Texas pastors file federal lawsuit seeking license to discriminate against LGBTQ people

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Transgender Student Barred from Taking Shelter in Male and Female Locker Rooms During Active Shooter Drill



A student at a middle school lockdown in Stafford, Virginia, was barred from taking shelter in the male or female locker rooms with other students during an active shooter drill while the student watched teachers debate where she should go.

Equality Stafford’s Lesley Woods reported the incident on Facebook: “This past week, an incident occurred during a middle school lock down drill in Stafford County. When the drill began, a particular class of children took shelter in the bathroom/locker room nearest them as they were in PE. One student was prevented from entering either the boys or girls locker room while the teachers discussed where she should go. The student was forced to watch the adults charged with her care, debate the safest place (for the other students) to have her shelter. During this debate, she was instructed to sit in the gym with a teacher until the drill was complete, away from her peers and identified as different. After some additional debate, she was made to sit in the locker room hall way, by the door away from her peers. This happened because the child, in addition to being a model student, also happens to be transgender.”

Added Woods: “Let me be clear. During an event that prepares children to survive an attack by actual assailants, she was treated as if she was so much of a danger to peers that she was left exposed and vulnerable. These events occur across our country right now but this one happened here.”

Said Woods to Fox5DC: “This is nothing new for the family. They are a solid family and they are very much in support of their child, and they are really solid advocates for the community. So I would say all in all, the rest of us are shocked and appalled and motivated to come and speak and learn, but this family – this is their life everyday.”

Stafford County Public Schools released a statement: “Stafford County Public Schools does not comment on individual student incidents to avoid divulging confidential information. However, the new superintendent has requested a review of all protocols and procedures including security to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect. We take such matters very seriously and they will be addressed. The welfare of all students is of the utmost importance for SCPS.”

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Transgender Student Barred from Taking Shelter in Male and Female Locker Rooms During Active Shooter Drill

HRC’s Equality Votes PAC Launches Seven-Figure “Votes Conquer Hate” Ad Campaign Across 7 States

Today, the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Votes PAC announced a new seven-figure ad blitz focusing on voter engagement and turning out the vote in key states and congressional districts across the country. The digital, direct mail, text and phone voter contact program  focuses on educating voters about early voting options, mobilizing them to turn out on November 6th, and holding Trump-enabling candidates accountable for their extreme positions onissues such as health care, immigration, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights and more. The initial digital and direct mail buy is more than $2 million across 3 Senate and 5 House races crucial to securing a pro-equality majority in Congress. Examples can be viewed below. 

The first wave of ads include digital ads and mail pieces targeting anti-equality candidates in key swing states, including Dean Heller in Nevada, Martha McSally in Arizona and Leah Vukmir in Wisconsin. Additionally, HRC’s Equality Votes PAC has digital ads running in other key congressional districts such as TX 23, CA 48, CA 49, MN 02, and KS 03. HRC’s Equality Votes PAC will continue to track other key races and make additional commitments through Election Day. 

The ads will appear on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and as “pre-roll” ads on YouTube and other video hosting sites. 

“With so much at stake — health care, immigration, reproductive rights, and the hard-won civil rights of all Americans — this is the most important election of our lives,” said Olivia Alair Dalton, senior vice president for communications and marketing at the Human Rights Campaign. “The Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Votes PAC is investing in key races across the country, educating and empowering Equality Voters to make their voices heard and ensure that Votes Conquer Hate. In Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada and several other key races, Equality Voters have the ability to swing the election, defeating anti-equality candidates and ensuring pro-equality officials can help pull the emergency brake on the harmful, discriminatory Trump-Pence agenda.” 

The ads target target millions of “Equality Voters” in key districts and states. Partnering with the data and analytics firm Catalist to create an “Equality Voter Model,” the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) built on decades of voter and polling data to assess the degree to which a person is likely to support pro-LGBTQ policies — from marriage equality and adoption by LGBTQ parents, to laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. During the 2016 election, HRC refined the model, allowing for direct outreach to millions of equality voters in crucial battleground states, moving them to action in support of pro-equality issues and legislation, as well as our endorsed candidates. The power of Equality Voters was also made crystal clear in 2017 when a wave of pro-equality and openly LGBTQ candidates were elected in states across the country. In Alabama, HRC-endorsed candidate Doug Jones claimed a historic victory over his opponent — the notoriously anti-LGBTQ politician Roy Moore. In Virginia, voters sent a resounding message rejecting the politics of hate and fear by electing pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot.

Arizona

Wisconsin

Nevada

California

Texas

Minnesota

Supporters in any state can text “VOTER” to 30644 to verify their voter registration, find their polling place, and receive election reminders. For more information on how to get involved, sign up to volunteer, or join an advocacy training, visit HRC’s Equality Voter Action Center.

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