Monthly Archives: November 2017



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NEWS

HRC Mourns Candace Towns, a Black Trans Woman Killed in Georgia

HRC Mourns Candace Towns, a Black Trans Woman Killed in Georgia

Post submitted by Mark Lee, HRC Senior Writer, Public Education & Research

HRC mourns the loss of Candace Towns, a transgender woman who was found shot to death on Tuesday in Macon, Ga., near where she was living.

According to TransGriot, Towns, 30, was reported missing on Sunday, October 29, and had last been seen alive on Saturday. On Tuesday, an anonymous 911 caller reported that a person was down at the end of a driveway and possibly dead. Initially the media misgendered and misnamed Towns until friends and family corrected them.

Town’s best friend, Malaysa Monroe, remembers Towns’ generosity.

“If I needed anything she would give it to me. She would give me the clothes off her back,” Monroe said.

The Telegraph reported that in July 2009 Towns was reportedly shot in the ankle, just a few blocks from where her body was found. Police are investigating the murder and have not released any additional information.

Towns is the 25th known transgender person killed in the U.S. this year. Sixty-four percent of the victims have been killed in the South, which among the four U.S. census regions has the fewest states that currently provide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in education, employment, hate crimes, housing and public accommodations.

So far this year, 21 of the 25 transgender victims of fatal violence, including Towns, has been a woman of color. Sixteen were Black or African American.

To learn more about HRC’s transgender justice work and violence against transgender people, visit hrc.org/Transgender.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-mourns-candace-towns-a-black-trans-woman-killed-in-georgia?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Senate Democrats Demand Jeff Sessions Restore Protections for Transgender People Under Title VII

Senate Democrats Demand Jeff Sessions Restore Protections for Transgender People Under Title VII

Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a policy that protected transgender people under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Senate Democrats sent Sessions a letter on Thursday demanding that the policy be restored.

RELATED: Jeff Sessions Reverses Policy That Protects Transgender People from Discrimination Under Title VII of Civil Rights Act

The Hill reports:

In a letter to Sessions dated Nov. 2 and signed by 44 Democratic and independent senators, the lawmakers write that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition against sex discrimination applies to gender identity and that Sessions’ actions have put some of “the most vulnerable Americans” at risk of discrimination.

“Actions that roll back the rights of LGBTQ Americans are not consistent with the values of equality and dignity or with Congress’s goals in passing the Civil Rights Act,” the letter reads.

…In the letter to Sessions, the senators write that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as several federal courts, have repeatedly affirmed that Title VII does encompass gender identity.

“By reversing the Department’s enforcement of Title VII on behalf of transgender people, you are sending a signal that DOJ will now condone and defend those who discriminate on the basis of an individual’s gender identity or history of gender transition,” the letter reads.

Read the letter HERE.

The post Senate Democrats Demand Jeff Sessions Restore Protections for Transgender People Under Title VII appeared first on Towleroad.


Senate Democrats Demand Jeff Sessions Restore Protections for Transgender People Under Title VII

NEWS

Million Mask March London: Police Issue Stark Warning To Activists

Million Mask March London: Police Issue Stark Warning To Activists

The Metropolitan Police has issued a series of conditions on the proposed Million Mask March, due to be held on Sunday 5 November – Guy Fawkes Night.

The measures have been imposed under the Public Order Act and stipulate strict times during which the march – an annual protest against state surveillance incursions – may operate.

Participants must follow the directions of police even if the route is varied and risk arrest if they do not. (Scroll down for the conditions in full.) There will also be a lockdown on vehicles as part of the procession.

 Facebook group promoting the march lists 777 people as attending with a further 1,200 “interested.”

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/million-mask-march-london-police-issue-activists-with-a-stark-warning_uk_59fc7051e4b0b0c7fa399658

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 3, 2017

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 3, 2017

GOOD RIDDANCE — TRUMP’S UNQUALIFIED, ANTI-LGBTQ NOMINEE FOR USDA WITHDRAWS: “Sam Clovis has opposed equality for LGBTQ people at practically every turn and even pushed the unscientific nonsense that being LGBTQ is a choice,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “It’s disconcerting that the Trump-Pence administration continues to nominate candidates who are as extreme as they are unqualified. Sam Clovis certainly fit that description, and while his nomination has today been withdrawn, it’s absolutely essential that the Senate reject the scores of other dangerous nominees this administration continues to push forward.” Sam Clovis is among the worst in a long line of anti-LGBTQ extremists nominated by Trump-Pence. CNN lays out his disturbing history of anti-LGBTQ extremism, including repeatedly peddling the falsehood that being LGBTQ is a “choice.” Clovis, who has no scientific background, has also disgustingly equated protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination with protecting pedophiles. Oh, and he opposes marriage equality, too. More from HRC.

Rabidly anti-LGBTQ Sam Clovis could not have been more unqualified. He never should have been nominated. t.co/FL2yWvW2ea

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) November 2, 2017

TODAY — HRC FOUNDATION HOSTING STUDENTS FROM 23 HBCUs AT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT: Student activists from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are gathering at HRC headquarters for a three-day leadership summit designed to foster campus environments that are welcoming and affirming to LGBTQ people. “We’re thrilled to welcome these student leaders to HRC for our 12th annual HBCU summit,” said Leslie Hall, HRC’s Senior HBCU Program Manager. “The commitment and dedication demonstrated by these fierce advocates is inspiring and we look forward to having them return to their campuses with a renewed commitment to fighting for equality and inclusion. I am truly excited that we have the opportunity to come together, learn from each other, and increase our strength as advocates for the LGBTQ community.” More from HRC.

.@HRC‘s excited to host #HBCU student activists for three-day leadership summit welcoming & affirming #LGBTQ people. t.co/NdEPVgLdVY

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) November 2, 2017

FRIDAY FEATURE — CELEBRITY CAKE BAKER DUFF GOLDMAN SAYS DENYING SERVICE TO LGBTQ PEOPLE IS DISCRIMINATION, PLAIN AND SIMPLE: Goldman, who joined the nation’s leading bakers, chefs and businesses in HRC’s ‘Chefs for Equality’ amicus brief in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case now before the Supreme Court of the United States, writes in People, “My business is unique, there’s no doubt about it, and that’s exactly why customers of all different types come to my shop. I don’t choose who walks through my door, I just know that when they’re there, I’m doing business with them. And that’s the whole point of starting a business open to the public. We get to choose what we sell, but we don’t get to choose who decides to stop in and purchase our goods.” Goldman is executive chef at Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes, and star of a Food Network reality show. More from People.

SENATORS URGE DOJ TO REVERSE TRUMP-PENCE ADMINISTRATION POSITION THAT TRANS WORKERS AREN’T PROTECTED BY TITLE VII: The letter, led by Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and signed by 44 Senators, reads, “Actions that roll back the rights of LGBTQ Americans are not consistent with the value of equality and dignity or with Congress’s goals in passing the Civil Rights Act.”

SENATE CONFIRMS JOAN LARSEN TO U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 6TH CIRCUIT: HRC expressed concerned with Larsen’s nomination to the Sixth Circuit because of her refusal, along with four other Michigan Supreme Court justices, to hear an appeal of Mabry v. Mabry, a case involving the parental rights of a non-biological parent. The refusal came after the Supreme Court of the United States in 2015 recognized marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges. By refusing to hear the appeal, Larsen essentially rejected the full effect of Obergefell. More from HuffPost.

COMMUNITY RALLIES AFTER PHOENIX SCHOOL ENACTS TRANSPHOBIC SCHOOL POLICY: Students at the Veritas Preparatory Academy requires students to wear gendered uniforms and use the restroom according to the gender on their birth certificate. Parents, alumni and other advocates are protesting this policy. More from Northeast Valley News.

SHAMEFUL — UMICH STUDENT REPORTS ANTI-LGBTQ BULLYING AFTER COMING OUT: The student came out on Instagram in honor of National Coming Out Day, and was then harassed by his roommates, who used homophobic slurs and caused him to fear for his safety. More from The Detroit News.

MATT BOMER, ZACHARY QUINTO, JIM PARSONS AND ANDREW RANNELLS CAST IN BROADWAY DEBUT OF “THE BOYS IN THE BAND”: The 1968 play was groundbreaking in its representation of gay men. The revival, directed by Ryan Murphy, will debut on Broadway on play’s 50th anniversary. More from The Washington Post.

INDIAN ANIMATED FILM WITH LGBTQ THEMES STRIKES CHORD: The award-winning short film, Maacher Jhol, follows a man preparing for a dinner during which he plans to come out as gay to his father. More from NBC.

HORRIFYING — VIOLENT PROTEST ERUPTS IN GEORGIA OVER SOCCER PLAYER’S PRO-EQUALITY ARMBAND: The anti-equality protesters wanted Guram Kashia to be removed from Georgia’s national soccer team for sporting a rainbow armband. He is thought to be the first soccer player in Eastern Europe to openly support the LGBTQ community. More from RT.

UGANDAN HIP HOP ARTIST COMES OUT AFTER BECOMING CANADIAN CITIZEN: Keko, who was awarded Female Artist of the Year at the UG Hip Hop Awards, posted on Twitter that she feels “free” and will soon be getting married. More from Gay Star News.

KENYA BANS DISNEY SHOW OVER UPCOMING LGBTQ PLOTLINE: Andi Mack will feature a character’s journey to discovering they are LGBTQ. More from Variety.

AUSTRALIAN MUSLIM FASHION DESIGNER CREATES HEAD SCARF IN SUPPORT OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY: “At the end of the day, everyone should feel proud of who they are, regardless of their skin colour, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation and everyone deserves the right to love, and be loved in return,” said Azahn Munas. More from BuzzFeed.

READING RAINBOW

 Out & About Nashville writes on LeAnn Rimes’ (@LeAnnRimes) LGBTQ advocacy; Vice looks at the unique issues faced by the undocumented LGBTQ community;

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-november-3-2017?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Ed Gillespie’s extensive anti-LGBTQ record foreshadows his agenda leading into Tuesday VA governor’s race

Ed Gillespie’s extensive anti-LGBTQ record foreshadows his agenda leading into Tuesday VA governor’s race

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today called on all media outlets covering the Virginia Governor race to report on Gillespie’s anti-LGBTQ record leading into next Tuesday’s election.

Gillespie’s actions during the 2017 gubernatorial race so far have proven that he is no “moderate” as he was once described, instead building his campaign on the racist stereotyping of the Latinx community and the foundation of a deeply troublesome anti-LGBTQ record.

“Ed Gillespie’s clear targeting of marginalized communities falls in line with the racist and anti-LGBTQ agenda of the Trump Administration,” said Zeke Stokes, Vice President of Programs at GLAAD. “His record of pushing anti-transgender legislation and opposing marriage equality – along with his dog-whistle campaign messaging – are out of line and out of touch with the values of the people of Virginia.”

The discriminatory anti-LGBTQ record of Ed Gillespie is an embrace of the same anti-LGBTQ agenda at the core of the Trump Administration, including Gillespie’s own push for a North Carolina-style legislation that would directly put transgender Virginians in harm’s way and his long record of opposition to marriage equality.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Ed Gillespie’s Anti-LGBTQ Record

Opposition to Marriage Equality

  • Opposes marriage equality: “‘I believe in my faith,’ which says marriage is between a man and a woman, he said. ‘So I don’t believe in government sanction of same-sex marriage.’”
  • While chair of the Republican Party, called on the GOP to “pursue whatever policy is necessary” to stop marriage equality: “The Republican Party platform is clear: We believe marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman. We must pursue whatever policy is necessary to protect this institution, including a Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
  •  Reportedly pressed former president George W. Bush to add extra lines to a 2008 commencement speech that explicitly condemned marriage equality.
  • As senior adviser to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, advocated for a federal marriage amendment.
  •  Classified judicial rulings on marriage equality as “unhealthy”: “We’ve had courts injecting themselves into this decision making process, into the political process, in a way I think is generally unhealthy for unelected judges to make decisions about whether or not government should sanction gay marriage or not.”

Support of Anti-Trans Measures/Policies

Claimed Being LGBTQ as a “Choice”

  • Once claimed LGBTQ people are making a “choice” and that asking for acceptance is “religious bigotry”: “I accept people for who they are – and love them. That doesn’t mean I have to agree or turn my back on the tenets of my faith when it comes to homosexuality. I think when people say, ‘Well, no. That’s not enough that you accept me for who I am, you have to agree with – and condone – my choice,’ that, to me, is religious bigotry, and I believe that’s intolerant. I think they are the ones that are crossing the line here.’”

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November 3, 2017
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www.glaad.org/blog/ed-gillespies-extensive-anti-lgbtq-record-foreshadows-his-agenda-leading-tuesday-va-governors

NEWS

Brazile: Hillary Rigged DNC Against Bernie

Brazile: Hillary Rigged DNC Against Bernie

Donna Brazile

Hillary Clinton’s campaign took over the Democratic National Committee’s funding and day-to-day operations early in the primary season and may have used that power to undermine her rival Senator Bernie Sanders, according to the party’s one-time interim chairwoman. The DNC official, Donna Brazile, now a political analyst, wrote in Politico Magazine on Thursday that she discovered…

The post Brazile: Hillary Rigged DNC Against Bernie appeared first on Towleroad.


Brazile: Hillary Rigged DNC Against Bernie

NEWS

10 Signs He’s Bound To Be Your Future Ex-Boyfriend

10 Signs He’s Bound To Be Your Future Ex-Boyfriend

It’s important to give people a chance while dating, but there are some red flags you just can’t overlook: Does he spend the whole evening interrupting you to talk about himself? Don’t date him. Is he still weirdly obsessed with an ex from years ago? Tell him “thanks, but no, thanks.”

Below, marriage therapists and other relationship experts share those and other glaring red flags that the new guy you’re seeing is categorically not The One. 

1. He talks about himself ― and only himself. 

You shouldn’t know everything about the guy after one date: If he monopolized the conversation with talk of his stock options and rudely interrupted when you finally got a word in, you probably don’t need to see him again, said Kristin Zeising, a psychologist in San Diego, California. 

“Chances are, he’s not truly interested in you or interested in getting to know you on a real level,” she said. “If it’s not a mutual conversation, you’ll probably end up being his mirror and supporting him.”

2. The conversation is severely lacking. 

Nervousness and awkward pauses are totally normal on first dates. But eventually, the conversation should flow easily between you and your man, said Marie Land, a psychologist in Washington, D.C.

“Conversations should be like a tennis match where the ball is hit into one court by the person and hit back by the other person,” she said. “If he doesn’t ask questions or have a general curiosity about your experience, it’s a red flag.” 

3. He has nothing good to say about previous relationships.

Don’t turn your cheek when he trash talks his ex: Stick around long enough and he’ll likely be saying the same things about you to future dates, said Diane Spear, a therapist in New York City. 

“People are not all-good or all-bad, so if he can’t find anything good to say about past partners, it indicates that he may tend to idealize partners then denigrate them when the newness wears off,” she said. “You won’t be immune to this treatment.” 

4. He makes a really good first impression – then disappears. 

Don’t settle for a guy who sweeps you off your feet in the first few months, then proceeds to ghost you, said Aaron Anderson, a marriage and family therapist in Denver, Colorado. 

“If he can’t maintain a relationship beyond first impressions, he’s not long-term material,” he added.

5. He talks about your future as a couple on the first or second date.

On the other hand, also be wary if he starts talking about your future in super specific detail, Spear said. Whether your future kiddos will go to private or public school should not be a topic of conversation on date number two. 

“If he’s that certain that the two of you are a great match a few dates in, he’s living in fantasy,” she said. “There’s no skipping over the ‘getting to know you’ phase of a relationship.”

6. He can’t commit to plans. 

OK, so he doesn’t quite ghost you ― but getting him to respond to your calls and texts about making plans is damn near impossible. That’s a red flag, too, said Isiah McKimmie, a couples therapist and sexologist in Melbourne, Australia. 

“If he’s unreliable and noncommittal now, he’s likely to stay that way,” she said. 

7. He never apologizes.

A man who can’t acknowledge when he’s wrong is a man you should have nothing to do with, Land said. 

“I’m not a fan of over-apologizing in relationships, but the reality is that people make mistakes and feelings get hurt all the time unintentionally,” she said. “When he messes up and hurts your feelings, he should apologize for it, at the very least from time to time.” 

8. He’s a major flirt. 

There’s nothing wrong with a guy who’s charming ― unless he’s charming and flirty to everyone he meets, said Anderson. 

“When that happens, he’s usually just playing the field and keeping his options open, which means he doesn’t see you as long-term material,” he said. 

9. He doesn’t have empathy for you. 

You want a partner who’s going to genuinely listen to you: He needs to be the type of guy who’s up for your rant about work and the flaky friend you can’t pin down. If he’s not capable of that, he’s probably not the one, said McKimmie. 

“One of the biggest complaints I hear ― especially from women coming to therapy with their partners ― is that they’re just not being listened to,” McKimmie said. “Their partner is hearing the words they’re saying, but they’re not able to empathize with what’s being shared.”

10. He’s emotionally unavailable.

Hopefully, you both go into the relationship with your eyes wide open, knowing that you’re both flawed human beings. Still, there are some qualities you can’t settle for in love ― and that includes a man who’s not willing to be emotionally intimate. 

“A lot of women dismiss emotionally unavailable men as ‘just being a guy,’” Anderson said. “But emotionally unavailable men make for bad boyfriends. You want a relationship that is fulfilling, rewarding and emotionally open.” 

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/10-signs-hes-bound-to-be-your-future-ex-boyfriend_uk_59fc3860e4b0415a420af09e

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