LGBTQ

Oh, Alabama, I cry for you. I cry for you, too, Birmingham. We make progress, then we wipe it out. It’s the old cliché of two steps forward, one step back. Except during election years, it seems we take no steps forward and 100 years back. What’s wrong with us? When will we stop hating? … Continued

“Free2be does not share the values of most Alabamians.” — Scott Dawson, Republican candidate for governor of Alabama. Scott Dawson might be right. But if he is, and if it’s true that Alabamians don’t share the values of Free2be, a group whose primary goal is to provide mental health counseling and counseling to prevent violence … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Alabama filed a lawsuit challenging Alabama’s policy of restricting access to drivers’ licenses for transgender people that accurately reflect their gender identity. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three people who report that they experienced this discrimination. “Transgender people, … Continued

By Joey Kennedy Alabama Political Reporter In the special U.S. Senate General Election on Dec. 12 between Democrat Doug Jones and twice-ousted state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, I guess I’m with former Auburn University and NBA great Charles Barkley. Before Saturday’s Iron Bowl, Barkley made it simple to reporters before the game won … Continued

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — State officials’ fight to keep marriage equality from coming to Alabama has culminated in a $300,000 bill for taxpayers — with little to show for it. Last month, the Attorney General’s office agreed to pay a total of $315,000 to attorneys representing a gay couple in the case … Continued

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Alabama Legislature will convene in little more than a month. As lawmakers continue prefiling bills and preparing for the 2017 Legislative Session, a new report from the Human Rights Campaign shows Alabama still lagging behind in LGBTQ protections. The State Equality Index, an annual comprehensive report released by … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Thursday, June 30, US Representative Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose) issued a statement in response to the Obama administration’s announcement that they were ending the ban on transgender persons in the military. Congressman Byrne said: “It is frustrating the Pentagon now has a strategy for transgender service members but they still … Continued

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Most of the Alabama members of the Alabama House of Representatives are straight, male, Republican men. But, that is not deterring the only gay, female, Democrat from declaring her candidacy to be the next Speaker of the House. Not only has State Representative Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) publicly announced her … Continued