#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 4, 2019
EQUALITY WINS! HRC WELCOMES THE 116TH CONGRESS AT CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION: Last night, HRC welcomed pro-equality Congressional champions and celebrated the 116th Congress. Leading up to the midterms, HRC endorsed more than 480 pro-equality candidates nationwide, and deployed 150 staff to organize and mobilize voters in more than 70 congressional, targeted senate and key statewide races across 23 states. HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates. More from Washington Blade.
���� On Election Day, we made history.
�� Tonight, we celebrate the pro-equality #116thCongress! #EqualityWins
��️�� Tomorrow, we continue our work to move #EqualityForward. pic.twitter.com/ZNqiBF4AXp
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 4, 2019
- HRC-endorsed Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) has placed a trans flag outside of her office. Said HRC’s Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer): “From the military to schools to hospitals, the Trump-Pence White House is working overtime in an attempt to erase trans people from the public square. Congresswoman Wexton, the aunt of a transgender child, will spend every day fighting it. The trans flag proudly on display in the Halls of Congress is a sign to our community that we will not be erased.” More from The Hill and Washingtonian.
- In his first legislative action, Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA) announced his co-sponsorship of the Equality Act.
- Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), now the most senior LGBTQ House member, called the Equality Act “the single most important piece of legislation [the LGBTQ community] needs.” More from South Florida Gay News.
- Advocate profiles the 10 openly LGBTQ members of congress.
This past November, LGBTQ people and pro-equality voters delivered the victory we needed to move equality forward. Now, we have to seize the moment and the momentum and make full federal LGBTQ equality a reality. Join us!
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) January 3, 2019
FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — NANCY PELOSI MAKES HISTORY AGAIN, ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE A SECOND TIME: In her first speech as Speaker of the House for the 116th Congress, Pelosi said, “We will make America fairer by passing the Equality Act to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.” Thank you, Madam Speaker, for reaffirming the 116th Congress’ commitment to pass the Equality Act — legislation that would provide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. More from Los Angeles Blade.
Congratulations Speaker Nancy Pelosi on making history once again. Thank you for being a champion for millions of LGBTQ people across this country and for your tireless commitment to ensuring ALL Americans are treated equally under the law. #SpeakerPelosi t.co/AEP7wDz9u6
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 3, 2019
SMITHSONIAN FEATURES “THE FACES BEHIND TRANSGENDER TROOPS’ STRUGGLE FOR ACCEPTANCE”: The piece, by photographer Jeff Sheng and writer Jennie Rothenberg, explores the lives of trans troops since Donald Trump announced a spurious and hateful ban on transgender troops in 2017. Since then, HRC has fought beside transgender service members and partner organizations — including in Karnoski v. Trump, the federal lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN — to oppose the discriminatory Trump-Pence policy. More from Smithsonian Magazine.
NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS PASTOR, SUSPECTED KILLER OF TRANS WOMAN WAITED AN HOUR TO CALL 911: Keanna Mattel, who also went by Kelly Stough, was shot to death in Detroit in December. More from Fox Detroit.
NEW STUDY FINDS THAT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) DOES NOT INCREASE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: The study also found that HRT is less likely to cause blood clots than birth control pills. More from Clinical Chemistry.
MARYLAND TEACHER SUES FOR ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY: Jennifer Eller, who is represented by Lambda Legal, alleges she faced five years of discrimination, harassment and retaliation by Prince George’s County Public Schools administrators. More from Washington Blade.
RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL NAMES KIMBERLY MUTCHERSON AS CO-DEAN: Mutcherson is the first woman, first Black person and first LGBTQ person to serve as a law dean at New Jersey’s flagship university. More from Tap into Camden.
RICKY MARTIN AND HUSBAND JWAN YOSEF ANNOUNCE BIRTH OF CHILD:
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
TWO LEGAL CHALLENGES TO HONG KONG’S BAN ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY PROCEED: More from South China Morning Post.
CANADA ISSUES NEW DOLLAR COIN TO MARK 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DECRIMINALIZATION OF SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS: More from LGBTQ Nation.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Pink News reports on Nigerian actor Alexx Ekubo’s (@AlexxEkubo) pro-equality message; NBC offers tips on affirming trans and non-binary youth; Pink News gets a jump on its 2019 playlist with LGBTQ artists; BuzzFeed covers the World Gay Rodeo Finals; Dallas Morning News profiles openly gay state lawmaker Julie Johnson and her wife, Susan Moster; Des Moines Register shares a mother’s journey to accepting her trans son; Gay Star News interviews gay, plus-size model Ady Del Valle (@adydelv87)
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-january-4-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
