#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 20, 2018
LEADING CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE DANGEROUS ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION IN OK: They joined HRC in a letter to Oklahoma House members about the discriminatory measure, which would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Oklahomans, including LGBTQ couples. Said Ellen Kahn, Director of the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth & Families Program: “This bill is patently discriminatory and it is not supported by organizations actually working in the child welfare space. HRC and each of the signatories on this letter hope that the Oklahoma House of Representatives will listen to the voices of the people working on these issues, not those who would seek to discriminate against potential parents based on who they are.” More from HRC.
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY VOTES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: The bill expressly declares the fraudulent practice a violation of the state’s consumer protection law, and now moves to the Senate. Said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse: “California was the first state to protect minors from being subjected to conversion therapy by state-licensed health care providers, and today’s vote is an important step to protecting all LGBTQ people from this debunked practice.” More from HRC and Metro Weekly.
The California State Assembly voted to approve legislation that declares debunked “conversion therapy” a fraudulent practice under the state’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, protecting vulnerable #LGBTQ people from this dangerous junk science. ️ t.co/zRoNNAzSMA
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 19, 2018
NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE VOTES TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM ABUSIVE PRACTICE OF “CONVERSION THERAPY”: “No child should be put through the dangerous and inhumane practice of conversion therapy,” said HRC Legislative Counsel Xavier Persad. “This abusive practice has no basis in science and is uniformly rejected by every major mental health organization in the country. It is time for New Hampshire to join the growing number of states enacting laws to protect LGBTQ youth from so-called conversion therapy. We urge state legislators to quickly send the bill to Governor Sununu’s desk.” The bill now moves to conference committee before it can advance to Governor Chris Sununu’s desk for his signature. More from HRC.
TOP BRASS FROM NAVY AND MARINE CORPS SAY NO MORALE OR COHESION ISSUES WITH TRANS TROOPS: When asked by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about trans troops, both Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson reported no issues with morale or unit cohesion with trans troops. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of Army said the same — “zero” issues with unit cohesion or readiness since the ban on trans people was lifted. More from Military Times and The Hill.
- Court orders anti-LGBTQ hate groups to disclose documents related to their roles in devising trans troop ban: The Heritage Foundation and Family Research Council have been served with subpoenas. More from Pink News.
- Morning must read: “Why I’m challenging Trump’s trans military ban,” from Aiden Stockman in Los Angeles Blade.
ICYMI — HRC LAUNCHES “THE REAL MIKE PENCE” CAMPAIGN THAT EXPOSES HIS HISTORY OF ANTI-LGBTQ FANATICISM AND STEALTH EXTREMISM: HRC’s new, comprehensive “The Real Mike Pence” campaign rolled out this week, and includes a scathing report, microsite and a series of videos exposing the vice president’s long history of anti-LGBTQ animus and shining a spotlight on the inordinate influence he and his extremist inner circle wield in the Trump-Pence administration. Check out our favorite headlines:
- “With Trump in Hot Water, HRC Sounds the Alarm on Pence,” Advocate; “HRC Aims To Expose Mike Pence’s ‘Anti-LGBTQ Fanaticism,’” On Top Magazine; Campaign Seeks to Expose Anti-LGBT History of ‘The Real Mike Pence’,” Washington Blade; “HRC Launches Blistering Campaign Exposing Mike Pence’s Anti-LGBTQ Record,” Towleroad; “HRC: Mike Pence ‘poses one of the greatest threats to equality,’” Gay Star News; “New report exposes Mike Pence’s ‘extreme and nefarious’ anti-LGBT agenda,” Pink News; “Mike Pence Is ‘One Of The Greatest Threats to Equality,’ LGBTQ Rights Group Says,” Newsweek
Top LGBT group launches campaign to “expose” Pence t.co/kTfndByVWY pic.twitter.com/YcqmubPKbu
— The Hill (@thehill) April 19, 2018
FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — LGBTQ ADVOCATES MAKE TIME’S LIST OF TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2018: Student-activist Emma Gonzalez (@emma4change), artist Kehinde Wiley (@kehindewileyart), actress and director Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe), Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (@campaignforleo), Olympian Adam Rippon (@Adaripp), Designer Christian Siriano (@CSiriano), writer Janet Mock (@janetmock), journalist Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) and actress Daniela Vega (@danivega) are among the LGBTQ people honored. Actress Rosie O’Donnell (@Rosie), writer Jill Soloway (@jillsoloway) and icon Elton John (@eltonofficial) wrote profiles on additional honorees. More from TIME.
HRC LAUNCHES SECOND LGBT WORKPLACE INCLUSION SURVEY IN MEXICO: The second annual Equidad MX: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral evaluates LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in major Mexican companies. The leading global firm EY Mexico hosted HRC and more than 50 Mexican companies to kick off the new survey. More from HRC.
.@HRC officially launched its second annual #HRCEquidadMX survey, evaluating #LGBT-inclusive policies and practices at major Mexican companies. ️t.co/b5myBE0Hbi
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 20, 2018
APPALLING — TRUMP-PENCE ADMIN WANTED REFERENCES TO CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION STRUCK FROM GENDER EQUALITY DOCUMENTS: BuzzFeed’s Ema O’Connor (@o_ema) confirmed that one official, a known anti-LGBTQ activist, called the U. S. a “pro-life nation.” More from BuzzFeed.
HRC ENDORSES PA REP. DWIGHT EVANS FOR RE-ELECTION: “Whether in the Pennsylvania State House or in the United State Congress, Rep. Evans has a long track record fighting for the rights of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Manager Allison Van Kuiken. “We look forward to continuing our work with Rep. Evans in the fight to pass the Equality Act and move us closer to full federal equality. More from HRC.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FINDS THAT LGBTQ ACEPTANCE HAS INCREASED GLOBALLY: More from Metro Weekly.
.@WilliamsPolicy finds that the average levels of acceptance for #LGBT people and rights have increased globally since 1980, though acceptance has become more polarized, increasing in the most accepting countries and decreasing in the least. Read more: t.co/HTFIzcUtM2 pic.twitter.com/pnuNQgS0vB
— Ty Wesley Cobb (@tywesleycobb) April 19, 2018
MALTA PRIME MINISTER — COUNTRIES MUST “LEAD AND NOT FOLLOW” ON LGBTQ EQUALITY: Read this exclusive interview from Nick Duffy (@NickMDuffy) at Pink News.
PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ EQUALITY AT COMMONWEALTH YOUTH FORUM IN LONDON: Kenyen LGBTQ activist Jonah Chinga said, “Both Prince Harry and Miss Markle said they would put LGBT issues at the front of their work.” More from Town & Country.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
NewNowNext speaks to transgender Tongans; NewNowNext covers the opening of the world’s first LGBTQ Rotary Club in San Francisco; Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Anastasia Hoitis will serve as Equality Florida’s board chair
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