Chris Johnson
16 States Urge Supreme Court to Rule Workers Can be Fired for Being Trans
A coalition of 16 states led by Nebraska Attorney General Douglas Peterson is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a federal appeals court decision in favor of a fired transgender funeral home worker and determine workers can be terminated for [...]
Poll: Tammy Baldwin in Dead Heat with GOP Opponent in Wis. Senate Race
A new poll from Marquette University shows Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in a dead heat with her Republican challenger Leah Vukmir, showing a tightening race as Election Day approaches. The poll from Marquette University Law School finds a plurality [...]
John McCain Leaves Complicated Legacy on LGBT Rights
Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at 81, leaves a legacy of patriotism, service to country — and being a thorn in the side of President Trump — but his legacy on LGBT issues is more complicated. Throughout his decades in Congress, the Arizona [...]
Massachusetts is Now Ground Zero in Fight for Trans Rights
Massachusetts will be ground zero in the fight for transgender rights on Election Day when state voters will decide whether to approve or reject a referendum aimed at compromising public bathroom access for transgender people. The referendum, [...]
New Trump Administration Memo on Obama Order Alarms LGBT Advocates
In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, the Trump administration has issued new guidance that seeks to uphold "religious freedom" in the implementation of former President Obama's executive order against [...]
Lambda Legal Announces Resignation of CEO Rachel Tiven
Amid staffer discontent as the organization pursues legal challenges in support of LGBT rights against President Trump, the executive director of Lambda Legal has resigned, the organization announced Friday. In a statement, Tiven — who has served as [...]
Harris, Carper Introduce Bill to Include LGBT Questions on U.S. Census
In the wake of the Trump administration's decision not to allow Americans to identify as LGBT on the U.S. Census, two Democratic senators have introduced legislation that would require those questions in major federal surveys. Sens. Kamala Harris [...]
DOJ Touts Anti-LGBT Views, Task Force at 'Religious Freedom' Summit
A summit at the U.S. Justice Department on Monday ostensibly intended to promote religious freedom, including the creation of a Religious Liberty Task Force, often highlighted efforts to enable anti-LGBT discrimination. At the summit in the [...]
New GOP Bill Would Ban Flying of Pride Flag at U.S. Embassies
A Republican lawmaker in the U.S. House has introduced legislation that appears to be aimed at barring U.S. embassies from flying the Pride flag in recognition of the LGBT community. With little fanfare last week, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) quietly [...]
LGBT Advocates Outraged Over Trump's Deference to Putin
The news conference that followed President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki led to jaw-dropping reactions across the globe, including from LGBT advocates and observers who say it had a negative impact on LGBT rights [...]
Fierce Warriors' Rally Against Trump Plan to Undo Trans Health Rule
Transgender rights advocates rallied Tuesday night in defiance of Trump administration plans to roll back a rule under Obamacare barring health care providers from denying treatment to transgender people, including gender reassignment surgery. The [...]
Exclusive: Kennedy, Markey Seek to Ban Anti-LGBT Panic Defense in Court
The use of a panic defense to justify anti-LGBT violence in federal court will come to an end if new legislation introduced this week by a pair of Massachusetts Democrats becomes law. The bill, introduced by Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-Mass.) in the [...]