John James Aligns with Politically Toxic Anti-LGBTQ Trump-Pence Agenda in Michigan

HRC is exposing the record of Vice President Mike Pence, who is scheduled to campaign for Michigan U.S. Senate candidate John James in West Bloomfield. James is eagerly accepting support from anti-LGBTQ extremist Mike Pence, and has previously refused to support laws protecting LGBTQ Michiganders from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

“John James has proven he has no place in the U.S. Senate,” said HRC State Director Amritha Venkataraman. “In a state with 1.1. Million Equality Voters, where a strong majority of citizens support marriage equality and fundamental civil rights, James has nonetheless perplexingly chosen to align with Mike Pence — an extremist who has made virulent anti-LGBTQ activism the cornerstone of his political career. As they campaign to push their discriminatory, anti-equality agenda, HRC is on the ground mobilizing our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters in Michigan to reject the politics of hate and ensure that pro-equality champion Debbie Stabenow remains in office.”

HRC’s comprehensive “The Real Mike Pence” campaign includes a report, microsite and series of videos that shine a spotlight on Pence’s decades-long crusade against LGBTQ equality, and inside-the-White House efforts leading the Trump-Pence administration’s attacks on LGBTQ people, including those who bravely serve our nation in the military. It lays out his long record of support for the abusive practice of so-called “conversion therapy;” his relentless pursuit of a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people; his attempts to block hate crime legislation and funding for HIV and AIDS prevention; and his efforts to undermine access to health and reproductive care essential to LGBTQ people. He also keeps busy with his extremist agenda by working to undermine science, health, transparency, education, justice and public safety.

Senator Debbie Stabebow is a longtime supporter of LGBTQ equality. She supported marriage equality; the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require school districts to adopt codes of conduct prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and religion. Stabenow is also a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s civil rights laws.

In Michigan, HRC has identified more than 1.1 million Michiganders as likely “Equality Voters” — voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Michigan in the 2018 cycle, and has put staff and resources on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.
 

www.hrc.org

Can Your Summer Fling Be The Real Thing? Here’s How You’ll Know!

Although summer is coming to end, it doesn’t mean your summer fling has to. Turns out, your casual romance may actually turn into a lasting relationship, according to a recent survey of over 400 former POF users from the U.S. who married partners they met on the app during summer. Here’s what you need to […]

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Can Your Summer Fling Be The Real Thing? Here’s How You’ll Know!

Marcus Rose: Pride

I am the kind of guy that tends to go to about 3 pride events a year. This year due to work and other events I’ve managed to miss every pride thus far! BUT to my great joy this weekend pride is in town and I will NOT be missing out on it!I think part of the reason I am so into pride is because I was outed and ostracized back in 2008 (which was 8th grade/ my early years) I went through a few months of pure hell. I faced ridicule and judgement from my peers, and family! When I wasn’t being harassed or treated like leper, I was isolated and left with few comforts such as writing, reading, and drawing. Over time others began coming out after watching me silent treatment my way through my hell months, from there life started getting better.10 years later sometimes I still hold onto those insecurities and fears (I’m actually still a bit shy), but mainly I work to fight it. And I support others who are going through or have been through similar struggles. At the end of the day we are all human we ALL, have flaws, there is no such thing as PERFECT. Life will throw you good times AND bad that’s just the way things work. Ultimately what matters is how you deal with things, how true you are to yourself, and supporting those in need. I enjoy pride because I get to be around others like myself- granted there are those in the community that can be as judgmental as those from my “hell period”, but again, we’re only HUMAN. To me pride is about being yourself, and knowing who you fuck does not define who you are, or what you are capable of. Fuck the labels, and enjoy the freedom of being yourself. When it comes to Pride, and life in general my advice, don’t let ANYONE steal your smile or make you feel like you are less than. Fuck. That. Noise. Be proud of who you are and how far you’ve come. If you aren’t, keep working until you are (I know I’m still working! lol) You Only Live Once people. #YOLO

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With the Help of Welcoming Schools, A Missouri School District Moves Forward

Post submitted by Kimmie Fink, Welcoming Schools Consultant

When Kearney High School senior Joey Slivinski wrote his yearbook quote — “Of course I dress well — I didn’t spend all that time in the closet for nothing” — he never imagined that it would be rejected for inclusion in the publication.

But that’s exactly what happened to Slivinski and another gay student, Thomas Swartz, who expressed a similar sentiment in his quote.

Kearney High School officials released a statement at the time saying that the quotes by Slivinski and Swartz were considered potentially “offensive” and that’s why they were removed from the yearbook. But under intense criticism for their actions — including from the Kansas City Star editorial board, which accused the school officials of trying to erase the young men — they eventually apologized.

The implication of school officials’ actions, however, was clear: there was something controversial, or “offensive”, about living openly as an LGBTQ person.

To his abiding credit, Bill Nicely, Kearney school district superintendent, recognized that an apology wasn’t enough to correct the misstep and immediately reached out to the HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools for guidance on next steps in making his district classrooms more welcoming and inclusive for LGBTQ young people.

What has happened since in Kearney has been encouraging and inspiring. This month, all elementary school staff in the Kearney School District were trained in the Welcoming Schools approach, and the HRC team will return to Kearney during the coming school year to complete follow-up training with staff at each of its four elementary schools, and hopefully also with middle and high school staff in the school district.

Nicely reflected on the experience, saying that the lessons helped him and the other educators “open the door to the very best version of all of us.”

“At (our) new staff convocation, I discussed the importance of creating schools where every child can grow into the very best version of themselves,” said Nicely.

“It was only a few days later, while participating with our staff in the Welcoming Schools professional development, that it occured to me that this mantra had a much broader meaning,” he continued. “The only way for each student to grow into their ‘very best version’ is to operate schools where no student is ever marginalized.”

Nicely said that the Welcoming Schools material gave Kearney staff the tools to address the myriad factors that lead to marginalization — be it a child’s LGBTQ status, race or socioeconomic status.

For more information about creating LGBTQ-inclusive schools, or to bring Welcoming Schools to your school or district, contact us.

HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier professional development program providing training and resources to elementary school educators to:

• Welcome Diverse Families;
• Create LGBTQ and Gender Inclusive Schools;
• Prevent Bias-Based Bullying;
• Support Transgender and Non-Binary Students.

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