#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 21, 2017
TODAY IN SEATTLE @ 1:30 PM PT — ORAL ARGUMENTS TO BE HEARD IN KARNOSKI V. TRUMP CHALLENGE TO TRANSGENDER TROOPS BAN: The case, filed by Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN, challenges the constitutionality of the Trump-Pence administration’s ban on military service by transgender individuals. Brought in response to Trump’s formal issuance of directions to military authorities, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of two individuals who seek to join the military and one current service member who seeks appointment as an officer; as well as HRC; the American Military Partner Association (AMPA); and Gender Justice League, a gender and sexuality civil and human rights organization headquartered in Seattle.
- Following the arguments, Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN will hold a press conference outside the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Seattle Courthouse. Representatives from Gender Justice League and HRC will also participate. Please contact [email protected] for more details.
- From The Washington Post’s Editorial Board on a recent decision by a U.S. Federal Judge to block enforcement of the Trump-Pence Administration’s unconstitutional ban on military service by transgender troops in the case brought by NCLR and GLAD. “A federal court’s recent ruling against the ban is a welcome blow to this pointless and cruel policy.” Read the full piece here.
TUESDAY TWEETS — HRC REMEMBERS THE TRANS PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES WERE CUT SHORT BY VIOLENCE: Yesterday, to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, HRC tweeted out the names and photos of the 25 transgender people who have been murdered in the U.S. this year, the highest number on record. Learn more about this epidemic of violence from HRC.
- Trans teens share their stories in powerful video: A collaboration between Shape History and transgender director and advocate Jake Graf (@JakeGraf1) invites transgender youth to share their stories and struggles. More from Daily Mail.
For Transgender Day of Remembrance, @HRC remembers Jaquarrius Holland, an 18-year-old #transgender woman shot to death in Louisiana on February 19. #SayHerName #TDOR t.co/mlOVFkWYUJ pic.twitter.com/wGu5cspyzX
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) November 20, 2017
IRONY ALERT — SEC STATE TILLERSON CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE… REMAINS SILENT ON ATROCITIES AROUND THE WORLD: In a statement yesterday on Transgender Day of Remembrance, Tillerson said that transgender people “should not be subjected to violence or discrimination.” And yet, Trump and Tillerson have failed to publicly condemn a slew of human rights abuses targeting LGBTQ people in Egypt, Chechnya, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Georgia, Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. (Not to mention the discriminatory Trump-Pence ban on qualified transgender service members.) More from The Hill.
TROUBLING NEW POLL — MAJORITY OF LGBTQ AMERICANS REPORT HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE: NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 57 percent of LGBTQ Americans have personally experienced slurs based on their identity. Fifty-one percent say they or an LGBTQ friend or family member has experienced violence based on their identity. More from NPR.
NEW YORK STATE SETTLES LAWSUIT WITH OSWEGO COUNTY AFTER IT AGREES TO OFFER TRANS-INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE: “It’s simple: employers have an obligation to cover health care for transgender employees. Doing so is not just required by law — it also makes clear that all employees are valued and supported, which benefits everyone in the workplace,” said State Attorney General Schneiderman. “I’m pleased that our settlement with Oswego County ensures that all of its employees and retirees — including those who are transgender –have access to the essential health insurance coverage they need.” More from The New York State Office of the Attorney General.
U.S. SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN (D-WI) INTRODUCES THE LGBT ELDER AMERICANS ACT: The legislation would expand the Older Americans Act (OAA) to improve services available for older LGBTQ adults. There are an estimated 1.5 million LGBTQ seniors in America and that number is expected to double by 2030. More from The Pride LA.
MORNING MUST READ FROM NYT’S CHARLES BLOW — “THIS IS A MAN PROBLEM”: “We have to focus on recognizing an imbalance of power during sexual dynamics so that men better understand the implicit ‘no’ even when women don’t feel empowered to articulate a ‘no,’” writes New York Times columnist Blow (@CharlesMBlow) on sexual assault. Read this powerhouse piece from The New York Times.
POETIC JUSTICE — GAY MAN DENIED A MARRIAGE LICENSE BY NOTORIOUS KY COUNTY CLERK KIM DAVIS MAY RUN AGAINST HER: In 2015, Davis was held in contempt of court and jailed after refusing to comply with a federal judge’s order directing her to issue marriage licenses in accordance with the law. David Ermold, whose heated exchange with Davis after she denied him and his partner a marriage license went viral, is “seriously considering” running for her position. More from HuffPost.
MEETING A TRANSGENDER PERSON WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE: Journalist Sergio Camacho (@agualaboca) shares data from studies that consistently show that people who know a transgender person are more likely to support transgender equality — and relates his story of meeting HRC’s Global Innovator Laura Weinstein. “Having had the opportunity to know life and to listen to the voices of some transgender people, still so silenced, has led me to question my privileges and to be clear that there is much to be done,” writes Camacho. More from Sentiido.
CONOCER UNA PERSONA TRANSGÉNERO CAMBIARÁ SU VIDA: Los estudios muestran consistentemente que aquellos que conocen a una persona transgénero son más propensos a apoyar la igualdad transgénero. El periodista Sergio Camacho (@agualaboca) comparte estos datos y la historia de la innovadora global de HRC, Laura Weinstein. “Haber tenido la oportunidad de conocer la vida y de escuchar las voces de algunas personas trans, aún tan silenciadas, me ha llevado a cuestionarme mis privilegios y a tener claro que hay mucho por hacer”, expresó Camacho. Más de Sentiido.
JOY EVERINGHAM BECOMES METHODIST CHURCH’S FIRST OPENLY TRANS MINISTER: She recently came out to her parishioners in Kent, England. More from The Daily Mail.
TRUE BLOOD ACTRESS RUTINA WESLEY ANNOUNCES SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIP ON INSTAGRAM: She posted a photo with her partner and the caption “#FromTheInsideOut You are the sunshine of my life…” Wesley (@rutinaofficial) also plays Nova Bordelon on the show Queen Sugar. More from Queerty.
CBS DROWNS OUT ANTI-LGBTQ SLURS CHANTED DURING PATRIOTS-RAIDERS GAME IN MEXICO CITY: The network was prepared, and masked the slurs with crowd noise. More from OutSports.
MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS HELPS LGBTQ AND HIV-POSITIVE TEXANS AFFECTED BY HARVEY: The furniture company gave 40 Houstonians $10,000 vouchers to help replace belongings lost during Hurricane Harvey. More from The Houston Chronicle.
NEARLY ONE MILLION ATTEND RIO LGBTQ PRIDE PARADE: The event is reported to be the second largest festival in Brazil, after Carnival. More from Euronews and The Associated Press.
READING RAINBOW
The Pulitzer Center interviews those at the frontlines in the fight for LGBTQ equality in Uganda; Mashable speaks to Rwandan LGBTQ advocates; The Washington Post shares the story of a young transgender boy coming out
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