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<\/p>\n#AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 20, 2018<\/b>
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LEADING CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE DANGEROUS ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION IN OK: \u00a0<\/strong>They<\/a> joined HRC in a letter to Oklahoma House members about the discriminatory measure, which would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Oklahomans, including LGBTQ couples<\/a>. Said Ellen Kahn, Director of the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth & Families Program<\/strong>: \u201cThis bill is patently discriminatory and it is not supported by organizations actually working in the child welfare space. HRC and each of the signatories on this letter hope that the Oklahoma House of Representatives will listen to the voices of the people working on these issues, not those who would seek to discriminate against potential parents based on who they are.\u201d More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY VOTES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE FROM SO-CALLED \u201cCONVERSION THERAPY\u201d: <\/strong>The bill expressly declares the fraudulent practice a violation of the state\u2019s consumer protection law, and now moves to the Senate. Said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse<\/strong>: \u201cCalifornia was the first state to protect minors from being subjected to conversion therapy by state-licensed health care providers, and today\u2019s vote is an important step to protecting all LGBTQ people from this debunked practice.\u201d More from HRC<\/a> and Metro Weekly<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n The California State Assembly voted to approve legislation that declares debunked \u201cconversion therapy\u201d a fraudulent practice under the state\u2019s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, protecting vulnerable #LGBTQ<\/a> people from this dangerous junk science. \ufe0f\u200d t.co\/zRoNNAzSMA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 19, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE VOTES TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM ABUSIVE PRACTICE OF \u201cCONVERSION THERAPY\u201d: <\/strong>\u201cNo child should be put through the dangerous and inhumane practice of conversion therapy,\u201d said HRC Legislative Counsel Xavier Persad<\/strong>. \u201cThis \u200babusive practice has no basis in science and is \u200buniformly rejected by every major mental health \u200borganization in the country. It is time for New Hampshire to join the growing number of states enacting laws to protect LGBTQ youth from so-called conversion therapy. We urge state legislators to quickly send the bill to Governor Sununu\u2019s desk.\u201d The bill now moves to conference committee before it can advance to Governor Chris Sununu\u2019s desk for his signature. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n TOP BRASS FROM NAVY AND MARINE CORPS SAY NO MORALE OR COHESION ISSUES WITH TRANS TROOPS: <\/strong>When asked by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about trans<\/a> troops, both Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson reported no issues with morale or unit cohesion with trans<\/a> troops. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of Army said the same — \u201czero\u201d issues with unit cohesion or readiness since the ban on trans<\/a> people was lifted. \u00a0More from Military Times<\/em><\/a> and The Hill<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n ICYMI — HRC LAUNCHES \u201cTHE REAL MIKE PENCE<\/em>\u201d CAMPAIGN THAT EXPOSES HIS HISTORY OF ANTI-LGBTQ FANATICISM AND STEALTH EXTREMISM:<\/strong> HRC\u2019s new, comprehensive \u201cThe Real Mike Pence<\/em>\u201d campaign rolled out this week, and includes a scathing report<\/a>, microsite<\/a> and a series of videos<\/a> exposing the vice president\u2019s long history of anti-LGBTQ animus and shining a spotlight on the inordinate influence he and his extremist inner circle wield in the Trump-Pence administration. Check out our favorite headlines: \u00a0<\/p>\n Top LGBT group launches campaign to “expose” Pence t.co\/kTfndByVWY<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YcqmubPKbu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Hill (@thehill) April 19, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — LGBTQ ADVOCATES MAKE TIME<\/em>\u2019S LIST OF TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2018: <\/strong>Student-activist Emma Gonzalez (@emma4change<\/a>), artist Kehinde Wiley (@kehindewileyart<\/a>), actress and director Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe<\/a>), Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (@campaignforleo<\/a>), Olympian Adam Rippon (@Adaripp<\/a>), Designer Christian Siriano (@CSiriano<\/a>), writer Janet Mock (@janetmock<\/a>), journalist Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow<\/a>) and actress Daniela Vega (@danivega<\/a>) are among the LGBTQ people honored. Actress Rosie O\u2019Donnell (@Rosie<\/a>), writer Jill Soloway (@jillsoloway<\/a>) and icon Elton John (@eltonofficial<\/a>) wrote profiles on additional honorees. More from TIME<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n HRC LAUNCHES SECOND LGBT WORKPLACE INCLUSION SURVEY IN MEXICO: <\/strong>The second annual Equidad MX: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral<\/a> evaluates LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in major Mexican companies. The leading global firm EY Mexico hosted HRC and more than 50 Mexican companies to kick off the new survey. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n .@HRC<\/a> officially launched its second annual #HRCEquidadMX<\/a> survey, evaluating #LGBT<\/a>-inclusive policies and practices at major Mexican companies. \ufe0f\u200dt.co\/b5myBE0Hbi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 20, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n APPALLING — TRUMP-PENCE ADMIN WANTED REFERENCES TO CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION STRUCK FROM GENDER EQUALITY DOCUMENTS:<\/strong> BuzzFeed<\/em>\u2019s Ema O\u2019Connor (@o_ema<\/a>) confirmed that one official, a known anti-LGBTQ activist, called the U. S. a \u201cpro-life nation.\u201d More from BuzzFeed<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n HRC ENDORSES PA REP. DWIGHT EVANS FOR RE-ELECTION: <\/strong>\u201cWhether in the Pennsylvania State House or in the United State Congress, Rep. Evans has a long track record fighting for the rights of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians,\u201d said HRC Pennsylvania State Manager Allison Van Kuiken<\/strong>. \u201cWe look forward to continuing our work with Rep. Evans in the fight to pass the Equality Act and move us closer to full federal equality. More from HRC<\/a>.<\/p>\n GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FINDS THAT LGBTQ ACEPTANCE HAS INCREASED GLOBALLY: <\/strong>More from Metro Weekly<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n .@WilliamsPolicy<\/a> finds that the average levels of acceptance for #LGBT<\/a> people and rights have increased globally since 1980, though acceptance has become more polarized, increasing in the most accepting countries and decreasing in the least. Read more: t.co\/HTFIzcUtM2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pnuNQgS0vB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ty Wesley Cobb (@tywesleycobb) April 19, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n MALTA PRIME MINISTER — COUNTRIES MUST \u201cLEAD AND NOT FOLLOW\u201d ON LGBTQ EQUALITY: <\/strong>Read this exclusive interview from Nick Duffy (@NickMDuffy<\/a>) at Pink News<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ EQUALITY AT COMMONWEALTH YOUTH FORUM IN LONDON: <\/strong>Kenyen LGBTQ activist Jonah Chinga said, \u201cBoth Prince Harry and Miss Markle said they would put LGBT issues at the front of their work.\u201d More from Town & Country<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n READING RAINBOW<\/u><\/strong> – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!<\/em><\/u><\/p>\n NewNowNext<\/em><\/a> speaks to transgender Tongans; NewNowNext<\/em><\/a> covers the opening of the world\u2019s first LGBTQ Rotary Club in San Francisco; Tampa Bay Business Journal<\/em><\/a> reports that Anastasia Hoitis will serve as Equality Florida\u2019s board chair<\/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-april-20-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 20, 2018 LEADING CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE DANGEROUS ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION IN OK: \u00a0They joined HRC in a letter to Oklahoma House members about the discriminatory measure, which would allow child welfare organizations — including adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Oklahomans, including LGBTQ couples<\/a>. Said Ellen Kahn, Director … Continue reading #AM_Equality Tipsheet: April 20, 2018<\/span> \n
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