Mississippi Governor Signs Sweeping Anti-LGBT Bill Into Law

House Bill 1523 allows many services to be refused based on religious objections to same-sex marriage or transgender people.

Transgender Student Settles Locker Room Case With University Of Pittsburgh

Seamus Johnston had sued the University of Pittsburgh in federal court, claiming that banning him from the male locker room violated his Constitutional and civil rights.

White House Criticizes “Mean-Spirited” Anti-LGBT Law In North Carolina

“We are concerned about the potential harmful impact of this law, especially on transgender youth,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told BuzzFeed News.

North Carolina Sued Over Anti-LGBT Law

“By singling out LGBT people for disfavored treatment and explicitly writing discrimination against transgender people into state law, H.B. 2 violates the most basic guarantees of equal treatment and the U.S. Constitution,” the lawsuit argues.

Backlash Grows Against North Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Law

Protesters were arrested outside the governor’s mansion this week, and more corporations, such as Facebook, Apple, and Google, publicly criticized the bill.

North Carolina Enacts Law To Allow LGBT Discrimination

Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday signed House Bill 2, which overrides all LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances in the state. Republican leaders worked to pass the bill in a one-day special session.

NFL Suggests Atlanta Could Lose Super Bowl Bid Over Religious Freedom Bill

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is facing pressure from both sides — social conservatives and big business.

Transgender Woman Loses Anti-Discrimination Case Against Blood Bank

A jury found there was a business interest in CSL Plasma turning away Lisa Scott.

Georgia Governor Appears Skeptical Of Religious Protection Bill Passed By Legislature

LGBT advocates and Democrats argue it would allow LGBT discrimination. Gov. Nathan Deal could veto the measure.

Kentucky Senate Passes Bill That May Limit LGBT Protections

SB 180 would allow people to refuse creative services in certain situations on the basis of religion, and it could clip local LGBT nondiscrimination laws that prohibit those sorts of refusals.

White House Appoints First Transgender Person As Primary LGBT Liaison

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan is now the White House’s main point of contact for LGBT groups on all issues.

Tennessee Governor Concerned About Anti-Transgender Student Restroom Bill

Gov. Bill Haslam is worried that if lawmakers pass a bill to ban transgender students from certain restrooms, public schools could lose federal funding, his spokesperson told BuzzFeed News.

Missouri Senate Passes Lightning-Rod Anti-Gay Bill To State House

The bill would create a constitutional amendment that protects religious people and organizations opposed to same-sex marriage.

James Deen’s Porn Company Cited For Condom And Safety Violations

The porn star’s company faces $77,875 in fines for nine violations, including performers not using condoms on set, California officials said Wednesday. Deen responded Thursday to say no one had contracted any illness on his sets.

Missouri Republicans Break Democrats’ 39-Hour Filibuster, Advancing Anti-Gay Bill

Lawmakers were trying to block a constitutional amendment, backed by Republicans in the state senate, that would protect religious people and organizations that oppose same-sex marriage.

Gay Republican Group Urges Trump To Clarify Same-Sex Marriage Stance

“The statements he has made about LGBT issues are all over the place,” said the president of the Log Cabin Republicans.

South Dakota Governor Vetoes Anti-Transgender Student Restroom Bill

The bill would have made Dennis Daugaard’s state the first in the U.S. to ban transgender students from using school restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

KFC Fires Manager For Discriminating Against Transgender Woman

“We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” the company told BuzzFeed News.

Religious Freedom Bills Surge After Last Year’s Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

More than 100 bills have been introduced in this year’s legislative session to protect religious freedom or allow people to refuse services based on their faith. In at least eight states, legislatures currently are advancing bills.