The LGBTQ community is facing a critical challenge at the Supreme Court this fall, one that could either protect all LGBTQ workers nationwide or gut employment protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

I’ve written an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times that lays out the high stakes of these cases. I hope you’ll read the op-ed for an overview of why we should win and why a loss would be devastating, not only for LGBTQ people, but for all employees – and for women in particular.

These three cases may well be as consequential for the LGBTQ community as the marriage cases and other landmark decisions that affirmed our right to equality under the law.

NCLR has been a leader in litigating Title VII cases, and we are working hard to ensure that the Supreme Court does not undo decades of hard-won victories, which have provided critical protections to our community. But we cannot afford to be blindsided by what could be a devastating setback to not just LGBTQ rights, but women’s rights in general.

So please share this op-ed in your networks. As the Supreme Court considers these cases, it is essential that we shine a light on why they matter so much.

Thank you for standing with us as we prepare for this latest assault on our community. I’ll update you as developments warrant.

The post NCLR breaks down the looming Supreme Court battles on LGBTQ rights first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Four LGBT rights advocates are scheduled to speak at the fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 Rights March on Washington on August 24: the American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, Service Employees International Union president Kay Henry, Human Rights Campaign’s faith partnership and mobilization director Reverend MacArthur Flournoy, and Equality Pennsylvania president Adrian Shanker.

As the grandson of Albert Shanker, who organized thousands of teachers for the 1963 march, Adrian Shanker has advocated for LGBT rights for almost ten years.

Read more at dot429.com

The post LGBT rights advocates to speak at Rights March anniversary celebration first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Trish Cameron is not the first Catholic teacher to be fired because she was honest about holding beliefs different from her employer. Care2 blogger Steve Williams wrote about a German kindergarten teacher who was fired for being a lesbian. She would have been fired immediately, but state officials ruled she could not be let go before the end of her maternity leave.

Ann Bibby wrote about another dismissal in Vancouver, B.C., where same-sex marriage is legal. A teacher in a publicly funded Catholic girls’ school was allowed to complete her contract but not admitted back in the classroom. Parents had found out she was a lesbian.

Read more at Care2.com

Care2 is the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

The post School fires teacher for not opposing gay marriage first appeared on Lesbian.com.

June 12 marks the 45th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case that eradicated bans on interracial marriage and moved this country one step closer to a full realization of equality for all loving, committed adults.

Read more at Care2.com

Care2 is the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

The post Marriage equality and the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honored LGBT Pride Month and addressed the effort to advance equal rights in a video released Tuesday.

“I am honored to join you to celebrate the fundamental freedoms that all human beings deserve—no matter who they are or whom they love,” she stated. “This month, and every month, we proudly reaffirm our commitment to making sure that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Clinton’s address also acknowledged the progress being made to advance the cause of LGBT rights, but noted that the fight is far from over.

“We will not rest until full and equal rights are a reality for everyone,” Clinton imparted. “History proves that the march toward equality and justice will overcome barriers of intolerance and discrimination. But it requires a concerted effort from all of us. No matter how long the road ahead, I’m confident that we will travel it successfully together.”

Clinton has been a strong ally for the LGBT community and has delivered statements or remarks to celebrate Pride Month for the last three years. Last year, she also delivered a speech in Geneva in observance of Human Rights Day in which she notably affirmed that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.”

The full text of Clinton’s statement is available at the Department of State website.

The post News: Clinton commemorates LGBT Pride Month first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Apparently Tony Perkins doesn’t approve of Pride Month. While filling in on the American Family Association’s radio network last week, Perkins fielded a call from an individual claiming that right-wing commentators were ignoring actual societal ills in favor of promoting misconceptions about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Ironically confirming the caller’s accusation Perkins began, “The month of June is Gay Pride Month,” later going on to say, “Now, I have not yet seen where they have declared Adultery Pride Month; I have not seen where they have declared Drunkenness Pride Month. We’re not celebrating those other forms as a society; we’re not promoting [them] and teaching [them] as normal in our schools.”

Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council, a conservative organization whose agenda could be described as being diametrically opposed to that of LGBT civil rights proponents.

The post News: Tony Perkins equates Pride to adultery and alcoholism first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Ontario politicians are drawing a line in the sand with publicly funded Catholic schools. On one side is Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act. The anti-bullying legislation will allow students to form “organizations with the name gay-straight alliance or another name.” On the other side is the Catholic church which insists non-specific names such as “respecting differences” are adequate. They say LGBTQ students can form groups to counter bullying, but they cannot use a name the church finds offensive.

Read more at Care2.com.

Care2 is the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

The post Ontario’s Gay-Straight Alliances vs. the Catholic Church first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The years-long financial dispute between Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels has come to an end as the pair reached a settlement during court-ordered mediation. The couple, who parted ways in 2010, will share custody of their twins and Michaels will receive partner and child support in excess of $23,000 per month. In a display of unparalleled optimism, Etheridge is currently on her “Fearless Love” world tour and dating “Nurse Jackie” co-creator Linda Wallem.

Finally a reason to attend Comic-con
Just in time for pride events all around the country, DC Comics announced that one of its prominent characters will come out of the closet in a storyline to be introduced in June. According to Twitter buzz, Aquaman and Wonder Woman have emerged as the most likely candidates. Either way, those League of Justice meetings just got a lot more fabulous.

Forever the Mayor of Castro Street
In real-life superhero news, LGBT civil right proponents across the country celebrated Harvey Milk Day, commemorating the life and achievements of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors member who was assassinated in 1978 along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. As the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, Milk has long been hailed as one of the LGBT community’s civil rights trailblazers. Thank you, Mr. Milk.

The post News: Etheridge and Michaels reach divorce settlement first appeared on Lesbian.com.