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Legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Susan Collins could help queer married couples get back a total of $55 million in tax refunds. It's just one bill in a new package of similar pieces of legislation.
The sodomy convictions of Australian Thomas McCosker (pictured) and Fijian Dhirendra Nadan were overturned by a Fijian judge who ruled that the convictions were unconstitutional.
Pitched as a compromise alternative to the Equality Act, the newly introduced bill includes broad religious exemptions.
The fallacy of "religious freedom" as a thinly veiled means to codify anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry demonstrates the need for the Equality Act and lawmakers who'll stand up for it.
President Obama on Thursday endorsed three state ballot measures with the potential to affirm marriage equality.
The fight for marriage equality has been a long and emotional journey for many in the LGBTQ+ community. The PRIDE Act aims to right the wrongs of the past and ensure equal treatment for all couples, writes congressional representatives of the Equality Caucus.
The document, which also goes after abortion and surrogacy, was approved by Pope Francis, who has had a mixed record on LGBTQ+ rights support.
Beyond protecting marriage equality, though, more needs to be done to assure equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, they say.
Log Cabin Republicans scored a coup last week when the Republican majority in the New York State senate introduced the Safe Schools for All Students Act, which would protect kids from being bullied in public schools because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Jeff Cook, legislative adviser for Log Cabin, said it was historic to have transgender people included in what is known in Albany parlance as a "rules bill" -- a bill introduced by the majority that is automatically understood to have the assent of the majority leader. "It is the first rules bill that we know of that includes gender identity and expression in New York State," Cook said.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took a strong stand this weekend against a constitutional amendment to appear on California's ballot in November that would effectively overturn the state supreme court's recent decision legalizing same-sex marriage. In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read yesterday at the group's annual Pride Breakfast, Senator Obama wrote, "I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law ... that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states."
Bills from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Judy Chu would let couples file amended returns going back to the date of their marriage.
The Elder Pride Act would establish a grant program to improve services for this population.
Both pointed out the progress made toward equal rights but said much more needs to be done.
With LGBTQ+ rights under attack by the Trump administration and Republican-led states, Democrats say the Equality Act is more urgent than ever.
Whether it passes or not, Congress needs to stand up for us.
Exclusive: Biden officially proclaimed June 2021 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, calling for action on the Equality Act and against deadly transphobia.
