#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 14, 2019
ONE YEAR AFTER PARKLAND: TIME FOR CONGRESS TO PASS BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS ACT: The crisis of gun violence and hate crimes disproportionately impacts LGBTQ people. After a gunman in 2016 killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, HRC announced support for common-sense gun violence prevention policies to keep LGBTQ people safe. Yesterday, HRC called for Congress to pass the critically important H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. Read more from the Advocate.
1/Today marks one year since a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and took the lives of 17 students and staff.
Survivors have joined forces with young people across the nation to take action and demand change. t.co/gxHywrbLJG
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 14, 2019
HRC RESPONDS TO INTRODUCTION OF BIPARTISAN OHIO FAIRNESS ACT IN STATE SENATE: The act would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas of employment, housing and public accommodations in Ohio. “No one’s rights should depend on their zip code, but thousands of LGBTQ Ohioans currently live under a patchwork of protections that leaves them and their families at risk of real discrimination,” said HRC Ohio State Director Shawn Copeland. Read more from HRC.
THROWBACK THURSDAY — TODAY MARKS FIVE YEARS SINCE ELLEN PAGE CAME OUT AT HRC’S TIME TO THRIVE CONFERENCE. Her courage to live openly and authentically continues to inspire us all.
ACTOR RYAN JAMAAL SWAIN: “IT TAKES COURAGE TO EMBARK ON A JOURNEY TO IDENTIFY WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU SHOULD BECOME”: In a powerful op-ed for The Root, Swain (@RyanJamaal) talks about his experience of being Black and queer at an HBCU, and the work that he has done with HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program, including at its Leadership Summit in Atlanta. “It takes courage to step into your power, to let your authentic self be seen, to demand respect no matter where you are, or when you’re there. It takes courage to listen and be guided by those who have accomplished their dreams,” he writes. Read the full piece here.
SPOTTED AT HRC — ONE DAY AT A TIME’S ISABELLA GOMEZ, JUSTINA MACHADO, AND GLORIA CALDERÓN KELLETT:
.@HRC is honored to welcome @OneDayAtATime’s @Isabella_Gomez, @JustinaMachado and Gloria Calderon Kellett (@everythingloria) at HQ today! #ODAAT continues to bring #Latinx #LGBTQ visibility on the screen. Catch season 3 today. t.co/Z565u8Ad9P #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/2otGFk7sYr
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 13, 2019
STATEHOUSE ROUNDUP:
- HRC keeps up the pressure in South Dakota after its House of Representatives passed anti-transgender bill HB 1108, which would prevent teachers from being able to support students who identify as transgender, and manufactures a problem that does not exist at the expense of further stigmatizing students who are already at elevated risk. Read more from NBC News and Mother Jones.
- During Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address, she called for equal rights protections and statewide protections for the LGBTQ community. “Nobody should ever be fired because of who they are or who they love,” Gov. Whitmer said. More from MLive.
- Rebekah Bruesehoff, a trans girl living in New Jersey, penned a powerful op-ed about what the Babs Siperstein Law, which adds a gender-neutral option to identification and makes changing gender markers on IDs easier, means to her. Read her full piece from the Philly Inquirer.
JUSTIN RUSH, FROM THE TRUE COLORS FUND, TESTIFIED YESTERDAY ON HOW THE HOMELESS CRISIS AFFECTS LGBTQ YOUTH:
“LGBTQ youth of color are vulnerable to discrimination in education, employment, housing, and more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.”@TrueColorsFund‘s Justin Rush testified before Congress on the homeless crisis impacting LGBTQ youth in America. t.co/6SAnp9t8DH
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 13, 2019
FOUR MEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ASSAULT IN BRUTAL ATTACK ON SAME-SEX COUPLE IN TEXAS LAST MONTH: The suspects are being held on a collective $300,000 in bonds, reports Brooke Sopelsa (@brookesopelsa) at NBC Out.
HRC WAS HONORED TO JOIN LULAC AT ITS 22ND ANNUAL NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE AWARDS GALA:
.@HRC was honored to join @JesseGarcia and José Gaona tonight at the 22nd annual @LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala to celebrate the organization’s 90-year anniversary of working to advance equality for Latinx people. pic.twitter.com/lw0Mqw8EeK
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 14, 2019
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
WESTERN AUSTRALIA CHANGES LAW SO TRANS PEOPLE CAN STAY MARRIED WHEN UPDATING BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO MATCH GENDER IDENTITY: The law previously required people to be unmarried when making changes to birth certificates. Read more from Q News.
HORRIBLE — LGBTQ AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ACTIVIST ÓSCAR CAZORLA FOUND DEAD IN OAXACA, MEXICO: More from Democracy Now.
THIRTEEN JAPANESE SAME-SEX COUPLES FILE MARRIAGE EQUALITY LAWSUIT ON VALENTINE’S DAY: Read more from the Associated Press.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
BuzzFeed reports that “Queer Eye” will return to Netflix next month;
Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
This is amazing.
And it’s long overdue!We ❤️������������ @QueerEye! t.co/UjcJjdonM9
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 13, 2019
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