In the News:

Bush budget a ‘perversion of American values’
In the states: Iowa and Michigan
‘Beyond Borders’ at 2007 Winter Party Festival
Leadership Awards season under way!
Task Force Policy Institute Director Sean Cahill co-authors
      new book on policy issues affecting LGBT families

Bush budget a ‘perversion of American values’

“The president’s proposed budget is a perversion of American values and priorities. This budget hurts all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Billions more will be squandered on his failed and senseless war in Iraq while critical American priorities are on the chopping block.” — Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman, in response to President Bush’s new budget plan

[ Read the full statement ]

In the states: Iowa and Michigan

The Iowa House could vote as early as today on an important bill requiring school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies expressly protecting LGBT students. The state Senate approved the bill last week by a vote of 36 to 14, with six Republicans joining 30 Democrats voting in favor of the bill. The Task Force partnered with the Iowa Safe Schools Coalition and Equality Iowa to provide advice about best practices in drafting the legislation. Learn how to access the legislative expertise of the Task Force Legislative Lawyering Project and Transgender Civil Rights Project.

The Michigan Court of Appeals issued a Feb. 2 ruling that bars state and local governments and public universities from offering benefits to their employees based on domestic partnerships.

[ Read the Task Force statement on the ruling ]
[ Read the statement from our state partner, Triangle Foundation ]
[ Learn more about the Task Force’s work with Triangle Foundation ]

‘Beyond Borders’ at 2007 Winter Party Festival^SM

The 14th Annual Winter Party Festival^SM — one of the world’s most renowned annual celebrations for the LGBT community — will kick off in Miami on Feb. 28 with new programming for young people, people of faith and transgender people added to its already vibrant mix of events. The theme of this year’s festival, which runs to March 5, is “Beyond Borders” and includes world-class dance events with top DJs from six countries.

[ Read the full press release ]
[ Get all the details about Winter Party Festival^SM ]

Leadership Awards season under way!

More than 200 people packed the Task Force’s sold-out inaugural Seattle Leadership Awards on Jan. 27 to honor activist and Task Force board member Marsha Botzer. Read more and view photos. Learn more and get involved in our upcoming New York Leadership Awards and DC Leadership Awards.

Task Force Policy Institute Director Sean Cahill co-authors new book on policy issues affecting LGBT families

Book launch date: Feb. 13, 6 p.m., at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City.

Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Families, co-authored by Task Force Policy Institute Director Sean Cahill and Sarah Tobias and published by the University of Michigan Press, provides a comprehensive account of the discrimination LGBT families confront and a look at how policy changes could make them more secure.

[ Learn more about the launch ]

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