Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Over Extreme Anti-LGBT Law

 Today, HRC praised the news that Bruce Springsteen is canceling a concert this weekend in North Carolina due to the state’s radical and extreme new anti-LGBT law – HB 2 – that was rammed through the legislature on March 23.

“Bruce Springsteen is a hero and an icon because he gives voice, both through his music and his advocacy, to those who struggle against injustice and equality,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “It means so much that he has spoken out against this hateful bill on behalf of thousands of citizens whose rights and fundamental dignity are being trampled by the leadership of North Carolina.”

In announcing the decision, Springsteen said: “As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the “bathroom” law. HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

H.B. 2 has eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. The legislation also forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting 4.5 billion dollars in federal funding under Title IX at risk. It also compels the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in state buildings, including in public universities. Lawmakers passed the legislation in a hurried, single-day session, and Governor McCrory quickly signed it into law in the dead of night.

North Carolina has the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first state in the country to enact a law attacking transgender students, even after similar proposals were rejected across the country this year — including a high-profile veto by the Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota. North Carolina school districts that comply with the law will now be in direct violation of Title IX, subjecting the school districts to massive liability and putting an estimated $4.5 billion of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as funding received by schools from other federal agencies, at risk. This section of House Bill 2 offers costly supposed solutions to non-existent problems, and it forces schools to choose between complying with federal law — plus doing the right thing for their students — or complying with a state law that violates students’ civil rights. Read more about how this bill puts federal funding at risk here.

As a result of North Carolina’s HB2 law, which puts thousands of youth, citizens, employees, and visitors to the state at risk, more than 130 business leaders are calling for a repeal effort during the upcoming legislative session and a number of businesses have begun to remove investments from the state.

www.hrc.org/blog/bruce-springsteen-cancels-north-carolina-concert-over-extreme-anti?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

UNC President’s Compliance With Anti-LGBT Law Enrages Students Across North Carolina

Students across the University of North Carolina system are not happy that their campuses will comply with the state’s new anti-trans law.

The post UNC President’s Compliance With Anti-LGBT Law Enrages Students Across North Carolina appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/04/08/3767923/unc-hb2-protests/

Miley Cyrus, Emmylou Harris, Chely Wright, Ty Herndon, Country Music Television Speak Out in TN

Today, HRC announced that some of the biggest stars in the country music industry are uniting with pediatricians and child welfare advocates, civil rights organizations, the business community and supporters of equality to oppose legislation in Tennessee attacking transgender students in public schools and universities. Emmylou Harris, Chely Wright, Ty Herndon, Miley Cyrus, and Country Music Television are speaking out against HB 2414 and SB 2387 – discriminatory proposals that would further marginalize transgender students and make it illegal for them to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. Their statements are included below.

“Transgender youth already face incredibly high levels of discrimination, bullying, and harassment, and it is appalling that the state of Tennessee would consider requiring public schools to discriminate against them, too,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Today, some of the biggest stars in the country music industry are using their voices to try and protect these young people. They join a broad chorus of parents, teachers, child welfare advocates, pediatricians, businesses and civil rights organizations urging Tennessee lawmakers to do the right thing and stop discrimination against transgender youth. Tennessee should block this hateful legislation and commit to ensuring every child has the right to learn without being subjected to discrimination or fear.”

On Wednesday, HRC also released an open letter from executives at the Dow Chemical Company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Choice Hotels International, Inc., and Alcoa, Inc. urging Tennessee’s lawmakers to abandon the legislative assault on transgender students in Tennessee. Major CEOs and business leaders are speaking out because they know the legislation is bad for business and bad for Tennessee.

Over the last month, bills with language similar to Tennessee’s proposal were vetoed in South Dakota, but enacted in North Carolina, where lawmakers have faced serious backlash. While South Dakota Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard listened to child welfare organizations, pediatricians, parents, and met with transgender children before deciding to veto a similar bill, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the state legislature rammed through a measure that, among other discriminatory provisions, includes a similar appalling attack on transgender students. As a result of North Carolina’s HB2 law, which puts thousands of youth, citizens, employees, and visitors to the state at risk, more than 130 business leaders are calling for a repeal effort during the upcoming legislative session and a number of businesses have begun to remove investments from the state.

Today, the following country music leaders are speaking out against Tennessee legislation to oppose discrimination against transgender youth: :

“Those who love and make country music do so because at its best it speaks to the pain and suffering everyone shares in this life. Let’s not make that life harder still for some, with this mean spirited and unnecessary legislation.” – Emmylou Harris

“As an artist living and working in Nashville for more than 20 years, I know how hard it was to struggle for acceptance as a gay woman. The deck is stacked even higher against transgender students who face dramatically increased rates of bullying. This bill will send a devastating message to transgender youth that they are not welcome, included or valued. It goes without saying that their classmates and their communities will hear this message loudly and clearly too; emboldening many of them to double down on that harassment. I have a lot of friends in Nashville with great, big voices and it’s time that we all use our voices to stand up against this scourge of unnecessary, hateful legislation in Tennessee.” – Chely Wright

“As a recording artist and resident of Tennessee this matter breaks my heart. Therefore I stand and join other supporters of equality calling on Tennessee’s elected officials to reject legislation that would harm and marginalize transgender children, already among our most vulnerable young people.  Discrimination is always wrong, but it’s particularly heartbreaking to see legislators considering terrible measures targeting, instead of supporting, our children. When I told my mother I’m gay, her only concern was that I would have a happy and successful life. Because My Life Mattered. Let her be our example.”  – Ty Herndon

“For a moment a few weeks ago, it seemed like lawmakers in Tennessee had really heard the brave testimony of a transgender young person and her parents. A mother’s simple ask to legislators about what they would do if it was their child who was transgender hit a nerve, and the anti-transgender bill was sent to a summer study session, seemingly killing if for this year. But that was two weeks ago – a lifetime ago, it seems, in light of all that has happened since – and that bill is back.” – Miley Cyrus

“Viacom and CMT have a deep commitment to tolerance, diversity and inclusion, and discriminatory laws like HB2414 and SB2387 are inconsistent with our values. As proud members of Tennessee’s welcoming and vibrant business community, we implore state lawmakers to reject these proposals.” – Viacom and Country Music Television

www.hrc.org/blog/miley-cyrus-emmylou-harris-chely-wright-ty-herndon-country-music-television?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pediatricians & Health Care Professionals Speak Out Against Legislation Targeting Trans Youth

Today, HRC released a new video highlighting health care professionals who are speaking out against dangerous and appalling legislation targeting transgender students – including bills currently pending in Tennessee and South Carolina. As anti-equality activists across the country push for laws targeting transgender youth and adults, these experts – including pediatricians, a social worker, therapist, and family physician – who work with transgender youth and their families are speaking out, challenging harmful myths and stereotypes, and showing their support for transgender youth.

“These healthcare professionals are speaking out because they know better than anyone the very real harm these discriminatory measures inflict on transgender youth,”said Jay Brown, HRC Director of Research and Public Education. “We urge Tennessee’s elected leaders to listen to these experts and take to heart the very real dangers these measures pose.”

“Nowadays, people are fearful and feel like they are challenging their own way of thought, or their own standards or rules or life,” said Dr. Deanna Adkins, a pediatrician in North Carolina. “That is not at all what the youth are trying to do. They just want to be them, and they want to be happy.”

“When kids are affirmed, they learn better, they’re able to have better relationships with their peers, they feel more support from their family system and more connected with the people around them,” said Heather Newby, a clinical social worker in Missouri.

“Lawmakers introducing bills that make it difficult for trans kids to survive in school or society – it’s horrific when that happens,” said Dr. Carolyn Wolf-Gould, a family physician in New York. “We need to support all of our citizens, and make the world safe for these kids.”

“Transgender children and transgender people – they’re everywhere,” said Dr. Henry Ng, an internist-pediatrician in Ohio. “We see our patients come from all walks of life, from urban areas, from suburban areas, from rural areas – all over.”

“I would request that anybody who is making a law that says that you can’t use a bathroom, go through a day trying to experience that first before putting that law on somebody else’s head,” said Linda Hawkins, a psychotherapist in Pennsylvania.

Over the last month, bills with language seeking to make it illegal for transgender youth to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity were vetoed in South Dakota, but signed into law in North Carolina – where lawmakers are facing serious backlash. While South Dakota Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard listened to child welfare organizations, pediatricians, parents, and met with transgender children before deciding to veto an atrocious bill, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the state legislature rammed through a measure that, among other discriminatory provisions, includes an appalling attack on transgender students and adults. As a result of North Carolina’s HB2 law, which puts thousands of youth, citizens, employees, and visitors to the state at risk, more than 130 business leaders are calling for a repeal effort during the upcoming legislative session and a number of businesses have begun to remove investments from the state.

Legislation with similar language is also being considered in Tennessee, where advocates and major corporations have have been speaking out urging lawmakers to abandon these vicious bills that are bad for business. Similar discriminatory legislation was also introduced this week in South Carolina, where Gov. Nikki Haley has already expressed her concern about the bill.

www.hrc.org/blog/pediatricians-health-care-professionals-speak-out-against-legislation-targe?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The GLAAD Wrap: 'Grace and Frankie' releases new trailer, Hannah Hart announces second book, and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-grace-and-frankie-releases-new-trailer-hannah-hart-announces-second-book-and-more

The Laughable Incompetence Of Mississippi’s Anti-LGBT Lawmakers

Here’s a pro tip: if you’re going to enact a law intended to enable discrimination, you might want to make at least some minimal effort not to emulate other laws the Supreme Court has already struck down.

The post The Laughable Incompetence Of Mississippi’s Anti-LGBT Lawmakers appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/04/08/3767449/the-laughable-incompetence-of-mississippis-anti-lgbt-lawmakers/

New Research: Conversations Build Lasting Support for Transgender People

A new study from researchers at Stanford and Berkeley indicates that a ten-minute conversation with a stranger can lead to a lasting increase in support for transgender people.

In the study, published yesterday in Science, researchers David Broockman and Joshua Kalla measure the impact of canvassers trained by the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Leadership Lab. The canvassers went door-to-door in conservative neighborhoods of Florida’s Miami-Dade County, showing subjects a video about transgender people and the arguments for and against discrimination protections. Then, they asked the subjects to describe a time they’d faced prejudice and listened to their stories.

Three months later, subjects who took part in these conversations had significantly more favorable attitudes towards transgender people. The change was as big as the average American voter’s shift in attitudes towards lesbian and gay people in the fourteen years between 1998 and 2012. Canvassed participants’ opinions even “bounced back” after they were shown an anti-transgender “bathroom bill” video months later.

This result is remarkable because political scientists rarely find that conversations shift attitudes in a long-term way. The difference may be the Leadership Lab’s unique approach to the interactions: rather than trying to convince subjects, canvassers had them reflect on their own experiences. Both transgender and non-transgender canvassers were able to change attitudes.

“The researchers are proving in a very specific way something we’ve always known broadly—that increased visibility of transgender people can spark a dialogue critical to our long-term success,” said Jay Brown, HRC’s Director of Research and Public Education. “Whether we’re going door-to-door or we’re looking to impact millions of voters, we need to find creative approaches to engaging in public education with real stories of transgender people and our lives.”

The new study provides compelling evidence that education, contact and conversation can earn support for LGBT people. Last week, HRC released new polling data showing that more than a third of U.S. likely voters personally know someone who is transgender and those with this personal contact are much more likely to have favorable feelings towards transgender people. In November, HRC released “Moms for Transgender Equality,” a series of video featuring mothers of transgender kids and their journeys of acceptance.

Broockman and Kalla’s study is a randomized, controlled trial—a gold standard in health research that is difficult to achieve for a complicated effort like door-to-door canvassing. Participants were unaware that the surveys measuring their attitudes were related to the canvassing, likely making their responses more genuine.

Click here to learn more about HRC’s work on transgender visibility and inclusion.

www.hrc.org/blog/new-research-conversations-build-lasting-support-for-transgender-people?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed