Tag Archives: trans issues

Just in from One Iowa: The Iowa Senate passed a bill adding gender identity and gender expression to the state’s hate crimes law today with a 27-21 vote. Adding gender identity and gender expression to the law would provide transgender Iowans with legal protection from hate crimes. The bill will now make its way to the Iowa House of Representatives. …

The Kokomo Tribune reports: In front of a crowd filling both council chambers and the City Hall lobby, Kokomo’s Common Council voted Monday to approve legislation that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens from various forms of discrimination. After the 5-4 vote in favor of the ordinance’s first reading, the council will hold a second reading at 6 …

Oh brother. Via Pink News: Caitlyn Jenner has claimed that Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton only cares about herself. The former Olympian, who is a staunch Republican, made the claim on her reality show I Am Cait, which has just begun its second season. During the show, Jenner is discussing politics with her transgender friends, when she insists that the …

The Washington Blade reports: The South Dakota House of Representatives on Thursday failed to override the veto of a bill that would ban transgender students from using restrooms in public schools that are consistent with their gender identity. Supporters of House Bill 1008 needed two-thirds of lawmakers to vote in favor of overriding Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s veto earlier this …

Good grief. From Dawn Ennis’ profile of Caitlyn Jenner in The Advocate: “I like Ted Cruz,” she declares. “I think he’s very conservative, and a great constitutionalist, and a very articulate man. I haven’t endorsed him or anything like that. But I also think, he’s an evangelical Christian, and probably one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues.” …

He took the veto down to the literal last hour before it would become law. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard heeded to pressure from LGBT advocates and businesses on Tuesday, announcing he vetoed a bill that would have banned transgender students from using school restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. South Dakota would have …

From People Magazine: For years, transgender voices have been pushed to the background. But for Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two transgender women who participated in the Stonewall Riots in 1969, keeping quiet was not an option. From the director of Emmy-nominated Transparent, Rhys Ernst, and Focus Features, the film company behind Oscar-nominated The Danish Girl, comes a new …

From the Charlotte News & Observer: N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore said Thursday he’s exploring a possible special legislative session to deal with a controversial provision of Charlotte’s expanded nondiscrimination ordinance. Moore and others object to the so-called bathroom provision that would allow transgender people to use the restroom of their choice, depending on the gender with which they identify. …

South Dakota’s Senate Judiciary Committee this morning killed a bill which would have legalized anti-LGBT discrimination by businesses. The bill’s chief sponsor was state House Rep. Scott Craig (above left). Lambda Legal celebrates but cautions that other anti-trans bills remain active in South Dakota:  “The Senate Judiciary Committee did the right thing today. House Bill 1107 was a harmful and …

Before the Charlotte City Council even voted to approve its LGBT rights law last night, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory had vowed “immediate intervention” if it were to pass. Tonight McCrory and state GOP leaders are moving to make that promise come true and then some. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Gov. McCrory said legislators …

“Shame on Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts and the City Council members who voted last night to pass an ordinance that would allow people to use the bathroom of their choice, not based on their biological sex. It’s not over though. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has been clear that this is a bad policy and said if the city passed …

Remember the nutters from Australia’s “Stop Safe Schools” group whose protest backfired, resulting in a financial windfall for an LGBT prom? Now those haters are celebrating after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ordered an investigation into the entire program. From the Sydney Morning Herald: Turnbull has ordered a review into a controversial school education program aimed at promoting acceptance of gay, …

After hours of public testimony which included the usual ranting plus some literal screaming about Jesus, and an actual half-rapped anti-LGBT poem presented by a 12 year-old, tonight the Charlotte City Council approved an LGBT rights ordinance. From the Human Rights Campaign: Tonight, TurnOut! Charlotte, a partnership of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Equality North Carolina, and MeckPAC, hailed the …

Groups from both sides will rally today in advance of an LGBT rights ordinance to be considered tonight by the Charlotte City Council. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory last night warned council members that if the ordinance passes, there will likely be “immediate state legislative intervention.” The Charlotte Observer reports: McCrory is concerned about a provision in the proposed expanded …

The vote was 20-15. If the governor signs the bill, South Dakota will become the first state with such a law. From Lambda Legal: Today the South Dakota Senate passed House Bill 1008, a discriminatory bill that prevents transgender students from accessing restrooms and single-sex facilities that correspond with their gender identity. Lambda Legal is calling on Governor Dennis Daugaard …

Tissue alert! Nearly two years ago Honey Maid launched a series of pro-LGBT messages, all posted with the hashtag #ThisIsWholesome, which earned them immediate furor and boycott calls from hate groups. Honey Maid continues the theme this week with a “Love Day” Valentine’s clip that includes several heartwarming exchanges between LGBT kids and their families. Pink News recaps: The new …

Watch Pence squirm. Freedom Indiana: “Governor Mike Pence has never been able to answer the question of whether he believes LGBT Hoosiers should be fired for who they are. Time after time, he has dodged the question of why he does not support comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. Take action here.”

Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who is widely known as America’s craziest governor, yesterday stopped his state’s Department of Education from issuing rules intended to protect transgender students. The Associated Press reports: Rep. Matthea Daughtry of Brunswick says the rules are required by the 2013 Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in favor of Nicole Maines, a transgender student in Orono who …

Washington state GOP Rep. Graham Hunt has been pushing a bill that would allow businesses to restrict restroom use to people whose “genitalia match the sign on the door” – as one right wing site put it. Last night he resigned under “stolen valor” accusations. The Seattle Times reports: State Rep. Graham Hunt has resigned over accusations he exaggerated his …

GOP Virginia state Del. Mark Cole wants to see what students have between their legs. Via Crooks & Liars: Cole wins the Creepiest Lawmaker of the Day award for this stunning piece of legislation, requiring that students strictly adhere to designated restroom assignments or risk being fined. The legislation as filed requires that students attending schools designating restrooms for a …