HRC Responds to MI AG’s Opinion That LGBTQ People Are Not Protected Under State’s Civil Rights Law

HRC responded to Michigan Attorney General — and candidate for Governor — Bill Schuette’s formal opinion asserting that under the state’s Elliott Larson Civil Rights Act LGBTQ residents are not protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The opinion conflicts with a Michigan Civil Rights Commission vote in May affirming the act covers discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Bill Schuette is unfit to serve as Attorney General, and this latest outrageous act proves once again that he cannot represent all Michiganders equally and fairly,” said HRC Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman. “AG Schuette has chosen to ignore legal precedent and leave thousands of LGBTQ Michganders at risk of discrimination. Numerous federal courts have determined that discrimination against an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is fundamentally a form of sex discrimination — which is prohibited both under federal law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Michigan’s Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act. HRC is on the ground working hard to elect pro-equality champions who support commonsense protections for  LGBTQ Michganders and ensure that Schuette never makes it to the governor’s mansion.”

Earlier this year, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission became the first commission of its kind in the nation to determine that laws prohibiting sex discrimination also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Other legal bodies — including the the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in  Macy v. Holder (2012) and Baldwin v. Foxx (2015) — have similarly found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Numerous federal courts have also determined that sexual orientation and gender identity are forms of sex discrimination. The Sixth Circuit, which covers Michigan, recently determined for the fourth time that federal laws prohibiting sex discrimination also prohibit gender identity discrimination in EEOC v. Harris Funeral Homes. Neighboring circuits have determined that sex also includes sexual orientation.

In Michigan, HRC has identified more than 1.1 million “Equality Voters”— voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Michigan in the 2018 cycle, and has already put staff and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-responds-to-mi-ags-opinion-that-lgbtq-people-are-not-protected-under-st?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Five Ways HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council Shows Up for LGBTQ Youth

This Parents’ Day, we celebrate our Parents for Transgender Equality Council and the diverse ways that they consistently support and protect LGBTQ young people.

This coalition of inspiring parents of transgender youth from across the country is working for equality and fairness for transgender people, with the intention of connecting, mobilizing and amplifying many of the most powerful voices of love, inclusion and support for transgender equality.

Here are five of our favorite ways that these parents have led the way in fighting for the rights of LGBTQ young people:

1. Giving Us All the Feels with Viral Videos         

In 2016, HRC produced a video series featuring Moms and Dads for Transgender Equality. The videos put a face and name to the issues facing transgender children, creating a dialogue around how to better support and advocate for transgender youth and their families. The Moms for Transgender Equality series won a Shorty Social Good Award. Months after they were posted, the videos continue to receive comments, views, shares and likes.

2. Lobbying for Equality on Capitol Hill

 HRC’s Parents for Trans Equality have been on the front lines of the resistance, from the council’s first meeting in November 2016 and participation in HRC lobby days, to Sarah Watson’s impassioned speech at the rally to stop the nomination of anti-equality Jeff Mateer.

3. Sharing Stories with HRC Members and Supporters Across the Country

Members of the council have lent their voices to support the launch of groundbreaking HRC publications, including the 2018 Healthcare Equality Index and the 2018 Youth LGBTQ Report, by sharing their own powerful experiences.

Today, @HRC Foundation released the findings from our new national 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report at our D.C. headquarters. We partnered with @UConn to measure the health and well-being of more than 12,000 LGBTQ teens across the country. #LGBTQYouthReport t.co/6KAekNEDDm pic.twitter.com/N2E89OV8Gz

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 15, 2018

Amazing to spend the day with with young #LGBTQ Arizonans at @1n10 today. Together, we talked about @HRC’s Arizona Youth Survey and the challenges that LGBTQ youth face. Hearing their stories gives me hope. Our policymakers must turn that hope into action. pic.twitter.com/Ma3IZvRzC9

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) June 14, 2018

4. Drafting a Declaration of Transgender Rights

In response to the Trump-Pence administration’s continuous attacks on LGBTQ people, in November 2017 HRC’s Parents for Trans Equality Council drafted and collected signatures for a declaration of rights seeking protections for their children and all transgender people from discrimination, violence and harassment. More than 1,400 parents of trans and gender-expansive children from all 50 states and the District of Columbia signed the declaration — an unprecedented show of support for transgender and gender expansive youth.

Parents of transgender children sign declaration of rights in response to politi… t.co/pT4dHLvTt4 | �� by t.co/XW1NKmHUNz pic.twitter.com/PINRMHQpXy

— Metro Weekly (@metroweekly) November 14, 2017

5. Delivering a Letter to Betsy DeVos urging the Department of Education to #ProtectTransKids

Members of the council drafted and collected more than 700 signatures from parents of trans and gender-expansive children on a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemning her failure to protect transgender students. Families of trans kids traveled to the U.S. Department of Education to deliver the message and urge DeVos to recognize the “basic human and civil rights of transgender students.”

WATCH: Families of transgender kids traveled to the US Dept. of Education (@usedgov) to deliver a message to @BetsyDeVos. The letter, signed by more than 700 parents of trans youth, urges Sec. DeVos to recognize the “basic human and civil rights of transgender students.” pic.twitter.com/IowHTMJWez

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 8, 2018 

www.hrc.org/blog/five-ways-hrcs-parents-for-transgender-equality-council-shows-up-for-lgbtq?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The GLAAD Wrap: ‘Boy Erased’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ trailers, new Batwoman series in the works, and more!

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-boy-erased-and-bohemian-rhapsody-trailers-new-batwoman-series-works-and-more