#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend Urges Depiction of Same-Sex Couple in Popular Superhero Series

After the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend lit up social media earlier this month, users now have a new request: #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend.

The hashtag has been used thousands of times, both for and against the idea.

Disney’s Marvel Studios released the most recent movie about the superhero, Captain America: Civil War, starring Chris Evans, earlier this month.

In March, Marvel Studios answered a call to action from HRC President Chad Griffin, who urged Hollywood to abandon future productions in Georgia if Governor Nathan Deal signed an anti-LGBT bill, H.B. 757, into law. Marvel Studios said it would not shoot future movies in Georgia if the governor signed the bill. Days later, Governor Deal announced that he would veto the discriminatory measure.

Coming out stories in the media and popular culture send strong messages of inclusion and acceptance, and emphasize the importance of embracing your true and authentic self. HRC’s report, Growing Up LGBT in America, found that nine in 10 LGBTQ youth (92 percent) say they hear negative messages about being LGBTQ. Forty-two percent of respondents reported hearing those messages on movies, TV and radio. Three-quarters (78 percent) of LGBTQ youth say they hear positive messages about being LGBTQ. Fifty-nine percent of respondents reported hearing those messages on movies, TV and radio.

For LGBTQ youth who struggle to find acceptance, openly-LGBTQ characters in movies and TV shows can serve as role models, providing inspiration and support to those who truly need it.

www.hrc.org/blog/givecaptainamericaaboyfriend-urges-depiction-of-same-sex-couple-in-popular?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Issues Roadmap for Schools on US Dept. of Education’s Guidance Ensuring Rights of Trans Students

Today, HRC Foundation and HRC Welcoming Schools released a key resource for school officials to effectively and respectfully follow recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on the rights of transgender students.

The guide provides the backdrop for the May 13 federal guidance clarifying that transgender students have the right to be free from discrimination in schools, and answers questions school officials may be asked by parents, guardians and other community members.

Questions ranging from who is allowed in restrooms and lockers rooms, to why transgender students aren’t being required to use private facilities are answered clearly and succinctly. The U.S. Department of Education’s aims are explained in straight-forward language, and common misunderstandings about ensuring transgender students’ rights are debunked.

“Conversations about transgender students are new for many families, and parents and guardians may have questions about what the Department of Education’s guidance means for their school,” said Ellen Kahn, head of the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth and Families Program. “This guide was created to help administrators and school board members respond to these questions, while also stressing how these kinds of policies, already in place at many schools, have helped transgender students enormously, and without any negative effect on their non-transgender schoolmates.”

The Department of Education released the guidance because schools and districts requested clarification on their obligations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination in education programs based on sex, and how they can safeguard transgender students’ rights to privacy and safety. This approach ensures that transgender students’ civil rights will be protected, including guaranteeing them access to facilities consistent with their gender identity.

The new HRC Foundation and HRC Welcoming Schools guide can be found here. For more information on creating respectful and supportive elementary schools, check out the HRC Welcoming Schools guide for Creating Safe and Welcoming Schools for All Children & Families.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-issues-roadmap-for-schools-on-us-dept.-of-educations-guidance-ensuring?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

House Leadership Cancels Vote on VA Bill that Included Anti-LGBT Language

Following U.S. House of Representative’s shameful approval of an anti-LGBT provision in a defense spending bill last week, leadership thought twice and canceled a vote yesterday on a bill scheduled for last night that included more anti-LGBT language.

The Washington Post’s Lisa Rein reported:

“The little-noticed language would have allowed private doctors and other medical providers to sign contracts with VA even if they offered no protections from discrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. The language would have overridden an executive order President Obama signed in 2014 that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Last week, House leadership faced massive fallout after they played procedural games and held a vote open beyond the normally scheduled time in order to torpedo an amendment that would have ensured that funds from an appropriations bill couldn’t be used to discriminate against LGBT workers.

Four of the seven Republicans who caved to Republican leadership face tough reelection races, and their votes will be remembered in November.

The vote came after an anti-LGBT amendment was added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). After House Republican Leadership refused to allow a vote on a bipartisan amendment to strike the defense bill language, The White House weighed in against it, saying that the amendment, which could undermine President Obama’s Executive Order protecting LGBT Americans from discrimination, has “nothing to do with our national defense.”

Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), who is openly gay, spoke passionately on the House floor while trying to strip the anti-LGBT provision from the NDAA. Watch video of his speech on the floor last week here.

www.hrc.org/blog/house-leadership-cancels-vote-on-va-bill-that-included-anti-lgbt-language?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Show Us Your #TransHands

A new meme and hashtag campaign is unveiled by two friends who just happen to be transgender women. 

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/5/25/show-us-your-transhands

Hillary Clinton’s Ellen Visit Featured Trump Bashing, VP Picks, and Kate McKinnon: WATCH

Hillary Clinton paid a visit to Ellen on Tuesday to chat about where things are at in the election cycle, more specifically, whether Bernie should drop out…

“I think he has to do what he chooses to do. I understand. I ran all the way to the end against then Senator Obama. When it was over…I withdrew, I endorsed him, and I worked really hard to elect him. And I do believe Bernie will do that….I’m so tired of the meanness, and the insulting, and the finger pointing, and the scapegoating. We ought to be working together. We ought to show respect to each other. We ought to listen to each other.”

And Trump’s feelings toward women….

“I would need a lot more information based on what I’ve heard him say. He has been very derogatory toward all kinds of women. He has specifically called out women by name, insulted them. He has said that equal pay isn’t a real issue. He doesn’t seem to think we need to do anything to create jobs and raise income and he actually says wages are too high in America. I’m sure there is somebody somewhere who he’d be good for but I think overall there’s just no evidence that he has an understanding of what women’s lives are like today.”

Clinton was also asked whether she can believe, or ever did, that Trump would be the nominee. Then Ellen puts her to the test in choosing a running mate, and plays a game of “Who’d You Rather?” which featured some familiar faces.

And finally, Kate McKinnon stopped by to say hello to both of the women she plays on SNL.

Watch:

Who’d you rather?

And Kate McKinnon:

The post Hillary Clinton’s Ellen Visit Featured Trump Bashing, VP Picks, and Kate McKinnon: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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Who Won Dancing With the Stars?

[SPOILERS]

We’ve been following the deaf, sexually-fluid America’s Next Top Model winner Nyle DiMarco all season on Dancing with the Stars as he has consistently shown you can be an amazing dancer without hearing the music, but could he pull off a win against the uber-talented UFC fighter Paige VanZant?

Yes!

Watch:

Watch his Fusion final with Peta Murgatroyd:

The post Who Won Dancing With the Stars? appeared first on Towleroad.

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A Path Forward for LGBT United Methodists

The third-largest Christian denomination in the United States remains deeply divided over queer congregants.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/5/25/path-forward-lgbt-united-methodists

North Carolina's Entire History of Homophobia in 90 Seconds

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/5/25/north-carolinas-entire-history-homophobia-90-seconds

More Assaults on Mental Health Services for Trans People

A new bill could make competent mental health treatment even more of a luxury than it currently is.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/5/25/more-assaults-mental-health-services-trans-people