NOW President Kim Gandy says, “Along with NOW activists everywhere, I am terribly saddened at the passing of longtime NOW and lesbian rights activist Del Martin. We extend our love and condolences to Del’s wife, Phyllis Lyon, who was her partner in life and in activism for more than half a century.”
California made history again today. In a 4-3 vote, the state’s highest court ruled that gay and lesbian couples should be granted legal rights to marriage. “The California Supreme Court did what was right, and that is to give everyone – regardless of sexual orientation – the fundamental right to civil marriage,” said NOW President Kim Gandy. “This decision will allow thousands and thousands of committed couples to be legally married in the highest populated state in our country.”
Just before it was slated to go to the House floor for a vote, the civil rights bill known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was stripped of protections for the transgender community. NOW opposes this weakened version and encourages sponsors of the original ENDA to ask House leaders to withdraw the weaker bill and support the more inclusive bill.
By a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would permit federal prosecution of hate crimes based on a person’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Actions, from small to large, that you can take for LGBT rights.