#AM_Equality: May 1, 2020

HRC RESPONDS TO RASH OF ANTI-LGBTQ VIOLENCE IN PUERTO RICO: There have been at least 10 deaths of LGBTQ individuals in the past 15 months on the island, the highest number of killings that Puerto Rico has seen in a decade. Five deaths have transpired over the past two months alone, and these most recent deaths represent the majority of the at least nine violent deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people that have happened in the U.S. this year. Read more from El Nueva Día and HRC in English and Español. 

• To learn more about HRC’s work on transgender equality, visit HRC.org/transgender. HRC also offers a guide to reporters on how to cover transgender-related stories, which can be found here. 

“There is a crisis facing LGBTQ people in Puerto Rico,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “This violence must end. Each of the 10 people who have been killed had a family, friends and a community. When we lose someone, especially under violent circumstances, it leaves a long trail of unshakeable trauma. The Human Rights Campaign is committed to supporting our partners on the ground and the Puerto Rican LGBTQ community as long as it takes for the government to take this seriously.”

Puerto Rico has experienced at least 10 killings of LGBTQ people in 15 months, the highest rate of deaths the island has seen in 10 years.

This violence must end. t.co/AZSMaAAVMo

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 30, 2020

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — HRC ENDORSES PRO-EQUALITY LEADERS FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE: “Pennsylvania is at a crossroads. For too long, LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have lived with the threat of being fired or discriminated against solely because of who they are or who they love,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Director Ryan Matthews. “Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeast without a law prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people.  To change that, we must elect bold, progressive pro-equality leaders like State Senator Larry Farnese and Jessica Benham who will work to ensure LGBTQ Pennsylvanians gain the full legal equality they deserve.” More from HRC. 

.@HRC is proud to endorse pro-equality leaders State Senator @FarneseForPA for reelection and @jessicalbenham for the Pennsylvania State House.

With them, we can work to ensure LGBTQ Pennsylvanians gain the full legal equality they deserve.

Learn more �� t.co/ytljhyATF6

— HRC in Pennsylvania (@HRC_PA) May 1, 2020

HRC MARKS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: As we take time to honor the advocates and allies who have driven our movement forward at the intersections of LGBTQ experience and Asian Pacific Islander (API) identities, it’s important to also acknowledge the ongoing challenges and barriers the community still face. From visibility on television and in movies to published works and representation in public office, APIs are still fighting for diverse representation and equality across the board. Read more from HRC. 

HRC RECOGNIZES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we shine a light on mental health in the LGBTQ community. We must ensure that all people — regardless of where they are in life — receive the support needed to truly thrive. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated mental health concerns for many in our community, especially for those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic including communities of color and people living with HIV/AIDS. While the current environment we live in presents challenges, our community has always been one of resilience, perseverance and strength in the face of adversity. Read more from HRC. 

AS LGBTQ YOUTH MAY BE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN HOMES THAT DO NOT AFFIRM THEIR IDENTITIES, MANY ARE WORKING TO BUILD AFFIRMING ONLINE COMMUNITIES: More from Insider. 

HRC JOINS UNITED WE DREAM AND MORE THAN 260 ORGS IN CALLING ON BETSY DEVOS TO INCLUDE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IN STUDENT ASSISTANCE: More from HRC. 

HRC REMEMBERS LGBTQ ACTIVIST TERRY FLEMING, WHO PASSED AWAY IN FLORIDA THIS WEEK: More from The Gainesville Sun.  

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

ALICE WU’S (@thatalicewu) QUEER ROM-COM THE HALF OF IT PREMIERES ON NETFLIX TODAY: Read more from The New York Times. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

Gay Times interviews Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) on his powerful new single, “For What It’s Worth;” NBC Out profiles new lesbian Netflix documentary A Secret Love 

Have you heard @theebillyporter’s latest single? ��Check out his powerful single aimed at encouraging young people to turn out the vote this November and make their voices heard. t.co/sdDPG2gBbd

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 30, 2020

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www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-may-1-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

You’re Invited to Tonatiuh’s ‘Vida’ Queerceañera — and Zoom Interview

In Inside With The Advocate, the Latinx actor discusses the final season of the groundbreaking Starz series and his character as a drag-tastic birthday bash.

www.advocate.com/television/2020/5/01/youre-invited-tonatiuhs-vida-queerceanera-and-zoom-interview

Joe Biden Denies Sexual Assault Allegation in MSNBC Interview: ‘It Never Happened’ (WATCH)

During an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denied sexual assault allegations made against him by former Senate aide Tara Reade.

Biden also released a statement denying Reade’s allegations.

“While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated, two things are not complicated,” Biden said in his statement. “One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and when they step forward they should be heard, not silenced. The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny.

“Responsible news organizations should examine and evaluate the full and growing record of inconsistencies in her story, which has changed repeatedly in both small and big ways,” he added. “But this much bears emphasizing. She has said she raised some of these issues with her supervisor and senior staffers from my office at the time. They — both men and a woman — have said, unequivocally, that she never came to them and complained or raised issues. News organizations that have talked with literally dozens of former staffers have not found one — not one — who corroborated her allegations in any way. Indeed, many of them spoke to the culture of an office that would not have tolerated harassment in any way — as indeed I would not have.”

The Washington Post reports: Biden’s campaign had previously denied the allegations by Reade, who worked in Biden’s Senate office for nine months ending in 1993. But for weeks, the former vice president had been silent about her accusation. This week, demands from within his party to address it grew louder, and with each public appearance came scrutiny that began to eclipse the ideas and themes he was trying to promote. Democratic and Republican leaders also came under intensifying calls to weigh in, triggering an explosive and often partisan debate. For many Democrats, the allegation was an uncomfortable topic that forced them to try to reconcile their support for Biden with advocacy for many women who come forward with claims of sexual assault against powerful men. For some top Republicans, it was occasion to accuse Democrats of a double standard. Trump, Biden’s expected general election opponent, said Thursday that Biden “should respond” to the accusation, which Trump said he “didn’t know anything about.” The president suggested that Reade’s account could be a “false accusation,” a topic he said he knew well. More than 20 women have accused the president of sexual misconduct over the years, prompting a series of denials.

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Joe Biden Denies Sexual Assault Allegation in MSNBC Interview: ‘It Never Happened’ (WATCH)