Progressive World

LGBT acceptance is growing in the E.U. and here in America. Here are some snippets:

In Hawaii:

HB 546, was passed by the House at the beginning of March and would prohibit discrimination "on the basis of gender identity and expression as a public-policy matter and specifically with regard to employment."

In California:

A bill that would mean California school history lessons would also include the historical contributions made by LGBTs passed a Senate panel reading this week.

Introduced in December by State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), the legislation would have history textbooks include information about LGBT-identifying figures and how they have contributed to important historical events. 

Also, Maryland, Connecticut, NY,  Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, and Rhode Island all have bills in the house protecting LGBT rights.

In the E.U:

Members of the European Parliament voted this week on measures to modernize the way asylum claims are handled, with an emphasis on how asylum claims made on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity are overseen.

 Measures include providing expert advice to asylum officials on sexual orientation and gender identity; protecting claimants' privacy; guaranteeing that physical examinations fully respect human dignity and integrity, for instance in cases involving minors or transgender people; and ensuring that applications by LGBT asylum-seekers are not 'fast-tracked' for removal to their country of origin.