Tag Archives: LGBT rights

New Study: Nine Million LGBT Americans?

According to a study released today by the Williams Institute (PDF), there are almost nine million LGBT persons in the United States. That works out to 3.5% of the adult population. Via press release: The Williams Institute, a leading think tank dedicated to the field of sexual orientation and gender identity-related law and public policy, released new research that estimates …

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NASHVILLE: City Council Passes Bill Banning Businesses That Discriminate

If your company discriminates against its LGBT employees, Nashville will no longer do business with you. Councilman Jamie Hollin, a sponsor of the bill, said after the vote that Metro had “sent a clear signal all around the world” that people of all kinds are welcome to work in Nashville. Advocates of gay rights agreed. “If you’re willing to work …

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COLORADO: Denver Archbishop Celebrates Defeat Of Civil Unions Bill

“In the face of unfriendly media coverage and heavy political pressure, opponents of the legislation did the right thing. They challenged and tabled the bill, killing it for this session. That sounds like a small act, but it took courage, especially in an environment of bitter criticism. The committee members who opposed the bill deserve our gratitude and support. The …

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LGBT Rights Advocate Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) Tapped To Chair Democratic National Committee

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL), who has an stellar record regarding LGBT rights, was today named to head the Democratic National Committee. She will continue to serve in the House and replaces outgoing DNC chair Tim Kaine, who also today announced a Virginia bid for the Senate. Schultz is a founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and in …

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Washington “Moonie” Times Publishes Repulsive Anti-Trans Editorial

The Washington Times has published an editorial denouncing the attempt to allow transgender New York City residents the right to a birth certificate noting their correct gender. The piece refers to trans people as “just messed up” individuals who have “surgically mutilated” their bodies. And it goes from there. It’s fair to ask where all of this is heading. Could …

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BRAZIL: The Deadliest Place In The World To Be Transgender

Reeling from the murders of numerous transgender people, Brazilian activists have launched a petition campaign to the nation’s president. President Dilma Rousseff, You have said that human rights are at the “center of your politics.” In the face of a dramatic rise in attacks and murders of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Brazilians, we need your immediate support for …

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IRELAND: Civil Unions Begin

Barry Dignam and Hugh Walsh (above) today become among Ireland’s first gay couples to be joined under the nation’s civil partnerships law. The law went into effect on January 1st with a three month waiting period. Theirs is not the first civil partnership to take place here – six civil partnerships have already been registered in the State arising from …

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COLORADO: Civil Unions Bill Stalls

Colorado’s civil unions bill was stalled tonight by the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, who refused to approve the bill for consideration by the full chamber. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper had urged the committee to advance the bill, which was approved by the state Senate last week. One Colorado reports via press release: “Today’s vote was out of touch with everyday …

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Gay Sailor Wins Discharge Hearing

Petty Officer Derek Morado today won his discharge hearing with the Navy after being told he faced ejection due to a MySpace photograph that was turned in anonymously. In the photo, Morado is seen kissing another man. Morado’s lawyer told KMPH News that even though DADT has been repealed, that doesn’t mean the military’s investigations are over. “There’s nothing illegal …

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PANAMA: Lesbian Couple Jailed For Kiss

Onscreen clip translation by Andres Duque at Blabbeando. He reports: On Sunday, 32 year old Valentina Hernandez (right) and her 23 year old girlfriend were enjoying a romantic walk down the streets of the historic Casco Antigüo colonial district of Panama City when she stopped to give her girlfriend a kiss. Hernandez, a psychologist by profession, reached out to Panamanian …

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Parents Pay Tribute To Fallen Soldier Son Who Died In The Closet Due To DADT

Watch this. (Tipped by JMG reader Amber)

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WASHINGTON: Legislature Votes To Recognize Out Of State Gay Marriages

Today the Washington state Senate voted 28-19 to recognize all legal partnerships (marriages, civil unions, etc) from other jurisdictions. The state House approved the bill last month. “This bill is about making sure that people who love one another – and that love and friendship respected and honored in another state or another country – when they come here they …

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Andrew Sullivan On Gay Deportations

“The US government regards gay Americans as sub-human in their needs and wants and rights. Their loves and relationships mean nothing under the law every time they encounter federal authoritah. Aaron and I are total strangers to one another in the eyes of federal law. And because we are legally married, I am paradoxically more vulnerable to being deported than …

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Gay Partner Deportations To Continue

We celebrated too soon. The foreign partners of legally married binational gay couples can still be deported. An announcement by immigration officials in Washington on Monday that they were delaying decisions on some immigration cases involving gay couples led to a surge of expectations among gay advocates that the Obama administration had taken a small but significant step toward recognizing …

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MONTANA: House Blocks Bill To Decriminalize Homosexuality

Yesterday the Montana House blocked an attempt to bring a bill decriminalizing homosexuality to a vote before the the full body. Earlier this month the GOP-led Montana House Judiciary Committee tabled the bill, but last night openly gay Rep. Diana Sands tried to force the issue before the full chamber. The motion by Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, to blast Senate …

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ENDA To Be Reintroduced In House

Rep. Barney Frank will reintroduce the trans-inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) this week. Metro Weekly’s Chris Geidner reports that even Frank has no illusions about the bill’s chances. Although the bill is not expected to move forward in the House under the leadership of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Frank, talking with Metro Weekly on Sunday, March 27, …

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Michele Bachmann’s Vision Of Jesus

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CANADA: Activists Protest Outside Home Of Florist Who Refused Gay Wedding

NOM bleats the following on their YouTube channel: Homosexual activists have protested outside the home of a Christian florist in Canada because she will not provide flowers for a lesbian wedding. The protestors dropped flowers tied with rainbow-coloured ribbons on the front lawn of the florist’s suburban home, and demanded that she be hauled before the courts. The intimidating protest …

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Matt Baume: This Week In Prop 8

This week’s episode includes an interview with immigration attorney Lavi Soloway, who talks about last week’s suspension of the deportation of an Argentine lesbian.

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A Pastor Sees The Light

Pastor Murray Richmond says he used to preach against homosexuality and same-sex marriage, but not anymore. Why had we singled out homosexuality as a litmus test for True Christianity in the first place? Why had it become such a lightning rod for self-righteousness? One reason, I think, is that it’s easy to condemn homosexuality if you are not gay. It …

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