#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 21, 2018
DEVOS CONFIRMS THAT U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION IS FAILING TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FACING DISCRIMINATION: Additional reports indicate that DeVos may also soon withdraw critical guidance protecting students of color from discrimination in school discipline. While this guidance does not explicitly talk about LGBTQ students, they are disproportionately impacted by these policies. HRC, along with leading national LGBTQ organizations, sent a letter to DeVos urging her to keep the current guidance in place. More from HRC.
1/ Today, Betsy DeVos confirmed that, under her direction, the Department of Education is not protecting transgender students reporting claims of discrimination in accessing restrooms. t.co/68X7BiEtNV
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 20, 2018
HRC STATEMENT ON ILLINOIS THIRD DISTRICT PRIMARY RESULT: “This should be a wake up call to Dan Lipinski,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “A politician who has fought against the rights of LGBTQ people, women, and immigrants for more than a decade in Congress went from a 24-point lead to barely holding on to his job. The people of Illinois want and deserve a representative in Congress who will stand up for their fundamental rights — not undermine them and rubber stamp the Trump-Pence agenda. If Dan Lipinski continues down the wrong path, he will not get a second chance the next time his constituents head into the voting booth.” Newman, a business leader with deep ties to the district but a political newcomer, nearly ousted a 13-year incumbent. Lipinski has a disastrous record on the rights of LGBTQ people, women and immigrants. His record nearly cost him his reelection. More from NPR and HRC.
• HRC, NARAL Pro-Choice America, SEIU, MoveOn, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY’s List launched an unprecedented joint independent expenditure campaign against Lipinski. The coalition spent more than $1.6 million to expose Dan Lipinski’s record. In partnership with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Action, HRC also invested an additional $50K into a $130K Latino Outreach program, targeting Spanish-speaking voters in the district through canvassing and in ads over radio and TV.
Thank you to all of our members, supporters and volunteers on the ground in the #IL03 race. @HRC is proud to join our partner organizations in support of Marie Newman (@Marie4Congress). pic.twitter.com/ImdffOJHR0
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 21, 2018
HUD SEC BEN CARSON ADMITS TO IGNORING LGBTQ PROTECTIONS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS: “Ben Carson testified before Congress that he is ignoring protections for LGBTQ people in homeless shelters, and defended his inaction by citing debunked and mean-spirited claims about transgender people that completely lack merit,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “The level of ignorance he has consistently shown as the nation’s top housing official is deeply alarming, and has clear consequences for LGBTQ people who experience disproportionate rates of homelessness. When homeless shelters become unwelcome spaces for LGBTQ people, the consequences are devastating.” More from HRC and CNN.
WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — MEET THE MISSISSIPPI LGBTQ ACTIVIST WHO FOUGHT FOR A PRIDE PARADE IN HER SMALL TOWN — AND WON: When the Starkville Board of Aldermen denied a permit for a Pride parade, HRC worked with elected officials and community leaders — including 22-year-old activist Bailey McDaniel — to force a re-vote on the discriminatory action. The Mississippi State University senior said of the fight, “I realized that I have powers and passion that I can use for a lot of good.” The Starkville Pride Parade will be held on Saturday. More from The Clarion Ledger.
WHAT ARE THE COURTS SAYING ABOUT LGBTQ WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION? Glad you asked — across the country, they are reaffirming what we have long known: Title VII bars discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Check out this deep dive by Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82), who details the opinions in The Washington Blade.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATORS TO CONSIDER TWO ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS: One would attack transgender students, and the other would give businesses a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people. More from Out and About Nashville.
EQUALITY VA EXEC DIRECTOR — VIRGINIANS HAVE “DECIDED” ON LGBTQ EQUALITY: James Parrish says that his state has been betrayed by anti-equality lawmakers’ decision to block nondiscrimination protections. “This issue has been decided by Virginia voters, who, since 2009, have elected to statewide office only officials who proudly and explicitly support nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people,” Parrish wrote in the The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
PRIDE FUND ENDORSES WISC. SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN FOR RE-ELECTION: HRC endorsed Baldwin in December. More from Pride Source.
NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS STRUGGLES OF TRANS PEOPLE VISITING EMERGENCY ROOMS: More from National Geographic.
COUNTRY MUSIC STARS STANDING UP AS CHAMPIONS FOR EQUALITY: From the Dixie Chicks to Ty Herndon — country music stars are standing up for equality. Herndon was honored with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2018 HRC Nashville Equality Dinner last weekend. More from Wisconsin Gazette.
AWFUL — TEXAS NEWSPAPER INTENTIONALLY OMITS SAME-SEX HUSBAND’S NAME IN OBITUARY: More from AOL.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
ALLISON STANDEN BECOMES FIRST OPENLY LESBIAN MEMBER OF TASMANIAN STATE PARLIAMENT: More from Gay Star News.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Advocate reviews a book highlighting historic LGBTQ women; Togayther entrevista al activista LGBTQ y estrella de redes sociales Tigrillo (@TigrilloTW)
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