• ELIXHER
• On October 21, 2011

Check out what you missed this week!

Is Marriage Equality for White People?

Even after it was widely discredited that the black turnout could be responsible for the passage of Prop 8, the conventional wisdom has remained that the issue of marriage equality is simply not something that appeals to voters of color. This narrative is untrue, and it is time we stop acting like marriage equality is only for white people.

Black and Transgender: A Double Burden

The harsh reality is that whether they possess a J.D. or a GED, members of the African-American transgender community face severe discrimination, according to the recent study Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (pdf). The survey, the first of its kind, was a collaboration between the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Black Justice Coalition. It collected data from more than 6,500 transgender Americans and found that all transgender people face severe bias ranging from housing and health care to education and employment.

Russell Simmons, Al Sharpton, Naya Rivera & More Stand Up For GLAAD (VIDEO)

The stars have come together for this GLAAD public service announcement to stress the importance of acceptance in every community. It is important that we as a community stand up for gay rights and acceptance, and with the help of Russell, Naya and Reverend Sharpton, let us all make a statement.

VIDEO: Erica & Tevonda: New Jersey Marriage

Meet Erica and Tevonda, plaintiffs in Lambda Legal’s marriage equality lawsuit in New Jersey. Together 4 years, Erica and Tevonda are raising their 3-month old son, Teverico, in North Plainfield and were forced to get a second-parent adoption to ensure legal protection of their son because of civil unions’ unequal status.

Transgender Job Training Program Fast-Tracked After Attacks

A new D.C. program that teaches job-seeking skills to transgender people and then pays some of their salaries for up to six months was fast-tracked by Mayor Vincent Gray after violence against transsexuals escalated this summer.