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#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: September 15, 2016
IN TODAY’S EDITION: ACC moves championship games out of NC over Anti-LGBTQ HB2…NC Women call out HB@ for disguising discrimination as protection…Salsforce Chief plans continued action for LGBTQ equality…throwback Thursday…Michigan Education Board approves LGBTQ guidance for schools…New back-to-school guide on transgender children…Tenn. Republicans trying to insert themselves in a same-sex divorce case…Catholic school refuses to enroll transgender student…We need to do more for LGBTQ employees…HRC saddened to learn of death of Pulse tragedy survivor
ACC FOLLOWS NCAA LEAD, MOVES CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES OUT OF NC OVER ANTI-LGBTQ HB2: The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) decided yesterday to stand up for the safety of its employees, players, and fans by moving championship games out of North Carolina due to the state and Gov. Pat McCrory’s anti-LGBTQ HB2 law. The ACC announced that law is “inconsistent” with their values of “equality, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination.” HRC President Chad Griffin hailed the decision: “In standing up for LGBTQ equality, the ACC, the NCAA, and the NBA are all standing on the right side of history. Governor McCrory and state lawmakers should work swiftly to repeal HB2 and bring back championship games to North Carolina. The fact that Governor McCrory and other lawmakers continue to play politics with discrimination is inexcusable, enormously costly, and simply wrong. The people of North Carolina deserve better and have a chance to make their voices heard November 8.” More from HRC.
- The Charlotte Observer reports “Reaction thunders in over ACC decision”: Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts (@CLTMayor) tweets: “How many companies and sports organizations have to leave NC before the Governor and NCGA leadership wake up to the 21st Century & repeal HB2?”
- More coverage of the ACC’s decision at the New York Times, USA Today, and ESPN.
.@PatMcCroryNC has just cost our state – and my city – our legendary @theACC events. We can’t afford your pride anymore, guv. #ncpol #HB2
— Chris Sgro (@cristoferosgro) September 14, 2016
NC WOMEN CALL OUT HB2 FOR DISGUISING DISCRIMINATION AS PROTECTION: Yesterday morning, representatives from women’s right groups held a news conference calling out the North Carolina Republican leaders who claim HB2 is meant to “protect women.” NC Rep. Rosa Gill (@Rep_Rosa_Gill), Jen Ferris (@dillettantrum) of NC Women United and Alexis Dee of the Southern Comfort Conference board of directors spoke to call out supporters of the bill who are trying to disguise discrimination as protection. More from The Charlotte Observer.
SALESFORCE CHIEF PLANS CONTINUED ACTION FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY:Salesforce.com Inc. CEO Mark Benioff (@Benioff) in an interview with Bloomberg’s Brad Stone (@BradStone) and Jeff Green (@JeffAGreen), says his company is hiring its first chief diversity officer, and he plans to “redouble his fight against state laws he considers unfair” to LGBTQ employees. Benioff and other top corporate leaders have led efforts to stop anti-LGBTQ measures in states including Georgia and North Carolina. “While at Salesforce, equality is job one,” Benioff said. Read more here.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Congressman John Lewis is a civil rights icon and has long-been a stalwart ally to the LGBTQ community. Check out this snapshot of his historic and inspiring efforts for equality featuring his speech from HRC’s National Dinner last weekend.
MICHIGAN EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES LGBTQ GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS: Yesterday, the Michigan Education Board approved new guidelines encouraging schools to create a more inclusive environment for their LGBTQ students, with emphasis on allowing transgender students use facilities consistent with their gender identity. The guidelines came after an extensive public comment period, where more than 230 Michiganders gave input. The guidelines affirm that when a student’s gender identity is respected, they are more likely to learn and thrive. More from The Associated Press.
NEW BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE ON TRANSGENDER CHILDREN: Yesterday, HRC Foundation released a new back-to-school guide to equip parents, teachers, and allies of LGBTQ students with information and resources to ensure that their schools are welcoming and safe for LGBTQ youth and the children of LGBTQ parents. The resource, which includes information on HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools professional development training modules and checklists for inclusive classroom practices and parent actions, comes during a period of increased attention to LGBTQ-inclusion in schools and harmful political attacks on transgender young people. More from HRC.
- HRC will host experts in education equality during a live panel discussion on the HRC Facebook page at 4 p.m. today, moderated by HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride).
TENN. REPUBLICANS TRYING TO INSERT THEMSELVES IN A SAME-SEX DIVORCE CASE: Fifty-three Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are filing a motion to intervene in the divorce of two Knoxville women arguing over child custody. The misguided elected officials claim that one parent has no right to custody because the relevant Tennessee state law in the case refers to “husband of the birth-mother,” and not same-sex spouses. More from The Tennessean.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL REFUSES TO ENROLL TRANSGENDER STUDENT: A New Jersey Catholic school is refusing to accept a transgender student, citing his gender identity. Read the emotional interview with the student, Mason Catrambone, and his parents at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- MUST READ: This brave 12-year-old transgender boy’s powerful message to officials in his Pennsylvania school district. Watch Ari Bowman address the East Penn School District board here. Following
“I hope you understand what being #trans means. It doesn’t make me any less or any more. It makes me me.” t.co/Yaw5deYj5j
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) September 15, 2016
WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR LGBTQ EMPLOYEES: After attending the Stanford Graduate School of Business’ first-of-its-kind LGBTQ executive leadership program, Beth Parker (@BethParkerDC) writes in The Guardian about her experience and the work still needed to prevent people from going back “in the closet” in the business world. For more information on the importance of employees being out in the workplace, check out HRC’s groundbreaking “Cost of the Closet and the Rewards of Inclusion” report here.
HRC SADDENED TO LEARN OF DEATH OF PULSE TRAGEDY SURVIVOR:Chris Brodman, 34, died unexpectedly in Tampa three months after the deadly shooting in Orlando. Read more here.
READING RAINBOW
Congrats to The New York Times’ Frank Bruni (@FrankBruni) for winning the Randy Shilts Award for LGBT Coverage from the Association of LGBTQ Journalists!… New Jersey Spotlight highlights Garden State Equality’s efforts to improve LGBTQ reproductive healthcare… The Tennessean reports that trans actress Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) will join the cast of “Nashville”… Model, actress and YouTube star Gigi Gorgeous came out yesterday saying loud and proud that she’s lesbian…
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-september-15-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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