Mississippi Dept. of Education Caves to Republican Pressure on Transgender Students

The Mississippi Department of Education has reversed its position on President Obama’s guidance regarding how public schools should treat transgender students. While the state DOE previously said it would act in accordance with the recommendations, one of the state’s top education officials did an about-face on Wednesday.

The AP reports: 

State Superintendent Carey Wright made the announcement Wednesday morning in a brief statement, saying the department would “follow the lead of state leadership” and take no action until the state Board of Education could discuss the situation. The move comes as Republicans in a number of other states have opposed the guidance, with some seeking to join legal challenges.

Mississippi education officials had said Friday they would follow the guidance by federal authorities calling for transgender students to be treated consistently with their gender identity. They cited a need for a “safe and caring school environment.”

The reversal is widely being attributed to Republican lawmakers in the state who vocally denounced the President’s actions:

Wednesday, 27 Republican state senators among the GOP’s 32-member supermajority sent a letter to Wright and the Board of Education calling for “swift and decisive action on this urgent matter.”

“The federal government is, in effect, trying to blackmail our state by implying that funding for public schools will be withheld should we continue to recognize biological sex when setting safety and privacy policies for our schools,” the senators wrote. “Dr. Wright made the decision to usurp the board’s authority and unilaterally issue the policy decision to acquiesce to the illegal demands of the federal government. For this, the superintendent must be held accountable.”

That followed a letter Tuesday by 11 Republican House members asking Wright to reverse the department’s position. The group, including five members of the House Education Committee, told Wright that if she didn’t reverse herself, she should resign.

“The policy of allowing boys or men into bathrooms and locker rooms with girls poses a threat to the safety and well-being of every school-aged girl in this state,” they wrote.

On Tuesday, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant called for ignoring the guidance issued by President Obama:

“As I said last week, the Mississippi Department of Education should disregard the Obama administration’s so-called guidance regarding public schools’ bathroom policies. Mississippi’s school children should not be forced to participate in the president’s social experiment.”

The post Mississippi Dept. of Education Caves to Republican Pressure on Transgender Students appeared first on Towleroad.

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NEW MUSIC: Nothing, pinkshinyultrablast, Modern Baseball

This week in New Music: it’s all about the emo and shoegaze on Nothing‘s second album Tired of Tomorrow, a reissue of early pinkshinyultrablast EP Happy Songs for Happy Zombies and Modern Baseball‘s third offering Holy Ghost.

Nothing – Tired of Tomorrow

Shoegaze has always attracted sad school boys and has a reputation of squall over sense. From early Cocteau Twins to young pretenders pinkshinyultrablast it’s always been about the haze melody. Lyrics are rarely to the fore and song titles often incomprehensible.

On their second album, Philadelphia’s Nothing are changing perceptions. With a touch of EMO and some glittering indie rock interludes, Tired of Tomorrow is concerned with the vagaries of life. Everyone Is Happy is one song. Everyone most certainly is not. “Watch out for those who dare to say that everything will be okay, watch out for those who want to be anything at all” (“Vertigo Flowers”).

There’s a connection somewhere in Nothing with Deafheaven so it makes sense that Tired of Tomorrow is a sumptuous take on shoegaze with a dark undercurrent. At it’s best, the album is similar to the glory days of Smashing Pumpkins.

As with anything labeled shoegaze it’s not going to change the world but it could give some indie kids a lesson in how it should be done.

Pinkshinyultrablast – Happy Songs for Happy Zombies EP

Speaking of pinkshinyultrablast (above), the Russian shoegaze act has just reissued its debut EP Happy Songs for Happy Zombies.

Hailing from St. Petersburg, pinkshinyultrablast released Grandfeathered last month, which followed from debut album Everything Else Matters. Both albums received rapturous praise in some quarters (Everything Else Matters was one of our best albums of 2015).

Although the positive reviews have not translated into world domination, label Club AC30 would appear to be betting on pinkshinyultrablast by re-releasing this EP as a reminder – or appetizer – of just how good the band are.

Weighing in at 4 tracks over 15 minutes, Happy Songs for Happy Zombies does what good shoegaze should: it washes over you, fuzzes out when required and leaves you wondering what just happened and where can you get more.

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost

While Nothing’s Tired of Tomorrow was allegedly informed by happy thoughts around prison, mugging and violence, indie rock act Modern Baseball’s third album Holy Ghost – while a much happier affair on the surface at least – is apparently a product of  band member Brendan Lukens’ recent battles with addiction, bipolar and self harm. So far so depressing. Must be something in the Philadelphia water.

While Nothing had a shoegaze makeover incorporating emo on their new album, Modern Baseball are all about the emo with a sonic indie rock / pop punk boom. At it’s most raw is the half time track “Hiding” in which we get to the core of Modern Baseball’s concerns: “Drank a lot and danced to the Cure, holding on for dear life.”

At 28 minutes total, Holy Ghost has nary a spare moment. If Blue October had deleted the fluff from Foiled it could have been this compelling. 

Indie kids take note.

The post NEW MUSIC: Nothing, pinkshinyultrablast, Modern Baseball appeared first on Towleroad.

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Five Things North Carolinians Can Do to Help Repeal HB2

Since March, HRC has been on the ground in North Carolina, fighting the discriminatory anti-LGBT law, HB2. With all that’s going on between lawsuits and legislative repeal efforts and with the mountains of opposition that is growing from businesses to sporting events, there are several ways to get involved.

There are five easy things that North Carolinians can do to be a part of the work of TurnOUT! North Carolina (NC), a coalition of HRC, Equality North Carolina, the ACLU and the Campaign for Southern Equality.

1. Volunteer to help us build a movement across NC

TurnOUT! NC is working to mobilize thousands of North Carolinians to speak out for the full repeal of HB2 and we need hundreds of volunteers to help us make phone calls, collect petitions, and other activities critical to repealing and replacing HB2. RSVP for upcoming phonebanks and volunteer opportunities.

2.Send a message to North Carolina’s elected officials

From Governor Pat McCrory to House Speaker Tim Moore to Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger to each individual state representative and senator, North Carolina’s elected officials need constant and personal reminders about the damage that HB2 is causing to the state. Even if you’ve contacted them before, take time now to send them a strong message to repeal HB2.

3. Attend a Day of Advocacy in Raleigh for a chance to meet with legislators

Just this week Equality NC hosted a Day of Advocacy.TurnOUT! NC will be hosting another Day of Advocacy for Transgender North Carolinians, Families & Friends For Repeal of HB2 on Wednesday, May 25. North Carolina residents can sign-up here to attend.

4. Recruit friends to help join the cause

There are several way you can recruit your friends, family and community to join the cause. For example, share this blog post on Facebook and Twitter, send it to friends via text or email or talk about the harms of HB2 with coworkers or classmates. Your help spreading the word will be critical to broadening our efforts statewide.

5. Don’t live in North Carolina? You can still take action

Click here to take action with HRC today by sending a message to Governor McCrory and leaders in the North Carolina state legislature — tell them to repeal this hateful law immediately.

TurnOUT! NC has field organizers based in Asheville, Charlotte and the Triangle area and HRC has staff on the ground working with coalition partners across the Tar Heel State. There are daily opportunities to volunteer with weekly phonebanks and weekend canvassing opportunities. For more information about our work in North Carolina, contact HRC Senior Regional Field Organizer Ryan Wilson at [email protected]

www.hrc.org/blog/five-things-north-carolinians-can-do-to-help-repeal-hb2?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Mississippi Refuses to Comply With Obama Administration’s Guidance on Protecting Trans Students

Today, HRC Mississippi, blasted Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and state Republican lawmakers for bullying the state Department of Education into rejecting new federal guidance meant to ensure that transgender students are treated with dignity and respect in their public or federally-funded schools, including ensuring they have access to restroom facilities consistent with their gender identity.

Mississippi School Superintendent Carey Wright initially underscored the importance of a “a safe and caring school environment” learning environment in a release saying the state would comply with the Department of Education’s guidance. Following threats from Republican lawmakers calling for her resignation, she has now reversed course.

“Mississippi lawmakers are playing politics with the lives of transgender students, yet recklessly claim that they’re the ones being bullied,” said HRC Mississippi State Director Rob Hill. “Transgender young people have every right to the same opportunities as their peers and are already targets of violence, bullying and harassment. Mississippi’s action exacerbates risks to transgender students by creating a hostile environment in one of the places young people should feel safest. Make no mistake, these lawmakers are the bullies and their dangerous interference with guidance sought by their own teachers  is also endangering billions of dollars in federal funding for our schools.”

Last week, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education issued guidance for school districts to ensure transgender students are treated with dignity in public and federally-funded schools, including having equal access to restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. While this guidance is consistent with previous guidelines and enforcement by the Departments, the treatment of transgender students has become national issue following the recent passage of the discriminatory HB2 law in North Carolina. Among its shameful provisions, HB2 prohibits public school students from using restrooms and other school facilities consistent with their gender identity.

For several years, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice have been interpreting and enforcing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sex stereotyping as unlawful sex discrimination. Additionally the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit recently upheld the Department of Education’s assertion that the nation’s civil rights laws protect transgender students from discrimination, including in the provision of bathrooms.

Last month, Mississippi gained national attention for its passage of HB1523, a horrific law that allows almost any individual or organization to use religion as a justification to discriminate against LGBT people in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at school, and in their communities.

A survey by the HRC Foundation found that three-quarters of transgender students feel unsafe in school settings. A report by the Williams Institute found that half of transgender adults who were bullied in school had attempted suicide. These startling numbers can only be expected to rise if the North Carolina law, and other similar bills proposed in other states, continue to target these young people.

HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program also works extensively with teachers and administrators to support transgender and gender-expansive students, create LGBTQ-inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and embrace family diversity. In 2015, the HRC Foundation, with the ACLU, Gender Spectrum, NCLR and the NEA, released Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12, which serves as the premiere best practices guide for schools nationwide.

www.hrc.org/blog/mississippi-refuses-to-comply-with-obama-administrations-guidance-on-protec?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Retains Theodore B. Olson to Author Business Amicus Brief in the Federal Case Against HB2

Today, HRC announced that Theodore B. Olson of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP will author an amicus brief on behalf of leading businesses in support of the Department of Justice’s lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s hateful HB2 law.

“HB2 discriminates against fellow citizens because of who they are,” said Olson. “This law directly challenges the legitimacy of the identity of transgender persons and then compels them to deny it every time they use a public restroom.  There can be no doubt that this is bad for business in North Carolina.  It demeans business’s customers, it demoralizes their employees, and it contravenes their values of inclusiveness and respect. I’m proud to join the Human Rights Campaign and the business community in fighting this discriminatory legislation.”

“HB2 is a hateful piece of legislation that has not only harmed thousands of people across North Carolina, but hurt companies and damaged the state’s economy,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We are proud that Ted Olson, one of the nation’s leading conservative legal minds, will lead a brief on behalf of the business community and advocate for the equal rights and dignity of transgender Americans.”

A partner in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office, Mr. Olson served as Solicitor General of the United States from 2001-2004 and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier appellate advocates.  He has argued 62 cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, including the two Bush v. Gore cases arising out of the 2000 presidential election and Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case upholding the overturning of California’s Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriages.  For his work to advance marriage equality, Time magazine in 2010 named him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.  

Olson will be aided by two other veterans of the Proposition 8 litigation, Gibson Dunn partners Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. and Matthew D. McGill.

“The safety justifications that have been offered for this law are utterly insupportable,” added Boutrous.  “The only danger here is that transgender people in North Carolina will suffer serious and lasting damage because of this law.  The business community does not want to be a part of that in North Carolina, or anywhere.”       

“North Carolina’s HB2 law is an appalling violation of transgender Americans’ civil rights, and we are grateful to the many business leaders who have been our allies in this fight,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. The Department of Justice has made an exceptionally compelling case for invalidating a part of HB2 and we believe that having the support of the business community on this amicus brief will only strengthen the federal government’s arguments.”

Momentum for repeal of HB2 has continued to grow, since HB2 was rammed through the state legislature and signed in under 12 hours. HB2 could cost the state’s economy $500 million, according to one study and has already cost the state 1,750 jobs. Hundreds of business leaders have already signed onto a letter from HRC and Equality North Carolina to NC Governor Pat McCrory and other state lawmakers urging them to repeal HB2 in full, noting that it is harmful to employees, consumers, and the economy. Just this week the Charlotte Observer reported that the Greensboro Coliseum was suffering a “disastrous impact” because of acts cancelling over HB2.Major film studios and corporations, from PayPal to Deutsche Bank, have stopped investments in the state because of the new law. The European Union has criticized HB2 and United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has even warned its LGBT citizens of the risks of traveling to North Carolina.

HB 2 has eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. In addition, the legislation prevents transgender students in public schools from using restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. It also compels the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in publicly-owned buildings, including in public universities, major airports, and convention centers. Further, HB 2 revokes the ability to sue under state employment non-discrimination law on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, religion, national origin, and sex.  

The DOJ lawsuit specifically challenges that HB2 violates federal civil rights law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Act.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-retains-theodore-b.-olson-to-author-business-amicus-brief-in-the-federa?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Not Even Nate Silver Got Donald Trump Right

The master of predicting election outcomes admits getting it very wrong in the Republican primary.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/5/18/not-even-nate-silver-got-donald-trump-right

Adele Helps Gay Couple Get Engaged

Adele! Is there any problem she can’t solve? Well, global warming, maybe, but aside from that she has a pretty good track record.

There’s a lovely video going around of two gay fans in Denmark getting engaged at her concert. She invited them both up on stage, one of the boys drops to his knee, and everyone freaks out about how lovely the whole thing is.

Adele gives them a little moment to hug, and it’s all very sweet. Afterwards she reportedly offered her services on an ongoing basis: “Should I be your surrogate if you have children? I’d love to have a baby with someone Swedish,” she said.

Related: Rihanna Has Been Moonlighting As A Life Coach For A Closeted Gay Fan

Okay girl. Calm down. It’s a nice gesture but give the boys a little time to work out their plans!

The fans are named Martin and Corey — one from Michigan, the other Swiss — and they can now trace the origins of their legal family to an Adele concert in Denmark like some kind of magical gay United Nations.

Participating in proposals is apparently a “thing” for Adele — she called a couple onstage in March to congratulate them for getting engaged, and encouraged a proposal earlier this year at a concert in heavily Catholic Northern Ireland.

this is cute but Adele’s reaction is even cuter please send helpt.co/xAMFqwK4CL

— ALBA (@AdeleMyOnlyOne) May 4, 2016

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All The Shady Details From The ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Finale That Never Aired

While these tidbits won’t be of interest to everyone, diehard fans of RuPaul‘s Drag Race can never hear enough about the show — especially the shady parts that end up on the cutting room floor.

This post is clearly intended for that latter group. If you’ve ended up on this page and don’t care about the show, here’s a great story about the bizarre world of competitive men’s tickling. Enjoy.

Related: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Recap Realness: May The Best Woman Win

We all know reality TV is heavy on the “TV” and light on the “reality,” but one eagle-eyed audience member at the Drag Race finale couldn’t help but spill the tea on all the subtle moments that never made it to broadcast.

Reddit user beckie_bot posted this exhaustive list to the RuPaul’s Drag Race thread:

• After Ru made the bathroom comment, there was some fun bathroom swapping going on in the lobby
• The applause for Derrick wasn’t THAT loud…there was some definite audio enhancement
• While the applause for Bob was loud…for Kim Chi it was much louder
• The show directors made us chant each of the Top 3 girls names, so that’s why you hear the name chanting
• Bob joked that Trixie was part of the people there supporting her when Ru introduced her brother.
• Ru actually was surprised by the purse Bob gave her and walked with the purse off screen
• Kim’s song was really hard to understand during the taping. I could barely tell she was saying fat femme and Asian. The sound quality was choppy
• Everyone really did lose it when Kim started dancing

• People were all anticipating Ru to have Kim’s mom send a message…it was a big topic of discussion
• Kim said that her mom isn’t open to American culture and wouldn’t know what Logo was..and Ru gave a look when Kim said that
• After Jason asked Kim the virginity question ..Kim gave her shady answer but also said she has her eye on one of the Gay for Play dancers (Austin I think his name was)
• There were a lot of people taking pictures and recording that the show director had to voice over the audience and say to stop posting to Instagram….as well as calling out specific people.
• There was also a lot of audience screaming stuff during quieter segments and I’m glad most of them were edited out
• Ru wasnt that shady towards Dax and Laila as other people have tried to say
• Ru did in fact call Laila “lie-lah” and had to re-do the segment after the interview
• After Naysha confirmed her enhancements, she laughed and asked Michelle which side of the bet she was on…however I don’t think there was an answer
• The fans went nuts for Acid during her interview…especially her tribe in the balcony

• Robbie lost it when the dancers came out in kimonos. She has a good two minute long giggle fest
• When Robbie mentioned her bday segment, she had prefaced the answer with saying she had to cancel birthday plans she had prior to being on the show
• The violin segment with Thorgy was a little bit longer than what was shown…and after she was done she kind of gave this look as though she should have kept going
• Ru talked to Derricks husbands and talked about joining their triad…Derrick said how usually they have to ask to bring someone in but for Ru they would make an exception
• There were more crowd questions from Latrice and Manila that weren’t shown (unless I missed it?) and I don’t remember what they asked and to whom unfortunately.
• Chi Chis interview was much longer than shown and she kind of seemed tired or “over it”
• Ru asked about her Mom and they panned to her and the rest of Chi Chis family up in the balcony. I’m thinking they cut it out bc 1) a lot of ppl had left by then so the audience looked empty and 2) everyone else had their friends and family in the VIP area but not Chi Chi’s.
• Cheech also had brought out some turkey neck for Ru to try and Ru seemed a little grossed out and surprised. The rest of the girls were all wanting to see what it looked like off camera
• After MC was announced, Chi Chi walked off the stage kind of disappointed
• Kim Chi couldn’t walk down the aisle with her crowning gown and had to go back stage to get on the main stage. It took a good 5-10 minutes. And Naomi kept tripping while getting to the stage. It was a mess.
• The audience didn’t get to hear the past winner voice overs
• Raja had the best crowd reaction
• Everyone literally lost their shit for Violet and her gown
• Violets answers did seem a little short and forced though

• Ru said that the filming of the crowning would be alphabetical and gave a side eye to the audience as to not look too into it
• The whole “Bob being filmed with the crown” didn’t happen while everyone was there…I think it did actually happen but after most of the audience had left

• Nayasha brought up the infamous Ru phone call and said that she really was at home for only a couple of hours until she got a call asking her to come back.
• A ton of the queens in the audience asked the rest of the girls questions (Milk, Alyssa, Manila, Latrice, and more) but the best one was Trixie asking Acid Betty “Did you not or did you not come for me?!” Acid was being her snarky self and said she’s glad to see she blended her nose better or something along those lines. She didn’t Rupologize. You could tell it was a joke though.

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