Nevada marriage equality groups say the US Senate’s approval. Law of Respect for Marriage it’s a big step forward for people who identify as LGBTQ+.
The bill would require states to recognize all marriages performed in other states. However, it does not require any state to perform same-sex marriages.
Chris Davin, executive director of the Henderson Equality Center, said no state should be able to ignore legal same-sex unions.
“It shouldn’t be dependent on someone else who someone can marry because of their beliefs, their religion, their ideology,” Davin said. “When do we finally say, ‘Enough is enough,’ about who gets to dictate what we can and can’t do as living beings?”
The Senate added language to the bill, making it clear that people who run wedding-related businesses and have religious or moral objections do not have to participate in same-sex unions. The bill now returns to the House for a second vote, where it is expected to be approved and then signed by President Joe Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote showed, in his words, “the long but inexorable march toward greater equality is moving forward.”
“A decade ago, it would have stretched our imaginations to imagine both sides talking about protecting the rights of same-sex married couples,” Schumer said. “No matter who you are or who you love, you too deserve dignity and equal treatment under the law. That’s the ‘American ideal’ as it comes.”
Opponents argued that the bill could penalize states that have not legalized same-sex unions. Pressure for federal protections for same-sex marriage heated up after the Supreme Court struck down ‘Roe v. Wade’ and removed the constitutional right to abortion.
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The LGBTQ community continues to mourn those killed in a shooting at a Colorado nightclub over the weekend. In South Dakota, advocates said such attacks make members feel insecure as they try to have a stronger voice.
Investigators are still investigating the attack at the LGBTQ venue, which occurred on the eve of the Transgender Remembrance Dayand many dignitaries were quick to condemn the violence linked to hateful rhetoric.
Jack Fonder, community health worker and community outreach manager for the Transformation Project, said a South Dakota gathering for Remembrance Day included a tribute to those killed. He noted that community members are facing a difficult reality right now.
“It’s a fine line, right?” Funder pointed. “We’ve got to stand up, we’ve got to be strong, we’ve got to be seen, we’ve got to be visible. But it’s scary, not everyone is okay to be out there because that, in essence, puts a target on your back.” “
Fonder added that he is convinced that the recent attacks and threats of violence are driven by conservative politicians and special interest groups lobbying anti-LGBTQ laws. Supporters of the policies cited motivations such as religious freedom, and South Dakota has seen several bills considered or adopted. Fonder emphasized that his group is trying to educate lawmakers on the need to protect and support the community.
Fonder acknowledged that many lawmakers in question have shown no willingness to engage with advocates, but stressed through protests and testimony at the state Capitol that there is a coalition that will not back down, even in a difficult environment.
“We’re trying to do as much as possible to be visible to as many people who feel comfortable doing it,” Fonder said.
The Saturday shooting in Colorado Springs left at least five people dead and more than two dozen wounded. Six years ago, nearly 50 people were killed in a nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, making it the deadliest attack against the LGBTQ community in US history.
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Communities across Colorado continue to mourn the deaths of at least five people after a 22-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire inside an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs on Saturday.
More than two dozen people were injured. Colorado’s 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen told reporters that he has a vested interest in prosecuting the case, including as a possible hate crime, because it’s important for the community to see the perpetrator held to account.
“Current hate crime law in the state of Colorado does provide some elevation,” Allen said, “but it won’t rise above what will likely be charges in this case, which will likely include first-degree murder, indifference murder extreme, those types of charges, which are all Class 1 felony murder charges.”
Allen said everyone charged with crimes is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In a statement, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said: “My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured and traumatized in this horrific shooting.” He also told Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers that he would make all state resources available to local law enforcement.
The mass shooting at Club Q occurred on the eve of Transgender Remembrance Day, which honors the memory of those killed in acts of violence against transgender people.
Allen also said that every person, regardless of who they are, has the right to be safe from fear and physical harm.
“And actions taken to instill fear in specific communities will not be tolerated in our community,” Allen said. “This is particularly true for communities that have been slandered, harassed, and attacked by individuals or groups to intimidate and harm members of those communities.”
According to data compiled by the Human Rights CampaignPrior to Saturday’s shooting, at least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2022, though the true numbers are likely much higher due to underreporting.
The victims are overwhelmingly black, under the age of 35, and killed with a firearm. More than 16% of transgender students reported being physically assaulted, while one in three have suffered physical harassment.
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As winter approaches and renters seek home repairs or apply for new housing, North Dakota outreach groups are reminding people about expanded protections to address the rights of the LGBTQ community.
In 2020, a US Supreme Court decision asserted that the prohibition of sex discrimination under the Civil Rights Act extends to sexual orientation and gender identity.
North Dakota and the biden administration they have taken steps to enforce the protections, including in the area of housing.
Kelly Gorz, associate director of the High Plains Fair Housing Center, said discrimination continues to be a problem for people trying to find a place to live.
“If they were touring with their same-sex sexual partner, they would be denied housing,” Gorz explained. “So they said there’s nothing available when there is, or they just said ‘they don’t want people like that to live there.’ “
Despite the protections, the Center is concerned that too few people know about them when applying for a rental unit or working with a landlord. The group does intake work for people who feel they have been discriminated against and will advocate for them if they wish to file a formal complaint.
When it comes to housing discrimination, Gorz acknowledged that North Dakota has been quite aggressive in putting protections in place, especially to the extent that they align with federal policy.
“And they’re actually better, because we have additional protections beyond federal law, age discrimination and marital status discrimination,” Gorz said.
While it gets high marks for harboring anti-discrimination laws, national scorecards, which look at human rights issues, say North Dakota needs to do better in other areas, like transgender health care and preventing transgender-motivated crime. hatred.
Anyone experiencing housing discrimination may also contact the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights or the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Outreach: The High Plains Fair Housing Center contributes to our fund to inform budget policies and priorities, civil rights, housing/homelessness, and human rights/racial justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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