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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: June 20, 2016
HEAL ORLANDO: The Heal Orlando project, a coalition created to help survivors and victims’ families find the help they need, officially launched this past weekend. This LGBTQ alliance, formed after the Pulse nightclub massacre, consists of local LGBTQ organizations and community leaders in Orlando, along with HRC. The alliance offers donation and volunteer opportunities, as well as information about local events and connections to community and counseling services.
- As part of the project, you can write a message of support to the families of the victims and survivors of the tragedy. Send your message here.
THE (ANTI-LGBTQ) COMPANY YOU KEEP: Donald Trump is continuing his fake and cynical attempt to portray himself as a “friend” to the LGBTQ community. Case in point: last week alone Trump bragged and congratulated himself over the Orlando tragedy, campaigned with Pat McCrory, one of the worst anti-LGBTQ governors in the country, snapped photos alongside a virulently anti-LGBTQ pastor in Dallas and was protested by HRC in DC. He also made the bizarre (and false) claim that “the LGBT really like me” and told a crowd to “ask the gays,” prompting an anti-Trump hashtag on Twitter. And he was caught taking millions of dollars from anti-LGBTQ foreign governments. Trump has continuously stated his plans to roll back equality if elected president.
- Tomorrow, Trump is meeting with over 500 evangelical leaders in NYC, including at least two groups designated as anti-LGBTQ hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center — Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. The meeting was organized by known anti-LGBTQ extremist Tony Perkins. We doubt he’ll want to #AskTheGays their opinion on this one.
- Hillary Clinton is saying “no way” to the claims that Trump is somehow a “friend” to the LGBTQ community. Her campaign released an ad last week, neatly packaging all of the ridiculous and discriminatory things Trump has said against LGBTQ people in a minute-long video.
HRC ENDORSES COMMON-SENSE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICY MEASURES: During a special meeting of the Human Rights Campaign’s Board of Directors Thursday evening, the board adopted a resolution recommended by HRC President Chad Griffin that addresses both the epidemic of hate that has fueled anti-LGBTQ-motivated murder, assault and discrimination as well as common-sense gun violence prevention policies that would help keep the LGBTQ community safe. For decades, LGBTQ people have been a target for bias-motivated violence, and easy access to deadly weapons has compounded this threat. The resolution adopted in Thursday’s special meeting establishes HRC’s organizational position that the safety of LGBTQ people in the United States requires the adoption of common-sense gun violence prevention measures, including limiting access to assault-style rifles, expanding background checks, and limiting the ability for suspected terrorists, and those with a history of domestic abuse to access guns. Read the resolution. And more from The Washington Post.
MAJOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADOPT TRANS-INCLUSIVE POLICIES: Two major cities have approved sweeping policies ensuring the equal treatment of transgender students in public schools. Last week Jersey City joined a dozen other school districts in the Garden State by implementing a policy that bars schools from forcing students to use restroom facilities that conflict with their gender identity. In Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia School Reform Commission’s new policy allows transgender students to be addressed by their pronoun of choice, and use restrooms and play on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
EXPERTS CALL FOR IMPROVED TRANS HEALTH PRACTICES: In a series of articles for the Lancet Medical Journal, medical professionals are calling for a worldwide overhaul of health practices for transgender patients. According to ABC News the authors recommend, “calling on the World Health Organization to remove a diagnosis of transgender from its section on mental health, asking physicians to be trained in transgender health care and allowing transgender people to access feminizing and masculinizing hormones.”
GOLDEN GATE CITY APPOINTS SENIOR ADVISOR FOR TRANS INITIATIVES: Under the leadership of Mayor Ed Lee, San Francisco has become the first city in the country to appoint a senior advisor dedicated to working on issues affecting the transgender community. More from Bay City News.
LGBTQ ACTIVISTS IN TURKEY STAY STRONG: Over the weekend, LGBTQ activists in Turkey scuffled with police officers after holding an LGBTQ Pride Month march despite a government mandated ban. According to reports, police met participants with tear gas and rubber bullets. More from The Associated Press.
READING RAINBOW
The Associated Press reveals the bogus logic of those defending Mississippi’s egregious anti-LGBTQ law; Reuters profiles a transgender woman who’s suing her employer for sex discrimination; The Washington Post shares the latest in Gavin Grimm’s fight for equality; The Associated Press highlights the record number of attendees at LGBTQ Pride festivals this year; The Atlantic shows us what it’s like to be transgender in the deep South; DW takes a look at the increasing anti-LGBTQ sentiment in some African countries; ReCode praises Uber’s initiatives to provide free rides to local LGBTQ community centers this past week; Following the Orlando massacre, NBC News spotlights the lack of protections for Florida’s LGBTQ community; Slate breaks down how Mississippi’s HB 1523 does not stand a chance in court; The Pocono Record editorializes in favor of LGBTQ non-discrimination protections in Pennsylvania; and organizers for ShanghaiPRIDE give us the latest in the fight for LGBTQ equality in China on CNN.
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-20-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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