These Are the Trans People Killed in 2018
www.advocate.com/transgender/2018/5/18/these-are-trans-people-killed-2018
Daily Archives: May 23, 2018
VIDEO: HRC Projects Message to Betsy DeVos on U.S. Department of Education Building
VIDEO: HRC Projects Message to Betsy DeVos on U.S. Department of Education Building
Tonight, HRC and artist Robin Bell projected a message to Betsy DeVos to raise awareness about how the Trump-Pence Administration’s policies are harming already vulnerable LGBTQ youth. This morning, HRC released the results of a groundbreaking survey of 12,000 LGBTQ teens performed by HRC and researchers at the University of Connecticut on to the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington, D.C. The survey found that LGBTQ teenagers are not only experiencing heartbreaking levels of stress, anxiety and rejection, but also overwhelmingly feel unsafe in their own schools.
The projection, which included a survey finding that 95 percent of LGBTQ teens report trouble getting to sleep at night, asked U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, “how do you sleep at night?”
“Betsy DeVos has spent the last year and half relentlessly attacking the rights of transgender students, youth of color, survivors of sexual assault and students with disabilities,” said Ellen Kahn, HRC’s Director of Children, Youth and Families Programs. “While these survey results underscore the challenges facing LGBTQ youth, it also reflects their perseverance and strength in the face of bullies — whether in their classrooms or the federal government. Given the disastrous and dangerous actions of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, the question must be asked of everyone in this administration, ‘how do you sleep at night?’”
The results of the largest-of-its-kind survey highlight the challenges facing LGBTQ youth, particularly transgender young people and people of color, who have experienced ongoing efforts by the Trump-Pence administration to undermine their rights — from rescinding lifesaving guidance promoting equitable treatment of transgender students and refusing to investigate complaints filed by transgender students who face discrimination in school facilities, to racist immigration policies and giving shameful passes to hate groups and white supremacists.
HRC and researchers at the University of Connecticut found that:
- Seventy-seven percent of LGBTQ teenagers surveyed report feeling depressed or down over the past week;
- Ninety-five percent of LGBTQ youth report trouble sleeping at night;
- LGBTQ youth of color and transgender teenagers experience unique challenges and elevated stress — only 11 percent of youth of color surveyed believe their racial or ethnic group is regarded positively in the U.S., and over 50 percent of trans and gender expansive youth said they can never use school restrooms that align with their gender identity;
- More than 70 percent report feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness in the past week;
- Only 26 percent say they always feel safe in their school classrooms — and just five percent say all of their teachers and school staff are supportive of LGBTQ people;
- Sixty-seven percent report that they’ve heard family members make negative comments about LGBTQ people
This survey comes five years after HRC’s groundbreaking 2012 study of LGBTQ youth — one of the first initiatives launched by the organization under HRC President Chad Griffin’s leadership. They comprise the most reliable data collected about the experiences of LGBTQ young people in America.
The U.S. lacks reliable data about LGBTQ people, especially about the experiences of LGBTQ youth. In light of this, and in the face of consistent attacks on LGBTQ youth, HRC is committed to ensuring this data is in the hands of teachers, counselors, coaches, doctors and other youth-serving professionals across the country. These findings will inform a variety of HRC Foundation programs for youth and youth-serving professionals, including the Welcoming Schools program, the All Children-All Families program and the Time to THRIVE conference.
WATCH LIVE: HRC HRC projects a message at the Education Department to Betsy DeVos
WATCH LIVE: HRC HRC projects a message at the Education Department to Betsy DeVos
Arrested Development’s Entire Cast Lines Up to Support Jeffrey Tambor
Arrested Development’s Entire Cast Lines Up to Support Jeffrey Tambor
The Netflix show is returning for a fifth season, despite accusations of sexual misconduct against Tambor, or his history of yelling at colleagues.
www.advocate.com/television/2018/5/23/arrested-developments-entire-cast-lines-support-jeffrey-tambor
Alex Jones’s Name for Congressman Eric Swallwell: ‘Swallowwell’
Alex Jones’s Name for Congressman Eric Swallwell: ‘Swallowwell’
While denouncing Swallwell’s gun control proposal, Jones attacks him with a homophobic nickname.
www.advocate.com/media/2018/5/23/alex-joness-name-congressman-eric-swallwell-swallowwell
EXCLUSIVE: Bebe Zahara Benet taps into “Ra-ka-ta-ti-ti-ta” magic in new single “Jungle Kitty”
EXCLUSIVE: Bebe Zahara Benet taps into “Ra-ka-ta-ti-ti-ta” magic in new single “Jungle Kitty”
Kitty’s got claws.
HRC Celebrates Texas Primary Race Victory of Gina Ortiz Jones
HRC Celebrates Texas Primary Race Victory of Gina Ortiz Jones
HRC is proud to have been a part of the important victory of Gina Ortiz Jones, who last night won the primary race in Texas’ 23rd congressional district primary runoff. If elected in November, Ortiz Jones will be both the first openly LGBTQ person, first Iraq War veteran and first Filipina-American to represent Texas in Congress.
From phone banks to knocking on doors, HRC staff, steering committee members and volunteers have been working with our partners to get out the vote. In her victory speech, Ortiz Jones acknowledged the tremendous work of Equality Voters involved in the race, and looked ahead to the fight to victory in November.
Congratulations Gina Ortiz Jones (@ginaortizjones) on your victory in Texas’s 23rd district primary! If elected in November, she will be the first openly gay, first Iraq War vet and first Filipina-American to represent Texas in Congress. #EqualityVoters #ElectionNight #TX23 pic.twitter.com/7smRhP7t1e
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 23, 2018
By strengthening support for champions like Ortiz Jones and other HRC-endorsed candidates including Mary González, Julie Johnson and Mark Phariss, Texans can continue to advocate for LGBTQ equality from the local to federal levels.
In 2017, HRC had more than a dozen staff on the ground in Austin, and, working with scores of volunteer organizers, led field organizing efforts around the state to defeat anti-LGBTQ bills in the Texas legislature.
HRC has worked alongside Equality Texas, ACLU of Texas, Texas Freedom Network, the Transgender Education Network of Texas and others to defeat dangerous or harmful bills that seek to undermine the rights and dignity of LGBTQ Texans. HRC continues to have full-time staff in the Lone Star State.
For more information about HRC’s work in Texas, contact Sissi Yado, HRC Texas Regional Organizer, at [email protected].
Introducing Places – Now on Tinder
Introducing Places – Now on Tinder
Find common ground.
You love a good dive bar. You have a passion for spin class. You know where to find the best ramen in town. That says a lot about you. Now you can swipe on others who are into that, too.
Introducing Places—Tinder’s latest feature designed to help you discover new people who hang where you hang. Now, you not only have something in common, you also have a genuine icebreaker and your first-date spot. Boom.
Here’s How It Works:
Tap the pin next to the familiar flame at the top of your Discovery screen to access Places. You can opt in by tapping “Turn Places On.” Start going places and you can then swipe on potential matches who have also visited the same cool spots.
Built with Privacy in Mind:
Places was designed to help you connect with potential matches who love the same spots you do—and you’re in control:
- Easily opt in or out: You can turn Places on and off at any time. If you don’t want anyone to know that you were at the library, we’ll keep your secret. Just know that if you ever need a study buddy, you can count on Places to be there.
- Not in real time: You won’t be included in a new place until after you’ve left. Even if you cross paths with someone at the coffee shop, Tinder won’t show you there until later unless it’s somewhere you’ve already included in your Places. So, keep it movin’!
- Just social places: There are probably some places you’d rather keep to yourself, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We will never show you at the bank, your home, or doctor’s office because Places is strictly social and tbh, sharing a bank isn’t exactly mind-blowing information.
- You’re in charge: You can delete a place if you want to keep it hidden, or even choose to never be shown at a place, ever. You and your potential matches both have to actually have visited that place to be included. Rest assured that the people we’ll show you after you’ve left the bar have also dealt with the snarky staff, too. With Places, you’ll have a mutual connection that makes it easier to fill up an empty chat bubble.
- Potential matches only: We’ll only show you potential matches, so don’t bother scrolling through your Feed for these folks because they’ll all be fresh faces. And once you’ve matched with (or swiped left on) someone via Places, they’ll no longer appear in Places. So, basically, new places mean new faces.
Now that you’ve got the lowdown, think of all the places you can go from here!
Places is powered by Foursquare and Mapbox and is being tested in three cities: Sydney and Brisbane, Australia and Santiago, Chile.
We’re excited for you to try it out! As with all tests, the feature may change as we gather feedback and work to make the Tinder experience even better.
Swipe on!
HRC Mourns Gigi Pierce, Transgender Woman Fatally Shot in Oregon
HRC Mourns Gigi Pierce, Transgender Woman Fatally Shot in Oregon
HRC is saddened to learn of the death of Gigi Pierce, 28, a transgender woman fatally shot Monday evening in Portland, Oregon.
Police investigators say they believe that Pierce was shot during an altercation with Sophia Adler, who has been charged with Pierce’s murder, according to KGW-TV.
Advocates and allies took to social media to raise awareness of her murder, calling the news of the Idaho native’s death “shocking.” Oscar Guerra-Vera, executive director of the Q Center in Portland, said that he is planning a community response to Pierce’s death for Portland’s LGBTQ community, according to the Portland Mercury.
Pierce is the eleventh known homicide of a transgender person this year. Another transgender woman, Nicole Hall, was recently found dead in Dallas, Texas, but her cause of death is still unknown. Unfortunately, police and most media reports misgender her.
Since 2013, HRC has tracked 117 incidents of fatal violence against transgender and non-binary people. Of these, 66 have been victims of gun violence. In 2017, 16 out of the 28 deaths were the result of gun violence.
HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report documenting the senseless acts of violence that made 2017 the deadliest year on record for transgender people, particularly for trans women of color.
To learn more about HRC’s transgender justice work, visit hrc.org/Transgender.
