National Day of Action to Support Transgender Youth Announced at Time to THRIVE

This morning at Time to THRIVE, HRC Foundation, the National Education Association and the National Coalition Against Censorship announced an initiative to host I Am Jazz readings nationwide as part of a bold call to action to support transgender youth.

The book I Am Jazz, by transgender teen and HRC Youth Ambassador Jazz Jennings and coauthor Jessica Herthel, helps increase understanding and build more inclusive environments for young people who need to know they are welcomed and loved.

Teachers, parents and other allies all across the nation are signing up for a national day of action on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in support of transgender youth. The readings can take place in schools, libraries, bookstores and even your own home.

To get involved,  text Jazz to 30644 or visit hrc.org/readjazz.

Additionally, you can sign a pledge to join our day of action, download our organizing kit to prepare for your event and grab a copy of the critically acclaimed “I Am Jazz” and get ready to read at hrc.org/IamJazz.

www.hrc.org/blog/national-day-of-action-to-support-transgender-youth-announced-at-time-to-th?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Questions for the Republicans Debating in South Carolina

This week, while Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were debating in Milwaukee, Ted Cruz was busy attacking Marco Rubio and Donald Trump on marriage equality. Both have suggested that they would appoint Supreme Court judges who would overturn the court’s ruling that led to nationwide marriage equality. And yet, Cruz accused them both of using “the talking points of Barack Obama” on marriage equality.

South Carolina is home to an estimated 37,647 active duty military personnel. With that in mind, two questions for the candidates that don’t get a lot of attention, but are especially relevant during the debate in South Carolina:

• Would you bring back “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT)? For 17 years, DADT prohibited qualified gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans from serving openly in the Armed Forces and sent a message that discrimination was acceptable. A 2010 study also found that women and minorities were disproportionately discharged under DADT. From World War II until the end of DADT, an estimated 114,000 service members were discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. So far, Carson and Cruz have left the door open to bringing back DADT.
   
• Would you drop the Obama Administration’s ban against allowing transgender people to serve openly?  According to the Palm Center, there are approximately 15,500 actively serving transgender members of the U.S. military, making the Department of Defense (DOD) the largest employer of transgender people in America.  These courageous men and women are forced to serve in silence by DOD medical regulations prohibiting their service and requiring their separation from the military if discovered – regulations are outdated and out of step with current medical practice.

More on the record of the candidates can be found here: www.hrc.org/blog/topic/2016-republican-facts

www.hrc.org/blog/questions-for-the-republicans-debating-in-south-carolina?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed