Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Criminalizes LGBTQ Discrimination

Brazil outlaws discrimination against LGBTQs

Brazil’s high court has ruled that acts that discriminate against LGBTQ people will now be included in the South American country’s laws prohibiting racism.

In an 8-3 vote, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court agreed to criminalize discrimination against LGBTQ people.

Passed in 1989, the country's statutes outlawing racism allow prison sentences of up to five years.

USA Todayreports that Justice Carmen Lucia noted in her ruling that “the LGBT community is treated differently in Brazil’s ‘discriminatory society,’ and as a result face a higher rate of violence.”

Although Brazil legalized same-sex marriage in 2013, violence against LGBTQ individuals is common.

Grupo de Bahia, an organization that tracks LGBT hate crimes, reported in January 2018 that there were 387 murders in Brazil during 2017. All of those were directly related to homophobia or transphobia. In 2018, the number of LGBTQ people murdered rose to 420.

Activists say the increase in violence correlates to some degree with the election of virulently homophobic President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in January this year.

Bolsonaro has made no secret the disdain he holds for LGBTQ people.

His record as a lawmaker includes a long history of anti-LGBTQ votes, and he promised to erase pro-LGBTQ and pro-women movements during the 2018 campaign.

In a 2011 interview, he told Playboy Brazilhe would prefer to have a dead son than a gay son

And the new president has also downplayed “gay tourism” in his country.

“If you want to come here and have sex with a woman, go for your life,” he told Crusoe Magazine in April. He added that Brazil “cannot be a country for gay tourism because we have families here.”

Beto O'Rourke Reveals 30+ Point Plan For LGBTQ Equality

Beto O'Rourke and supporters (image via Instagram)

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke has announced a wide-ranging plan for LGBTQ equality on Wednesday.

Listing an agenda of more than 30 actions he would take and/or support, the plan is divided in three parts: Executive Action to Protect LGBTQ+ People, Legislative Action to Ensure Full Equality and Protect the LGBTQ+ Community Across the Globe.

On his Instagram, O’Rourke said the proposal “would leverage executive power and call for congressional action that ensures that LGBTQ+ people have full equality and opportunity.”

First, O’Rourke would reverse many of Donald Trump’s disastrous executive actions and policies including:

• The discriminatory transgender military ban

• Overturning the ‘Deploy or Get Out’ policy that is currently discharging HIV+ service members

• Reversing the Trump policy that allows healthcare providers to deny treatment to LGBTQ+ people

• Directing the Department of Justice to investigate crimes against transgender people, especially trans women of color

• Reviewing the outdated blood donation requirements including the current 1-year ban for sexually active gay and bisexual men

• Ensure LGBTQ+ people are included in federal data collection efforts

• Appoint judges who have a proven record of supporting full civil rights for everyone


On a legislative front, O’Rourke promises to:

• Push for the passage of The Equality Act

• Ensure LGBTQ+ people have equal access to healthcare

• Enact the Every Child Deserves a Family Act which bars adoption and foster care programs that receive taxpayer dollars from discriminating against prospective LGBTQ parents


And the foreign policy aspect of his efforts would be:

• To promote foreign policy efforts to protect LGBTQ people abroad fleeing from persecution and violence

• Working with the United Nations on global protections for LGBTQ folks

• Investment in the Global Equality Fund which provides assistance to human rights groups working on behalf of LGBTQ people.

Click over to O’Rourke’s campaign site for more the details.

Nearly Half Of Americans Erroneously Believe There Are Federal Laws Barring LGBTQ Discrimination

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows nearly half of all Americans erroneously believe that there are federal laws to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination.

The survey of 2,237 adults in the U.S. indicates 45% of those polled believed the federal government has anti-discrimination laws in place for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Twenty-three percent knew there are no nationwide protections for LGB folks.

The results were nearly evenly split when asked if transgender people were protected from discrimination by federal statute. Thirty-one percent believed they are protected, 32% believed they are not, and 37% didn’t know.

More from the poll:

• 65% support federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, 11% oppose

• 58% support same-sex marriage, 28% oppose

• 61% support LGBTQs being allowed to adopt children, 22% oppose

• 56% say conversion therapy should be outlawed for LGBTQ children, 18% support the use

• 44% said they believe LGBTQ people are treated about the same as straight people in public settings like restaurants or businesses

• 64% say they disagree with the idea that medical professionals should be able to withhold treatment from LGBTQ people due to religious objections, 24% agreed with the idea

• 20% of those polled said LGBTQ people are “treated about the same” in the U.S. military, 43% believe they are treated worse than non-LGBTQ people

All of this goes to show how important it is to talk about and pass The Equality Act which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensuring protections for LGBTQs in areas of housing, public accommodations, healthcare and more.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, in 30 states across the country LGBTQ people can be fired, evicted from their homes or turned away from businesses due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Click here for the full results of the poll.

Equality Act Passes In The House By Vote Of 236-173

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a critically important piece of federal legislation that would, for the first time, explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to existing civil rights laws.

Today’s vote of 236-173 in the House included 8 Republicans joining 228 Democrats to vote in favor of the legislation.

If signed into law, the Equality Act would update the existing Civil Rights Act of 1964 by ushering in across-the-board protections for Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes protections in employment, housing, credit, education, and public accommodations would be guaranteed for LGBTQ Americans under this law.

Currently, LGBTQ Americans receive zero non-discrimination protections in 26 states.

Openly gay Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney had the honor of gaveling in the results of the vote.

History in the making. The House passes the #EqualityAct protecting LGBTQ Americans by a vote of 236-173. Openly gay Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney presides. pic.twitter.com/86Z8ijRkmy

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 17, 2019

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke movingly from the floor of the House in support of the legislation:

For too long, conversations surrounding America’s LGBTQ community have focused on “tolerance.”

But tolerance is a condescending word.

As we pass the #EqualityAct today, we take pride in this community and all they have & will achieve. pic.twitter.com/I53StyYFxK

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 17, 2019

LGBTQ advocacy groups celebrated the news.

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD:

“LGBTQ Americans are one step closer to being protected by federal law instead of living in a country where hard-working Americans in a majority of states can be fired from their jobs, denied housing opportunities, and turned away from other critical services – including access to health care – simply for being who they are. Fairness should never be a partisan political issue, and the Senate should pass this bill without delay.”

Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign:

“Today's historic vote is a major milestone for equality and sends a powerful and profound message to LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ youth, that the U.S. House has their backs. No one’s rights should depend on which side of a state or city line they live on, and today we took a giant step forward in our journey toward full equality. This historic victory would not have been possible without the millions of LGBTQ people and our allies who organized, mobilized and turned out to elect a pro-equality majority in 2018. Now, we will take our fight to the U.S. Senate and turn up the pressure on Leader McConnell to allow a vote on this crucial legislation. And we won’t slow down in working to turn out the 10 million eligible LGBTQ voters and our millions more allies to elect a pro-equality president in 2020 who will sign the Equality Act into law.”

Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National:

“PFLAGers across the country thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) for their leadership in introducing the Equality Act, and the many Representatives from across the country who today cast their historic votes in favor of equality, fairness, and safety. PFLAG families want for their LGBTQ+ loved ones the same things that all families want: job security, a home, a family, and unfettered access to healthcare and other crucial services. PFLAG families have been fighting for over four decades for these protections and equal rights as promised by the U.S. Constitution, and now they are ever closer to achieving that promise.”

Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy & Government Affairs, The Trevor Project:

"LGBTQ youth deserve every equal right and protection as their peers, no matter where in this great nation they live. Today's passage of the Equality Act is a monumental step toward bringing about those equal rights and protections. As we look toward the Senate and the eventual passage of landmark pieces of legislation like this, LGBTQ youth should know that the fight for their equality is moving swiftly forward toward a world where they will be free to be themselves."

The House vote on The Equality Act comes at a time when the most anti-LGBTQ administration in recent memory has attacked LGBTQ people at every turn.

As historic as the moment is today, reality will - sadly - come crashing down as its certain Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) will not let the legislation come to a vote in the US Senate.

Even the Equality Act were to get a vote and pass in the upper chamber, Donald Trump would veto the bill. A senior White House official recently told the Washington Blade that Trump opposes the bill. And his base of far-right evangelicals would scream bloody murder if he signed it into law.

Since taking office in January 2017, the Trump/Pence administration has unleashed more than 106 attacks against LGBTQ Americans in policy and rhetoric. A comprehensive list of those attacks can be found on GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project (TAP) by going to www.glaad.org/trump.

Equality Act Approved By House Judiciary Committee Along Party Line Vote 22-10

The Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

Although the legislation had been introduced in the House twice before, this is the first time Democrats have been able to see the bill move out of committee and on to the full House.

Even though recent polling shows nearly seven in ten (69%) of Americans support the measure, the vote was a straight party-line affair. All 22 Democrats on the committee voted yes, while all 10 Republicans voted no.

👏 Applause erupts as the #EqualityAct passes the House Judiciary Committee. 👏

We're proud to work with our partners and pro-equality members of Congress on this vital legislation. pic.twitter.com/hF84VTCBfI

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 1, 2019

Should The Equality Act be passed into law, it would prohibit LGBTQ-based discrimination in areas like housing, employment, public accommodations and more on a nationwide level.

Currently, you can be fired from your job in 30 states for being gay.

In addition to the strong support by Democratic lawmakers, The Equality Act has been endorsed by 165 major businesses and 288 statewide and national organizations.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in his opening statement, ‘It is time that the federal government recognizes that discrimination in any form is wrong and that we should move forward with these common-sense protections that simply build on existing statutes.’

The measure now heads to a vote by the full House, which could happen as soon as next week.

With 240 co-sponsors in the House, and strenuous support by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the legislation is expected to easily pass.

However, the odds don’t look so good for the bill in the Republican-led Senate where Senate Leader Mitch McConnell probably won’t even allow the legislation to come up for a vote.

And, while Donald Trump campaigned saying he would be 'better for the gays' than Hillary Clinton, since he took office his administration has waged a war against LGBTQ rights. His evangelical base would probably rise up were he to sign the bill into law.

BREAKING: House Judiciary Committee just passed my #EqualityAct to ensure full #LGBTQ equality under the law in all 50 states!

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) May 1, 2019

BREAKING: Historic moment as the House Judiciary Committee votes to advance the #EqualityAct to the full House of Representatives. It's time to protect all LGBTQ Americans from discrimination.

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) May 1, 2019

🎉 The Equality Act just passed its committee vote.

That means nationwide, comprehensive, explicit protections from discrimination for LGBTQ people are on the way to a vote on the full House floor.

— ACLU (@ACLU) May 1, 2019

Honored to preside over @HouseJudiciary as we passed the #EqualityAct. It is time we make clear that we support equal worth & equal rights of all people—including every LGBTQ person in this country. By passing this bill, we've taken a vital step toward moving our nation forward. pic.twitter.com/e8SkSa1aqj

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) May 1, 2019

The Equality Act ReIntroduced In Congress

Will Donald Trump announce his support for newly-introduced Equality Act?

The Equality Act, which would provide nationwide protections to LGBTQ Americans against discrimination, was re-introduced in Congress today.

The Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of federal funds. Additionally, the legislation would ensure the 1994 Religious Freedom Restoration Act could not be used for anti-LGBTQ bias.

Currently, only 20 states and Washington, D.C. have explicit protections in place for LGBTQ citizens.

Although introduced in 2015 and 2017, this is the first time the legislation has been filed with Democrats in charge of at least one chamber of Congress. In the prior Congresses, the bill never made it out of committee.

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), acting as chief sponsors of the Equality Act in their respective chambers, held a press conference today celebrating the news.

Noting the lack of protections in 30 states, Cicilline announced, “We are reintroducing the Equality Act in order to fix this. Enacting and protecting civil rights laws is one of the most important things we can do in this building.”

In those states, LGBTQ people can be fired or thrown out of their apartments just for being gay. Addressing such insufficient protections, Merkley announced, “It’s well past time to change that. So, let’s pass a national Equality Act and let’s do it this year.”

The bill is expected to easily pass in the Democratic-controlled House, but with a Republican majority in the Senate, the legislation’s fate is less sure.

There are more than 230 co-sponsors in the House, more than the necessary 218 votes needed for passage.

Two Republicans have co-sponsored the bill in the House - Rep. John Kapko (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) - and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is the lone Republican to sign on in the Senate.

As Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade points out, in 2000 Donald Trump told The Advocate that he supported amending the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation.

With the Equality Act being reintroduced today, here's a reminder that in 2000, Trump said he likes the idea of amending the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation. (That plus trans protections is basically the Equality Act.)https://t.co/5ZXtKs67aZ pic.twitter.com/YRfmDAEtW4

— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) March 13, 2019

It's notable that 164 major corporations have publicly announced their support for the Equality Act including Apple, American Airlines, Bank of America, Target and more.

After today’s announcement, there will be hearings regarding the bill in the House over the next several weeks. LGBTQ American could expect a full House vote sometime in May or June, which would appropriately coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which launched the modern push for LGBTQ rights.

New polling from the Public Religion Research Institute, released on Tuesday, shows widespread support (69%) across the U.S. for LGBTQ non-discrimination laws.

In fact, every state in the country shows majority support for laws that would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination at work, housing and public accommodations.

I strongly support the #EqualityAct proposed by Congressman @davidcicilline. We need a Federal Equality Act that says you cannot be discriminated against just because of who you are or just because of who you love. pic.twitter.com/L6Dj4rsP2N

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 13, 2019

Nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. The #EqualityAct is a step forward—protecting everyone from discrimination in housing, employment and in the public square. We hope Congress works together to make it the law of the land.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 13, 2019

LGBTQ people still face discrimination in key areas of life, including:
🏠housing
🗂employment
🏟public accommodation
🏦credit
📚education@HRC commends the pro-equality majority in Congress for reintroducing the #EqualityAct. The time to act is 𝗻𝗼𝘄. https://t.co/SEMR1fBuUQ

— HRC: TEXT Equality Act to 472472 (@HRC) March 13, 2019

The Equality Act we’re introducing today would ensure millions more Americans enjoy the full protection the law

Because despite the progress made in recent years, the LGBTQ community can be—and is still—discriminated against in employment, housing, & other public accommodations https://t.co/poaebfmc95

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 13, 2019

In 30 states today, LGBTQ people remain at risk of being fired from our jobs, evicted from our homes, or denied services simply because of who we are. No one’s fundamental rights should depend on which side of a state line they live on. That's why we need the #EqualityAct.

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) March 13, 2019

(h/t Washington Blade)

House Of Representatives Votes To Protect LGBTQ Staffers From Discrimination

For the first time in the history of the U.S. government, the House of Representatives voted to ban employment discrimination against LGBTQ staff members as part of a package of rules that will govern the chamber over the next two years.

The new rule was championed by Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, one of eight openly LGBTQ legislators in the new Democratic-controlled House.

“Government at its best works for the benefit of all Americans, not just the powerful and privileged,” said Cicilline said in a statement to NBC Out. “Protecting the rights of LGBT employees is just the right thing to do.”

LGBTQ advocacy group The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement hailing the new rule as “an historic moment for our country.”

“For the first time ever, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be banned in the House of Representatives,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “This action to protect LGBTQ congressional employees from discrimination is the result of millions of Equality Voters going to the polls in November to ensure their voices were heard and demanding a Congress that looks like America.”

Many Americans erroneously believe that LGBTQ discrimination is illegal across the United States.

But, as the HRC notes, half of LGBTQ Americans live in states without legal protections in regard to employment, housing and other arenas.

I've previously reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she plans to make passage of The Equality Act a priority in the new Congress.

The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights law to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes from discrimination.

Did Donald Trump Just Pull A Fast One On LGBTQ Protections In USMCA?

Leaders of Mexico, United States and Canada sign new USMCA trade deal

Last Friday, while attending the G20 economic summit in Argentina, Donald Trump sat down alongside Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sign the newly-minted United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The trade deal is meant to serve as a replacement for NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).

At the time, anti-LGBTQ House Republicans wailed about a provision that calls on the three countries to support “policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex, including with regard to pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, gender identity.”

According to Politico, the LGBTQ provisions were a Canadian priority championed by Trudeau.

That sounds great for the gay community, right? Not so fast.

Forty-five House Republicans signed a letter to Trump urging him to have the language removed.

And now, Canada’s Global News is reporting the clause may be rendered useless in terms of LGBTQ Americans due to a foot note.

The Global News reports, "The final agreement has a change in language that various analyses suggest will water down its reach: The new wording calls on each country to implement policies each 'considers appropriate to protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex.'"

A footnote in the agreement reads:

The United States’ existing federal agency policies regarding the hiring of federal workers are sufficient to fulfill the obligations set forth in this Article. The Article thus requires no additional action on the part of the United States, including any amendments to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in order for the United States to be in compliance with the obligations set forth in this Article.

See that part? "Existing federal agency policies regarding the hiring of federal workers are sufficient to fulfill the obligations..."

So, no new LGBTQ protections for Americans.

Geoffrey Gertz of the Brookings Institute called the footnote "ridiculous" and "the kind of thing that will make progressives even more suspicious of engaging with trade liberalization."

Honestly, whatever you think of the LGBTQ provisions in the new NAFTA, this outcome - to include them but nullify them with a footnote - is ridiculous. And it's the kind of thing that will make progressives even more suspicious of engaging with trade liberalization (ht:@snlester) https://t.co/6dY6ZezgAE

— geoffrey gertz (@geoffreygertz) November 30, 2018

It's not all a done deal, though. Lawmakers in all three countries will have to pass legislation that actually ratifies the agreement in order for it to take effect.

Poll: 68% Of Americans Favor Businesses That Show Support For LGBTQ Equality

Last June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of anti-LGBTQ baker, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, many saw the decision as a symbolic setback for the LGBTQ community.

But a new Harris Poll shows a majority of Americans feels the federal government and private sector should do more to protect LGBTQ rights.

The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults indicates 70% support a federal law protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and credit.

Respondents overwhelmingly said businesses should not discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation (81%) or their gender identity (80%).

In fact, 75% of Americans feel that when a business opens it’s doors to the public, everyone should be served equally.

The poll also showed 68% of Americans say they would favor, and be more likely to shop at, businesses that openly support LGBTQ equality.

But its not all sunny news, as 20% of of those polled believe businesses should be able to deny services based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or disability.

And 25% say business owners should be allowed to refuse services to certain customers if that would be in opposition to their religious beliefs.

Last November, a campaign known as Open To All was launched in order to boost awareness of discriminatory business practices.

Businesses who support the campaign make public their pledge to treat everyone fairly and can display signs in their windows with the hashtag #OpenToAll.

New Hampshire Approves Gender Identity Law, Bans "Ex-Gay Therapy"

New Hampshire's LGBT advocates celebrated GOP Gov. Chris Sununu for signing into law a new bill which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

The transgender rights bill passed the New Hampshire House by 195-129 votes, and in the Senate with all Democrats in favor and enough Republicans in support to pass it, 14-10.

“Discrimination – in any form – is unacceptable and runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die Spirit,” Sununu said in a statement after signing House Bill 1319.

But wait - Sununu wasn't done.

He also signed on Friday legislation banning so-called conversion therapy for gay minors.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, Hawaii and now New Hampshire 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.

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.

Good on you, New Hampshire!