David Plunkett Finally Released : HIV Discrimination Update

"The criminalization of HIV continues throughout the U.S. and the world, though many organizations and advocates are fighting these laws, which are murky at best and whose application precariously pivots on proving such things as intent, maliciousness, and so-called recklessness," wrote Housing Works. Even though the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that body parts cannot be considered to be deadly weapons, a social construction continues to be perpetrated against people, who are HIV-positive. After years of fighting the legal system, David Plunkett is finally a free man, and advocates on behalf of HIV/AIDS patients are trying to organise the repeal of HIV discrimination laws.

Sarah Palin Visits Chick-fil-A

Sarah Palin visited a Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant in The Woodlands, Texas, in a show of support of bigotry and hate speech. * “Stopped by Chick-fil-A in The Woodlands to support a great business,” the former Alaskan governor and vice-presidential candidate tweeted following an appearance at a rally for Republican Senate primary challenger Ted Cruz outside Houston. Palin urged Cruz’s supporters to visit Chick-fil-A, which has been mired in controversy since its president said the chain supports “the biblical definition of the family unit.” (Politico) * Dan Cathy, the restaurant chain's president, made last week, saying that his company supports "the biblical definition of the family unit" and that he prays "God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about." (HuffPost)

Uganda Kill The Gays Update

Right Wing American evangelicals are fanning the flames of homophobia in Uganda. Watch this disturbing YouTube video, and then speak out against this !

Dallas LGBT Marriage Case Update

BREAKING: Mark "Major" Jiminez and Beau Chandler announce that they have lawyered up on their marriage equality case which started with a July 5th arrest for sitting in the Dallas County Clerk's office after being denied their marriage license. Their case will be defended by Dax Garvin and Kimberly Butler. A state wide and national call to action has been released in solidarity. More details about the call to action will follow.

Source : Tiffani Equality Bishop, via Facebook Status Update

Same-Sex Marriage France Update

PARIS — Gay couples in France will be allowed to get married and to adopt children from next year, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced last week.

“In the first half of 2013, the right to marriage and adoption will be open to all couples, without discrimination,” he told parliament, confirming an election promise by Socialist President Francois Hollande.

“Our society is evolving, lifestyles and mentalities are changing,” he said in a speech outlining the new Socialist government’s agenda. “The government will respond to that.”

The confirmation came just days after Paris held its annual Gay Pride parade, which this year was buoyed by the promise of the new government to legalise gay marriage and adoption rights. And the announcement follows just a few short months after LGBT activists in France staged a national LGBT equality summit in the setting of a French presidential debate.

Read more : Same-sex marriage, gay adoption allowed in France from 2013

Dallas County LGBT Marriage Sit-In Leads To Arrests

Gay Dallas couple Mark Jiminez, Beau Chandler arrested after being denied marriage license at Clerk’s Office in Independence Day protest

Mark Jiminez and Beau Chandler have been arrested for refusing to leave the Dallas County Clerk's office without their marriage license. They are awaiting a bail hearing. The LGBT equality group GetEQUAL TX organised this protest.

Read The Dallas Voice article : ''This is about not being treated equal''

LGBT Bill of Rights Resolution

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer bill of rights - resolution submitted On July 2, 2012, by Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). Assemblyman Lara introduced a measure in the California State Assembly to urge the federal government to include the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in federal anti-discrimination laws that have evolved to protect discrimination based on race and sex, among other traits. 2012 07 02 Ricardo Lara CA Assembly LGBT Bill of Rights Resolution

California Assemblyman Lara To File Resolution Calling For LGBT American Bill of Rights

Assembly Member Lara to Urge President Obama, Congress to Pass Historic LGBTQ American Bill of Rights

Historic Resolution seeks to include “sexual orientation, gender identity” in landmark federal anti-discrimination laws

From a press release issued today :

On the week we celebrate American Independence, Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) will call on President Obama and Congress to institute an historic LGBTQ American Bill of Rights, which would extend federal laws to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Joint Resolution will put the California State Legislature on record in support of updating all federal civil rights laws to include the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) population.

WHO : Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)

WHAT : Introduction of Joint Resolution urging the President and Congress to adopt an American Bill of Rights for LGBTQ people.

WHEN : Monday, July 2, 2012

CONTACT : JULIA JUAREZ (323) 839-2091

California Assemblyman Lara's resolution would call for an introduction of a bill, which Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand turned her back on, back in 2010.

Repeal HIV Discrimination Act

Queerty reported that, "ACT UP is joining local activist group Queerocracy to raise awareness about HIV transmission laws, which criminalize not disclosing one's HIV+ status before engaging in sex."

"The laws, in effect in 34 states and two U.S. territories, have been used to imprison people who used condoms, had undetectable viral loads and didn't actually transmit the virus—based solely on the allegation they didn't tell their partner they were positive," the Queerty report added.

Call to action : Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand : ask her to lead the charge to end HIV discrimination : (202)-224-4451.

Marriage Equality in France ?

A couple of months following the Meeting LGBT national presidential debate in France, the government spokeswoman makes a stunning announcement about marriage equality.

While attending the LGBT pride festival in Lyon, the spokeswoman for the French government promised that marriage equality would be adopted by spring 2013, reported ACT-UP.

The government spokesman, Najat Belkacem-Vallaud, said that the marriage equality bill to be drafted and adopted before spring 2013, "if possible."

Marty Edwige, the head of Fierté, the Lesbian & Gay Pride de Lyon, called on the government to schedule a vote "as soon as possible" on marriage equality and on LGBT parenting.

This breakthrough in French LGBT civil rights comes less than three months after LGBT activists in France organized a presidential debate on LGBT equality called Meeting LGBT pour l'egalite.