#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 27, 2016

JUNE 26: THE DAY LOVE WON: Yesterday, June 26, people across the United States commemorated the one-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the historic Supreme Court case that made marriage equality the law of the land. Since the historic ruling, approximately 123,000 same-sex couples have married. No skies have fallen. But many tears of joy have been shed.

• Edie’s Endorsement: In an op-ed over the weekend, Edie Windsor, lead plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor, writes that she’s voting for Hillary Clinton for a simple reason: “Love Trumps Hate.”
• Show your pride: ICYMI check out the New York Post’s profile of Subhi Nahas, one of the grand marshals for this year’s NYC Pride March. Nahas is a Syrian refugee who was almost killed by ISIL for being gay. Hillary Clinton also participated in the New York City Pride celebrations, as did Barbara Poma, the owner of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
• LGBT Equality Day: In an op-ed published yesterday in The Advocate, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congresswoman Suzan Delbene (D-WA) called for naming June 26 LGBT Equality Day. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has already endorsed their proposed legislation.
• Delete your account, NOM: Beleaguered anti-LGBTQ organization the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) had an anti-marriage equality “rally” this week. Dozens showed up. More from WUSA.

TRANS MILITARY BAN TO BE LIFTED JULY 1: On Friday, news outlets reported that Department of Defense (DoD) is poised to announce an end to the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military. HRC President Chad Griffin welcomed the news saying, “This historic announcement will not only extend long-overdue recognition to thousands of transgender service members, it will strengthen our military and our nation.” More from HRC and The New York Times.

POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE OF APOLOGY TO LGBTQ PEOPLE: Yesterday, during his trip to Armenia, Pope Francis said that the church should “apologize to the person who is gay and whom it has offended.” The comments came in response to a question regarding whether the Pope agreed with a top adviser who, following the Orlando massacre, said the church should apologize to LGBTQ people it has marginalized. HRC’s Mary Beth Maxwell welcomed the healing step: “Pope Francis’ message of inclusion and love for all people continues to bring Catholic leadership more in line with the large majority of American Catholics who believe in full equality.” More from HRC and The Associated Press.

A VICTORY FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH: In a landmark 5-3 decision this morning, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down part of Texas’ harsh anti-abortion law, which would have closed all but a handful of clinics throughout the state. This is a huge victory for women’s rights and ensures continued access to countless services crucial to the LGBTQ community, including family planning, HIV testing and hormone replacement therapy. Dozens of HRC staff were at the Supreme Court this morning awaiting the decision. More from NBC News.

TODAY, THE PARK AT STONEWALL BECOMES LATEST NATIONAL MONUMENT: At a dedication ceremony at noon today, Stonewall Inn will officially be recognized as the nation’s first-ever LGBTQ national monument. The monument will be anchored by Christopher Park which sits across from the historic inn, and also covers 7.7 acres of Greenwich Village. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett will attend the celebration. More from The White House

A WIN FOR GRIMM: After a years-long legal battle, Virginia student Gavin Grimm, 16, can finally use the boys’ restroom. Last week, a federal court ordered the Gloucester County School Board to allow the transgender teen full access to the restroom that corresponds with his gender identity, consistent with a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. “After nearly two years of humiliation and intense struggle, equality has finally prevailed,” Grimm said. More from ABC News.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., WELCOMES TRANS STUDENTS: Despite the state’s anti-LGBTQ HB2 law, Charlotte school officials adopted a policy that expands the district’s anti-bullying policy to require that transgender students’ names be respected and allows them to use restroom facilities consistent with their gender identity. Shocking no one, NC Governor Pat McCrory criticized the inclusive decision.

• Speaking of McCrory, The News and Observer reports that he continued speaking out in full support of the disastrous, discriminatory HB2 during a gubernatorial debate with Attorney General Roy Cooper (who, by the way, has refused to defend the anti-LGBTQ law in court). Latest polling shows the law continues to have little support in NC: 32 percent of voters favor it, while 43 percent are opposed.
• School districts in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as Scarborough and Orono, ME, have also adopted new trans-inclusive guidelines. The policies in Maine stem from guidelines created by the state Human Rights Commission following a lawsuit by Nicole Maines — the first transgender student to successfully sue her school for refusing her access to the girls’ restroom. In 2014, the state’s highest court ruled in her favor.

STAND WITH LGBTQ PEOPLE IN TURKEY: In the wake of recent police violence and a government ban on LGBTQ pride parades in Istanbul, 12 human and equal rights organizations, including HRC, are standing in solidarity with Turkey’s LGBTQ community. This weekend, Turkish police detained at least 19 activists marching in honor of Pride Month, and fired rubber bullets, utilized water cannons, and released tear gas to disperse marchers. Last weekend, officers also broke up gatherings for a trans pride parade in the central Istanbul neighborhood of Taksim. Read the groups’ full statement at HRC, and get the latest from The Associated Press.

BERMUDA REJECTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGES AND CIVIL UNIONS: In a non-binding referendum held last week, the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda voted to reject both same-sex civil unions and marriages. As turnout did not meet the 50 percent threshold, the results are considered to be invalid and the government will not be required to take action. Conservative anti-LGBTQ extremists from the United States, such as Brad Harrub, visited Bermuda in recent months attempting to foment anti-LGBTQ animus in advance of the referendum. Harrub speciously claimed that marriage equality could lead to the spread of paedophilia, bestiality and polygamy. He is part of a group of American extremists working tirelessly to undercut LGBTQ people around the world. More from HRC.

READING RAINBOW

CityLab documents the rise of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the wake of nationwide marriage equality; Cleveland.com gives us the latest in the push for LGBTQ protections by Democratic lawmakers in Ohio; The Associated Press shares the story of Erin O’Flaherty, the first openly-gay Miss Missouri; TIME explores Seattle’s vibrant LGBTQ community; In the wake of Orlando, The Daily Beast takes a closer look at the lack of hate crimes laws protecing LGBTQ people, and U.S. News and World Report highlights the rampant discrimination still facing the community; Media Matters profiles the anti-LGBTQ players on Trump’s new evangelical advisory board; ABC News 7 introduces us to Ted Osius, the openly-gay U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam who’s advocating for LGBTQ rights abroad; WRAL reports on a horrific ruling out of Tennessee against a mother seeking custody of her child in a same-sex divorce case; BuzzFeed takes a look at whether Brexit will weaken the EU role in fighting for LGBTQ equality world wide; and CBC News explores the work ahead in a post-marriage equality world.

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-june-27-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pope Francis: Catholics Should Apologize to the LGBT Community

Many have hailed the religious leader’s statements as “a groundbreaking moment” for LGBT people.

www.advocate.com/religion/2016/6/27/pope-francis-catholics-should-apologize-lgbt-community

PHOTOS: All Across The World People Got Their Pride On Over The Weekend

From New York to London to San Francisco, all across the world people stood up and showed their Pride over the weekend.

Related: Hillary Clinton Makes Historic Appearance At New York Pride Parade

Of course, this year’s festivities took on an extra significance after the massacre in Orlando that left 49 dead and 53 wounded. Many used the weekend’s celebration as an opportunity to show solidarity to the lives lost and send a message to the world that the LGBTQ community will not be silenced by fear and intimidation.

Scroll down for pictures from Pride celebrations all around the world…

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John Oliver Digs Into the Doping Scandal Rocking the 2016 Olympics – WATCH

On Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took a deep dive into the recent doping scandals that resulted in the Russian track and field team being banned from competing in the 2016 Olympics.

Oliver broke down the details of how the Russian government, and in particular its spy agency, helped Russian athletes cover up usage of banned performance-enhancing drugs. The scheme reportedly involved a hole in the wall of a testing lab where samples were clandestinely passed through, a hole that Oliver dubbed the world’s first actual ‘glory hole.’

Oliver brought attention to the systemic problems that currently make it impossible for Olympic sports to be free from doping. As one expert pointed out, there doesn’t appear to be an actual desire among international officials to enforce anti-doping policies.

The problems are so bad, that Oliver said the Olympics are actually “making FIFA look good!”

PREVIOUSLY: John Oliver Reveals the Conspiracy Behind Cadbury Cream Eggs: WATCH

If organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) can’t muster the will to enforce its policies on performance-enhancing drugs, then Oliver suggests that we “at the very least [need to] make our syrupy athlete promos a bit more honest.”

Find out how, below.

The post John Oliver Digs Into the Doping Scandal Rocking the 2016 Olympics – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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Beauty Really is Skin Deep in ‘The Neon Demon’ — MOVIE REVIEW

Elle Fanning is drop dead gorgeous in The Neon Demon

What are we looking at? THE NEON DEMON‘s first tableau features Elle Fanning, throat slit and reclining on a chaise lounge floating over a pool of photogenic crimson blood. It’s so perfectly lit and shaped it begs to be honored as a metaphoric pedestal exalting her death. Is the obviously smitten man photographing all of this her serial killer who missed his calling as an art director?

No. As it turns out the man is just a naive photographer named Dean (played by rising actor Karl Glusman), and she’s just a 16 year-old amateur model named Jesse (played by perpetually in-demand and newly 18 starlet Elle Fanning) trying to fill out her ‘book’ so she can land a big time modeling agency. And this off-putting but hypnotic opening scene is just writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn’s (Drive) provocative bid to grab our attention. This first image promises a creepy, colorful, sadistic, eroticized visual spectacle about the commodification and objectification and… uh… murder of beautiful women. Whatever sins you might be willing to condemn the movie for committing, you can’t say that it’s a liar. It delivers what it’s promising.

Jesse is immediately well-liked or lusted after by a hot fashion designer (Alessandro Nivola, hilariously dismissive… unless he’s interested), a famous photographer (Desmond Harrington, silent and creepy… did he learn that on Dexter?), and a powerful modeling agency executive (Christina Hendricks, still mesmerizing post Mad Men).  She also befriends two models Sarah (Abbey Lee) and Gigi (Bella Heathcote) who actually hate her – because where would a fashion picture be without diva catfighting? — and a super friendly makeup artist named Ruby (Jena Malone) who exudes both genuine warmth and unmistakable shadiness. Yes, Jena Malone steals the whole picture with that neato acting trick.

The Neon Demon gets progressively weirder and campier as it progresses which should endear certain audiences to it (*raises hand, shamelessly*). And yet it’s also so bereft of ideas beyond juvenile proclamations like “Women are jealous bitches! Men are rapists! Gays are predatory! Fashion world is evil! Beauty is fascism!” that there’s not much to grab on to other than its bold strokes ridiculousness.

In this case the cliché is true: beauty really is skin deep.

Director Nicolas Winding Refn with his star Elle Fanning

The most surreal touches (a wild animal here, a cryptic visual triangle there) don’t totally pay off either. Perhaps the hollow center is Jesse herself? If she’s meant to be more than a cypher (perhaps she’s not) than Elle Fanning’s blank stares and slow-to-get-it dialogue don’t help. As the provocations mount — culminating in a few truly repellent scenes which may yet earn the movie a place in cult history —  they offer diminishing returns. But damn it the movie is Sickeningly Gorgeous. And that’s “sickening” in both the Webster’s and the Gay Vernacular definitions.

Though Nicolas Winding Refn once seemed like an abnormally obsessive auteur (see the violent and very naked Bronson starring Tom Hardy) and then maybe even like a true visionary (see Drive’s minimalist verve maximized by visual flair) his last two pictures, Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon have not exactly made good on his international promise.

The violence is starting to feel like a crutch, for one, a means to its own end. But all that said, Refn hasn’t yet lost his flair for striking iconography, or his aggressive visual confidence in both composition and content … but in the service of what? Those of you who love deranged movies, future cult curios, or the cocky perversity of three name Danish auteurs (see also Lars von Trier) should run to the theater immediately — it’s not that it’s “good” but it’s unmissable if you fall into these categories.

Anyone else may want to steer clear of this bloody show. Sometimes the blood is fake and sometimes it’s real, but either way that catwalk is slippery, and who wants to be fashion roadkill?

The post Beauty Really is Skin Deep in ‘The Neon Demon’ — MOVIE REVIEW appeared first on Towleroad.

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Ultimate Frisbee Players Become Ultimate Volunteers, Lending a Hand to Repeal HB2

Post submitted by Maddie Majerus, TurnOUT! NC Field Organizer

Since launching just three months ago, TurnOUT! North Carolina (NC) has drawn a diverse range of volunteers from across North Carolina and beyond committed to the same cause: The full repeal of the discriminatory HB2. Upon learning that the USA Ultimate College Championship games were being held in North Carolina recently, many of the athletes were concerned, and some even considered boycotting the event. How could they in good conscious travel to and contribute to the economy of the home of discriminatory HB2?

They reached out to local organizations to see if there was anything they could do during their time in North Carolina to help the effort to repeal HB2 and connected with TurnOUT! NC. After discussing their options, the players decided that the best way they could contribute would be to have a door-to-door canvas where they asked people to sign postcards to their representatives demanding the full repeal of HB2.

After flying into North Carolina on a recent Thursday afternoon, players met up with TurnOUT! NC staff at a local park to get trained on canvassing. The athletes, some of whom came straight from the airport to the training, were energetic and eager to help do their part. It was inspiring to see these 30 athletes from so many ultimate teams dedicating the few free hours they had in between games to volunteer for TurnOUT! NC to help repeal HB2. There was a team photographer who decided to join the door to door canvas themselves, as they felt the cause was an important one and wanted to help the effort.

The next day, after playing in championship games all day long, Western Washington University’s Chaos ultimate team trooped into our office to help data enter supporter information. Even after a long day of playing ultimate frisbee, the energy the players brought into the office was contagious.

After knocking out all the data from the Triangle area, the players kept asking if there was more data, or another task they could complete that would help out the effort to repeal.

“Volunteering was not an option in my mind, it was a necessity,” Annie Paden, a student and player, said. “We realized that we were able to go home to Washington at the end of our four-day weekend, but the people of NC live HB2 day in and day out. It was an important step for us to not only realize this, but act on it.”

While many of these players were not North Carolinians, they felt the urgency to get this hateful bill repealed as quickly as possible and decided to spend their few free hours while they were in town helping the effort to repeal HB2.  They joined the thousands of pro-equality North Carolinians that TurnOUT! NC is mobilizing to speak out for full repeal of HB2.

If you live in North Carolina and want to join the efforts to repeal HB2, RSVP for upcoming phone banks and volunteer opportunities. For more information about our work in North Carolina, contact HRC Associate Regional Field Director Ryan Rowe at [email protected].

www.hrc.org/blog/ultimate-frisbee-players-become-ultimate-volunteers-lending-a-hand-to-repea?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Welcomes Pope Francis’ Apology to LGBTQ People

Today, in response to recent comments from Pope Francis stating that the church should “apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended,” HRC Foundation released the following statement:

“Pope Francis’ words are a welcome step toward bringing LGBTQ Catholics closer into the Church and healing the wounds of those who have felt pushed away from their Church and its teachings,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Programs, Research, and Training. “Pope Francis’ message of inclusion and love for all people continues to bring Catholic leadership more in line with the large majority of American Catholics who believe in full equality for their LGBTQ family-members, friends, neighbors, and fellow parishioners. The vast majority of American Catholics say no to hatred and no to discrimination.”

The apology from Pope Francis came in response to a question about recent comments from German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who said that in the wake of the tragic shooting in Orlando, the church owed an apology to LGBTQ people who have been marginalized by the church.  In his response, Pope Francis said, “I think the church must not only apologize […] to a gay person it offended, but we must apologize to the poor, to women who have been exploited, to children forced into labor, apologize for having blessed so many weapons.”

HRC also welcomes recent statements of support and inclusion from other leaders in the Catholic Church following the Orlando shooting, including in open letters by Bishop Robert Lynch of Petersburg, Florida, and Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago.  In his open letter to Chicago’s LGBTQ community, Archbishop Cupich wrote, “For you […] who are particularly touched by the heinous crimes committed in Orlando, motivated by hate, driven perhaps by mental instability and certainly empowered by a culture of violence, know this: the Archdiocese of Chicago stands with you. I stand with you.”

For more, including polling and other resources for LGBTQ Catholics, visit www.hrc.org/catholic.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-welcomes-pontifex-apology-to-lgbtq-people?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed