The Hrc (Human Rights Campaign)

The definition of the term human rights is described as the essential universal entitlements afforded to all humans. These rights are the underpinning of certain principles including that of liberty, fairness and respect of human dignity. Human rights must be acknowledged and protected by government agencies to ensure that these rights are taken into account in law, the process of legislation, public policy and politics.1 However many groups within society remain marginalised and vulnerable to human rights violations. The focus issue that will be discussed in this essay is the right to liberty- to not be apprehended in arbitrary custody, which interferes with the inherent human right to liberty, and the chosen vulnerable group is asylum seekers. Due to circumstances outside of their control the persons in this group flee their homelands in an effort to escape crisis and persecution, such as religious and political persecution.2 Every human has the right of asylum, as stated in article 14 of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, however asylum seekers are vulnerable due to violations of their human rights. Governments around the globe including Australia have not fulfilled their legal obligations toward asylum seekers and have in fact violated human rights and specific rights of asylum seekers which have been outlined in the 1951 UN Convention in relation to status of refugees.3

As the mother of a transgender son and an advocate for the LGBT community, Representative Ros-Lehtinen co-sponsored a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman” and preventing same-sex marriages as being recognized by the federal government as being a legitimate marriage. Co-sponsoring the repeal of DOMA marked yet another first for the Representative making her the first Republican to co-sponsor a bill to repeal the ban on gay marriage at the federal level. She was also a leading sponsor of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which increases resources towards the prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. While these are examples of her efforts on a national level, her service in Congress is on behalf of her Florida

After that instance, they started to listen. Rivera spent her time doing everything to try to get the bill to pass, including getting arrested. Yet over time, a struggle within the group arose when those who were in favor of a class-based agenda, like Rivera, who wanted a movement centered around issues of poverty and oppression, clashed with assimilation-focused leaders who suggested that the only thing wrong with the U.S. culture was that it was antigay (Shepard, 99). Rivera quickly learned that even amongst the most radical gay activist, they weren’t interested in the struggles of trans and gender non-conforming people.

In order to be on the same page as other major cities across the United States, motions were made over a year ago in Houston to pass an equal rights, anti-discrimination ordinance known as the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). At last a decision was made, and on November 3rd, 2015, HERO was struck down by 61 percent of the voters by referendum (Fernandez). The premise of the anti-discrimination ordinance is similar to those of other cities across the nation; to prevent discrimination on the bases of 15 different classes including race, age, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Houston’s mayor Annise Parker, who identifies as gay herself, was a strong supporter of the proposition for equal rights, and as all supporters in the Houston area agreed, it would put Houston on the map of inclusive and tolerant cities (Fernandez). On the other side of the argument is the conservative population of Houston. With the majority of political opinion in the Houston area being that of highly conservative leaning, HERO proved to be a controversial ordinance for many of these individuals. In an effort to increase support for opposing HERO, conservative politicians in the Houston area therefore took advantage of conservative ideals to promote a counter-position to the anti-discrimination laws (Ura).

The Advocates for Human rights’ reputation as a prominent champion for global human rights remains unmatched. Established as an independent non-profit organization, the Advocates for Human rights aims at implementing all-inclusive change through comprehensive strategies.

While there have been many successes for promoting and enacting laws to help support gay and lesbian rights there still much more to be done to ensure such. In reading the Saylor text the first thing discuses is the “unique obstacle” in helping attain civil rights (Saylor 179). Civil rights for gay men and lesbians, is something that has been greatly opposed by religious groups where it sex marriage and in all homosexuality is deemed “flawed behavior” and not an “innate characteristic” (179). In regards to exit polls it is also regarded that only 4 percent of public voting is made have up so lesbian, gay men, and bisexuals. Other opposition for gay rights came in the 1950s with the anti-communist scare where gay people where “harassed” and mocked by politicians and police departments. Latter opposition that is extremely current today would be same sex marriage, which has brought in huge opposition between the federal and state courts. In all, while there have been many accomplishments in gay rights there is still more that must be accomplished regarding equal rights for

One’s gender identity represents who they are, whether they were born with male or female genitalia. Back in the 1900’s, “for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) folks in America, the efflorescence of sexual expression did not begin until the waning months of that decade in the heart of the nation’s then-largest bohemian enclave and gay ghetto, New York’s Greenwich Village” (Wolf). In the 60’s, being able to express who you were freely was pushed aside much too often. But because of the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, their fight has helped people today be who they want to be without any discrimination. Over “four decades after the Stonewall riots, political leaders are now beginning to recognize the influence of the LGBT community, knocking down barriers to gay and lesbian participation in the military and nominating at least two transgender officials, for the first time in history, to senior posts in the federal government under the Obama administration” (Teal). Whether someone identifies as a man, woman, or neither, they are able to participate in any group regardless. Due to the Stonewall riots, no matter what no one can turn you down based off of your gender identity, which is causing political leaders to now think differently because of this monumental time in history where everyone can be accepted for who they want to

It is often a misconception that the Stonewall Riots marked the beginning of the gay rights movement. In actuality, the riots served as a vital catalyst for the birth of widespread activism in the LGBT community, but did not mark the movement’s birth. Before Stonewall, there were leftist lobbyists in the Mattachine Society pushing for law reform and there was the lesbian organization, Daughters of Bilitis, who published The Ladder in order to garner acceptance in society.9 This homophile movement was conservative in its actions, working within the system’s rules in effort to gain societal acceptance.9

As stated on the HRC’s website, “HRC envisions a world where lesbian. Gay, bisexual and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.” For the LGBTQ+ community, the Human Rights Campaign, known as the HRC, has been fighting for equal rights since 1980. Today, the HRC has about 1.5 million advocates and supporters throughout America. I will delve into the history of the organization and its logo and into programs such as, the Healthcare Equality Index, Project One America, Welcoming Schools, and All Children-All Families these measurements that the HRC has taken are changing the lives of those in the LGBTQ+ community.

There exists many international NGOs that perform exceptional and critical work on behalf of human rights issues. Many like Amnesty International and Oxfam provide much needed support and assistance to individuals and groups internationally. One such internationally recognized NGO is the International Alliance for Women. It was founded in 1904 and its mission is to "promote women's human rights around the world, focusing particularly on empowerment of women and development issues and more broadly on gender equality" (womenalliance.org). In my opinion at the core of this organization is the inalienable rights of women, that is "full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls". For decades women have fought to be regarded

Like African-Americans, rights for homosexuals, transgender, and others has greatly been debated on since the establishment of religion. People who aren’t straight have been looked down on and scorned by society because of its refusal to accept anything different. The gay stigma in society was so great at one point that many closeted individuals would have sex with a partner of the opposite gender and start a family instead of accepting that they weren't straight. Because of the large number of suicide and murders among the LGBT+, the gay rights movement began in the late ’90s. This movement evolving now into the present has been heavily supported by the Democratic party which has helped to establish same-sex marriage and transgender rights for LGBT+ people (“Democrats”). The Democratic party has become an important ally to them and “continues to push for same-sex equality and fair treatment to stop the discrimination against them” (“Democrats”). However, the LGBT+ community still faces scrutiny because of Republicans and religious leaders who don’t agree with gay rights or same-sex marriage seeing it as going against their beliefs; this makes it essential to keep bringing attention to this issue and establishing laws to protect the LGBT+

n and Gay individuals with time had made quite an impact on healthcare policy and vice versa. It went from prohibited to being legal statewide since 2011. Many activists, interest groups, individuals, etc. have pushed to make an influence on policymaking for these Lesbian and Gay individuals to have the same level of quality as any other person in healthcare. There are individuals whom are for it, and against it. I shall explain further by providing both point of views and by using (3) three different resources. ACA (Accountability Care Act) opened its door to provide the proper assistance for the Lesbian and Gay individuals to be free of any disparities is simply just the beginning more needs to be done before they start to finally receive the quality care that these individuals deserve.

Can the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law Help Lead a Path for Immigrants to Become Active Citizens?

Since the turn of the twentieth century, civil rights has been a controversial topic across all walks of humanity. During the nineteen hundred’s, women’s suffrage movement had taken place; later, from the nineteen thirties until the nineteen sixties, African Americans pushed the United States government to produce and enact their civil rights laws; today, rights for people of a sexual or gender orientation other than cisgender straight are being fought for. Two organizations that are still dedicated to current civil rights would be GLAAD and NOW – National Organization for Women. If one were to compare both GLAAD and NOW in terms of the causes they are fighting for and their history, both fight for the fairness the LGBT community, equality, and against violence; however, GLAAD is pushing for faith and acceptance, immigration, and marriage and family protection, while NOW is pressing the United States government for reproductive rights and justice, economic justice, and racial justice for women.

"Worldwide woman's rights" has progressively been related with contemporary universal women's activist nongovernmental (NGO) crusades to make sexual orientation policymaking advances into intergovernmental association (IGO) policymaking with impacts on national policymaking.