#AM_Equality: May 11, 2020

ICYMI — HRC & GLSEN HOSTED AN LGBTQ+ VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY ON FRIDAY: The ceremony honored the LGBTQ+ high school and college graduating class of 2020. As the country is encouraged to practice social distancing, many institutions are canceling or postponing their graduation ceremonies; this effort honored the nearly half a million LGBTQ+ students HRC estimates are graduating this spring, who may be impacted by these cancellations and who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Watch the ceremony here. 

• Speakers and performers in the virtual ceremony included: HRC President Alphonso David; GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard; Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA); Josie Totah; Shangela; Bob the Drag Queen; Eureka; Shea Diamond; Dillard University President Walter M Kimbrough; Marshall Fundamental Secondary School (Pasadena, Calif.) Principal Mark Anderson; University of Central Arkansas 2020 student and former HRC Youth Ambassador Lucas Segal; South Carolina State University 2020 student Charles C. Patton; Class of 2020 high school students Jessica Chiriboga; Elle Smith and HRC Youth Ambassador Nhandi. 
• For a full list of all of HRC’s efforts and resources during the COVID-19 global health crisis, please visit this link.

MUST WATCH MONDAY — CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY BY ENSURING FAMILIES EVERYWHERE HAVE SUPPORT TO GROW & THRIVE: HRC research shows too many LGBTQ families do not have access to paid leave. It’s time every home has access to paid family leave. Learn more from HRC. 

Let’s celebrate Mother’s Day by ensuring families everywhere have the support they need to grow and thrive. �� @HRC research shows too many LGBTQ families do not have access to paid leave. It’s time every home has access to paid family leave. #MothersDay t.co/4bxyjX3F5S pic.twitter.com/AZU8SoNBrX

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 10, 2020

LGBTQ HELPLINES SEE SURGE IN CALLS AS QUEER COMMUNITIES FACE ISOLATION AND LOCKDOWN IN UNWELCOMING HOMES: More from PRI. 

THE 2020 CENSUS STILL DOESN’T ASK ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, BUT LGBTQ PEOPLE MUST STILL COMPLETE IT: More from Vice.  

The #2020Census may lack questions regarding one’s sexual orientation or gender identity, but it’s more important than ever that LGBTQ people respond to protect many of the programs they depend on. t.co/B9fHAnCCFD

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 8, 2020

IN THE STATES

ACTION MUST BE TAKEN AFTER THE KILLING OF AHMAUD ARBERY: HRC has called for action to bring his killer to justice and prevent future bias-based crime. “State legislators must stop turning a blind eye to the persistent scourge of bias-motivated crimes and work swiftly to enact fully-inclusive hate crime protections,” said HRC Senior Legislative Counsel Xavier Persad. Read more from USA Today. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

GABRIELLE UNION (@itsgabrielleu) AND DWYANE WADE (@DwyaneWade) SHOW SUPPORT TO LGBTQ COMMUNITY AMID PANDEMIC: More from UPI. 

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

GERMANY PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT LGBTQ YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: Germany becomes the fifth county in the world to ban conversion therapy, joining Malta, Ecuador, Brazil and Taiwan. In the United States, currently 18 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico all have laws or regulations “protecting youth from this harmful practice.” More from The Hill. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
The Advocate remembers David Carter, a historian who wrote a definitive book on the Stonewall riots

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-may-11-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Comedian Jerry Stiller Has Died at 92

Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at the age of 92, according to a tweet from his son Ben Stiller, who said that the actor, known for his role as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld and Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens, along with many others over a five-decade career, had “passed away from natural causes.”

“He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad,” the younger Stiller added.

The New York Daily News reports: “The Brooklyn-born Jerry Stiller appeared in more than 100 TV and movie roles over the course of a career that spanned seven decades. Among his most recognizable film performances include 1974′s “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” 1987′s “Hot Pursuit,” and two iterations of “Hairspray,” first in 1988 and then again in 2007. His longtime comedy partner was his wife, Anne Meara, with whom he made dozens of appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” performed at nightclubs and starred in prominent television and radio ads. Meara died in 2015 at age 85.”

The post Comedian Jerry Stiller Has Died at 92 appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Comedian Jerry Stiller Has Died at 92

Are You Afraid of Getting Fat Like Me?

In the midst of a global health crisis, your health is about much more than the weight on a scale.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/5/11/are-you-afraid-getting-fat-me