Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Signs Anti-LGBT Legislation

 TLDEF Condemns Sweeping New Discriminatory Law in Mississippi New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) responded to news that Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed anti-LGBT House Bill 1523 into law today. The Mississippi Legislature passed the bill in a final vote yesterday. The measure allows individuals, religious organizations, and many businesses… More Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Signs Anti-LGBT Legislation

TLDEF Condemns Sweeping Anti-LGBT Legislation in Mississippi

Urges Governor Phil Bryant to Veto Legislation New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) strongly condemns House Bill 1523 in Mississippi and urges Governor Phil Bryant to veto the legislation. The Mississippi Legislature passed the bill in a final vote today. Governor Bryant now has five days to sign or veto the… More TLDEF Condemns Sweeping Anti-LGBT Legislation in Mississippi

Panel Discussion Blasts LGBT Organizations for Racism

TV ONE’S NEWS ONE NOW PANEL BACKS MICHAEL SAM, BLASTS RACISM WITHIN LGBT MOVEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former NFL player Michael Sam was the first openly gay man drafted in NFL history. Today on TV One’s News One Now, his recent comments surrounding racism in the gay community sparked a heated conversation.  Host and managing… More Panel Discussion Blasts LGBT Organizations for Racism

Federal Court Overturns Mississippi Adoption Ban

A Federal court has overturned the same-sex adoption ban in Mississippi, today. Judge Daniel P. Jordan III of the United States District Court, for The Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division ruled has ruled the ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples in Mississippi, under Mississippi Code section 93-17-3(5) which states simply: “Adoption by… More Federal Court Overturns Mississippi Adoption Ban

TLDEF Celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today stands with advocates throughout the world in celebrating the Transgender Day of Visibility, a day set aside to amplify the accomplishments of transgender people globally. Statement from TLDEF Executive Director Michael Silverman: “On this Transgender Day of Visibility, we are proud to… More TLDEF Celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

Activists to Rally at Court in Trans Murder Case

PLEASE rally to demand  Justice for Transgender murder victim Islan Nettles New York, NY — Everything Transgender in NYC (ETNYC) is calling on advocates and activists for transgender justice and allies in the greater New York City area to rally at the courthouse for Islan Nettles, tomorrow, Thursday March 31, 2016 at 9 a.m. Last year… More Activists to Rally at Court in Trans Murder Case

SA Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia

Our friends at Mambaonline have followed up on an earlier report and now note a disturbing turn as the South African Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia. South Africa’s Film and Publications Board (FPB) told Mambaonline that it will not condemn its Kenyan counterpart’s persecution of LGBT people. Earlier this month, we… More SA Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia

Jerusalem LGBT Pride Murder Impacts the Reclaiming of Zion Square

Zion Square, one of the landmarks of Jerusalem in Israel, is set to undergo a redesign project, embracing pluralism and tolerance, evolving through circumstances and the passionate activism of several organizations and individuals. Diverse organizations, ad hoc groups and activists have worked together to bring this extraordinarily progressive plan to fruition, by meeting each Thursday… More Jerusalem LGBT Pride Murder Impacts the Reclaiming of Zion Square

World Congress of GLBT Jews to hold Shabbaton in D.C.

The World Congress of GLBT Jews, with Bet Mishpachah and GLOE as co-hosts are holding a Shabbaton in Washington DC, at the DC Jewish Community Center, next month from April 8th to April 10th. The Program and contact information is detailed below. The World Congress is a networking resource for LGBTQ Jews from around the… More World Congress of GLBT Jews to hold Shabbaton in D.C.

TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

North Carolina Law Strikes Down LGBT Protections, becoming First State to Exclude Transgender Students from School Bathrooms and Locker Rooms New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) condemns a new law passed by North Carolina lawmakers and signed by Governor Pat McCrory, which will ban transgender students in schools and all transgender… More TLDEF Condemns North Carolina Anti-Trans Student Law

Ugandan Hate Preacher Given Visa to Speak in the UK

When Uganda passed its Anti-Homosexuality Act back in December 2013, several religious leaders pushed hard for the Ugandan President to assent to the Bill, which came to be known as The Kill the Gays Bill.  Two such religious leaders include a certain married  couple,  Dr. Joseph Serwadda and  Pastor Freda Serwadda,  from the Victory Christian… More Ugandan Hate Preacher Given Visa to Speak in the UK

South Africa Aligns with LGBTI Censorship

South Africa’s Film and Publications Board, headed by Sipho Risibia,  has seen it fit to align itself with Kenya’s homophobic publications board, which regularly attacks the LGBTI community and the right to freedom of speech. Thanks to our friends at Mamba Online for alerting us to the  story about the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB)… More South Africa Aligns with LGBTI Censorship

LGBTQ Discrimination Leads to Call for NCAA to Divest

NC, March 9, 2016  –  Led by Campus Pride and Soulforce, a coalition of more than 80 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ), sports, religious and youth advocacy groups signed on to a letter issued publicly today calling on NCAA to divest from all religious-based institutions who have made Title IX requests to discriminate against… More LGBTQ Discrimination Leads to Call for NCAA to Divest

Florida House & Senate Avert Disaster of Expanded Pastor Protection Bill

Legislature to clarify controversial measure and simply reaffirm current law

Screen Shot 2016-03-02 at 8.35.45 AMTallahassee – Avoiding the disastrous route of their Georgia colleagues, the Florida House of Representatives today is expected to pass an amended version of the so-called Pastor Protection bill (HB 43) to limit its scope and send the message that controversial amendments allowing discrimination would not be entertained.

The bill had been widely criticized as a vaguely worded and unnecessary duplication of existing laws that served as a Trojan Horse for more nefarious measures to be added. That was the route Georgia lawmakers took by amending their pastor protection bill last month to allow any individual or faith-based business, for-profit entity, or taxpayer-funded organization to ignore nondiscrimination protections or any law that conflicts with their religious beliefs about marriage. The state is roiling from the public outrage and the economic backlash that has been strong enough to draw the threat of a veto from the Georgia governor.… More Florida House & Senate Avert Disaster of Expanded Pastor Protection Bill

TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund applauds South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard for vetoing a bill that would have singled out transgender students for discrimination by prohibiting them from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match who they are as boys and girls. In February, South Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1008. The bill would have restricted facility access to students of the “same biological sex,” and defined that to mean “the physical condition of being male or female as determined by a person’s chromosomes and identified at birth by a person’s anatomy.”

Last week the governor met with transgender students who explained how harmful it would be to their health and well being to deny them use of bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with who they are. Thousands of activists across the nation joined them in urging the Governor to reject the legislation. Today the Governor did just that. Had the bill been enacted, it would have been the first law in the nation targeting transgender students for bias.… More TLDEF Applauds SD Governor for Vetoing Bill That Targeted Transgender Students for Discrimination

San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

San Francisco Pride is pleased to announce the first in a series of forums to explore and elucidate the 2016 San Francisco Pride theme, “For Racial and Economic Justice.”

The forum, African American Contributions to LGBTQI Culture in the American Experience, will be held at 6:30 PM, immediately following the 6:00 PM San Francisco Pride monthly membership meeting, where members will vote for one of the 2016 SF Pride community grand marshals.… More San Francisco Pride to Hold Forum on African American LGBTQI Contributions

TLDEF Urges South Dakota Governor to Veto Bill Targeting Transgender Students for Discrimination

New York, NY – The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) urges South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard to veto a bill that would bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match who they are as boys and girls. South Dakota lawmakers passed House Bill 1008 last week. The bill restricts facility access to… More TLDEF Urges South Dakota Governor to Veto Bill Targeting Transgender Students for Discrimination

Hillary Clinton’s Vote for 2007 Immigration Reform Excluded Same-Sex Couples

Hillary can bash Bernie for voting against the 2007 immigration bill — a bill that would’ve separated families, left immigrants vulnerable to deportation, and created a new class of exploited workers — if she wants. I would’ve voted against it, too. Despite how wrong it seems on the surface, Bernie did the right thing. He must’ve had his doubts at the time. He must’ve wondered if he was on the right side of justice, or if he’d just buried his long progressive record in politics. Still, that Bernie’s capable of taking an unpopular position for the right reasons says more about him than Hillary would like you to know.… More Hillary Clinton’s Vote for 2007 Immigration Reform Excluded Same-Sex Couples

Ugandan President Museveni Has Signed the Perilous Anti NGO Bill

Warning: Every organization operating in Uganda,  in association with organizations in Uganda, sending funds to Uganda, placing resources in the hands of Ugandans must re evaluate their positions considering the new NGO ACT of 2016 – or alternatively immediately support those who will challenge this law before publication and implementation.  The window of opportunity is… More Ugandan President Museveni Has Signed the Perilous Anti NGO Bill

GSA Day for Racial Justice

LGBTQ youth are taking action today–GSA Day for Racial Justice–to fight for our future and celebrate the multiple identities we hold. GSA Day for Racial Justice is more than just a day of action. It has become a movement of LGBT youth who are fighting to end state violence against black lives, who educate each other on sexual health and wellness, and who understand that gender is a social construct that limits people in all races and ethnicities.… More GSA Day for Racial Justice

New York Rally to Protest Transgender Attack

THE NYC SGL/LGBTQ COALITION HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE & RALLY TO PROTEST ATTACK ON TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY LEADER WHEN: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12th – 5:30 PM WHERE: D-Train Station at West 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue WHY: Transgender Community Leader, NYC SGL/LGBTQ Coalition Member, and Founder and Director of Everything Transgender in New York City, Jennifer Louise Lopez, was… More New York Rally to Protest Transgender Attack

Naming Participants in the Creating Change 2016 LGBTQ Jew Bash Fest

The Mob: Who screamed for Israel’s destruction; who displayed hate above unity of purpose; who knew exactly what they were doing and who were the nochschleppers ? SCROLL DOWN for names. By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2016 Last week the halls of The Hilton Hotel in Chicago, became the scene of a near riot.  The… More Naming Participants in the Creating Change 2016 LGBTQ Jew Bash Fest

LGBT Leaders Call on Task Force for Independent Review of Creating Change Debacle

By Melanie Nathan January 28, 2016. I am proud to be a signatory to this letter addressed to the LGBTQ Task Force. I am also proud to stand with noted and admired leaders in our community.  The letter speaks for itself.  Thank you to Roberta Kaplan and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum for leading the effort on… More LGBT Leaders Call on Task Force for Independent Review of Creating Change Debacle

National LGBTQ Task Force’s Halfhearted Condemnation After Creating Change Attack on Jews

ious protest that led to the shut down of a Jewish Shabbat and reception event at Creating Change Conference 2016, Rea Carey of National LGBTQ Task Force issued a statement which is headed “National LGBTQ Task Force Condemns Anti-Semitism”. But that is not really what her statement says given the veils and context. Instead its a mish-mash of zero apology and a myriad of ineffectual excuses, hiding behind verbiage which, by virtue of its context, halfheartedly condemns Anti Semitism. The below statement by Rea Carey of National LGBTQ Task Force leaves a lot of questions and much to be desired. … More National LGBTQ Task Force’s Halfhearted Condemnation After Creating Change Attack on Jews

LGBT Protesters at Creating Change Call for the Destruction of Israel

Has Creating Change taken on a New Meaning: Does that Change involve LGBTQ America Supporting Anti Semitism? By Melanie Nathan, January 21, 2016. This week will go down in history as one of the saddest and most destructive, ever, in the lives of LGBTQ Jews.  We became the target of antisemitism disguised as protesting alleged… More LGBT Protesters at Creating Change Call for the Destruction of Israel

Apology and Settlement in Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

“We are extremely grateful to the EEOC for taking on this important case on behalf of our client and working side by side with us to achieve a settlement that marks yet another Title VII victory for transgender employees,” Weiss said. “The Jillian T. Weiss Law Firm… More Apology and Settlement in Transgender Woman’s Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

Transgender activists, Trans Community and all who care please take note of this call to action by the Federal Government and leading organizations! Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently published a new regulation that it is considering adopting, one that would, for the first… More HUD Wants your Input on New Rules for Transgender Shelter Seekers

Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family

Posted by Melanie Nathan, January 14, 2016 Lambda Legal today filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a Boulder County property owner who violated the federal Fair Housing Act and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to rent a housing unit she owns in Gold Hill, Colorado, to a same-sex couple, one of whom is transgender,… More Lambda Legal Sues Boulder County Property Owner for Denying Housing to LGBT Family