Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By John Mack Freeman A Texas court this week rejected the city’s wording for a ballot measure that would determine the fate of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). Instead of having to vote yes to remove the ordinance, it will instead have to be worded in such a way that a yes vote is cast […]
Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights [Earlier this month], five national organizations introduced Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools, a first-of-its-kind publication for school administrations, teachers, and parents about how to provide safe and supportive environments for all transgender students, kindergarten through twelfth grade. The lead […]
By John Mack Freeman Guam passed two laws this week that would bring their marriage laws in alignment with judicial rulings and would help protect their LGBT citizens from discrimination. By a 13-2 vote, the legislature of Guam voted to remove all references to gender being a factor in marriage legislation. Guam’s marriage laws had […]
By John Mack Freeman During his recent trip to Africa, President Obama admonished Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta to improve Kenya’s stance on gay rights. Via PinkNews; Speaking at a joint press conference, President Obama told Kenyatta: “I’ve been consistent all across Africa on this – I believe in the principle of treating people equally under the law, […]
By John Mack Freeman It has not been a good week for Houston and LGBT rights. In the early part of this week, the Texas state Supreme Court told the city that they must either repeal the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) or place it on the ballot this November. Advocates for HERO noted that […]
By John Mack Freeman The Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America voted 17-0 to recommend to end the organization’s ban on gay and bisexual adult leaders of scout troops. Via Queerty: “This change allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs […]
By John Mack Freeman The legislature of Kyrgyzstan approved an anti-gay propaganda bill modeled off of Russia’s infamous law in a second reading of the law this week. 90 legislators voted in favor of the bill with only two opposing. The bill must be voted on at a third reading, projected for October, but it […]
By John Mack Freeman With such good news on the same-sex marriage front in the United States in the last week, it can be easy to lose sight of the struggles LGBT people are facing throughout the world. A Pride celebration in Turkey turned violent last weekend when the police attacked the celebrators with water […]
By John Mack Freeman This week, two states passed legislation opposed to LGBT rights in the United States. In North Carolina, the legislature overcame a gubernatorial veto to pass a law that would allow registers of deeds and magistrates to decline to perform any weddings on religious grounds. Although broadly written, the measure is obviously […]
By John Mack Freeman A new bill in California will force the inclusion of same sex relationships in 7 through 12th grade sex education classes throughout the state. Approved on a 47-24 vote in the state Assembly this week, the bill will go to the Democrat-dominated Senate. Via Out.com Democratic assemblywoman Shirley Weber wrote the bill […]