HRC Endorses Pro-Equality Candidates Katie Porter and Gil Cisneros for U.S. Congress

Today HRC announced its endorsement of Katie Porter (D) to represent California’s 45th Congressional District and Gil Cisneros (D) to represent California’s 39th Congressional District. Local HRC members, supporters, and volunteers will join both pro-equality Democratic nominees at events today to discuss the importance of these critical races.

“Katie Porter and Gil Cisneros are proven leaders who will fight each and every day in Congress for the hard working families in their districts,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “As the Trump-Pence administration unleashes an onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ people, women, and marginalized communities, it’s crucial that Southern California’s fair-minded voters turn out this November to send Porter, Cisneros, and a pro-equality majority to Congress and pull the emergency brake on this administration’s reckless, discriminatory agenda. HRC is proud to endorse Katie Porter and Gil Cisneros for Congress.”

“In Congress, I won’t back down and will fight for equality for all,” said Katie Porter. “Our LGBTQ community deserves our respect, not the disdain that Donald Trump and my opponent Mimi Walters show. I am proud to stand with the Human Rights Campaign to be at the forefront of the fight to end discrimination.”

“When I served in the Navy, I had fellow servicemembers show tremendous courage and come out to me. No one should ever be made to feel ashamed or have to hide who they are or who they love, and it’s why I’ve always stood for equality for the LGBTQ community,” said Gil Cisnero. “I’m committed to fighting back against the Trump administration’s discriminatory agenda and push for dignity, respect, and inclusion for all.”

Katie Porter is an attorney, law professor, and strong advocate for the LGBTQ community. Her support for the Equality Act — federal legislation to finally add comprehensive LGBTQ non-discrimination protections to our nation’s civil rights laws — will be crucial to advancing the legislation through Congress. Porter also opposes the so-called First Amendment Defense Act — divisive federal legislation that aims to grant a license to discriminate against the LGBTQ community by misusing religion as a weapon. Porter’s Republican opponent in the race, Rep. Mimi Walters, earned an abysmal score of 32 on the HRC Congressional Scorecard, which measures Members of Congress on their support for LGBTQ equality. Local HRC members and supporters will join Porter for an event at her campaign office today to discuss the importance of the race. Media interested in covering the event should contact Erica Kwiatkowski at [email protected].

Gil Cisneros is a retired Naval officer who has taken a strong and vocal stand against Donald Trump’s attempt to ban qualified, patriotic transgender Americans from the military. A strong supporter of LGBTQ equality, Cisneros has pledged to co-sponsor the Equality Act and stand as a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ community against attacks by extremists in Congress and the Trump-Pence administration. Cisneros is seeking to replace Rep. Ed Royce (R) who announced in January that he will not seek re-election. Cisneros’ main opponent in the race, Young Kim (R), was called out by the LGBT Center of Orange County for running deeply harmful campaign advertisements targeting transgender students while she served in the California State Assembly. Local HRC members and supporters will join Cisneros for an event at his campaign office today to discuss the importance of the race. Media interested in covering the event should contact Nic Jordan at nic@cisnerosforcongress.com.

In California, HRC has identified over 9 million voters as likely “Equality Voters,” meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign to mobilize voters for the midterm elections called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-pro-equality-candidates-katie-porter-and-gil-cisneros-for-us?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Grindr Planning IPO on International Stock Exchanges

The world’s largest gay social hook-up platform with 3 million daily active users, Grindr is planning an initial public offering on international stock exchanges.

Bloomberg reports: “Grindr — a wholly owned unit of the Chinese internet gaming firm — will list overseas at an unspecified time, the company said. The timing of the share sale will be determined by regulatory approval as well as capital market conditions, it said in a stock exchange filing.”

The South China Morning Post adds: “The timing of the listing is dependent on conditions in the international capital market and progress of approval from domestic and overseas regulators, Kunlun said in a public filing on the Shenzhen stock exchange on Wednesday. While the executive board has approved the listing plan, it still needs approval by the shareholder board. Kunlun bought a 61.5 per cent stake in Grindr in 2016 at a valuation of US$155 million, and acquired the remaining shares for full ownership in January.”

The post Grindr Planning IPO on International Stock Exchanges appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Grindr Planning IPO on International Stock Exchanges

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: August 30, 2018

HRC ENDORSES CHRISTINE HALLQUIST FOR GOVERNOR OF VERMONT: “Christine Hallquist is poised to make history as the next governor of Vermont,” said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin). “From civil rights to health care to government accountability, on issue after issue, Hallquist is committed to making Vermont an even stronger, more vibrant and inclusive state. HRC is proud to endorse Hallquist’s historic bid for governor, and we are working to turn out tens of thousands of fair-minded voters to the polls for her this November. We look forward to working closely with Christine Hallquist as the next governor of the Green Mountain State.” More from HRC, NBC5, My Champlain Valley and Burlington Free Press.

In Vermont today where @HRC is working to help make history and elect @christineforvt the first openly transgender governor in the nation. Her trailblazing campaign is giving hope to countless LGBTQ people across Vermont & around the nation! #turnOUT t.co/C0Wyeo9YWD pic.twitter.com/r2qu09KBAL

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) August 29, 2018

TODAY — PENCE AND VUKMIR BRING DANGEROUS AND POLITICALLY TOXIC ANTI-LGBTQ ATTACKS TO WISCONSIN: “Mike Pence and Leah Vukmir have pushed anti-LGBTQ policies that are not only wrong, they are politically toxic in a state with more than 560,000 thousand Equality Voters,” said HRC State Director Wendy Strout. “Throughout her almost two decades in public office, Vukmir has repeatedly taken extreme positions far outside the mainstream — derailing efforts to pass commonsense protections for Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community and even LGBTQ youth in schools.” More from HRC.

ED SEC BETSY DEVOS PROPOSES POLICIES ON CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT UNDERMINE RIGHTS OF SURVIVORS: The proposal, obtained by The New York Times, would “narrow the definition of sexual harassment, holding schools accountable only for formal complaints filed through proper authorities and for conduct said to have occurred on their campuses. They would also establish a higher legal standard to determine whether schools improperly addressed complaints.” More from The New York Times.

• Not the Trump-Pence administration’s first attack: Last year, DeVos rescinded Obama-era Title IX guidance related to schools’ obligations to address sexual harassment, including sexual violence — a move that disproportionately impacts LGBTQ people — and released a Q&A on Campus Sexual Misconduct that erased mentions of LGBTQ students. More from HRC.

MORNING MUST READ — WE MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF LGBTQ YOUTH: Trevor Project CEO and Executive Director Amit Paley (@amitpaley) reflects on the tragic loss of Denver nine-year-old Jamel Myles, who died by suicide following extreme anti-gay bullying, and offers tips and resources for LGBTQ youth and those hoping to affirm, uplift and protect LGBTQ youth. A recent report from the University of Connecticut and the HRC Foundation details the ways bullying, violence and harassment contribute to negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ youth. More from USA Today.

• Jamel’s mother, Leia Pierce, told The Daily Beast’s Samantha Allen (@SLAwrites): “Will you do my son and I a favor? Stand together as equals and show love to everyone, with acceptance of everyone.” More from The Daily Beast.
• Johanna Eager, directora del Programa “Escuelas Acogedoras” de HRC señaló: “Por la forma en que los niños LGBT son estereotipados, la gente piensa que es inapropiado hablar de estos temas tan pronto, pero vemos que esta clase de comportamientos y percepciones que los niños aprenden empiezan a veces en la primaria. Por eso es tan importante una intervención temprana”. Más de El Periódico.

Our hearts break for Jamel Myles, and for his grieving mother & family. Too many LGBTQ kids still feel helplessness instead of hope. And we must all speak with one voice to say that they are loved, they are valued, and they are cared for. t.co/kz75W1Mkeu

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) August 29, 2018

COM·PLIC·IT — IVANKA TRUMP POSES WITH ANTI-LGBTQ EXTREMIST AT WHITE HOUSE DINNER: In case you missed it, she dined this week with evangelical leaders and anti-LGBTQ extremists at the White House — even smilingly posing for photos with anti-LGBTQ extremist pastor Jim Garlow of the Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego. Donald Trump has notably relied on the counsel of these extremists, who, through Mike Pence, have wielded substantial influence over White House policy, including the attempted ban on transgender troops in the military. More from Los Angeles Blade and Newsweek.

Here’s Ivanka at the White House evangelical dinner posing happily with Jim Garlow, who’s equated marriage equality with 9/11. Which clearly makes her smile. pic.twitter.com/xzliJcST7E

— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) August 28, 2018

MAN WHO ATTACKED TRANS LATINX WOMAN IN CHARLESTON USED SLURS AGAINST HER: HRC was horrified to learn of the brutal assault of Kendra Martinez, a Latinx transgender woman, while she was walking to her car. More from The Post and Courier.

ICYMI — AUTHOR MICHAEL D’ANTONIO TALKS ABOUT ANTI-LGBTQ EXTREMIST MIKE PENCE DURING HRC TWITTER TAKEOVER: More from HRC.

11/ @mike_pence’s shadow presidency to undermine the rights of countless Americans should serve as a wakeup call. , , .—Michael #HRCTwitterTakeover

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 28, 2018

BROWN UNIVERSITY REMOVES TRANSPHOBIC RESEARCH FROM WEBSITE THAT SUGGESTS TRANS IDENTITY IS “SPREADING AMONG CHILDREN”: More from Telegraph.

HRC MOURNS REV. ROBERT WOOD — UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST MINISTER WHO ENCOURAGED CLERGYMEMBERS TO ACCEPT LGBTQ FAITHFUL: More from The New York Times.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

VICE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FIRST RUSSIAN SAME-SEX COUPLE TO HAVE MARRIAGE RECOGNIZED BY GOVERNMENT: After marrying, Yevgeny Voitsekhovsky and Pavel Stotsko were forced to flee the country and are building a new life in the Netherlands. More from VICE.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

Variety interviews Amandla Stenberg (@amandlastenberg) about Black LGBTQ representation in Hollywood; People shares trans Youtuber Gigi Gorgeous’ (@TheGigiGorgeous) struggles with becoming a mother; PinkNews profiles gay Great British Bake Off contestant Dan Beasley-Harling; Twin City Talks reflects on being LGBTQ in Winston-Salem, N.C., public schools; “So You Think You Can Dance” highlights a beautiful dance from Darius Hickman (@_DARIUSHICKMAN_) and Taylor Sieve (@SieveTaylor)

Grab the tissues and watch @_DARIUSHICKMAN_‘s beautiful routine from last night’s So You Think You Can Dance (@DANCEonFOX) that illustrates the conflict between societal pressures to conform and claiming your LGBTQ identity. #SYTYCD t.co/7EUADaptMV

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 28, 2018

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org) and not authorized by any candidate or committee.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-august-30-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed