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Maryland Passes Freedom To Read Act

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed HB785 the “Freedom to Read Act” & HB1386 that mandates anti-bias training for all school employees into state law. This legislation will support academic success & overall well-being for our LGBTQ youth. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, GLSEN Executive Director stated, “With Governor Moore's signature on HB785, the 'Freedom to Read Act,' & HB1386, instituting vital anti-bias training for school employees, Maryland takes a bold step forward in safeguarding the rights & dignity of LGBTQ+ youth & educators. Schools should be working to build inclusive environments that reflect the diversity of their student body & community. It is especially critical that state leaders like Governor Moore rise up for policies that foster inclusive learning when resources & supports for LGBTQI+ youth continue to be targeted by extremists across the country. GLSEN applauds this pivotal moment & urges continued dedication from state leaders to ensure every student feels valued, affirmed & safe in their learning environment." Last year there were 148 books challenged in both public schools & libraries across Maryland making the state one of 17 in the nation to surpass 100 disputed titles. In 2023 GLSEN stood with numerous LGBTQ orgs that filed an amicus brief in a Fourth Circuit case that considers whether Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) can prohibit parents from seeking an exemption from the English Language Arts curriculum when classes include books that feature LGBTQ characters. Through Gov. Moore’s signing of HB785 Maryland now joins a growing number of states that have enacted laws prohibiting book banning & strengthening culturally competent professional development trainings for educators. 
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Oklahoma Vows To Reject New Title IX

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has ordered school district leaders across the state to refuse to comply with the U.S. Department of Education's updated Title IX rule finalized last week. The rule clarifies the scope of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ students while also empowering sexual assault survivors, a move imperative to the enhanced safety & protection of our LGBTQ students. Cathryn Oakley, HRC Senior Director of Legal Policy stated, “Yet again, Ryan Walters is choosing theatrics & extremism over protecting & furthering the needs of the students & schools he was elected to serve. Refusing to comply with Title IX could have damaging consequences for Oklahoma schools, including significant loss in funding on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars in a state that currently ranks 49th in academic achievement. It is clear that his only priority is himself & his own political profile–not Oklahoma students.” Refusing to comply with Title IX could put federal funding for Oklahoma school districts at risk. in 2021-22 Oklahoma received more than $800 million in school funding from the federal government or about 10% of its total revenue. According to the Oklahoma State Report card an average of $1,850.68 is spent per pupil in Oklahoma from federal funds which makes up 17.5% of the total $10,574.08 per-pupil expenditure. Ryan Walters has come under fire previously for his misuse of federal grant money. A whistleblower came forward earlier this month reporting that Walter’s incompetent leadership cost Oklahoma schools at least several million dollars. Friday I participated in a virtual press briefing with LGBTQ leaders, legal experts, civil rights leaders & student advocates about the new Title IX rule. LISTEN
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GLSEN To Honor Marcia Gay Harden

GLSEN has announced it will honor Oscar-winning actress & LGBTQ activist Marcia Gay Harden with the Advocate Award at the org's annual Respect Awards at New York’s Gotham Hall next Monday April 29th. The evening will be hosted by Peppermint known for her work on RuPaul's Drag Race with special appearances by Billy Porter, Anthony Rapp & GLSEN Board Chair Wilson Cruz. Harden stated, “I am deeply grateful to receive such an honor from GLSEN. I owe this award to my children, who drive me every day to be a public force for change. In watching them bloom into the vibrant individuals they have become, I have gained a redefined perspective on my own life. GLSEN’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ students comes at a crucial time when our LGBTQ+ children are under attack. We must now advocate for their freedom to form their own identities & perspectives, which must be cultivated with utmost care.” Additionally GLSEN’s Respect Award honorees will include community leader & activist Brad Baumoel with the Movement Leader Award, Republic Records will be honored with the Visibility Award & Student Advocate of the Year is Sophia T. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers GLSEN Executive Director concluded, “The Respect Awards is not just one of GLSEN’s most important fundraising events of the year but the opportunity to uplift honorees & supporters who reflect GLSEN’s commitment to advancing racial, gender & disability justice for all LGBTQ+ students.” The annual benefit raises critical funds for GLSEN’s student programs such as the Rainbow Library which provides LGBTQ affirming texts to students experiencing book bans. 
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Boston Lesbian Visibility Week Event

This year's Lesbian Visibility Week runs now through April 28th & focuses on the theme "United, Not Uniform" a commitment to solidarity with all LGBTQ women & nonbinary people & designed to promote unity, uplift those who face the greatest marginalization within the community & to celebrate the joy & strength of sisterhood by highlighting remarkable contributions across generations, disciplines & nations worldwide. In Boston LesbianNightLife is joining the celebration Saturday April 27th at HAN in Allston for a special Lesbian Visibility Week Teadance 21+ event 4P-8P celebrating LGBTQ women & non-binary folx united across the country. What began as a day of recognition in 2008 has blossomed into a full week of festivities thanks to the visionary efforts of Linda Riley at DIVA Magazine stating, “This year DIVA is working in partnership with EL*C (Euro Central Asian Lesbian Committee), ILGA World, GLAAD & The Curve Foundation to make Lesbian Visibility Week a truly international stage where iconic LGBTQIA women & non-binary people can all take a moment in the spotlight to be recognized for the work they do & the joy they bring." The Curve Foundation is championing Lesbian Visibility Week in the United States. Curve’s Lesbian Visibility Week programming includes an Inaugural Curve Power List of LGBTQ women & nonbinary trailblazers, a Speaker Series including panels on critical topics such as LGBTQ Women in the Corporate Workplace, Intersections of Disability & Queerness, Race & Sexuality, Trans Inclusion, the Importance of Intergenerational Conversations & Preserving Our Stories & more. So come join us & Curve Magazine as we celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week at Han Nightclub on Saturday April 27th 4P to 8P with DJ & Dancing. 
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Reactions To New Title IX Rule (AUDIO)

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a final rule interpreting & enforcing Title IX which restores & reinforces vital civil rights protections for our LGBTQ students. The new Title IX rule prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender status & other sex-based characteristics & stereotypes. It also remedies students who experience sex-based harassment, removing the onerous complaint resolution procedures instituted by the prior administration & providing much-needed updates regarding the rights of pregnant & parenting students. Julianna Gonen, National Center for Lesbian Rights Federal Policy Director stated, “The U. S. Department of Education has enshrined in federal regulation what we all know to be true - discrimination against students on the basis of sex has no place in our schools. In this time when policymakers in some states are targeting LGBTQ & particularly transgender - youth with hostile laws, it is essential for our federal government to send a clear message that such measures violate federal law. We welcome these updated Title IX rules & look forward to working with the Biden Administration to ensure that they are fully implemented so that all students can learn & thrive in our public schools.” Though this is a major milestone to protect our LGBTQ youth there’s still much more work to be done. The new Title IX Ruling does not protect the rights of transgender athletes to play & be part of a team. In 2024 we’re already dealing with more than 470 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures nationwide mostly targeting our transgender youth. Friday I participated in a virtual press briefing with LGBTQ leaders, legal experts, civil rights leaders & student advocates about the new Title IX rule. LISTEN  
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Lesbian Visibility Week 2024 (AUDIO)

To kick off Lesbian Visibility Week that runs Monday April 22nd to Saturday April 27th the documentary “Ahead Of The Curve” will be released on Netflix April 22nd. The award-winning documentary is directed & produced by Jen Rainin & Rivkah Beth Medow & features Melissa Etheridge, Lea DeLaria, Jewelle Gomez & Franco Stevens. “Ahead Of The Curve” tells the story of how Franco Stevens launched Curve the best-selling lesbian magazine ever published with a fist full of credit cards, a lucky run at the horse track & chutzpah for days. The film tracks the power of lesbian visibility & community from the early ‘90s to the present day through the story of Stevens founding of the magazine. Since then Franco launched The Curve Foundation whose mission is to empower lesbian, queer women, trans women & non-binary people to share our culture & our stories, connect with each other & raise visibility. Now to ensure that LGBTQ women & nonbinary people are seen & recognized for their contributions to society The Curve Foundation is championing Lesbian Visibility Week in the United States. Curve’s Lesbian Visibility Week programming includes an Inaugural Curve Power List of LGBTQ+ women & nonbinary trailblazers, a Speaker Series including panels on critical topics such as LGBTQ Women in the Corporate Workplace, Intersections of Disability & Queerness, Race & Sexuality, Trans Inclusion, the Importance of Intergenerational Conversations & Preserving Our Stories & more. I talked filmmaker Jen Rainin & Franco Stevens about what they hope to accomplish with their film “Ahead Of The Curve” & their spin on our LGBTQ issues in this inclusive podcast. LISTEN  
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New Title IX LGBTQ Protections & More

The U.S. Department of Education has published its final regulatory updates that clarify Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, student survivors of sexual assault & pregnant & parenting students. Consistent with the reasoning of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Bostock v. Clayton County decision in 2020 the Department now clarifies that harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics violates Title IX’s mandate for federally funded schools to prohibit sex discrimination. The Department also clarifies that no one should be denied access to sex-separated spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, overnight accommodations & sex education classes that are consistent with their gender identity. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, GLSEN Executive Director stated, “No child should feel unsafe in school & the potential of the next generation is eroded when schools do not root out identity-based harassment & discriminatory policies. Today’s actions by the Biden administration to clarify that Title IX protects LGBTQ+ youth are a significant step forward in building safe & affirming learning environments for all students, but the work is far from over. We must reject the discriminatory policies - many in violation of Title IX - that too many states have rushed to pass in an unseemly race to bully and target marginalized students. It is up to all of us to continue to rise up for LGBTQ+ youth by fighting to ensure robust enforcement of Title IX and the adoption of inclusive policies in school districts across the country. When students feel seen & supported in the classroom, schools become beacons of learning and opportunity, serving as an engine that drives youth toward success and fuels our diverse society & democracy.” 
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Maryland Passes Freedom To Read Act

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed HB785 the “Freedom to Read Act” & HB1386 that mandates anti-bias training for all school employee...

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