Gay Rights

The Icing on the Discrimination Cake

On the final day of its session, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who refuses to make cakes for same-sex weddings on the basis of his “religious beliefs.” Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait to see if “religious freedom” includes the freedom to discriminate as the case likely won’t be argued until late in the next session, which begins in October. (more…)

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The Beginning of an LGBT Civil Rights Rollback?

I won’t mince words: Each day, values that we hold dear — inclusion, tolerance and equality — are in danger like never before. Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen Americans ban together in unprecedented ways, from the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., to a small town in Alaska where 2 feet of snow fell as they marched, to hundreds of international cities around the world and most recently at airports everywhere. It has been inspiring. (more…)

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Prospects for Pride in a Trump Era

As we move toward Trump’s half-year mark in office, it is becoming clearer that the Trump administration does not intend to continue its predecessors’ prioritization of the protection of the rights and liberties of the LGBT community. Contrary to promises made during his campaign trail to be “good to the gays” and to protect the LGBT community from violence and oppression, the President’s actions since stepping in to office reveal that many of these promises are unlikely to come to fruition under the current administration. (more…)

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Ongoing LGBT Evolution in the U.S. Military

militaryloveFor 17 years, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” forcibly closeted tens of thousands of military servicemen and women. Originally designed as a compromise between lawmakers and military personnel who wanted the ban on LGBTQ servicemembers lifted and those who didn’t, the reality of DADT encouraged an environment in which discrimination and prejudice festered, and those most hurt by it had no recourse because they faced dishonorable discharge. Over the lifespan of DADT, more than 14,000 servicemembers weregiven discharges due to their sexual orientation. The 2011 repeal of DADT, however, lifted that albatross from the necks of our LGBTQ servicemembers, allowing them to live authentically both in and out of uniform. Now we have a military that accepts any qualified person willing to serve — and with the daily reminder of the dangers at our country’s doorstep, better late than never. (more…)

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SwallowDaily | Angela Giampolo LGBT Lawyer

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Here is our interview with Philadelphia based lawyer Angela D. Giampolo. She is the founder of PhillyGayLawyer.com and Giampolo Law Group whose practice focuses on, among LGBT law, corporate transactions, civil rights, employment discrimination, real estate, domestic and international adoptions, and estates. We spoke with her about the SCOTUS decision and what we can expect to happen now.

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