With less than a year until Election Day 2020, HRC launched a fellowship program to energize young v…
Read moreCategory: Social & Civil Issues
HRC Responds to New FBI Report Showing Spike in Reported Hate Crimes Targeting LGBTQ People
Today, HRC responded to troubling federal data showing unacceptably high levels of hate crimes …
Read moreHuman Rights First Statement on New Proposed Rule to Stop Refugees from Working
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First’s senior director for refugee protection, Eleanor Acer, made the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s new proposed rule, out today, which would bar asylum-seekers from legally working to support …
Read more100 Days In: Alphonso David is Building the Future of the Human Rights Campaign
Today, HRC celebrated the first 100 days of Alphonso David’s trailblazing and transformative tenure…
Read moreHuman Rights Campaign Responds to Senate Confirmation of Dangerous Trump-Pence Nominee
Today, the Human Rights Campaign responded to the Senate’s confirmation of Steven Menashi to t…
Read moreFourth Mississippi City Enacts LGBTQ-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Protections
HRC hailed Holly Springs Mayor Kelvin Buck and the Board of Aldermen for enacting city-wide non-discrimin…
Read moreHistoric Victory for Marriage Equality in Northern Ireland
HRC celebrates the culmination of years of advocacy and organizing as legislation enacted by the United K…
Read moreRemembering and Honoring Matthew Shepard
HRC marks the tragic death of Matthew Shepard 21 years ago. As we mourn with the Shepard family, we recom…
Read moreHRC Mourns Bee Love Slater, a Black Transgender Woman Killed in Florida
HRC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Bee Love Slater, a Black transgender woman who was brutal…
Read moreMontgomery Appointment Dangerous Setback for LGBTQ Arizonans
HRC responded to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey nominating Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery for a seat on the Arizona Supreme Court.
“Bill Montgomery has made a career of marginalizing the most vulnerable Arizonans, including the LGBTQ community,” said HRC Deputy Campaign Director Justin Unga. “He has shown that he’s unable to set aside personal biases and treat LGBTQ Arizonans with the dignity and respect that we deserve in our legal system. With LGBTQ Arizonans’ rights on the line, it’s more important than ever to ensure that the Arizona Supreme Court be comprised of unbiased jurists capable of deciding cases on merit and law rather than partisanship or anti-LGBTQ extremism. Montgomery’s appointment is a dangerous step in the wrong direction. HRC will continue to remain vigilant in order to hold Montgomery accountable, including when voters have the opportunity to decide whether he remains on the court.”
In 2015, as Maricopa County Attorney, Montgomery refused to provide legal assistance to LGBTQ couples seeking to adopt a child. This failure prompted the ACLU to sue him and his office in an attempt to earn LGBTQ Arizonans the equal treatment and legal assistance they deserve under the law.
Earlier this year, the Arizona Supreme Court heard arguments in Brush & Nib Studio v. City of Phoenix. Despite a Phoenix city ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of gender identiy and sexual ortentation, the Brush & Nib Studio is proactively seeking the authority to turn away LGBTQ people in violation of this established law. The Supreme Court received this case after the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a ruling denying the business owners the ability to discriminate against same-sex couples. HRC joined the ACLU in an amicus brief supporting LGBTQ rights and the City of Phoenix.
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