International Women’s Day: Honoring American Women Leading the Way for LGBT Equality

On International Women’s Day, HRC honors three top American officials who have fought for LGBT equality around the globe: Hillary Clinton, Samantha Power and Susan Rice.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton used her platform to champion LGBT rights around the globe.

In 2011, Secretary Clinton stood before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and told the world’s leaders, “gay rights are human rights.” During her tenure at the State Department, the U.S. helped pass the first-ever UN Resolution on the Human Rights of LGBT Persons. As Secretary of State, she also launched the Global Equality Fund to support programs that advance the human rights of LGBT people abroad and went toe-to-toe with world leaders over the government-sanctioned violence against the LGBT community.

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice has also been a steadfast ally of the LGBT community during her administration service. Last year, Rice spoke out against Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s “unconscionable” threats against LGBT Gambians. And, after a town hall in Jamaica with President Obama and LGBT advocates, Rice tweeted, “Anti-LGBT discrimination and violence is unacceptable everywhere. This is US policy globally.” In 2014, Rice spoke at the first-ever LGBT Human Rights Forum where she proclaimed that the most challenging human rights issue facing the U.S. is protecting international LGBT people from discrimination. Prior to her role as National Security Advisor, one of her first acts as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. in 2009 was to add the U.S. to a U.N. General Assembly resolution opposing the criminalization of LGBT people and their relationships.

U.S Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power has made LGBT equality a focal point at the U.N. Last year, Power and her Chilean counterpart held the first ever U.N. Security Council meeting on LGBT rights. After Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, she supported sanctions against Uganda and highlighted other countries that criminalize LGBT people. Under Power’s leadership, the U.N. passed a Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in 2014, which urged leaders at the international, regional and nation levels to fight against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Clinton, Rice and Powers are three American women who exemplify what it means to be an ally, continually showing support for LGBT people and promoting equality at home and around the globe. During their careers in international relations, these women have recognized the struggles of the LGBT community, sought to advance justice and equality, and have fiercely opposed those who would undermine lgbt rights.  

Today, we thank them, and so many other female leaders, for their leadership, dedication and support to our community.

www.hrc.org/blog/international-womens-day-honoring-american-women-leading-the-way-for-lgbt-e?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Working for Hillary in Mississippi

HRC supporter and lifelong Mississippian Helen Napier was born in the delta town of Drew in 1923, just three years after women were given the right to vote in this country. This September, Helen will turn 93 years old and is looking forward to seeing the first woman become president of the United States.

Just like Hillary Clinton, Helen is no stranger to hard work. She has broken several glass ceilings herself. Helen was the first woman to lead the banking examiner division for the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, a department she worked in for over 35 years.

Though she is retired now, Helen has not slowed down. When she is not helping out at her church or working on behalf of the residents of Community Place Nursing home where she serves on the board of directors, she enjoys volunteering for HRC in Mississippi.  

Equality for everyone in our state is something that Helen not only believes in but something she is dedicated to bringing about, especially for her LGBT friends.  That’s why Helen is joining other HRC supporters by making phone calls on behalf of Secretary Clinton hoping to ensure a win in Mississippi.   

On Tuesday, March 8, Helen is going to the polls to vote for Secretary Hillary Clinton in the Mississippi primary. “A woman’s place is in the White House,” said Helen.

HRC endorsed Clinton in January at rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Click here to learn more about HRC’s endorsement.

www.hrc.org/blog/working-for-hillary-in-mississippi1?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

All Eyes on Tennessee: Legislative Assault on Transgender Students Expected to Move Forward Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. CT, the Tennessee House Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee is expected to hear HB 2414 – an outrageous bill targeting transgender students in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those in public universities. The measure seeks to force transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity.

Fair-minded Tennesseans; major national child welfare, medical, and education groups; the Tennessee Equality Project; and the Human Rights Campaign have pleadedwith lawmakers to abandon the discriminatory measure. The proposal is even more egregious than an appalling bill vetoed by Republican South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard just last week.

Ahead of tomorrow’s vote, here’s what you should know about HB 2414:

• The legislation targets transgender students in public elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as those in public universities;
• The proposal puts Tennessee public schools and universities at risk of litigation and loss of critical federal funds by forcing them into an untenable position of choosing between state and federal law;
• The Tennessee bill is even more egregious than the appalling legislation vetoed recently by South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard;
• Several major national child welfare, medical, and education groups have strongly condemned this type of discriminatory legislation that would further marginalize transgender students;
• It ties the hands of school administrators and teachers who would no longer have the flexibility they need to find workable solutions in coordination with transgender students and their parents; and
• The bill is being pushed by anti-LGBT extremists from outside Tennessee and addresses no pressing issue concerning Tennessee’s school districts or universities.

More information on the legislation can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/all-eyes-on-tennessee-legislative-assault-on-transgender-students-expected?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed