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<\/p>\n#AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 15, 2017<\/b>
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NEARLY 800 PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN SIGN LETTER TO TRUMP CONDEMNING ADMIN MOVE UNDERMINE PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS STUDENTS: <\/strong>In response to the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s announcement<\/a> that it will no longer challenge a nationwide hold on protections for transgender students, nearly 800 parents of transgender children sent a letter<\/a> to President Donald Trump condemning the decision and calling on his administration to fully enforce federal civil rights laws. The letter, signed by parents from 45 states plus Washington, D.C., was organized by HRC and its newly formed Parents for Transgender Equality Council<\/a>, a coalition of the nation\u2019s leading parent-advocates working for equality and fairness for transgender people. \u201cJust 48 hours after the confirmation of his anti-equality attorney general, Donald Trump’s administration directly attacked LGBTQ equality and took aim at the rights of transgender youth,\u201d said HRC President Chad Griffin<\/strong>. \u201cThis disgraceful action exposes transgender students to harassment and discrimination and emboldens bullies from classrooms to state legislatures. These 781 courageous parents are asking that the federal government protect their children at school, something that all families deserve. We stand with these parents and urge President Trump and Attorney General Sessions to listen to families across the country demanding basic fairness and respect for every child.\u201d More from HRC<\/a> and The Associated Press<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n NC GOV COOPER PROPOSES ANOTHER HB2 REPEAL DEAL, BUT WITH UNNECESSARY STRINGS: <\/strong>Yesterday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a proposal that would fully repeal the state\u2019s deeply discriminatory HB2 law, but introduce unnecessary additional provisions. The new proposal comes after the state\u2019s General Assembly failed to follow through on its end of a bargain Cooper brokered in December. It would fully repeal HB2 — but also require a 30-day public comment period for cities considering non-discrimination laws, and strengthen penalties for certain sexual assaults. HRC and Equality NC say the new proposed language is pointless at best, considering the Charlotte City Council went through a two-year process before passing its ordinance, and there is no evidence that existing penalties for sexual assault are insufficient. \u201cBack in December, Governor Cooper tried to engage HB2 backers in a repeal agreement, and the General Assembly completely failed to follow through with their end of that bargain,\u201d said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof<\/strong>. \u201cTim Moore and Phil Berger continue to leave the people of North Carolina in harm\u2019s way with their consistent failure to act. Today\u2019s proposal is yet another chance to fix this mess, but it adds unnecessary language addressing problems that simply do not exist. LGBTQ people are the ones at risk every day HB2 remains on the books, and transgender people especially continue to bear the brunt of this shameful politicking.\u201d More from HRC<\/a> a<\/a>nd<\/a> the News & Observer.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n HRC MISSISSIPPI RELEASES #LOVEYOURNEIGHBOR VIDEO CAMPAIGN: <\/strong>Today, HRC released the first video<\/a> in a series titled \u201c#LoveYourNeighbor,\u201d a storytelling project focused on sharing the experiences of LGBTQ people and allies in Tupelo, Miss. The project was funded by a grant from Toyota, which has a manufacturing plant in Blue Springs, Miss, just outside of Tupelo. The first video<\/a> features Meredith and Josh, a mother-son duo who talk movingly about Josh\u2019s coming out, and the journey that they have taken toward greater understanding of each other through the lens of Josh\u2019s identity. \u201cTo be a good parent of an LGBT son is the same as being a good parent of any child,\u201d says Meredith, who wears a necklace marking the date and time Josh came out to her. \u201cThe importance to me was just that it represented probably the struggle that he had dealt with leading up to that moment.\u201d More from HRC.<\/p>\n WHAT WE\u2019RE READING WEDNESDAY: <\/strong>Felipe Molina Mendoza of Durham, North Carolina, is facing deportation after his asylum request was denied — even though he faces \u00a0threats of physical and sexual violence and harassment in his home country of Mexico because he is gay<\/a>. The News & Observer\u2019s <\/em>Mark Schultz spoke with Felipe about his case and the history of LGBTQ immigrants seeking safety in the U.S. Read the full piece from The News & Observer<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n ICYMI: <\/strong>On Monday night, Michael Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump\u2019s national security adviser after it was revealed that he misled top White House officials, including Vice President Pence, regarding conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Drag Superstar RuPaul (who\u2019s unannounced 2020 presidential run is already endorsed by John Oliver<\/a>) had some sage wisdom for the now-jobless Flynn:<\/p>\n National Security Adviser \u2014 RuPaul (@RuPaul) February 14, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n BILL TO PROTECT LGBTQ YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED \u201cCONVERSION THERAPY\u201d MOVES THROUGH NM SENATE COMMITTEE: <\/strong>The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 121, which would protect youth from the discredited and dangerous practice of so-called \u201cconversion therapy.\u201d The bill now moves to the Senate floor. \u201cConversion therapy,\u201d sometimes referred to as \u201csexual orientation change efforts\u201d or \u201creparative therapy,\u201d encompasses a range of practices that seek to change an individual\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. These practices are based on the false premise that being LGBTQ is a mental illness that needs to be cured, a theory that has been rejected for decades by every major medical and mental health organization. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n HRC AND TRANS STUDENT ADVOCATE DISCUSS TRUMP ADMIN\u2019S UNDERMINING OF PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS STUDENTS: <\/strong>Yesterday, HRC\u2019s Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride<\/a>) and Sarah Warbelow joined transgender student advocate Grace Dolan-Sandrino on Facebook Live to discuss the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to withdraw a request to halt an order against the Obama administration\u2019s protections for transgender students.<\/a> This action will effectively roll back \u00a0protections nationwide. Watch here<\/a>.<\/p>\n TODAY — LAVERNE COX MAKES HISTORY ON CBS SERIES DOUBT<\/em>: <\/strong>Cox becomes the first transgender woman<\/a> to be a regular cast member in a network drama. She will star as Cameron Wirth, a defense attorney. \u201cI actually know a lot of trans<\/a> folks in real life who are attorneys and the law has always fascinated me. And what happens in the courtroom can influence law, can influence public policy,\u201d Cox said of the role. More from CBS<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n YOUTUBER BRYAN STARS COMES OUT IN POWERFUL VIDEO: <\/strong>In a powerful video<\/a> posted to his YouTube channel, social media star Bryan Stars (@BryanStars<\/a>) came out as gay<\/a>. \u201cI have not been able to say those words ever — ever in my entire life,\u201d he said, describing his struggle to find acceptance, and the harassment he\u2019s faced because he\u2019s gay<\/a>. Watch here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cQUEER COUPLES COME IN ALL DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS\u201d: <\/strong>Kristina Marusic (@KristinaSaurusR<\/a>) writes for NewNowNext<\/em> about the struggles unique to people who identify as bisexual<\/a>, queer and transgender and how they are often invisible as members of the LGBTQ community. Read the full piece here<\/a>.<\/p>\n READING RAINBOW <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Glamor<\/em><\/a> profiles Valentina Sampaio, French Vogue<\/em>\u2019s first-ever transgender cover model\u2026 Washington Blade<\/em><\/a> notes that Capitals goalie Braden Holtby will wear a goalie mask at their Feb 24. game to promote LGBTQ equality\u2026<\/p>\n Have news? Send us your news and tips at <\/em><\/strong>AMEquality@hrc.org<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. <\/em><\/strong>Click here<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow <\/em><\/strong>@HRC<\/em><\/strong><\/a> for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n www.hrc.org\/blog\/am-equality-tipsheet-february-15-2017?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 15, 2017 NEARLY 800 PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN SIGN LETTER TO TRUMP CONDEMNING ADMIN MOVE UNDERMINE PROTECTIONS FOR TRANS STUDENTS: In response to the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s announcement that it will no longer challenge a nationwide hold on protections for transgender students, nearly 800 parents of transgender children sent a letter … Continue reading #AM_Equality Tipsheet: February 15, 2017<\/span> \n
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\nMichael T. Flynn, Sashay Away. pic.twitter.com\/7fsj0SRAqM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n