Illinois Ends Conversion Therapy

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 217 into law, making Illinois the fifth jurisdiction behind California, New Jersey, the District of Columbia & Oregon to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy. Samantha Ames National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator & Staff Attorney stated, “We are thrilled that Illinois has joined the rapidly growing number of states leading the way to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy. Illinois families can now have confidence that the mental health professional they turn to in times of uncertainty may not use their state license to profit from their children’s pain. Most importantly, Illinois kids can now rest easy in the knowledge that they cannot be forced or coerced to undergo dangerous & discredited treatments to fix who they are. Today brings us one step closer to the day when all LGBTQ youth know they were born perfect.” Chad Griffin Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President concluded, "With this tremendous step, LGBT youth in Illinois are now protected from a dangerous & appalling practice based on junk pseudoscience that amounts to nothing less than child abuse. Discredited by every major mental health, medical & child welfare organization, conversion 'therapy' uses fear & shame to tell young people the only way to find love & acceptance is to change the very nature of who they are. We thank Governor Rauner, as well as members of the state legislature on both sides of the aisle, for putting politics aside & the well-being of children first. We will continue to work with our allies to secure these crucial protections in every state across the nation."
For More Info: nclrights.org 
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Republican Anti LGBT Agenda

It appears that the Republican National Committee (RNC) has passed an anti LGBT resolution in support of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). This resolution would undermine the rule of law & promote taxpayer-funded discrimination. JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President for Policy & Political Affairs for HRC stated, "The right to believe is fundamental, but the right to use taxpayer dollars to promote discrimination is not. It's no wonder the RNC attempted to keep quiet its support for a reckless & irresponsible bill that would promote discrimination with taxpayers’ money & reward discriminatory actions by federal employees with taxpayer funding. Those Republican candidates who choose not to speak out against this RNC resolution should not be shocked when LGBT Americans choose to not give them the benefit of the doubt next November.” If this legislation passed it would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married gay or lesbian couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. For example it would allow a federal employee to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a gay or lesbian couple's paperwork appears on his or her desk. This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants & contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters & substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people. It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married gay & lesbian couples to file a lawsuit & potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.
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Carnival Week In Provincetown

Provincetown is celebrating its 37th fabulous year of Carnival Week that takes place now through August 21st. This year’s theme is “Candy Land” & Grand Marshal is Sandra Bernhard. This is an historic LGBT event including dance parties, inn stroll & the best part of the week  the fabulous Carnival Parade! On Monday August 17th there’s the free Hubba Bubba Vendor Fair that takes place from noon to 4P behind Town Hall. Come check out the hottest local artists, handcrafts & antiques fair. Then there’s the Liquid Candy Pool Party with fun in the sun with the Absolut Boys/Girls & the amazing DJ Andy Morris. Special Guest TV Star & everybody's favorite mob wife Big Ang introducing her new line of men's swimwear at Brass Key Guesthouse from 2P to 5P. There’s a $10 cover to benefit Provincetown Business Guild. Followed by the Sugar & Spice Costume Ball hosted by Provincetown's very own Hat Sisters. Costumes will be judged for Cash Prizes, along with crowns, sashes & the honored by being on PBG float in the fabulous Carnival Parade on Thursday August 20th. Highlights on Tuesday include Good & Plenty Watership Inn Party & the Eye Candy Dance Party with the cover charge of $10 to benefit PBG’s Carnival & The Provincetown AIDS Support Group The A House. On Wednesday August 19th at 8P Grand Marshal Sandra Bernhard is performing at Town Hall. Cabaret performer Anne Steele is the opener. Then on Thursday is the infamous parade you've waited for all year long for from 3P to 5P down Commercial Street. These are just some of the highpoints.
For More Info & Tix: ptown.org
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Trans Film Coast to Coast Showing

“Life is change. Life is a journey.” These are the opening words of Annabelle, one of two transgender women profiled in Director Alexia Kosmider's documentary TransJourney. Peek in on a short stretch of Annabelle’s personal path as her mother visits, she reminisces with her friend & trans mentor & she experiences the blossoming of love. There are two east coast free screenings of TransJourney scheduled in August. On Monday August 17th TransJourney will be screened at the Cape Cod Chapter PFLAG meeting in Brewster at First Parish Brewster, 1969 Main Street, Brewster, MA at 7P. This will be followed by another free screening of TransJourney on Thursday, August 20th as part of a special PFLAG support meeting being held at St. Therese Old Catholic Church, 1500 Main Street in West Warwick, RI from 7P to 9P. The documentary will be shown during the last hour of the meeting. Then if you didn't make it to Seattle's Translations Film Festival in May to see TransJourney you have another opportunity to view the documentary which will be screened at the Gender Odyssey Conference in Seattle, WA on Saturday August 22nd as part of the Trans Family Short Documentaries. Gender Odyssey is an international conference focused on the needs & interests of transgender & gender-nonconforming people that runs from August 20th to 23rd. Packed with thought-provoking workshops, discussion groups, social events & entertainment this one-of-a-kind annual gathering attracts people from all over the world for an uplifting weekend of skill sharing & community in Seattle, WA.
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Florida Denies Birth Certificates

Cathy Pareto & Karla Arguello the first lesbian couple to be married in Florida celebrated the birth of their twin son & daughter but the couple’s joy was soon mixed with fear & frustration when the hospital denied Cathy the right to add her name to the children’s birth certificates. Almost a year since Florida’s marriage ban was declared unconstitutional the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is still refusing to allow hospitals to list both same gender parents on their baby’s birth certificate. Today Cathy& Karla who were lead plaintiffs in Florida’s marriage lawsuit are joining two other married lesbian couples in a federal lawsuit challenging Florida’s refusal to issue them accurate birth certificates listing both spouses as parents of their children. Equality Florida, the largest organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender Floridians is also a plaintiff in the case. Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida stated, “Attorney General Pam Bondi could have avoided yet another costly lawsuit by directing all state agencies to simply comply with the law. Instead she turned her back on repeated requests to take action. Birth certificates are the first official document that represent a new born baby's family. Having an inaccurate birth certificate hinders parents’ ability to take care of their child & access important legal benefits and protections. Denying our families this is not only spiteful & harmful, it is illegal.” The other couples in the lawsuit are Debbie & Kari Chin of St. Petersburg & Yadira Arenas & Alma Vezquez of Winter Haven. The plaintiffs are represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) & Florida attorneys Mary Meeks and Elizabeth Schwartz.
For More Info: eqfl.org
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Cape Cod Against The Tide Event

The statewide Cape Cod Against the Tide swim, kayak, walk or run fundraising event will be held for the 16th year DCR's Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA on Saturday, August 15th to support the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) which was founded by a group of lesbian women in 1991. Proceeds benefit MBCC, which is Massachusetts’s leading breast cancer organization that seeks to understand the causes of breast cancer in order to find ways to prevent the disease. Director Cheryl Osimo, MBCC's Executive Director & Co-Founder of Silent Spring Institute stated, "We are very fortunate to have such tremendous support from citizens of Massachusetts demanding greater protection of their children's future health in our effort to stop breast cancer before it starts. MBCC often is overshadowed by larger, national breast cancer organizations & messages of early detection, treatment & finding a cure. We depend on our generous media & supporters to continue our unique goal of breast cancer prevention”. Participants may register as an individual or as part of a team & are encouraged to raise $175 or $100 per team member. All proceeds support the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition. There is still time participate on the beach at Nickerson State Park. Online Registration is open till Friday, August 14th at Noon & Walk-in Registrations is welcome the morning of the event as well. Listen to Cheryl Osimo talk about how MBCC was founded in this exclusive audio byte:
For More Info: mbcc.org
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Chris Christie Veto’s Trans Bill

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill Monday that would have eased access to accurate birth certificates for transgender people. This is Governor Christie's second veto of this legislation despite overwhelming support in the New Jersey General Assembly. In response National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) State Policy Counsel, Arli Christian, who has worked closely with local & state advocates on this bill, issued the following statement: "For the second time, Governor Chris Christie has elected to allow his state's birth certificate laws to deteriorate despite the overwhelming majority of support from the New Jersey legislature to modernize. His veto on this bill keeps in place outdated & burdensome requirements that make it incredibly difficult for transgender people to get birth certificates that match who they are. Birth Certificates play an enormous role in transgender people's ability to live their life as the person that they are. And Governor Christie has--for a second time--vetoed legislation denying that for transgender New Jerseyans." When Governor Christie's first veto of this legislation in January 2014 he cited fears of fraud, deception & abuse over the removal of the surgery requirement, demonstrating a clear lack of understanding of transgender people & standards of gender transition. Nine states & the District of Columbia have take action to allow transgender people access to accurate birth certificates.
For More Info: transequality.org
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