News

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Conservative Groups Upset Over ‘Boycott’ by LGBT Bar Association

Two national litigation groups that specialize in lawsuits seeking to overturn LGBT rights laws issued a joint statement last week denouncing the National LGBT Bar Association for calling on the nation’s lawyers and law firms to refuse to provide free legal services for the two groups. The Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the Colorado baker in the now famous anti-LGBT Supreme Court decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, and the Liberty Counsel accused the D.C.-based National LGBT Bar Association of fomenting anti-religious bias. “It is shameful that an association of lawyers wants to shut the courthouse doors to millions of […]

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Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Prisoners Put in “Alternative Lifestyle” Isolation Tank

A group of gay, bisexual and transgender prisoners who were put in an “Alternative Lifestyle” isolation tank, in some cases for 23 hours a day, have reached a proposed settlement in court. The group were systematically discriminated against and mistreated for their sexuality and gender identity while incarcerated at a Southern California jail. Dan McKibben, a former sheriff’s officer, said he identified himself as gay during his processing at the West Valley Detention Center.After entering the jail McKibben says he was immediately sent to the so-called “Alternative Lifestyle Tank,” a two block 16-cell housing section, where he was kept in […]

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Democrats More Enthusiastic than Republicans About Government Protection for Most Groups

Democrats were more than three times as likely as Republicans to say LGBTQ people should be protected, 35% vs. 11%. Partisans agreed in their concern for veterans: 37% of Democrats and 38% of Republicans said the group should be federally protected. Among partisans’ “top 10” groups that they said deserve protections, 28% of Republicans on average said groups should be protected versus 37% of Democrats. When Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Justice Department’s Religious Liberty Task Force last month — a move to implement the religious liberty guidance President Donald Trump ordered last year — he said its intention was to […]

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Republicans ‘Hiding’ Evidence on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s anti-LGBT record, campaigners Caim

LGBT advocates have demanded the release of documents detailing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s involvement in anti-LGBT policies – as Republicans seek to push ahead with his confirmation hearing. Trump has nominated the right-wing judge to replace centrist Anthony Kennedy, and campaigners fear he will demolish the court’s fragile majority on LGBT rights after several narrow 5-4 rulings. Public documents relating to nominees for the Supreme Court are typically released ahead of their confirmation battle to allow scrutiny of their records, however Republicans are attempting to rapidly push forward with Kavanaugh’s confirmation without the release of documents relating to his time as White […]

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Two Malaysian Women to be Caned for Having Sex

A woman is caned in Aceh, Indonesia, where sharia law is in effect (CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/AFP/Getty) Two women in Malaysia have been sentenced to six lashings each after being arrested for having sex with each other. They have also been fined RM3,300 (£630) each, and told that they will face a four-month prison term if they fail to pay. The sentence was handed down as Malaysia is embroiled in an argument about LGBT+ rights, sparked by government minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa’s “demonising” order to an arts festival to remove its portraits of local queer activists.Gay sex is banned in the country, […]

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Two Men Beaten Up in Homophobic Attack in Kiev

A gay man was left in need of stitches when he and his friend were beaten up by a group in Kiev last weekend in a homophobic attack. The harrowing incident happened after a group of men took issue with Nikita Ponarin’s choice of jeans and his septum piercing, he said in a post on Facebook. Nikita Ponarin (Facebook) Nikita had to get stitches on his head after the event and was left with a few bruises and scratches, but insists that the injuries are not serious. He said that the incident has been reported to the police, and he is […]

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LGBTQ Connection To Hold Training for Professionals Who Work with Spanigh-speaking LGBTQI Youth

Many local organizations and individuals have worked with us over the years to improve their understanding of LGBTQ identities and their commitment to competently serve LGBTQ people in the community. Have you thought about how to do that in Spanish? Of course, many concepts apply across languages, but if we don’t consider the unique context of language and culture, we’re missing out. LGBTQ Connection is proud to offer this unique, free, upcoming, LGBTQ training for professionals that serve Latino and Spanish-speaking youth and families (other interested community members are welcome, too) on the morning of August 29 in Napa. Space […]

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Republican Who Compared Gay People to Rapists Will Face Lesbian Election Opponent

Anti-LGBT Republican Congressman Jason Lewis faces Democrat Angie Craig A Republican lawmaker who compared gay people to rapists will face a married lesbian Democrat in his re-election battle. Congressman Jason Lewis, who is currently seeking re-election in Minnesota’s closely fought second congressional district, had made the comments on his nationally syndicated radio programme The Jason Lewis Show. On the radio show Lewis had argued it did not violate the Constitution to legally prevent gay people from getting married, claiming a ruling in favour of equal marriage “would undo the entire state criminal code because we’re all treated unequally.”Lewis insisted: “When we pass a […]

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Transgender candidate Christine Hallquist Wins Democratic Nomination for Governor of Vermont

Christine Hallquist (Christine for Vermont) A transgender woman has become the first trans person to win the nomination of a party for major political office. Christine Hallquist won a clear majority in the Democratic primary for the Governorship on Tuesday, besting three other candidates. The progressive candidate picked up  48.4 percent of the vote, more than double her nearest rival’s 22.1 percent.By winning the Democratic nomination, she will now face off against Republican incumbent Governor Phil Scott in November’s gubernatorial election. The primary result has been hailed as a victory by LGBT+ activists. Although Hallquist’s primary victory is a historic first, […]

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Trump White House Issues Anti-LGBT ‘Freedom to Discriminate’ Directive

The Trump White House has issued a directive giving federal contractors free range to discriminate against LGBT+ people. There is no federal law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but former President Barack Obama signed an executive order that required all federal contractors to abide by LGBT+ anti-discrimination principles. However, a broad new directive issued on Friday effectively guts the power to sanction any federal contractor that discriminated based on their religious beliefs. The document, issued by the Department of Labor, directly takes aim at the existing provisions that “prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the […]

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