Utah to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy
The Utah State Legislature has unanimously approved a bill that enshrines into law a ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy. It now goes to Governor Spencer Cox, who has signaled support for it.
States & provinces
Trans activists in Hong Kong win landmark victory for gender identification
Hong Kong’s highest court has ruled that gender-affirming surgery should not be required before someone can legally change their gender on identity cards.
California approves $2.9 billion in funding for zero-emission transportation infrastructure
The funds will be used for the installation of more EV chargers, zero-emission trucks, school and transit buses, and hydrogen refueling technology.
Five U.S. states are repaving roads with unrecyclable plastic waste
Pilot programs are ongoing in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, and Hawai’i are already seeing promising results.
No rhinos poached in India’s state of Assam in 2022 for first time in 45 years
As many as 191 rhinos were poached in Assam between 2000 and 2021. In 2013 and 2014, 27 rhino deaths each were reported. In 2020 and 2021, two rhinos each were killed.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs extends protections to LGBTQ+ state employees and contractors
The executive order goes beyond existing laws banning employment discrimination to include factors such as sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, culture, creed, social origin, and political affiliation.
New York opens its first legal recreational cannabis dispensary
The lower Manhattan store is the first of 36 recently licensed dispensaries to open, with an additional 139 licenses yet to be issued and 900 applicants still awaiting word.
Oregon governor pardons over 45,000 marijuana convictions
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced today that she has issued pardons to everyone caught possessing up to an ounce of marijuana prior to its legalization in 2016.
Colorado voters pass historic psychedelic decriminalization act
The measure creates a regulatory framework for psychedelic clinics to operate in the state and completely decriminalizes personal use and possession of several natural hallucinogenic plants.
Marriage equality is now legal in all of Mexico after the final states approve it
In a 23 to 12 vote (with two abstentions), Tamaulipas became the 32nd state to legalize same-sex marriage, after the state of Guerrero did so just the day before.