Welcome to The Morning Pride, ThinkProgress LGBT’s daily round-up of the latest in LGBT policy, politics, and some culture too! Here’s what we’re reading this morning, but please let us know what stories you’re following as well. Follow us all day on Twitter at @TPEquality.
– The Illinois Republican congressional delegation is not joining Sen. Mark Kirk (R) in supporting marriage equality.
– California has joined Oregon, Colorado, and the District of Columbia in implementing rules requiring insurance companies not to discriminate against transgender health needs.
– California has also advanced a bill that would deny tax-exempt status to nonprofit organizations that discriminate based on sexual orientation, such as the Boy Scouts of America.
– A new bill proposed in North Carolina would protect LGBT people from discrimination, including teachers and other education professionals.
– Meanwhile, some North Carolina lawmakers are trying to prevent the University of North Carolina from implementing a gender-neutral housing option.
– The American Family Association is once again encouraging parents to prevent their children from attending school on the Day of Silence, lest they have to confront the reality of anti-LGBT bullying.
– Texas lawmakers have actually advanced a pro-LGBT bill out of committee, one that would grant “Romeo and Juliet” protections from statutory rape charges to gay minors as it does straight minors.
– The Keep Austin Affordable initiative, which will offer affordable housing bonds in Austin, Texas, doesn’t seem to mind that its logo looks just like an anti-marriage equality logo.
– France’s Chief Rabbi, who openly opposes marriage equality and same-sex adoption, has refused to step down, even though he’s admitted faking his academic qualifications.
– A Singapore judge has upheld the country’s law criminalizing gay sex.
– Check out a new documentary in the works that follows the journey of three queer members of the Presbyterian Church (USA):