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Our Voices

Our Recommendations to FDA Blood Donation Policies for Gay Men and Transgender Individuals

Today, the National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR), Gender Justice, and Legal Voice submitted public comments in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) request for comments on its Revised Recommendations for industry practices on blood donation policies for gay men and transgender individuals. Although we are encouraged that the FDA is reconsidering its longstanding policy of indefinite deferral of men who have sex with men (MSM) from blood and blood products donation, the...

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Full Marriage Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses To Be Available Nationwide

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced on July 9, 2015 that full federal marriage benefits will be available to all same-sex spouses, following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming the freedom of same-sex couples to marry nationwide. These benefits include eligibility for Supplemental Security Income, compensation for spouses or families of a military servicemember who died while in the line of duty, and spousal benefits for retirement and disability funds. Many of these...

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Nationwide Survey of DACA Recipients Shows Program’s Major Benefits

A nationwide survey released this week on recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows eligible unauthorized immigrants who entered the country as children to apply for work permits and relief from deportation, illustrates the program’s impact on national employment, wages and education. The survey shows the broad economic and societal benefits for those covered under DACA: 96 percent of respondents are currently employed or in school, and many are...

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The EACH Woman Act Is a Necessity

Every journey starts with one step. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case brought by a same-sex couple, challenging Wisconsin’s refusal to issue them a marriage license.   For the next three years, other couples brought similar lawsuits seeking the freedom to marry, and all of them failed.  It was not until 1993, almost 20 years later, that momentum for marriage equality began to build. Throughout the years it took repeated attempts by resolute individuals and couples to stand up...

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No Time for a Honeymoon

Today, America is closer to being a country that walks the talk of “Equal Justice Under Law.” After last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in our Tennessee marriage case (one of four cases before the Court), striking down discriminatory state marriage laws and affirming our freedom to marry, millions of families are more equal and secure.  Today, in every corner of this nation, every lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender person can take a deep breath and walk a little taller. The ground has...

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Caitlyn Jenner Introduces Herself in Magazine Article

Caitlyn Jenner made her public debut since completing gender transition, as revealed in a Vanity Fair article published today. In the article, Caitlyn, formally known as Bruce, told Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Buzz Bissinger, “Bruce Jenner was always telling lies. Caitlyn doesn’t have any lies.” She went on, “I can report that Caitlyn seems immensely happy, relaxed, with a shiny sense of purpose and confidence. She can’t wait when she goes out now to tell the paparazzi to make sure it’s a...

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Every Child Deserves a Family

On May 19, 2015, Every Child Deserves A Family Act (ECDF) was re-introduced in congress by Senator Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep. Lewis (D-GA 5th) and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 27th). The bill was introduced first in 2009 and has been re-introduced in each congress since. Each year it garners more support but has yet to be enacted. The last re-introduction was in 2013. The ECDF Act would prohibit any entity that receives federal child welfare funds from discriminating against prospective adoptive or...

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A Letter to Michael Johnson

(This letter was a collaboration between Mr. Hanley and the names listed below) Dear Michael, We, black men, write this letter to you out of love. We can only imagine the burdens you have had to carry personally: experiences of isolation, shame, rejection and moral judgment. But we want you to know that in our lives we have had to carry those burdens as well. We write this letter to you, understanding the actions taken against you have come at the expense of your humanity. And we write this...

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The President Joins Our Fight

Nine months ago, NCLR launched our #BornPerfect campaign to end the use of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth in five years. At the time, we thought it was an ambitious goal. We could not have imagined then the speed with which this movement has already grown or the impact it has already made. Thanks to the denunciations of these dangerous practices by mental health professionals, the tenacity of lawmakers and LGBTQ state equality groups, the support of faith leaders, and, most importantly, the...

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