Murray Swanby on the ins & outs of West Hollywood and Los Angeles Pride
The party promoter gives just the tips.

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BREAKING: Delaware Legislature Sends Anti-“Conversion Therapy” Bill to Gov. Carney’s Desk

Today, HRC hailed the Delaware General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill (SB) 65, legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and discredited practice known as “conversion therapy.” The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Harris McDowell and State Representative Debra Heffernan, and Governor John Carney is expected to sign it into law. Once signed, Delaware will join 13 other states and Washington, D.C. with laws or regulations protecting LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice.

“For young people across Delaware, this legislation provides vital and potentially lifesaving protections from the damaging, dangerous and discredited practice known as ‘conversion therapy,’” said HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride, a Delawarean. “While Delaware has made historic progress on LGBTQ equality, we can and must do more to protect LGBTQ youth from rejection, stigma and harm. SB 65 is a critical and significant step in that direction. We thank the Delaware General Assembly for their support of this vital legislation and we look forward to Governor Carney signing it into law.”

“We thank those members of the General Assembly who voted to protect LGBTQ children against the dangerous and harmful practice of conversion therapy, and especially prime sponsors Senator Harris McDowell and Representative Debra Heffernan and their legislative aides for their leadership,” said Equality Delaware’s Mark Purpura. “We look forward to Governor Carney signing the bill into law promptly.  We are also thankful to have had the opportunity to work together again with the Human Rights Campaign on this important issue. We need to keep the momentum going across the country to end this despicable practice once and for all.”

There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people such as depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland and Hawaii all have laws or regulations protecting youth from this abusive practice. A growing number of municipalities have also enacted similar protections, including cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Wisconsin. In addition, lawmakers in New Hampshire recently passed similar legislation which currently awaits the governor’s signature.

According to a recent report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to conversion therapy by a licensed healthcare professional if state lawmakers fail to act.

HRC has partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation ending conversion therapy. More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/delaware-legislature-sends-anti-conversion-therapy-bill-to-governor-carney?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Human Rights Campaign Endorses Richard Cordray for Ohio Governor

HRC announced its endorsement of Richard Cordray for Ohio Governor.

“Richard Cordray’s commitment to equality and years of service to the people of Ohio make him the clear choice for voters,” said HRC State Manager Shawn Copeland. “Throughout his career in public service, Cordray has consistently worked to move equality forward, fighting for every person’s right to work and live free from harassment and discrimination. HRC is proud to endorse Richard Cordray’s bid to be the next Governor of the state of Ohio.”

“I have fought for decades to ensure that LGBTQ Ohioans are treated fairly,” said Richard Cordray. “I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that we need to do more to make sure Ohio is a place where members of the LGBTQ community are proud to live, work, and raise their families openly and free of discrimination. As Governor, I will work to make Ohio an open and inclusive state that embraces the talents of everyone.”

Richard Cordray has a long record working to advance equality at the state and national level, most recently as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he extended the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit financial discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As the former Attorney General, Solicitor General and State Treasurer for the state of Ohio, Cordray worked to make the Buckeye State safer and protect the rights of every Ohioans. As Ohio Solicitor General, he wrote a brief in Wisconsin v. Mitchell, supporting Wisconsin’s LGBTQ-inclusive hate crime laws and advocated for Ohio to update the state’s hate crime laws to also protect the LGBTQ community. He has also provided pro bono legal services in support of LGBTQ people in landmark pro-equality cases such as Lawrence v. Texas and Colorado v. Romer.

Cordray supports marriage equality and the Ohio Fairness Act, crucial legislation that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas of employment, housing and public accommodations in Ohio. He also supports updating Ohio’s outdated birth certificate laws to allow transgender Ohioans to change the gender marker on their birth certificates.

Cordray will be facing Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, a long time opponent of equality, in the general election. As Attorney General, DeWine defended the state’s marriage ban, stating that LGBTQ people did not deserve “protected-class status.” DeWine also opposes non-discrimination laws protecting Ohioans on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and protections for LGBTQ youth facing discrimination and bullying at school.

In Ohio, HRC has identified more than 1,550,000 “Equality Voters” — voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Ohio in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-richard-cordray-for-ohio-gov?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed