School House Rocks Redux
July 21, 2009
Growing up, many of us watched School House Rock’s “I’m just a Bill” short on Saturday morning television. Of course, as any two minute catchy video, it oversimplified actual process quite a bit. Nonetheless, it did reflect accurately how many bills move through the legislative process. Yet when someone eventually writes the book on passing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (aka the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, aka the Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, aka the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, etc…)
Continue Reading ►Hear From Iraqi Refugees Personally…and Find Out How You Can Help
July 21, 2009
Join the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, the National LGBT Bar Association and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission for a unique event this Friday in Washington, D.C. to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iraqis who have fled their home country. On Friday, July 24, spokesmen for a group of twenty LGBT Iraqi refugees undergoing their resettlement process will be in Washington, D.C. to bring attention to their struggle and raise money to support LGBT Iraqi refugees still in the Middle East.
Continue Reading ►Washington State Referendum 71 Update
July 21, 2009
Opponents of a recently enacted domestic partnership law in Washington State continue to fight to put the issue on the ballot for possible repeal. We learned this week that they have made an appointment with Secretary of State, Sam Reed, for this Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. In order to qualify for the November ballot our opponents must submit 120,577 valid signatures.
Continue Reading ►Senate Adopts Unwelcomed Amendments to Hate Crimes Bill
July 20, 2009
Today the U.S. Senate adopted four amendments to the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act -- three of which were strongly opposed by the Human Rights Campaign. Once the Senate votes on the final Defense Department authorization bill it will go to a conference committee with the House where HRC urges the amendments to be removed.
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