Politics and Law Archives - Page 31 of 200

Parent-child hands. Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash

Trump Administration Issues New Rule to Allow Discrimination in Adoption, Foster Care, and Other Healthcare Services

November 1, 2019

The Trump administration has once again outdone itself in loathsomeness by issuing a new rule today—the first day of National Adoption Month—that allows taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. In fact, it would let all recipients of grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) engage in such discrimination, which could impact programs dedicated to youth homelessness, HIV, STI, and substance abuse prevention, among others. Here’s what you can do to help counter it.

Fighting the Trump Administration’s Discriminatory “Denial of Care” Rule

October 30, 2019

LGBTQ and reproductive rights advocates are in court today to fight a Trump administration rule that allows health care workers to refuse to provide medical services that violate their religious or moral beliefs. They argue that the rule is unlawful and permits discrimination against LGBTQ people and our families, among others.

Domino Effect - Movement Advancement Project

#OurDayinCourt: U.S. Supreme Court Could Uphold — or Deny — Employment Protections for LGBTQ People

October 8, 2019

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear three cases that could either take away existing LGBTQ employment protections—or affirm that existing federal law does protect LGBTQ people. This could be the decision that has the most impact on LGBTQ people’s lives—and the lives of our children—in the years to come.

Michigan Adoption and Foster Care Agencies Allowed to Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples, Judge Rules

September 27, 2019

Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies in Michigan may use their religious beliefs as a reason to discriminate against same-sex and unmarried couples, a federal judge ruled yesterday, overturning a settlement that had been reached earlier this year.

LGBTQ Parenting Roundup

September 19, 2019

Personal stories, political news, entertainment tidbits, and more that I haven’t covered elsewhere! A buffet for your reading pleasure!

Roee and Adiel Kiviti. Photo courtesy of Lambda Legal

State Dept. Says Baby of Same-Sex, U.S. Citizen Parents Is Not a Citizen

September 13, 2019

A fourth married, same-sex couple is suing the U.S. State Department for refusing to recognize the U.S. citizenship of their child—in this case, despite the fact that both parents are U.S. citizens. The department is treating the child as “born out of wedlock.”

Watch: 12-Year-Old with Two Moms Speaks Out for City Nondiscrimination Ordinance

September 3, 2019

Twelve-year-old Jak Guimbellot lives in Kansas with his two moms—and spoke out recently at a local city council meeting, urging them to pass an ordinance that bans anti-LGBTQ discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

New Proposed Labor Department Rule Has Religion-Based Discrimination Baked In

August 15, 2019

I’ve written numerous times before about the Trump administration’s efforts to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people and others in adoption and foster care and in health care. Now, they’re trying to allow similar discrimination in employment by an even wider range of companies.

Lesbian Mom Becomes Trump’s 1st LGBTQ Judge

August 5, 2019

It took a while, but Mary Rowland, the first LGBTQ person nominated by President Trump to a federal judgeship, was finally confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate. How did Rowland, who once volunteered for the Obama campaign, manage to get appointed by Trump?

In the Wake of Violence Yet Again

August 5, 2019

I have written about far too many mass shootings in the United States since I started this blog 14 years ago. I feel like I am repeating myself when I post about my fears—for my son, for all our children, for all of the children who will grow up without one or more parents lost to gun violence. When we tire of talking about it, however, we give the victory to those who support lax gun regulations or who use gun violence to express hatred and bigotry. Forgive me some repetition, therefore.