Pat McCrory ‘Pleased’ with Injunction Against Obama’s Policy on Transgender Students

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has responded to news of a federal judge temporarily halting the application of President Obama’s policy on transgender students, namely that Title IX protects transgender students against gender-based discrimination.

On Monday, McCrory said he was “pleased” with the court’s ruling, as Dominic Holden reports. 

RELATED: Federal Judge Blocks Obama’s Transgender School Policy at Request of Texas, 12 Other States

Said McCrory’s communications director Josh Ellis,

“The federal court decision bolster the efforts of Governor McCrory, along with 22 other states, to protect the privacy of families and children in our school bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities. We’re also pleased that a federal court has sided with Governor McCrory’s position that the Obama administration overstepped its authority by bypassing Congress and the courts.”

NPR has more on the ruling out of Texas today:

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor has granted a preliminary, nationwide injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by Texas and a number of other states. […]

The preliminary injunction would mean that, until that lawsuit works its way through the courts, the “status quo” would be maintained and the guidance could not be considered enforceable. […]

In a ruling issued Sunday, O’Connor concluded that there is a strong likelihood the states will win their case, justifying an injunction in the meantime. He found that the administration didn’t follow the proper notice and comment process for the guidelines.

RELATED: Here is the Obama Administration’s Sweeping Transgender Guidance for Schools: READ IT

The post Pat McCrory ‘Pleased’ with Injunction Against Obama’s Policy on Transgender Students appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/N9FEu5UrzTg/

John Oliver to Donald Trump: ‘Drop Out and Teach America a Lesson’ – WATCH

On Last Week Tonight John Oliver once again tangled with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Oliver urged Trump to drop out of the race, arguing it’s in his best interest.

After all, Trump is all about winning. And should he lose to Hillary that would be humiliating and brand-destroying for him. But winning wouldn’t be any better. Trump would then have to actually be president, live in government housing and, you know, do work.

So, Oliver argued, Trump should drop out. In a direct appeal to Trump, Oliver said, “You have accidentally made upwards of 4 good points.” Included among them: Trump has “effectively exposed the length to which political parties will go to appease their base.” Amen.

PREVIOUSLY – John Oliver Delivers Brutal Takedown of Donald Trump: WATCH

Hyping the pros of dropping out, Oliver said,

“Just think about how triumphant it would feel to say on national television: ‘I openly ran on a platform of impossibly ignorant proposals steeped in racial bigotry and nobody stopped me. n fact, you embraced me for it. What the f*ck was that about?”

Oliver added, “If you drop out in order to teach America a lesson, you would not be a loser. You would be a legend. There’d be a federal holiday in your honor.”

Watch, below.

The post John Oliver to Donald Trump: ‘Drop Out and Teach America a Lesson’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/8kW84aWW_-8/

New York Area Trainings Kick Off National Tour for Voter Mobilization in November

Post submitted by Ryan Wilson, Senior Regional Field Organizer for the Southern U.S.

Last week, HRC’s Equality Votes campaign kicked off a nationwide tour holding workshops in local communities where staff equip and empower local volunteers with the tools needed to join fellow HRC members across the country to organize on behalf of pro-LGBTQ candidates for the November 2016 elections.

Members of HRC’s volunteer-led Steering Committee in Greater New York and other local HRC members participated in two trainings, one held in Manhattan and one on Long Island, which trained more than 30 local advocates who are passionate about the upcoming election. The participants learned what is at stake in this election as well as important skills needed for volunteer recruitment and voter mobilization at upcoming phonebanks and other efforts to contact pro-equality voters.

This year, HRC is undertaking an unprecedented effort to mobilize pro-equality voters in key races up and down the ballot. Beginning with intensive work in four key early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina in support of Hillary Clinton for President of the Unites States, and now shifting to look at critical races in key battleground states in the November general election, HRC is focused on engaging our millions of members and supporters on why they can not sit out this critical election.

At HRC we know that elections matter. We’ve come too far to go back now and the stakes could not be higher for the LGBTQ community this election. That’s why we have aggressive plans to mobilize our members and supporters this fall and there is an important role for you in our effort. Click here to learn more about upcoming workshops in cities across the country.

For more information about our HRC Equality Votes workshops or volunteer opportunities in Greater New York or beyond, contact HRC’s Ryan Wilson at [email protected].

www.hrc.org/blog/new-york-area-trainings-kick-off-national-tour-for-voter-mobilization-in-no?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

A Call for Complex LGBTQ Anti-Heroes

www.glaad.org/blog/call-complex-lgbtq-anti-heroes

Xenophobic Evangelical Homophobe Michele Bachmann Advising Trump on Foreign Policy

Michele Bachmann is advising Donald Trump on foreign policy because Trump can’t stop enhancing his collection of dangerous xenophobic right-wingers:

Before the event, former Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said she has been advising Trump on foreign policy and issues of concern to Christian conservatives. She said Trump is right to call for more restrictive immigration policies.

“He also recognizes there is a threat around the world, not just here in Minnesota, of radical Islam,” she said. “I wish our President Obama also understood the threat of radical Islam and took it seriously.”

Bachmann, of course, is already part of the anti-LGBT ‘who’s who’ that makes up his Evangelical Executive Advisory Board.

(h/t The Hill)

The post Xenophobic Evangelical Homophobe Michele Bachmann Advising Trump on Foreign Policy appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/0BiBQ7FkI0Q/

Ellen Page Stars As LGBT Advocate On and Off Screen: Gay Iconography

There’s always been a large debate around LGBT celebrities’ responsibility to be an out and proud advocate of the community, and few young actors know that struggle more than Ellen Page. Before coming out, her sexuality was fodder for rampant tabloid speculation, but since speaking publicly about being a lesbian, Page has been the face of several projects focused on LGBT people.

“There was a time when I thought it would be impossible to be out,” she said at a Human Rights Campaign gala in 2015. “I acutely remember the pain I was in before I was out. And I have been able to experience a lot of things for the first time in the last year and a half. Having my arms wrapped around my girlfriend Samantha while we walk down the street. Holding her hand on the red carpet. Kissing her in the ocean while we surf…and getting to say, in public, I am in love. But living an authentic life should not be something we feel we must fight for.”

She’s been a superhero (X-Men’s Kitty Pryde), an action star (Inception) and the snarky voice of the millennial generation (Juno), but perhaps the work that’s left the biggest impact is Page’s docuseries Gaycation where she’s explored LGBT culture and issues around the globe.

Revisit some of the Canadian actress’ work in a few of our favorite clips, below.

Page first attracted acclaim in the thriller Hard Candy in which she portrays a young vigilante exacting revenge on a pedophile. Page gave a chilling performance, but it wasn’t until the 2007 film Juno that Page received widespread critical and mainstream praise. As the film’s wise-cracking titular protagonist, Page earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

As Page’s profile became more prominent, questions about her sexuality swirled. The lesbian rumors reached such a fevered pitch, Page indirectly responded in an SNL sketch when she hosted in 2008. She came out officially in 2014 at an event for the Human Rights Campaign. “I am here today because I am gay… and because maybe I can make a difference to help others have an easier and more hopeful time,” she said in her speech. “Regardless for me I feel a personal obligation and a personal responsibility. I also do it selfishly because I’m tired of hiding and I’m tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered, and my relationship suffered. And I’m standing here today with all of you on the other side of that pain.”

Last year, Page starred opposite gay icon Julianna Moore in Freeheld. The film tells the true-life story of police officer Laurel Hester as she tries to leave her pension benefits to her partner Stacie Andree after finding out she has terminal cancer. “It’s hard to say this, because the context of the film is so deeply tragic, but for me there was a deep sense of peace on set that I had not felt in a really long time, potentially since I was a teenager and first having these really beautiful, fortunate moments in films,” Page told TIME Magazine in an interview. “There was something about being out, getting to play a gay character, and getting to play a woman who is so inspiring to me—it was such an amazing experience for me. Honestly, if I played gay characters for the rest of my career, I’d be thrilled. I wish I could, honestly!”

Earlier this year Page premiered a new reality series called Gaycation on new TV network VICELAND. Along with Ian Daniel, Page toured the globe exploring LGBT culture and issues in other countries. Before the series even premiered, Page made headlines for confronting then Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz at the Iowa State Fair. However, the most chilling moment in the series’ first season occurred when Page confronted a self-confessed murderer who took pride in killing gay people in Brazil. Despite the danger, Page revealed her sexuality to him on camera, and you could feel the tension. “I think it’s hard to read on camera, but he went from pretty much looking at us, or looking at us from above those sunglasses, to not even looking at our faces after that,” she told The Daily Beast. “There was definitely a shift in that moment. That was definitely the moment where you’re like, OK, what did I just do?”

Next week, VICELAND will air a special episode of Gaycation focusing on the survivors of the Pulse Nightclub attack. The second season will begin to air officially in September.

What’s your favorite Ellen Page project?

The post Ellen Page Stars As LGBT Advocate On and Off Screen: Gay Iconography appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/uP6hJMCS7wU/

Police Arrest Two Masked Men Protesting Anti-LGBT Street Preachers at Charlotte Pride: WATCH

Police arrested two men who were counter-protesting a group of anti-LGBT Bible-thumpers at Charlotte Pride on Saturday. It appeared that the men were arrested for refusing to remove masks.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department had declared the festival an “extraordinary event” due to large crowds expected because of the state’s anti-LGBT law HB 2

Watch (arrest footage begins around 9:30):

Q Notes reports that “there is an anti-mask law in North Carolina, prohibiting anyone from wearing them on “public ways”:

Enacted legislation Article 4A of Chapter 14 states that, “No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, be or appear upon any lane, walkway, alley, street, road, highway or other public way in this State.”

The law was passed in 1953, in response to Ku Klux Klan members hiding their identities with hoods. Anti-mask laws exists in a number of states.

Occupy protesters, many of whom wore Guy Fawkes masks during protests, were targeted by these laws, as have other protesters.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has argued that these laws are unconstitutional, arguing they violate the First Amendment. So far they have held up against legal challenges.

Q Notes also identified the counter-protesters as Michael Behrle and Daniel Gardner and says that they were charged with second degree trespass.

And the anti-LGBT Christian Bible-thumpers in the video above weren’t the only ones trying to disrupt it.

Right-wing nutjob Flip Benham had a loudspeaker setup near one of the stages and was preaching about anal sex from it:

On the flip side, there were more churches participating in the Pride festivities than ever before, the Charlotte Observer reports:

Churches made up more than 10 percent of the 135 contingents in the parade this year, compared to one church that marched in the first parade back in 1994. Some even came with their choirs, driving up parade participation from 2,500 last year to 3,300 this year. Crowds watching the parade were five and six deep in the blocks north of Trade and Tryon streets.

Christina Woodruff attended as a member of Missiongathering Charlotte, which is among the congregations that joined in this year for the first time. The church’s float featured nationally known Christian singer Trey Pearson, who shocked the music industry in June by coming out as gay.

“To those preachers out there screaming the insults, we love you, but stop it,” said Steve Knight of Missiongathering Charlotte.

“Those street preachers screaming hate get so much attention from the media, but there are more churches out here showing their support for LGBT people. You don’t hear enough about us, and we outnumber them.”

The post Police Arrest Two Masked Men Protesting Anti-LGBT Street Preachers at Charlotte Pride: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/RpJlEPFvZMo/

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: August 22, 2016

JUDGE BLOCKS FED GUIDANCE ON TRANS STUDENTS, PUTS 1000s AT RISK AS THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL: On Sunday, a federal judge issued an injunction against guidance provided to school districts by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice regarding the civil rights of transgender students. In Texas v. United States, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor blocked the Department of Justice from enforcing the guidance that clarifies transgender students have a right to be free from discrimination in schools, including a right to use restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said, “Despite this judge’s decision, schools are not barred from following the federal guidance, and school administrators still have a responsibility to ensure that the civil rights of all students are respected and that transgender students have access to facilities consistent with their gender identity. As lawsuits on the scope of Title IX proceed, we believe that justice will prevail as courts continue to recognize that discrimination against transgender students is a form of sex discrimination.” In March of 2015, Judge O’Connor also sought to block Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights for legally married same-sex couples despite the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in United States v. Windsor (2013). More from Bloomberg.

• Reminder: Donald Trump opposes treating transgender students with dignity. In addition to supporting North Carolina’s vile HB2, here’s a reminder that Donald Trump would rescind the Departments of Justice and Education’s guidance regarding the civil rights of transgender students. The Washington Post reported in May, “Donald Trump vowed Monday that if elected president he would rescind the Obama administration’s new directives aimed at protecting transgender people against discrimination in schools and health-care coverage.” More here.

RECORD CROWDS ESTIMATED AT 200,000 ATTEND CHARLOTTE, NC, PRIDE, CALL OUT HB2: This past weekend, hundreds of thousands of people turned out to celebrate LGBTQ equality at Charlotte Pride parade and festival, using the annual event to call for the repeal of the state’s discriminatory HB2 law. The Charlotte Observer reports that a record number of faith groups joined the parade to publicly signal their opposition to the anti-LGBTQ HB2. “Those street preachers screaming hate get so much attention from the media, but there are more churches out here showing their support for LGBT people. You don’t hear enough about us, and we outnumber them,” said Steve Knight of Missiongathering Charlotte.

• Professor Barbara Riseman, writing in The News & Observer, suggests embracing the trans-inclusive future that millennials are already shaping. “Just follow the kids,” she says. Read the full op-ed here.

GOP VEEP NOMINEE MIKE PENCE OPPOSED LGBTQ EQUALITY ABROAD WHILE IN CONGRESS: While Donald Trump attempts to pander to the LGBTQ community, The Washington Blade looks back at how his running mate dangerously worked to undermine the State Department’s push for LGBTQ equality abroad during his time in Congress. Pence ludicrously claimed a bill would, “…tie the hands of American diplomats by mandating that they make sexual orientation a foreign policy priority regardless of other national security considerations.” The Blade noted the contrast with Hillary Clinton, reporting, “The promotion of LGBT rights abroad has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered her landmark “gay rights are human rights” speech in Geneva in 2011.” More here.

A LOOK BACK AT OUT OLYMPIANS: With a record number of out athletes at the Olympics this year, it’s clear that LGBTQ visibility has increased in the sports world. However, these wins have come from hard fought battles and brave visibility from athletes in the past, and much more to fight. While there were more out Olympians participating in the 2016 Olympic Games than ever before, no openly transgender athletes competed. As the games come to a close, we cannot forget those who’ve paved the way for these athletes to live openly and authentically. These Olympians proudly spoke out about who they are, both on and off the field of competition, setting an example for LGBTQ youth and people around the globe. Check out Olympians who made history at HRC.

• For your daily dose of “d’aww,” here are the Olympic moments that warmed our hearts.

LESBIAN EMPLOYEE IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SUES CATHOLIC SCHOOL OVER FIRING: A lesbian woman in a same-sex marriage is suing a New Jersey Roman Catholic school, alleging officials violated state employment law by firing her as a school dean — a job that never included religious instruction — because she married a woman. New Jersey’s employment non-discrimination law includes protections for gender identity and sexual orientation. More from The Associated Press.

• A group of openly gay Church of England clergy are taking a different approach, calling on church leaders to change the church’s official position on marriage equality. More from The Guardian.

ANTI-LGBTQ ATTACK IN ALABAMA: A man in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was attacked last weekend by three men who repeatedly asked him if he was gay. One suspect has been arrested, and police are searching for the other two men. More from WIAT.

• The incident is one of several recent reports of disturbing — and often deadly — acts of violence against LGBTQ people. These attacks disproportionately affect transgender women of color. More from HRC.

• Hundreds of LGBTQ advocates in Istanbul rallied for justice for the murder of Turkish trans activist Hande Kader this weekend. More from The Mirror.

MILITARY TO COVER SOME TRANS-RELATED HEALTHCARE FOR FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEMBERS: The U.S. Military’s Tricare healthcare plan will begin to cover some transition-related healthcare for military family members starting Oct. 1. However, the new policy still won’t cover gender confirmation surgery for military dependents. More from Military.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA MAY HAVE ITS FIRST WOMAN, LGBTQ SHERIFF: Crystal Moore of Latta, S.C., is running to become the state’s first female sheriff — as well as its first openly LGBTQ sheriff. Moore is running just two years after being fired by the mayor for being openly lesbian. She was reinstated through a special election. More from The Associated Press.

READING RAINBOW

The New Civil Rights Movement profiles six openly gay US Ambassadors… Jamaica Observer interviews one of the original discoverers of HIV… PBS NewsHour discusses the U.S. blood donation policy requiring gay and bisexual men to abstain from sex for one year before donating… TV New Zealand shares a video highlighting a local medical school’s effort to teach established doctors about LGBTQ health… The Washington Post profiles Jim Gray, an openly gay Democratic candidate running to unseat Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)… Bloomberg reports that Australia will likely push back its vote for marriage equality… and Windy City Times announces the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame 2016 inductions.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-august-22-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed