Jul
21

President Obama Uses Executive Order to Protect LGBT Workers, But the Fight Is Far From Over


Washington, DC—July 21, 2014 – Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order to ban federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace based on their employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This Executive Order is the single largest expansion of LGBT workplace protections in the nation’s history, protecting one-fifth of the entire U.S. labor force. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School, President Obama’s action is estimated to extend protections to about 14 million workers whose employers or states currently do not have such nondiscrimination policies.

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Jul
17

Investing in the Invisible: My Pledge to Empower the Black LGBT Community

By Sean A. Watkins

Today, I saw a magazine cover targeted to the LGBTQ community (this time, it was specifically towards the men having sex with men spectrum), and there was one very obvious thing to me: there were no men of colour. 

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Jul
15

Emancipation Campaign Launch & Inspirational Message from Je-Shawna Wholley

Starting today, NBJC will embark upon a vigorous empowerment campaign to highlight the defining moments of our movement and rally our constituents to provide the support it needs to continue fighting for equity and equality on behalf of the Black LGBTQ/SGL community. The launch of the Emancipation Campaign is our way of breaking free from the sole reliance of foundations and turning to our community for uplift and self-sufficiency.

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Jun
24

PRIDE MONTH Special Feature: Black OUT Women in Sports

This year marks the 18th year of play for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In an effort to celebrate inclusion and equality, while combating anti-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) bias, the WNBA will be the first professional sports league to establish an integrated marketing, media, grassroots and social responsibility program for the LGBTQ community, including a new special site- WNBA.com/pride. 

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Jun
17

Senate Confirms Attorney Staci Yandle & Judge Darrin Gayles to the Federal Bench


Washington, DC -- June 17, 2014 – Today, the Senate confirmed Attorney Staci Yandle and Judge Darrin Gayles to become federal judges on the U.S. District Courts in Illinois and Florida, respectively. Ms. Yandle, a practicing attorney for over 20 years, will be the second Black, openly lesbian judge confirmed to the federal bench. Judge Gayles will become the nation’s first Black, openly gay male to serve on the federal bench. Both nominees received overwhelming support from the Senate during their confirmation votes: Ms. Yandle was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 44, and Judge Gayles was confirmed by a vote of 98 to 0.

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