News

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Electroshock Used to Covert LGBT Folks in China

Taiwan could soon become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, while Hong Kong this month won its bid to host the Gay Games in 2022, another Asian first.But in mainland China, LGBT people are still being subjected to forced confinement, medication and even electric shock therapy to “convert” them into heterosexuals. The “treatment” takes place in public, government-run hospitals and in private clinics, according to a report by Human Rights Watch released Wednesday. The organization interviewed 17 people who were threatened, coerced and sometimes physically forced by their parents to submit to conversion therapy, as adults or […]

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Australians Votes in Favor Same-sex Marriage; Paves Way for Parliment to Make it Legal

A solid majority of Australians voted in favor of same-sex marriage in a historic survey that, while not binding, paves the way for Parliament to legally recognize the unions of gay and lesbian couples. Of 12.7 million Australians who took part in the survey, 61.6 percent voted yes and 38.4 percent voted no, officials announced on Wednesday morning. Participation was high, with 79.5 percent of voting-age Australians taking part. “The Australian people have spoken, and they have voted overwhelmingly ‘yes’ for marriage equality,” said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who had called the national survey as a way to put pressure […]

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Equality California Endorses Candidates in California Statewide Races

“Our elected officials are crucial to the continuous fight for LGBTQ equality in California and our country,” said Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California. “The candidates we have endorsed are strong allies of the LGBTQ community and have proven records of supporting LGBTQ equality and social justice. We know that each of them will continue to fight for the LGBTQ community in California.” The candidates endorsed by Equality California are as follows: Fiona Ma [State Treasurer] Equality California endorses Fiona Ma for California State Treasurer. Ma currently serves on the State Board of Equalization, and formerly served on the […]

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California’s Attorney General Seeks to Join Equality California in Suit Defending Transgender Members in the Military

Attorney General Xavier Becerra yesterday filed a motion to intervene as a party plaintiff in Stockman v. Trump, the suit fighting the transgender military ban. Filed on behalf of Equality California members and seven individual plaintiffs being harmed by the ban, Stockman v. Trump challenges the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s August 25 directive banning transgender people from enlisting or serving openly in the military. “We must honor the service and sacrifice of all members of our military by fighting for them when their rights are attacked,” said Attorney General Becerra. “California will not allow President Trump’s illegal, discriminatory and un-American actions […]

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Enroll, Renew Covered California by Dec. 15 for Jan. 1 Coverage

Covered California renewal and open enrollment periods have begun. Individuals and families can buy brand-name, private health insurance under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Anyone can buy health insurance through Covered California, but eligibility for aid to help pay for a plan is based on income. Covered California also offers plans for small businesses. Open enrollment to buy new health care insurance runs through January 31, 2018. Residents must sign up by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, 2018. Residents can renew or change a current plan through December 15. Residents who […]

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Dining Out for Life Happens November 30

Sonoma County is famed for its spectacular restaurants. Dine out at 90 amazing eateries on Thursday, November 30, and 25 to 50% of your purchase will go directly to Food For Thought’s life-giving medically-tailored meals and nutritional programs. So dine out with us on November 30th—it’ll be the most satisfying meal you’ll have all year! To become a participating restaurant, please fill out this form or contact our Events Manager, Mary Bigelow-Gale, at (707) 887-1647 or MaryB@fftfoodbank.org. Click here for a full list of this year’s participating restaurants. 2017 Call for Ambassadors DOFL is FFT’s biggest fundraiser of the year, […]

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Out New York Gossip Columnist Liz Smith Dead At 94

New York gossip columnist Liz Smith, who covered the breakup of U.S. President Donald Trump’s first marriage and helped lead the media’s charge into celebrity news, died on Sunday at her Manhattan home, the New York Times and other media reported. She was 94. The Texas native chronicled the lives of Hollywood and Broadway stars, along with moguls, models and the wealthy, starting in the 1950s. Gary Gershoff via Getty Images New York gossip columnist Liz Smith chronicled the lives of Hollywood and Broadway stars, along with moguls, models and the wealthy. She famously broke the news of Trump’s separation […]

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Equality California Institute Launches Safe and Supportive Schools Survey

Equality California Institute (EQCAI) officially launched its Safe and Supportive Schools Index by distributing a survey to each of California’s 330 unified school districts. The survey is a collaborative effort led by EQCAI to measure, assess, and make public the efforts of unified school districts to implement laws that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students; to develop programs to protect LGBTQ students from bullying and violence; and to serve at-risk LGBTQ students.   In 2015, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) found that 17% of LGBTQ students in California regularly heard staff at their schools […]

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Federal Court Hears Arguments in ACLU Challenge to Trump’s Ban on Military Service by Transgender People

The American Civil Liberties Union was in federal court today for a hearing in its lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s ban on military service by transgender individuals. The court heard arguments on the ACLU’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would immediately halt all aspects of the ban. “Today was another step on the road to ensuring transgender service members are given the equal treatment they deserve,” said Joshua Block, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT Project. “We’re asking the court to reinforce what we already know to be true, which is that President Trump’s shameful, impulsive decision to […]

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California Approves LGBT-inclusive Textbooks

On Thursday, September 29th, the California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) voted to approve 10 History-Social Science K-8 textbooks which were inclusive of the LGBT content mandated by the state’s 2016 History-Social Science Framework. Most were approved conditional upon edits provided by the FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition, a group of LGBT advocacy and educational organizations formed to ensure implementation of the state’s 2012 FAIR Education Act, which requires the inclusion of the political, economic, and social contributions of LGBT people and people with disabilities in California textbooks. The IQC also voted to reject the two textbooks that […]

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