{"id":56084,"date":"2017-09-07T12:10:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T16:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-tipsheet-september-7-2017\/"},"modified":"2017-09-07T12:10:45","modified_gmt":"2017-09-07T16:10:45","slug":"am_equality-tipsheet-september-7-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-tipsheet-september-7-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"#AM_Equality Tipsheet: September 7, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: September 7, 2017<\/b>
\n<\/p>\n

SENATORS GILLIBRAND AND COLLINS TO CHALLENGE TRUMP\u2019S TRANS MILITARY BAN: <\/strong>Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are preparing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that will challenge the White House\u2019s unconscionable directive<\/a> that interferes in Department of Defense personnel policy by pushing forward the Trump-Pence transgender military ban. The administration\u2019s directive bans qualified transgender people from enlisting or commissioning into the military, and prohibits some medically-necessary transition-related health care. The fate of transgender troops currently serving our nation remains unresolved. More from The Washington Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

SEC OF STATE TILLERSON REPORTEDLY \u2018EXPRESSED CONCERN\u2019 TO RUSSIA OVER LGBTQ HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHECHNYA: <\/strong>Michael K. Lavers (@MKLavers81<\/a>) of The Washington Blade<\/em> reports that Tillerson wrote to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and \u201cconveyed U.S. concerns about the credible reports of widespread detentions, torture and other abuses against gay<\/a> men<\/a> in Chechnya.\u201d While it is important that Tillerson appears to have finally addressed the reports months after they first surfaced, the Trump Administration needs to take real action to help stop the atrocities — through leadership at the United Nations and welcoming people fleeing the violence. More from Washington Blade<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

This only after months of pressure from @HRC<\/a> & others. And yet Trump, Tillerson still publicly silent on Chechnya. t.co\/NHmdOEL0JZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) September 6, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COURT RULES — MARRIAGE EQUALITY SURVEY WILL PROCEED: <\/strong>The court unanimously ruled that the government can go ahead with conducting a public mail-in survey on marriage equality. LGBTQ advocates had argued that the government \u201cdoes not have the power to bypass Parliament to pay for a 122 million Australian dollar ($97 million) public survey,\u201d and believed that Parliament should vote on marriage equality without the survey. Following the decision, Australian advocates launched a \u201cYes\u201d campaign that will include millions of \u201crespectful conversations\u201d on the subject of marriage equality. The survey will be sent out September 12, and results are to be announced November 15. The results will be non-binding and will require legislative action before marriage equality can be achieved. More from The Guardian<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

THANKFUL THURSDAY: <\/strong>HRC released new videos<\/a> as part of its #LoveYourNeighbor campaign, a groundbreaking storytelling project focused on sharing the experiences of LGBTQ people and allies across the South, particularly in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. The project was funded by a grant from Toyota, which has a manufacturing plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi, just outside Tupelo.<\/p>\n

HRC JOINS 27 LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NATION OPPOSING TRUMP FED COURT NOMINEE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ: <\/strong>Schwartz, nominated for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, has a history of supporting anti-LGBTQ — and especially anti-transgender — causes, including HB2, the discriminatory North Carolina law that attacked the rights of transgender people. He also worked for Cause of Action, a conservative organization funded by the Koch brothers, who have a history of funneling money to anti-LGBTQ extremist groups. Read the full letter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HRC REACTS TO TRUMP\u2019S CATASTROPHIC DECISION TO END DACA:<\/strong> Gerardo S\u00e1nchez of Asi Es Mi Gente TV<\/em> spoke with Milagros Chirinos, HRC Bilingual Media Manager-Spanish<\/strong> about Trump\u2019s cruel decision to end DACA. \u201cWe are heartbroken,\u201d said Chirinos. \u201cThis action shatters the dreams of 800,000 Dreamers, including 75,000 LGBTQ young immigrants, but also the dreams of families, relatives and friends. All they want is to be able study, go to school and work like any other person.\u201d More from Asi Es Mi Gente TV<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n