{"id":65821,"date":"2018-03-14T10:25:35","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T14:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-tipsheet-march-14-2018\/"},"modified":"2018-03-14T10:25:35","modified_gmt":"2018-03-14T14:25:35","slug":"am_equality-tipsheet-march-14-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/am_equality-tipsheet-march-14-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 14, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: March 14, 2018<\/b>
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OKLAHOMA SENATE PASSES ANTI-LGBTQ CHILD WELFARE BILL: <\/strong>\u201cBills such as SB 1140 are a clear attempt to solve a \u2018problem\u2019 that simply doesn\u2019t exist while enshrining anti-LGBTQ discrimination into law,\u201d said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse<\/strong>. \u201cIf lawmakers in Oklahoma truly wanted to help find permanent homes for the children in the child welfare system, they wouldn\u2019t be focusing on narrowing the pool of potential parents, which only hurts those kids. HRC calls<\/a> on the Oklahoma House to reject this needless, harmful bill.\u201d More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Oklahoma Senate passed #SB1140<\/a>, a bill that would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples<\/a>. #okleg<\/a> t.co\/RpgEqrsn8x<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 13, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

PHILLY INQUIRER<\/em>\u2019S JULIA TERRUSO (<\/strong>@JULIATERRUSO<\/strong><\/a>) EXPOSES ANTI-LGBTQ FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION AGENCIES: <\/strong>She reports on two organizations turning away qualified LGBTQ foster parents at a time when Philadelphia has put out an \u201curgent\u201d call<\/a> for more. \u201cIt is unconscionable that any child welfare agency — especially those receiving taxpayer dollars — would blatantly turn away LGBTQ adults who wish to open their hearts and homes to children in need of a permanent family,\u201d said Ellen Kahn, director of HRC\u2019s Children, Youth & Families Program<\/strong>. More from The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

STUDENTS WALK OUT NATIONWIDE TO PROTEST GUN VIOLENCE: <\/strong>More from NBC<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

WHY WE FIGHT WEDNESDAY: <\/strong>Today, we\u2019re fighting so children like Evelyn don\u2019t have to grow up in fear of gun violence. HRC supports common-sense gun violence prevention measures, including limiting access to assault-style rifles, expanding background checks, and limiting the ability for suspected terrorists, and those with a history of domestic abuse to access guns. More from NBC Washington<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2 year old Evelyn asked her grandmother why are all of these shoes here? Her grandmother told me she didn’t know what to say.@Avaaz<\/a> placed 7,000 shoes on Capitol grounds. Each representing a child killed over gun violence @ABC7News<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vT7YuuIRWK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caroline Patrickis (@Cpatrickis) March 13, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FEDERAL JUDGE IN MARYLAND RULES IN FAVOR OF TRANS STUDENT:<\/strong> U.S. District Judge George Russell III ruled this week that Max Brennan, a Maryland transgender student who sued St. Michaels Middle High School in Talbot County, has the right to use restrooms and locker rooms in alignment with his gender identity. Brennan was represented by the ACLU, which worked with Maryland LGBTQ group FreeState Justice. More from The Washington Blade<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

MORNING MUST WATCH: <\/strong>Last year, Jake Bain (@Jakebain10<\/a>) of John Burroughs High School in St. Louis came out as gay<\/a> — a brave decision that inspired his community and his fellow student-athletes. When the notorious anti-LGBTQ Westboro Baptist Church came to town this week to rally against Bain, a star running back for the school\u2019s football team, the school and town joined in a counter-protest in support of Bain and other LGBTQ students. More on this powerful story from Twitter Moments<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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A word from @Jakebain10<\/a> to the #STL<\/a> #LGBT<\/a> community + supporters and to his @JBSchool<\/a> family after a huge turnout to #StandWithJake<\/a> during a Westboro Baptist Church protest pic.twitter.com\/YPRA9xr19D<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Abby Llorico KSDK (@AbbyLlorico) March 12, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

COMMUNITY LEADERS IN MILWAUKEE CALL FOR ACTION AND FUNDING AFTER HIV AND SYPHILIS OUTBREAK: Peter Cruz (<\/strong>@PeterD5th<\/strong><\/a>), Associate Director of the HIV and Health Equity Program<\/strong> at HRC, called the outbreak \u201csignificant,\u201d especially with 33 new diagnoses of HIV over the past three months. More from WUWM<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

HRC RELEASES #LOVEYOURNEIGHBOR ADS:<\/strong> Today, HRC Foundation released two television advertisements that will be airing for two weeks in the Northeast Mississippi media market, which includes the cities of Tupelo, Columbus and Starkville. The ads — a part of HRC\u2019s #LoveYourNeighbor campaign — focus on stories of LGBTQ Mississippians and their allies, and discuss acceptance in the South. \u201cThrough HRC\u2019s work in the South, we have found that the most effective way to change hearts and minds is simply to share our stories,\u201d said Rob Hill, HRC Mississippi state director<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to bring the #LoveYourNeighbor campaign to the airwaves in Northeast Mississippi, where this multi-state storytelling project began.” More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NEW NPR<\/em> SURVEY<\/a> SHOWS MORE THAN HALF OF TRANS AND GENDER EXPANSIVE TEACHERS HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE: <\/strong>However, many trans<\/a> teachers are creating a network to combat discrimination and forge community. More from WBUR<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n