NEWS
Stay current with the latest news in Social Justice
Over 100,000 migrants have arrived in NYC. Here’s what life is like for two of them.
By Austin Cope On September 1, 2023 As two men from Venezuela go through the shelter system and seek work, city officials and nonprofits adjust to the over 100,000 migrants who have arrived since the spring of 2022. After Tonny Tavera and Carlos Niño walked across the U.S. border into El Paso in late September…
U.S. reminds migrants to apply for work permits following pressure from city officials
By Camilo Montoya-Galvez On August 31, 2023 The Biden administration on Thursday sent notifications to tens of thousands of migrants across the U.S. reminding them to apply for work permits, a move taken in response to intensifying pressure from officials in New York and other cities struggling to house new arrivals. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)…
Judge halts California Chino Valley school district’s transgender policy amid state lawsuit
LGBTQ advocates say outing students without consent could put them in danger. By Kiara Alfonseca On September 6, 2023 A California judge has issued a temporary restraining order on what Attorney General Rob Bonta calls Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education’s “forced outing policy.” The policy would require schools to inform parents if a student…
Federal judge restores part of Georgia’s law that had banned gender-affirming care for trans youth
By Shawna Mizelle On September 6, 2023 A federal judge on Tuesday restored the enforcement of a law in Georgia that banned licensed medical professionals in the state from providing patients under the age of 18 with cross-sex hormone therapy. Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked parts of Georgia’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth…
Officials can’t interfere with local Tennessee Pride festival under anti-drag law, judge rules
By Jonathan Mattise On September 1, 2023 A federal judge has ruled law enforcement officials can’t use a Tennessee law that strictly limits drag shows to interfere with a local Pride festival this weekend NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge ruled Friday that law enforcement officials can’t use a Tennessee law that strictly limits drag shows…
Senator appeared to suggest bipartisan bill would censor transgender content online
By Matt Lavietes On September 5, 2023 The Kids Online Safety Act, aimed at protecting children from harmful online content, has been endorsed by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as by President Joe Biden. A co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill intended to protect children from the dangers of social media and…
Canada issues warning for LGBTQ travelers in the United States
By Kiara Alfonseca On August 30, 2023 The warning cites laws and policies impacting the LGBTQ community. Canada’s travel advisory for visitors to the United States has been updated to warn LGBTQ travelers about laws and policies that may affect the community. “Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons,” the travel…
Over 30 new LGBTQ education laws are in effect as students go back to school
By Jo Yurcaba On August 30, 2023 Students and teachers have to contend with a variety of restrictions on LGBTQ content and bathroom and pronoun use. Brian Kerekes, a high school statistics teacher in Florida, said he froze like “a deer in headlights” when a student asked him a personal question at the beginning of…
Dying and disabled Illinois prisoners kept behind bars, despite new medical release law
By Carlos Ballesteros, Shannon Heffernan (WBEZ) and Amy Qin (WBEZ) On August 30, 2023 Phillip Merritt’s dementia is so advanced he’s lost the ability to speak. But with the help of his cellmates at Western Illinois Correctional Center, the 71-year-old still manages to get on the phone with his brother every few weeks. “He has…