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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: August 22, 2016
JUDGE BLOCKS FED GUIDANCE ON TRANS STUDENTS, PUTS 1000s AT RISK AS THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL: On Sunday, a federal judge issued an injunction against guidance provided to school districts by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice regarding the civil rights of transgender students. In Texas v. United States, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor blocked the Department of Justice from enforcing the guidance that clarifies transgender students have a right to be free from discrimination in schools, including a right to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said, “Despite this judge’s decision, schools are not barred from following the federal guidance, and school administrators still have a responsibility to ensure that the civil rights of all students are respected and that transgender students have access to facilities consistent with their gender identity. As lawsuits on the scope of Title IX proceed, we believe that justice will prevail as courts continue to recognize that discrimination against transgender students is a form of sex discrimination.” In March of 2015, Judge O’Connor also sought to block Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights for legally married same-sex couples despite the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in United States v. Windsor (2013). More from Bloomberg.
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Reminder: Donald Trump opposes treating transgender students with dignity. In addition to supporting North Carolina’s vile HB2, here’s a reminder that Donald Trump would rescind the Departments of Justice and Education’s guidance regarding the civil rights of transgender students. The Washington Post reported in May, “Donald Trump vowed Monday that if elected president he would rescind the Obama administration’s new directives aimed at protecting transgender people against discrimination in schools and health-care coverage.” More here.
RECORD CROWDS ESTIMATED AT 200,000 ATTEND CHARLOTTE, NC, PRIDE, CALL OUT HB2: This past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people turned out to celebrate LGBTQ equality at Charlotte Pride parade and festival, using the annual event to call for the repeal of the state’s discriminatory HB2 law. The Charlotte Observer reports that a record number of faith groups joined the parade to publicly signal their opposition to the anti-LGBTQ HB2. “Those street preachers screaming hate get so much attention from the media, but there are more churches out here showing their support for LGBT people. You don’t hear enough about us, and we outnumber them,” said Steve Knight of Missiongathering Charlotte.
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Professor Barbara Riseman, writing in The News & Observer, suggests embracing the trans-inclusive future that millennials are already shaping. “Just follow the kids,” she says. Read the full op-ed here.
GOP VEEP NOMINEE MIKE PENCE OPPOSED LGBTQ EQUALITY ABROAD WHILE IN CONGRESS: While Donald Trump attempts to pander to the LGBTQ community, The Washington Blade looks back at how his running mate dangerously worked to undermine the State Department’s push for LGBTQ equality abroad during his time in Congress. Pence ludicrously claimed a bill would, “…tie the hands of American diplomats by mandating that they make sexual orientation a foreign policy priority regardless of other national security considerations.” The Blade noted the contrast with Hillary Clinton, reporting, “The promotion of LGBT rights abroad has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered her landmark “gay rights are human rights” speech in Geneva in 2011.” More here.
A LOOK BACK AT OUT OLYMPIANS: With a record number of out athletes at the Olympics this year, it’s clear that LGBTQ visibility has increased in the sports world. However, these wins have come from hard fought battles and brave visibility from athletes in the past, and much more to fight. While there were more out Olympians participating in the 2016 Olympic Games than ever before, no openly transgender athletes competed. As the games come to a close, we cannot forget those who’ve paved the way for these athletes to live openly and authentically. These Olympians proudly spoke out about who they are, both on and off the field of competition, setting an example for LGBTQ youth and people around the globe. Check out Olympians who made history at HRC.
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For your daily dose of “d’aww,” here are the Olympic moments that warmed our hearts.
LESBIAN EMPLOYEE IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SUES CATHOLIC SCHOOL OVER FIRING: A lesbian woman in a same-sex marriage is suing a New Jersey Roman Catholic school, alleging officials violated state employment law by firing her as a school dean — a job that never included religious instruction — because she married a woman. New Jersey’s employment non-discrimination law includes protections for gender identity and sexual orientation. More from The Associated Press.
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A group of openly gay Church of England clergy are taking a different approach, calling on church leaders to change the church’s official position on marriage equality. More from The Guardian.
ANTI-LGBTQ ATTACK IN ALABAMA: A man in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was attacked last weekend by three men who repeatedly asked him if he was gay. One suspect has been arrested, and police are searching for the other two men. More from WIAT.
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The incident is one of several recent reports of disturbing — and often deadly — acts of violence against LGBTQ people. These attacks disproportionately affect transgender women of color. More from HRC.
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Hundreds of LGBTQ advocates in Istanbul rallied for justice for the murder of Turkish trans activist Hande Kader this weekend. More from The Mirror.
MILITARY TO COVER SOME TRANS-RELATED HEALTHCARE FOR FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEMBERS: The U.S. Military’s Tricare healthcare plan will begin to cover some transition-related healthcare for military family members starting Oct. 1. However, the new policy still won’t cover gender confirmation surgery for military dependents. More from Military.com.
SOUTH CAROLINA MAY HAVE ITS FIRST WOMAN, LGBTQ SHERIFF: Crystal Moore of Latta, S.C., is running to become the state’s first female sheriff — as well as its first openly LGBTQ sheriff. Moore is running just two years after being fired by the mayor for being openly lesbian. She was reinstated through a special election. More from The Associated Press.
READING RAINBOW
The New Civil Rights Movement profiles six openly gay US Ambassadors… Jamaica Observer interviews one of the original discoverers of HIV… PBS NewsHour discusses the U.S. blood donation policy requiring gay and bisexual men to abstain from sex for one year before donating… TV New Zealand shares a video highlighting a local medical school’s effort to teach established doctors about LGBTQ health… The Washington Post profiles Jim Gray, an openly gay Democratic candidate running to unseat Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)… Bloomberg reports that Australia will likely push back its vote for marriage equality… and Windy City Times announces the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 2016 inductions.
Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-august-22-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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