Enviroshop – About Magazine

Author: Hayley Miller

37 News Articles Trump and Pence Don’t Want You to See

Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

Next week, Donald Trump will issue his own Fake News Awards, going to the “most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media.”

Ahead of Trump’s stunt attacking the press this week, HRC is sharing 37 stories Donald Trump probably hopes you’ve missed from 2017 — the stories that outline his disastrous, dangerous first year.

Why 37 you ask? Because it aligns perfectly with his record-low 37 percent approval rating.

1. Washington Post: After Trump bans words including ‘transgender’ at CDC, gay rights activists predict consequences for GOP

“Vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based” and “science-based.” The Trump administration banned these words from multiple divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget documents, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DESPICABLE: The Trump-Pence administration is prohibiting the CDC from using a list of seven words or phrases — including “transgender.” https://t.co/1trVPsvvKp

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) December 16, 2017

2. NBC News: 15 Attorneys General Oppose Trump Transgender Military Ban

The group, led by Massachusetts AG Maura Healey, filed a brief in federal court in support of transgender service members. The brief argues “that banning transgender individuals from the military is unconstitutional, against the interest of national defense and harms the transgender community.”

3. Wall Street Journal: Top General’s View of Transgender Troops Is at Odds With Trump’s

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee he believes “that any individual who meets the physical and mental standards… should be afforded the opportunity to continue to serve.”

4. The Hill: Mattis appalled by Trump tweets announcing transgender ban: report

Defense Secretary “Mattis, who was on vacation at the time of Trump’s decision, only had one day’s worth of notice before Trump tweeted his announcement of the policy.”

5. Huffington Post: White House: States Should Get To Decide Whether To Discriminate Against LGBTQ Students

During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer invoked “states’ rights” when questioned about whether the guidance on transgender students would be revoked. (Spoiler alert: It was revoked).

6. CNN: Tensions escalate after Tillerson calls Trump ‘moron’

An NBC News report in October found that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Trump a “moron” in a Pentagon meeting.

7. Washington Times: President Trump cancels sexual orientation questions on 2020 Census

The Census Bureau issued an alarming corrective statement, asserting it had  “inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic in the appendix” of a bureau report. The correction suggests that plans for data collection for the 2020 census had included LGBTQ people, but the Trump administration has removed them.

8. CNN: Proposed budget cuts for 2017 include AIDS, AmeriCorps programs

The proposed budget cut $292 million from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.

9. USA Today: Trump’s Army secretary nominee withdraws over gay comments

Army Secretary Mark Green removed himself from consideration after HRC worked diligently to expose Mark Green’s shameful anti-LGBTQ record and rhetoric.

#BREAKING Army secretary nominee withdraws over gay comments https://t.co/3aimmSPike

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 5, 2017

10. BuzzFeed: Why Didn’t Trump Mention Pride Month? We Asked 30 Times.

The Trump-Pence administration refused to acknowledge Pride Month, which previous presidents have embraced.

Why didn’t Trump mention Pride Month? We asked 30 times.https://t.co/jqk9B13XFg pic.twitter.com/8YxkmqjMmz

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) July 3, 2017

11. New York Times: Justice Department Says Rights Law Doesn’t Protect Gays

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions filed a brief seeking to undermine a growing legal consensus that LGBTQ  people are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

12. Politifact: Donald Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics don’t show it

Liar. Liar. Sean Spicer’s pants are on fire.

Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics say no https://t.co/9GOBo3WM7m pic.twitter.com/APAsGqoiiU

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) January 22, 2017

13. NJ.com: Senate panel dumps Trump nominee Scott Garrett

The Senate Banking Committee rejected Scott Garrett’s nomination on a bipartisan vote of 10-13.

Senate panel dumps Trump nominee Scott Garrett https://t.co/feFH9Fo6So pic.twitter.com/jvgCOVLEpr

— NJ.com (@njdotcom) December 19, 2017

14. Huffington Post: Trump Judicial Nominee Drops Out After Embarrassing Hearing

Matthew Petersen dropped out after a video of him failing to answer basic law questions went viral.

Trump judicial nominee drops out after embarrassing hearing https://t.co/kEC1WBV6a1 via @HuffPostPol

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) December 18, 2017

15. New York Times Editorial: Mr. Trump’s Paper Towels Aren’t Helping Puerto Rico

via GIPHY

16. ThinkProgress: Meet the 8 transgender candidates who won elections on Tuesday

In an incredible turnout of pro-equality voters, Americans across the country elected at

least eight out transgender people to office in November.

17. NBC: Obamacare Repeal Fails: Three GOP Senators Rebel in 49-51 Vote

The Trump-Pence-McConnell plan would have caused insurance premiums to drastically rise and leave millions of Americans uninsured, with a particularly devastating impact on low-income senior citizens, women, children, LGBTQ people and people living with HIV.

BREAKING: Republicans fail to pass a “skinny” Obamacare repeal bill https://t.co/cWViXW9zz4 pic.twitter.com/bmFltaM7yj

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 28, 2017

18. The Atlantic: Trump Defends White-Nationalist Protesters: ‘Some Very Fine People on Both Sides’

Trump proved once again that he stands with “alt-right” racists and anti-Semites.

Trump defends white nationalist protesters, says they include “some very fine people.” https://t.co/uzd732hCIw

— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) August 15, 2017

19. The New Yorker: Trump Abandons the Human-Rights Agenda

Just months into his presidency, it was clear that Trump was abandoning America’s long-standing legacy of defending and promoting human rights around the globe.

20. CNN: Women detail sexual allegations against Trump

Several woman publicly accused Trump of sexual harassment and assault.

21. US News: Trump Administration Rescinds Obama-Era Campus Sexual Assault Guidance

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos rescinded Obama-era Title IX guidance related to schools’ obligations to address sexual harassment, including sexual violence–a move that will disproportionately impact LGBTQ people.

22. New York Times: Suburbs Rebel Against Trump, Threatening Republicans in Congress

Victories on Election Day 2017 spell trouble for Republicans.

23. Los Angeles Times: Military poised to accept transgender troops, despite Trump tweets, as courts block ban

Qualified transgender people who want to serve their country in the military were finally allowed to sign up openly after the Department of Justice decided not to appeal federal court rulings blocking Trump’s discriminatory transgender military ban.

Military poised to accept transgender troops, despite Trump tweets, as courts block ban https://t.co/AJa0JckTHc

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 26, 2017

24. CNN Analysis: Trump’s Russia defense in disarray

“President Donald Trump’s legal defense against Robert Mueller’s unrelenting special counsel investigation is beginning to look as chaotic as his early days in the White House.”

25. The Hill: Trump watches up to eight hours of TV per day: report

Who needs eight hours of work when you can watch eight hours of TV instead?

26. NBC: Trump’s Presidency Is Bad for Business — His Own

Trump’s presidency isn’t working out too well for his businesses around the globe.

27. Washington Post: Trump celebrates solar eclipse by looking up without special viewing glasses

via GIPHY

28. New York Times: Trump Attacks Warriors’ Curry. LeBron James’s Retort: ‘U Bum.’

Trump used the power of his office to advocate for the suppression of voices of those fighting systemic racial injustice and inequality.

29. NBC: Manafort Notes From Russian Meet Refer to Political Contributions

“Paul Manafort’s notes from a controversial Trump Tower meeting with Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign included a mention of political contributions near a reference to the Republican National Committee.”

30. NPR: The ‘Missed Opportunity’ Of Trump’s Asia Trip

According to David Shambaugh, a professor of political science and international affairs at the Elliott School at George Washington University, “”It was all fluff.”

31. CNN: Trump nominee Sam Clovis: ‘As far as we know’ homosexuality’s a choice, ‘logical’ LGBT protections could lead to legalization of pedophilia

Sam Clovis withdrew from consideration to serve as chief scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sam Clovis’ anti-#LGBTQ attacks should disqualify him from serving in any position within the federal government. https://t.co/WwQn8Uqr9U

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) August 21, 2017

32. New York Times: Republican Shadow Campaign for 2020 Takes Shape as Trump Doubts Grow

“In interviews with more than 75 Republicans at every level of the party, elected officials, donors and strategists expressed widespread uncertainty about whether Mr. Trump would be on the ballot in 2020 and little doubt that others in the party are engaged in barely veiled contingency planning.”

33. Washington Post: Three former Trump campaign officials charged by special counsel

Rick Gates. Paul Manafort. George Papadopoulos. Remember those names.

34. CNN: Trump says he considered ‘this Russia thing’ before firing FBI Director Comey

“The president’s interview with Lester Holt exposed White House obfuscation, unethical interactions with James Comey, and circumstantial evidence that the FBI director’s termination was improper.”

35. The Atlantic: Donald Trump’s Own Words Become ‘Exhibit A’ Against Him

Trump shared in detail about the process of firing FBI Director James Comey in an interview with NBC.

Donald Trump’s own words are ‘Exhibit A’ against him, writes @conor64 https://t.co/wOTShS7YOW pic.twitter.com/DjZhXytEQC

— TheAtlanticPolitics (@TheAtlPolitics) May 12, 2017

36. Texas Tribune: Report: Trump’s judicial nominee from Texas called transgender kids part of “Satan’s plan”

Jeff Mateer objected to a transgender student using a restroom consistent with her gender identity, saying “I mean it just really shows you how Satan’s plan is working and the destruction that’s going on.”

37. Vox: The political lesson of 2017: resistance works

Despite the Trump-Pence’s administration hateful and bigoted policies, we mobilized against their discriminatory agenda to ensure full equality and justice is achieved for everyone, everywhere.

Read more

Two Trans Women, Ciara McElveen and Chyna Doll Dupree, Killed Within a Matter of Days in New Orleans

Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

Yesterday, Ciara McElveen, a transgender woman of color, was stabbed to death in New Orleans. Her tragic death comes after Chyna Doll Dupree, a Black transgender woman, was killed following the sound of gunshots on Saturday night.

According to Mic.com, McElveen did outreach for the homeless community. She was only 26 years old.

Syria Sinclaire, a local transgender advocate and friend of McElveen, said of the tragedy, “[t]rans women don’t want any special privileges. We should have the right to live our lives open and free and not be taunted and traumatized by the general public if they don’t approve.”

While police told The Times-Picayune there was “no reason to believe they were connected,” the murders are part of a tragic epidemic of violence against transgender women of color. Already in 2017, six transgender women of color have been killed.

The details of these cases differ, but it is clear that the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia conspire to systemically deprive the transgender women of color of opportunities like employment, housing, healthcare and other necessities. These barriers make transgender women of color especially vulnerable.

Including McElveen’s death, HRC has tracked at least nine murders of transgender people in Louisiana since 2013. Four took place in New Orleans: besides McElveen and Dupree, trans woman Goddess Diamond was murdered in June of 2016, and Penny Proud was shot to death in February of 2015. None of the New Orleans murders have been solved.

In 2016, advocates tracked at least 22 deaths of transgender people in the U.S. due to fatal violence, the most ever recorded. 

HRC extends condolences to McElveen’s family, friends and community.

Read more

Deeply Alarming: Report Says DeVos Discussing Gutting Critical Protections for LGBTQ Youth

Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

Betsy DeVos, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education, has had several conversations with a Senator who wants her to gut critical protections for young LGBTQ people, according to Politico.

“(DeVos) has had several phone conversations with Republican Sen. James Lankford about reining in the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights,” Politico reported. “Lankford stressed to DeVos that there are areas that he sees as federal overreach — like the Education Department’s position that Title IX offers explicit protections for transgender students.”

Last May, the U.S. Department of Education offered guidance to schools clarifying that transgender students have the right to be free from discrimination in schools, including the ability to use gender-separated facilities (such as restrooms and locker rooms) that match their gender identity. This guidance follows similar policies in states and school districts across the country, including many that have been treating transgender students with dignity and respect for more than a decade.

DeVos’ family foundation, The Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation, as well as her own foundation, The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, have funded major anti-LGBTQ organizations and campaigns.

DeVos’ confirmation hearing will be held next week. Senator must ask her about how she will ensure LGBTQ students are safe and treated with respect in our nation’s schools. She should also make clear whether she shares her family’s support for conversation therapy programs that harm LGBTQ youth.

Read more

Five of Trump’s Anti-LGBTQ Picks You Need to Know About

Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

Since Donald Trump was elected more than a month ago, he has assembled a group of anti-LGBTQ officials as his top picks for his administration and transition team. While all cabinet members are all subject to Congressional approval, every single appointee deserves to be thoroughly vetted. And amongst his cabinet picks are three individuals with particularly troubling anti-LGBTQ records: Senator Jeff Sessions, Rep. Tom Price and Ben Carson.

One of the first nominees Trump named was vehemently anti-LGBTQ Alabama Senator Sessions to be U.S. Attorney General. If confirmed, Sessions would lead the U.S. Department of Justice, which is tasked with the fair and impartial administration of justice. Sessions voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, saying it “has been said to cheapen the civil rights movement.”

Sessions received a zero on HRC’s congressional scorecard, and the ACLU characterizes his voting record as anti-civil rights. This troubling appointment is in stark contrast with Trump’s pledge to be a “president for all Americans.”

Sessions has:

  • Voted for a Constitutional ban on marriage equality
  • Voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
  • Spoke in opposition of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell
  • Cosponsored the so-called First Amendment Defense Act, legislation that could allow Kim Davis-style discrimination against LGBTQ people across the nation
  • Voted against both the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation, gender and disability
  • Voted against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
  • Opposes the Voting Rights Act
  • Voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
  • Opposes immigration reform

Late last month, Trump named Tom Price as his choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Price, who would lead the 80,000-person Department, earned a score of “zero” on the past three HRC Congressional Scorecards.

Price opposes protections for transgender students in public schools and said the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision resulted in “a sad day for marriage” and “judicial destruction of our entire system of checks and balances.”

Price has:

  • Voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
  • Voted against repealing the ban allowing lesbian, gay and bisexual people to serve openly in the military
  • Voted against federally funded needle exchange programs
  • Voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
  • Voted for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. After the Supreme Court’s historic ruling in favor of nationwide marriage equality last year, Price said that the ruling was “not only a sad day for marriage, but a further judicial destruction of our entire system of checks and balances.”
  • Voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
  • Opposes the Affordable Care Act, which extends vital protections to LGBTQ people in healthcare settings
  • Opposes a woman’s right to choose and voted to defund Planned Parenthood
  • Called the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education issued guidance for school districts to ensure transgender students are treated with dignity in public and federally-funded schools “absurd.”  

Last week, Trump named retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, an outspoken opponent of LGBTQ equality, to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

During an interview with Sean Hannity, Carson compared LGBTQ marriage to bestiality stating, “Well, my thoughts are that marriage is between a man and a woman. It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.”

Carson has:

  • Opposes laws that protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination
  • Opposes laws that ban the debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy”
  • Joked that same-sex couples might have their wedding cakes poisoned by anti-equality bakers
  • Asserted that being LGBTQ is a “choice”
  • Suggested that transgender people be required to use separate bathrooms

Other recent picks include Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, Andrew Puzder as Secretary of Labor and Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

Two White House advisers who will not need Senate approval are Steve Bannon, who President-elect Trump tapped as his White House chief strategist, and Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser.  

Bannon is well versed in attacking others, including LGBTQ people. Bannon said during a 2011 radio interview that conservative women are vilified because they are not “a bunch of dykes that came from the Seven Sisters schools.”

Bannon has:

  • Launched a vile smear against transgender people during a May interview with the American Family Association while he was at the helm of Breitbart News, a white nationalist news organization known for it’s anti-LGBTQ, misogynistic and anti-Semitic viewpoint
  • Attacked non-discrimination protections that ensure transgender people are able to use facilities that match their gender identity, repeating the debunked claim that such protections force children to “go into a bathroom with a guy with a beard in a dress”
  • Managed a news site that regularly attacks LGBTQ people
  • Directed a movie starring Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, who promoted warnings against “poll-driven morality” (as a reference to growing acceptance of LGBTQ people)

Last month, Trump announced that retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as his pick for National Security Advisor. Flynn has history of animus toward LGBTQ people, most recently launching a vile attack on transgender people at the Republican National Convention in July during his prime time appearance.

“War is not about bathrooms,” he said. “War is not about political correctness or words that are meaningless.”

Flynn has:

Read more