#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 30, 2018
NEW VIDEO FROM HRC — WHAT’S AT STAKE AT THE SUPREME COURT? A LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE: Any day now, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case involving a baker who in 2012 refused to provide a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. That means the Supreme Court could decide whether doors can be closed to some or whether they must be #OpenToAll. The decision could open the door to businesses refusing services to people of color, religious minorities and people with disabilities. More from HRC.
NEW JERSEY PASSES BILL MODERNIZING PROCESS TO CHANGE GENDER MARKER ON BIRTH CERTIFICATE: The bill, which now heads to Governor Phil Murphy’s office, removes the current surgical requirement for updating one’s gender marker. When asked about the legislation, the governor’s office said that Murphy “is committed to fighting for the equal treatment of all New Jersey’s residents, regardless of sex, race, gender identity or country of origin.” This measure was previously vetoed by then-Governor Chris Christie. More from HRC and Observer.
- New Jersey lawmakers also passed a bill that requires the sex designation on a decedent’s death certificate to accurately reflect their gender identity. It also creates a process for determining the gender identity of a decedent for purposes of their death certificate if conflicting information exists.
CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL ALLOWING TRANS INMATES TO BE HOUSED ACCORDING TO THEIR GENDER IDENTITY: The law, which goes into effect July 1, also ensures that trans inmates will be searched by officers matching their gender, have their pronouns respected and have access to clothing and toiletries matching their gender. Metro Weekly’s John Riley (@JohnAndresRiley) reports that Connecticut is the first state with such a law. More from Metro Weekly.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY: Jessa Gillaspie planned the perfect proposal for her girlfriend, Becky McCabe. Turns out, Becky had the exact same plan! Watch this adorable couple propose to each other at the Memphis Zoo. More from WMC Action News 5.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. #LoveIsLove #LoveWins ❤️��❤️���� t.co/y8KBS9gIwc— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 29, 2018
ANTI-LGBTQ ADOPTION LAWS ARE HURTING LGBTQ YOUTH: Slate’s Evan Urquhart (@e_urq) shares the story of a transgender foster child who found a loving home with a LGBTQ family. Recently, Oklahoma and Kansas unconscionably targeted prospective LGBTQ foster and adoptive parents, approving laws that grant child welfare agencies license to discriminate with taxpayer funds against prospective LGBTQ foster or adoptive parents, single parents, or other qualified families. More from Slate.
HRC JOINS COALITION CALLING ON SEC. OF ED. BETSY DEVOS TO RESPECT THE LAW AND PROTECT UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN: The letter reads, “It is imperative that you immediately make clear publicly, to children, their families, and educators in every public school in multiple languages and through all of the Department’s communication channels that all children in this country have a right to a public education from kindergarten through 12th grade regardless of their immigration status… This right is protected by the Supreme Court and federal law and cannot be changed by the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General, any state, district, school, or any individual.” More from The Leadership Conference.
- Michigan student wears transgender Pride flag to school on day DeVos visited: “Public schools are a place for all children,” said the eighth grade genderqueer advocate Torin Hodgman. More from Michigan Live and The Hill.
SAME-SEX COUPLE STABBED IN DENVER: The couple say they were holding hands while walking home from a nightclub when they were stabbed by a man who yelled anti-LGBTQ slurs at them. Police have made an arrest, and are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. More from Advocate.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HOLDS LGBTQ HEALTH SYMPOSIUM TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS OF COMMUNITY: More from Richmond Times-Dispatch.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
HRC MOURNS TRANSGENDER WOMAN MURDERED BY MOB IN INDIA: Three other trans women were harmed in this brutal attack by 20 people in Hyderabad. Authorities say 12 people have been arrested in connection to the crime. More from CNN.
HRC SE REÚNE CON LÍDERES CORPORATIVOS PARA HABLAR SOBRE INCLUSIÓN LGBTQ EN COLOMBIA: Durante la Cumbre de Pride Connection Colombia, HRC se reunió con líderes corporativos para analizar las mejores prácticas y políticas para trabajadores LGBTQ. Más de Colombia.com.
WALES CHANGES SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO REQUIRE LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE SEX EDUCATION: It becomes the first part of the U.K. to have such a curriculum. More from Vice.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESE ENCOURAGES LGBTQ FAITHFUL TO SEEK LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH: Said the Diocese of Lichfield. “Nobody should be told that their sexual or gender identity in itself makes them an unsuitable candidate for leadership in the Church.” More from Christian Post.
HORRIFYING — ANTI-EQUALITY EXTREMISTS THREATEN TO STAB LGBTQ WORLD CUP FANS: The threats were sent to Pride in Football — an alliance of LGBTQ soccer fans — and have been reported to police. The group recently warned LGBTQ fans to take safety precautions at the World Cup in Russia, which starts June 14, because of the country’s anti-LGBTQ law. More from Daily Mail.
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS STRUGGLES OF IRISH LGBTQ YOUTH: More from Irish Examiner.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Washington Blade speaks to an openly gay Puerto Rico hairdresser rebuilding following Hurricane Maria; Texas Tribune recaps the story of a Mansfield teacher placed on administrative leave for showing a photo of her wife to her class; Mashable reports on a Swedish symphony who turned anti-LGBTQ hate mail into a beautiful cantata; Billboard covers P!nk’s recent post wearing an HRC “Make America Gay Again” hat.
— P!nk (@Pink) May 29, 2018
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