Tag Archives: LGBT rights

The Hill reports: The Obama administration will not strip federal funding from North Carolina amid a legal battle over the state’s controversial law on bathroom use, the White House said Thursday. Cabinet agencies have been conducting a review to determine whether the state’s recent legislation on LGBT rights makes it ineligible to receive education, transportation and other funding under federal …

Minutes ago the Massachusetts Senate overwhelmingly approved a transgender rights bill. The vote was 33-4. More from Reuters: The bill, which would make Massachusetts the 18th U.S. state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, has strong support in the Democratic-controlled legislature, although Republican Governor Charlie Baker has not said whether he would sign it. State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, the …

In so many words, of course. Via press release: “American Family Association is appreciative that Target representatives were willing to accept the signatures of more than one million Americans and meet with us about our deep distress over Target’s unsafe bathroom policy, which permits anyone who identifies with another gender to enter the restroom or fitting room of the opposite …

Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday tried to turn the tables on the federal government’s top prosecutor, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, by saying her comparison of Jim Crow segregation to his state’s law banning transgender people from certain bathrooms was “an insult.” “It’s an insult, and it’s a political statement instead of a …

Earlier today Italy’s legislature made the final approving vote on its civil unions bill after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a confidence vote that would have cost him his job if the bill had failed. Tonight LGBT Italians and allies are celebrating at Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain, which has been lit in the rainbow colors in solidarity. After being …

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: Target Corp. will stick with its policy of allowing transgender customers to choose the bathroom they wish to use, chief executive Brian Cornell said this morning. He added the company is adding more family restrooms in its stores, an option for people who worry about the mixing of sexes in bathrooms. Cornell made the remarks during …

Watch the video below. Happening today in New York City: Hundreds of senior LGBT and Ally business leaders from around the world will convene on Wednesday, May 11 for the sixth annual Out Leadership Summit in the U.S., hosted by global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, at the Edison Ballroom. Formerly known as Out on the Street, Out Leadership Summits …

The Local reports: The Italian government finally approved a bill to allow gay civil unions, after a long and bitter debate that has pitted the Catholic Church against Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. In order to speed up the bill’s passage, Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, called a confidence vote in Italy’s lower house on Wednesday saying it was “unacceptable to …

The compensation aspect is intriguing. The BBC reports: Germany is set to annul the convictions of gay men under a law criminalising homosexuality that was applied zealously in post-war Germany. Justice Minister Heiko Maas is to overturn the convictions and create a “right to compensation”. About 50,000 men were convicted between 1946 and 1969, under a 19th Century law that …

From the Herald Scotland: Scotland would be rated as the most gay-friendly and tolerant nation in Europe if it was separate from the rest of the UK, new research has found. A survey measuring equality and human rights found that Scotland would top a European league table after meeting 90 per cent of the criteria laid down by campaigning group …

Via press release: Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, commended North Carolina Representatives Chris Sgro, Pricey Harrison, Susan Fisher, and Kelly Alexander for introducing a comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination bill in the North Carolina General Assembly. This bill would be a companion to HB 946, sponsored by Representatives Jackson, …

Dan Savage appeared on The Late Show last night to talk about transgender rights, North Carolina, and Caitlyn Jenner with host Stephen Colbert, who spun the segment into an amusing tangent when he questioned Savage about the ever-increasing LGBTQIA-etc nomenclature. Savage also expounded on the “complicated” situation with Donald Trump and LGBT rights. Watch below and take note of Savage’s …

The ban was approved by a 54-21 vote and now moves to the state Senate. Via press release from Equality California: AB 1887, authored by Asm. Evan Low (D-Campbell), would prohibit state-funded or sponsored travel to a state that, after June 26, 2015, has enacted a law that voids or repeals existing state or local protections against discrimination on the …

JMG reader Tom points out that North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s team has wasted no time in pumping out a money beg for a “strategic defense fund.”  The above tweet links to McCrory’s reelection donation page, which now bears this message: “Fight back against the federal government’s overreach and bullying tactics.” We’re guessing that by “strategic defense fund” McCrory actually …

The Human Rights Campaign recaps what just happened: Today, HRC and Equality NC responded to an announcement by Attorney General Loretta Lynch that the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, the state’s Department of Public Safety, and the University of North Carolina and Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina. …

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch is due to announce “law enforcement action” against North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law at 3:30PM. Embedded below is the Department Of Justice’s live stream. Grab your popcorn and watch with us. UPDATE: WOW, what a great speech. I’ve posted her remarks below.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is speaking to the press about the anti-trans lawsuit he filed this morning against the federal government. UPDATE: The live stream has concluded. Below is a recording of the press conference.

Quick reaction from the feds! Via Talking Points Memo: U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is slated to announce law enforcement action related to North Carolina Monday at 3:30 p.m. E.T., according to a Justice Department statement. The press conference comes after North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory announced a lawsuit against the federal government in response to a Justice Department letter …

CNN reports: North Carolina’s lawsuit, filed by McCrory and state Department of Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry, calls the Justice Department’s position a “radical reinterpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.” Title VII, among other things, outlaws discrimination in federally assisted programs and authorizes Lynch to file lawsuits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities. North Carolina attacks …

Via press release from the ACLU: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Mississippi today filed a lawsuit to challenge an anti-LGBT law passed this spring that allows public officials and businesses to refuse to serve gay and transgender individuals. The lawsuit, which targets the registrar of vital records, was filed on behalf of ACLU of Mississippi members …