What You Need to Know About the Anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom

The so-called Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) — the nation’s largest anti-LGBTQ legal group — has thousands of lawyers working to pass hateful, discriminatory laws throughout the country. The Washington Post today reported on new emails which reveal ADF authored Mississippi’s notorious HB1523 law, which has given license to almost any individual or organization to discriminate against LGBTQ people. The law, which has been temporarily blocked while LGBTQ civil rights lawyer Robbie Kaplan fights it in court, is one of the worst and most aggressive anti-equality laws in the nation.

Here are five things you need to know about the dangerous Alliance Defending Freedom:

1) Pushes Aggressively Anti-Transgender Message
After the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights ruled that an Illinois high school broke non-discrimination laws after refusing to grant a transgender student access to the restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity, the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit against the DOE.

“ADF is arguing that the school district’s restroom policy and its locker room agreement with DOE violate the students’ constitutional privacy rights as well as the federal law known as Title IX,” the ADF explained. “ADF is also arguing that DOE’s action—redefining ‘sex’ to including ‘gender identity’ and telling schools that they must let males use the girls’ facilities, and vice versa—is illegal.”

2) Has Large Budget to Help Export Hate Worldwide
The Alliance Defending Freedom has an annual budget of more than $54 million, according to the Washington Blade. It is active in 31 countries around the globe aiding anti-LGBTQ forces in favor of criminalization laws, such as keeping laws in place that put people in jail for partaking in consensual same-sex sexual relations and defending existing anti-sodomy and anti-homosexuality laws.

3) Doesn’t Believe in Women’s Rights, Either
For years the Alliance Defending Freedom has attacked and tried to defund Planned Parenthood. The anti-choice group panders to the public with false claims such as Planned Parenthood sells “baby body parts” and that its primary purpose is to perform abortions.

4) Defends Bullying
As schools work to prevent harmful bullying – particularly against LGBTQ youth – the Alliance Defending Freedom has defended the bullies by targeting school districts for teaching tolerance. Preaching disgraced anti-LGBTQ myths, the ADF tried to block “efforts to indoctrinate our society into supporting homosexual behavior.”

5) Backs Religious Freedom Restoration Acts and Anti-LGBTQ Business Owners
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts have been used to justify discrimination and bigotry. The Alliance Defending Freedom states on its site that it “advocates for your right to freely live out your faith,” AKA it supports those who discriminate against the LGBTQ community under the guise of personal religious beliefs. While rejecting equal rights for LGBTQ people, the ADF also claims that the separation of church and state is a “false understanding of the First Amendment.”

www.hrc.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-anti-lgbtq-alliance-defending-freedom?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pharmacists Work to Support LGBTQ Patients

Post submitted by Jennifer L. Mathews, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher College. Mathews recently worked with HRC Foundation on  two resources: “Providing LGBTQ-Inclusive Care and Services At Your Pharmacy” and “The LGBTQ Patient’s Guide to Pharmacy Care.”

Over the past decade, we have seen many positive changes related to the pharmacist’s role in patient-centered care and the beginnings of conversations and training specifically related to care for LGBTQ patients.  However, most pharmacists still receive little or no formal education on LGBTQ patients.

Pharmacists are on the front lines of providing quality, affirming care, which is why training is so important. Within the Wegmans School of Pharmacy we begin this early, in the first year of the program. Students are introduced to terminology and provided with opportunities to interact with LGBTQ patients in an environment that allows them to ask questions and receive feedback from the very patients they may encounter later in their careers. We provide similar training for our community preceptors, the pharmacists who provide the hands-on training for our students out in the pharmacies.  However, this represents a small fraction of the pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists across the country.

A recent paper that evaluated LGBTQ health education in pharmacy school curricula found that less than half of the schools that responded reported having LGBTQ content in the required curriculum. When these topics were covered most programs had one to three hours allotted within the curriculum and the topics most frequently taught were HIV and STIs. Most programs reported that little faculty development was provided for teaching LGBTQ health content.

To help reach all the pharmacists who did not receive LGBTQ competency training in their pharmacy programs, I took a sabbatical last fall to work with HRC Foundation’s Health and Aging program to develop a resource guide for pharmacists and pharmacy staff on providing LGBTQ inclusive care and services. The guide provides information on creating a welcoming environment within the pharmacy setting as well and highlights healthcare barriers and disparities within the LGBTQ patient population.

Pharmacists have a unique role within the healthcare system as one of the most accessible providers.  However, many patients don’t always recognize the important role that a pharmacist can play as a partner in their healthcare.  That is why I worked with HRC to also develop a consumer guide to help LGBTQ patients utilize their pharmacists as a resource in navigating the healthcare system, proper use of medications and information on preventative care.

Pharmacists who provide affirming care to LGBTQ patients will naturally encourage an open dialogue with their patients.  I hope these guides help pharmacists and patients to foster a relationship to ensure the best possible health outcomes. 

www.hrc.org/blog/pharmacists-work-to-support-lgbtq-patients?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: July 21, 2016

TONIGHT AT THE RNC: DON’S NEXT CON: If last night was any indication, watch for Donald Trump to try to (falsely) rebrand himself as an ally to the LGBTQ community. Here’s the reality — Trump opposes marriage equality; endorses Kim Davis-style discrimination; defends vile laws like HB2 in North Carolina; will appoint an anti-LGBTQ Supreme Court justice; campaigns with leaders of hate groups; and spews hatred toward anybody he considers different. Trump’s decision to put an anti-equality candidate like Mike Pence on the ticket only confirms what a disaster he would be for the community and what a grave threat the Trump-Pence ticket poses to LGBTQ equality.

• As Pence accepted the VEEP nomination, The Daily Beast noted that his support for so-called “conversion therapy” means that “for the first time in our presidential history, a major party candidate and a major party support child abuse, even child torture, as part of their platform.”
• A new survey illustrates how out of step the Republican Party is with its own members – only 37 percent want a presidential candidate who opposes marriage equality.
• In an editorial titled “GOP’s Anti-LGBTQ Platform Will Make America Less Great Again,” the NJ.com editorial board rips the GOP for disregarding the power of the LGBTQ vote; Gawker puts the platform in context with the party’s history.
• Television star Montel Williams blasted the GOP on CNN yesterday for shutting out minorities, including members of the LGBTQ community. More from Media Matters.

DUKE AND NC STATE HOOPS COACHES DENOUNCE DISCRIMINATORY HB2 AS EMBARRASSING, APPALLING:  Legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is taking the men’s U.S. Olympic basketball team to Brazil, and NC State coach Mark Gottfried are strongly condemning NC Gov. Pat McCrory’s discriminatory HB2 law as embarrassing, frustrating and appalling. Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils recently had to adjust their schedule when the University of Albany team backed out of a game in NC because of HB2. “I’m against any law that allows discrimination, whether that’s based on race, gender, sexual orientation,” Gottfried told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t understand how someone can support this.” Said Krzyzewski: “It’s an embarrassing bill.” Read more here.

POWERFUL VIDEO FEATURES PROUD DADS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN: The HRC Foundation released a first-of-its-kind web video exclusively featuring fathers of transgender children describing their experiences. The video highlights the fear and hurt their families face due to anti-transgender prejudice and policies. In an emotional op-ed in TIME Magazine, one of the fathers, Wayne Maines, writes about his recent decision to leave the Republican Party due to its anti-trans positions, “I worry because […] some Republican politicians have decided that it’s good politics to target a vulnerable group of people that includes my daughter.” Watch the Dads for Transgender Equality video here.

OUTRAGEOUS — SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLEGEDLY FORCED TRANS STUDENT TO WEAR GREEN BRACELET: A transgender boy in Wisconsin has filed a federal lawsuit against the Kenosha Unified School District for denying him access to the boys restroom. School staff and security were instructed to prevent the student from using the boys restroom. The suit alleges that the district also proposed he and other transgender students to wear green bracelets identifying them as transgender. This gross violation of rights goes against the Departments of Education and Justice’s guidance directing public schools to allow transgender students to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity. “Everything about this is troubling,” HRC President Chad Griffin tweeted. “Trans students should be supported, not targeted & mistreated, in our schools.” More from WISN.

• Meanwhile in Maryland: A transgender boy has also filed a federal lawsuit asserting that he’s not able to join the school soccer team because school officials are preventing him from using the boys locker room. More from ThinkProgress.

HRC MOURNS US REP. MARK TAKAI, D-HI: HRC President Chad Griffin: “[We are] saddened to learn of the death of Rep. Mark Takai, a champion of LGBTQ equality. Our hearts go out to his family.” Takai, 49, a first-term Member of Congress, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.  He leaves behind his wife, Sami Takai, their children Matthew, 14, and Kaila, 13, and parents Erik and Naomi.

ELTON JOHN PLEDGES MILLIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS: At the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, Elton John announced that the Elton John AIDS Foundation has joined the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to create a $10 million AIDS fund to provide relief for LGBTQ people living under homophobic regimes. Recipients of the fund’s first grants are the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and the Global Forum on MSM & HIV. Read more here.

PENTAGON DETAILS RULES FOR TRANS MILITARY PERSONNEL: The Pentagon has issued new protocol for service members undergoing transition-related care. More from Military.com.

LGBTQ SPENDING POWER NEARS $1 TRILLION: New analysis shows that LGBTQ Americans have the estimated purchasing power of $917 billion, according to the LGBTQ marketing agency Witeck Communications. More from Bloomberg.

READING RAINBOW

NBC News reports how Third Eye Blind trolled the RNC to speak out on LGBTQ rights; HRC shares LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books; National Catholic Reporter meets the first openly-LGBTQ United Methodist bishop; Queerty points out seven anti-LGBTQ moments from vice presidential nominee Mike Pence; Advocate flies into Comic-Con 2016 with an official LGBTQ guide; Campus Reform introduces the second annual summit for LGBTQ seniors, “Gay and Gray”; Variety announces that the Nickelodeon show “Loud House” will feature a married same-sex couple; and The Tennessean chronicles how the Nashville Fire Department swiftly took action when a fire EMS chief spread anti-LGBTQ hatred.  

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-july-21-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Dads of Trans Kids Make Us Proud in New Video

“This is a family transition,” says Wayne Maines in the new video from the Human Rights Campaign. “And that’s what it needs to be.” 

www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/7/21/dads-trans-kids-make-us-proud-new-video

Caitlyn Jenner Reveals Secrets in New Video for H&M (Video)

www.advocate.com/caitlyn-jenner/2016/7/21/caitlyn-jenner-reveals-secrets-new-video-hm-video

Why Ted Cruz Refused to Endorse Donald Trump (Video)

www.advocate.com/election/2016/7/21/why-ted-cruz-refused-endorse-donald-trump-video

The Number Of M4M Craigslist Ads Have Skyrocketed Since #RNCinCLE Rolled Into Town

While most gay men employ modern apps such as Grindr and Scruff to locate potential hookups, it appears many Republicans are still relying on Craiglist’s antiquated M4M pages.

The Daily Dot reports that the number of Casual Encounters posts on Craigslist in Cleveland have skyrocketed since the GOP rolled into town earlier this week.

Related: Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin Makes A Fool Of Herself On CNN Arguing GOP Platform Is “Inclusive” To Gays

Pages upon pages of ads have appeared, with headlines such as “RNC anonymous ass up bottom,” “Bend over RNC bitch boy” and “I’ll work over your little RNC holes.”

Don’t believe us? See for yourself:

Some might find the uptick in ads surprising, especially during a convention that is hosting someone of the most homophobic politicians of our time, including Mike Pence and Ted Cruz, but those of us in the know have seen this sort of thing before.

In 2015, a reporter with ReasonTV went to the Conservative Political Action Conference and logged on to Grindr only to find dozens of gay men less than 500 feet away from him. Then, of course, there are all those antigay pastors, lawmakers and other community figures who have been caught on gay dating apps.

Related: Hear From Closeted Gay Republicans Cruising Grindr At CPAC

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The GOP Presidential Ticket Is A Model Sub/Dom Relationship

As a standard political act, Donald Trump’s introduction of Mike Pence as his choice for Vice President was unprecedented for its sheer weirdness. Trump spent 28 minutes talking about everything but Pence, the ostensible reason for his appearance, and them spent no time at all with him.

But the behavior makes a lot more sense when you realize that we’re not talking about a political ticket. We’re talking about a classic sub/dom relationship. Trump is the master with the power. He has displayed all the best dom’s techniques in his treatment of Pence.

Some examples:

Humiliation

Trump really has this one down. After his campaign leaked that Pence was the choice, Trump went on television to say he hadn’t made a final choice. Then he postponed the press conference making the announcement, using the Nice, France, attack as an excuse, only to tweet the news at the same time as the canceled conference. Meantime, multiple news outlets reported that Trump looked for an excuse to dump Pence before he was ever on board. All the while, Pence is sitting in New York waiting for the final decision, fully aware that the world knows is watching his humiliation.

The dom’s needs come first

In Trump’s case, that means 28 minutes of a boasting about himself, followed by an off-hand reference to Pence.

Ignoring as punishment

So, clearly Trump isn’t thrilled with Pence. How best to show it? Introducing Pence and then walking away, leaving the disciple alone on stage.

Speech restriction

Pence gets to speak when Trump lets him. Which isn’t going to be often, if their Sunday talk show appearance is any indication.

For a good Christian conservative, Pence slipped into the sub role easily. All he needed was the dog collar to complete the picture. He was happy to have endured the humiliation from Trump, expressing himself “grateful to this builder, this fighter.” He sits in obedient silence when Trump talks. He is fine with being totally powerless in the relationship.

Ironically, Pence wasn’t the only sub auditioning for the role. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was, if anything, an ever more dedicated sub. He looked like he was in bondage when he stood next to Trump at a notorious press conference. He fetched McDonald’s for Trump. While Trump held an umbrella, Christie walked in the rain. He endured Trump making fun of him for eating too many Oreos, even after he had endorsed Trump. And what did it get him? Not the attention he craved from his master.

Let that be a word of warning for Pence.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/77gl7S-f6D8/gop-presidential-ticket-model-subdom-relationship-20160721

Troye Sivan, Trump and NATO, Michael Moore, Humpback Whales, Pokemon Go, Plagiarism: NEWS

EPIC. One year on Earth, as seen from NASA’s EPIC camera. “EPIC takes a new picture every two hours, revealing how the planet would look to human eyes, capturing the ever-changing motion of clouds and weather systems and the fixed features of Earth such as deserts, forests and the distinct blues of different seas. EPIC will allow scientists to monitor ozone and aerosol levels in Earth’s atmosphere, cloud height, vegetation properties and the ultraviolet reflectivity of Earth.”

MEREDITH MELVER. Trump employee takes fall for plagiarized speech.

DONALD TRUMP. Alarm bells go off in Europe after Trump suggests he won’t defend NATO allies: “During a 45-minute conversation, he explicitly raised new questions about his commitment to automatically defend NATO allies if they are attacked, saying he would first look at their contributions to the alliance. Mr. Trump re-emphasized the hard-line nationalist approach that has marked his improbable candidacy, describing how he would force allies to shoulder defense costs that the United States has borne for decades, cancel longstanding treaties he views as unfavorable, and redefine what it means to be a partner of the United States.”

AIR KISS. So this happened.

That time when Donald Trump air kissed his running mate #RNCinCLE t.co/sdkEz0Gl92 pic.twitter.com/qj0Z4NpKBN

— CNN (@CNN) July 21, 2016

MICHAEL MOORE. Trump is going to win: “I’m sorry to have to be the buzzkill here so early on, but I think Trump is going to win.”

DEATHS. Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai dies: “Takai, 49, announced in May he would not seek re-election after recently learning that his pancreatic cancer has spread. Takai had planned to serve the rest of his term, which would have ended in January 2017.”

HB2. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks: “It’s an embarrassing bill,” Krzyzewski told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

TUNISIA. Gay rights activist Ahmed Ben Amor in coma after second suicide attempt: “We were with him at his house following the first attempt. He asked if we could leave him alone for some time. He took advantage of that to swallow all the pills the doctors had given him.”

BRITISH COLUMBIA. Transgender rights to be added to Human Rights Code.

SAN FRANCISCO. 9.000 people hit the streets for world’s largest Pokemon Go gathering: “With starting points around the city and no fixed route, it was impossible to tell how many people actually participated, but the city certainly felt like it was swarming with a surprising number of exotic creatures.”

A very impressive Pokemon catching outfit pic.twitter.com/DPhAYiGudP

— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) July 21, 2016

JERUSALEM. Tragic moment hangs over Gay Pride Parade: “Exactly a year ago, Yishai Schlissel stepped out of a supermarket and went on a stabbing rampage during the Pride parade, wounding seven people and killingShira Banki, a 16-year-old girl who was there to support her friends. Schlissel, 40, an ultra-Orthodox Jew, had just been released from prison for stabbing marchers at Jerusalem’s Gay Pride parade a decade before that. For his latest crimes, he was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay restitution to his victims.”

REBIRTH. Adam Goldberg goes full frontal.

HUMPBACK WHALES. When they get this close, it’s kind of terrifying.

THE BLACK CAP. Efforts to turn LGBT pub into a straight venue fail. “A group of campaigners known as the Black Cap Foundation have been tirelessly fighting the plans, and it seems as though their hard work has paid off: in a statement to the Camden New Journal, the managing director of the venture-capital company, Sarah Weir said “we are unfortunately going to have to take our investors and their money, and my time and energy, and invest it somewhere else”. This withdrawal is the second to occur after the Breakfast Club gave up on converting the site last year.”

CHOSEN FAMILY. Troye Sivan teases his “Wild” video featuring Alessia Cara.

THE SOUND TRAVELER. Munich, Germany, in the rain.

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Shanghai’s Immense Ray.

The post Troye Sivan, Trump and NATO, Michael Moore, Humpback Whales, Pokemon Go, Plagiarism: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

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