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LGBTQ History Month Political Timeline
New Center For American Progress Role
The Center for American Progress has announced that Nicole Lee Ndumele will be its first senior vice president of Rights & Justice. Ndumele who previously served as CAP’s vice president for Racial Equity & Justice has a broad expertise in civil rights, racial justice, criminal justice, anti-poverty & pro-democracy work. She has deep experience within government, the advocacy community & in philanthropy working for a bold rights & justice agenda. In this new role Ndumele will lead the organization’s work to advance large-scale policy solutions that chart a new path forward for advancing rights, justice & equity in our increasingly diverse America. This will include developing, communicating & executing policies that cut across the issues of criminal justice, disability justice, faith, gun violence prevention, immigration, LGBTQ rights & racial equity & justice. Patrick Gaspard, President & CEO of the Center for American Progress stated, “Nicole has deep expertise in leading cross-movement work & a strong commitment to building an America where all people have an opportunity to thrive. Nicole’s significant policy & legal experience, as well as her commitment to ensuring that we develop bold policy solutions that ensure that our country lives up to its ideals, make her the ideal person to lead our cross-cutting rights & justice work at this critical moment for our country.” The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research & educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just & free America that ensures opportunity for all. They work to find progressive & pragmatic solutions to significant domestic & international problems & develop policy proposals that foster a government that is “of the people, by the people & for the people.” For More Info…
National Rally For Abortion Justice
On Saturday October 2nd, Women's March & more than 90 other organizations are mobilizing for a national rally to defend women’s reproductive rights ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening on October 4th. Kierra P. Johnson Executive Director National LGBTQ Task Force stated, “We are all in this together & we are coming together this week to send a message that we will not let this onslaught of attacks on our democracy continue. The Supreme Court has allowed SB8 the Texas 6 week abortion ban to stand & now it’s time for us to take a stand together. Our vision for a queer democracy at the intersection of reproductive justice has never been more clear. Repro Rights are Queer Rights.” Other organizations marching nationwide include NARAL, ACLU, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Planned Parenthood, SHERO Mississippi, Mississippi in Action & more. Vice President Kamala Harris stated, “The Supreme Court threatened nearly 50 years of legal precedent, dealing a significant blow to Roe v. Wade & the right of women to make decisions about their own bodies. Without a hearing or due consideration, the majority of justices effectively allowed a bounty law to go into effect in Texas & an abortion ban after about six weeks of pregnancy even in cases of rape or incest. This decision is not the last word on Roe v. Wade & we will not stand by & allow our nation to go back to the days of back-alley abortions. We will use every lever of our Administration to defend the right to safe & legal abortion & to strengthen that right.” The Boston Rally to Defend Abortion will take place at Franklin Park on Saturday October 2nd from12P to 1:30P. For Rally Info In Your State…
Equality Forum LGBT 2021 Icons (Video)
Newfest Returns In Person & Virtually
The 33rd hybrid edition of the New York LGBTQ film festival NewFest will take place Oct. 15th to 26th in New York City theaters & virtually on the festival’s on-demand platform. The lineup includes 130 films & episodic series from 31 countries. There are 30 narrative features, 14 docs & 11 shorts program screenings. David Hatkoff, NewFest Executive Director stated, “This year’s festival is all about connection. The LGBTQ+ community thrives on connecting to one another & having spent most of the past 18 months apart, we are hungry for experiences that remind us we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We believe queer film provides an opportunity to connect in a unique & celebratory way. This year‘s program highlights that everyone in our community has a story to tell & shows just how meaningful it is when we really listen to, learn from & spend time with each other. There’s nothing like a room full of queer people. We are thrilled to offer more than 50 in-person screenings & events throughout NYC, while still maintaining a virtual streaming element that will be available throughout the United States. Whether at the theater or at home, everyone will be able to experience these incredible films in the way that feels most comfortable for them.” NewFest will kick off with the East Coast premiere of “Mayor Pete” about Pete Buttigieg's run for president in 2020 & closing night film will be “Flee” Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s film about Amin Nawabi’s journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan. There will also be anniversary screenings of “Madonna: Truth or Dare” & “Pariah” & the world premiere of the 4K restoration of John Cameron Mitchell’s “Shortbus.” For More Info & Tix…
Faith Virtual Town Hall For Equality
New Survey Addressing LGBTQ Women
Diversity Honors 6th Annual Gala Event
Tribute Celebration Gala Goes Virtual
Ten Years After “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Modern Military Association of America is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” with celebrations on September 20th both in person & virtually. This is an opportunity to join servicemembers, veterans, their families & special guests from around the world to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) & to support the continuous fight for full inclusion for transgender & intersex servicemembers. Thanks to the repeal of DADT over the past decade lesbian, gay & bisexual service members have served openly & proudly in the Armed Forces without fear of being dismissed because of who they are or whom they love. The free virtual event takes place on Monday September 20th from 7P to 8P. Celebrate virtually with the leaders who led the fight for repeal in 2010. You’ll hear extraordinary stories from service members of all branches & learn more about the fight for the codification of transgender military service & the effort to lift the ban on service for intersex individuals & folks living with HIV. Keynote Speaker will include: Honorable Patrick J. Murphy, U.S. Representative — PA (fmr.), C. Dixon Osburn, Co-founder of Servicemember Legal Defense Network, Bree Fram, Space Force Lieutenant Colonel Bree Fram & President of SPARTA & Jennifer Dane, Air Force veteran & CEO of the Modern Military Association of America with additional speakers to be announced. Presenting sponsors are USAA, Comcast NBCUniversal & the Cerner Corporation. There will also be a number of in person events taking place in Washington DC on September 20th. For More Info...
Memoir 'The Audacity Of A Kiss' (AUDIO)
SAGE To Congress Pass The Equality Act
SAGE the world’s largest & oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ elders will spend this week taking action urging Congress to pass the Equality Act. Now through September 17th LGBTQ elders & allies will use their voice to demand change asking their senators to vote yes on the Equality Act in support of LGBTQ elders across the country. The Equality Act would update current federal nondiscrimination laws to explicitly protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in key areas of life. This legislation is especially vital for older LGBTQ people who rely on services such as home-delivered meals, senior centers & ride-share services to get to the doctor. Without these protections our LGBTQ elders in 28 states across the country can legally be denied these services. Michael Adams SAGE CEO stated, “After facing a lifetime of discrimination & spending decades at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ movement, our community’s elders are long overdue for comprehensive protection under federal law. This legislation is vital for ensuring that all older LGBTQ+ people can access the services & supports they need as they age, regardless of what state they live in. Throughout SAGE’s LGBTQ+ Elder Week of Action, advocates across the country will speak out in support of this critical legislation, reminding Congress that they must act now. LGBTQ+ elders have waited long enough.” By passing the Equality Act Congress has the opportunity to ensure the more than 2.7 million LGBTQ people who are 50 years or older in the United States can age with health, dignity & respect. For More Info…
Maria Sjödin New OutRight Appointment
OutRight Action International Board of Directors welcome Deputy Executive Officer Maria Sjödin as the org’s new acting Executive Director as longtime Executive Director Jessica Stern joins the Biden Administration as U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons at the State Department. Maria has over 20 years of experience advocating for LGBTQ equality serving as Executive Director of RSFL, Sweden’s largest LGBTIQ organization from 2005 to 2014. While in this position Maria established RFSL's international program & played a key role in ensuring that the human rights of LGBTQ people become ingrained in the Swedish government's agenda for development and foreign affairs. Maria also advocated for marriage equality & the abolishment of forced sterilization of trans people as a requirement for legal gender recognition outlawed in 2013. Jenny Pizer, Senior Counsel at Lambda Legal & OutRight Board Co-Chair stated, “Maria is the perfect person to steer OutRight during this time of transition. As Deputy Executive Director, Maria co-created many of OutRight’s greatest successes, while also leading the organization’s development & communications work through a period of extraordinary revenue growth & media visibility. We are extremely fortunate to have in Maria a world-renowned LGBTIQ human rights expert, a skillful manager & a deeply trusted face of the organization as our Acting Executive Director.” For over 30 years OutRight has served as a global LGBTQ rights organization with staff around the world. Its COVID LGBTIQ Emergency Fund has now released $3.2 million in grants to 310 LGBTIQ organizations on the frontlines in 102 countries around the world. Its annual conference OutSummit will take place virtually December 8th to 10th. For More Info…
Honoring 9-11 20 Years Later (VIDEO)
Discrimination Against LGBTQ Workers
Until we pass the Equality Act our LGBTQ workforce continues to face job discrimination according to a new study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. This isn’t really surprising but it is still shocking that in 2021 the report found that 46% of LGBTQ workers reported receiving unfair treatment at some point in their careers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity including being passed over for a job, harassed at work, denied a promotion or raise, excluded from company events, denied additional hours or fired. Even more upsetting is that many reported being denied a job or laid off in the past 12 months because of their orientation or identity. Progress is slow in coming for our LGBTQ workforce though there has been some progress. In North Carolina a wrongfully terminated a gay substitute teacher who was fired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte when he announced that he was getting married will go to trial. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn said the Charlotte Catholic High School violated federal sex discrimination laws when it fired Lonnie Billard. Judge Cogburn stated, "Defendants cannot escape Title VII liability by recharacterizing Plaintiff's announcement of his engagement as "advocacy". If Plaintiff were a woman who posted on Facebook that she was getting married to her husband, Defendants would not have interpreted her announcement as "advocacy" for or against the Catholic Church. Plaintiff's engagement was only considered advocacy because of his sex." The Williams Institute study also reports there are approximately 8.1 million LGBTQ workers over the age of 16 in the U.S., almost half (3.9 million) of whom live in states without anti-discrimination laws protecting sexual orientation & gender identity. Read Full Report…
NYC Anti-Violence Project Virtual Event
The NYC Anti-violence Project as part of AVP’s 40th anniversary is presenting “Courageous Conversations” that will address the impact of spiritual violence by some religious traditions towards our LGBTQ community. This will be a two-part live broadcast on September 23rd & 30th with community experts from AVP, Trinity Church Wall Street & their partners who will discuss spiritual violence against LGBTQ people, what can be done to address these wounds & how faith communities & anti-violence organizations can work together to stem this damaging rhetoric. Speakers will included; Rev. Liz Edmanis an Episcopal priest & political strategist, Rev. Kyndra Frazier an ordained Baptist clergywoman & licensed clinician, Rabbi Marisa Elana James Director of Social Justice Programming at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, J Mase III a Black Transgender queer poet & educator based in Seattle by way of Philly, Rev. Clint Schnekloth pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Lisa Stuart a 38 year old Christian trans woman who came to northwest Arkansas from south Mississippi ten years ago seeking a safe place to begin her transition, Darlene S. Torres, LMSW & the Director of Client Services at the New York City Anti-Violence Project & Rev. Matt Welsch who serves as Priest for Youth & Family at Trinity Church Wall Street. In 1980 the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) was born in the streets of Chelsea created by community activists in response to a series of brutal attacks against gay men. From the start they took to the streets, pushed back on the police & demanded safety & justice for our LGBTQ community at a time when few believed it was our right. For Info & Registration…
Texas Launches A New War On Women
Now that The Supreme Court has refused to block the obscene new Texas Law SB8 prohibiting most abortions that took effect September 1st, our country must acknowledge that Texas has formally launched a war on women. With Trump successfully packing the Supreme Court with anti-choice judges including at least two known predators it’s time to stop the American assault on women’s right to control their own bodies. In the midst of a pandemic with the country suffering from hurricanes & fires Texas declared that women in their state won't be able to get an abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy which is before many women even know they're pregnant. Texas already had extreme abortion restrictions that make it difficult to access safe, legal abortion in their state but this law makes things even worse. It also encourages private citizens to sue abortion providers as well as anyone who helps a woman access an abortion in Texas with a $10,000 reward. Vice President Kamala Harris stated, “Last night, the Supreme Court threatened nearly 50 years of legal precedent, dealing a significant blow to Roe v. Wade & the right of women to make decisions about their own bodies. Without a hearing or due consideration, the majority of justices effectively allowed a bounty law to go into effect in Texas & an abortion ban after about six weeks of pregnancy even in cases of rape or incest. This decision is not the last word on Roe v. Wade & we will not stand by & allow our nation to go back to the days of back-alley abortions. We will not abide by cash incentives for virtual vigilantes & intimidation for patients. We will use every lever of our Administration to defend the right to safe & legal abortion & to strengthen that right.” To Save Roe v. Wade…
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