#Immigrant detention center legal assistance | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dunilefra · 23 days ago

Text

Admirable Articles of Panama's Constitution

Article 19

There shall be no public or private privileges, or discrimination, by reason of race, birth, social class, handicap, sex, religion or political ideology.

Article 20

All Panamanians and aliens are equal before the Law, but the Law, for reasons of labor, health, morality, public security and national economy, may subject to special conditions, or may deny the exercise of specific activities to aliens in general. Likewise, the Law or the Authorities may, according to circumstances, take measures that exclusively affect nationals of certain countries, in case of war, or in accordance with what may be established in international treaties.

Article 21

No one may be deprived of his/her liberty except by warrant from a competent authority, issued in accordance with legal formalities, and for reasons previously defined by law. Those executing said order are obliged to give a copy thereof to the person concerned, if he/she requests it.

An offender surprised in the act of committing a crime (flagrante delicto) may be apprehended by any person and must be turned over immediately to the authorities.

No one may be detained for more than twenty-four hours without being brought before a competent authority. Public Officers who violate this precept shall suffer immediate loss of employment and shall be subject to all other penalties established by law, concerning this violation.

There shall not be imprisonment, detention or arrest for debts or strictly civil obligations.

Article 22

All persons placed under arrest must be informed immediately, and in an understandable manner, of the reasons for their arrest, and of their Constitutional and corresponding legal rights.

Persons accused of committing a crime have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, at a public trial, under due process of law. Whoever is arrested shall have the right, from that moment, to legal counsel in all police and judiciary proceedings.

This matter shall be regulated by law.

Article 26

The domicile, or residence, is inviolable. No one may enter therein without the consent of the owner, except by warrant of a competent authority and for a specific purpose, or to assist the victims of a crime or disaster.

Labor, social security and health officials, upon presentation of valid identification, may make domiciliary visits, or inspections of work centers, to check on the fulfillment of social and public health laws.

Article 27

Every person may travel freely throughout the National territory and change domicile, or residence, without restrictions, other than those which the transit, fiscal, health, and immigration laws or regulations may prescribe.

Article 28

The penitentiary system is based on principles of security, rehabilitation and social defense. It is unlawful to apply measures which may damage the physical, mental, or moral integrity of incarcerated individuals.

A program for training prisoners in an occupation shall be established, which should permit them to be usefully reintegrated into society.

Prisoners who are minors shall be governed by a special system of custody, protection and education.

Article 49

The State recognizes and guarantees the right of every person to obtain quality goods and services, truthful, clear and sufficient information about the characteristics and the substance of the goods and services which he/she purchases, as well as the freedom of choice and the right to conditions of fair and equitable treatment.

The law shall establish the mechanisms necessary to guarantee these rights, the education and the means of defense of the consumer and user, the compensation of damages caused and the sanctions applicable to the violation of these rights.

Article 51

In case of war, grave disturbances of public order or urgent social interest requiring prompt action, the Executive Authority may decree the expropriation or seizure of private property.

When return of the seized object is feasible, the seizure will be only for the duration of the circumstances that may cause it.

The State is always responsible for all expropriations that the Executive Authority thus carries out, and for the losses and damage caused by the seizure, and will pay the value thereof as soon as the determining cause for the expropriation or seizure ends.

Article 57

Marriage is the legal basis of the family. It rests on equality of rights of both spouses and may be dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 60

Parents have, with respect to their children born out of wedlock, the same duties as towards their children born in wedlock. All children are equal according to law, and have the same rights of inheritance in intestate successions. The rights of minors or incapacitated children and of destitute parents in testate successions, shall be recognized by law.

Article 66

Rules of periodic adjustment of the minimum salary or wage of the worker shall be set by law, to cover the normal requirements of his/her family, to improve worker's standard of living according to specific conditions of each economic region and activity. The law may also determine the method of fixing minimum salaries or wages for professions or trades.

Whenever job or piece work is performed, it is obligatory that the minimum wage be ensured for each day's work.

The minimum of all wages or salaries is un-attachable, except for support obligations as established by law. Working tools of the workmen are also un-attachable.

Article 67

A like wage or salary shall always be paid for like work under identical conditions, irrespective of the person who performs it, without taking into account sex, nationality, age, race, social standing, political or religious ideologies.

Article 93

It is recognized that the purpose of Panamanian education is to encourage in the student the formation of a national conscience based on knowledge of the history and problems of the country.

Article 109

It is an essential function of the State to protect the health of all the people of the Republic. The individual, as part of the national community, is entitled to promotion, protection, conservation, recovery and rehabilitation of his/her health and the obligation to preserve it, health being understood to be complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Article 110 (Part of it)

In matters of health, the State is primarily obliged to develop the following activities, integrating the functions of prevention, cure and rehabilitation in the:

● Combating of contagious diseases through environmental health, development of potable water availability, and adopting methods of immunization, prophylaxis, and treatment to be provided collectively and individually to all the population;

Article 119

The State, and all the inhabitants of the national territory, have the obligation of promoting economic and social development that prevents environmental contamination, maintains ecological balance, and avoids the destruction of ecosystems.

Article 126 (Part of it)

To fulfill the objectives of the Agrarian Policy, the State shall carry out the following activities:

● Grant necessary farm lands to rural dwellers and regulate the use of the water. A special system of collective ownership for rural communities which so request may be established by law;

● Organize credit assistance to meet the financial needs of agricultural and cattle operations, and particularly those of low income persons and groups, and give special attention to small and medium producers;

● Take measures to ensure stable markets and fair prices for products and to foster the establishment of Agencies, Corporations, and Cooperatives for production, processing, distribution and consumption;

● Settle new lands and regulate the tenure and use of such lands and of those incorporated into the economy as a result of the construction of new highways;

● Foster the development of the Agrarian Sector by means of technical assistance and promotion of organization, training, protection, mechanization and other activities determined by law;

Article 135

Voting is a right and a duty of all citizens. The vote is free, equal, universal, secret and direct.

Article 139

It is unlawful to form political parties based on sex, race, or religion, or that have as their purpose the destruction of the democratic form of government.

Article 141

The State may supervise and contribute to the payment of expenses incurred by natural persons and political parties in the electoral process. Such supervision and payment shall be determined and regulated by law, ensuring equality of expenditures to all parties and candidates.

Article 150

Members shall act in the interest of the nation and shall represent in the National Assembly their respective political parties and their constituency voters.

Article 158

Assembly members may not themselves, or through other parties, make any contracts with State entities, or with institutions or businesses related to the latter, nor accept from anyone authority to conduct negotiations with these entities, institutions or businesses.

The following cases are excluded:

1. When a member makes personal or professional use of public services or performs current operations of the same nature with institutions or entities affiliated with the State;

2. When contracts awarded through public bidding exist between institutions or entities mentioned in this Article and non-shareholder companies in which a member is a partner, provided that he/she has become a partner prior to his/her election;

3. When contracts, awarded with or without public bidding, are concluded with such institutions or entities by shareholder companies in which one or more members do not hold more than twenty percent (20%) of the total shares;

4. When a member acts in his/her capacity as a lawyer before a judicial body outside the session period or with authorization granted by the plenary of the National Assembly during the session period.

Article 192

There may not be elected President of the Republic:

● A citizen who, called to exercise the Presidency because of permanent absence of the President, has held the position at any time during the three years immediately preceding the term for which the election is held;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of marital relations of a President of the Republic who has held office in the term immediately preceding, or such relatives of the citizen referred to in numeral 1 of this Article.

Article 193

The following persons may not be elected Vice-Presidents of the Republic:

● The President of the Republic currently serving his/her term of office when the election for Vice-President of the Republic is for the term immediately following said term;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the second degree of marital relations of the President of the Republic, for the term following that in which said President has held office;

● A citizen who, as Vice-President of the Republic, has held the Presidency in a permanent manner at any time during the three years preceding the term for which the election is being held;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of marital relations of the citizen mentioned in the preceding section, for the term immediately following that in which that citizen has held the Presidency of the Republic;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the second degree of marital relations of the President of the Republic.

Article 201

The Administration of Justice is free, expeditious, and uninterrupted. The pleadings and action of all Court proceedings shall be recorded on simple paper, and shall not be subject to any tax.

Vacations of the Justices, Judges or Judicial Branch employees shall not interrupt the continuous functioning of the respective Tribunals.

Article 284

The State will intervene in any kind of private enterprise, in accordance with the regulations established by law, to ensure social justice to which the present Constitution refers and especially for the following purposes:

● To regulate, through special institutions, service rates and prices of items of any nature and specially those of basic necessity;

● To demand proper efficiency in services and adequate quality in articles mentioned in the preceding section;

● To coordinate services and the production of goods. Articles of basic necessities shall be defined by law.

Article 298

The State shall ensure the freedom of economic activity and free competition in the markets.

The laws shall establish the modalities and conditions which guarantee these principles.

by Dunilefra, working for World Order

#Panama #Dunilefra #Politics #Political Reform #World Politics #World Order #Fundamental Rights #Human Rights #Economy #Religion #State Policy #Political Analysis #Constitution #Constitutional Law #Law #Tawhidur Rahman Dear #Dear

0 notes

tyylerjohn · 1 year ago

Text

The Significance of Habeas Corpus in Immigration Law

Introduction:

Habeas corpus, a legal principle derived from English common law, has played a pivotal role in ensuring justice and safeguarding individual liberties in various legal contexts. In the realm of immigration law, habeas corpus serves as a critical tool for protecting the rights of immigrants, particularly those held in detention facilities. This essay explores the multifaceted role of habeas corpus in immigration law, focusing on its impact on private detention facilities, the rights of immigrants at the border, the involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the evolution of habeas corpus in immigration law, the detention of asylum seekers, its influence on immigration enforcement, the right to challenge expedited removal orders, the rights of non-citizen criminal detainees, and the challenges in obtaining habeas corpus relief for immigrants.

Habeas Corpus and Private Detention Facilities:

Private detention facilities have become a contentious issue in the United States immigration system. They raise concerns about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of detainees. Habeas corpus petitions have been instrumental in shedding light on these issues by allowing detainees to challenge their detention and the conditions within these facilities. Habeas Corpus and the Use of Private Detention Facilities have played a crucial role in holding private detention centers accountable for potential human rights violations.

The Rights of Immigrants at the Border:

Immigrants arriving at the U.S. border often find themselves in a legal gray area, with their rights and status in question. Habeas corpus has been utilized to assert the rights of immigrants at the border, ensuring that due process is followed and that their detention is justified. Habeas Corpus and the Rights of Immigrants at the Border have been pivotal in protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge.

Involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs):

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a critical role in advocating for immigrant rights and providing legal assistance. Habeas corpus petitions have often been filed by these organizations on behalf of detainees, shining a spotlight on the issues surrounding immigration detention. Habeas Corpus and the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations illustrate the collaborative efforts between NGOs and the legal system to ensure justice for immigrants.

The Evolution of Habeas Corpus in Immigration Law:

The application of habeas corpus in immigration law has evolved over time, reflecting changes in immigration policies and legal interpretations. The Evolution of Habeas Corpus in Immigration Law highlights how this legal principle has adapted to the complexities of immigration issues.

Detention of Asylum Seekers:

Asylum seekers, often fleeing persecution and violence, can face prolonged detention while their cases are processed. Habeas corpus petitions have been instrumental in challenging the prolonged detention of asylum seekers, emphasizing the need for a fair and timely process. Habeas Corpus and the Detention of Asylum Seekers have been vital in addressing the humanitarian aspects of immigration law.

Influence on Immigration Enforcement:

The use of habeas corpus petitions has influenced immigration enforcement policies and practices, pushing for greater transparency and accountability. Habeas Corpus and the Impact on Immigration Enforcement delve into how this legal tool has shaped the way immigration laws are enforced.

Right to Challenge Expedited Removal Orders:

Expedited removal orders can have far-reaching consequences for individuals facing deportation. Habeas corpus petitions have allowed immigrants to challenge these orders, ensuring that their cases receive a fair review. Habeas Corpus and the Right to Challenge Expedited Removal Orders underline the importance of due process in immigration proceedings.

Rights of Non-Citizen Criminal Detainees:

Non-citizen criminal detainees face a unique set of challenges within the immigration system. Habeas corpus petitions have been used to protect their rights and prevent unjust or indefinite detention. Habeas Corpus and the Rights of Non-Citizen Criminal Detainees emphasize the role of habeas corpus in ensuring fair treatment for this group.

Challenges in Obtaining Habeas Corpus Relief for Immigrants:

While habeas corpus is a crucial legal tool, obtaining relief through this mechanism can be challenging for immigrants. Challenges in Obtaining Habeas Corpus Relief for Immigrants explore the obstacles faced by detainees seeking to assert their rights.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, habeas corpus serves as a cornerstone of justice within the immigration law landscape, addressing issues related to detention, due process, and the protection of rights. The various facets of habeas corpus, as explored in this essay, underscore its indispensable role in safeguarding the rights and dignity of immigrants within the complex and evolving field of immigration law. As we navigate the complexities of immigration policy and enforcement, habeas corpus remains a vital tool in upholding the principles of justice and fairness for all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.

0 notes

dmitrylaw · 1 year ago

Text

Seeking Asylum in Russia: A Complex Journey to Safety

In an increasingly interconnected world, the need for individuals seeking asylum has become more pronounced. For some, Russia emerges as a potential destination, offering hope and a chance for safety and a fresh start. The process of obtaining Russian asylum, however, is far from straightforward and presents its own set of challenges. Asylum seekers arrive in Russia from various regions, escaping from political persecution, armed conflicts, religious oppression, or severe human rights violations in their home countries. Seeking refuge in Russia might seem like a viable option for some due to its vast territory and historical tradition of granting asylum to those in need. The process of seeking Russian asylum is formalized, involving numerous legal procedures and documentation. Applicants are required to present compelling evidence of the risks they face in their home country and the inability to find protection elsewhere. The evidence should demonstrate a genuine fear of persecution based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Language barriers often compound the challenges faced by asylum seekers. Russian is the official language, and proficiency in it is crucial during interviews and legal proceedings. As such, applicants should seek translation assistance to ensure effective communication. The Russian asylum system has been criticized for its complexities and inconsistencies. The decision-making process can be lengthy, with many cases taking years to reach a resolution. During this time, applicants often live in a state of uncertainty and fear of potential deportation. Despite this, the Russian government has continued to grant asylum to thousands of individuals over the years, providing them with an opportunity to rebuild their lives. It is important to recognize that the Russian asylum system is not without its flaws. Reports of abuse, corruption, and inadequate facilities in detention centers have raised concerns among human rights organizations. Some asylum seekers face difficulties accessing basic services, such as healthcare and education, making their already challenging circumstances even more precarious. Moreover, Russia's geopolitical landscape can also influence the asylum process. Political considerations may impact the government's decision-making, potentially affecting the outcome of certain cases. Additionally, evolving international relations may prompt shifts in asylum policies. For those who are considering seeking asylum in Russia, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from experienced professionals. Specialized immigration lawyers can navigate the complex asylum process, increasing the chances of a successful application. Asylum seekers should be aware of their rights and responsibilities throughout the process and maintain open communication with their legal representatives. The journey to asylum in Russia is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage, determination, and a thorough understanding of the legal procedures involved. While it can offer a lifeline for those facing persecution, applicants should be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. In conclusion, seeking asylum in Russia can be a complex and arduous journey. Asylum seekers must navigate intricate legal processes, language barriers, and potential bureaucratic obstacles. The Russian government's willingness to grant asylum reflects the country's commitment to providing refuge to those in need, but it is essential to remain aware of the challenges and uncertainties inherent in the process. To create a more compassionate and efficient asylum system, continued efforts are required to address concerns and ensure the protection of human rights for all those seeking refuge on Russian soil.

0 notes

schleifmanlaw · 2 years ago

Text

Car Rental Age Restrictions Can Be Sophisticated Heres What To Know

The firm was based in 1985 and focuses completely on harm and wrongful demise law. They proudly serve people in Fairfax and Loudoun County, Virginia, together with the communities of Alexandria, Chantilly, Tysons, Ashburn, and Manassas. From car accidents and DWI expenses and estate administration, you presumably can depend on your attorneys to apply their legal information to assist you. Karin Riley Porter is an skilled Virginia criminal lawyer handling many different types of felony offenses in Virginia. Common felony offenses Ms. Porter offers with embrace drug offenses, DUI offenses, reckless driving charges, as properly as assault costs to name a few.

Negligence case – dog owner on one aspect of bicycle path holding the leash while the dog was on different side of the bicycle path, inflicting the bike owner to lose control when taunt leash was struck, leading to a damaged collar bone. At all times, cyclists have an obligation to obey the rules of the highway, i.e. yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk and preserve a proper lookout, and are financially accountable to those they injure if the bike owner accident lawyer arlington va was negligent. Curcio Law founder Tom Curcio has been a bicycle owner for almost as lengthy as he has been practicing law. Please do not include any confidential or sensitive data in a contact type, textual content message, or voicemail. The contact form sends data by non-encrypted email, which isn't safe. Submitting a contact kind, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail doesn't create an attorney-client relationship.

The driver can also be sued by the other particular person if there's also proof of negligence on his or her finish. Finally, you'll want to take some photos of the damages to the automobiles and the situation of the accident. Remember, if you had to go away your car in the road, do not accident lawyer arlington va exit into the road till the police have arrived and so they have sectioned off the realm. Doing so may be extremely harmful and end in another accident, such as you getting hit by a automotive. When you’ve been injured, you’ve got lots at stake - however so does the insurance coverage company.

This extension of kindness and thoughtfulness is what separates good legal... Barry M. Chasen has over 30 years of legal expertise and has acquired an AV Preeminent ranking from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer score denoting the very best level of skilled excellence. He was additionally named to the National Trial Lawyers Top one hundred Trial Lawyers in 2013. CHASENBOSCOLO handles circumstances throughout Virginia, from main cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, and Newport News to smaller communities corresponding to Norton, Emporia, Covington, Buena Vista, and Galax. Our agency serves every county in the state from Fairfax County to Prince William County to Loudoun County and all over the place in between.

The lady was charged with two counts ofgrand larceny,abduction,credit card theft,obstruction of justice, andgiving a false identityto law enforcement officers. She is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center with out bond. The chief added LAPD does accident lawyer arlington va not have a preset limit on the number of instances an officer can use a taser throughout an encounter with a civilian. Moore claimed the officer then proceeded to dry stun Anderson 4 times in 33 seconds.

It additionally focuses on immigration law and helps clients file for naturalization and family-based petitions. Additionally, the law firm supplies notary companies, including powers of attorney, travel authorization, and translation. Lead lawyer Orlando A. Gamarra has been in authorized follow since 2001. At Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, we understand the unique challenges to bringing a declare for private harm resulting from a car accident. Recognized as a number of the greatest attorneys within the Commonwealth of Virginia, we make the most of our depth of trial expertise, data, and tireless dedication to your case to guarantee you achieve the outcome that you simply deserve. If you could have been injured or your property broken in a car accident, please contact our places of work today for a free session.

Even when you really feel you've walked away out of your accident unscathed, it is nonetheless important to get checked out by a well being professional. Some injuries, corresponding to mind harm, is in all probability not obvious at first as a result of adrenaline has been coursing by way of your physique, masking any ache. Health professionals can treat and doc your injuries. Doing this will prevent further injury and offer you proof that you can use in a court of law.

#accident lawyer

0 notes

transsolidarityproject · 4 hours ago

Text

Legal Resources, Part 4/4

Resources

Advocates for Trans Equality @ transequality.org / Trans-centered legal organization that provides case litigation, election endorsements, and policy lobbying. Formerly known as the National Center for Transgender Equality and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, A4TE operates both the Trans Legal Service Network (which connects users with steps on updating legal names and gender markers by state) and Trans Health Project at transhealthproject.org (which guides users through the healthcare insurance process to access care).

AIDS United @ aidsunited.org / National policy and advocacy organization that provides support and guidance related to HIV and AIDS. Their policy action center and resources connect users with tools on HIV issues.

American Bar Association @ americanbar.org / Membership organization that hosts online directories of pro bono and other free resources. abafreelegalanswers.org provides virtual legal advice at no cost.

American Civil Liberties Union @ aclu.org / Human rights organization that has aimed “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States” since 1920. ACLU has chapters in every state that takes on court battles and campaigns, and their website hosts simplified guides on LGBTQIA+ rights, HIV, disability, prisoners, religious liberty, free speech, immigration, voting rights, and more.

Black & Pink @ blackandpink.org / Social justice and prison abolition organization that serves LGBTQIA+ people affected by the justice system. Black & Pink operates several programs to best transition queer and transgender people from detention into civil society with the best chance for stable outcomes – including their immensely popular pen pal program that connects LGBTQIA+ inmates.

Equality Federation @ equalityfederation.org / Non-partisan lobby and policy organization centered on LGBTQIA+ legislation throughout the United States. Their state legislation trackers allow users to find up-to-date information on recent pro and anti-queer bills.

Erin in the Morning @ erininthemorning.com / Independent transgender reporter who gives regular updates to LGBTQIA+ legislation throughout the United States on various social media platforms like TikTok, Bluesky, Instagram, etc.

Family Caregiver Alliance @ caregiver.org / Provides legal support and resources to family caregivers through planning, wellness programs, consultation vouchers, and ongoing digital support through the FCA CareNav. FCA also provides in-depth information about the legal rights and concerns of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the caregiving process.

FindLaw @ findlaw.com / Online legal dictionary and law directory, allowing anyone to research federal, state, or local laws as well as find relevant legal forms.

Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders @ glad.org / Litigation defense that provides national representation to anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and cases. Also provides free and confidential legal assistance and referrals via GLAD Law Answers.

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network @ glsen.org / LGBTQIA+ organization that provides national support for queer and transgender students and educators in public schools. Offers case litigation and representation through its national and local branches, and provides state-by-state information at maps.glsen.org.

GLAAD @ glaad.org / American non-profit that works in media and legislation to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are fairly represented. Their accountability projects give media and entertainment industries guidance for LGBTQIA+ stories, as well as track the amount of representation versus censorship of queer identities in media per year.

Human Rights Campaign @ hrc.org / Civil rights organization that creates resources and guidance on LGBTQIA+ topics in addition to litigation and policy lobbying.

Immigrant Legal Resource Center @ ilrc.org / Network of attorneys, paralegals, and community-based advocates for immigrant justice within the United States. Offers legal information, ICE sightings and hotlines, a provider directory, and red cards to give immigrants easy access to show their rights regardless of language ability.

Immigration Equality @ immigrationequality.org / Legal assistance organization for LGBTQIA+ immigrants and immigrants living with HIV. Their Asylum Manual is a free resource over various laws, policies, and rights that apply to queer and transgender immigrants.

International Association of LGBTQ Judges @ lgbtqjudges.org / Worldwide collective of LGBTQIA+ judges that provides resources and funding to queer and transgender people aspiring to go into law.

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association @ ilga.org / Federation of nearly 2,000 organizations in over 160 countries around the world that work alongside the United Nations to ensure LGBTQIA+ people are given the basic human rights and dignity they deserve.

interACT @ interactadvocates.org / Youth-centered organization that works to end intersex human rights abuses across the world through legislation that values intersex bodily autonomy.

Justia @ justia.com / Collection of legal guides that explain laws, legal services, and policies around the world in everyday terms.

Lambda Legal @ lambdalegal.org / Advocacy and litigation organization that represents the interests of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States. Along with the ACLU and GLAD, Lambda Legal is one of the top organizations in the country fighting for queer and transgender rights.

LawHelp @ lawhelp.org / Program of Pro Bono Network to bring the power of law to everyone regardless of education or class. In addition to explaining the law in everyday terms, LawHelp and Pro Bono Net also provide legal assistance to immigrants via Immi and direct users to free legal documents as needed through LawHelp Interactive.

Legal Services Corporation @ lsc.gov / Independent nonprofit established by Congress to provide financial support and civil legal aid to low-income Americans. Their directory connects you to the nearest LSC-funded legal aid organization.

LGBTQ Victory Fund @ victoryfund.org / Political endorsement organization that supports LGBTQIA+ candidates seeking political office that align with pro-equality and pro-choice platforms.

Modern Military Association of America @ modernmilitary.org / Formerly known as the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Modern Military is the largest LGBTQIA+ military organization in the United States. Modern Military provides a variety of services, including litigation against anti-LGBTQIA+ laws.

Movement Advancement Project @ lgbtmap.org / Independent nonprofit think tank that ongoingly publishes research on LGBTQIA+ laws throughout the United States. MAP’s graphics offer general guidance on the number of protections or anti-LGBTQIA+ laws a state or territory has.

National Black Justice Coalition @ nbjc.org / The leading civil rights organization for Black LGBTQIA+ people in the United States, offering toolkits and resources in addition to political lobbying in favor of pro-queer and transgender rights.

National Center for Lesbian Rights @ nclrights.org / Despite the name, the National Center for Lesbian Rights is committed to advancing the civil and human rights of all LGBTQIA+ people through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force @ thetaskforce.org / The oldest national LGBTQIA+ rights organization in the United States that organizes census and voting campaigns as well as FedWatch, a network of over 400 organizations interested in federal policy advocacy.

National LGBTQ+ Bar Association @ lgbtqbar.org / National association of LGBTQIA+ lawyers, judges, law students, legal professionals, and affiliated legal organizations interested in promoting justice through diversity. The Association’s Affiliate Congress is a free directory of state voluntary bar associations for those seeking LGBTQIA+ legal counsel.

Resources

FindLaw @ findlaw.com / Online legal dictionary and law directory, allowing anyone to research federal, state, or local laws as well as find relevant legal forms.

Human Rights Campaign @ hrc.org / Civil rights organization that creates resources and guidance on LGBTQIA+ topics in addition to litigation and policy lobbying.

International Association of LGBTQ Judges @ lgbtqjudges.org / Worldwide collective of LGBTQIA+ judges that provides resources and funding to queer and transgender people aspiring to go into law.

interACT @ interactadvocates.org / Youth-centered organization that works to end intersex human rights abuses across the world through legislation that values intersex bodily autonomy.

Justia @ justia.com / Collection of legal guides that explain laws, legal services, and policies around the world in everyday terms.

LGBTQ Victory Fund @ victoryfund.org / Political endorsement organization that supports LGBTQIA+ candidates seeking political office that align with pro-equality and pro-choice platforms.

NMAC @ nmac.org /Also known as the National Minority AIDS Council, NMAC leads HIV policy and legislation related to communities of color. Their Advocacy 101 section guides users to become politically active and involved in local legislation with their elected representatives.

Nolo @ nolo.com / One of the world’s largest libraries of consumer-friendly legal information, available entirely for free. Nolo provides free information on all areas of law, and continues to sell the same legal advice books that made them famous in the 1970s with easily understandable language.

Outright Action International @ outrightinternational.org / Advocacy organization dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ human rights movement throughout the world. Outright Action engages with the United Nations to develop global programs and initiatives towards creating a safer world for LGBTQIA+ people.

Pride Law Fund @ pridelawfund.squarespace.com / Funding service that sponsors legal projects and services, as well as education and outreach that promote the legal rights of LGBTQIA+ people and people living with HIV.

Southern Poverty Law Center @ splcenter.org / Racial justice organization that researches American hate groups and bias-related crimes. The SPLC’s Hate Map lists and reports recent hate-motivated crimes throughout the country, with information about relevant organizations and court cases.

Sylvia Rivera Law Project @ srlp.org / Collective founded to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming. SRLP’s programs and legal assistance are geared towards transgender people who are at risk of homelessness, have criminal records, or are immigrants.

Transgender Law Center @ transgenderlawcenter.org / Litigation organization that offers legal services and representation to transgender people in the United States. TLC has a number of programs for transgender immigrants, people living with HIV, people with disabilities, and people of color. Their Prison Mail Program also connects transgender people in prison, jails, state hospitals, and other forms of detention with legal services via TLC.

Trans Legislation Tracker @ translegislation.com / Independent research organization that tracks bills related to transgender and nonbinary people in the United States through the work of academics and journalists that publish the Trans Legislation Tracker’s data.

Vote411 @ vote411.org / Program by the League of Women Voters Education Fund that serves as a “one-stop-shop” for everything election-related with nonpartisan information. Vote411 provides guidance on general and state elections, as well as voter rights, election dates, absentee ballots, early voting, candidates, ID requirements, polling locations, registration, and more.

VOTE.GOV @ vote.gov / The official website of the United States on voter registration and information, operated by the General Services Administration and US Election Assistance Commission. Vote.gov gives detailed information about voting rights and requirements – including whether you are a first-time voter, college student, homeless, active military member, or have a felony conviction.

Williams Institute at UCLA @ williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu / Independent research organization that conducts data on sexual orientation and gender identity in relation to law and public policy.

---

Enjoy this content and work? Consider helping out by sharing this blog or visiting transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com.

Know Your Rights: Legal Resources, Part 1/4

Looking for information about the law and your rights? Read up on what rights protect you - or skip to the end to find relevant court cases or resources.

Support the project by reblogging or visiting transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com. Updated last: 12/17/2024

Disclaimer: Most of these rights are centered on United States law. Please research your local laws and community organizations if you reside outside the US.

Glossary & Definitions

If there’s one thing people can agree on regarding the law, it’s that the legal system uses many confusing words with zero context for everyday people. Here are the top terms lawyers and legal experts want you to know.

PLAINTIFF: A person or group who initiates legal action by bringing up a lawsuit, claim, or complaint to court against someone else. Their job is to present their case, provide evidence, and seek some type of legal remedy – but they bear the “burden of proof,” which means they have to demonstrate that the defendant is responsible. Plaintiffs are in civil cases – court cases usually over money, injury, or personal rights between two groups. Criminal cases are led by government entities and use prosecutors instead of plaintiffs. In other words, anyone can be a plaintiff and go to civil court – only people representing the government such as “The United States of America” or “The State of Ohio” can lead criminal cases as prosecutors.

DEFENDANT: A person or group that a lawsuit has been filed against – someone else has filed legal action against you. In contrast to plaintiffs, defendants are in both civil and criminal cases and are given the task of defending themselves in court to undermine the plaintiff or prosecution’s allegations.

JURISDICTION: Whether or not a judge, court, or law has authority based on geographic location, subject matter, or the parties involved. GEOGRAPHIC JURISDICTION is based on the physical boundaries a law or court has power over. A court in Florida has the authority to pass judgment regarding a law in Florida, but they don’t have the authority to pass judgment on a case in Georgia. The legal system is separated into the federal (or national) level, state level, and local level – which is further separated into districts (also known as regions), counties, towns, and even neighborhoods. On the other end of the spectrum, cases involving international laws, wars, or countries themselves are judged in international court. Remember broad categories like international and national/federal refer to rights and laws that apply to everyone in the country, state rights and laws affect people who live in a specific state or territory, and local laws only apply in certain regions like cities or counties. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION is based on the subject matter the court case is actually about. Not all courts are equal – even if they’re considered to be at the same level. There are specific courts for family law, tax law, criminal law, intellectual property law, etc. For example, family law courts can’t pass judgment over intellectual property cases and vice versa. PERSONAL JURISDICTION makes geographic jurisdiction more complicated. Personal jurisdiction applies to individuals when they break a law or commit some grievance – even if they’re physically outside of the geographic jurisdiction of that law. Prosecutors have to prove that they have a right to pursue personal jurisdiction cases that reside outside of their geographic boundaries. Within current events, personal jurisdiction is the most common force behind crimes and penalties put upon people seeking abortions or gender-affirming care across state lines. ORIGINAL/APPELLATE JURISDICTION is based on which courts get to pass judgment over a case first. Original jurisdiction refers to courts that have the authority to hear a case first, whereas appellate jurisdiction is reserved for courts that have the authority to review the decisions made by lower original courts. Appellate courts can reverse cases or require a re-trial if they believe something went wrong the first time, but they don’t judge cases on their own.

DUE PROCESS: The minimum legal requirements that legal systems have to provide to ensure fair and impartial decisions. In the United States, this means individuals do not lose their right to life, liberty, or property without a fair hearing – individuals must be given the opportunity to present evidence, confront witnesses, and have legal representation.

DISCOVERY: The process where parties involved in a lawsuit exchange information and evidence related to a case. Within the pre-trial phase of a lawsuit, both sides of a case are entitled to gather and review facts, documents, and testimonies for their argument. The discovery process is meant to ensure a fair and transparent case with the best chance for a negotiable outcome.

PRECEDENT: A legal decision that sets a standard for future similar cases. Precedents are most common within common law systems like the United States compared to civil law systems like the European Union. Courts are still allowed to make decisions different than previous cases, but they have to argue why they are choosing to rule differently – precedent is one of the foundations within our legal system meant to create consistency and predictability.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: The time limit a legal claim or lawsuit must be filed to be considered valid. Claims have expiration dates, detailed by the subject matter, jurisdiction, and law – you have a set maximum time to file for alleged harm or risk your claim becoming lost. Statutes of limitations exist to provide certainty and finality to the law – as time passes, evidence is often lost and memories fade into less concise testimonies.

PRO BONO: Legal services that are provided for free or at a reduced rate to those in need. Pro bono work is most often performed by attorneys who want to provide aid to those who can’t traditionally afford it – like workers’ rights, immigration, civil rights, and criminal defense. It’s encouraged by most legal organizations and bar associations since it benefits the common good by allowing legal experts to give back to their communities.

And in case that wasn’t enough legal jargon for you, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts maintains an extended glossary of legal words on their website.

Everyone is born free and equal. Everyone is equal, regardless of race, color, language, religion, politics, or national origin. Everyone has the right to live in freedom and safety. Everyone has the right to be free from slavery. Everyone has the right to be free from torture. Everyone has the right to be recognized by the law. Everyone is considered equal before the law. Everyone has the right to a fair trial. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Everyone has the right to seek justice. Everyone has the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention, and exile. Everyone has the right to privacy and freedom from attacks on their reputation. Everyone has the right to movement. Everyone has the right to seek asylum. Everyone has the right to a nationality. Everyone has the right to marry and have a family, or not to. Everyone has the right to own property. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Everyone has the right to strike, as well as just and favorable conditions at work. Everyone has the right to equality between men and women. Everyone has the right to choose and accept work. Everyone has the right to be treated with humanity in detention. Everyone has the freedom from arbitrary expulsion, including non-citizens. Everyone has the freedom from child exploitation. Everyone has the right to public service and to take part in the government. Everyone has the right to social security. Everyone has the right to work, equal pay, protection from unemployment, and the right to unionize. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression and opinion. Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association. Everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, which includes food, clothing, housing, medical care and health, and social services. Everyone has the right to education. Everyone has the right to undertake scientific and creative research. Everyone has the right to culture, art, and science.

Even though the United States is a member of the United Nations, it’s only agreed and ratified FIVE human rights treaties: the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1994), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1994), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1992), Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (2002), and Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography (2002). The United States has signed but not fully ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1977), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1980), Convention on the Rights of the Child (1995), and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2009) – and failed to sign many, many others. This is largely why the United States has a growing list of human rights violations according to the international courts.

Did you know you can file a human rights violation?

If you believe any of your international rights as listed above have been violated, you’re entitled to file a formal complaint with the United Nations – regardless of whether you’re just one person, an entire community, or an organization. Filing a complaint is the first step in creating documentation that wrongdoing is taking place – we live in a world filled with bureaucracy, and the United States is one of many countries that would ideally like to erase any history of its wrongdoing. Complaints filed apply if your country is simply a member of the United Nations, regardless of whether they’ve ratified or signed a human rights treaty. As of the time of this article, there are 201 countries around the world – and 193 of them fall under this status as members of the UN.

---

Know Your Federal Rights

Federal laws apply throughout the entire United States, regardless of state or territory – or whichever country you’re living in. In addition to international rights, these laws and rights also apply – but there is no singular list since there are hundreds of laws passed each year. The following is a condensed version of rights guaranteed by the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Everyone has the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Everyone has the right to not house soldiers during times of peace. Everyone has the right to a fair trial among their peers in both criminal and civil court and cannot be penalized for the same crime twice. Everyone has the right to not be a witness against themselves under oath. Everyone has the right to a speedy and public trial with an impartial jury. Everyone has the right to confront witnesses against themselves in court. Everyone has the freedom from excessive bail and fines as well as cruel and unusual punishments. Everyone has the right to become the President of the United States, as long as they are native-born United States citizens. Everyone has the right to vote, as long as they are a United States citizen, regardless of race, color, gender, or class. Everyone has the right to bear firearms and form militias. Everyone has the right to property, home, and self and cannot be searched without a warrant or probable cause. Everyone has the right to not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without a fair trial. Everyone has freedom from property being taken for public use without fair compensation. Everyone has the right to be fully informed of alleged crimes held against them. Everyone has the right to legal representation and counsel, even if they cannot afford one. Everyone has the right to serve as a member of Congress, as long as they are United States citizens. Everyone has the freedom from slavery outside of criminal punishment.

Rights explicitly granted in the United States Constitution have the greatest authority: the Constitution is used to determine whether various laws, ordinances, and orders passed are legal. If a court believes a law goes against the Constitution, that law will be made void. However, amendments (or official revisions/additions) to the Constitution are difficult to make – they require a two-thirds majority vote in Congress and must be ratified by three-fourths of US states. The Constitution has the greatest amount of power, followed by court cases decided by the Supreme Court, then national laws passed in Congress, executive orders through the President’s administration, and finally state and local laws. Given the power of the Constitution, an Equal Rights Amendment has been proposed on and off since 1971 to cement many of the rights given (and taken away) by court cases like Roe v. Wade, Loving v. Virginia, Lawrence v. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodges.

---

Know Your Federal LGBTQIA+ Rights

SAME SEX ACTIVITY

Same-sex sexual activity has been federally decriminalized since 2003 when sodomy laws were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas. As a result, all anti-sodomy laws in the United States were rendered unenforceable regarding private, consensual settings. Additionally, sodomy laws were removed from the United States military in 2014 through the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Other relevant court cases include National Gay Task Force v. Board of Education and United States v. Marcum.

Disclaimer: Lawrence v. Texas was one of the named cases by the US Supreme Court to be revisited and possibly overturned after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. In the event Lawrence v. Texas was overturned, any type of sex not meant for procreation or reproduction would automatically be criminalized in states and territories that did not repeal their sodomy laws before 2003. This includes Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, and Texas.

Although there are no federal laws protecting LGBTQIA+ people’s access to equal domestic and sexual violence programs, all US states have included clauses giving equal rights to those programs to unmarried individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

AGE OF CONSENT

The age of consent refers to the minimum age an individual must be to consent to sexual activity. Some age of consent laws depend on the exact age of those involved, while others depend on whether there is a difference in power and authority. Additional exceptions apply if someone is unable to give consent due to duress, substance use, illness, or developmental disability.

The federal age of consent is 18 – although the federal limitation rarely applies. The federal age is only used in cases where the sexual activity involved federal property, if state lines were crossed, or if the solicitation was online. Instead, the age of consent varies (typically between the ages of 16 to 18) based on state. More exemptions exist to state age of consent laws, such as Romeo and Juliet laws which place the age of consent as low as 13 in some states. The only state with an age of consent higher than 18 is the state of Washington, which has a general age of consent of 16 but an additional law barring sexual relationships between school teachers, administration, and other employees with students under the age of 21.

All US states have an equal age of consent for both heterosexual sex and queer sex, placing LGBTQIA+ people within the same laws and protections regarding statutory rape. This is not necessarily the case elsewhere in the world – in 2019, the age of consent for cisgender heterosexual teenagers in Chile was 14 while the age of consent for LGBTQIA+ teenagers was 18.

Lastly, there are several federal laws that regulate the distribution of sexual materials. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 bans the electronic access of obscene material to anyone under the age of 18, whereas Title 18 United States Code Section 1470 outlaws material through the US mail system, interstate, or foreign commerce to those under 16. These laws and restrictions also penalize minors, who can be charged for sexting other minors or possessing sexual material of themselves.

PERFORMANCE

There are currently no federal bans or restrictions on drag performance – throughout most of the United States, drag performance is regulated the same as other non-sexual dance and performance arts with specific limitations for when (and if) a drag performance is sexual. At the time of this article, six states have enacted laws to potentially restrict drag performances. - Arkansas = SB 43 (2023) purposely uses language to potentially restrict drag performance as an “adult” or “sexual” business but does not explicitly ban drag. Florida = SB 1438 (2023) purposely uses language to potentially restrict drag performance as an “adult” or “sexual” business. However, SB 1438 has been blocked by federal court since June 2023 as unconstitutional HM Florida-Orlando v. Florida) – but Florida plans to override and appeal this ruling. Montana = HB 359 (2023) explicitly restricts drag performance and is used in conjunction with HB 234 (2023) to also restrict other LGBTQIA+ content via obscenity law. However, HB 359 has been blocked by federal court since July 2023 as unconstitutional (Imperial Sovereign Court et al v. Knudsen). North Dakota = HB 1333 (2023) purposely uses language to potentially restrict drag performance as an “adult” or “sexual” business. Tennessee = SB 3 (2023) and HB 9 (2023) explicitly restricts drag performance. However, SB 3 and HB 9 have been unenforceable since a federal court order in March 2023 and ruling in June 2023 as unconstitutional (Friends of George’s Inc. v. Mulroy) – but Tennessee may still choose to override and appeal this ruling. Texas = SB 12 (2023) purposely uses language to potentially restrict drag performance as an “adult” or “sexual” business. However, SB 12 has been blocked through federal court rulings in August 2023 and September 23 as unconstitutional (Woodlands Pride et al v. Colmenero et al, Vortex Repertory Co. et al v. Colmenero et al) – but Texas may still choose to override and appeal this ruling.

Most material in the United States is evaluated by the “Miller test” from Miller v. California, Smith v. United States (1977) and Pope v. Illinois (1987). Courts use the Miller test to determine whether a material is legally permissible in the United States if

The average person would find the material erotic, lascivious, abnormal, unhealthy, degrading, shameful, or morbid using contemporary adult community standards,

The average person would find the material offensive using contemporary adult community standards,

AND the average person would find the material has zero serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Material (sexual or otherwise) can only be banned in the United States if it fulfills all three components of the Miller test – although material can be restricted to ensure it cannot be accessed by minors. Other major rights and court cases related to drag bans and performance censorship include One, Inc. v. Olesen and Manual Enterprises, Inc. v. Day, which use the Miller test to permit adult LGBTQIA+ material in the United States.

QUEER MARRIAGE

Same-sex, queer, or gay marriage has been federally legalized in the United States since 2015 through the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. All states must issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples in the same matter heterosexual couples are issued licenses. Additional court cases on marriage equality include In re Guardianship of Sharon Kowalski, Baehr v. Miike, Baker v. Vermont, Hollingsworth v. Perry, United States v. Windsor, V.L. v. E.L., and Ely v. Saul.

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, giving additional protection to same-sex and interracial marriage in the event that Obergefell v. Hodges or Loving v. Virginia is overturned in the same manner as Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. It also repealed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which barred same-sex couples from receiving the same marriage benefits heterosexual couples received such as Social Security and tax benefits. However, the majority of states (31 in total) have statutory or constitutional bans on same-sex marriage if the protections of the Respect for Marriage Act and Obergefell v. Hodges were lost. Although there are no federal laws protecting LGBTQIA+ people’s access to equal domestic and sexual violence programs, all US states have included clauses giving equal rights to those programs to unmarried individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Further, the Violence Against Women Act supports all survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking – regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. VAWA grants access to various violence programs, such as crisis centers, legal aid, education, support groups, hotlines, counseling, housing, etc. VAWA agencies cannot discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people, just as they cannot discriminate against race, national origin, religion, or disability.

VAWA agencies are open to all men, women, and nonbinary people affected by sexual and domestic violence. Another client complaining about being around a transgender person does not give the program an excuse to discriminate – alternative accommodations can be made, but cannot limit services based on a “heckler’s veto.”

FAMILY

Through the ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, married same-sex couples have the same benefits and rights granted to heterosexual married couples. Since adoption laws vary drastically by state, there are many different paths available for couples seeking to pursue a family – such as second-parent or co-adoption, stepparent adoption, assisted reproduction, functional parent doctrines, and voluntary acknowledgment of parentage. The only form of adoption and custody protected at the federal level is marital presumption, where a person is assumed as a parent of a child not by biological relationship but because they are married to the biological or legal parent. Relevant cases related to LGBTQIA+ adoption and family issues include Finstuen v. Edmondson, Benitez v. North Coast Women’s Care Medical Group, United States v. Windsor, V.L. v. E.L., Pavan v. Smith, Mize-Gregg v. Pompeo, Kiviti v. Pompeo, Ely v. Saul, and Fulton v. City of Philadelphia. If you think your rights have been violated, get in touch with your ACLU state office.

The type and amount of information an adoptive family receives from the birth family is regulated at the state level, as are putative father registry laws. The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 sets federal minimum requirements on adoption procedures, while the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994 federally prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin and the Indian Child Welfare Act ensures tribal rights and involvement in Native American adoptions. Despite not being a federal law, the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children is a statutory agreement between all US states regarding the transfer and placement of children between states, and all US states have safe haven laws to protect birthmothers the ability to legally and confidentially relinquish newborns in designated locations.

Nondiscrimination in adoption services based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not protected by the federal government – and while same-sex couples are permitted to adopt in all US states, each state has its own rules regarding discrimination and who is qualified to adopt a child. The majority of adoption agencies deem couples eligible based on their personal standards of what is in the best interest of the child, although Fulton v. City of Philadelphia establishes legal protection against anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination in government-sanctioned foster care agencies.

Biological children of US citizens are automatically given United States citizenship, regardless of whether their own citizenship is through birthright or naturalization. This does not necessarily apply to children born abroad from naturalized citizens, although this is currently protected through the court decisions in Mize-Gregg v. Pompeo and Kiviti v. Pompeo.

Transgender individuals are not automatically covered by the same protections as same-sex couples. There are no federal laws that protect custody rights or discrimination in child-related custody. Custody is determined by family law based on the “fitness” of each parent to raise a child during separation, which varies based on the local court deciding over the case. While a parent being transgender has not been shown to cause any harm to a child or their upbringing, transgender status is often discriminated against in court based on “mental or social harm” to the child to take away custody and visitation rights.

CENSORSHIP

There are no federal restrictions that censor LGBTQIA+ topics, issues, or identities, also known as “Don’t Say Gay” laws. The First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech grants protection at all levels, including public, private, and professional.

The recent spike of anti-LGBTQIA+ curriculum laws has created censorship within public schools in certain states such as Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Montana, Arizona, Arkansas, and Tennessee do not fully censor LGBTQIA+ topics in school but instead require parental notification for an opt-out program of instruction. These laws are largely based on repealed Section 28 of the British Local Government Act 1988 which prohibited material and figures in the government from “intentionally promoting” LGBTQIA+ identities and topics. As of the time of this article, all LGBTQIA+ censorship laws related to minors and education, such as the above “Don’t Say Gay” laws and book bans target schools and libraries that interact with young people. These censorship laws have not gone to federal court, but their legality varies on the court’s distinction between educators’ right to free speech and develop curriculum versus states’ right to mandate censorship.

The majority of anti-LGBTQIA+ censorship not related to education in the United States is done privately by corporations rather than legislation out of fear of losing business contacts in countries with LGBTQIA+ censorship laws in place, such as China and Russia. The Hays Code, or Motion Picture Production Code, was the main censorship guideline that prevented LGBTQIA+ portrayals in media - however, the Hays Code was not official legislation, but rather guidelines followed by the film industry as a whole until the Hays Code was abandoned in 1968.

EDUCATION

Within United States public schools, LGBTQIA+ students have the federal right to speak openly about their gender identity and sexual orientation under the First Amendment Freedom of Speech and Tinker v. Des Moines (1969). Additionally, LGBTQIA+ students have the federal right to form queer student-led organizations like GSAs (Gay-Straight or Gender-Sexuality Alliances) in public schools that facilitate extracurricular activities via the Equal Access Act of 1984 and Colín v. Orange Unified School District (2000) - all students and student organizations must have the same access and opportunities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or political affiliation. These rights are maintained even in states like Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina where "Don't Say Gay" laws are in place - while some states are regulating the ability of school staff to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues with students, students have the well-established right to express themselves. The majority of legal issues involving students should be directed at GLSEN, Lambda Legal, or the ACLU.

In a similar vein, public schools that allow students to wear clothing with written messages or graphics (ex. T-shirts, buttons, hats) must not discriminate based on the message unless it can prove the message is verbally abusive, promotes illegal drug use, is especially lewd or profane, or will cause genuine and substantial disruption to teaching. As supported by the 2012 decision in Couch v. Wayne Local School District, schools are not allowed to censor or ban students' materials because they include an LGBTQIA+ theme unless they ban all clothing and materials that contain messages entirely.

The federal courts have set a high bar for what schools are allowed to censor as "disruptive," and the burden of proof falls on the school to prove. While LGBTQIA+ topics might be controversial, Hatcher v. DeSoto County Board of Education (2013) proved controversial topics are not disruptive enough to warrant censorship. The threats and harassment by other students, parents, or teachers also do not qualify for the federal standard for censorship within public schools and schools are not allowed to veto a student-led LGBTQIA+ organization on that basis, as determined by Nabozny v. Podlesny (1996), Flores v. Morgan Hill Unified School District (2003), and Romer v. Evans (1996). Instead, these court decisions set the federal regulation that public schools are required to intervene and take disciplinary action against the harasser since "there is no constitutional right to be a bully" and there is no "heckler's veto" regarding the law. Like non-LGBTQIA+ students, queer students have the same right to report harassment and bullying as well as for their schools to intervene on their behalf.

United States public schools are not legally allowed to enforce gender-based dress codes based on biological or assumed sex - while schools are allowed to require dress codes, public schools are required by federal law to allow students to choose any of the dress options available despite associated gender roles through Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. File a Title IX violation here.

LGBTQIA+ students hold the same rights to attend school functions (such as school dances, field trips, athletic games, etc.) as their cisgender heterosexual counterparts, per the federal case Fricke v. Lynch (1980) through the understanding of same-sex relationships as a type of free speech. As mentioned above, schools are additionally required to intervene in the event of harassment by other students, parents, or teachers - abusive, violent, and intolerant speech is not covered within the free speech given to public schools, and schools have the responsibility to intervene. Further, public schools are barred from punishing LGBTQIA+ students and relationships more heavily than cisgender heterosexual ones on behaviors such as public displays of affection.

"To rule otherwise [in Fricke v. Lynch] would completely subvert free speech in the schools by granting other students a 'heckler's veto,' allowing them to decide through prohibited and violent methods what speech will be heard. The first amendment does not tolerate mob rule by unruly school children... the school does have an obligation to take reasonable measures to protect and foster free speech, not to stand helpless before unauthorized student violence." - "Fricke v. Lynch, 491 F. Supp. 381," by Chief Judge Pettine

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires public schools to keep personal identifying information about students private - including sexual orientation and gender identity. School staff are not allowed to share students' medical histories or information with other students, teachers, parents, etc., and doing so is seen as putting the student in potential danger and outing them. However, parents and legal guardians have the additional right to access and view school records of their minors until the end of high school - which is why some US states have enacted laws requiring school staff to out LGBTQIA+ students to their parents or guardians, even if they are not legally allowed to share that information elsewhere.

It is up to each state's discretion whether to require school staff to use chosen names and pronouns of transgender and nonbinary students, or ban such use and require staff to use legal names and pronouns as correlated based on their sex assigned at birth. There are no federal laws or court cases that protect transgender students in this way, although there may be executive orders depending on the presidential administration. Legal names and medical information only have to be used on a select few documents and are not required for the vast majority of items. While it is best practice to use the chosen name, title, and pronouns on transgender students' paperwork, emails, uniforms, and other identifying information, the United States currently has no binding requirements to mandate their use on the federal level. While most consider purposely misgendering or deadnaming transgender students as harassment and discrimination, this has not been specifically coded into any laws or federal cases. Most public schools use outdated systems that make updating student information to reflect chosen identities difficult, but a task being complicated does not warrant denying a student's rights.

While many states have explicit laws regarding bullying and harassment of LGBTQIA+ students, all American public school students are protected from bullying on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity through Fricke v. Lynch, Nabozny v. Podlesny, Colín v. Orange Unified School District, Henkle v. Gregory, and Flores v. Morgan Hill Unified School District. Public schools have a legal duty to intervene when witnessing any form of bullying, harassment, and other forms of discrimination – including anti-LGBTQIA+ bullying. Failure to do so has been well-established as negligence to student safety, regardless of whether the harassment occurred during school hours, on a field trip, the bus ride from school, afterschool functions, or official online spaces.

Transgender students have the right to use the restroom at school that best aligns with their chosen gender identity, and cannot be forced to use the restroom based on their sex assigned at birth – the federal case Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District established this right for both gender-segregated restrooms and locker rooms. Additionally, transgender students are protected under the Equal Access Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Despite this, several states have banned transgender people from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity in school spaces, including K-12 schools, colleges, and government buildings – although these bans have not been judged for their constitutionality in the Supreme Court. Additionally, each state has varying laws on whether transgender students must “prove” their ability to use the restroom or locker room of their choice – which may include medical diagnoses or transition-related care. Gender-affirming medical care such as hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers are not legal in all US states and are the primary focus of the 2025 Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti. Under the Equal Access Act, all gender-neutral restrooms must be of the same standard as gender-segregated restrooms – best practices guide schools include allowing transgender and nonbinary students to choose to use gender-neutral restrooms rather than requiring them, although this is not encoded into any laws or court cases.

As mentioned under Censorship, some states have laws that outlaw LGBTQIA+ topics within public schools – also known as “Don’t Say Gay” or “No Promo Homo” laws. While most of these laws have tried to ban LGBTQIA+ educators and Gay-Straight/Gender-Sexuality Alliances, they have only been able to restrict LGBTQIA+ topics from being officially discussed in class – sexual orientation and gender identity are protected within Employment below and GSAs are covered within students’ right to free speech and assembly. Other states, such as Illinois, have curriculum mandates that require public schools to teach inclusive history and sex education in public schools at the same time “Don’t Say Gay” states increasingly ban books that contain LGBTQIA+ themes, characters or color, or other controversial topics. While these laws have not been taken to the Supreme Court, LGBTQIA+ students should have the right to inclusive education and materials under the Equal Access Act, since LGBTQIA+ resources and online materials like campuspride.org, glsen.org, or gsanetwork.org should not be banned on school internet or devices unless non-LGBTQIA+ resources are similarly regulated.

EMPLOYMENT

After the Supreme Court decisions in 2020 over Bostock v. Clayton County, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, and Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, sexual orientation and gender identity became protected classes from employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This protects LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination during hiring, firing, promotions, training, work assignments, pay, benefits, discipline, and other terms of employment regardless of employer type (ex. private, public, government, etc.) as long as the employer has at least 15 employees. File a Title VII violation here.

Due to the decision in Bostock, sex-based harassment under the Civil Rights Act includes anti-transgender remarks, jokes, and derogatory comments. Invasive personal questions as well as repeated and/or intentional use of the wrong name and pronouns also fall under the federal protections of the Civil Rights Act. Employers are not allowed to disclose your LGBTQIA+ status without your consent, and cannot prevent you from being out.

While the United States does not have any federal protections or legislation for LGBTQIA+ people beyond those Supreme Court cases, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission currently bans sex-related discrimination related to sexual orientation or gender identity – however, like all federal agencies, this policy can be revoked relatively easily depending on the presidential administration similar to the number of executive orders currently protecting LGBTQIA+ employment.

3 notes · View notes

wilwheaton · 4 years ago

Quote

The second cultural formation that functions as a toxic pedagogical force in American culture is a brand of religious fundamentalism that “has turbocharged the support among Trump loyalists, many of whom describe themselves as participants in a kind of holy war.” Largely made up of white evangelical Christians and other Christians, this form of religious fundamentalism has become a solid mainstay of the Republican Party as it has moved into an ideological position that is aligned with extremist anti-democratic authoritarian policies, values and practices. Not only does it collapse the line between religion and the state, but it also advocates a theocratic model of politics that Chris Hedges has labeled as an American form of fascism. The most extreme elements of the white-evangelical movement embrace a militaristic ideology that is central to radical extremists’ groups such as the “boogaloo” boys who view themselves as participants in a holy war. Former Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy at the Department of Homeland Security Elizabeth Neumann argues that Christian nationalism has become pervasive among white evangelicals. She states that increasingly, large segments of this group view “America as God’s chosen nation [and] believe the United States has a covenant with God, and that if it is broken, the nation risks literal destruction — analogous to the siege of Jerusalem in the Hebrew Bible. In the eyes of these believers, that covenant is threatened by cultural changes like taking prayer out of public schools and legalizing abortion and gay marriage. This extremist religious movement functions as an educational and political force that legitimizes the worst forms of bigotry, wages war on reproductive rights and same-sex marriages, pushes creationism in the schools, is anti-science, and perpetuates a rigid moralism and messianic view of the world that promotes a disdain for critical thinking and progressive forms of education. At the same time, it has played a crucial role in supporting Trump’s toxic policies that include putting immigrant children in sordid detention centers, imposing a reign of terror on people of color, bungling the COVID-19 response, and supporting the intersection of anti-intellectualism, antisemitism and systemic racism. This is a conservative movement that lives in circles of certainty, and adherents believe that they are fighting a war between the forces of evil and good. This is more than a perilous binary; it is also a prescription for a lethal form of ignorance that supports both a form of Christian nationalism and a white nationalism aligned with the toxic notion of “blood and soil.” Hedges makes a compelling case in labeling white Christian leaders as fascist by pointing to their call to make “America a Christian state,” the cult of personality that they support, their authoritarian denial of equal rights to non-Christians and their belief in “cleansing power of apocalyptic violence.”

Threat of Authoritarianism Is No Longer on the Horizon: It’s Arrived in the GOP

401 notes · View notes

regular-things · 5 years ago

Photo

Here are some of the bail funds and other organizations fighting against police injustice:

National

LGBTQ Fund: Bail fund providing relief to jailed LGBTQ people in 15 states and counting. Mission: “Each day, tens of thousands of LGBTQ people are held in jail or immigration detention because they cannot afford bail — for immigration status or charges like sleeping in public. With your help, the Freedom Fund posts bail to secure their release and safety.”

Campaign Zero: Organization that utilizes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in the U.S. Mission: “Over 1,000 people are killed by police every year in America. We are calling on local, state, and federal lawmakers to take immediate action to adopt data-driven policy solutions to end this violence and hold police accountable.”

Unicorn Riot: Nonprofit media collective dedicated to exposing the root causes of social, economic, and environmental issues. Mission: “Our work is dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues through amplifying stories and exploring sustainable alternatives in today’s globalized world.”

Minnesota

George Floyd Memorial Fund: The official GoFundMe to support the Floyd family. Mission: “This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.”

Minnesota Freedom Fund: Community-based fund set up to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for individuals who have been arrested while protesting police brutality. This has become one of the most prominent bail funds, providing relief to protesters in Minneapolis seeking justice for George Floyd. Mission: “We stand against cash bail as unjust and identify wealth-based discrimination as a vehicle for the criminal justice system to target populations for structural violence.”

Black Visions Collective: Minnesota-based black, trans, and queer-led organization committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence. Mission: “We aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core ‘DNA’ to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota’s emerging black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long-term success and transformation.”

Reclaim the Block: Coalition that advocates for and invests in community-led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighborhoods. Mission: “We believe health, safety, and resiliency exist without police of any kind. We organize around policies that strengthen community-led safety initiatives and reduce reliance on police departments.”

California

Peoples City Council Freedom Fund: Los Angeles-based fund helping to pay for legal support, bail, fines, and court fees for arrested protesters in the city, as well as medical bills and transportation for injured protesters, supplies for field medics, and direct support to L.A.’s Black Lives Matter chapter. Mission: “As the mayor and city council have sought to increase the LAPD’s budget during a pandemic, and as police around the country continue to kill innocent people of color, we have taken to the street to protest the funding of state sanctioned murder.”

Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America Bail Fund: The Oakland/San Jose chapter of DSA is currently allocating donations to a temporary bail fund, as well as a COVID-19 aid fund. Mission: “Money in the fund may be used at the discretion of the committee for the following purposes: to pay bail, fines, or legal fees; to provide jail support; to pay for closely related expenses.”

Colorado

Colorado Freedom Fund: Providing bail relief to protesters and other individuals across the state of Colorado. CFF has also been providing protest updates on its webpage. Mission: “Founded in 2018, Colorado Freedom Fund (CFF) is a revolving fund that pays ransom (posts money bond, pays cash bail) for people unable to afford the cost of buying their own freedom.”

Florida

Free Them All: Fund organized by the group Fempower to post bond in Miami.

Georgia

Atlanta Solidarity Fund: Action Network fund set up to support the George Floyd protesters with both bail and necessary legal relief. Mission: “This fundraiser is for bail expenses for those arrested. Any surplus funds will go toward their legal defense, and to support arrestees at other protests.”

Buy Black Atlanta: Community group fund to support and repair black-owned businesses in Atlanta that were damaged during the protests.

Illinois

Chicago Community Bond Fund: Organization committed to posting bail for individuals in Cook County, Illinois, who are unable to post bail themselves. Mission: Through a revolving fund, CCBF supports individuals whose communities cannot afford to pay the bonds themselves and who have been impacted by structural violence.

Kentucky

Louisville Community Bail Fund: Bail, legal, and support fund for activists in Louisville. Mission: “The Louisville Community Bail Fund exists to not only bail out folks, but provide post-release support to get them from jail, fed, and to a situation of safety. LCBF also maintains a focus on preventative measures for those targeted by law enforcement and threatened with incarceration.”

Louisiana

New Orleans Safety and Freedom Fund: Community fund for bail, jail fees, fines, and drug testing fees in New Orleans. Mission: “Together, we will make New Orleans a safer, more equitable place to live, by redesigning the role money plays in the criminal justice system.”

Maryland

Baltimore Action Legal Team: Bail fund and legal relief for the city of Baltimore, with a focus on black activists. Mission: “BALT is committed to building the power of the local Movement for Black Lives. We take our direction from community-organizing groups who are on the ground, and we respect the leadership of local activists. BALT is committed to anti-racist practices and to black leadership. BALT is dedicated to politically-conscious lawyering and to using creative, collective solutions to support the Movement for Black Lives in Baltimore.”

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Bail Fund: Working to post bails up to $2,000 in Essex and Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts. Mission: “The Massachusetts Bail Fund pays up to $2,000 bail so that low-income people can stay free while they work towards resolving their case, allowing individuals, families, and communities to stay productive, together, and stable.”

Michigan

Detroit Bail Fund: Bail fund launched by a local activist to provide relief to the city’s protesters. Mission: “Funds donated will support BailProject.org and others who assist detained individuals in the release from jail. Your dollar will be contributed to supporting the protests, as well as getting people out of jail who were detained.”

Missouri

Kansas City Community Bail Fund: Committed to posting bail for those arrested to Kansas City. Mission: “Our mission is to give those who cannot afford bail a fighting chance at getting a positive outcome in their case rather than be persuaded to plead out through the use of a revolving fund. We want those detained pretrial to be given a chance to keep their jobs, their spot in school, their housing, and provide care for their children, while maintaining their presumed innocence, rather than sitting in local or county jail costing the taxpayers and themselves money. By doing so, we will be advocating for bail reform and ending mass incarceration by example.”

Nebraska

Neighbors for Common Good: Organization providing bail to protesters in Omaha, Nebraska.

New York

Brooklyn Bail Fund: Community bail fund for Brooklyn’s incarcerated individuals. The nonprofit recently pivoted its focus to bail reform, but organizers have committed to helping those arrested in this week’s protests and are providing support to other bail funds across the country – read their full statement on the George Floyd protests here. Mission: “We are committed to challenging the criminalization of race, poverty, and immigration status, the practice of putting a price on fundamental rights, and the persistent myth that bail is a necessary element of the justice system.”

May 2020 Buffalo Bail Fund: Fundraiser set up to provide bail for those protesting in Buffalo, New York. Mission: “In mourning and in solidarity, many people in Buffalo and other cities across the country have taken to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd and other black and brown people killed by police. This fund supports bail requirements for demonstrators arrested while doing this work here in Buffalo.”

Ohio

Columbus Freedom Fund: Bail fund committed to helping those arrested for protesting in Columbus.

Oregon

PDX Protest Bail Fund: GoFundMe established by the General Defense Committee Local 1 to bail protesters out in Portland. Mission: “The Portland General Defense Committee (https://pdxgdc.com/) has provided ongoing legal support to workers and protesters in Oregon since 2017, relying on over a century of national experience. The GDC works in connection with the National Lawyers Guild and other Portland-based organizations.”

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Bail Fund: Bail fund providing relief to protesters in the city of Philadelphia, with the long-term goal of bringing an end to cash bail. Mission: “We are committed to providing direct bail assistance to Philadelphia protesters participating in actions to ensure their safe return home.”

Bukit Bail Fund of Pittsburgh: Organization founded after the preventable death of Frank “Bukit” Smart Jr., in Allegheny County Jail, working to bail out individuals currently incarcerated in ACJ. Mission: “The Bukit Bail Fund of Pittsburgh is a coalition of individuals and organizations striving to provide support for those incarcerated at Allegheny County Jail, located in Pittsburgh. We hope to not just provide bail, but also to increase our capacity for supporting people after they have been released.”

Tennessee

Nashville Bail Fund: Nonprofit committed to freeing low-income individuals from jail in the city of Nashville. Mission: “The Nashville Community Bail Fund frees low-income persons from jail, connects with their loved ones, and works to end wealth-based detention through community partnerships.”

Texas

Restoring Justice Community Bail Fund: A partnership between Restoring Justice, the Bail Project and Pure Justice to provide bail relief in Houston, initially set up as a response to COVID-19. Mission: “Restoring Justice is partnering with the Bail Project and Pure Justice to use donations to pay bail for people in need during the Covid-19 pandemic at no cost to them or their loved ones.”

Luke 4:18 Bail Fund: Bail fund overseen by Faith in Texas committed to posting bail for individuals in Dallas. Mission: “The Luke 4:18 Bail Fund is partnering with faith communities, currently and formerly incarcerated people, families impacted by the legal justice system, and funders to drastically reduce the jail population in Dallas County.”

400+1 Bail Fund: Bail fund originally created to assist a black man arrested in Austin who feared he could catch COVID-19 in jail. The fund is now being directed toward protesters in the city. Mission: “This bail fund was originally created to crowdfund resources for one black man too poor to make bail while fearing for his life due to the COVID outbreak. As demonstrations erupt around the nation, we are increasing our ask and reach. Additional funds will be used as a general bail fund to support the legal needs of comrades on the ground.”

Project Roar: Community fund dedicated to providing resources and outreach programs to Texas’ rural areas. They’ve expanded their services to include emergency jail and bail. Mission: “Some of the most marginalized and neglected communities are in your city, but also lie in the county areas outside the city limits. The need for services in rural areas is often overlooked. Engaging the community will include canvassing and blockwalking, phonebanking and word of mouth, public service announcements and community service announcements, etc.”

San Antonio Freedom Fund: Community fund set up to directly go towards arrested demonstrators in the city. Mission: “Every year countless unarmed black and brown men are humiliated, beaten, and murdered by militarized police. On May 30th, San Antonio will seek justice. The threat of arrest is real. We need your support. Please consider donating to our bail fund. All proceeds will go directly to the arrested demonstrators.”

Virginia

Richmond Community Bail Fund: Community group dedicated to freeing jailed individuals in Richmond who can’t make bail. Mission: “The Richmond Community Bail Fund exists to restore the presumption of innocence to defendants so they don’t lose their jobs, families, and critical services while also reducing the financial burden on our community of detaining citizens prior to their day in court.”

Washington

Northwest Community Bail Fund: Providing cash bail to arrested individuals in the Seattle metropolitan area. Mission: “The Northwest Community Bail Fund (NCBF) provides cash bail for marginalized people charged with crimes who are unable to afford bail and find themselves incarcerated while awaiting routine court appearances in King and Snohomish Counties in Washington State.”

Wisconsin

Milwaukee Freedom Fund: Bail fund for black and brown organizers in Milwaukee. Donations are currently on pause so as to administer the funds they’ve already received, but the webpage includes a list of similar local organizations to donate to instead. Mission: “The Milwaukee Freedom Fund was started by Black and Brown Milwaukee organizers who want to see residents supported as they assert their right to protest for justice. We are raising money and gathering resources for bail, court-related costs, rides, food, water, and other needs, as the community struggles for liberation.”

Outside the U.S.

Toronto Protestor Bail Fund: Toronto activists are holding their own Black Lives Matter protests over the death of Regis Korchinski and have set up this bail fund for those arrested. Mission: “In light of today’s protest we are looking to generate funding to release and support protesters who end up incarcerated. This bail fund includes any legal fees that may be incurred.”

#BLM

351 notes · View notes

trans-advice · 4 years ago

Link

[NOTE: we changed the bullets to numbers in order to help with readability of this relatively long post. there is no other purpose for the list numbering.]

Redistribute resources to support Black trans liberation and survival! Split a donation to all the orgs listed on this page OR allocate specific amounts to individual groups. Then be sure to share this page once you're done.

**All funds donated go directly to the groups listed via ActBlue. Feel free to reach out to them if you have any questions**

Last week, many people shared that it was hard to track down a centralized place to find a list of specifically Black trans groups. This page is part of an effort to create an easier way for people to find and donate specifically to Black trans work and people right now. We know that this list is not complete, and it will be continually updated. If you have questions or would like to add an org in your area to this page, please email: [email protected].

The groups listed in this first section only accept donations through PayPal, CashApp, or Venmo. Please support their important work by clicking over to their websites here:

Trans Sistas of Color Project Detroit: Exists to uplift, impact and influence that lives and welfare of transgender women of color in Detroit.

En-Poder-Arte (Colombia) Founded by an Afro-Colombian trans woman and other trans women of color. A few months ago, they launched a community house, which provides safe housing to Black trans women and trans women of color.

F2L Relief Fund: Provides commissary support (and legal representation & financial assistance) for incarcerated LGBTQ and Two-Spirit POC in NY State.

Middle Tennessee Black and Indigenous Support Fund: A community fund for Black and Indigenous queer and trans folks living and participating in rural Middle TN, with a goal to foster wealth redistribution in its larger community, direct the funds to Black and Indigenous community members, and build the leadership of Black and Indigenous community members.

Tournament Haus Fund: Mutual Aid fund for protestors and Trans/NonBinary BIPOC in the ballroom scene in Portland/Tacoma/Seattle.

TAKE Birmingham: A peer support group for trans women of color to come together and share their narratives. Also organizing around discrimination in the workplace, housing advocacy, & support for sex workers.

Black Excellence Collective Transport for Black NYC LGBTQ+ Protestors: Raising funds to provide safe transport for Black LGBTQ+ Protestors.

Kween Culture: Provides programming towards social and cultural empowerment of transgender women of color.

Black Trans Travel Fund : A mutual aid project developed to provide Black transgender women with the financial resources to self-determine safer alternatives to travel, so they feel less likely to experience verbal harassment or physical harm.

Heaux History Project: A documentary series and archival project exploring Black and Brown erotic labor history and the fight for sex workers’ rights.

Homeless Black Trans Women Fund: Supports Black Trans women that live in Atlanta and are sex workers and/or homeless.

Reproductive Justice Access Collective (ReJAC): A New Orleans network that aims to share information, resources, ideas, and human power to create and implement projects in our community that operate within the reproductive justice framework.

Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko/RSM (Democratic Republic of Congo): Fights for the Promotion of the rights and equality of LGBTQ people in DRC and is today facing this covid-19 crisis which further weakens Black LGBTQ people and more particularly transgender Black women.

Compiled direct donation links for individual Black Trans folks A compilation of direct donation links to Black trans people, including GoFundMes and CashApp handles. Email address on page to add to this list.

Below are the orgs you can support through the split donation form (on the right, if you're on a computer, or below if you're on a mobile device):

For The Gworls: This fund provides assistance to Black trans folks around travel to and from medical facilities, and co-pay assistance for prescriptions and (virtual) office visits. ⁣

Black Trans Fund: The first national fund in the country dedicated to uplifting and resourcing Black trans social justice leaders. BTF seeks to address the lack of funding for Black trans communities in the U.S. through direct grantmaking, capacity building support, and funder organizing to transform philanthropy.

Nationz Foundation: Provides education and information related to HIV prevention and overall health and wellness, while inspiring the community to take responsibility for their health while working towards a more inclusive Central Virginia for LGBTQIA+ identified individuals.

Trans Justice Funding Project: Supports grassroots trans justice groups run by and for trans people, focusing on organizing around racism, economic injustice, transmisogyny, ableism, immigration, and incarceration.

Third Wave Fund: An activist fund led by and for women of color, intersex, queer, and trans people under 35 years of age to resource the political power, well-being, and self determination of communities of color and low-income communities. Includes rapid response grantmaking, multi-year unrestricted grants, and the Sex Worker Giving Circle.

Unique Womens Coalition: The first Los Angeles based supportive organization for and by Transgender people of color, committed to fostering the next generation of black trans leadership from within community through mentorship, scholarship, and community care engagement work.

Black Trans Women Inc.: A national nonprofit organization committed to providing the trans-feminine community with programs and resources to help inspire individual growth and contributions to the greater good of society to meet its mission of uplifting the voice, heart and soul of black transwomen.

Black Trans Men Inc.: The first national nonprofit social advocacy organization with a specific focus on empowering African American transgender men by addressing multi-layered issues of injustice faced at the intersections of racial, sexual orientation, and gender identities.

SisTers/Brothers PGH: A transgender drop-in space, resource provider and shelter transitioning program based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Love Me Unlimited for Life: A catalyst that helps our transgender community members reach their goals and fulfill their potential through advocacy and outreach activities.

My Sistah's House Memphis: Designed to bring about social change within the Trans Community in Memphis, by providing a safe meeting space and living spaces for those who are most vulnerable in the LGBTQ+ community.

Black LGBTQIA Migrant Project: Builds and centers the power of Black LGBTQIA+ migrants through community-building, political education, direct services, and organizing across borders. BLMP is providing cash assistance to Black LGBTQ+ migrants and first generation people dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Taja’s Coalition at St. James Infirmary: Empowers their community in navigating housing, medical services, legal services, and the workplace, as well as regularly training agencies in the SF Bay Area.

Marsha P. Johnson Institute: Helps employ black trans people, build more strategic campaigns, launch winning initiatives, and interrupt the people who are standing in the way of more being possible in the world for BLACK Trans people, and all people.

Black Trans Protestors Emergency Fund organized by Black Trans Femme in the Arts Collective : Supports Black trans protestors with resources like bail and medical care.

Black & Pink Bail Fund: A national prison abolitionist organization dedicated to dismantling the criminal punishment system and the harms caused to LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by the system through advocacy, support, and organizing.

Black Visions Collective (MN): Black Visions Collective centers their work in healing and transformative justice principles and develops Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership, creating the conditions for long term success and transformation.

SNaPCo: A Black, trans-led, broad-based collaborative to restore an Atlanta where every person has the opportunity to grow and thrive without facing unfair barriers, especially from the criminal legal system.

Brave Space Alliance: Created to fill a gap in the organizing of and services to trans and gender-nonconforming people on the South and West Sides of Chicago, where very few LGBTQ advocacy networks exist.

Okra Project/Tony McDade and Nina Pop Mental Health Fund: Provides Black Trans people with quality mental health & therapy. Also addresses food security in Black trans communities.

House of GG: A nonprofit, founded by legendary trans activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, that is raising money to build a permanent home where Transgender people can come, feel safe, and be part of a growing network of Southern trans people who are working for social justice.

TGI Justice Project: TGI Justice Project is a group of transgender, gender variant and intersex people -- inside and outside of prisons, jails and detention centers -- challenging and ending human rights abuses committed against TGI people in California prisons, jails, detention centers and beyond.

Trans Women of Color Collective: TWOCC exists to create revolutionary change by uplifting the narratives, leadership, and lived experience of trans people of color.

Youth Breakout: BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans, organizing with youth ages 13-25 who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system.

Translash: A trans-led project uses the power of individual stories to help save trans lives, shifting the cultural understanding of what it means to be transgender, especially during a time of social backlash, to foster inclusion and decrease anti-trans hostility.

TRANScending Barriers: A trans-led trans-issue focused organization whose mission is to empower the transgender and gender non-conforming community in Georgia through community organizing with leadership building, advocacy, and direct services.

My Sistah's House: A trans-led nonprofit providing first hand experience as well as field research to create a one-stop shop for finding doctors, social groups and safe spaces for the trans community, providing emergency shelter, access to sexual health services, and social services.

Dem Bois: A national organization with the mission to provide charitable economical aid for female to male, FTM, trans-masculine identified person(s) of color ages twenty-one years old and older for them to obtain chest reconstruction surgery, and or genital reassignment surgery in order to help them on their journey to live a more fulfilled physical, mental, and self-authentic life.

G.L.I.T.S: Approaches the health and rights crises faced by transgender sex workers holistically using harm reduction, human rights principles, economic and social justice, along with a commitment to empowerment and pride in finding solutions from our own community.

Emergency Release Fund: Aims to ensure that no trans person at risk in New York City jails remains in detention before trial; if cash bail is set for a trans person in New York City and no bars to release are in place, bail will be paid by the Emergency Release Fund.

HEARD: Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities: Supports deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, deafdisabled, and disabled (“deaf/disabled”) people at every stage of the criminal legal system process, up to and including during and after incarceration.

Black Trans Advocacy Coalition COVID-19 Community Response Grant: Works daily to end discrimination and inequities faced in health, employment, housing and education to improve the lived experience of transgender people.

Princess Janae Place: Provides referrals to housing for chronically homeless LGBTQ adults in the New York Tri-state area, with direct emphasis on Trans/GNC people of color.

The Transgender District: Aims to stabilize and economically empower the transgender community through ownership of homes, businesses, historic and cultural sites, and safe community spaces.

Assata’s Daughters: A Black woman-led, young person-directed organization rooted in the Black Radical Tradition. AD organizes young Black people in Chicago by providing them with political education, leadership development, mentorship, and revolutionary services.

Collective Action for Safe Spaces: A grassroots organization that uses comprehensive, community-based solutions through an intersectional lens to eliminate public gendered harassment and assault in the DC area.

The Knights and Orchids Society (TKO): Strives to build the power of the TLGB community for African Americans throughout rural areas in Alabama & across the south, to obtain our dream of justice and equality through group economics, education, leadership development, and organizing cultural work.

The Outlaw Project: Based on the principles of intersectionality to prioritize the leadership of people of color, transgender women, gender non-binary and migrants for sex worker rights in Phoenix, AZ. Ensuring our rights and health as a first step will ensure the rights and health of all sex workers.

WeCare TN: Supports trans women of color in Memphis, TN, through education, and empowerment, with the goal to ensure that transwomen of color have the same equity and quality of life as envisioned.

HEARD (Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of Deaf Communities): Supports deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, deafdisabled, and disabled (“deaf/disabled”) people at every stage of the criminal legal system process, up to and including during and after incarceration.

Community Ele'te (Richmond, VA) To establish unity, provide safe sex awareness and education, linkage to resources, emergency housing assistance, and empower the community to make positive lifestyle decisions.

TAJA's Coalition: An organization dedicated to ending violence against Black Trans women and Trans women of color based in San Francisco

Black Trans Task Force: (BTTF) is an intersectional, multi-generational project of community building, research, and political action addressing the crisis of violence against Black Trans people in the Seattle-Tacoma area.

The Transgender District: Aims to stabilize and economically empower the transgender community through ownership of homes, businesses, historic and cultural sites, and safe community spaces.

Trans Sistas of Color Project Detroit: exists to uplift, impact and influence that lives and welfare of transgender women of color in Detroit.

Black Trans Media (Brooklyn, NY): We are #blacktranseverything storytellers, organizers, poets, healers, filmmakers, facilitators here to confront racism and transphobia trans people of the diaspora committed to decolonizing media and community education

Garden of Peace, Inc.(Pittsburgh, PA): Centers black trans & queer youth, elevates and empowers the narratives and lived experiences of black youth and their caretakers, and guides revolutionary spaces of healing and truth through art, education, and mentorship.

House of Pentacles (Durham, NC): HOP is a Film Training Program and Production House designed to launch Black trans youth (ages 18-35) into the film industry and tell stories woven at the intersection of being Black and Trans. We have a simple mission: to train the next generation of Black trans storytellers and filmmakers, to leverage our brand to get Black trans filmmakers paid projects in their communities, and to pay Black trans trainees to work on HOP projects that further the stories of Black trans people globally.

Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition (Minneapolis, MN): is committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender non-conforming people through education, resources, and advocacy.

RARE Productions (Minneapolis, MN): Arts and entertainment media production company for LGBTQ people of color that promotes, produces, and co-creates opportunities and events utilizing innovative artistic methods and strategies.

Baltimore Safe Haven: providing opportunities for a higher quality of life for transgender people in Baltimore City living in survival mode.

Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts: recently helped organize a Trans Resistance Vigil and March through Boston, in place of the Boston Pride Parade that was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Semillas: In Borikén/Puerto Rico, our trans, gender non-conforming and queer communities are facing many obstacles to our survival, and not only due to Mariá.

Street Youth Rise Up: Our campaign is to change the way Chicago sees and treats its homeless home free and street based youth who do what they have to do to survive.

Trans(forming): A membership-based organization led by trans men, intersex, gender non-conforming people of color, to provide resources and all around transitional support.

#donation post #trans resources #signal boost #signal boooooost #black trans lives matter

81 notes · View notes

endangered-justice-seeker · 6 years ago

Link

provides legal services and representation to detained parents. It's seeking volunteers to represent low-income individuals and families.

On Saturday, a Democratic state representative tweeted that border patrol officials told him that they were not accepting donations for immigrant children. Still, we’ve compiled a list of organizations that are mobilizing to try to help children separated from their parents and asylum seekers at the Texas-Mexico border:

http://www.americangateways.org/ - provides legal services and representation to detained parents. It's seeking volunteers to represent low-income individuals and families.

https://www.facebook.com/angrytiasandabuelas/ - delivers financial support to local shelters; transportation to and from bus stations, airports and shelters; and emergency food, water, clothing and toiletries to individuals and families seeking asylum. They are accepting donations.

https://annunciationhouse.org/ - shelters families detained and separated by ICE on the El Paso/Juarez border.

https://www.houstonimmigration.org/members/bakerripley/ - is providing free or low-cost legal services throughout the Houston immigrant community.

https://www.catholiccharitiesrgv.org/Home.aspx - provides a place for men, women and children to rest, have a warm meal, shower, change into clean clothes, as well as receive medicine and other supplies.

http://www.dmrs-ep.org/ - says it’s the only full-service immigration legal aid clinic serving low-income immigrants and refugees in the southwestern U.S.

https://immigrantfamiliestogether.com/ - works to bond out asylum seekers and reunite them with their children. It also provides food to families and government and foster-agency-approved housing to expedite reunifications. The group is accepting donations.

https://www.immigrantjusticenow.org/current-initiatives - is working to provide supplies, like bus tickets, Pedialyte, shoes, prepaid cellphones and underwear, to immigrant families and children.

https://interfaithwelcomecoalition.org/ - assists refugees, asylum seekers and at-risk immigrants. They have an overnight shelter at Travis Park Methodist Church and help migrants get transportation — buses or planes — as they travel to other places through San Antonio.

http://njfon.org/ - provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrant individuals and families in Texas.

https://supportkind.org/ - partners with major law firms, corporations and bar associations to create a nationwide pro bono network to represent unaccompanied children through their immigration proceedings. Volunteers don’t need to have immigration law experience.

https://lppshelter.org/ - in San Benito runs a shelter for people in the legal process of seeking asylum, residency or some other legal alternatives.

https://las-americas.org/ - provides legal representation to asylum seekers. It’s accepting donations.

https://www.raicestexas.org/ - is a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children, families and refugees in Texas. It’s accepting donations and volunteers at its website.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/immigration/projects_initiatives/south_texas_pro_bono_asylum_representation_project_probar/ - s looking for volunteers and attorneys (even ones not experienced in immigration law) to provide legal services to asylum seekers detained in South Texas.

https://texascivilrightsproject.org - is looking for bilingual attorneys who can help represent detained and separated parents during their immigration proceedings.

http://www.trla.org/ - provides legal advice and prepares detainees for credible fear interviews at the Dilley detention center. They recently expanded to another detention center in the Houston-area.

http://www.cilacademy.org/ - has pro bono attorneys representing children in immigration-related proceedings. It’s also providing specialized training to legal service providers and volunteers who are serving unaccompanied immigrant children.

https://hrionline.org - provides free legal services to immigrants who are seeking asylum in the U.S. and immigrants who are victims of violence.

https://migrantcenter.org/ - is providing free and low-cost legal services for detained asylum seekers in Texas.

https://vvbhcoalition.com/ - supports refugees by providing them with access to phones, restrooms, showers, laundry and warm meals.

https://www.theyoungcenter.org/ - is accepting donations that will go toward providing more child advocates for immigrant kids inside the detention centers weekly and accompany them to immigration proceedings.

https://togetherrising.org/ - is collecting money that'll go toward defenders, prosecutors and advocates who are working to reunify immigrant children with their families.

PLEASE SHARE THIS USEFUL INFORMATION IT COULD SAVE LIVES!!!

#useful link #immigration policy #immigration #police brutality #police violence #police terrorism #ice #trump's america

4K notes · View notes

fandomtrumpshate · 2 years ago

Text

2023 Supported Nonprofits

Our list of supported organizations for 2023 includes a few orgs from last year, and a host of new ones addressing issues such as climate and pollinator preservation, housing and immigration, and gun violence.

If you are a FTH creator and you want to ask your bidders to support an organization that’s not on the list, please read our policy on outside organizations here.

- - - -

Citizens Climate Education

A nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization focused on national policies to address climate change; trains and supports volunteers to build relationships with elected officials, the media and their local community.

DigDeep/Navajo Water Project *

Works to ensure that every person, everywhere enjoys their human right to water. All people should have access to a sufficient quantity of safe, accessible, affordable water of good quality, and that they should understand and care for their water resources.

Life After Hate

Provides support to people leaving hate groups, and providing pluralism education and training to vulnerable young people

National Network to End Domestic Violence *

Offers a range of programs and initiatives to address the complex causes and far-reaching consequences of domestic violence

Never Again Action *

A Jewish-led mobilization against the persecution, detention, and deportation of immigrants in the United States; takes on campaigns against detention centers and ICE training programs, and organizes mutual aid and deportation defense.

Rainbow Railroad *

Works to help LGTBQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics find safety through emergency relocation and other forms of assistance.

Razom *

Initiates short and long-term projects, or collaborates on existing projects with partner organizations, which help Ukraine stay on the path of fostering democracy and prosperity.

Sherlock's Homes Foundation

Provides housing, employment opportunities, and a loving support system, for homeless LGBTQ+ young adults so that they can live fearlessly as their authentic selves. Within these homes, young adults learn about responsibility, accountability, financial independence, life skills, and how to love themselves.

The Appeal *

A news organization that envisions a world in which systems of support and care, not punishment, create public safety, The Appeal’s journalism exposes the harms of a criminal legal system entrenched in centuries of systemic racism.

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund *

Works toward legal equality for trans people through education, public policy, litigation, and direct legal services

Violence Policy Center *

Works to stop gun death and injury through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration; exposes the profit-driven marketing and lobbying activities of the firearms industry and gun lobby, and offers unique technical expertise to policymakers, organizations, and advocates.

Xerces *

An international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Focuses on pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts.

Umbrella: Abortion Funds

For the past three years, FTH has supported one “umbrella” cause: we invite participants to donate to their own local grassroots organization, while also suggesting a handful of exemplary organizations working in in communities where the need is especially acute. This year (like last year) this umbrella category is abortion funds.

Abortion funds are grassroots nonprofits dedicated to supporting reproductive justice in their communities. These organizations provide financial, logistical and emotional support for people seeking abortions, and work to build collective power to create political and cultural change around reproductive freedom.

Our 2023 selections for the umbrella group was compiled with assistance from Kiki, a digital engagement manager for an abortion support nonprofit and the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the (now-defunct) site The Learned Fangirl. (Please feel free to reach out to her on twitter @kdc if you have any questions about abortion funds!)

Buckle Bunnies Fund

Indigenous Women Rising

Kentucky Health Justice Network

Abortion Fund of Ohio

New Orleans Abortion Fund

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Organizations marked with an asterisk (*) allow for international donations directly through their websites. The orgs without asterisks may take international donations through a paypal or venmo account. If you are a non-US-based bidder/donor and you are having trouble finding an organization to which you can donate, please email us directly at fandomtrumpshate @ gmail . com.

#fth2023 #fandom trumps hate #climate preservation #pollinator preservation #lgbtq #supported nonprofits #resource justice #promoting tolerance #victim support #reproductive rights #health justice #carceral system #public interest reporting #youth homelessness #gun violence #ukraine support

185 notes · View notes

marveltrumpshate · 1 year ago

Text

Immigration & Refuge

Dreams. Changed worlds. Hope. Desperation to change circumstances. Family. These are all tenets of the immigrant and refugee experience and ones that would resonate with many of our favorite Marvel characters as well. The following organizations assist those who strike out from everything they know to everything they don’t in the hopes of a better tomorrow, whether they choose to do so or are forced to flee their homes.

For more information on donation methods and accepted currencies, please refer to our list of organizations page.

International Rescue Committee

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a long-standing trusted partner in supporting those whose lives have been upended by sudden violence, political or natural. They are no stranger to areas of disaster and conflict throughout the world as they currently work in 40 countries. The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance, including refugee settlement, and focuses on health, education, economic well-being, empowerment, and safety.

Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railword helps LGBTQI individuals around the world escape persecution, violence, imprisonment, or death. Since 2006, they’ve assisted more than 10,000 people from over 40 countries in emergency situations with asylum in safe countries, crisis response, cash assistance, and more. Rainbow Railroad also monitors and reports on state-sponsored violence affecting the LGBTQI community in 70 countries that criminalize LGBTQI identification and relationships.

Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services

Most known for their work on the Texas/Mexico border but operating on the national frontlines of the fight for immigration rights, RAICES provides free and low-cost legal services, bond assistance, and social programs to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. Among their many accomplishments, RAICES established the largest bond fund in the U.S., which they use to secure the release of individuals from ICE detention, and has more immigration lawyers than any other organization in Texas. These lawyers represent individuals, including children, in court, offer residency and citizenship services, assist asylum seekers, and deal with removal defense. RAICES also offers social services ranging from case management and resettlement assistance to a national hotline connecting migrants with local community resources and transit support for recently released migrants.

Southern Poverty Law Center

They’re mostly known in the U.S. as a hate group watchdog of sorts, but their work goes beyond tracking and exposing hate groups and promoting tolerance education programs. SPLC works on voting rights advocacy, children’s rights, immigration reform and family reunification, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice, and criminal justice reform, working “with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.” Essentially, if there is injustice against a vulnerable and/or marginalized group in the U.S., SPLC aims to address and fix it. For specific information on their immigration justice work, please click here.

#marvel trumps hate #mth 2023 #charity spotlight

1 note · View note

onestubbornlass · 4 years ago

Text

I just wanna remind people why you should boycott Disney's new Mulan...

(If what the actress said isn't enough, here's more reason.)

(Picture says: Disney live-action Mulan was filmed in Xinjiang nearby some Uighur concentration camps. In the credits they openly thank a CCP agency tasked with administering the camps. By the guardian.) Link here

What are the Uighurs?

"The Uighurs are a mostly Muslim Turkic ethnicity who regard themselves as culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian nations. The majority live in Xinjiang, where they number about 11 million people." -BBC link

(In picture: a group of Uighur men sit drinking and eating.)

What is China doing?

Well let's take a look at what BBC said,

"In July 2020, the UK warned that it may sanction China over the "gross and egregious" human rights abuses reported in Xinjiang.

Asked whether the treatment of the Uighurs met the legal definition of genocide, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the international community had to be "careful" before making such claims.

But a UN human rights committee found in 2018 there were credible reports that China was holding a million Uighurs in political 'counter-extremism' camps. Committee member Gay McDougall said the Chinese government had "turned the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp".

"Human rights charities including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have long accused Beijing of mass imprisonment and torture. Most inmates in the so-called "re-education camps" have never been charged with a crime and have not received any legal representation, the charities say.

"Beijing's shameful denials in the face of well-evidenced UN allegations regarding mass arbitrary detentions in Xinjiang ought to shock the world," HRW China director Sophie Richardson told the BBC at the time.

In the wake of recent reports of mass sterilisation of Uighur women, the Interparliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international cross-party group of politicians, called on the UN to "establish an international, impartial, independent investigation into the situation in the Xinjiang region".

"A body of mounting evidence now exists, alleging mass incarceration, indoctrination, extrajudicial detention, invasive surveillance, forced labor, and the destruction of Uighur cultural sites, including cemeteries, together with other forms of abuse," the statement said."

"Since the 9/11 attacks in the US, China has increasingly portrayed its Uighur separatists as auxiliaries of al-Qaeda, claiming Uighur Muslims have received training in Afghanistan."

"many Uighurs complain that Han Chinese are taking their jobs, and that their farmland has been confiscated for redevelopment. Mass immigration of Han Chinese to Xinjiang has made Uighurs a minority now in the province."

BBC's article can be found here

(In picture, a group of Uighur men stand below a picture of the previous Chinese dictator.)

Who else is China putting in these "re-education camps" aka Gulags?

"As of 2018, it was estimated that Chinese authorities may have detained hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other ethnic Turkic Muslims, Christians as well as some foreign citizens such as Kazakhstanis, who are being held in these secretive internment camps which are located throughout the region. In May 2018, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver said "at least a million but likely closer to three million citizens" were imprisoned in detention centers, which he described as "concentration camps". In August 2018, Guy McDougall, an American representative at the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, said that the committee had received many credible reports that 1 million ethnic Uyghurs in China have been held in "re-education camps". There have also been multiple reports by media outlets, politicians and researchers which compared the camps to the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In 2019 at the United Nations, 54 nations (including China itself) rejected allegations against China and supported China's policies in Xinjiang. In another letter, 23 nations accepted the allegations against China and did not support China's policies." Wikipedia page link here.

(In picture, a mass protest in China by the opressed.)

So why should we boycott Disney's Mulan and potentially Disney?

Through the blatant support of the CCP and those who oppress and kill the Muslims and Christians in China, Disney has shown us that they do not care about the brutality of the situation going as far to film a movie that even the Chinese don't like, next to a place that is killing thousands. If this isn't enough to deter you from supporting this movie, I don't know what is.

We the people have the power to show that we can stop companies from allowing brutality to happen. We have the power to deter them.

So let's do it.

What can we do?

Well the first thing you can do is not watch Mulan, even if you have Disney+, the more views the more likely they will not learn the lesson.

You can also support and donate to these organizations:

Uyghur Human Rights Project

"The Uyghur Human Rights Project promotes the rights of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples in East Turkistan, referred to by the Chinese government as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, through research-based advocacy. It publishes reports and analysis in English and Chinese to defend Uyghurs’ civil, political, social, cultural, and economic rights according to international human rights standards. "

You can find them here.

Save Uighur

"The Save Uighur Campaign is an educational and advocacy project aimed at raising public awareness and resolve to help the Uighur people. The project is a concerted effort to tie media exposure, public relations, and government action together into a single strategy aimed at the liberation of the Uighurs from the oppression they face at the hands of the Chinese government."

You can support them here.

The Uyghur American Association

"The Uyghur American Association (UAA) is based in Washington, DC and is a tax-exempt, non-profit membership organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. UAA works to promote human rights and democracy for Uyghurs, as well as to protect and promote Uyghur culture in East Turkistan and worldwide."

You can find them here

Together we can do this and end China's oppression!

44 notes · View notes

newstfionline · 4 years ago

Text

Friday, April 9, 2021

The $50 billion race to save America’s renters from eviction (Washington Post) The Biden administration again extended a federal moratorium on evictions last week, but conflicting court rulings on whether the ban is legal, plus the difficulty of rolling out nearly $50 billion in federal aid, means the country’s reckoning with its eviction crisis may come sooner than expected. The year-old federal moratorium—which has now been extended through June 30—has probably kept hundreds of thousands or millions of people from being evicted from their apartments and homes. More than 10 million Americans are behind on rent, according to Moody’s, easily topping the 7 million who lost their homes to foreclosure in the 2008 housing bust. Despite the unprecedented federal effort to protect tenants, landlords have been chipping away at the moratorium in court. Treasury Department officials have been armed with nearly $50 billion in emergency aid for renters who have fallen behind, and are racing to distribute it through hundreds of state, local and tribal housing agencies, some of which have not created programs yet. The idea is to get the money to renters before courts nationwide begin processing evictions again.

A court filing says parents of 445 separated migrant children still have not been found. (NYT) The parents of 61 migrant children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border by the Trump administration have been located since February, but lawyers still cannot find the parents of 445 children, according to a court filing on Wednesday. In the filing, the Justice Department and the American Civil Liberties Union indicated slow progress in the ongoing effort to reunite families that were affected by a policy to prosecute all undocumented immigrants in the United States, even if it meant separating children from their parents. Of the 445 remaining children, a majority are believed to have parents who were deported, while more than 100 children are believed to have parents currently in the United States, according to the court filing. The government has yet to provide contact information that would help locate the families of more than a dozen children.

N Ireland leaders call for calm after night of rioting (AP) Rioters set a hijacked bus on fire and hurled gasoline bombs at police in Belfast in at least the fourth night of serious violence in a week in Northern Ireland, where Brexit has unsettled an uneasy political balance. Youths threw projectiles and petrol bombs at police on Wednesday night in the Protestant Shankill Road area, while rioters lobbed bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs in both directions over the concrete “peace wall” separating the Shankill Road from a neighboring Irish nationalist area. Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said several hundred people gathered on both sides of a gate in the wall, where “crowds ... were committing serious criminal offenses, both attacking police and attacking each other.” He said a total of 55 police officers have been injured over several nights of disorder. The recent violence, largely in pro-British loyalist areas, has flared amid rising tensions over post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland and worsening relations between the parties in the Protestant-Catholic power-sharing Belfast government.

Biden seems ready to extend US troop presence in Afghanistan (AP) Without coming right out and saying it, President Joe Biden seems ready to let lapse a May 1 deadline for completing a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Orderly withdrawals take time, and Biden is running out of it. Biden has inched so close to the deadline that his indecision amounts almost to a decision to put off, at least for a number of months, a pullout of the remaining 2,500 troops and continue supporting the Afghan military at the risk of a Taliban backlash. Removing all of the troops and their equipment in the next three weeks—along with coalition partners who can’t get out on their own—would be difficult logistically, as Biden himself suggested in late March. “It’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline,” he said. “Just in terms of tactical reasons, it’s hard to get those troops out.” Tellingly, he added, “And if we leave, we’re going to do so in a safe and orderly way.”

One in six Latin American youths left work since pandemic’s start (Reuters) Across Latin America and the Caribbean, one in every six people aged 18 to 29 has left work since the coronavirus pandemic began, forcing many to abandon their studies, a report said on Thursday. The precariousness of employment for young people rose across the region, according to an investigation by Canadian charity Cuso International based on data from a U.N. commission and a poll by the International Labour Organization. “It’s extremely difficult for young people to access the labor market due to issues around specialization, lower wages, and poverty,” the advocacy group’s Colombia director Alejandro Matos told Reuters. More than half of those who stopped working since the start of the pandemic were let go by their employers, the report said, while others saw their businesses close and those employed in the informal sector could not work due to lockdowns.

Myanmar ambassador in London locked out of embassy after speaking out against military (Washington Post) Myanmar’s ambassador to Britain, who has spoken out again the military coup in his country, said he was barred from the embassy in London on Wednesday by officials loyal to the military junta. “They are refusing to let me inside,” Kyaw Zwar Minn told the Telegraph. “They said they received instruction from the capital, so they are not going to let me in.” Kyaw Zwar Minn told the British newspaper that when he left the embassy during the day, colleagues and officials linked to the military stormed the premises and kept him from reentering that evening. In early March, the ambassador, a former military colonel, spoke out against the military’s detention of the former British colony’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, drawing criticism from the junta that had orchestrated her ouster and praise from the British government for his “courage.” The London-based ambassador was recalled, according to Myanmar state television, after he posted a statement on the embassy’s Facebook page demanding “the release of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint,” but he did not return to Myanmar.

Merkel tells Putin to pull back troops as Kremlin accuses Ukraine of provocations (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to pull back the Kremlin’s military buildup near the border with Ukraine, while he in turn accused Kyiv of “provocative actions” in the conflict region. Ukraine has raised the alarm over an increase in Russian forces near its eastern border as violence has risen along the line of contact separating its troops from Russia-backed separatists in its Donbass region. Russia has said its forces pose no threat and were defensive, but that they would stay there as long as Moscow saw fit. A senior Kremlin official said on Thursday that Moscow could under certain circumstances be forced to defend its citizens in Donbass and that major hostilities could mark the beginning of the end of Ukraine as a country.

China builds advanced weapons systems using American chip technology (Washington Post) In a secretive military facility in southwest China, a supercomputer whirs away, simulating the heat and drag on hypersonic vehicles speeding through the atmosphere—missiles that could one day be aimed at a U.S. aircraft carrier or Taiwan, according to former U.S. officials and Western analysts. The computer is powered by tiny chips designed by a Chinese firm called Phytium Technology using American software and built in the world’s most advanced chip factory in Taiwan, which hums with American precision machinery, say the analysts. Phytium portrays itself as a commercial company aspiring to become a global chip giant like Intel. It does not publicize its connections to the research arms of the People’s Liberation Army. The hypersonic test facility is located at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC), which also obscures its military connections though it is run by a PLA major general, according to public documents, and the former officials and analysts, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Phytium’s partnership with CARDC offers a prime example of how China is quietly harnessing civilian technologies for strategic military purposes—with the help of American technology. The trade is not illegal but is a vital link in a global high-tech supply chain that is difficult to regulate because the same computer chips that could be used for a commercial data center can power a military supercomputer.

Indonesia landslides death toll rises to 140, dozens missing (AP) The death toll from mudslides in eastern Indonesia has risen to 140 with dozens still missing, officials said Wednesday, as rain continued to pound the region and hamper the search. East Flores district on Adonara island suffered the highest losses with 67 bodies recovered so far and six missing. Mud tumbled down from surrounding hills early on Sunday, catching people at sleep. Some were swept away by flash floods after overnight rains caused rivers to burst their banks. On nearby Lembata island, the downpour triggered by Tropical Cyclone Seroja sent solidified lava from a volcanic eruption in November to crash down on more than a dozen villages, killing at least 32 and leaving 35 unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Reversing Trump, Biden Restores Aid to Palestinians (NYT) The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it would restore hundreds of millions of dollars in American aid to Palestinians, its strongest move yet to reverse President Donald J. Trump’s policy on the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The package, which gives at least $235 million in assistance to Palestinians, will go to humanitarian, economic, development and security efforts in the region, and is part of the administration’s attempt to rehabilitate U.S. relations with Palestinians, which effectively stopped when Mr. Trump was in office. The restoration of aid amounted to the most direct repudiation so far of Mr. Trump’s tilt toward Israel in its decades-old conflict with the Palestinian population in Israeli-controlled territories.

Royal rift ends (NYT) Jordan’s King Abdullah II said on Wednesday that the “discord” that has roiled the kingdom for days has “been stopped,” signaling a resolution to a rare royal rift that resulted in the house arrest of Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, the former crown prince, and the detention of several Jordanian officials who were accused of plotting a foreign-backed coup against the monarchy.

Conflict and COVID driving record hunger in DR Congo, warns UN (Al Jazeera) A record 27.3 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing acute hunger, one-third of the violence-wracked Central African country’s population, largely because of conflict and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations has warned. The DRC is “home to the highest number of people in urgent need of food security assistance in the world,” the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization said on Tuesday in a joint statement, describing the scale of the crisis as “staggering”. “For the first time ever we were able to analyse the vast majority of the population, and this has helped us to come closer to the true picture of the staggering scale of food insecurity in the DRC,” Peter Musoko, WFP’s representative in the country, said. “This country should be able to feed its population and export a surplus. We cannot have children going to bed hungry and families skipping meals for an entire day,” he said.

Beware The Carpet Cleaner (The Guardian) Parkinson’s disease is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world, and the US is experiencing an explosion of cases. In the last decade, the number of Parkinson’s cases in America has increased 35%, and a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center thinks over the next 25 years it will double again. Most cases of the disease are considered idiopathic—without a clear cause. But researchers now believe one factor is environmental exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical compound used in industrial degreasing, dry-cleaning, and household products like some shoe polishes and carpet cleaners. TCE is a carcinogen already linked to renal cell carcinoma, cancers of the cervix, liver, biliary passages, lymphatic system and male breast tissue, fetal cardiac defects, and more. Several studies point to a link between Parkinson’s and workplace exposure to TCE. The US Labor Department issued guidance on TCE saying exposures to carbon disulfide (CS2) and TCE are presumed to “cause, contribute or aggravate Parkinsonism.”

‘Tantalizing’ results of 2 experiments defy physics rulebook (AP) Preliminary results from two experiments suggest something could be wrong with the basic way physicists think the universe works, a prospect that has the field of particle physics both baffled and thrilled. Tiny particles called muons aren’t quite doing what is expected of them in two different long-running experiments in the United States and Europe. The confounding results—if proven right—reveal major problems with the rulebook physicists use to describe and understand how the universe works at the subatomic level. “We think we might be swimming in a sea of background particles all the time that just haven’t been directly discovered,” Fermilab experiment co-chief scientist Chris Polly said in a press conference. “There might be monsters we haven’t yet imagined that are emerging from the vacuum interacting with our muons and this gives us a window into seeing them.” If confirmed, the U.S. results would be the biggest finding in the bizarre world of subatomic particles in nearly 10 years, since the discovery of the Higgs boson, often called the “God particle,” said Aida El-Khadra of the University of Illinois, who works on theoretical physics for the Fermilab experiment.

Unlikely chauffeur (Foreign Policy) Kevin Rudd is best known as a former Australian prime minister. Last Tuesday night in Queensland, he was mistaken for an Uber driver. The former Labor party leader became an unlikely chauffeur when a group of revelers—described as “tipsy” by Rudd’s daughter—piled into his car as he sought parking at a local restaurant. Rudd obliged the passengers, reportedly driving half the journey to the town’s main drag before being recognized by his would-be customers. “Four young Melburnians getting drenched in a Queensland subtropical downpour at Noosa last night with no Uber in sight … So what’s a man to do?” Rudd later wrote on Twitter.

#headlines #news

3 notes · View notes