SHOCK AND HORROR IN WAKE OF DALLAS SHOOTING: HRC President Chad Griffin released the following statement in the wake of the attack,“We are shocked and sickened by the calculated attack on law enforcement in Dallas last night that has left five officers dead and at least nine other officers and civilians wounded. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who were senselessly murdered protecting a peaceful protest, and to the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Department, and the broader community they nobly served. There is no justification for this cold-blooded assault on law enforcement officers who go to work each day to protect the public. In the aftermath of Orlando, the LGBTQ community saw police officers across the nation work even harder to protect our safe spaces, and we know how dangerous their jobs can be. Yesterday, in speaking out against the tragic police-involved murders of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and so many other men of color, we noted that the LGBTQ community reflects people of all races, backgrounds, and faiths. There are also thousands of LGBTQ law enforcement officers bravely serving our communities in every state from coast to coast. In the coming days, we hope we can all come together in a meaningful search for solutions to break the cycle of violence, hate and discrimination that has plagued our country for too long. The innocent people who have lost their lives to senseless shootings, and all those left behind to mourn them, deserve no less.”
BREAKING: 68 MAJOR CORPORATIONS JOIN HRC IN FILING BRIEF SUPPORTING DOJ CHALLENGE OF NC’S DISCRIMINATORY HB2: 68 major companies joined HRC’s amicus brief in support of the U.S. Department of Justice’s effort to block some of the most egregious and discriminatory components of North Carolina’s HB2 law. The brief, authored by one of the nation’s most prominent conservative litigators, Ted Olson, and his partners at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, advocates for transgender employees and customers, as well as employees with transgender family members, and details the harm that the anti-LGBTQ HB2 is inflicting on companies. More from HRC.
JUDGE RULES MEDICAID MUST COVER MEDICALLY-NECESSARY SURGERIES FOR TRANS PEOPLE: Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that medically-necessary surgeries must be covered for transgender Medicaid enrollees in New York. The ruling, stemming from a class action suit filed on behalf of Medicaid-eligible transgender people, clarifies previous guidance issued last year by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. More from Courthouse News Service.
- Meanwhile, trans military family members and retirees still face discrimination when trying to access critically important, medically-necessary care. The Department of Defense recently lifted its ban on open service by transgender people, and transgender troops will receive appropriate medical care through the military’s health care system. But medical care rules for family members exclude transition-related care. More from Military.com.
MISS. GOV TO APPEAL HB 1523 RULING: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has rejected the advice of his Attorney General Jim Hood and will appeal U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves’ ruling blocking implementation of the state’s discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ HB 1523. The filing was signed by Bryant’s chief counsel after Hood said he has no interest in pursuing an appeal.
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WELCOMING LGBTQ REFUGEES: Yesterday, HRC released guidance on assisting LGBTQ refugees ahead of a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing next week on global human rights — the first ever to include a witness focused exclusively on the human rights on LGBTQ people. The document is an important step toward creating a cohesive strategy to get LGBTQ refugees out of harm’s way, with recommendations for the U.S. Government, the United Nations’ Refugee Agency and non-government organizations. Read the guide here.
NO ANTI-TRANS REFERENDUM IN WASHINGTON STATE: Efforts to force an anti-transgender referendum in Washington State flopped yesterday when supporters intent on importing HB2-style hate from North Carolina failed to submit signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The ballot measure would have rescinded clarifying regulations to protect the transgender community recently issued under the state’s longstanding gender identity non-discrimination protections. More at Seattle Times.
NEW FEDERAL GUIDANCE ON LGBTQ ELDERS: New federal guidance aimed at providing aging services and support to LGBTQ elders in communities across the country has been proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services. More from HRC.
UK PRIME MINISTER HOPEFUL LINKED TO ANTI-LGBTQ CHRISTIAN GROUP: One of two candidates vying to be prime minister of the United Kingdom founded a school exchange program in Uganda that is co-run by an anti-LGBTQ Christian group. More from BuzzFeed.
SMART, SEXY, HIV: The spunky Greater Than AIDS campaign has another great Youtube series: #AskTheHIVDoc. The short question-and-answer videos feature three young doctors who are experts in HIV and AIDS. More from The Mississippi Link.
JAPAN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY TO EQUALITY: Attitudes about LGBTQ people in Japan are changing; even the conservative political party is acknowledging “sexual diversity.” Read more about this journey, and how it’s affecting Japan’s reputation abroad, at South China Morning Post.
LIVE OPENLY AND PROSPER: John Cho’s character in the Star Trek franchise, Hikaru Sulu, will be revealed as gay in the upcoming movie. This is a nod to the original Sulu, George Takei, who is outspoken about his own gay identity and an activist for LGBTQ equality. More from TIME.
READING RAINBOW
AM New York reports that the cast of Broadway hit ‘Fun Home’ will perform a concert in Orlando to benefit state and local LGBTQ groups; CNN chronicles how HIV spread globally; OUT examines the fine print of the Pentagon’s transgender service decision; Variety’s take on Beyonce’s powerful letter against hate after the senseless killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile; Advocate publishes about the life of an intersex Portugal activist; Oxford Mail reports that the Oxford City Council is considering scrapping gendered titles from government documents; Aubrey Plaza talks about her “androgynous thing” in an interview with Advocate; Glamour outlines Troye Sivan’s four rules for supporting the LGBTQ community; and Gay Star News says that one billion people now live in countries with marriage equality.
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