Tag Archives: LGBT rights

Same Same reports: It’s official, the plebiscite is dead. It’s been confirmed that opposition Leader Bill Shorten and the Labor party have just voted to block the Turnbull government’s proposed plebiscite, which was expected to cost upwards of $200 million, finally laying to rest the unpopular and divisive opinion poll. Marriage equality advocates are celebrating the decision as a win …

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: Mike Pence has indicated a Donald Trump administration would roll back guidance issued by the Obama administration that prohibits schools from discriminating against transgender students and assuring them access to the restroom consistent with their gender identity. Pence made the remarks on the day after the vice presidential debate on the “Family Talk …

Entertainment Weekly recaps: It took a little while, but Tuesday’s vice presidential debate eventually created an internet meme: “That Mexican thing.” The words were uttered by Republican candidate Mike Pence after his opponent, Democratic candidate Tim Kaine, brought up GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s infamous comment about Mexican immigrants for a fourth time during the debate. The comment was quickly …

During MSNBC’s post-debate analysis, Rachel Maddow lamented that Tim Kaine failed to confront Mike Pence on his history of supporting virulently anti-LGBT policies, including his demand that “gay cure” funding be attached to an HIV/AIDS bill. As you surely recall, Pence opposed the repeal of DADT, opposed same-sex marriage, and signed a bill that would have permitted Indiana businesses to …

The case is important because the couple had never married. The Associated Press reports: The Massachusetts court that paved the way for same-sex marriage in the United States ruled Tuesday that an unmarried gay woman whose former girlfriend gave birth to two children through artificial insemination has the same parental rights as their biological mother. The Supreme Judicial Court, of …

Via press release from Christian Newswire: Over the last several years Australia has led a worldwide call for extended periods of Prayer & Fasting for America. Now Australian prayer leaders are asking for prayer support from the USA and other parts of the world as they face the homosexual juggernaut of the political elites to redefine marriage in Australia. The …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: Gov. Pat McCrory is out with a new TV ad on Monday boasting of North Carolina’s economic gains. “When I entered office North Carolina had record unemployment, high taxes and huge budget shortfalls; it had been that way for years,” McCrory says in the ad. “Now, we have one of the fastest-growing economies in …

Buzzfeed reporter J. Lester Feder has done a fascinating deep dive into Mexico’s nascent anti-LGBT movement, which first gained international headlines last month with massive protest marches against the president’s campaign to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. A couple of key excerpts: The national media were stunned, and marriage equality supporters were incredulous. There had never been a serious national anti-LGBT …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: Gov. John Bel Edwards is suing Attorney General Jeff Landry for blocking state legal contracts over language meant to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace. Edwards filed the lawsuit in a Baton Rouge state court Friday (Sept. 30), following a meeting with Landry in which the two officials were …

The Sacramento Bee reports: North Carolina’s controversial law overturning local government protections for gays and lesbians could cost it some business with California state agencies. Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed a bill that prohibits state agencies from compelling their employees to travel to states with laws that allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The …

Via press release: The High Point University Poll finds that North Carolina’s top three election races continue to intensify with Hillary Clinton receiving support from 43 percent of likely voters and Donald Trump receiving support from 42 percent of likely voters. The percentages were calculated to include respondents who said they didn’t know exactly who they’d vote for, but were …

Australia’s News Corp outlet reports: The February same sex marriage plebiscite will not proceed. Talks to save it collapsed today guaranteeing a bitter debate in Parliament where legislation for the national ballot will be defeated in the Senate by Labor and the Greens. In response to fruitless talks, Labor intensified its portrayal of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as a prisoner …

The Associated Press reports: After having remained quiet while Italy debated civil unions for same-sex couples in May, on Sunday Pope Francis expressed support for the Mexican bishops in their efforts to support the “family and life” amid a burgeoning national debate over gay marriage. “I join willingly the Bishops of Mexico in supporting the efforts of the Church and …

Telesur reports: At least 80,000 people have attended the anti-gay rally called “rally to defend our families” in Mexico City on Saturday, Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said. The protest is organized by Catholics and the ultra-conservative National Front for the Family, who have been calling people to take to the streets to “defend their families and children” against same-sex marriages …

But Lee claims he doesn’t want the job. Via Politico: Utah Sen. Mike Lee on Friday swiftly shot down the idea that he would accept a nomination to the Supreme Court from Donald Trump. “Sen Lee already has the job he wants which is why he is campaigning to represent the great people of Utah again this year,” Lee spokesman …

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: In one fell swoop, Donald Trump has fortified the anti-LGBT positions he expressed over his campaign and tapped as an adviser former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a two-time presidential candidate with a notoriously anti-LGBT history. The actions are the result of Trump’s creation of a 35-member Catholic Advisory Council, which includes, in addition …

Patrick Strudwick reports at Buzzfeed: Campaigners, politicians, and members of the public are celebrating a historic vote in the States of Guernsey, which on Wednesday finally approved the introduction of same-sex marriage by 33 votes to five. It makes Northern Ireland now the only part of the British Isles without marriage equality, following similar successful campaigns in Jersey and the …

BOOM. From the editorial board of the New York Times: Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina has some nerve. Alarmed by the rising financial fallout from the discriminatory law he and Republican lawmakers hastily passed in March to bar transgender people from using restrooms that match their gender identity, the governor seemed desperate for an off-ramp last week. On Friday, …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by three couples who challenged North Carolina’s law that allows magistrates to refuse to marry same-sex couples by citing religious beliefs. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn ruled that the couples lacked legal standing as taxpayers to sue and lacked evidence showing they were harmed directly by the law …

The Alliance Defending Freedom just got smacked down in Phoenix but they’re trying again in Colorado. Denver’s ABC affiliate reports: A Christian woman claims Colorado law violates her ability to deny business to supporters of same-sex marriage and has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the laws on the basis they violate the U.S. Constitution. Lorie Smith, who owns …