Marc Martin Exposes Queer History in ‘Public Toilets, Private Affairs’

www.advocate.com/photography/2019/12/18/marc-martin-exposes-queer-history-public-toilets-private-affairs

Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Tim Wildmon Says He’s Joined Trump’s Faith Advisory Council But White House Has ‘No Idea What He’s Talking About’

On Monday, American Family Association president Tim Wildmon and his anti-LGBTQ organization put out a press release announcing he was joining Trump’s faith advisory council, but the White House has “no idea what he’s talking about.”

Wrote AFA: “Headline after headline analyze the important role evangelical Christians played in President Donald Trump’s election in 2016 and continue to play in his presidency and his possible re-election in 2020. Now, American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) President Tim Wildmon has been named to President Trump’s faith advisory council, made up of key leaders who support and help guide the president’s faith-based initiatives, give insight on policy important to evangelicals and, most importantly, pray for the president.”

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere told the Washington Blade on Wednesday: “I have no idea what he’s talking about. There is no such thing as a White House Faith Council or Advisory Board. There is a Faith & Opportunity Initiative led by an advisor, Pastor Paula White, but it does not include a council or advisory board.”

The post Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Tim Wildmon Says He’s Joined Trump’s Faith Advisory Council But White House Has ‘No Idea What He’s Talking About’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Tim Wildmon Says He’s Joined Trump’s Faith Advisory Council But White House Has ‘No Idea What He’s Talking About’

HRC Mourns Nikki Kuhnhausen, 17-Year-Old Trans Girl Murdered in Washington

HRC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nikki Kuhnhausen, a transgender girl who was killed in Vancouver, Washington. Kuhnhausen, 17, was last seen in June and her body was only found this month. David Bogdanov has been arrested and charged with her murder. Kuhnhausen’s cause of death is unknown at this time.

Kuhnhausen’s death is at least the 24th known transgender or gender non-conforming person killed this year. She enjoyed sharing videos of her dancing and singing on her Facebook, and she often posted memes to entertain her friends. 

Her loved ones have taken to social media to mourn her passing. “[Y]ou my dear didn’t deserve this … rest with God now,” someone shared. Others have called her “gorgeous” and “a beautiful soul.”

In November, ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance, HRC Foundation released “A National Epidemic: Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in America in 2019,” a heartbreaking report honoring the trans people killed and detailing the contributing and motivating factors that lead to this tragic violence. 

These victims are not just numbers or headlines. They were real people worthy of dignity and respect, of life and love. 

There are currently very few explicit legal protections for transgender or gender-expansive people. While transgender people in Washington are explicitly protected across many aspects of daily life, including housing and employment, and are covered under the state’s hate crimes legislation — the state does not have a law that prohibits bias rage or so-called “panic” defenses for criminal acts. Furthermore, Vancouver does not have an LGBTQ liaison in the city government or police department, according to the 2019 Municipal Equality Index. 

Despite marginal gains in state and local policies that support and affirm transgender people, recent years have been marked by anti-LGBTQ attacks at all levels of government. We must demand better from our elected officials and reject harmful anti-transgender legislation appearing at the local, state and federal levels because it is clear that fatal violence disproportionately affects transgender women of color. The intersections of racism, transphobia, sexism, biphobia and homophobia conspire to deprive them of necessities to live and thrive.

HRC will continue to hold the Trump-Pence administration and all elected officials who fuel the flames of hate accountable at the ballot box. 

This epidemic of violence that disproportionately targets transgender people of color — particularly Black transgender women — must cease.

For more information about HRC’s transgender justice work, visit hrc.org/Transgender.

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