Is a Travel Ban to Anti-LGBTQ+ States Effective? | California Armenian Diaspora Watches Azerbaijan Blockade | ‘Harvest Day’ for Gardeners

How effective is California’s state-funded travel ban to anti-LGBTQ states? California’s Armenian diaspora watches a humanitarian crisis in their homeland. “Harvest Day” for all gardeners is this weekend in Sacramento. 

Travel ban to anti-LGBTQ+ states

In 2016, California drew a line in the sand, in the spirit of allyship, banning state-funded travel to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. And in the time since, what began with a handful of states has now grown to nearly half of the states in the country. That is having some California Democrats reevaluate the effectiveness of the travel ban– and one in particular wanting to reverse course all together. State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins authored a bill to repeal the state-funded travel ban. The Democrat, who is the first lesbian to lead the California Senate and Assembly, joined Insight earlier this year to argue the better solution is to increase outreach to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws, with the goal of building bridges, raising awareness, and breaking down discrimination. CapRadio Politics Reporter Nicole Nixon gives us a better idea of how California’s state-funded travel ban has affected both Californians, and the states targeted.

Armenian diaspora watches Azerbaijan blockade

California is home to the largest population of Armenians living outside of their homeland. Today, their attention is on a deteriorating humanitarian crisis that has been developing for months as neighboring Azerbaijan has blockaded 120,000 Armenians from the rest of world, depriving them of essential needs, like food, medicine and energy. Today on Insight, Eric Hacopian, a California-based political consultant, analyst and commentator, joins us for an update on the growing concern over the blockade, the lack of action by world leaders, including the United States, and the role the media play in international conflicts along with the challenges of remaining independent. 

How you can help raise awareness.

Harvest Day

From saving water, to creating a worm bin, and attracting pollinators, there is a lot that goes into creating a healthy garden. If you have a proud green thumb, Sacramento is hosting an all day extravaganza this weekend. Jane de Leon and Peter Horton are Master Gardeners for Sacramento County and joined Insight to discuss Harvest Day taking place on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center.