringing the audience to its feet. Madonna, teary-eyed from her seat, received the award from Anderson Cooper, Mykki Blanco and Rosie O’Donnell, who gave a powerful speech about …

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