February 2013
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The city that ended hunger →
In just a decade Belo Horizonte cut its infant death rate—widely used as evidence of hunger—by more than half, and today these initiatives benefit almost 40 percent of the city’s 2.5 million population. One six-month period in 1999 saw infant malnutrition in a sample group reduced by 50 percent. And between 1993 and 2002 Belo Horizonte was the only locality in which consumption of fruits and...
June 2012
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Pentagon to recognize gay troops, according to AP... →
Last summer, gays in the military dared not admit their sexual orientation. This summer, the Pentagon will salute them, marking gay pride month just as it marks other celebrations honoring racial or ethnic groups.
Officials said Thursday that they’re planning the first-ever event to recognize gay and lesbian troops. They declined to give details about what the event will be, but...
Transsexuals line up for new IDs as groundbreaking... →
Transsexuals lined up Monday to be the first to take advantage of Argentina’s groundbreaking gender-identity law, which enables people to change their names and sexes on official documents without first getting approval from a judge or doctor.
No other country in the world allows people to change their official identities based merely on how they feel.
"I do think that that would be fair." →
“I do think that that would be fair. I can understand that people would be a little apprehensive to take that road because there is a tradition of natural-born women, but today where there are so many surgeries, and so many people out there who have a need to change for a happier life—I do accept that because I believe it’s a free country.”
May 2012
5 posts
Target Launches Line of T-Shirts Supporting Gay... →
In a partnership with the Family Equality Council, Minneapolis=based retailer Target is selling a line of Gay Pride-themed T-shirts online this year, which grew out of “a grass-roots effort among employees and the company’s LGBTA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allies) Business Council”, according to a Target spokeswoman.
After Fiery Speech, Voting Rights Amendment Is... →
Representative John Lewis of Georgia pushed back with a fiery speech directed at an amendment offered by Representative Paul C. Broun of Georgia that would have barred the Justice Department from using money to enforce a part of the Voting Rights Act.
Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal →
Mr. Obama said his views had changed over the years, in part because of prodding from friends who are gay and conversations with his wife and daughters.
Joe Biden Endorses Same-Sex Marriage →
Vice President Joe Biden has endorsed same-sex marriage, becoming the highest ranking American official to back marriage for gay and lesbian people. His comments signify a split within the Obama administration and may pave the way for President Obama — who says he supports civil unions and is still evolving on the matter — to also embrace equality.
April 2012
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EEOC ruling that gender-identity discrimination is... →
”Given the incredibly high rate of employment discrimination facing transgender people, this is incredibly significant for us. Data from the National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force found that 78 percent of transgender Americans say they’ve experienced workplace discrimination at some point in time,” Davis tells Metro Weekly. ”Given...
Oakland A’s Pitcher Thinks Making Two Straight... →
NBC Sports showcased a tweet from Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who railed against the practice: “They put two guys on the ‘Kiss Cam’ tonight. What hilarity!! (by hilarity I mean offensive homophobia). Enough with this stupid trend.”
Good on him for calling out a practice that belittles homosexuality to something embarrassing that two straight men are forced into for cheap...
February 2012
7 posts
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“This ruling, the first to come after the Justice Department announced it would...”
– DOMA’s Federal Definition of Marriage Unconstitutional, Judge Rules in Golinski Case
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Mass Effect 3 An Upgrade In Accessibility →
Mass Effect 3 is easily one of the most anticipated games of the year, but after Mass Effect 2 received a score of 5 on PC and a 4 on Xbox from us, we can only be curious as to whether or not accessibility will be an issue with this third installment. The demo has hit EA’s downloadable service Origin recently and after playing it a few times, I can definitely say that the game’s...
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White House Hosting TBLG Conferences Across US →
The events are a collaboration between the White House Office of Public Engagement and other offices and agencies and will cover topics such as housing and homelessness, safe schools and communities as well as HIV/AIDS prevention
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Unemployment Among Black Men Drops →
It is not just a coincidence that, during the first bit of job growth we’ve had since Barack Obama was elected, black men are “being hired in larger numbers than anyone can remember.” It is evidence of the known effects of visible diversity.
Gates donates $750 million to fight AIDS, TB and... →
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will inject $750 million into the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced Thursday at the World Economic Forum.
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Washington is likely the next state to allow gay... →
Washington state may soon allow same-sex couples to wed — potentially the seventh state to take such a step in a growing nationwide debate.
Washington’s state Senate passed the bill 28-21 Wednesday. This week, the bill goes to the House, where it is likely to pass, said Sen. Ed Murray, a Democrat and the bill’s sponsor. Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, has said she will sign the...
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January 2012
7 posts
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Housing Department introduces new LGBT protections →
Under the new guidelines, any program that receives funding or insurance through HUD will be prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes Section 8 housing, emergency shelters, and other social services, as well as mortgage lending through the Federal Housing Administration. Importantly, all of these programs will now be required to...
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Justice Minister declares all same-sex marriages... →
All same sex marriages performed in Canada are legal and the law will be changed to ensure that divorce is readily available to non-residents who were married in the country, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says.
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Obama administration says Constitution protects... →
The filing is the latest sign of an emerging consensus that the First Amendment protects the right to record the public conduct of government officials with a cell phone.
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India Beats Polio. Global Eradication Within Reach... →
This week the world celebrates a major milestone in the global fight against polio. On January 13, India will mark one year in which no child was paralyzed by polio – for the first time in history.
Two years ago India had more polio cases than any other country. In just two short years, the country has taken giant steps to protect its children, while helping end polio globally forever.
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Finally, Finally! FBI’s “Forcible Rape” Definition... →
In a press briefing, senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett called the change a “very, very important step” because it counts men and because it includes rapes of women other than by physical force.
In the FBI’s official statement, CJIS Assistant Director David Cuthbertson says that the update ensures that “the number of victims of this heinous crime will be more accurately reflected...
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Target Is Down With Down Syndrome: 5 Facts You... →
This wasn’t a “Special Clothing For Special People” catalog. There wasn’t a call out somewhere on the page proudly proclaiming that “Target’s proud to feature a model with Down syndrome in this week’s ad!” And they didn’t even ask him to model a shirt with the phrase, “We Aren’t All Angels” printed on the front.
December 2011
13 posts
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Sunlight-powered 'bulbs' made from plastic bottles... →
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EPA sharply reduces allowed emissions of mercury... →
This one is a Big Deal. It’s worth lifting our heads out of the news cycle and taking a moment to appreciate that history is being made. Finally controlling mercury and toxics will be an advance on par with getting lead out of gasoline. It will save save tens of thousands of lives every year and prevent birth defects, learning disabilities, and respiratory diseases. It will make...
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U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passes,... →
The resolution calls for a panel discussion next spring with “constructive, informed and transparent dialogue on the issue of discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against” gays, lesbians and transgender people.
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HRC's Corporate Equality Index: Coverage for... →
To maintain a coveted 100 percent and a listing in the campaign’s preferred vendors’ guide for gay, lesbian and transgender consumers, companies had to offer at least one insurance plan that covers at least $75,000 worth of surgery and other treatments recommended by a patient’s doctor.
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Hillary Clinton: "Gay rights are human rights, and... →
“When any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. … When we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. … To people of all nations, I...
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School drops gender-specific attire for yearbook... →
“Some people think I was being dramatic,” says Sturgis, 20, who moved to Orlando after high school. “But it’s more than just a picture to me. It’s about equality.
“I’m a person, too,” she says. “Shouldn’t I be able to choose what I can wear?”
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“To address the significant health care disparities of transgender individuals...”
– Gynecologists told to prepare to treat transgender patients
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Evansville, Indiana Passes LGBT Non-Discrimination... →
Evansville, Indiana just got a lot more progressive
November 2011
9 posts
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History Made in Gary, Indiana →
Democratic candidate Karen Freeman-Wilson won the mayoral election in my neighboring town of Gary, Indiana, making her the city’s first female mayor in its 106-year history.
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Without Comment or Apology, Facebook Quietly... →
After more than three months of complaints from users, a grand total of over 200,000 petition signatures (186,000 of them on a single Change.org petition), a Twitter campaign, the withdrawal of several major advertisers and an outpouring of harsh criticism from a multitude of feminist activists and writers, Facebook has finally removed rape-humor pages from the site.
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Submit to Hope in Progress!
What have you read this week that’s brought you some hope? Got a social justice success story? Something that’s made your liberal toes tingle? Maybe you should submit it to Hope in Progress!
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The Birth Control Solution →
Guttmacher calculates that these family-planning centers in the United States actually save taxpayers roughly $3.4 billion annually that would otherwise be spent on pregnancies and babies.
Finally, a ray of hope: A group of evangelical Christians, led by Richard Cizik of The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, is drafting a broad statement of support for family planning. It...
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Cookie of the week*: the IEEE knows how to... →
Apologies are surprisingly difficult for people to get right. We suggest three properties for a good apology:
Recognise that someone was hurt, and in what particular way they were hurt
Accept responsibility for it, whether intended or not
Promise to avoid doing it again, or at least to work on it
And the IEEE not only did all of these perfectly, they also responded quickly, clearly, and...
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Polyamory in the News: MFM triad tell their story... →
A few days ago, fresh off their appearance in the November Details magazine, the vee triad of Jaiya Ma, Jon Hanauer and Ian Ferguson were bubbling about being interviewed in New York by CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
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PRRI Survey Shows Americans Overwhelmingly Support... →
“Three out of four Americans say Congress should pass employment nondiscrimination laws that protect transgender people,” said Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO of Public Religion Research Institute. “This strong support is also broad, persisting across party lines and the religious spectrum.”
October 2011
24 posts
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Girl Scout Troop Does The Right Thing For A... →
Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members. If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout.
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Shakesville: Same-Sex Marriage →
“The first same-sex weddings will hopefully become reality in Spring 2012. I look forward to the moment the first homosexual couple steps out of the church. I’ll be standing out there throwing rice,” said church minister Manu Sareen to the local Jyllands-Posten newspaper, according to the Post.
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Women Making Slow, Sure Strides In Science, Math →
For many of the women, the chemistry lab was a home away from home – a sorority for nerds, of sorts, that hints at the slow but steady shift in technical fields that have been traditionally filled with men.
