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HRC Foundation Launches Leadership Program for Black and Latinx Trans Women and Non-Binary People

HRC Foundation Launches Leadership Program for Black and Latinx Trans Women and Non-Binary People

HRC Foundation over the weekend welcomed the first cohort of Elevate: A Fellowship Advancing Public Health Leadership for Transgender Women of Color. TenBlack and Latinx transgender women and non-binary people  participated in the pilot program that focuses on developing transgender women and non-binary leaders of color in the South to increase their career opportunities and ability to work on improving public health systems.

“Black and Latinx transgender women and non-binary people are often overlooked within the workforce, specifically in public health,” said HRC Foundation’s Director of HIV & Health Equity J. Maurice McCants-Pearsall. “In many ways they are relegated to solely working in community outreach and HIV testing roles. As we seek to give voice to those who have been pushed to the margins, it is important that we develop and expand access to equitable professional development opportunities.”

The first group of leaders to take part in the groundbreaking Elevate fellowship program include Atlantis Narcisse of Houston; Desiree Pittman of Montgomery, Ala.; Donte Oxun of Houston; Jholett Hernandez of Montevallo, Miss.; Laneyana Henderson of Jackson, Miss.; Mahogany Toney of Birmingham, Ala.; Samantha Rose Montemayor-Morales of McAllan, Texas; Jayla Sylvester of Houston; Bee Kelley of Little Rock, Ark.; and Nakia Green of Little Rock, Ark..

During this inaugural year, Elevate will focus on skill-building as well as professional and leadership development, including intensive in-person training and a series of interactive webinars. This past week’s initial gathering — led by Advocates for Better Care Executive Director Atlanta Tori Cooper; Casa Ruby Founder Ruby Corado; Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network CEO Venton Hill-Jones; and HRC Project One America Director Meghan Kissell —  focused on policy and advocacy; navigating social stigma; organizational leadership; community building and mobilization; public health systems; and self-care.

Elevate is designed to help participants develop skills and access tools to advance their work on improving  health outcomes within the Black and Latinx transgender community in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, all part of HRC’s Project One America program. For more details please visit: hrc.im/elevatefellowship.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-foundation-launches-leadership-program-for-black-and-latinx-trans-women?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Elections 2019 Live Blog

Elections 2019 Live Blog

This Election Day is a turning point: Voters are fed up with politicians who insist on playing politics with the lives of LGBTQ people. HRC has been mobilizing Equality Voters across the commonwealth and across the country to turn out and elect pro-equality champions up and down the ballot.

Tonight, HRC will be bringing you live updates throughout Election Day. Follow @HRC on Twitter and @HumanRightsCampaign on Instagram to stay up to date.

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Virginia residents, wake up! Today is the day to elect a pro-equality majority to your state legislature. #VALeg t.co/qylBC7pPYk

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) November 5, 2019

Today is shaping up to be a historic day in Virginia.

Sheila Bynum-Coleman, along with other @HRC-endorsed candidates, are fighting to bring a pro-equality majority to Virginia.

It’s #ElectionDay. Get to the polls → t.co/qylBC7pPYk t.co/JBuzBk0rHf

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) November 5, 2019

www.hrc.org/blog/elections-2019-live-blog?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 4, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 4, 2019

ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW — AND HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID  (@AlphonsoDavid) HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR VA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES: David joined EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, Delegate Danica Roem and other pro-equality candidates on the trail. 

  • Mike Pence traveled to Virginia to campaign against these pro-equality candidates: “Throughout the closing weeks of this campaign, anti-equality candidates have ramped up their attacks on our allies using extremist, despicable language,” said HRC Campaigns Director Geoff Wetrosky. More from The Daily Progress.

Knocking on doors for @pwcdanica with one of our greatest champions in Congress @JenniferWexton. Danica Roem has made critical progress on the issues that matter most to the people she serves. Let’s make sure she can get back to work for all Virginians! #VAelections pic.twitter.com/gGRv0tQF4l

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) November 4, 2019

A LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE — TRUMP-PENCE ADMIN ATTACKS LGBTQ PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS MINORITIES WITH PROPOSED HHS REGULATION: “The Trump-Pence White House has proposed a horrific federal regulation that would permit discrimination across the entire spectrum of HHS programs receiving federal funding,” said HRC President Alphonso David. More from HRC, Politico, Talking Points Memo and The New York Times.

  • New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday the state would go to court to block this proposal. More from 1010 Wins.

This regulation would permit discrimination across the entire spectrum of @HHSGov programs receiving federal funding. Trump-Pence are prioritizing advancing discrimination over the well-being of vulnerable people & expecting taxpayers to foot the bill. t.co/um51iuewhN

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) November 1, 2019

MUST READ MONDAY — NOVEMBER IS TRANS AWARENESS MONTH: Celebrated each year, Transgender Awareness Month is a vital opportunity to advocate for the visibility, protection, dignity and rights of trans, non-binary and gender-expansive people around the world. November 20 is also Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance honoring the victims of the fatal epidemic of anti-transgender violence that disproportionately targets trans women of color. More from Out.

  • “Fight for change… Vote for trans-affirming candidates that will improve policy so that trans people, especially Black trans women, are protected,” said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen (@TransRigo) of the National Center for Transgender Equality. More from HRC. 

CONGRESS MUST PASS THE COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY ACT TO PROTECT LGBTQ STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: The Act “would ensure LGBTQ students have explicit legal protections from discrimination and harassment, combat cyberbullying, and promote transparency and collection of data around the experiences of LGBTQ students,” said HRC President Alphonso David. More from HRC. 

PHILLY MAYOR JIM KENNEY SIGNS BILL PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY YOUTH: It requires youth-serving organizations to implement policies to protect transgender and non-binary youth. More from CBS3.  

POSE’S BILLY PORTER, HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID AND SINGER SHEA DIAMOND APPEAR AT DALLAS BLACK TIE DINNER: More from Dallas Voice. 

Incredible energy in Dallas for the 38th annual Black Tie Dinner. So much love for the incomparable @theebillyporter, @iamsheadiamond, @lancebass, and @dyllonburnside. Thank you, Dallas! pic.twitter.com/7reRAyWbSb

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) November 3, 2019

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

USA HOCKEY (@usahockey) PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES POLICY THAT WILL PENALIZE THOSE USING RACIST AND ANTI-LGBTQ SLURS: More from USA Hockey and OutSports.

Racial & derogatory slurs of any kind have no place in the game. #HockeyIsForEveryone

Read the full letter from USA Hockey president Jim Smith → t.co/6Oj0HtEHEj pic.twitter.com/Kvn2O6Xr6o

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) October 30, 2019

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

JAMAICA’S ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS AND DISCRIMINATION IN SOCIETY COST THE COUNTRY $11B (JAMAICAN DOLLARS) A YEAR: More from The Gleaner.   

TURKMENISTAN MAN AND HIS FAMILY MISSING AFTER HE PUBLICLY COMES OUT: Same-sex relations are criminalized in Turkmenistan, with punishment of up to two years in prison. More from RadioFreeEurope. 

INDIAN ARMY PUSHING TO MAKE SAME-SEX RELATIONS PUNISHABLE OFFENSES IN THE ARMED FORCES: The order comes despite the fact that India’s Supreme Court decriminalized same-sex relations a year ago. More from India Today and Vice. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

The Advocate reports on the urgent need to support and care for LGBTQ elders; Entertainment Weekly announces Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) will receive the Golden Globes’ Carol Burnett Award

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-november-4-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

One Year Out: What’s at Stake for LGBTQ Americans in 2020

One Year Out: What’s at Stake for LGBTQ Americans in 2020

HRC highlights the stakes for LGBTQ people in the 2020 Presidential Election.

“Since Donald Trump and Mike Pence took office, LGBTQ people have been under constant attack by an administration that is hell-bent on stripping away our rights and rolling back the progress we’ve made,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “But our community is resilient and we have fought back every step of the way. HRC has mobilized our grassroots army of more than 3 million members, and 57 million Equality Voters, across the country to fight back and turn resistance into action. We’ve made investments, hired staff and begun voter engagement in states across the country to defeat Donald Trump. Come November 2020, HRC and the 57 million Equality Voters across the country will be ready to end this nightmare of an administration.”

In 2018, HRC mobilized 57 million Equality Voters in targeted states and districts nationwide to help elect pro-equality leaders at every level of the ballot. In 2017, HRC identified six priority states for their importance in both 2018 and 2020: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  In those states, pro-equality candidates won 5/5 Senate seats, 4/6 Governor’s mansions and broke anti-equality trifectas or supermajorities in 4/6 states. Now, in addition to electing pro-equality candidates nationwide, HRC will build upon the tremendous successes in these states and across the country to elect a pro-equality President in 2020.

Here’s a list of all of the attacks the Trump-Pence administration has levied against LGBTQ people:

    For the full list of Trump’s attacks on LGBTQ people, HRC.org/timelines/Trump.

  1. Opposition to the Equality Act: Despite support from almost every segment of the U.S. population and a majority of Republicans, President Trump opposed the Equality Act. In May, the House passed the Equality Act, voting to guarantee critical non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people among other crucial rights. 

  2. Appointed anti-LGBTQ judges: Trump has appointed anti-LGBTQ judges with alarming anti-LGBTQ records to appointments at every level of the judicial system, including anti-equality Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh and federal nominees Kacsmaryk, Mateer, Bounds, Vitter. Menashi and others.

  3. Joked about Pence’s desire to hang LGBTQ people: In 2017, Trump joked about Vice President Pence’s anti-gay agenda saying “Don’t ask that guy—he wants to hang them all!”

In the Workplace

  1. Supported employment discrimination against LGBTQ people: The Trump administration submitted amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting discrimination against LGBTQ people. 

  1. Banned transgender service members from the military: Against the expert advice of military leadership, medical authorities, budget analysts, 70% of Americans and the armed forces of allied countries, Trump and Pence banned transgender people from serving in the military.

  1. Rolled back Obama-era non-discrimination protections: Trump’s Department of Justice upended previous DOJ interpretations of the Civil Rights Act that protect transgender and non-binary workers from employment discrimination and ceased enforcing non-discrimination protections as well as taking a hostile stance to LGBTQ workers in court. 

  1. Planned new rules to license discrimination: Trump’s Department of Labor issued a regulation designed to allow federal contractors to claim a religious exemption to fire LGBTQ workers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

  1. Kicked people living with HIV out of the military because of their status: The Department of Defense instituted a “Deploy or Get Out” policy, which would remove military personnel living with HIV from service solely because of their status.

  1. Created a hostile work environment for LGBTQ federal employees: According to Politico: “[The Trump administration] fostered a climate where six staffers who are LGBT described removing their wedding rings before coming to work in the morning, taking down photos of their partners and families or ultimately finding new jobs further away from certain political appointees. They did not want to be identified; two said they feared being reassigned for being gay.”

In Health Care

  1. Section 1557 Rule: HHS published a proposed major change to the administrative rule interpreting Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to remove explicit protections for LGBTQ people in healthcare programs and activities by excluding LGBTQ people from protections from discrimination based on sex stereotyping and gender identity. 

  2. Advocated for the elimination of the entire Affordable Care Act: The Justice Department issued a legal filing arguing that the entirety of the Affordable Care Act should be overturned. This move would jeopardize health care for over 130 million people with preexisting conditions like HIV and eliminate non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

  3. Created a Religious Discrimination Division: HHS created a new office whose sole purpose would be to defend physicians and other medical professionals who decide to refuse care, including to LGBTQ patients.

  4. Proposed cutting over $1.35 billion from PEPFAR budget: In his proposed FY 2019 budget, Trump cut $1.35 billion from, or 29% of PEPFAR’s budget. PEPFAR is the U.S. government program that fights AIDS abroad. 

In Schools

  1. Guidance for Schools on Transgender Students: The Departments of Education and Justice eliminated Obama-era guidance clarifying that schools must treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity. This encourages schools officials to permit harassment of transgender students, deny access to facilities consistent with gender identity, and refuse to use correct names and pronouns — all inflicting untold emotional harm.

  2. Rejected Complaints From Transgender Students: The Department of Education refused to respond to civil complaints filed by transgender students, including those who were barred from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. This increases the burden for transgender students to combat these harmful policies. 

  3. Suggested it is acceptable for schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students while accepting tax-payer funds: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has refused to rule out federal funding for schools that discriminate against LGBTQ students and has declined to state she would otherwise intervene should discrimination occur.

  4. Sexual Assault: DeVos rescinded Title IX rules related to schools’ obligations to address sexual harassment, including sexual violence. By eliminating the Obama-era rules, DeVos increased the standard of proof from “preponderance of the evidence” to “clear and convincing evidence” making it more difficult for survivors of sexual assault to obtain justice. LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected by sexual assault and harassment, and the stigma that many LGBTQ people face can make it more difficult for survivors to report. 

  5. Eliminated language protecting LGBTQ children participating in the 4-H program: The Trump-Pence Administration ordered 4-H programs to remove a policy specifically welcoming LGBTQ children in the 4-H program, which led to the firing of an official who protested.

In Housing

  1. Allowed emergency shelters to deny access to transgender and gender nonconforming people: Despite the fact that LGBTQ people are significantly more likely to experience homelessness in their lives, HUD Secretary Ben Carson has proposed a rule to permit emergency shelters to deny access or otherwise discriminate against transgender and gender nonconforming peoplewho are homeless. HUD also canceled a scheduled survey on LGBTQ homelessness.

  2. Placed transgender incarcerated persons in the wrong prison: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) rolled back an Obama-era policy that housed transgender prisoners consistent with their gender identity. With transgender people experiencing sexual assault at higher rates than average, this decision only puts them at further risk of assault. 

In Families

  1. Allowed foster care programs to discriminate while accepting tax-payer funds: Trump-Pence White House has proposed a federal regulation that would strip away nondiscrimination requirements and permit all Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant recipients, notably adoption and foster care agencies, to discriminate against LGBTQ people, and in many circumstances religious minorities and women, and still receive federal funding.

  2. Refused visas to partners of diplomats: The State Department began refusing visas for same-sex partners of some diplomats and U.N. workers if they are not married.

  3. Changed rules to deny surrogate born children citizenship: The Trump Administration has interpreted  immigration rules specifically so the child of a same-sex couple born abroad via surrogate would be considered “born out of wedlock” and making it more difficult to obtain U.S. citizenship.

In Representation

  1. Erased transgender people: Trump’s HHS proposed a new definition that would narrowly define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by birth. According to the New York Times: “The new definition would essentially eradicate federal recognition of the estimated 1.4 million [transgender] Americans.” In addition, agency staff,  including those at the Centers for Disease Control, have been instructed to stop using the word transgender in official reports. 

  2. Eliminated information on LGBTQ rights, mentions, and representation on government websites: Within hours of Trump’s swearing-in, pages on LGBTQ rights and recognition were removed from government websites, including the White House.

  3. Blocked questions regarding sexual orientation from consideration for the census: Trump and Pence have sought to block questions on sexual orientation from the census in order to erase LGBTQ people from official counts. This would, in turn, prevent the collection of crucial data that could help improve government programs and resources for LGBTQ people. 

  4. Refused to recognize LGBTQ people in National AIDS day Address: Despite being the community most affected by the epidemic, Vice President Pence has consistently refused to acknowledge LGBTQ people in his addresses on National AIDS day. 

In the World:

  1. Refusing LGBTQ asylum seekers fleeing violence: Trump issued an executive order to create further obstacles for all people seeking to enter the U.S., preventing refugees from escaping some of the most anti-LGBTQ regimes in the world.

  2. Embassy Pride Flags: Pence defended the State Department directive to ban U.S. embassies across the world from flying the LGBTQ Pride Flag during Pride Month. 

  3. Left the U.N. Human Rights Council: Trump and Pence, over LGBTQ and other issues, removed the United States from the U.N. Human Rights Council.

  4. Chechnya: Trump and Pence refused to condemn attacks on LGBTQ people in Chechnya, where atrocities against queer people are horrific and ongoing.

  5. Brunei: The Trump-Pence administration has refused to condemn a Brunei law that imposes barbaric punishments on LGBTQ people, including death by stoning, torture and whipping. 

www.hrc.org/blog/one-year-out-whats-at-stake-for-lgbtq-americans-in-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

HRC Calls on Congress to Protect LGBTQ Students in Higher Education

HRC Calls on Congress to Protect LGBTQ Students in Higher Education

Today, HRC called on Congress to pass the College Affordability Act (H.R. 4674) to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. The College Affordability Act includes important protections for LGBTQ students.

“No student should feel unsafe or unwelcome on any college campus,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “The College Affordability Act would ensure LGBTQ students have explicit legal protections from discrimination and harassment, combat cyberbullying, and promote transparency and collection of data around the experiences of LGBTQ students. If passed, this legislation would mark important progress toward making college campuses safer for all students. We appreciate the leadership of Chairman Bobby Scott and Education and Labor Committee members for advancing this legislation.”

As reported by the House Education and Labor Committee today, the College Affordability Act includes the following important provisions:

  • Clarifies that prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of sex include gender identity and sexual orientation;
  • Includes the Tyler Clementi Act (H.R. 2747/S. 1492) to require higher education institutions adopt policies to address cyberbullying;
  • Mandates the Department of Education study best practices for collecting data on LGBTQ students and their experiences; 
  • Includes the Exposing Discrimination in Higher Education Act (H.R. 3555) which requires religiously affiliated educational institutions that avail themselves of exemptions to discriminate against LGBTQ students to be transparent about their intent to discriminate.

The Human Rights Campaign is committed to ensuring all students can learn in a safe and affirming environment. 

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-calls-on-congress-to-protect-lgbtq-students-in-higher-education?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 1, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: November 1, 2019

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW — U.S. HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION TO FORMALIZE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO TRUMP: The House voted Thursday 232-196 to adopt the resolution. “We come here to do the work, make the future better for our children, for America’s future,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) told reporters. “We take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and that’s what we cannot ignore and will not ignore when the president’s behavior indicates that that investigation, that inquiry, is necessary.” More from NPR.  

No one is above the law, including the President. This is an important step in the impeachment inquiry of serious allegations of conduct that compromises national security, the constitutional process, and the integrity of our electoral framework. t.co/CvsZMWKGkB

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) October 31, 2019

2,000+ PARENTS AND ADVOCATES SIGN LETTER SUPPORTING TRANS YOUTH AMID DANGEROUS RHETORIC IN TEXAS: Following abhorrent anti-trans remarks from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the Human Rights Campaign and 2,000+ parents, families and advocates joined an open letter to Sen. Cruz, condemning his harmful language and supporting the rights of trans youth to access medically recommended care. In the letter, they write: “As parents of transgender and non-binary children, we’ve become all-too-familiar with the danger that can come if a child is unable to express their deeply-held gender identity…the nation’s leading medical organizations…have made clear that access to gender-affirming care is essential to well-being.” More from the Dallas Morning News.

  •  Stand united for transgender children — parents/caregivers of transgender and non-binary children interested can sign onto the letter here. 

FRIDAY FEATURE — MOTHER JONES GOES INSIDE SHEILA BYNUM-COLEMAN’S CAMPAIGN TO UNSEAT ANTI-LGBTQ VA HOUSE SPEAKER KIRK COX: “I’m running against the most powerful Republican in the state of Virginia, and this election is going to impact people’s lives,” said Bynum-Coleman (@sheilaforva). “When I knock on people’s doors and they tell me they need me to win, that’s not something I take lightly. That’s big to me.” More from Matt Cohen (@Matt_D_Cohen) at Mother Jones. 

HRC HONORS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2019: As communities across the U.S. gather to honor Native American Heritage Month, we must center the lives and stories of LGBTQ and two-spirit Native American people at the heart of our movement. More from HRC. 

HRC MARKS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH TO SUPPORT LGBTQ YOUTH: National Adoption Month is a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the need for permanent families for children and youth awaiting adoption in the U.S. foster care system. More from HRC. 

THREE THINGS LGBTQ PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW AS ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS TODAY: The open enrollment period for 2020 health insurance through the Affordable Care Act runs through December 15. More from HRC. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

VIDA’S TANYA SARACHO (@TanyaSaracho) & POSE’S MJ RODRIGUEZ  (@MjRodriguez7) ON CHANGING THE LGBTQ NARRATIVE IN MEDIA: “Immigrant and brown members of the LGBTQIA+ community have often been left out of not only the celebrations, of the commissions, but of the narrative in the media, in the industry, in this country. Of me being up here, I think the tide is changing,” Saracho told Variety. More from Variety.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

ANTI-LGBTQ U.S. ACTIVISTS ORGANIZE CONFERENCE IN GHANA: This week, the World Congress of Families is holding a regional conference in Accra, Ghana, where U.S. anti-LGBTQ activists will advance their dangerous vision of the so-called “natural family.” HRC condemns efforts by the World Congress of Families to further endanger LGBTQ people, women and others in Ghana and throughout the world. More from HRC.

UGANDAN DOCTOR UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT OF LGBTQ PATIENT: Members of the Ugandan LGBTQ community say they risk physical attacks in their daily lives, particularly in the context of a recent spate of targeted murders and other violence in the country, and routinely encounter harassment and prejudice in employment, housing and healthcare. More from The Guardian. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
The Advocate shares a thoughtful piece on lessons a gay dad learned from being a parent

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-november-1-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Honoring the Resilience of the Transgender Community

Honoring the Resilience of the Transgender Community

As a transgender man working in social justice in the nation’s capital, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen knows visibility is more important now than ever.

“There’s a stereotype that trans people always knew they were trans since they were kids. That’s true for some of our community, but not everyone. Personally, I always knew that something didn’t fit, that something was off, but I didn’t know what, and the lack of visibility is a big part of that,” Heng-Lehtinen told HRC. “It took me meeting other trans masculine people to realize that’s who I was. Once I learned about transmasculinity, I immediately understood why I had been struggling for so long. That’s the power of visibility. We all need to see ourselves in the world around us.”

Heng-Lehtinen, the deputy executive director at the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the increased visibility of transgender people in the media “blows his mind.”

“When I was growing up, not only were there very few trans people on TV, but those few trans people were portrayed disrespectfully…I never dreamed we would see so many positive, complex portrayals of our community,” he said. “This progress is a testament to the power of activism. I’d like to see this continue. The best stories are inspired by the diversity of real life. There are still a ton of powerful trans stories out there waiting to be brought to life for audiences around the world.”

Allies could help raise those powerful stories by ensuring that all social justice issues are intersectional with transgender issues and that transgender people have a seat at the table.

With the epidemic of violence against transgender people, this allyship remains immensly important. More than 150 transgender people have been killed in the U.S. in recent years  — most were Black transgender women and most were victims of gun violence.

We must not only say their names, but honor their memories with action. That’s why HRC recently launched a major expansion in the fight for transgender equality and justice, which will address the urgent needs of the transgender community, with specific attention to community members deeply impacted by racism, sexism and transphobia. This major effort will include a focus on economic empowerment; capacity-building programs; targeted task forces in communities hardest hit hard by the epidemic of anti-trans violence; and expanded public education campaigns. 

“Fight for change … Vote for trans-affirming candidates that will improve policy so that trans people, especially Black trans women, are protected,” Heng-Lehtinen said. “Support the decriminalization of sex work so people aren’t put in such dangerous situations. And donate to trans organizations, including local ones, fighting on the front lines to make everyone safe.”

To learn more about HRC’s work around transgender issues, including our newly-launced expansion for transgender equality and justice, visit hrc.org/transgender. 

www.hrc.org/blog/honoring-the-resilience-of-the-transgender-community?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

Anti-LGBTQ U.S. Activists Organize Conference in Ghana

Anti-LGBTQ U.S. Activists Organize Conference in Ghana

Post submitted by HRC Global Senior Manager Taylor N. T. Brown

This week, the World Congress of Families will hold a regional conference in Accra, Ghana, where U.S. anti-LGBTQ activists will advance their dangerous vision of the so-called “natural family.” As a part of these efforts, the World Congress of Families plans to advocate for adoption of public policies supporting so-called “conversion therapy” and an understanding of LGBTQ people as “deviant,” while attacking sex education and women’s rights in Ghana. Through this work, the World Congress of Families continues its campaign to export hate and thwart the work of local advocates to end violence and discrimation against LGBTQ people across West Africa.

The World Congress of Families is an anti-LGBTQ organization based in the U.S. with strong ties to the religious right. The organization, designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, promotes a disturbing and radically distorted depiction of LGBTQ people. It has a long history of exporting its anti-LGBTQ narrative to many parts of Africa, often by framing LGBTQ people and the protection of their human rights as somehow foreign and un-African, a fundamentally inaccurate characterization.

In 2015, HRC published a report exposing the World Congress of Families past anti-LGBTQ efforts over the years. In Russia, the World Congress of Families pushed adoption of the so called “Gay Propaganda” Law and promoted similar laws in Lithuania and other countries. Across Africa, the World Congress of Families enabled and promoted legislation to further criminalize LGBTQ people, including in Nigeria and Uganda.

At this week’s conference in Ghana, some of the World Congress of Families’ most prominent U.S. figures will take the stage, including:

  • Sharon Slater, President of Family Watch International: Slater has spread the horrific depiction of LGBTQ people as pre-disposed to committing crimes against children. In 2012, she called on activists in Nigeria to oppose efforts by international institutions to support the decriminalization of LGBTQ people. In 2019, Slater characterized sex education as an attack on family values.
  • Brian Brown, President of the World Congress of Families: Brown has long organized against LGBTQ communities, promoted harmful laws and emboldened other hate groups and extremists. Recently, Brown boasted about his close relationship with autocratic Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and met with activists in Tbilisi, Georgia, to praise their confrontations with LGBTQ people.

HRC condemns efforts by the World Congress of Families to further endanger LGBTQ people, women and others in Ghana and throughout the world. We urge allies to help us shine a spotlight on the group’s hateful agenda and hold the World Congress of Families accountable by sharing news on social media about the group’s harmful messages and amplifying the positive work of local LGBTQ communities and their allies.

For more information about HRC’s work around the world, visit hrc.org/Global.

www.hrc.org/blog/anti-lgbtq-us-activists-organize-conference-in-ghana?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 31, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 31, 2019

CONGRATS, NATS!!! AND WHO DOESN’T LOVE A PARADE? SATURDAY, 2 P.M.

For the first time in 95 years, the #WorldSeries champions are from Washington, DC.#STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/wxYc9XbQYo

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 31, 2019

HRC FOUNDATION TO LAUNCH ELEVATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR BLACK AND LATINX WOMEN AT WEEKEND SUMMIT: Elevate: A Fellowship Advancing Public Health Leadership for Transgender Women of Color will bring 10 Black and Latinx transgender women to HRC headquarters for a groundbreaking pilot program that focuses on developing transgender women leaders in the South to increase their career opportunities and ability to work on improving public health systems. More from HRC.  

ONEPULSE FOUNDATION (@onePULSEorg) ANNOUNCES WINNING DESIGN FOR MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM HONORING VICTIMS OF THE 2016 MASSACRE IN ORLANDO: The design includes a reflecting pool, 49 trees representing the victims encircling the ruins of the nightclub and a museum that “rises like a budding flower.” Said architect Thomas Coldefy, part of the winning design team: “Together, we have an opportunity to reclaim a place from terror and darkness and create a new reality, one that brings people together in celebration of joy and love.” More from Kate Santich (@katesantich) at the Orlando Sentinel and onePULSE Foundation. 

The winning design for what will become the National Pulse Museum & Memorial.

The legacy of my best friends and 47 others will be a beacon of light and hope. And a chance to show the world that love can – and will – win. pic.twitter.com/7cj8nhfkoo

— Brandon (Were)Wolf ���� (@bjoewolf) October 30, 2019

HRC’S INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY — ENGAGING PEOPLE OF FAITH AS ALLIES FOR EQUALITY: This month, HRC Global released the second in its series of “Engaging Allies” resources and capacity-building workshops. This effort is focused on LGBTQ advocates around the world who understand the importance of religion in shaping and driving societal attitudes towards LGBTQ people. More from HRC. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY — ON HALLOWEEN, A 10-YEAR OLD TRANS BOY IS FREE TO BE ANYTHING HE WANTS TO BE: Read more from Rebecca Tan (@rebtanhs) at The Washington Post. 

One of the loveliest stories I’ve gotten to report.

Meet Bethesda boy, a 10-year-old who loves RuPaul and Mario Kart. For Halloween, he wanted most of all to be Garnet from “Steven Universe,” an alien created as a fusion of two characters, two “gems.”t.co/982MaTvZD4

— Rebecca Tan (@rebtanhs) October 30, 2019

ESSENCE MAGAZINE’S 2019 WOKE 100 LIST HONORS WOMEN WHO ARE CHANGE AGENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD: The list honors LBT women and allies, including Out Executive Editor Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_); Pose’s Dominique Jackson (@tyraaross), Angelica Ross (@angelicaross), Indya Moore (@indyamoore) and Mj Rodriguez (@MjRodriguez7); HRC Foundation Board Co-Chair Jodie Patterson (@jodie_GeorgiaNY); NWLC’s Fatima Goss Graves (@FGossGraves); Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor); and Reps. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) and Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley). More from Essence. 

MINNESOTA CARPENTER COULD BE THE STATE’S FIRST OPENLY TRANSGENDER LEGISLATOR: “I think the experience of being trans has honestly made me a better candidate,” said Davin Sokup (@davinsokup), who kicked off his bid for Minnesota’s 20th Senate District in Northfield Tuesday night. More from the Star Tribune. 

NEW APPLE EMOJIS EMBRACE INCLUSIVENESS: One key feature is a gender neutral option for multiple emojis. More from The Guardian and WTHR. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

“UNFUNNY” — COMEDIAN MICHAEL CHE’S TRANSPHOBIC COMMENT ABOUT CAITLYN JENNER IS SNL’S LATEST MISSTEP ON JOKING ABOUT GENDER IDENTITY: “If social media is any indication, many at-home viewers were as disappointed as the studio audience over the reference to Jenner, calling it “hacky, lame” and, in several cases, transphobic,” writes WaPo’s Sonia Rao (@misssoniarao). More from The Washington Post. 

QUEER ICON JANELLE MONÁE DISCUSS HER LATEST ROLE IN BIOPIC HARRIET AND PUSHING HOLLYWOOD BOUNDARIES: “I love rebellious art. I love radical art and I think I’m just going to get even more radical,” Monáe (@JanelleMonae) tells Out. More from Tre’vell Anderson (@TrevellAnderson) at Out.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN EL SALVADOR, HER DEATH SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON VIOLENCE AND LACK OF PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: “Trans women are the ones who are most exposed to all of the abuses that exist in the country, and this crime is a hate crime because of the viciousness and level of barbarity with which they committed it,” stated an activist in El Salvador. Read more at Washington Blade.

HUNDREDS PROTEST ANTI-TRANS WRITER MEGHAN MURPHY AT TORONTO LIBRARY: More from the National Post. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Yahoo spotlights Google VP Pedro Pina, named world’s top LGBTQ executive role model; Out reports that Andy Warhol’s portraits of trans women, including Marsha P. Johnson, will be displayed at London’s Tate Modern

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-october-31-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

NEWS

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 30, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: October 30, 2019

HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID TO CONGRESS — ANTI-LGBTQ HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS “MORALLY BANKRUPT”: David testified in a hearing yesterday before the House Financial Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on anti-LGBTQ discrimination in housing and lending. “No one should be turned away from an apartment, kicked out of their home or sent back to the street simply because of who they are or whom they love,” said HRC President Alphoso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “LGBTQ people and our families demand fair and equal access to housing opportunities.” More from Washington Blade, Michigan Advance and HRC.

LGBTQ people, particularly communities of color, shoulder the weight of discrimination at astronomical rates. Grateful to all who testified alongside me on the dangers of housing & lending discrimination & the need for action — including Senate passage of the #EqualityAct.

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) October 29, 2019

SPELMAN COLLEGE WILL BE FIRST HBCU TO CREATE QUEER STUDIES CHAIR WITH $2M DONATION: “Spelman College has long been at the forefront of LGBTQ inclusion and education among HBCUs,” the donor, Jon Stryker, president of the Arcus Foundation (@ArcusLGBT), which supports LGBTQ rights, told Forbes. “[T]he goal is to engage and empower the next generation of LGBTQ advocates to create a better world.” The chair will be named in honor of Black lesbian poet and activist Audre Lorde. More from Forbes and The Advocate.

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY — LGBTQ VIRGINIANS NEED LEADERS WHO CHAMPION VIRGINIA VALUES: “Support for policies that protect LGBT people from discrimination crosses party lines and has been on the rise, not only across the nation, but also here in Virginia,” writes James Parrish, executive director at Equality Virginia Advocates (@EqualityVA). “We need elected leaders who will prioritize common-sense, bipartisan legislation to protect LGBT people.” More from Virginia Mercury.   

COMMENTARY: “This General Assembly, we have a chance to do better. We need elected leaders who will prioritize common-sense, bipartisan legislation to protect LGBT people,” writes James Parrish, executive director at Equality Virginia Advocates. t.co/hdeu1UOuik

— The Virginia Mercury (@MercuryVirginia) October 29, 2019

PEDIATRICIANS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF CARE FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING CHILDREN AND TEENS: More from Contemporary Pediatrics. 

ALARMING REPORT FINDS THAT ADOLESCENT SUICIDE RATES UP 87% IN LAST DECADE — HIGHEST RATES AMONG LGBTQ AND NATIVE TEENS: More from PR Newswire. 

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER AWARDED GRANT TO RESEARCH CHALLENGES FACING LGBTQ PEOPLE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH CARE: The university’s Prevention Research Center aims to expand training for health care workers and conduct a nationwide survey to better understand the challenges facing LGBTQ people when seeking mental health care. More from The Diamondback. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

THEBABYISBORN — RICKY MARTIN AND HUSBAND JWAN YOSEF WELCOME IN THE FOURTH CHILD TO THEIR GROWING FAMILY: While attending the HRC National Dinner last month with his family, Martin announced that he and Yosef were expecting another child. More Joelle Goldstein (@joelleg0ldstein) from Entertainment Weekly. 

SOCCER STAR MEGAN RAPINOE (@MPINOE), FILMMAKER JOHN WATERS AMONG THE NEW FACES OF NIKE: We wonder if they’ll be releasing a limited-edition pair of cha-cha heels? More from Washington Blade. 

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LONDON TO HOLD FIRST MUSLIM PRIDE TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: “[The pride festival] is going to help the next generation to know it’s okay for them to be LGBTQ and also be Muslim,” said a representative from Imaan, an organization working to support LGBTQ Muslims. More from the Evening Standard.

INDIA START-UP TRAINS AND PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY: PeriFerry has trained over 250 people from the trans community and placed over 90 people in software, HR, bank and hospitality jobs. More from The Better India.

TRANSGENDER WOMAN FROM EL SALVADOR RECALLS INHUMANE CONDITIONS IN ICE DETENTION CENTER: The Phoenix New Times’ Hannah Critchfield  (@HannahCritch) shares the story of Britany, one of the many migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. More from the Phoenix New Times. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
Out shares powerful portraits of trans elders embodying survival

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-october-30-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

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