This win for LGBT rights is limited, however, as troops organized through church groups can still decide if they will allow gay leaders.
John Legend Drops Performance at Beverly Hills Hotel in Response to Brunei’s Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman Penal Code
John Legend announced that he would not be performing at the coveted L.A. Confidential party hosted at the Beverly Hills Hotel in protest of the new penal code introduced by the Hotel’s owner, the Sultan of Brunei.
Marriage Equality Has Officially Come to Alabama
The Supreme Court refused to stop a federal court ruling today that requires Alabama state officials to recognize same-sex marriage rights. The state has begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Activist Monica Jones Can Now Appeal Her Conviction for “Walking While Trans”
An Arizona appeals court Monday overruled an April verdict that highlighted police profiling of trans women of color.
Protestors Demand Justice After Denver Police Fatally Shoot Queer Latina Teen
On Monday morning, a 16-year-old lesbian Latina named Jessie Hernandez was shot and killed by Denver police. Now, her friends and family are uniting with communities of color and LGBT activists to demand justice.
Mormon Church Moves To Protect Gay Rights
Leaders of the Mormon Church said it is promising to support housing and job protections for the LGBT community in exchange for legal protections for believers who object to others’ behavior.
Scripps College Will Now Officially Admit Transgender Women
The new policy will be in effect for all Fall 2016 applicants.
Activists Demonstrate Outside Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations
Workers, human rights advocates, environmental organizations, and consumer rights leaders rallied today to oppose the TPP free trade agreement, described as “a massive corporate power grab… with potentially dire consequences for the economy, environment and public health both at home and abroad.”
Sixth Circuit Ruling on Gay Marriage Bans Could Send Marriage Equality to the Supreme Court
This Sixth Circuit has changed the legal landscape, becoming the first federal Court of Appeals to uphold a ban since the US Supreme Court decided US v. Windsor.
UPDATE: Supreme Court Justice Delays Marriage Equality in Idaho
Justice Kennedy issued a one-page order requiring the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to delay their ruling striking down Idaho’s same-sex marriage ban.
Constitutional Court Invalidates Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law
Uganda’s Constitutional Court today struck down – on procedural grounds – a package of anti-gay policies signed into law this February by President Yoweri Museveni, but left room for lawmakers to attempt to pass the law, or another version of it, again.
Study Finds LGBT Job Applicants Less Likely to Get Interviews
A study conducted by the Equal Rights Center and Freedom to Work found that people with experience working for an LGBT organization were significantly less likely to get called for an interview than someone with similar experience but for a different type of activist organization.
Congressional Leaders, Advocates Speak Out Against TPP Citing Human Rights Concerns
“The United States should not condone these laws by conducting business as usual with Brunei. We have to seek to use all available and appropriate policy tools to pressure the sultan to change his new penal code.”
Supreme Court Upholds California’s ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’ Ban
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that “gay conversion therapy,” which aims to change the sexual orientation of children under the age of 18, is within a state’s right to regulate and can therefore be banned.
President Plans Expansion of Sick Leave For Same Sex Couples
Today, the White House called for a major benefit expansion that would boost same-sex couples.
Oregon Same-Sex Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
A federal court yesterday struck down Oregon’s state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, finding that the ban violated the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution. Minutes later, officials in Oregon began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who had been eagerly awaiting the decision, some having camped out in front of a Portland […]
Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Gay Marriage Ban
“Those in control of this state need to stop fighting the future. They must stop governing by fear. They must stop pretending there’s some security blanket in laws that treat others unfairly.”
Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Permitting Use of Religion as Cover to Discriminate
The bill was strongly opposed by LGBT groups who have seen businesses in other states – such as florists, photographers, and bakers – refuse to provide services to same-sex couples. Members of the Arizona business community also opposed the bill, as did politicians on both sides.
Republican Senators Introduce Bill to Limit Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses
Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a bill last week that would give states the power to decide whether to give married lesbian and gay couples the same federal benefits that heterosexual married couples receive.
Kansas Senate Comes Out Against Anti-Gay Legislation
If signed into law, HB 2453 would allow the refusal of government services to same-sex couples, as well as private services such as access to stores and medical services, making LGBTQ people effectively second-class citizens.