In two letters from August, 41 House and Senate members urged the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to adopt an interpretive statement to expand a law’s application. Concurrently, the group Equality Michigan asked the commission to contemplate whether they should investigate sexual orientation and gender identity complaints under the definition of sex discrimination that is already Read More

  A group of newly signed pro-trans bills includes a law that public schools in New Jersey will not be able to force transgender students to use bathrooms or locker rooms that conflict with their gender identities. Instead, public schools are required to offer reasonable alternative arrangements to make sure that students remain safe and Read More

Louisiana’s governor and attorney general are currently debating whether an executive order designed to protect LGBTQ rights in the state government violated constitutional issues. Louisiana’s Governor Edwards has requested an appeals court to reinstate a 2016 order by the governor banning discrimination in government and state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A Read More

  In a recent action that has significant impact for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, the Justice Department filed a brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit arguing that federal civil rights laws do not protect individuals from discrimination due to their gender identity or sexual Read More

There are a number of laws throughout the United States which currently endanger the lives of individuals who identify as LGBTQ. Sadly, an increasing number of states are in the process of developing additional laws that restrict the rights of LGBTQ individuals. The Washington Post reports that 348 bills since 2013 have been passed restricting Read More

Statistics reveal that there are close to 600,000 LGBT individuals living in New York City, of which 100,000 are senior citizens. About 48% of LGBT same sex couples who applied for affordable housing, however, have suffered discrimination in relationship to living conditions. An organization called SAGE has taken up efforts to create affordable housing for Read More

  The United States Supreme Court announced at the end of June that the court will hear a case involving a bakery owner who refused to make a cake for a couple on the basis of the baker’s religious views concerning same-sex couples. The case is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court in October. Read More

The Texas Supreme Court recently declined to extend spousal benefits to same-sex couples. In a unanimous decision, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision to extend health and life insurance benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees. The Facts of the Case In 2013, the mayor of Houston ordered the city to extend Read More

The First Amendment Defense Act is proposed legislation that has encountered several obstacles in the course of the Act’s attempt to become a bill. The First Amendment Defense Act prohibits the federal government from taking any type of action against an individual or corporation that discriminates against LGBTQ individuals. More specifically, the First Amendment Defense Read More

Numerous Congress members recently urged the Trump administration to include statistics about how many LGBTQ individuals live in the United States when the government conducts its next census. In a letter that was sent to the Trump administration, these members of Congress asked that the administration clarify the reasons behind the decision to leave this Read More