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<\/p>\n#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 16, 2017<\/b>
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DISGRACEFUL — TRUMP LEAKS CLASSIFIED INFO TO RUSSIANS, WHILE FAILING TO CONDEMN THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TORTURE AND MURDER OF GAY MEN IN CHECHNYA:<\/strong> In a sobering piece published this morning by The Washington Post<\/em>, Samar Habib (@samarhabib80<\/a>) details how President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have facilitated the erasure of LGBTQ people at home, and violence against them abroad. Under the headline, \u201cHere\u2019s how Trump-Pence policy is already affecting LGBT lives in Chechnya<\/em>,\u201d Habib writes that Trump-Pence have remained silent about the alarming reports out of Chechnya, \u201ca sharp change from the government\u2019s strong defense of LGBT lives under the Obama administration.\u201d If Chechnya is persecuting gay<\/a> men<\/a> as reports and victims have detailed, \u201cit is precisely because the government recognizes that the U.S. won\u2019t organize any opposition,\u201d Habib says. Read the full piece at The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n TUESDAY TWEET:<\/strong> House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) (@WhipHoyer<\/a>) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) (@SenatorCardin<\/a>) demanded a \u201cvocal U.S. government response\u201d to the human rights abuses occurring in Russia by Chechen authorities under the Putin regime. According to numerous media outlets and human rights organizations across the globe, authorities in Chechnya have been rounding up dozens of men<\/a> on the suspicion of being gay<\/a>. They have been humiliated, tortured, placed in detention and killed. The United States must lead the way in demanding global human rights for all. Read the full oped from Whip Hoyer and Senator Cardin at The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Pls share: @WhipHoyer<\/a> & @SenatorCardin<\/a> demand a “vocal U.S. govt response” to Russian & Chechen human rights abuses. t.co\/ww158nzIEo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) May 15, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n HRC FILES AMICUS BRIEF WITH MAJOR COMPANIES SUPPORTING GAVIN GRIMM: <\/strong>HRC has filed a \u201cfriend of the court\u201d brief<\/a> signed by 59 major U.S. companies supporting transgender student Gavin Grimm in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board<\/em> in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Grimm, a transgender boy<\/a>, filed suit against the school board alleging it violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by denying him use of the boy<\/a>\u2019s restroom. \u201cThese companies are sending a powerful message to transgender children and their families that America\u2019s leading businesses have their backs,\u201d said HRC President Chad Griffin<\/strong> (@ChadHGriffin<\/a>). \u201cAcross the country, corporate leaders are speaking out because they know attacking transgender youth isn’t just shameful — it also puts the families of their employees and customers at risk. Transgender students like Gavin are entitled to the full protection of the law, and must be affirmed, respected and protected in the classroom and beyond.\u201d The 59 signing companies represent over 1.6 million employees<\/strong> and $670 billion in revenue<\/strong>. More from HRC<\/a> and Fast Company<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n TRUMP EXPANDS \u2018GLOBAL GAG RULE\u2019 PUTTING MILLIONS AT RISK WORLDWIDE: <\/strong>HRC has condemned the Trump Administration\u2019s massive expansion of the so-called \u201cGlobal Gag Rule,\u201d (GGR) which prevents U.S. funding of science-based, non-governmental health organizations around the world that provide abortion information, referrals or services. \u201cHRC has long opposed the \u2018Global Gag Rule\u2019 and any policies that seek to limit access to critical healthcare services,\u201d said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs, JoDee Winterhof <\/strong>in a statement yesterday. \u201cThis egregious expansion is particularly concerning and puts millions of more lives at risk, including those living with HIV and AIDS. Withholding U.S. aid as a tool to limit women<\/a>\u2019s access to health is simply un-American and stands in direct opposition to our country\u2019s role as a global leader for democracy and human rights.\u201d Ironically, the Trump Administration\u2019s announcement comes at the beginning of National Women\u2019s Health Week. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n ALL-OUT ASSAULT ON LGBTQ RIGHTS IN TEXAS LEGISLATURE: <\/strong>Rick Jervis (@MrRJervis<\/a>) of USA Today <\/em>lays out succinctly the high stakes equality battle playing out in Texas, where HRC is fighting bills attacking LGBTQ people on all fronts — from undermining marriage equality to allowing discrimination against LGBTQ prospective parents and children in the state\u2019s adoptive or foster system, to barring transgender people from accessing public spaces. Texas is not alone in its unprecedented attack — HRC is tracking more than 130 anti-LGBTQ bills in 30 states. As HRC Senior Legislative Counsel Kate Oakley <\/strong>told USA Today<\/em>: \u201cIt\u2019s happening all around the country. Unsurprisingly, Texas just does it bigger.\u201d More from USA Today<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n FIRST FEDERAL HATE CRIME CONVICTION FOR MURDER OF TRANSGENDER PERSON:<\/strong> Yesterday Josh Vallum was sentenced to 49 years in prison for the brutal 2015 murder of 17-year-old Mercedes Williamson<\/a>. This case marks the first time that the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been used to prosecute a suspect for targeting a victim because they were transgender. Vallum pled guilty in December for violating the federal hate crimes law. \u201cThere is an epidemic of violence against transgender people, and particularly women<\/a> of color, across the country,\u201d HRC Mississippi Director Rob Hill <\/strong>told The New York Times<\/em>. \u201cAnd yet today is the first time a perpetrator will be sentenced under federal hate crimes charges for killing a transgender person because that crime crossed a state line.\u201d More from The New York Times<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n HRC TO HONOR ABC NEWS\u2019<\/em> ROBIN ROBERTS WITH VISIBILITY AWARD: <\/strong>Award-winning broadcast journalist Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts<\/a>) of ABC News\u2019 <\/em>\u201cGood Morning America\u201d will be honored with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2017 HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner on June 17. \u201cAs one of the most trusted and beloved broadcast journalists in the country, Robin Roberts brings greater visibility of LGBTQ people into homes across America simply by living openly as her authentic self,\u201d said HRC President Chad Griffin<\/strong>. \u201cRoberts has used her platform to raise awareness of the unique needs and challenges facing LGBTQ people, and she has helped make a difference in the lives of countless people around the world. We are proud to honor Robin Roberts at the 2017 HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner with the HRC Visibility Award.\u201d More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n .@HRC<\/a> is proud to honor @ABC<\/a> News’ @RobinRoberts<\/a> with the Visibility Award at the 2017 HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner t.co\/4zkJHr2Ylx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FBEItpC9aM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) May 15, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n BET AWARDS NOMINATE LGBTQ AND ALLIED ARTISTS, FILMS:<\/strong> Lesbian rapper Young M.A (@YoungMAMusic<\/a>) is nominated for \u2018Best Female Hip Hop Artist\u2019 and \u2018Best New Artist\u2019. The film Moonlight<\/em> is nominated for \u2018Best Movie,\u2019 and Mahershala Ali is nominated for \u2018Best Actor\u2019 for his role in the film. Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30<\/a>), who spoke out<\/a> against anti-LGBTQ laws in North Carolina, is nominated for \u2018Sportsman of the Year.\u2019 The awards show is June 25. The full list of nominees from BET<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n NEW REPORT — DECREASE IN COUNTRIES CRIMINALIZING LGBTQ IDENTITIES, BUT STILL TOO MANY: <\/strong>A new report<\/a> from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) has found that 20 fewer countries criminalize same-sex<\/a> sexual activity than did a decade ago — but anti-LGBTQ culture remains pervasive in many. More from RadioFreeEurope \/ RadioLiberty<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n SHAMEFUL — SINGAPORE BLOCKS LGBTQ VISITORS FROM PARTICIPATING IN RALLY FOR EQUALITY: <\/strong>A recent change to Singapore\u2019s Public Order Act means that only Singaporean citizens and permanent residents can attend an LGBTQ rights rally in July. Singapore is one of at least 72 countries<\/a> that criminalize LGBTQ identities. More from BBC<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n ACTOR KEIYNAN LONSDALE COMES OUT IN POWERFUL INSTAGRAM POST: <\/strong>Lonsdale (@KeiynanLonsdale<\/a>), who acts in the hit CW <\/em>show \u2018The Flash,\u2019 wrote in an Instagram post, \u201cI like to change my hair, I like to take risks with how I dress, I like girls<\/a>, & I like guys<\/a> (yes), I like growing, I like learning, I like who I am and I really like who I’m becoming.\u201d More from Huffington Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n MIDWEST CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON LGBTQ INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES: <\/strong>The third Annual Midwest Queer Trans Indigenous People of Color Conference was recently held at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The conference focused on creating a space to share ideas, actions and inspiration specific to communities of color. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n READING RAINBOW<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Santiago Times<\/em><\/a> talks to Luis Larrain (@LuisLarrain<\/a>), who is running to become Chile\u2019s first openly gay<\/a> congress member; Bustle<\/em><\/a> interviews HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride <\/strong>(@SarahEMcBride<\/a>) on transgender identity and understanding privilege; WTKR<\/em><\/a> celebrates the 10-year anniversary Hampton Road, Va.\u2019s LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce;<\/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-may-16-2017?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 16, 2017 DISGRACEFUL — TRUMP LEAKS CLASSIFIED INFO TO RUSSIANS, WHILE FAILING TO CONDEMN THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TORTURE AND MURDER OF GAY MEN IN CHECHNYA: In a sobering piece published this morning by The Washington Post, Samar Habib (@samarhabib80) details how President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have facilitated the … Continue reading #AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 16, 2017<\/span> \n
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