Tag: LGBT

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Las Vegas: First ever Trans Pride Week begins November 20th

The first ever Trans Pride Week will take place this week in Las Vegas, NV

This week, Las Vegas will play host to the inaugural Trans Pride Week – five days of events and activities designed to bring awareness and pride to the local transgender community between Nov. 20 – 24.

Spearheaded by The Center, Gender Justice Nevada, Mary Magdalene Friends UCC, Northwest Community Church and Get EQUAL Nevada, anyone within the LGBTQ and allied communities are encouraged to take part in this historic occasion.

Marginalized, victimized and dehumanized, transgender individuals all over the world, including right here in Las Vegas, face unspeakable degradation on a daily basis. Unfortunately, localized data for our transgender community does not exist. However, according to the most recent National Transgender Discrimination Survey compiled by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, transgender individuals are steeped in a number of atrocities:

  • Compared to the general population, transgender individuals are four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000 per year
  • A staggering 41% of the transgender population report attempting suicide
  • Due to anti-trans bias, 55% of transgender individuals have lost a job
  • 64% of the transgender population has experienced sexual assault
  • Transgender youth in grades K-12 report alarming rates of harassment (78%), physical assault (35%) and sexual violence (12%)
  • Trans people of color are confronted with a devastating combination of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural racism

For a list of events – beginning Wednesday, November 20th – head over to The Center’s official website.

(via press release)

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LGBT advocates applaud passage of marriage equality in Hawaii

Coming right after thrilling wins in Illinois and New Jersey, our Hawaii triumph really underscores how far we’ve come.
From Freedom To Marry via press release:

Coming right after thrilling wins in Illinois and New Jersey, our Hawaii triumph really underscores how far we’ve come.

We still have a lot to do to finish the job. But as shown by the hard-fought, long-sought win in Hawaii and our other recent victories, when we work together, we get it done.

Because of this work, millions of Americans have evolved into a national majority for marriage. Today, Hawaii’s leaders have joined them by opening their hearts and changing their minds, writing this latest chapter in America’s history of liberty and justice for all.

 

From Human Rights Campaign via press release:

This is another chapter in an exciting string of victories this year. But more than that, it’s proof that hard work, long-term dedication, and the support of individuals from around the country (including YOU) can make the difference when it comes to securing basic rights for loving couples.

Hawaii was one of the first states to begin fighting for marriage equality, and helped raise this question of fundamental rights to a national consciousness. And though our progress has ebbed and flowed over the years, today we can finally claim victory.

 

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Illinois: Marriage equality to be signed into law November 20th

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign marriage equality into law on November 20th at the University of Illinois

Governor Pat Quinn announced Thursday that he will sign the marriage equality bill at the University of Illinois at Chicago in a 3:30 p.m. ceremony on November 20th. The Legislature passed the measure Tuesday.

A longtime same-sex marriage supporter, the Chicago Democrat says he’s looking forward to signing the legislation and “celebrating a big step forward with the people of Illinois.”

The University of Illinois at Chicago was recently named by Campus Pride Index as one of the top 25 campuses across the country for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Illinois becomes the 15th state in the union to legalize marriage equality

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President Obama applauds passage of ENDA in US Senate

President Obama applauds passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the US Senate

“Today’s victory is a tribute to all those who fought for this progress ever since a similar bill was introduced after the Stonewall riots more than three decades ago. In particular, I thank Majority Leader Reid, Chairman Harkin, Senators Merkley and Collins for their leadership, and Senator Kirk for speaking so eloquently in support of this legislation. Now it’s up to the House of Representatives.

“This bill has the overwhelming support of the American people, including a majority of Republican voters, as well as many corporations, small businesses and faith communities. They recognize that our country will be more just and more prosperous when we harness the God-given talents of every individual.

“One party in one house of Congress should not stand in the way of millions of Americans who want to go to work each day and simply be judged by the job they do. Now is the time to end this kind of discrimination in the workplace, not enable it. I urge the House Republican leadership to bring this bill to the floor for a vote and send it to my desk so I can sign it into law. On that day, our nation will take another historic step toward fulfilling the founding ideals that define us as Americans.” – President Obama, via press release.

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Kickstarter project: Bridging the Gap 2013

The relationship between older and younger LGBT community members is an important dynamic that gets lost in much of the advocacy discussion of our community.  Please take the time to watch this video and consider contributing any amount to help what I believe is a very worthy project.

Bridging the Gap is a twelve-week intergenerational LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) theater project.

During the course of twelve free workshops held at SAGE in Chelsea, LGBTQ group members will collaborate to create an original 45-minute play through improvisation reflecting the issues that matter to them. They will build theater skills, celebrate difference, challenge their assumptions about age and have fun! What could be more exciting than exploring the places where food, family (biological and chosen) and sexuality meet!

In New York City, LGBTQ people from different generations have had few opportunities to connect. This has robbed them of opportunities to weave a common history and share the strategies they have used to survive and thrive. Bridging the Gap brings these LGBTQ generations into the same room and uses theater to spark a dialogue between them.

Professional theater artists and community-based practitioners Timothy Connell, Maggie Keenan-Bolger and Sherry Teitelbaum are co-directing a devised, original theater piece exploring the LGBTQ community’s relationship with food. The piece will be created by the LGBTQ people who belong to Bridging the Gap, a free weekly intergenerational theater workshop that uses theater to spark a dialogue between different generations in New York City’s LGBTQ community. Ages in the group range from 19-88. SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is the group’s community partner.

WHERE? The Jefferson Market Library, 425 Avenue of the Americas (at 10th Street), Greenwich Village, in the Willa Cather Great Room.

WHEN? Saturday, December 14th, 2013 at 2:00 PM.

Click here to learn more and contribute.

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Marine from viral “kiss pic” marries his boyfriend in New York state

We all remember the above image of Marine Sgt. Brandon Morgan returning from Afghanistan to Hawaii and jumping into partner Dalan Wells’ arms for a kiss seen around the world.

Yesterday, Brandon and Dalan got married in a small ceremony in the western region of New York.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Marine Sgt. Brandon Morgan returning from Afghanistan and jumping into partner Dalan Wells' arms for a kiss seen around the world.