AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 5, 2018
BREAKING — HRC RELEASES GROUNDBREAKING SURVEY OF LGBTQ WORKERS’ ACCESS TO PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE: The national survey, which comes on the 25th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), found that only 45 percent of respondents reported that their employers offer leave policies — paid or unpaid — that are inclusive of LGBTQ families and identities. And, when compared to the overall U.S. population, LGBTQ respondents reported heightened concerns about accessing leave, citing potential loss of income and adverse workplace outcomes from having to disclose their LGBTQ identities through leave requests. Said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Senior Vice President for Programs, Research, and Training. “As the only developed nation in the world without some form of guaranteed paid leave policy, American workers, including LGBTQ employees, are too often forced to either forgo their income or leave their job entirely to treat an illness, care for a loved one, or grow their family.” FMLA is a federal law guaranteeing certain employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. Read more at HRC and Metro Weekly.
.@HRC Foundation has released a groundbreaking report showing how limited access to paid leave impacts the #LGBTQ community. t.co/Az3KNDDZbU
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 5, 2018
RNC ATTACKS TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS, SUPPORTS TRUMP’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL BAN: Said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy: “The RNC’s statement is a disgusting attack on thousands of brave transgender service members and the armed services as a whole. It goes against the expert opinions of the medical and military communities in addition to flying in the face of supportive statements offered by at least 20 Republican lawmakers. As every federal court ruling to date has confirmed: this ban is unconstitutional.” More from HRC.
HRC PRESIDENT CHAD GRIFFIN (@CHADHGRIFFIN) RESPONDS TO GOP’S SMEAR MEMO: “Nunes, Trump, Paul Ryan and their enablers have shown no interest in the truth — only misleading the American public and discrediting a criminal investigation. We need every member of Congress on both sides of the aisle to stand against this manipulation of national security. History is watching. Silence makes you complicit. For the sake of the country, stand up and do something.”
.@DevinNunes has shown more loyalty to @realDonaldTrump than the Constitution or the rule of law. The release of this sloppy, cherry-picked memo is a blatant partisan attempt to smear law enforcement and Mueller’s investigation. We can’t let them get away with it.
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) February 2, 2018
MUST WATCH MONDAY: On Saturday, HRC honored prominent pro-equality advocates at the 2018 HRC Greater New York Gala — Audra McDonald and Cynthia Nixon. Pro-equality leaders Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke about the fight against the Trump-Pence agenda of hate. Musical performer MILCK closed the show her powerful anthem, “Quiet.” More from The Hill and Newsweek.
EDUCATION BILL AIMS TO GIVE COLLEGES A LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE: It includes a provision that would prohibit the government from taking action against religious colleges and universities that discriminate against students if the discrimination is “related to their religious mission or affiliation.” More from The New York Times.
ACLU SUES ILLINOIS DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS FOR ANTI-TRANS ACTIONS: The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six transgender inmates who were denied or given delayed access to health care, among other actions. More from The Southern Illinoisan.
THIS ALABAMA TEEN WAS SUSPENDED FOR ASKING HER GIRLFRIEND TO PROM: More from NewNowNext.
GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS
HORRIFYING ANTI-TRANS PROTEST IN ACEH PROVINCE IN INDONESIA: The protest was in response to an investigation into the systematic anti-trans discrimination and violence by local police. More from The Associated Press.
CANADIAN MAN ARRESTED IN ANTI-LGBTQ SERIAL KILLINGS: Bruce McArthur has been charged with the murders of five men. More from The Daily Beast.
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Phoenix Business Journal reports that Nate Rhoton is the new executive director of local LGBTQ group one-n-ten; InStyle provides a sneak peek of an upcoming transgender storyline on Grey’s Anatomy; Rolling Stone reviews A Fantastic Woman; Washington Blade interviews LGBTQ advocates working on the ground in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
Also — shout out to our fearless leader Chris Sgro, who is celebrating a major win by his hometown team, the Eagles, at last night’s Super Bowl!
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