Lawyer Says He Was Accused of Seeking Sex With 9/11 Suspect

Gay lawyer Tim Jon Semmerling has filed suit, saying other lawyers’ actions put his life and career in danger.

www.advocate.com/crime/2018/2/28/lawyer-says-he-was-accused-seeking-sex-911-suspect

WA House of Representatives Passes Bill to Protect LGBTQ Youth from Dangerous “Conversion Therapy”

Today, HRC hailed a vote by Washington state’s House of Representatives approving SB 5722 — legislation protecting LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Several amendments were added to the bill, which now heads back to the Senate for concurrence before it can go to Governor Inslee’s desk. If signed, SB 5722 would be the first pro-LGBTQ law to be enacted this year.

“No child should be put through the abusive practice of so-called conversion therapy,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “This outdated and dangerous practice has been rejected by medical professionals and has resulted in life-threatening consequences for countless LGBTQ youth. We thank the state legislators who voted to protect young Washingtonians from this inhumane practice.”

There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people such as depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, and Rhode Island all have laws or regulations protecting youth from this abusive practice. A growing number of municipalities have also enacted similar protections, including cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Florida, New York, and Arizona.

According to a recent report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to conversion therapy by a licensed healthcare professional if state lawmakers fail to act.

HRC has partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation ending conversion therapy. More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/wa-house-passes-bill-to-protect-lgbtq-youth-from-dangerous-conversion-thera?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

House Dems Take Action Against HHS ‘Religious Freedom’ Division

Lawmakers express concern that the division will enable discrimination, and one seeks to abolish it.

www.advocate.com/politics/2018/2/28/house-dems-take-action-against-hhs-religious-freedom-division

Jeff Sessions, Cher, Rick Gates, Cynthia Nixon, Troye Sivan, Minke Whale, Ryan Murphy, Pentatonix: HOT LINKS

JEFF SESSIONS. Attorney General pushes back on Trump tweet attacking him as ‘disgraceful’: “We have initiated the appropriate process that will ensure complaints against this Department will be fully and fairly acted upon if necessary,” Sessions said in a statement. As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution.”

RICK GATES. Mueller drops more than 20 criminal counts following plea deal in Russia probe: “The charges being dropped were brought against Gates in a court in Alexandria, Virginia, in keeping with the terms of his plea deal….If Gates breaks the terms of the agreement, he can be re-charged with the same crimes without having the option to fight his case in Virginia.”

DOWNGRADE. The Trump family blames John Kelly for hanging Jared Kushner out to dry.

NOT GUILTY. Paul Manafort pleads, trial to begin in September.

HOPE HICKS. I tell white lies for Trump: “Hope Hicks, the White House communications director, told House investigators on Tuesday that her work for President Trump, who has a reputation for exaggerations and outright falsehoods, had occasionally required her to tell white lies.”

TEAM SJP. A new photo of Cynthia Nixon may have Kim Cattrall fuming.

FRENZY. Cher hits Sydney ahead of Mardi Gras performance.

FLORIDA. House panel approves bill to arm teachers. “Voting along party lines, the House Appropriations Committee approved training teachers to carry guns in class under the direction of local law enforcement — if superintendents or school boards approve.

MARCO RUBIO. Approval rating hits all-time low in Florida. “That poll pegged Rubio’s approval rating at just 38 percent — down 8 points from the last time Quinnipiac surveyed Florida voters’ approval of the junior senator in July 2016. That’s also down sharply from his all-time high of 57 percent approval in August 2015, according to Quinnipiac.”

NET NEUTRALITY. Senate Democrats have a plan to save it.

CONVICTED. Founder of Asian LGBT site Fridae.com convicted of drug trafficking: “A district court has convicted Fridae.com founder Stuart Koe Chi Yeow, 45, of one count of drug trafficking. Following a trial, District Judge Olivia Low found him guilty on Tuesday (Feb 27) of selling one packet of a crystalline substance containing 0.17g of methamphetamine, or Ice, to beauty adviser Yeoh Kim Koon for $240.”

WOLF FOR CONGRESS. Illinois congressional candidate Benjamin Thomas Wolf smokes weed in new campaign ad. “Benjamin Thomas Wolf, a progressive candidate running for Congress in the state’s 5th District, which includes parts of Chicago, released the photo on his campaign website on Monday.”



CUSTOMER JOY. Netflix CFO David Wells reveals what drove Ryan Murphy signing: ‘Speaking at the Morgan Stanley media and telecom conference in San Francisco, Wells elaborated, “These deals are going to be rarer than you might think. Not everybody gets one. You have to have that track record of being a prolific producer. Like Shonda Rhimes, we were pleased with the type of content he creates in terms of being popular globally, not just in the U.S. He creates a lot of customer joy, as we like to say.”’

DEATH OF GAY CULTURE. San Francisco’s gay Lion Pub (a place we used to frequent back in 1990) has been transformed into a $6 million private home. “The Lion has gone through a lot of changes since its opening 20 years ago,” Ellis said to the Bay Area Reporter in 1989. “We’ve gone from preppy bar to a dance bar to a hippie bar to leather and back to preppy.”

NEW ALBUM ALERT. Pentatonix is coming this spring: “Today (February 27), they announced the imminent release of an album’s worth of material and shared plans for a summer tour across the United States. Called PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I, the album will drop on April 13. ”

TRUE OSCAR POSTERS OF THE DAY:

If the posters for this year’s Oscar-nominated movies told the truth. t.co/yUm61gRGOf pic.twitter.com/U1tplOG6Mt

— Ali Gray (@The_Shiznit) January 23, 2018

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DAY. Troye Sivan “My My My”.

NEW PERSPECTIVE OF THE DAY. The back of a Minke whale. “Little is known about Antarctica’s elusive minke whales, but for the first time, scientists attached a camera to the back of one of the giant creatures to get a glimpse into their secretive underwater world.”

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Rolando Vizcay.

The post Jeff Sessions, Cher, Rick Gates, Cynthia Nixon, Troye Sivan, Minke Whale, Ryan Murphy, Pentatonix: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Jeff Sessions, Cher, Rick Gates, Cynthia Nixon, Troye Sivan, Minke Whale, Ryan Murphy, Pentatonix: HOT LINKS

The Leadership and Political Power of Black Women

As Black History Month draws to a close, and we turn toward Women’s History Month, HRC is highlighting the political and electoral power of Black women.

From leaders like Diane Nash and Rosa Parks, at the heart of the civil rights era, to Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, Black women continue to be integral forces for change.

Hi, this is Patrisse Khan-Cullors (@OsopePatrisse). I’m the founder of @PowerDignity, co-founder @Blklivesmatter and co-author of New York Times Bestseller ‘When They Call You a Terrorist.’ I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth. pic.twitter.com/f1nSa6J9im

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 27, 2018

Trailblazer Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress, paved the way for today’s warriors like Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who consistently advocate for LGBTQ people at the local and federal level. These incredible political leaders remind us that the fight is far from over.

In her speech at the 2017 HRC National Dinner, Sen. Harris reminded everyone of the urgency of the fight for equality.

“Fighting for everyone’s civil rights is in our common interest, and in our self-interest,” Harris said at the National Dinner. “No one should be left to fight alone. No one should have to hide — not in the closets, and not in the shadows.”

Throughout her career as a prosecutor and as the second African-American female Senator, @KamalaHarris has been a tireless advocate for marginalized communities. @HRC recognizes her hard work and sacrifice for #BlackHistoryMonth. pic.twitter.com/YOc8lrph23

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 7, 2018

Rep. Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. We are honored to have her speak at the HRC Los Angeles Dinner on March 10.

With her election to the Minneapolis City Council, Andrea Jenkins, became the first openly transgender Black woman to win public office in the U.S. in November last year.

“It’s more than just having a seat at the table. It’s having a seat at the table and being able to speak to power,” Jenkins told Twin Cities Daily Planet. “It’s about being present, and people knowing you will speak out against injustices. That alone will sometimes limit the number of injustices that happen.”

RT to congratulate Andrea Jenkins (@andreaforward8) on making history. ���� ✊��t.co/OuQOPgr1Rb

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) November 8, 2017

Just one month later, Alabama showed the nation the power of Black women voters. Nearly 100 percent of all Black women voters in the special U.S. Senate election cast their vote for civil rights prosecutor Doug Jones. They were a key component of his victory over Roy Moore, the bigoted anti-LGBTQ politician twice ousted from the Alabama Supreme Court for ethics violations and recently accused of serially preying on teen girls.

With groups including the NAACP of Alabama and Power of the Sister Vote, HRC helped mobilize equality voters to secure the election of Jones over Moore.

Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson described the coalition effort simply: “We have more in common than what people think, and let’s work together.”  

As #BlackHistoryMonth comes to a close, Birmingham City Councilor Sheila Tyson (@SheilaTyson4CC) reminds us of the power of community to mobilize for change. pic.twitter.com/s3p95cKCrs

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 28, 2018

There are more than 500 Black women running for office this year, according to the online database “Black Women in Politics” that compiles information about races from the local to federal level.

Black women have been too often overlooked in history books, absent from many of our narratives about the fight for equality. HRC is proud to highlight these incredible women — just some among many of the justice warriors without whom our movement would not be possible.

www.hrc.org/blog/the-leadership-and-political-power-of-black-women?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed