Tag Archives: LGBT rights

OKLAHOMA: Republicans Pass Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies To Turn Away Gays And Non-Christians

The Associated Press reports: A bill that opponents say would allow religious-based adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, single people and non-Christians has cleared the Oklahoma Senate. Senate Bill 1140 passed 35-9 Tuesday and now heads to the House. The bill would cover child-placing agencies that block adoptive parents who do not meet the agencies’ religious or moral standards. …

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TENNESSEE: Gay Couple Sues State Republican Party For Using Their Wedding Photo In Attack Ad [VIDEO]

Nashville’s NBC affiliate reports: What would you think if you saw your wedding picture being used in a political attack ad? That’s the spot a local gay couple is finding themselves. Their wedding was officiated by a candidate for state senate, but the couple says they didn’t sign up to be caught in the mudslinging. The Air Force veteran, who …

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BREAKING: GOP Resurrects “First Amendment Defense Act” To Legalize Anti-LGBT Discrimination Nationwide

The Hill reports: A group of 22 GOP senators is reintroducing a controversial measure that would protect opponents of same-sex marriage from federal actions intended to curb discrimination. The First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) would bar the federal government from taking any action against individuals who discriminate against same-sex couples or others based on “a sincerely held religious belief.” The …

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Nancy Pelosi: Trump Is Lip Syncing His Policies

From the Hollywood Reporter: The ever-blurring lines between politics and pop culture grow fuzzier — and more fabulous! — when Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi pays a surprise visit this week to RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Pelosi represents California’s 12th district in Congress, which includes all of San Francisco — so it’s safe to say she’s found her way around …

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Adam Rippon: I’m Ready To Meet With Pence [VIDEO]

Mediaite reports: Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon says he’s prepared to meet with Vice President Mike Pence following their spat last month during the Winter Games. “Now is the right time,” Rippon said. “You don’t get to make any sort of change if you don’t try to at least try to reach across [the political aisle].” Rippon said he doesn’t …

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Cher Apologizes For Selfie With Australian PM

Australia’s News Corp affiliate reports: If only Cher could turn back time. The international pop star has issued a stunning online apology for appearing in a controversial photo with the Prime Minister at Mardi Gras on Saturday. Malcolm Turnbull can be seen widely grinning in a picture with the American singer, who dazzled thousands of spectators by walking out into …

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Anti-Gay Oregon Bakers Appeal To State Supreme Court

Portland’s ABC affiliate reports: An appeal has been filed with the Oregon Supreme Court in hopes of overturning a $135,000 penalty given to the owners of a Gresham bakery who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple. The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a decision by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to penalize owners of Sweet …

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Huckabee Quits Board Of Country Music Association After One Day, Whines That Hateful Bullies Have Won

Variety reports: Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who, less than 24 hours after taking a post on the board of the Country Music Association Foundation, stepped down from his position amid furor in Nashville over his hardline politics and anti-LGBTQ stance, has published the letter tendering his resignation to the CMA Foundation. In it, the conservative radio host lambastes “irrational …

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People For The American Way Sues DOJ And HUD For Release Of Documents On Changes In LGBT Policies

Miranda Blue reports at Right Wing Watch: People For the American Way, the organization that runs Right Wing Watch, filed suit against the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today to demand the release of documents concerning reported changes in federal policy toward LGBTQ people. Right Wing Watch had filed Freedom of Information Act requests …

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Log Cabin Republicans Leader Gregory T. Angelo: Trump Is Better On LGBT Rights Than Obama Was [AUDIO]

Michelangelo Signorile reports at Huffington Post: Log Cabin Republicans leader Gregory T. Angelo told me last year at the Conservative Political Action Conference that President Donald Trump was “the most pro-LGBT Republican president in history.” In an interview with me on SiriusXM Progress at CPAC last weekend, Angelo implied that Trump is even better for the LGBTQ community than former …

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Civil Rights Group Issues “Funeral Home” Ad To Highlight LGBT Issues Before SCOTUS In Bakery Case

As we await the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, a sobering ad has been released in support of public accommodations rights for LGBT Americans. From the Movement Advancement Project: Inspired by a real legal case, Funeral Home, produced by MAP as part of the Open to All campaign, depicts a grieving widow who has just lost her …

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First Trans Recruit Enlists Since Court Rulings

The Hill reports: The Pentagon confirmed Monday that a transgender person has signed a contract to the join the U.S. military for the first time since the ban on transgender recruits was lifted due to a court order. Maj. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the contract was signed Friday and that the individual met all standards, including medical, …

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Civil Rights Groups Hail Pro-LGBT Employment Ruling

From DNC chairman Tom Perez: Under Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Justice Department has been wielded as a weapon of injustice, arguing that employers should be able to fire people simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. But despite the Trump administration’s best efforts, the LGBTQ community and their allies have prevailed in federal court today. …

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BOOM: Federal Appeals Court Rules Civil Rights Act Of 1964 Applies To Anti-Gay Workplace Discrimination

Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed News: A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that a 1964 civil rights law bans anti-gay workplace discrimination. The decision rebukes the Trump administration — which had argued against a gay worker in the case — and hands progressives a win in their strategy to protect LGBT employees with a drumbeat of lawsuits. The dispute …

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New iPhone Ad Celebrates Same-Sex Marriage [VIDEO]

CNET reports: Australia made same-sex marriage legal in December, after more than 61 percent of the country declared in a survey that they were for it. Apple was on the side of the majority, making its feelings clear well before the survey. So its latest iPhone X ad — specifically for the Australian market — celebrates some of the first …

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HAWAII: Appeals Court Rules Against B&B That Turned Away Lesbian Couple Because They “Defile The Land”

Hawaii News Now reports: Attorneys for California couple Diane Cervelli and Taeko Bufford are calling it a “great day for justice.” On Friday, Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a previous ruling that found a Hawaii Kai bed and breakfast was discriminatory for refusing the lesbian couple a room because of their sexual orientation. The women were represented by Lambda …

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GEORGIA: Senate Approves Anti-LGBT Adoption Bill

The Georgia Voice reports: The Georgia Senate on Friday morning passed a bill that would allow adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs. The bill would also prohibit the Georgia Department of Human Services from taking “adverse action” against such agencies. The bill passed 35-19 and will now head to the House …

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Mattis Likely To Support Transgender Military Service

The Washington Post reports: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is expected to propose to President Trump that transgender members of the U.S. military be allowed to continue serving despite the president’s call last summer for a ban on all transgender service members, according to two U.S. officials with knowledge of the issue. The defense secretary was scheduled to brief the president …

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Mississippi Town Denies Permit For Pride Parade

The Starkville Daily News reports: The Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to deny the request to hold an LGBT pride parade after hearing 16 people speak in favor of the event during its meeting Tuesday night. The board approved the motion to deny the request with a 4-3 vote. Alderman Ben Carver, Alderman David Little, Vice Mayor Roy Perkins and …

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GEORGIA: Senate Advances Anti-LGBT Adoption Bill

The Georgia Voice reports: The Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning passed a bill that would allow adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs. The bill would also prohibit the Georgia Department of Human Services from taking “adverse action” against such agencies. There were no public comments allowed, and the bill …

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