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<\/p>\n#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 10, 2018<\/b>
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BREAKING — HRC & EQUALITY FEDERATION INSTITUTE RELEASE ANNUAL STATE EQUALITY INDEX RATINGS: <\/strong>The comprehensive state-by-state report<\/a> details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families. It also highlights the onslaught of more than 125 anti-LGBTQ laws introduced across 30 states during the 2017 state legislative season, including proposals to grant sweeping licenses to discriminate; undercut marriage equality; and target the transgender community — including transgender children. The SEI comes as more than 40 state legislatures will reconvene by the end of January, and, according to a 2018 legislative preview report from HRC<\/a>, state legislators, under relentless pressure from opponents of equality, are expected to wage attacks on transgender people — particularly in the critical areas of health care and access to appropriate restrooms. \u201cIf an LGBTQ couple<\/a> drove from Maine to California today, their legal rights and civil rights protections could change more than 20 times at state borders and city lines. The vast majority of Americans today understand that this crazy quilt of protections — and lack thereof — is wrong, impractical, and unacceptable,\u201d said HRC President Chad Griffin<\/strong> (@ChadHGriffin<\/a>).<\/strong> \u201cThe time has come for us to do away with this ragged patchwork of state laws that fail to protect LGBTQ people equally by passing the Equality Act<\/a> once and for all.\u201d Read the full report here<\/a>. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n .@HRC<\/a> Foundation and @EqualityFed<\/a> released our 2017 State Equality Index assessing #LGBTQ<\/a>-related legislation and policies in all 50 states & DC. See how your state rates \u2192 t.co\/DjB9i82Aah<\/a> #StateOfEquality<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6nh9KvZyb6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) January 10, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n HRC CALLS ON SENATE TO REJECT TRUMP-PENCE ANTI-LGBTQ NOM HOWARD C. NIELSON: <\/strong>In advance of Nielson\u2019s Senate nomination hearing today for U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow <\/strong>said: \u201cThe nomination of Howard Nielson to the federal bench is the latest attack on LGBTQ people by the Trump-Pence Administration. Nielson has a long track record of hostility and discrimination towards the LGBTQ community. He has stated that being gay<\/a> is a choice, argued in favor of Prop 8 and abusive conversion therapy techniques, and had the audacity to claim a gay<\/a> judge could not be impartial in a ruling involving LGBTQ rights. Nielson is unfit to serve on the federal bench, and the Senate Judiciary Committee should reject his nomination.\u201d More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n TODAY\u00a0<\/strong>— HRC CELEBRATES DANICA ROEM AS SHE IS SWORN IN TO VA\u2019S HOUSE OF DELEGATES:<\/strong> Roem is now Virginia\u2019s first out transgender public official and the nation’s only out transgender state representative. She unseated Bob Marshall, who had a vicious, anti-LGBTQ record. Roem plans to fight to pass non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, improve affordable access to health care, update the Virginia Human Rights Act to include gender identity and sexual orientation, and remove outdated, unconstitutional language on marriage equality in the Virginia code.<\/p>\n WHAT WE\u2019RE READING WEDNESDAY — MEET THE FIRST SAME-SEX COUPLES MARRIED IN AUSTRALIA: <\/strong>This week marked the first time LGBTQ couples<\/a> could marry following the passage of marriage equality<\/a> in December. In Australia, couples<\/a> must give 30 days notice prior to marrying; many held midnight weddings as the waiting period finally ticked down. Australia is the 25th country<\/a> with marriage equality. More from BuzzFeed<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Same-Sex Weddings Are Finally Being Held In Australiat.co\/h5kGXJIfbc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7Y4f5zkdrr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BuzzFeed LGBT (@BuzzFeedLGBT) January 9, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 300 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY 2018 AND, YES … IT\u2019S CRIMINAL — JOE ARPAIO IS RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE: <\/strong>The former Maricopa County sheriff, pardoned for racist crimes last year by Trump, has attacked nearly every marginalized community, including using anti-LGBTQ schemes to humiliate inmates at his \u2018Tent City\u2019 prison. Arpaio also campaigned against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides much needed relief for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children — including 75,000 LGBTQ Dreamers<\/a>. More from Washington Examiner<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Joe Arpaio is a racist and a criminal who should be behind bars. There is only one candidate qualified to represent all of Arizona, and that’s @kyrstensinema<\/a>. t.co\/pheFAzdHy6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) January 9, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n TRUMP RISKS LGBTQ LIVES BY REFUSING TO GRANT PROTECTED STATUS TO SALVADORAN IMMIGRANTS: <\/strong>In El Salvador, many LGBTQ people face violence and harassment because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Without protected status, many will be forced to return to a country that is not safe for them. More from The Washington Blade<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n BROWARD (FLA.) COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROTECT YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED \u201cCONVERSION THERAPY\u201d: <\/strong>The commission voted unanimously yesterday, and now joins municipalities across the state that have already protected residents from the dangerous and debunked practice. More from Sun-Sentinel<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n MORNING MUST WATCH — LGBTQ NATIVE AMERICANS FIND LOVE AT TRADITIONAL DANCE: <\/strong>Adrian Stevens and Sean Snyder met and fell in love at a pow wow, the traditional Native American celebration. After their rare same-sex<\/a> dance went viral, they\u2019ve performed all over the world, bringing visibility to LGBTQ Native Americans. More from People<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n THERE ARE ONLY 145,000 ACTIVE TRUVADA PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE U.S.: <\/strong>Researchers cite Truvada\u2019s cost, skepticism among some doctors and stigma around HIV and AIDS as causes for the low usage. Truvada is a form of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) \u2013 an HIV prevention strategy that includes taking anti-HIV medication to significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV. More from The Associated Press<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n FILM STARRING TRANS ACTRESS TAKING AWARDS SEASON BY STORM: <\/strong>The Chilean film A Fantastic Woman<\/em> shines a light on the story of the courage of a young transgender woman<\/a>, who struggles in the wake of her partner’s untimely death. Daniela Vega (@DaniVega<\/a>), a transgender actress and lyrical singer, is creating buzz this awards season. More from W Magazine<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n BAFTA HONORS LGBTQ, ALLIED STORIES AND ACTORS: <\/strong>Call Me by Your Name<\/em> is nominated for Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay; Coco<\/em>, co-directed by openly gay<\/a> Adrian Molina, is nominated for Best Animated Film; and I Am Not Your Negro<\/em> is nominated for Best Documentary. HRC supporter and LGBTQ ally Allison Janney is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in I, Tonya<\/em>. More from The Guardian<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n MEET THE LGBTQ GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS: <\/strong>Openly gay<\/a> songwriter Benj Pasek, with professional partner Justin Paul, won Best Original Song for “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman<\/em>. Additionally, Coco<\/em>, which won Best Animated Film, was co-directed by openly gay<\/a> Adrian Molina. More from Advocate<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n HATEFUL — CATHOLIC PRIEST KICKS OUT THREE LGBTQ CHURCH MUSICIANS: <\/strong>The Reverend John Drees removed the men<\/a> from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul-area church because they are all in same-sex<\/a> marriages. More from The Christian Post<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIN URITUS, NEW CEO AT OUT & EQUAL: <\/strong>The organization is the world\u2019s largest LGBTQ professional organization. Uritus was a senior leader at Booz Allen and International School Services. More from San Diego LGBT Weekly<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n READING RAINBOW<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n BuzzFeed<\/em><\/a> interviews transgender teenagers<\/a> who will have a float in the Mardi Gras parade; The Lantern<\/em><\/a> reviews a new children\u2019s book with LGBTQ themes, You Be You!<\/em>; Michigan Radio<\/em><\/a> follows a trans<\/a> opera singer following his dreams<\/p>\n www.hrc.org\/blog\/am-equality-tipsheet-january-10-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 10, 2018 BREAKING — HRC & EQUALITY FEDERATION INSTITUTE RELEASE ANNUAL STATE EQUALITY INDEX RATINGS: The comprehensive state-by-state report details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families. It also highlights the onslaught of more than 125 anti-LGBTQ laws introduced across 30 states during the 2017 state legislative season, … Continue reading #AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 10, 2018<\/span> \n
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