Federal appeals court sides with transgender teen, says bathroom case can go forward

Federal appeals court sides with transgender teen, says bathroom case can go forward

 

A federal appeals court in Richmond has sided with a transgender high school student, saying that he can proceed with his lawsuit arguing that his school board’s decision to ban him from the boys’ bathroom is discriminatory.

Photo: Reuters and Facebook

Georgia Governor Rejects Bill Shielding Critics of Gay Marriage

Georgia Governor Rejects Bill Shielding Critics of Gay Marriage

“I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.” – Governor Nathan Deal

Credit David Goldman/Associated Press

Disney, Marvel to Boycott Georgia if Religious Liberty Bill Is Passed

Disney, Marvel to Boycott Georgia if Religious Liberty Bill Is Passed

“Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law,” a Disney spokesman said on Wednesday.

Why LGBT People Are Moving to Red States

Why LGBT People Are Moving to Red States

LGBT people are leaving urban, coastal hubs for conservative cities.

Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast

A Georgia Bill Shields Discrimination Against Gays

A Georgia Bill Shields Discrimination Against Gays

The bill, which is on the verge of becoming law, would shield those who would refuse service not only to same-sex couples but to anyone they disapprove of, including interracial, interfaith or remarried couples.

David Goldman/Associated Press

Watch Now: A Conversation on Civil Rights & Religious Exemptions

Watch Now: A Conversation on Civil Rights & Religious Exemptions

 “The one thing we can’t have is a rule—unwritten or explicit—that says discrimination is justified if the person discriminating really, really objects to the excluded group,” writes law professor Garrett Epps. “Whether explained in religious terms or not, that undermines the entire idea of civil rights.”

Majority of Georgians support LGBT non-discrimination laws, oppose denial of service

Majority of Georgians support LGBT non-discrimination laws, oppose denial of service

A new survey shows that two-thirds of Georgia residents support laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Image: Matt Hennie, Project Q Atlanta

SD Governor Refuses to Meet Transgender people, contemplates signing transphobic bill

SD Governor Refuses to Meet Transgender people, contemplates signing transphobic bill

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has turned down an invitation to meet with transgender students before deciding whether to sign a bill that would bar them from using public school bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities of the gender with which they identify.

Photo by James Nord/AP

How The Supreme Court Shake-Up Will Impact The Future Of LGBT Rights

How The Supreme Court Shake-Up Will Impact The Future Of LGBT Rights

Today, it’s likely that there are four firm votes on the Court in favor of including LGBT people in existing nondiscrimination laws.  President Obama’s nominee could be the pivotal fifth vote.

New Report: Religious Accommodation Cannot Come at the Expense of Others' Rights

New Report: Religious Accommodation Cannot Come at the Expense of Others' Rights

The Leadership Conference Education Fund has released its report, Striking a Balance: Advancing Civil and Human Rights While Preserving Religious Liberty, documenting the use of religious arguments to oppose the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage and equality, racial integration, inter-racial marriage, immigration, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the right to collectively bargain. Striking a Balance also examines the current legal and political landscape in which religious exemptions are being used to deny civil and human rights, including LGBT equality.

Civil Rights Advocates to Address Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills

Civil Rights Advocates to Address Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills

Join us for a conversation: How do we preserve both religious liberty and the constitutional principle of equal protection under the law? This event will be live streamed.

The Witch Hunt Barring Same-Sex Families From Adopting

The Witch Hunt Barring Same-Sex Families From Adopting

How baby Isabella went from this couple to an alleged child abuser.

Photo: Kit Doyle for BuzzFeed News

More Religious Schools Seek Right to Discriminate Against LGBT Students

More Religious Schools Seek Right to Discriminate Against LGBT Students

In the past 18 months, the Department of Education has granted 27 colleges and universities waivers from Title IX compliance, The Column reports. The schools are located throughout the nation, but the majority are in the South and West. 

Congressional Forum to Investigate 'Epidemic of Violence' Against Trans People

Congressional Forum to Investigate 'Epidemic of Violence' Against Trans People

To date, 21 trans women have been murdered in the United States since January, almost double the number of trans murders in all of 2014. Most of this year's victims were trans women of color.

Indiana Republicans Introduce Anti-LGBT Rights Bill

Indiana Republicans Introduce Anti-LGBT Rights Bill

The bill, which will be known as Senate Bill 100, does add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the state’s nondiscrimination laws as it claims to. However, it expends far more words to limit the extent of those protections, making them all but worthless to most plaintiffs. 

White House Endorses LGBT Anti-Discrimination Bill

White House Endorses LGBT Anti-Discrimination Bill

The White House has endorsed historic legislation that would give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals full federal protection from discrimination.

AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Obama Administration Makes Refugee Program More LGBT-Inclusive

Obama Administration Makes Refugee Program More LGBT-Inclusive

The U.S. Department of State’s recently included same-sex partners as a family reunification refugee priority category, improving access to the refugee program for LGBT families.                

Image Credit: Shutterstock

 

Global-Local Connection for LGBT Rights event stirs up conversation

Global-Local Connection for LGBT Rights event stirs up conversation

The evening’s conversation covered an array of topics, including but not limited to anti-LGBT laws across the world, bullying, the school-to-prison pipeline, Black Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter, the role of social media in activism, HIV/AIDS and LGBT elders.

Photo Credit: Patrick Saunders

National Trans Health Symposium looks to seize the moment in Atlanta

National Trans Health Symposium looks to seize the moment in Atlanta

“The roundtable discussions will cover everything from domestic violence to personal safety, hormone replacement therapy, employment barriers, just the different issues that people deal with."

Massachusetts Takes Lead on Next Frontier of LGBT Rights

Massachusetts Takes Lead on Next Frontier of LGBT Rights

The new policy is the result of a year of talks between the governor’s office and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, which will certify businesses as LGBT-owned for the state, according to Jonathan Lovitz, the NGLCC’s vice president of external affairs.