Jezebel: Lgbt Rights

Loving Father Wants Daughter Institutionalized Because She's Transgender

Anna North — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:40:00 EST

A German dad sounds like he needs a lesson from the princess boy's family — he's apparently threatening to put his 11-year-old daughter in a mental institution because she's transgender. More »

Michigan Bans Benefits For Domestic Partners, Claims It's Just A Money-Saving Tactic

Anna North — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:20:00 EST

Yesterday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (pictured) signed into law a bill that would ban state employees from receiving domestic partner benefits. In an especially craven move, he cites financial concerns as a rationale for the ban. More »

Obama Administration Dares To Promote LGBT Rights Abroad; Outrage Ensues

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:40:00 EST

Yesterday in a speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a memo from President Obama, the White House laid out its new commitment to promoting gay and transgender rights worldwide. While many are applauding the announcement, some say Obama has ulterior political motives. The move has already affected the 2012 campaign by giving Rick Perry an opportunity to catch up to the other Republican candidates, who seem to be in some kind of contest to see who can make the most horrifically homophobic comment. More »

DMV Humiliates Lesbian Couple Over Name Change

Anna North — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:50:00 EDT

A newlywed couple went to a Florida DMV to get their names changed on their drivers' licenses. But because theirs was an out-of-state marriage from Connecticut, they say they were "humiliated" and ultimately denied. More »

Catholic School Bans Rainbows

Anna North — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:45:00 EDT

An Ontario Catholic school has gone one step further than Tennessee's idiotic "don't say gay" bill — they've banned rainbows. More »

How Liberal Christians Nixed A Gay Rights Ad

Anna North — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:40:00 EDT

For Mother's Day, an interfaith social justice group created this ad urging churches to be accepting of gay families. But one Christian website wasn't so accepting of the ad. More »

"Ex-Gay" Organization Has An IPhone App Now

Anna North — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:29:00 EDT

Exodus International, an organization that promotes "reparative therapy" and other methods of "leaving homosexuality," has launched its very own iPhone app. But LGBT advocates argue that it promotes discrimination, and should be removed from iTunes. More »

Texas High School Bans Gay-Straight Alliance; ACLU Intervenes

Anna North — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EST

Yet another high school has moved to eliminate all clubs just to block a Gay-Straight Alliance. This time it's Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, Texas — and the ACLU is involved. More »

Arkansas University Blocks Queer Zine

Anna North — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:45:00 EST

LGBT students at Arkansas's Harding University have produced an online zine detailing their experiences and the discrimination they've faced. Unfortunately, the university promptly blocked students from accessing it. More »

Target Reneges On Promise To End Anti-Gay Donations

Jenna Sauers — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EST

After Target, which styles itself an LGBT-friendly employer, was caught giving thousands to rabidly anti-gay political candidates, it said it would stop. Well: Target has since given over $30,000 to anti-gay-rights candidates and causes. [The Awl]

National Coming Out Day Brings Courage And Sorrow

Anna North — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:56:00 EDT

On National Coming Out Day, a sex blogger reveals her identity, a student tells his story, and others remember those who didn't make it. More »

Making Sports Fair For Transgender Athletes

Anna North — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:48:00 EDT

A new report says the number of transgender high school and college athletes is growing — and it's time for schools, teams, and regulations to catch up. More »

Defending Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" Project

Robin Jacks — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EDT

I've spent much of my weekend reading the various responses within the LGBTQ community to Dan Savage's It Gets Better video project — and not all of them are positive. More »

School Strips Transgender Teen Of Homecoming King Title

Anna North — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:14:00 EDT

A Michigan teen was voted homecoming king by his classmates, but his school then stripped him of the title. Their rationale: he's still registered as a girl. More »

Florida Sensibly Strikes Down Gay Adoption Ban

Anna North — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:42:00 EDT

A Florida court ruled yesterday that the state's ban on gay people adopting children is unconstitutional — and pending an appeal, the ban will be lifted. More »

Library Pulls Queer Anthology, Leaves Joy Of Sex

Anna North — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EDT

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A New Jersey mom (and Glenn Beck supporter) has successfully gotten Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology removed from a public library — because, of course, gay sex is "obscene." More »

Miss New York Becomes First Miss America Contestant With Gay Rights Platform

Hortense Smith — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EDT

Miss New York, Claire Buffie, is the first contestant in Miss America history to run on a platform of gay rights. In this clip, she explains why she chose that platform, and what she's hoping to accomplish. [Buzzfeed] [Advocate] More »

Lesbian Teen Victoriously Settles With School Over Prom Snub

Anna North — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:44:00 EDT

Constance McMillen accepted a settlement from her school for barring her from the prom, and a promise that the school will end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It's a victory not just for gay teens, but teens everywhere. More »

Does Prom Matter For Gay Teens?

Anna North — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:30:00 EDT

The Itawamba County School District has denied knowledge of a "decoy prom" set up for lesbian teen Constance McMillen, but one blogger questions the importance of prom within the larger spectrum of gay rights. More »

Transgender Rights Mean Letting People "Dress Like Ewoks"

Anna North — Wed, 19 May 2010 09:30:00 EDT

We wouldn't expect Bill O'Reilly to applaud American Eagle Outfitters's new trans-friendly policies — but did he have to compare transpeople to Ewoks? More »

President Obama: "I Will End Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That Is My Commitment To You"

Hortense Smith — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:45:00 EDT

President Obama just delivered his much-anticipated speech at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner, assuring the audience that he was determined to end the military's long-standing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Video and quotes from the speech, after the jump. More »

Something Righteous This Way Comes

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:40:00 EDT

Congressman Howard Berman dropped language from his State Department funding legislation that would extend spousal benefits to domestic partners of foreign service officers, because he expects that to be one of a number of LGBT initiatives the Administration will roll out around the Stonewall anniversary on June 28th. [The Advocate] More »

Everything In The News Will Piss You Off Today, Puppies And Presidents Edition

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST

The Bushes spent about $3.7 million dollars on real estate in a pricey Dallas neighborhood, and boy, are you going to seethe with jealousy when you see the house the Presidency can buy you. [Washington Post, The Smoking Gun]
Italy is struggling with a rise in puppy smuggling due to a love of specific breeds and a declining economy. More than 70,000 puppies are smuggled into Italy every year, despite the fact that nearly a quarter of them die on the way and half die within a few months of arrival. There's a video. [BBC]
Pastor Rick Warren says the Bible calls us to invade Iran. I don't think it says what he thinks it says, but that might be because I read it for my own edification and not to use it to make zillions of dollars or justify my existence. [Washington Independent]

More Obama Cabinetry And Lieberman Speculation

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:40:00 EST

Though Barack obama told Americans nothing about forthcoming nominations, that doesn't mean there's nothing to speculate about! John Kerry, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson are lead speculative Secretary of State candidates, Robert Gates might stay at the Defense Department, Janet Napolitano could be headed to Justice and former eBay executive Steve Westly, the Governator or Kathleen Sebelius could end up at DOE. Discuss at your leisure — Obama certainly is. [CNN, Politico]
The President-Elect has included sexual orientation and gender identity in his non-discrimination pledge on hiring, which is awesome. [ACLU]
Harry Reid is a little pissed about Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman's Obama-bashing during his balls-out support of John McCain this election season — to say nothing of his current flirtation with Mitch McConnell and the GOP caucus. He is thinking of allowing the Democratic caucus to strip Lieberman of his committee chair, which Lieberman calls "unacceptable" and everyone else calls "no less than he deserves." [CNN, Huffington Post]
Unlike the obstreperous Lieberman, Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd is stepping aside as chairman because he's confident of the new Democratic majority and, likely, because of his continuing ill health. Sadly, this means no more "barbaric" speeches. [The Hill, YouTube]