5 THINGS TO KNOW

VA passes its version of ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ erases LGBT history

Legislation proposed during the Virginia General Assembly’s 60-day session has angered LGBTQ activists in the state as they say it will bar self-expression in schools and uphold troublesome relics of past homophobic legislation.  A bill giving parents the power to…

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Oklahoma wants to criminalize librarians over LGBT books

After the very end of a legislative session on Tuesday, the Oklahoma Senate Education Committee passed a bill to ban LGBTQ books (and books on LGBTQ-inclusive sex education). The bill now looks to advance towards the Senate floor. Authored by…

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The list of states trying to ban LGBT books just got longer

Tennessee Republicans filed a bill this past week aimed at removing books deemed “obscene or harmful to minors” from school libraries. The proposed legislation would apply to all of the state’s K-12 public schools, including charter schools. House Bill 1944 would…

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AZ lawmaker proposes two draconian anti-Trans bills for 2022

Two proposed laws would have potential to inflict considerable harm on young Transgender Arizonans and the medical professionals who treat them LGBTQ+ activists say. The author of both proposed measures is Republican state Senator Wendy Rogers (R-SD6), an outspoken supporter…

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NJ legislators move to protect same-sex marriage…just in case

A bill introduced this past February that codifies same-sex marriage into state statutes was advanced out of the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee Thursday on a 4-0 vote. New Jersey Assembly Bill 5367  reads in part “laws concerning marriage and civil union…

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US Health & Human Services finally dumps 45’s religious waivers

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday that it was rescinding what it categorised as ” inappropriate, overly broad waivers issued by the prior Administration.” States and child welfare agencies – including States and organizations that did…