#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 21, 2018
KANSAS GOVERNOR SIGNS ANTI-LGBTQ BILL INTO LAW: It will have a sweeping, harmful impact in child welfare services by enabling discrimination against LGBTQ people, same-sex couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other qualified parents to whom an agency has an objection. “Kansas now joins Oklahoma as the only states to allow anti-LGBTQ state bills to become law this year,” said JoDee Winterhof, senior vice president of policy and political affairs. “Kansas lawmakers, from the legislature to the governor, are clearly stating that it is more important to them to discriminate against their own constituents than it is to find loving homes for children in need. Make no mistake: this law will harm the kids, families and reputation of this state.” More from HRC, Advocate and Slate.
HRC RESPONDS TO TRUMP-PENCE ATTACK ON WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE THROUGH A GAG RULE: “This is an unprecedented attack millions of women and LGBTQ people who rely on health care facilities, including Planned Parenthood, for reproductive health care,” said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs Director. “The Trump-Pence Administration is once again attempting to undermine access to care for women and LGBTQ people, putting lives at risk. Planned Parenthood and similar health care providers offer a wide variety of crucial services, including 700,000 HIV tests each year, birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and general health exams.” More form HRC.
This is yet another reckless attempt by the Trump-Pence admin to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans. This rule would restrict birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, even general women’s health exams. We won’t stand for it. t.co/Lsetfxem6H
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) May 18, 2018
LAWMAKERS MUST TAKE ACTION TO END TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS PLAGUING OUR COUNTRY: Our hearts are with those grieving in the wake of yet another tragic shooting, this time at Santa Fe High School near Galveston, Texas. We demand action from our lawmakers in the face of more lives needlessly taken, more hearts broken and more dreams shattered due to gun violence. More from NewNowNext.
At least eight innocent lives were taken in Texas at the 22nd school shooting — and third in the past eight days — in America this year. We demand action from our political leaders on common-sense gun safety reform. t.co/twUGjEzdfb t.co/rOSzLGVtA7
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 18, 2018
CONNECTICUT INITIATIVE TO WELCOME LGBTQ PROSPECTIVE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS: The Connecticut Department of Children and Families’ new outreach campaign, backed by Governor Dannel Malloy, is a rare statewide system to support LGBTQ prospective parents. More from The Associated Press.
BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS MUST ADDRESS ASYLUM PETITION OF TRANS WOMAN, SAYS NINTH CIRCUIT COURT: Francisco Javier Flores Medina, a transgender woman and asylum seeker from Mexico, was denied asylum. The court ordered the board to reassess her petition, specifically addressing the fact that she is trans. More from Law360.
FDA APPROVES USE OF TRUVADA FOR ADOLESCENTS: This important move will expand the number of people who will benefit from the drug’s ability to prevent the spread of HIV. More from Poz.
THOUGH SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES GROW FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS, NEEDS REMAIN: A recent survey found that 83 percent of LGBTQ students pay for school themselves, compared to 53 percent of their straight and cisgender peers. This illustrates the acute — and growing — need for scholarships in the LGBTQ community. More from NBC Out.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF — JENNIFER ANISTON AND TIG NOTARO TO PLAY SAME-SEX PRESIDENTIAL COUPLE IN NETFLIX COMEDY: More from BuzzFeed.
COLLEGIATE HOCKEY REFEREE COMES OUT AS GAY, FINDS ACCEPTANCE: When Alex Valvo came out a year and a half ago, he was heartened by the support from those around him. “All that referees want is a fair game between two teams,” he says. “And that’s all the LGBT community wants — the same fair treatment as everyone else in our everyday life.” Read more from USA Today.
HRC CELEBRATES MORE THAN 600 PRO-EQUALITY BUSINESSES IN LAS VEGAS:HRC Foundation recently celebrated the 2018 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, honoring over 600 businesses achieving a perfect score in the 2018 Corporate Equality Index.
LGBTQ REPUBLICANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER STATE GOP’S REFUSAL TO REMOVE ANTI-MARRIAGE EQUALITY CLAUSE FROM PLATFORM: More from Concord Monitor.
FORT WORTH, TX, SCHOOLS ATTACKED FOR OFFERING STUDENTS LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE SEX ED: More from Star-Telegram.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGES ROLE COLONIAL RULE HAS ON GLOBAL ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS: At a recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, Theresa May said: “As the United Kingdom’s prime minister, I deeply regret both the fact that such laws were introduced and the legacy of discrimination, violence and death that persists today.” More from Quartz.
FRENCH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE DIGITAL SECTOR MOUNIR MAHJOUBI COMES OUT AS GAY: More from Pink News.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
HRC interviews Youth Ambassador Sean Bender-Prouty; Khmer Times reviews Cambodia’s fight for LGBTQ equality; Forbes takes a look at the needs of nonbinary employees
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