HRC: Georgia’s Governor Deal Must Veto H.B. 757

HRC released the following statement after the Georgia Senate quickly followed in the House’s footsteps today and voted to approve an amended version of H.B. 757.

“Governor Deal made clear weeks ago that he wouldn’t sign legislation that allows discrimination–now is the time for him to show Georgia and the nation that he means it,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Shockingly, the decision by the legislature today was to make an egregious and discriminatory bill even worse. It’s appalling that anti-equality extremists in the legislature are trying to ignore the will of the people of Georgia, and to empower businesses with the explicit right to discriminate and deny service to LGBT Americans. Corporate leaders in Georgia and across the country have already spoken out against this bill because the First Amendment already protects religious freedom. It’s time for Governor Deal to veto H.B. 757. Anything other than a swift veto is only courting an Indiana-style backlash.”

Additional provisions added to the bill could undermine local non-discrimination ordinances that protect LGBT people, permit hospitals to refuse to provide medically necessary care, allow a taxpayer-funded service provider to discriminate by denying a job because of the applicant’s religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The bill adds a so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA), as well as retains and broadens discriminatory provisions that give explicit cover to taxpayer-funded religious organizations choosing to discriminate. While falsely framed as prohibiting the state government from making funding or tax status decisions based on an organization’s religious views, in reality it opens the door to discrimination in social services and employment against a wide range of Georgians. The RFRA and other provisions could result in a range of harms. Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to place children in desperate need of loving and caring homes with LGBT couples. Homeless shelters could turn away unwed couples and their families. Food pantries could turn away people of other faiths or even engage in race discrimination. Drug counseling centers could refuse to hire a qualified LGBT therapist.

In reality, no religious organization or clergy is required to sanction or perform same-sex marriage under any federal or state law.

Since H.B. 757 passed the Senate, countless businesses as well as major employers have spoken out against the bill. HRC and Georgia Unites delivered more than 75,000 email petitions to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. The petitions urge Governor Deal to veto HB 757 should it reach his desk. And in recent weeks companies like Coca-Cola, Dell, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Microsoft and Salesforce have all spoken out against the bill.

Georgia is among a majority of states that lack explicit LGBT non-discrimination protections. Nonpartisan polling from Public Religion Research Institute released this year found that a majority of Georgians oppose allowing businesses to discriminate and deny service to LGBT people — only 37 percent support such a bill and 57 percent oppose. Georgians also reported that they support protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing and access to public services by an overwhelming 66-28 margin.

Working to stop such reckless and discriminatory legislation, HRC is proud to be fighting alongside local advocates in Georgia Unites Against Discrimination – a joint project of HRC and Georgia Equality dedicated to protecting LGBT Georgians from discrimination and ensuring that individuals and businesses aren’t able to use religious beliefs as an excuse to harm others.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-georgias-governor-deal-must-veto-h.b.-757?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

In Shocking Vote, Georgia House Adds New Indiana-Style Anti-LGBT Discrimination Provisions to HB 757

HRC and Georgia Equality, the statewide LGBT advocacy organization, called on Senate Leadership and Gov. Nathan Deal to put a stop to H.B. 757 after the Georgia House just voted to add additional provisions to the bill that would increase the risk of discrimination against LGBT people. New provisions in the bill, which just passed the Georgia House by a vote of 104-65 go far beyond protecting the right to practice one’s religion and could allow a business owner or employee to refuse service to LGBT people.

Additional provisions added to the bill could undermine local non-discrimination ordinances that protect LGBT people, permit hospitals to refuse to provide medically necessary care, or allow a taxpayer-funded service provider to discriminate by denying a job because of the applicant’s religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

“Members of the Georgia House are so blindly devoted to discrimination against LGBT people that they’ve not only ignored weeks of warnings from some of Georgia’s largest employers and faith leaders, but tens of thousands of everyday Georgians who have spoken out against this bill,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We all know how this story ends, even if members of the Georgia House do not. When Indiana Gov. Mike Pence went down this road in Indiana, the backlash was swift and severe from businesses who rightly understood that religious liberty is already protected by the First Amendment. If the Georgia Senate doesn’t immediately stop this reckless and irresponsible bill in its tracks, Gov. Deal should veto it.”

“Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen an unprecedented chorus of unexpected allies come together to speak out against HB 757, the License to Discriminate. Conservatives, legal experts, people of faith, businesses and more than 75,000 Georgians expressed their strong opposition to legislation which threatens our state’s economy and reputation, and which very clearly singles out LGBT people and others for harm,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality. “It’s shameful that lawmakers in the House ignored this feedback and, rather than taking steps to mitigate any potential fallout, actually made a bad bill worse.”

The bill adds a so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA), as well as retains and broadens discriminatory provisions that give explicit cover to taxpayer-funded religious organizations choosing to discriminate. While falsely framed as prohibiting the state government from making funding or tax status decisions based on an organization’s religious views, in reality it opens the door to discrimination in social services and employment against a wide range of Georgians. The RFRA and other provisions could result in a range of harms. Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to place children in desperate need of loving and caring homes with LGBT couples. Homeless shelters could turn away unwed couples and their families. Food pantries could turn away people of other faiths or even engage in race discrimination. Drug counseling centers could refuse to hire a qualified LGBT therapist.

In reality, no religious organization or clergy is required to sanction or perform same-sex marriage under any federal or state law.

Since H.B. 757 passed the Senate, countless major employers have spoken out against the bill. HRC and Georgia Unites delivered more than 75,000 email petitions to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. The petitions urge Governor Deal to veto HB 757 should it reach his desk. And in recent weeks companies like Coca-Cola, Dell, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, Microsoft and Salesforce have all spoken out against the bill.

Georgia is among a majority of states that lack explicit LGBT non-discrimination protections. Nonpartisan polling from Public Religion Research Institute released this year found that a majority of Georgians oppose allowing businesses to discriminate and deny service to LGBT people — only 37 percent support such a bill and 57 percent oppose. Georgians also reported that they support protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing and access to public services by an overwhelming 66-28 margin.

Working to stop such reckless and discriminatory legislation, HRC is proud to be fighting alongside local advocates in Georgia Unites Against Discrimination – a joint project of HRC and Georgia Equality dedicated to protecting LGBT Georgians from discrimination and ensuring that individuals and businesses aren’t able to use religious beliefs as an excuse to harm others.

www.hrc.org/blog/in-shocking-vote-georgia-house-adds-new-indiana-style-provisions?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Kansas House of Representatives Sends Legislative Attack on LGBT College Students to Governor’s Desk

Today, HRC blasted the Kansas House of Representatives for passing SB 175 – a bill that would put LGBT college students at even greater risk of discrimination. Now headed to Governor Sam Brownback’s desk, the legislation would force public universities to fund student organizations that discriminate by restricting their membership and denying LGBT students from participating under the guise of “religious beliefs.”

“Each and every lawmaker who voted for this reckless legislation have in doing so abandoned their duty to serve and protect all Kansans. SB 175 has nothing to do with American values or religious liberty and everything to do with blatant discrimination against tens of thousands of college students from all across the country,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “If signed into law, this disgraceful bill would undermine non-discrimination policies and protections at colleges and universities throughout Kansas. We urge Governor Brownback to stand on the right side of history and veto this draconian measure.”

The bill jeopardizes non-discrimination policies that have already been put into place by many of Kansas’ educational institutions, including the Kansas Board of Regents and the University of Kansas. These policies require that student organizations which receive financial and other support from the school do not discriminate against students based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. SB 175 blows a hole right through them – and allows discrimination against any of these groups if one cites a “religious belief” as a justification.

These policies are incredibly important because they allow all members of the student body to participate in student groups and prevent such groups from discriminating against students with state funding.

Passed by the Kansas Senate last year, the legislation now awaits a decision by Gov. Brownback, who made headlines last year for his anti-LGBT executive order that put LGBT Kansans at risk of greater discrimination. If Gov. Brownback signs the legislation, it would be the first stand-alone anti-LGBT bill signed into law in 2016.

The attacks on fairness and equality in Kansas are part of an onslaught of anti-LGBT bills being pushed in 2016 by anti-equality activists around the country. HRC is currently tracking nearly 200 anti-LGBT bills in 32 states. For more information, visit: www.hrc.org/2016legislature.

www.hrc.org/blog/kansas-house-of-representatives-sends-legislative-attack-on-lgbt-college-st?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: March 16, 2016

MERRICK GARLAND NOMINATED TO SUPREME COURT: Following the nomination of Chief Justice Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court, HRC has joined a chorus of organizations telling Senators to #DoYourJob. “Americans deserve a full Supreme Court bench, and President Obama’s nominee deserves a hearing,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “There is no doubt that Merrick Garland is a highly qualified candidate, and the Senate has a Constitutional responsibility to give him swift and fair consideration. The Supreme Court has a sacred responsibility to uphold the rights of all citizens, and we must hold accountable any politicians who tamper with our nation’s highest court for their own gain.” Judge Garland has served on the federal bench and in public service for almost 25 years. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1997, and currently serves as the Chief Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. HRC will continue examining the record of Judge Garland on issues affecting the LGBT community.

WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT JOHN KASICH’S ANTI-LGBT RECORD: While he managed to score a win last night in Ohio, Gov. Kasich remains far behind in the Republican delegate count — and dangerously out of step with the majority of Americans on LGBT equality. According to recent polling from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, Ohioans support marriage equality 53 percent to 40 percent, they support the Equality Act 69 percent to 26 percent and they oppose allowing small businesses to deny service to LGBT customers: 58 percent to 37 percent. From slowing marriage equality to broken promises on non-discrimination for transgender state workers and more, read more about four ways Kasich has blocked LGBT equality. More here: bit.ly/1Uz9oat

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: With Hillary Clinton’s sweep of every primary contest last night, fair-minded voters have begun unifying to defeat whichever one of the remaining anti-LGBT contenders emerges as the Republican nominee. More on HRC’s take here:  bit.ly/1QXunT8

BYE FELICIA! MARCO RUBIO ENDS HIS CAMPAIGN: Last night, Marco Rubio conceded to the inevitable, and finally ended his failed presidential campaign. What’s striking is how the candidate who worked so hard to allegedly build a bridge to the “New American Century” was running such a retrograde campaign on LGBT rights — Rubio not only promised to appoint justices to the Supreme Court who would reverse nationwide marriage equality, but he also backed bills that would allow government officials to discriminate and deny service to LGBT people. View the records of Rubio and all the GOP candidates here: hrc.org/2016republicanfacts

NY ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATING ANTI-LGBT DISCRIMINATION AT NFL: Yesterday, the New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called on the NFL to explain and address deeply disturbing reports that some prospective players are being asked inappropriate questions about their sexual orientation. ESPN reported recently that one player attending the NFL Scouting Combine was asked by a coach from the Atlanta Falcons if he was gay. There are no explicit protections against discrimination in employment at the federal level for LGBT people, leaving millions of LGBT workers at risk for being fired or denied a job because of who they are or who they love. All individuals who believe they have experienced discrimination in employment, including during a job interview, to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. More here: nyti.ms/1RO2x8c

STATE SNAPSHOT

KANSAS ON VERGE OF PASSING DISCRIMINATORY LAW THAT TARGETS LGBT COLLEGE STUDENTS: SB 175, a bill that passed in the Kansas House yesterday by a vote of 80-39 would put LGBT college students at risk of discrimination. The bill would allow public universities to continue funding student organizations that discriminate by restricting their membership and denying LGBT students from participating on the grounds of the organization’s “sincerely held religious beliefs.” If the bill passes the full house today as expected, it will proceed to the desk of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, where it could become the first of among nearly 200 anti-LGBT bills introduced this year to be signed into law. More here: bit.ly/1QXGr5t

LEGISLATIVE ASSAULT ON TRANSGENDER STUDENTS MOVES FORWARD IN TENNESSEE: Yesterday, The Tennessee House Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee advanced unanimously on a voice vote HB 2414 – an outrageous bill targeting transgender students in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those in public universities. The measure, which now moves to the full committee for consideration, seeks to force transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity. A subcommittee hearing is also scheduled today on companion legislation in the Senate. Fair-minded Tennesseans; major national child welfare, medical, and education groups; the Tennessee Equality Project; and HRC have been pleading with lawmakers to abandon the discriminatory measure. The proposal is very similar to  an appalling bill vetoed recently by Republican South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has expressed concern that the discriminatory, unconstitutional measure would compromise the state’s billions of dollars in federal funding for its schools and universities. His spokesperson also said the governor “trusts our teachers and local school boards to make necessary accommodations” for transgender students. HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow responded to the vote saying, ““Governor Haslam is exactly right: this vicious legislation would needlessly jeopardize millions in federal funding for Tennessee’s schools and universities, and would strip away the ability of local administrators and teachers to do the right thing for students in their communities. There are more than 10,000 transgender students in Tennessee–and they shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of a discriminatory law that will lead to even higher rates of harassment, bullying, and even suicide.” More here: bit.ly/22m4FeZ

KENTUCKY ADVANCES IRRESPONSIBLE ANTI-LGBT RFRA AMENDMENT BILL: Following a vote yesterday by the Kentucky Senate to advance SB 180, HRC and the Fairness Campaign called on the Kentucky House to pull back from the shameful anti-LGBT bill that would put LGBT people — and Kentuckians of all walks of life — at risk for discrimination. SB 180 passed the Kentucky Senate 22-16. SB 180 would undermine state and local protections against discrimination for a host of minority communities in Kentucky by allowing businesses like photographers, tailors, engravers, or any other businesses that provide custom goods and services to discriminate and refuse service for any reason. In addition to putting LGBT people at risk for discrimination, under SB 180, single mothers, interfaith couples, interracial couples are all at risk. A bakery could refuse to provide a birthday cake to an African-American, or a photography studio could refuse photographs for a Muslim family under this bill. It would also undermine local non-discrimination protections on the books in the Kentucky cities that have ordinances protecting LGBT people from discrimination. When similar legislation was taken up in Indiana last year, the debate cost the state as much as $60 million in convention revenue alone from lost business, according to a recent survey. The survey from Visit Indy found that “12 out-of-state groups were surveyed and all said that the state’s controversial religious objections law played a role in their decision to hold their events elsewhere.” More here: bzfd.it/1TM77tC

A HOOSIER’S HOPE FOR 2017: After the Indiana General Assembly failed to pass statewide non-discrimination measures for LGBT Hoosiers, local groups are already planning for the future, stating that public education will be key. Organizations plan on using public education and awareness as their main tool for showing state lawmakers the need to pass such legislation. Chris Paulsen of Freedom Indiana has noted that several lawmakers, notably Republicans, have reached out to the group to learn more about the needs of the LGBT community. Local ordinances across the state are furthering this conversation as state lawmakers look at the needs of their local constituencies. LGBT groups are also focusing their efforts on mobilizing voters to protect pro-equality legislators against opponents of equality and drumming up further support from the business community. More here: bit.ly/1nOcRVB and bit.ly/1QXFFWl

TRANSGENDER NON-DISCRIMINATION IS A FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS: Yesterday, Massachusetts’  Maura Healey, the nation’s first openly LGBT state Attorney General, spoke out in support of legislation that explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in public accommodations in the Bay State. She explained that protecting transgender people from discrimination is truly a fight for civil rights. Healey explained that it was time to “right that wrong” and institute full protections from discrimination based on gender identity. We couldn’t agree more, Maura! More here: bit.ly/1nOaceH

BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONE STEP CLOSER TO LGBT-INCLUSIVE NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES: After the school board failed to adopt a policy adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its nondiscrimination ordinance, LGBT advocates and allies spoke up at yesterday’s school board meeting. The Brevard School Board has had meetings regarding the policy previously, where the superintendent spoke up about the harmful rhetoric used by opponents of the policy. Supporters of the policy also shared their views, including a retired school educator who spoke passionately about her experience with a student who attempted suicide after facing anti-LGBT bullying. The school board has still not made any official decision on the policy. More here: on.flatoday.com/1QXstlo

CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE: Yesterday, members of Vermont’s House of Representative heard from a group of LGBTQ youth who emphasized the need for transgender-inclusive school policies across the state regarding bathrooms and sports teams. The students spoke alongside members of Outright Vermont, a local nonprofit supporting Vermont’s LGBTQ youth. The group then spoke with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who shared Vermont’s role in civil rights. More here: bit.ly/1UfFHfI

AROUND THE WORLD

AUSTRALIA’S MPS REFUSE TO DO THEIR JOBS OUT OF FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS: Australia’s government is giving its citizens mixed-signals about the planned marriage equality plebiscite (referendum), seeming to be holding out until after the federal election. Conservative MPs are demanding widespread and deep exemptions to nondiscrimination laws if the plebiscite moves forward. However, if it  is stalled for much longer, budget planning and the election season could put the plebiscite even further off.  Current actions seem like a ploy to avoid having politicians take a position on the matter while running for re-election. Hey, Australia MPs, how about doing your jobs rather than playing politics with Australian’s equality? More here: bit.ly/1pnVJam

READING RAINBOW

Bustle profiles Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, the first transgender White House LGBT liaison (Congrats Raffi!!); Inside Higher Ed looks at how to improve working conditions for LGBT physicists; and the  St. Louis Post-Dispatch chronicles the Missouri Senate battle over an anti-marriage equality proposal.

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. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-march-16-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court

Today, HRC released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Americans deserve a full Supreme Court bench, and President Obama’s nominee deserves a hearing. There is no doubt that Merrick Garland is a highly qualified candidate, and the Senate has a Constitutional responsibility to give him swift and fair consideration,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The Supreme Court has a sacred responsibility to uphold the rights of all citizens, and we must hold accountable any politicians who tamper with our nation’s highest court for their own gain.”

Judge Garland has served on the federal bench and in public service for almost 25 years. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1997, and currently serves as the Chief Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  After graduating from Harvard University and Harvard Law School, Judge Garland served as a judicial clerk for Judge Henry Friendly on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan. HRC will continue examining the record of Judge Garland on issues affecting the LGBT community. Moreover, we look forward to the Senate’s thorough examination of his judicial philosophy and record.

The decisions made by the Supreme Court establish important legal precedents that impact the daily lives of all Americans, including those who are LGBT. This year alone, the Court is expected to rule on many critical issues: including affirmative action, immigration, religious refusals and abortion rights–and the American people deserve a fully-functioning Court with nine justices seated and considering cases before it.

Over the past 25 years, the LGBT community in particular has benefited from groundbreaking decisions from the court, including Romer v. Evans, Lawrence v. Texas, U.S. v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges–the latter of which ushered in nationwide marriage equality last June. Notably, each ruling was decided by a razor-thin margin of just one vote. While each has bettered the lives of millions of Americans, during that same time there have been tremendously disappointing rulings, such as Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Shelby County v. Holder, that have been both far-reaching and harmful to a great many more people across our country.

President Obama’s incredible legacy of achievement on LGBT equality remains unmatched in our country’s history. Not only has he appointed two pro-equality Associate Justices to the Supreme Court–Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan–but he’s also named a record 10 openly LGBT judges to the federal bench. HRC fully hopes that in Judge Garland, we will find another well-qualified justice who will uphold the Constitution and rule fairly on issues important to the LGBT community.

Last month HRC joined a broad coalition of 82 organizations in condemning Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for their unprecedented obstruction of the U.S. Supreme Court nomination process. On the day of Justice Scalia’s death, Republican leadership announced that they would shirk their responsibility by not even holding a hearing for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. The Republican National Committee has also launched a special task force dedicated to blocking any efforts to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia.

On Monday, March 21, HRC will be participating in the #DoYourJob National Day of Action along with allied advocacy organizations, to put public pressure on and demand action from key Senate Republicans who have refused to uphold Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-statement-on-president-obamas-nomination-of-merrick-garland-to-SCOTUS?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Growing LGBT acceptance matches growing LGBT population in the South

www.glaad.org/blog/growing-lgbt-acceptance-matches-growing-lgbt-population-south

Kentucky Senate Advances Pro-Discrimination ‘Freedom Of Conscience’ Bill

This Kentucky lawmaker wants to ensure businesses can refuse to serve LGBT people if it would violate their conscience.

The post Kentucky Senate Advances Pro-Discrimination ‘Freedom Of Conscience’ Bill appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/03/16/3760754/kentucky-conscience-bill/