{"id":63701,"date":"2018-02-07T10:10:28","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T15:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-february-7-2018\/"},"modified":"2018-02-07T10:10:28","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T15:10:28","slug":"am_equality-february-7-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-february-7-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"#AM_Equality: February 7, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

#AM_Equality: February 7, 2018<\/b>
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ON SEC. DEVOS\u2019S ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, MORE THAN 700 PARENTS OF TRANS CHILDREN CONDEMN HER FAILURE TO PROTECT STUDENTS: <\/strong>In a letter to DeVos, the parents, speaking for the thousands of families of transgender children across the country, write, \u201cOur children are at a significantly increased risk for depression, anxiety and suicide. Sadly, the discrimination that causes this distress emerges even among professionals who are tasked with educating the next generation and preparing them for the world. We will not have our children left behind and their lives put at risk as a result of this bigotry.\u201d The letter, signed by parents from 47 states and Washington, D.C., was organized by HRC and its Parents for Transgender Equality Council<\/a>, a coalition of the nation\u2019s leading parent-advocates working for equality and fairness for transgender people. More from HRC<\/a> — and read Greg Toppo\u2019s (@gtoppo<\/a>) report at USA Today<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy son, Max, is not a political pawn. @realDonaldTrump<\/a> @mike_pence<\/a> @BetsyDeVosED<\/a> have chosen to target him and other transgender children for discrimination.\u201d – @mrsbriggle<\/a> t.co\/mXTDsAGOnt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 7, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

HRC RESPONDS TO PUBLIX\u2019S DECISION TO ADD COVERAGE FOR PrEP TO EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLANS: <\/strong>Said Mary Beth Maxwell, Senior Vice President for Programs, Research and Training at the Human Rights Campaign: <\/strong>\u201cIt is a positive step forward that an employer as large as Publix will now offer PrEP to its employees as part of their health care coverage. Publix has locations predominantly in the South, where HIV disproportionately affects the population, making this decision all the more impactful and necessary.\u201d Publix reversed its decision to deny PrEP coverage<\/a> after pressure from HRC, other advocates and elected officials including Florida State Rep. Carlos Smith<\/a>. More from The Miami Herald<\/em><\/a> and HuffPost<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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After urging from @HRC<\/a> and advocates, @Publix<\/a> will now offer PrEP, a once-daily pill regimen that can help you stay HIV-negative, to its employees as part of their health care coverage. t.co\/jFkvF7ww7n<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WHAT WE\u2019RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY — TRANS FATHER LOSES JOB AFTER TAKING TIME TO CARE FOR NEWBORN: <\/strong>After their daughter was born, Brett and Chad didn’t have any paid family leave, and one dad lost his job for taking time off to care for their baby. It’s time for paid leave for all families. More from NewNowNext<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS <\/strong>– State bills to keep on your radar!<\/p>\n