Although 2021 was dubbed by many, including the Human Rights Campaign. as the “worst year in recent history for LGBTQ state legislative attacks,” many equality and advocacy experts warn 2022 appears to be getting off with an equally hate-filled start. Matt Lavietes of NBC News reported that “throughout the first…
Tag: Alabama
City of Montgomery, Alabama Faces $25,000 State Fine for Changing Street Named After a Confederate Leader
Despite a state law designed to “protect” longstanding Confederate monuments and memorials, the city of Montgomery, Alabama, has decided that it would rather incur a fine than continue going on with a city street named after President of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, Jefferson Davis. Kim Chandler of…
Alabama Judge Loses Position on State Bench Over His Numerous Racist and Sexist Remarks, Including Attacks on George Floyd and BLM
An Alabama judge accused of making numerous racist and sexist remarks and fostering a hostile work environment is now being forced to give up his seat at the bench by a state judicial ethics panel. Erik Ortiz of NBC News reported that “in sanctioning Probate Judge Randy Jinks of Talladega…
Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray Working To Clear Arrest Records of Claudette Colvin, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks
Civil rights attorney Fred Gray has filed a case to expunge the arrest record of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin — and he’s considering similar efforts to clear the names of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks as well. Jay Reeves of the Associated Press reported that Gray spoke…
Alabama Legislature Will Vote To Remove Racist Language and Policies From State Constitution
The Alabama State Constitution currently contains numerous racist references, including outdated language involving a poll tax for Black residents — but that could soon be changing. Brian Lyman of the Montgomery Advertiser has reported that following an ongoing review by a special commission, the state Legislature will vote next year…
20 States Sue US Government for Legal Right To Discriminate Against LGBTQ Individuals
President Biden issued guidelines earlier this year telling employers and schools that illegal discrimination against LGBTQ individuals had no place in the country and wouldn’t be tolerated. Still, not everyone appears to believe those recommendations apply to them. The Advocate’s Trudy Ring has reported that in a new court filing,…
California Bans State-Funded Travel to 5 States It Considers Anti-LGBTQ; Total of 17 States Now on List
Lawmakers in California are taking a stand against other states it considers to be unfair, discriminatory and biased against LGBTQ citizens. California has compiled a list of U.S. states it is reluctant to do business with and has even compiled a list of places it refuses to pay state employees…
White House Announces ‘National Month of Action’ To Promote COVID-19 Vaccinations; Partners With Black-Owned Barbershops To Reach Minority Communities
With just over 63% of the country nationwide at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, President Biden has stepped up efforts to push that number over 70% before the end of the month. Tyler Pager, Lena H. Sun and John Wagner of The Washington Post reported that by declaring June a…
Alabama Family of Black Gay Teen Who Died by Suicide Sue School District Who Did ‘Nothing’ to Help Him, Despite His Repeated Pleas
Nigel Shelby was 15 and attending high school in Huntsville, Alabama when the bullying began. He was called names, harassed on social media and shunned by classmates simply for being gay. When he complained to school administrators, they lectured him on what they considered “right and wrong” when it came…
Rosa Parks Statue Dedicated by Montgomery’s First Black Mayor on Rosa Parks Day
The city of Montgomery, Ala., dedicated a statue to civil rights icon Rosa Parks on Sunday afternoon, presented by the city’s first Black mayor, Steven Reed. Sunday was the second annual Rosa Parks Day in Alabama and also marked 64 years to the day Parks was arrested for sitting in…