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#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 2, 2019
HISTORIC! EQUALITY ACT PASSED OUT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE: The bill is now set to be scheduled for a vote by the full U.S. House. During yesterday’s hearing, an anti-LGBTQ lawmaker in the House Judiciary Committee stalled consideration on the historic LGBTQ civil rights legislation by requiring the 27-page bill be read in full twice. Despite these intentional roadblocks, the bill passed out of committee. The vitally important, bipartisan legislation would provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and strengthen existing protections for all people covered by our nation’s civil rights laws. The measure has unprecedented support from nearly 70 percent of Americans, more than 280 members of Congress, more than 195 major businesses and more than 350 statewide and national organizations. More from Pink News and Washington Blade.
- Morning must watch: Danielle Brown, a trans Nevadan, is sharing her story of being discriminated against to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act. More from HRC.
Danielle Brown, a trans Nevadan, is sharing her story of being discriminated against to urge Congress to pass the #EqualityAct.
Now more than ever, it’s vitally important we share our stories as we work to pass the Equality Act. t.co/9psZoAZc8Z pic.twitter.com/BMq9AwJQuv
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 1, 2019
NEW POLLING SHOWS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROTECTIONS FOR TEXANS: This polling came ahead of a critical hearing in the House State Affairs committee yesterday on legislation — SB 2485, SB 2486, SB 2487 — that would gut Texas cities’ enforcement of their employment non-discrimination ordinances. These ordinances cover at least 3.7 million Texans across the state. Of the respondents, 35 percent identify as Democrats, 40 percent as Republicans and 25 percent as Independents. The results show that voting for this legislation could have dire consequences at the ballot box. More from HRC.
- Pro-equality Texas legislators have added a provision to a bill to ensure that municipal LGBTQ employment protections would not be undermined. More from Texas Tribune.
THANKFUL THURSDAY — AUTHOR AND DIRECTOR DUSTIN LANCE BLACK IN POWERFUL NEW “AMERICANS FOR THE EQUALITY ACT” VIDEO: Longtime HRC supporter and author of the new book Mama’s Boy Dustin Lance Black explains why the fight for the Equality Act hits so close to home. The Americans for the Equality Act series, filmed by award-winning directors Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) and Paris Barclay (@Harparbar), launched with a debut video featuring Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field (@sally_field) and her son Sam Greisman (@SAMGREIS). Additional videos have included Karamo Brown (@Karamo), Adam Rippon (@adaripp), Shea Diamond (@iamsheadiamond) and Justina Machado (@JustinaMachado). More from The Hollywood Reporter.
REP. ILHAN OMAR TO INTRODUCE BILL AUTHORIZING SANCTIONS ON BRUNEI: “We are grateful to Rep. Omar for her leadership in condemning Brunei’s draconian and horrifying laws that target LGBTQ people, women and children,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Director of Government Affairs. “In the absence of White House leadership on these issues, it is crucially important that Congressional leaders send a clear signal that this sort of persecution will not be tolerated and that the people of the United States are part of the world community in condemning this sort of hate.” Read the Dear Colleague letter here.
HRC COMMEMORATES HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: Said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin): “More than seventy years after the liberations of Nazi Germany’s concentration and death camps, the horrors of the Holocaust continue to haunt us, and it is clear that our work combating anti-Semitism is far from over. In just over the last six months alone, we have seen two particularly horrific attacks on the Jewish community in the United States, among many others. The shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania and the Chabad of Poway Synagogue in California are tragic reminders that hate continues to plague our world with often deadly consequences. Today, we must all stand united against anti-Semitism, despotism and bigotry in all its forms, both here at home and around the world.” More from HRC.
HRC REMEMBERS THE LIFE OF ELLEN TAUSCHER: Said David Stacy, HRC Director of Government Affairs (@David_Stacy): “[Tauscher’s] leadership on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and her early support for marriage equality made a huge difference for LGBTQ people. She was a champion of equality for all Americans and a sterling example of what it means to be an elected official who ensures no one gets left behind.” More from HRC.
TWO BILLS IN CONNECTICUT COULD EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE: The bills would prohibit criminal defendants from using a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity as a “panic” defense, and create an advisory committee to study discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, respectively. More from CT News Junkie.
WILLIAMS INSTITUTE CALLS FOR MORE DATA ON GUN VIOLENCE AGAINST THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: More from Los Angeles Blade.
NEW AARP SURVEY OF GRANDPARENTS FINDS VAST MAJORITY WOULD ACCEPT LGBTQ GRANDCHILD: According to the survey, 62% of respondents “agree” or “agree strongly” that they would accept their grandchild if they came out as LGBTQ. Read the full findings here.
DAN REYNOLDS OF IMAGINE DRAGONS ADVOCATES AGAINST DANGEROUS “CONVERSION THERAPY” IN BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS SPEECH:
Thank you @DanReynolds of @Imaginedragons for helping to expose the dangerous and discredited practice of “conversion therapy” at the #BBMAs.
LGBTQ youth are especially vulnerable to this practice, which can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness and suicide. t.co/KDpE3wyTyh
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 2, 2019
READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
HuffPost reports on a recent post from Julia Roberts (@JuliaRoberts) showing support for LGBTQ youth; Out Magazine interviews Tarell Alvin McCraney (@octarell), screenwriter of Moonlight; Time explores a new exhibition and anthology on the Stonewall Uprising created for the event’s 50th anniversary; Waco Tribune-Herald reports on efforts by advocates at Baylor University to have the administration recognize their LGBTQ student group
Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-may-2-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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