You Might Like
#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 13, 2016
SAY IT AIN’T PENCE: With speculation growing that Donald Trump might actually choose notoriously anti-LGBTQ Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, here’s a reminder of Pence’s disastrous record. Pence became a national disgrace in 2015 for his “license to discriminate” bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to LGBTQ people — and for subsequently defending the bill over an outcry from the business community and a majority of Hoosier voters. Both Trump and Pence are anti-marriage equality, oppose extending non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQ community and oppose federal guidance protecting transgender people. More from HRC.
- Meanwhile, members of the 2016 Republican Party platform committee continue to reject proposals simply recognizing the existence of LGBTQ people. “Can you at the very least stand up for our right not to be killed?” pleaded openly-LGBTQ committee delegate Rachel Hoff during a meeting Monday at which fellow delegates rejected her efforts to soften the party’s anti- marriage equality stance, and proposals acknowledging attacks on the LGBTQ community in Orlando and by ISIL. The Huffington Post said it best: “The GOP Really Doesn’t Want ‘LGBT’ To Appear Anywhere In Its Platform.”
#StopTheHate VIGIL ON CAPITOL STEPS YESTERDAY FEATURED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, HRC: HRC joined members of Congress, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) and more than 60 other Members of Congress, yesterday for an evening vigil on the steps of the U.S. Capitol honoring the 49 LGBTQ people and allies — almost all young and Latinx — lost one month ago in the tragic attack in Orlando. HRC President Chad Griffin shared these comments during the remembrance:
“These 49 individuals, many of them Latinx, were brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, husbands and wives. But above all, they were human beings – human beings who were loved, who had hopes and dreams for long and full lives. This deadly attack against our community was the result of a toxic combination of two things: an individual who had been conditioned to hate LGBTQ people, and his all too easy access to military-style guns. It is imperative that we address both issues in order to protect our community. Unfortunately, over the last month, Republican leaders have continued to stand in the way of meaningful progress to end hate or gun violence. In the 30 days since these 49 lives behind me were lost, Congress has voted down gun safety legislation over and over again. Yesterday, we learned the RNC is considering adding a slew of provisions targeting LGBTQ people to its official platform. And today, House Republicans convened a hearing to discuss a bill that would sanction taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ people in all 50 states.”
- One month after the Orlando massacre, Congress still hasn’t voted on a resolution condemning the attack. With the House scheduled to recess Friday for seven weeks, the Washington Post reports that it’s likely members will fail to vote on a resolution recognizing Orlando’s victims before adjourning. It’s been 13 legislative days since such a bill was introduced in the House; it typically takes an average of 3.7 legislative days to pass such resolutions. More here.
- Earlier yesterday, House Republican leaders marked the anniversary with a shameful hearing on a deeply-discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ bill that would sanction unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBTQ people. Providing powerful testimony against the odious bill was marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell. Former Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Columbia law professor Katherine Franke aggressively rebutted proponents of the harmful legislation.
AHEAD OF RNC, CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON NEW PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS COMMUNITY: Tonight, just days ahead of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, city officials will vote on anti-discrimination legislation protecting the right of transgender people to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. While Cleveland law prohibits anti-transgender discrimination in employment and public accommodations, due to exemptions in the 2009 legislation, transgender people continue to face legal discrimination in access to single-sex facilities such as locker rooms and restrooms. More from The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- Terrible, heartbreaking reality for transgender people in bathrooms: Results from a survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) starkly illustrate the real horrors of discrimination facing transgender people when it comes to bathrooms. More from Vox.
LANDMARK STUDY FINDS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV UNDERGOING SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT ARE NOT INFECTIOUS: Groundbreaking results of the recently-released PARTNER study found no linked cases of HIV transmission between people living with HIV undergoing successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) and their HIV-negative partners. More than 1100 mixed-status couples, where one partner is HIV-negative, and the other is living with HIV and undergoing successful treatment, were enrolled in the study. More from HIV I-Base.
- And according to another recent study, the dating app Grindr used in-app advertising to effectively persuade users to get tested for HIV. More from The New York Times.
RECOUNT RESULTS IN, ANGLICAN CHURCH EMBRACING MARRIAGE EQUALITY: After appearing to narrowly reject a resolution authorizing marriage equality, a vote recount yesterday affirmed the Anglican Church of Canada’s embrace of same-sex unions. Prior to yesterday’s recount, the Anglican Church of the United States was the only Anglican body to fully support marriage rights for same-sex couples. More from The Associated Press.
READING RAINBOW
The Advocate breaks down House Republicans hearing on anti-LGBTQ legislation yesterday… WWLP shares how advocates celebrated a huge victory for transgender equality in Massachusetts… OUT profiles 16 out and proud Olympians headed to Rio… Mississippi Business Journal tallies up the legal time spent defending the discriminatory HB 1523… and Agence France-Presse reports that homophobia has surged in Mexico since its president proposed to extend marriage equality to the country.
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-june-13-20162?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
You Might Like
