#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 2, 2018

HRC IS ON THE GROUND IN GEORGIA FIGHTING AN ANTI-LGBTQ ADOPTION BILL: SB 375 would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to unconscionably turn away qualified Georgians seeking to care for a child in need. Those targeted by the bill include LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection. And more on the bill from The Daily Beast.

NOBODY’S PLAYING THOSE OL’ COUNTRY BLUES FOR MIKE HUCKABEE: Less than one day after his appointment was announced, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee resigned Thursday from the CMA Foundation board of directors after many called him out for his history of anti-LGBTQ actions. Said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin): “Mike Huckabee has staked his entire political career on undermining the rights of LGBTQ people and our families. His cynical political attacks and discriminatory views do not represent the diversity of country music, and we thank all of the musicians, industry leaders and fans who spoke out against his appointment to this important role.” More from The Tennessean.

• Huckabee has a long history of bigoted, anti-LGBTQ animus. We compiled some of the low points here.

WA HOUSE PASSES BILL PROTECTING YOUTH FROM DANGEROUS “CONVERSION THERAPY”: The bill now heads back to the Senate for concurrence before it can go to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk. If signed, it would be the first pro-LGBTQ law enacted this year. Said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse: “This outdated and dangerous practice has been rejected by medical professionals and has resulted in life-threatening consequences for countless LGBTQ youth.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.” More from HRC.

DISGUSTING — TRUMP SUGGESTS THAT PULSE MASSACRE WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED IF VICTIMS HAD GUNS: “You take Pulse nightclub — if you had one person in that room that could carry a gun and knew how to use it, it wouldn’t have happened,” Trump said during this week’s televised meeting on gun safety measures. Over the past two weeks, Trump has been rightfully criticized by everyone from students to military vets for his lack of understanding of gun laws. Now, he’s exploiting the 2016 tragedy at Pulse, which took the lives of 49 people — most of them LGBTQ and Latinx, to spread more falsehoods. More from NewNowNext.

FAMILY FRIDAY — BEAUTIFUL VIDEO SERIES FROM NYT: The six-parter on motherhood features a mother loving and supporting her gender non-conforming child and a transgender mother coming out to her children. Watch these powerful stories and more from The New York Times.

LAWSUIT AGAINST HUD AND DOJ FOR ANTI-LGBTQ DECISIONS: People for the American Way and Right Wing Watch are suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Justice Department for documents they say show agency officials are quietly making policy decisions that harm LGBTQ people. More from The Hill.

ARREST MADE IN CASE OF ZAKARIA FRY, TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN NEW MEXICO: Charles Spiess has been charged in the murder of Fry and her roommate, Eugene Carrell Ray. Both had been missing since mid-January. Fry’s friends, family and loved ones are sharing condolences and fond memories on her Facebook page. Writes friend Maddy Wilson: “You were my older sister. You took care of me and loved me like family. I’ll forever love you. I’m sorry.” More from KOB.

GABBY GIFFORDS RELEASES ANNUAL SCORECARD RATING STATES ON THEIR GUN SAFETY MEASURES: More from The Washington Post.

MASSACHUSETTS PRISON OFFICIALS REFUSING TO TRANSFER TRANS INMATE TO PROPER FACILITIES: A suit filed by the transgender woman asks that she be transferred to a women’s facility. More from The Boston Globe.

HATEFUL — PRINCIPAL FORCED TO GO ON LEAVE AFTER COMING OUT AS TRANSGENDER AND RECEIVING THREATS: Stanley School (Mass.) Principal Shannon Daniels will soon return to her position. More from NECN.

NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT CABLE AND BROADCAST TV SPENT LESS THAN 40 MINUTES COVERING LAST YEAR’S UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE: That’s 40 minutes TOTAL across seven networks. More from Media Matters.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

NEW REPORT SHOWS ONLY 2 PERCENT OF NEWS COVERAGE IN INDIA COVERS LGBTQ OR WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES: More from Quartz.

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

Task and Purpose speaks to a LGBTQ veteran who served during “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”; Vogue interviews transgender comedian Patti Harrison (@Party_Harderson); SeniorAdvice names Baltimore as the top city for LGBTQ people to retire; Las Vegas Now interviews the owner of the owner of Las Vegas Lounge, an LGBTQ bar that a gunman targeted this week

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-march-2-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pro-Pot Group Selling Rolling Papers Bearing Jeff Sessions’ Face

A marijuana legalization group is selling rolling papers bearing the face of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The Hill reports:

The group, called #JeffSesh, says on its website that it is a campaign to tell Attorney General Jeff Sessions:  “We’re not criminals, junkies or idiots. Regular Jeffs all over the country — good, responsible, patriotic Americans — have a sesh now and then… and it’s OK!”

Two versions are available, black and white. Both display Sessions.

Adds the group on its site:

“Cannabis provides relief and uplifting energy to millions of users, from serious medical patients in 29 states to recreational consumers in 8 states. 12 states are considering new legalization measures this year.

Every time you sesh with any brand of JeffSesh papers, you’re helping keep the law moving forward—and not back to the Nixon era.

You’re saying we’ve moved on, Jeff.

A priority declared by the previous administration encouraged federal investigators to respect states’ legal cannabis rights and prioritize other concerns, like national security.

Jeff Sessions rolled that back.

#JeffSesh tells him we’re not going back.

To remind him that 64% of the country approves of legalization, as of the latest count by Gallup.

“Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care. … It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record.”

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Pro-Pot Group Selling Rolling Papers Bearing Jeff Sessions’ Face