#AM_Equality Tipsheet: June 26, 2019
HRC NAMES ALPHONSO DAVID AS NEW PRESIDENT – THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER AND LONGTIME LGBTQ ADVOCATE TAKES THE HELM LATER IN AUGUST: David, who made history as the first openly gay counsel to the governor of New York and the state’s first deputy secretary and counsel for civil rights, will be the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to serve as HRC president in the organization’s nearly 40-year history. “At a time when LGBTQ people, women, people of color, immigrants and refugees, and so many others are being confronted with daily attacks on our most basic rights, Alphonso is the fierce, compassionate, and strategic leader HRC and our broader movement for equality needs,” said HRC Board Foundation Board Chair Deb Taft. David has played an integral role in:
- Securing marriage equality in New York;
- Banning the abusive practice of “conversion therapy” on minors;
- Establishing non-discrimination protections for transgender New Yorkers;
- Expanding Medicaid coverage to cover transition-related care;
- Making it easier to amend gender markers on birth certificates; and
- Enacting policies and regulations to support people living with HIV, driving new diagnoses to an all-time low statewide.
Prior to his work for New York State, David served as a staff attorney at Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. More from Associated Press, Advocate, Washington Blade and HRC.
BREAKING: Alphonso David has been named the next president of the Human Rights Campaign! David will be the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to lead @HRC. #AlphonsoDavid pic.twitter.com/GgiFQBtUVP
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 25, 2019
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative (@SpeakerPelosi): “Congratulations to #AlphonsoDavid on being named the incoming @HRC president – we know your expertise & passion will be invaluable as we work to make H.R. 5, the #EqualityAct, the law of the land!”
Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Minority Leader (@SenSchumer): “Alphonso David has done incredible work on behalf of the people of New York State, and I know he will do the same as the new president of the Human Rights Campaign…And I know Alphonso is going to be the tenacious leader that we need to elect a pro-equality majority in the Senate and a president who will fight for the LGBTQ community and sign the Equality Act into law.”
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) (@davidcicilline): “Looking forward to continuing the fight for full equality with Mr. David and outstanding team at @HRC!”
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of NAACP (@DerrickNAACP): “Alphonso David has been at the forefront of civil rights battles in New York for more than a decade. He will be a strong leader for HRC. I and the NAACP look forward to working alongside Alphonso defending the fundamental rights that we ALL are entitled.”
Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (@Sifill_LDF): “Congratulations Alphonso David & @HRC. I look forward to working together.”
Vanita Gupta, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (@vanitaguptaCR): “In this crucial moment for our country and the fight for equality, Alphonso brings a tenacious determination and long track record of advancing civil rights for all…I look forward to working with him to continue defending our democracy and advancing equality in the years ahead.”
Leana Wen, M.D., President and CEO of Planned Parenthood (@Dr.Leana Wen): “Thrilled to hear the news about #AlphonsoDavid. LGBTQ people are our patients, our supporters, and our staff, and the fight for LGBTQ rights is critical in the fight for equality and justice for all.”
Sharon McGowan, Chief Strategy Officer and Legal Director at Lambda Legal (@SharonMcGowanDC): “Alphonso has devoted his career to expanding civil rights and fighting for justice. As a staff attorney for Lambda Legal, he worked each day to advance the rights of LGBTQ people and everyone living with HIV, and he has remained an incredible advocate for our communities ever since.”
Fatima Goss Graves, CEO and President of the National Women’s Law Center (@FGossGraves): “Big news! Congratulations to #AlphonsoDavid, the incoming president of the Human Rights Campaign. @nwlc looks forward to working alongside you in the fight for full LGBTQ equality.”
UnidosUS, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. (@WeAreUnidosUS): “We welcome new @HRC President Alphonso David! His long career in civil rights, public service, and advocacy has made him well positioned to lead, and we look forward to working with him as we face America’s most pressing challenges.”
Annise Parker, President and CEO of Victory Fund (@AnniseParker): “Congrats to Alphonso David on being named the next president of @HRC! My team at @VictoryFund/@VictoryInst look forward to advancing the movement for full #LGBTQ equality with you.”
James Esseks, Director of the LGBT & HIV project at the ACLU (@JamesEsseks): “Fabulous news that @HRC has chosen Alphonso David as its new leader. He’s super smart, deeply embedded in our community, and knows politics. Great choice for HRC and for the LGBTQ movement overall.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD (@sarahkateellis): “This is such exciting news and I can’t wait to see the work that @HRC does under Alphonso’s leadership and how we can work together for equality and acceptance.”
Brian Bond, President of PFLAG (@BrianKBond): “Congratulations Alphonso – looking forward to working with you @HRC @PFLAG – thank you @ChadHGriffin for all you have done to make this a better world!”
Melissa Mark-Viverito, Interim President of Latino Victory (@MMViverito): “Wishing you success in your new role #AlphonsoDavid. ¡Felicidades!”
KANSAS TO ALLOW TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS TO CHANGE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS: “This decision acknowledges that transgender people have the same rights as anyone else, including the right to easily obtain a birth certificate that reflects who they are,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly). More from The Wichita Eagle and The New York Times.
WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — HRC MARKS FOUR YEARS SINCE OBERGEFELL V. HODGES, JUNE 26 A HISTORIC DAY FOR EQUALITY: More from HRC.
1/ June 26 is a historic day for the LGBTQ community. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in four pivotal cases on this date spanning more than 12 years, starting in 2003 and ending in 2015. #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/Naw9Y66sco
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 26, 2019
KANSAS CITY POLICE INVESTIGATING DEATH OF TRANSGENDER WOMAN: Fox4kc.com reported that police said the victim was severely beaten, but neighbors said they also heard gunshots around 2:30 a.m. Police said investigators are working to identify the victim, who was found on the steps of a house in a residential neighborhood. Read more at Fox4kc.com.
STUDY SHOWS PARENTS CAN STRUGGLE TO ADJUST AFTER LEARNING THEIR CHILD IS LGB: The authors write that the findings “point to families most in need of intervention to improve parent responses and reduce adolescent risk.” More from NBC.
ARLINGTON TO EXPAND NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS: More from The Washington Post.
PRIDE MONTH ROUNDUP
STONEWALL 50 YEARS LATER — MOMENTS THAT CHANGED LGBTQ LIFE IN CINCINATTI: Cincinnati Enquirer’s Noelle Zielinksi shares seminal moments following the Stonewall riots that energized the LGBTQ rights movement throughout the city and across the nation. More from Cincinnati Enquirer.
NEW YORK CITY GAY’S MEN CHORUS COMMEMORATE STONEWALL 50 WITH CHORAL SUITE BY LGBTQ COMPOSERS: Their performance Thursday includes pieces by Tony-nominated singer/songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway (@annhcallaway) and Michael McElroy, director of the 2019 Tony-honored Broadway Inspirational Voices. More from Playbill.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
NEW ZEALAND ECONOMIC SURVEY TO INCLUDE TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUALS: More from Stuff.
JAPAN PREFECTURE TO START ISSUING PARTNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR LGBTQ COUPLES: More from Gay Star News and Kyodo News.
DOMINICA EXPECTS A CHALLENGE TO ITS ANTI-LGBTQ LAW: The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network announced that a gay man will file a lawsuit challenging the country’s sodomy law in Dominca’s High Court of Justice. More from The Washington Blade.
HRC EQUIDAD MX DESTACA LA INCLUSIÓN LGBTQ EN CENTROS LABORALES EN EL MES DEL ORGULLO: Francisco Robledo (@PacoRobledo), socio implementador de HRC en México, participó junto a más de 41 líderes corporativos LGBTQ para hablar sobre cómo vivir auténtica y abiertamente en el centro laboral en una nota especial de Expansión, la principal revista de negocios de México. En 2018, Equidad MX certificó a 69 empresas, duplicando así el número de negocios incluyentes en el país. Más de Expansión, Quién y Revista Moi.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
CNN highlights Aaron Philip (@aaronphilipxo) as the first Black, transgender and disabled model to feature on a major magazine cover; Miami’s Community Newspaper reports that former HRC general counsel and legal director Anthony Eudelio Varona (@ProfVarona) named dean of University of Miami School of Law; Advocate spotlights Lady Gaga’s (@ladygaga) powerful message for LGBTQ equality
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