Straight couple accidentally gets gay married
Lacey currently lives in Canada, and the couple now faces a huge hassle to get … The couple say they have no problem with gay marriage when it’s intentional and Laurin jokingly refers to Lacey as “the cutest groom I’ve ever married.”

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Anti-LGBT Activist Bob Vander Plaats Endorses Ted Cruz

Today, Bob Vander Plaats and leaders of Iowa’s worst anti-LGBT group, the Family Leader, endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 presidential election. Cruz and Vander Plaats share a long and repugnant history of anti-LGBT rhetoric and activism, and today’s endorsement puts Cruz even farther outside the American mainstream in a state that’s had marriage equality for six years.

Just a few weeks ago, the Family Leader was a sponsor of a conference in Des Moines whose organizer — radically anti-LGBT radio host Kevin Swanson — “raved approvingly that the Bible justifies killing gay people” according to the Des Moines register. Cruz, Jindal, and Huckabee were widely criticized for attending the event, dubbed as the “death to gays” conference, and Cruz pretended he was oblivious to Swanson’s long record of violent commentary against LGBT people.

“Just a few weeks ago, Bob Vander Plaats sponsored a conference in Des Moines organized by someone who justified the execution of LGBT people, so his ringing endorsement of Ted Cruz today should chill Iowans to their core,” said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy of Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof, a native Iowan. “Iowa was the fourth state to establish marriage equality, and there are thousands of LGBT couples and their families across the state whose fundamental rights are literally at stake in this election. Fortunately, the vast majority of Iowans and Americans today think Cruz and Vander Plaats are wrong, and agree that LGBT people should be able to marry and have the same rights as everyone else.”

Vander Plaats was joined in his endorsement by board chair Robert Cramer, who lost a primary for Congress in 2014, and Chuck Hurley, the Family Leader’s Chief Counsel.

Vander Plaats’ — and Cruz’s —  anti-LGBT views are out of step with the majority of Iowans. Iowa — which has had marriage equality for six years — supports marriage equality by an overwhelming 57-37 margin, according to the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute. Meanwhile, PPP found in an April poll that a 36 percent plurality of Iowans have an unfavorable opinion of Vander Plaats, and that the endorsement is a net negative in the general election. Only a paltry 7 percent of Iowans would be more likely to vote for a candidate he endorsed.
Ted Cruz has ducked questions from the Des Moines Register and CNN’s Jake Tapper about why it was appropriate to attend the Vander Plaats-sponsored“death to gays” conference. Aside from both promoting the “death to gays” conference, here are just a few examples of the shared anti-LGBT rhetoric between Vander Plaats and Cruz:

• Vander Plaats said he will ask the next president to ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling that made marriage equality the law of the land. Cruz has supported a bill that would strip the courts of jurisdiction on marriage equality.
• Vander Plaats compared being LGBT to a public health risk, like smoking. “If we’re teaching the kids, ‘don’t smoke, because that’s a risky health style,’ the same can be true of the homosexual lifestyle. That’s why I think we need to speak the truth once in a while.” Cruz says that  “I believe that engaging in homosexual conduct is a choice.”
• Vander Plaats led a campaign to recall three Iowa Supreme Court Judges who ruled in favor of marriage equality. Cruz attacked a fellow Republican for marching in a pride parade, saying, “When a mayor of a city chooses twice to march in a parade celebrating pride, that’s a statement – and it’s not a statement I agree with.”
• Vander Plaats smeared transgender people and falsely suggested they would assault people in restrooms. Cruz has ramped up the transphobic rhetoric in recent weeks, calling efforts to drop the ban on transgender people serving in the military as “lunacy” and “nutty.”

www.hrc.org/blog/anti-lgbt-activist-bob-vander-plaats-endorses-ted-cruz?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

MSU live chat looking toward Belk Bowl
MSU live chat looking toward Belk Bowl The Clarion-Ledger’s Michael Bonner looks ahead to Mississippi State’s bowl game against North Carolina State. Check out this story on clarionledger.com: on.thec-l.com/1HX1lRz

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Washington Post to host online chat on Friday on ‘Serial’ podcast’s coverage of Bowe Bergdahl
The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published.

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Canada welcomes wave of Syrian refugees
“This is a great moment for Canada,” he said. “This shows the way we really are … Those who will be considered refugees include families, women at risk, and gay men and women.

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Iowa Republican ‘Kingmaker’ Joins Social Conservatives In Endorsing Ted Cruz For President

Bob Vander Plaats and the National Organization for Marriage both endorsed Ted Cruz this week.

The post Iowa Republican ‘Kingmaker’ Joins Social Conservatives In Endorsing Ted Cruz For President appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/12/10/3730778/vander-plaats-nom-cruz/

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: December 10, 2015

WHICH ANTI-LGBT CANDIDATE WILL THE FAMILY LEADER ENDORSE?: With less than 60 days until the Iowa Caucus, the Family Leader, one of Iowa’s most prominent anti-LGBT groups, is expected to announce its endorsement for president today. Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats’ anti-LGBT views are out of step with the majority of Iowans, who support marriage equality by an overwhelming 57-37 margin, according to the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute. Meanwhile, PPP found in an April poll that a 36 percent plurality of Iowans have an unfavorable opinion of Vander Plaats, and only a paltry 7 percent of Iowans would be more likely to vote for a candidate he endorsed. Seven GOP candidates attended the Family Leader’s Presidential Forum in November, and their long records of anti-LGBT rhetoric and positions gives Vander Plaats many options to choose from. Check out the line-up here: bit.ly/1jQsPfR

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN? NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE ENDORSES TED CRUZ: Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign for President was endorsed by the extremist National Organization for Marriage yesterday. The endorsement comes after ultra-conservative Iowa Congressman Steve King issued his own endorsement of Cruz. The Texas Senator and presidential candidate has ramped up his anti-LGBT rhetoric–with a particular focus on targeting transgender Americans–in recent weeks, including speaking at the notorious “death to gays” conference in Des Moines in the last month. Cruz has also been endorsed by Sandy Rios of the American Family Association – an organization that has been classified a hate-group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Read more here: nyti.ms/1NIsdVR

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT TO HEAR TRANSGENDER STUDENT’S CASE NEXT YEAR: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is set to hear the case of Gavin Grimm, a 16 year-old transgender student who has sued Virginia’s Gloucester County School District for denying him use of the restroom that corresponds with his gender identity. Grimm’s suit alleges that the district is violating Title IX of the Education Act of 1972. The Obama Administration, which just negotiated a settlement on behalf of a transgender student in Illinois, has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Grimm saying, “Prohibiting a transgender male student from using boys’ restrooms, when other non-transgender male students face no such restriction, deprives him not only of equal educational opportunity but also ‘of equal status, respect, and dignity.’” Recently, several state Republican leaders have filed briefs backing the school board’s discriminatory policy including Attorneys General from Arizona, Mississippi, West Virginia and South Carolina and the governors of Maine and North Carolina. The case will be argued on Jan. 27 at the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, VA. More here: abcn.ws/1SQafAQ

STATE SNAPSHOT

TROUBLING NEW POLICY AGAINST TRANSGENDER ATHLETES ADVANCES IN NEBRASKA: Yesterday, the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) voted 6-1 to move forward with a stricter policy regarding the participation of transgender students in high school sports. According to reports, the draft policy which has been under debate for several months, would require that students provide “credible documentation” from family, friends, and teachers, as well as accompanying input from a physician, psychologist, member of NSAA and member from a non-competing school to qualify. Students transitioning from male to female would also need to undergo mandated hormone therapy for at least 1 year. Despite all these criteria, transgender athletes would still either have to use a private bathroom, or the bathroom facilities for the gender that they were assigned at birth. ACLU of Nebraska slammed the ruling saying that it is “not consistent with best practices from either a legal or policy standpoint and could result in lengthy litigation for the NSAA and school districts, or the loss of federal funds.” The final reading is expected to take place on January 6. More here: bit.ly/1SQamwc and here: bit.ly/1HWypJn

HAMBURG, NY SCHOOL DISTRICT ADOPTS TRANS-INCLUSIVE POLICY: This week, Hamburg School Board of New York voted to adopt a new pro-equality policy that would allow transgender students to use the bathrooms aligned with their gender identity. Superintendent Michael Cornell commented positively despite possible blowback saying, “our obligation is to do the right thing for students, and legally, to protect transgendered [sic] students from discrimination. It’s the right thing to do.” Many hope that the board, which unanimously passed the measure, will be an example for other districts in the area that are debating transgender inclusive policy. Earlier this week, the School Board for Lancaster, NY decided to table a vote on a similar policy saying more time was needed to make a decision following hours of strong public debate. More here: bit.ly/1U7HqAW

FLORIDA COUPLE BECOME LATEST TO CHALLENGE BIRTH CERTIFICATE LAW: Two same-sex couples in Florida have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the state’s refusal to list both parents on their children’s birth certificates is a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming nationwide marriage equality this June. An Arkansas Circuit Court Judge recently ruled in favor of a couple that filed a similar suit in that state, and a couple also filed suit in Indiana just this week. More here: bit.ly/1Rcj8XF and here: bit.ly/21RHycW

CINCINNATI OFFICIALLY BANS CONVERSION THERAPY FOR LGBTQ YOUTH: Yesterday, Cincinnati officially became what may be the first city in the nation to ban the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth. The historic ordinance, which imposes a $200 a day fine on violators, was largely in response to the tragic death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn last year, who was subjected to conversion therapy against her will. Earlier this year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) released a new report definitively denouncing the practice, and HRC and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) released sample legislation for state legislators and equality advocates who want to protect LGBTQ youth. NCLR and HRC have also partnered with state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation to end this dangerous practice, including laws passed in California, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon and Illinois. More here: cin.ci/1SQaxYw

VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO OPEN TRANSGENDER CLINIC FOR VETERANS IN TUCSON: Yesterday, the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS)’s main Tucson campus announced that it will be opening a clinic for transgender veterans next week. The clinic will provide medical care, mental health, pharmaceutical and social work services specific to transgender Veterans. Last month, the Cleveland VA Medical Center opened the country’s first VA clinic dedicated to providing medical services to transgender veterans. Though there are an estimated 15,500 actively serving transgender members of the U.S. military, transgender people are still not able to serve openly. There are also an estimated 134,000 transgender veterans who are alive today. A draft memo circulated this past August expects the ban to be lifted in May 2016. More here: bit.ly/1OV7Vrl

LGBT-INCLUSIVE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT APPROVED IN SAN DIEGO: The San Diego City Council has unanimously approved a $7 million loan for the construction of an LGBT senior apartment complex. Delores Jacobs, CEO of the San Diego LGBT Community Center, which is supporting the effort, said, “The people who will live here paved the way for younger LGBT generations and many of them are forced back into the closet in traditional senior communities because of a lack of acceptance. We owe this new community and more to San Diego’s LGBT seniors.” The complex is scheduled to open in 2017. More here: bit.ly/21RHOIG 

AROUND THE WORLD

EU COMMISSION RELEASES ACTION LIST FOR IMPROVING LGBTI LIFE: Yesterday, the European Union’s Commissioner for Justice and Equality, Věra Jourová, released a new report: “List of Actions by the Commission to Advance LGBTI Equality.” The 24 page report focuses on areas for improvement including monitoring and enforcement of existing rights, nondiscrimination protections and supporting key players in the advancement of LGBTI rights in the EU. Read the actions list here: bit.ly/1IH7ykH

READING RAINBOW

Reuters sits down with Tamara Adrian, the first openly transgender person elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly… MTV writes about a new app called Wimbify, which though similar to Airbnb, is designed to connect LGBT travelers with hosts that will make them feel safe and welcome… Michigan Public Radio looks at the ongoing debate on a statewide LGBT civil rights ordinance… and ABC30 profiles Jimi Pierson of Fresno, a local doctor providing invaluable medical services to the transgender community.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality, and follow @HRC for all the latest news and updates. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-december-10-2015?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

BuycPanel.com Deploys Live Chat Customer Service Option
BuycPanel (www.buycpanel.com) has announced today that the company has added the Live Chat feature in an effort to provide customers with instant customer services when or if the site visitors has questions. Weve committed to continuing to step up …

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Canada welcoming first wave of Syrian refugees
Mr Trudeau’s immigration minister said Canada’s warm reception of refugees contrasts starkly … Those who will be considered refugees include families, women at risk, and gay men and women.

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Conservatives Threatened A School For Supporting A Transgender Student. Their Response Was Perfect.

Mount Horeb School District may have canceled a reading of “I Am Jazz,” but it now protects transgender students throughout all its schools.

The post Conservatives Threatened A School For Supporting A Transgender Student. Their Response Was Perfect. appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/12/10/3730578/mount-horeb-jazz-transgender-protections/