Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 17, 2009
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved. Read more
Local Coming Out Day Events!
October 9, 2009
October 11 Marks a Global Opportunity to Come Out and Be Heard
Some individuals use this day as an opportunity to speak to family and friends for the first time. Others, who have already “come out” to their families and communities, use this as a time to speak about their experiences and empower others to do the same. The event is celebrated on October 11 in all fifty US states as well as in several other countries, and is recognized on the following day, October 12, in the United Kingdom. Read more
National Coming Out Day 2009
October 3, 2009
Every October 11, thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) people and allies celebrate Coming Out Day. They hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events to support GLBT people who are coming out for the first time and to show the public that GLBT people are everywhere. Read more
GLBT History Month
October 1, 2009
In the 1990’s, teachers and community organizations determined that a month should be designated for GLBT history. They chose October because public schools are in session and traditions, such as National Coming Out Day, occur then. Read more
F-M Area Coming Out Day Awards
September 16, 2009
National Coming Out Day is an opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and allies to celebrate each other and continue to break down barriers that keep people from being able to fully participate in their communities.
The F-M Area Coming Out Day Awards are a way to recognize individuals and organizations in the greater Fargo‐Moorhead and Red River Valley area that have made an impact in the greater community. Read more
Senate to hold hearings on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
July 27, 2009
At the urging of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – the first hearings to be held on gays in the military since 1993.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., decided his Senate Armed Services Committee Read more
Massachusetts Challenges Federal Defense of Marriage Act
July 8, 2009
Massachusetts sued the U.S. government on Wednesday, challenging the constitutionality of a federal law that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The state of Massachusetts says the Defense of Marriage Act denies same-sex couples essential rights.
”We’re taking this action today because, first, we believe that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Read more
Senate to Pass Hate Crimes as Amendment
June 9, 2009
U.S. Senate leadership has settled on passing hate-crimes legislation — which would expand existing federal law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability — as an amendment to another bill rather than voting on it as a stand-alone piece of legislation, reports the Washington Blade .
“We understand that Senate leadership does not believe a hearing or markup on the bill is necessary and plans to bring it directly to the floor as an amendment to another moving vehicle,” Human Rights Campaign spokesman Trevor Thomas told the Blade. Read more
