HRC Mourns the Loss of Two Transgender Women

HRC mourns the loss of two transgender women, both black, who were found dead over the weekend. Mya Young was tragically stabbed to death Saturday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to WPVI-TV, the victim was 25 years old. On Friday, Veronica Banks Cano was found dead at a motel in San Antonio, Texas.

Details about the deaths are limited and police have not identified motives. 

In January, Monica Loera, a 43-year-old transgender woman, was fatally shot in Austin, Texas. She is the first known transgender victim of homicide in the United States in 2016.  In 2015, at least 21 transgender people — nearly all transgender women of color — were the victims of homicide. It was the highest year on record for known homicides involving transgender people. Two of those victims, Keisha Jenkins and London Kiki Chanel, were from Philadelphia. Two others, Shade Schuler and Ty Underwood, were from Texas.

HRC and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report last November detailing these crimes and addressing anti-transgender violence, with calls to action for policymakers and community members. Additionally, HRC President Chad Griffin testified with other leading advocates at the first-ever congressional forum on anti-transgender violence in November. 

In his testimony, Griffin said: 

“Each of these women died simply for being themselves. Although the circumstances of each tragic loss have been unique, there are clear trend lines throughout this epidemic. It’s interwoven with other tragic realities that our country has struggled mightily with—including racism, sexism and poverty. We fully recognize that there are many deep roots to this complex crisis. And although we don’t know all of the solutions, many of them are at our fingertips. Congress must act with a greater sense of urgency than ever before to make them a reality.”

These words still ring true today. Our thoughts and prayers and with the victims’ families and friends who are mourning the senseless loss of their loved ones.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-mourns-the-loss-of-two-transgender-women?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Donald Trump Wins in Nevada

HRC released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s latest win in Nevada last night:

“Donald Trump’s third state victory in this campaign is a disturbing sign of where this election is heading,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. “Whether he’s advocating for bills that would allow more Kim Davis-style discrimination or promising to reverse nationwide marriage equality, Trump has made it crystal clear that he would block full LGBT equality as president. Unfortunately, if Trump’s winning streak continues, that’s precisely what could happen. That’s why it is so crucial LGBT voters nationwide turn out and ensure he never sets foot near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Hillary Clinton is the the pro-equality champion who can stop any of these anti-LGBT candidates in their tracks this November, and lead in the fight for full federal equality as president from day one in office.”

Last week, CBN reported how Donald Trump bragged that voters can “trust me” to reverse nationwide marriage equality. Trump’s latest anti-LGBT rhetoric came after Trump said on Fox News Sunday that, if elected, he would appoint justices who would reverse the landmark Supreme Court decision that led to marriage equality nationwide. Prior to that, Trump endorsed the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act,” that would lead to more Kim Davis style discrimination.

Nationally, polling by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for HRC has found that a 55 percent majority of voters are less likely to support a candidate for president who opposes allowing same-sex couples to marry.

The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed Hillary Clinton and sent staff to organize members and supporters in key early states including South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s Democratic primary. HRC previously sent staff to organize in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

With 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — is planning an unprecedented organizational effort to register and mobilize the nation’s pro-equality majority and elect pro-LGBT candidates up and down the ballot. In 2016, HRC expects that the pro-equality vote will be larger, stronger, and more energized than at any point in history. Exit polls show that in 2012 at least six million LGB Americans voted in an election decided by less than five million votes.

Today, in key states like Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida, the population of LGBT adults is greater than the average margin of victory in the last three presidential elections.
  

www.hrc.org/blog/donald-trump-wins-in-nevada?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed