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Alabama Trans Healthcare Ban Dispute

Alabama families are challenging the state’s ban on medical care for their transgender children & have asked the full 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to review a panel ruling. Shannon Minter, Legal Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights stated, “Our clients & other Alabama families have a right to protect their transgender children & ensure they get the support they need. The panel’s decision tramples on that right & conflicts with clearly established Supreme Court & 11th Circuit law. We hope the full court will review this case & prevent this devastating criminal ban from taking effect.” Scott McCoy, Deputy Legal Director for LGBTQ Rights & Special Litigation at Southern Poverty Law Center added, “Allowing SB 184 to take effect would serve no purpose other than preventing parents from obtaining the medical care their children need. Every federal district court that has heard the evidence presented has come to the same conclusion: the established medical treatments recommended for transgender adolescents are safe, effective & lifesaving for some youth & there is no legitimate reason to ban them.” Sarah Warbelow, Legal Director at Human Rights Campaign concluded, “Parents, not the government, are best situated to make medical decisions for their children. That understanding is deeply rooted in our common understanding & our legal foundations. Allowing this ban to take effect would be a shocking reversal of firmly established precedent & a jarring intrusion into private family decisions.” The Alabama law likely violates the federal Equal Protection Clause & also violates parents’ fundamental right to make medical decisions for their children. 
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Connecticut LGBTQ Film Fest 36th Year

Out Film CT Connecticut’s longest-running & most diverse film festival is celebrating its 36th year October 6th to 15th. The majority of the festival will be screened at the festival's longtime home the historic & elegant Cinestudio on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford. The closing night film will be held at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in downtown Hartford. In addition there will be some virtual-only exclusives for film fans to enjoy at home. Marina Yurieva Out Film CT Co-Director stated, "I think our film festival is going to be particularly important at this time in our history. LGBTQ visibility is at an all-time high, but there is so much negative discourse nationally & internationally about LGBTQ rights. We are at an inflection point where it is more important than ever to hear queer stories by queer storytellers about things that affect us all. We're very proud to bring these profound, funny, romantic, sexy & political stories from all over the globe." Out Film CT Co-Director Shane Engstrom concluded, "The Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival is not only a safe space where the LGBTQ community can gather to enjoy film & each other's company; it's also an opportunity for straight allies & cinephiles to learn about the breadth of our experiences & the talent of queer filmmakers. The movies are always smart, moving & most of all, entertaining. Many of the films are premieres, so you won't be able to see them anywhere else!" Attendees can look forward to such highly-anticipated events as the Opening Night after-party, a Centerpiece film pre-reception & the Closing Night celebration. The festival will also include appearances by some of the filmmakers & artists, virtual exclusives & other surprises to be announced. 
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Marriage Equality Vow Renewal Event

As we head into the 20th anniversary of marriage equality in Massachusetts Boston Spirit magazine & Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC) are hosting the first-ever Wedding Vow Renewal Event on Wednesday September 13th aboard the stunning Odyssey Yacht at Rowes Wharf in Boston, MA. During these politically challenging times as so many states are attempting to take away our right to marry Boston Spirit magazine & Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHCC) want to celebrate your love. This is a fabulous opportunity to join hundreds of other LGBTQ couples for a truly incredible night of dancing, dining & cruising around Boston harbor as part of a once in a lifetime giant wedding vow renewal ceremony. There will be delicious food, photos, dancing, honeymoon giveaways & a marriage ceremony that you will never forget. David Zimmerman, Publisher of Boston Spirit Magazine stated, “We will have a special wedding vow renewal ceremony (unlike any other!!) We have some incredible honeymoon getaways that we will be giving away (One includes a helicopter tour!!) Amazing food courtesy of the Odyssey, dancing with incredible views of the Boston Skyline & much more.” So share your love & show your pride at Boston Spirit Magazines' first-ever Wedding Vow Renewal Celebration for a giant wedding vow renewal ceremony on Boston Harbor City Cruises' Odyssey with yacht photos, dancing, honeymoon giveaways & a marriage ceremony that will create new memories. The honeymoon getaway giveaway prize includes a 2-night stay at The Shelter Harbor Inn in Westerly, RI. Odyssey Yacht boarding begins at 6P & the Wedding Vow Renewal Event cruise runs from 6:30P to 8:30P on The Odyssey at 60 Rowes Wharf in Boston for $50 a couple. 
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Las Vegas United Multicultural Festival

Thousands of Nevadans are expected to attend the massive “Communities United Multicultural Festival” celebrating the state’s diversity & encourages civic engagement, voter participation & understanding across racial & identity lines. The festival will feature fabulous live performances, music, art, children’s activities, food & vendors from many diverse cultures. The event is a powerful rebuke & antidote to divisive rhetoric & the recent alarming rise in hate crimes that have reached the highest levels on record. Grace Vergara-Mactal, Executive Director of Nevada’s largest healthcare & public service union, SEIU Local 1107 which is hosting the festival along with community partners stated, “The message & vision of our Communities United Multicultural Festival is one of joy, harmony & hope — that Americans won’t let ourselves be divided by hate, but rather we celebrate our diverse cultures.” Over 100 partners are helping to coordinate the festival including major unions, companies & grassroots organizations from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander; Black; Latino; indigenous & our LGBTQ communities. Michelle Maese, President of SEIU Local 1107 concluded, “Our Communities United Multicultural Festival is occurring one year out from historic elections & intends to motivate people to vote at unprecedented levels, especially union members, youth & people of color. We’re declaring that Nevadans refuse to fall for the politics of division & are instead uniting around our shared values.” The free United Multicultural Festival takes place Saturday September 9th from 4P to 9P at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater at 500 S Grand Central Pkwy in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
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Trans Federal Employee Case Settled

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) has resolved a complaint filed in 2021 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the Office of Personnel Management on behalf of career federal employee Kelly Shaw. This resulted in the Biden-Harris administration directing all insurance carriers for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) to remove any discriminatory exclusions for health insurance coverage for transgender people. Kelly Shaw state. “I’m relieved the case is settled. I was on the same plan as other federal workers, but the plan covered medically necessary facial surgery for my colleagues & explicitly excluded this coverage for transgender people. As a transgender woman, being misgendered daily was a kick to my gut that resulted in symptoms of anxiety & depression. It is a huge weight off my shoulders that other transgender federal employees won’t have to go through what I did to have my surgery & they will be allowed to access the same kind of coverage for vital medical care that is offered to my colleagues.” Ezra Cukor, TLDEF Senior Counsel concluded, “We are relieved to resolve this matter for our client & we are pleased with the steps the nation’s largest employer is taking to ensure greater access to transition-related medical care for transgender federal employees. Whether you are a member of Congress or a postal worker or a food service worker, all federal employees, regardless of their gender identity, deserve access to the health care they need.” Founded in 2003 Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination & achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities. 
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Fueling The Power Of Pride In Oakland

This year Oakland Pride & Pridefest Oakland have joined forces to create “Fuel the Power of Pride” a fabulous celebration that takes place Saturday September 9th & Sunday September 10th in Oakland, CA. On Saturday September 9th there will be a variety of events for the whole LGBTQ community & their allies. Then on Sunday September 10th the annual Oakland Pride Parade will begin at 11A down Broadway from 14th to 21st that’s free to the public with live coverage of the parade provided by ABC7. The parade will be followed by Oakland Pride Festival & Celebration from noon to 6P with performance by Deborah Cox & Diana Reyes. Since 2010 Oakland Pride & Pridefest Oakland have been an influential coalition dedicated to educating the greater Bay Area & promoting equality, social justice, civic involvement & responsibility within Oakland & neighboring communities. Their organizations have a shared vision of providing an equitable platform, safe spaces & events for the entire Oakland community. Their events celebrate Oakland’s rich & diverse queer community, support Oakland’s BIPOC businesses & non-profits & highlights the resources available to the community through a series of events throughout the year that lead up to Oakland Pride Weekend which provided a Festival & Parade. This is a partnership of strength & respect while elevating their unified mission to celebrate & support the cultures & diversity of our LGBTQ community in Oakland & the surrounding Bay Area. Both of these organizations have cemented their partnership to provide unified support for each other, the LGBTQ community & Oakland at-large so that every marginalized voice can be heard. 
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Canadian LGBTQ USA Travel Advisory

With the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ laws pending & passed across the nation the Canadian government has updated their U.S. travel policy warning LGBTQ Canadians about traveling to this country stating, “Some states have enacted laws & policies that may affect LGBTQI+ persons. Check relevant state & local laws. Foreign laws & customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression & sex characteristics (SOGIESC) can be very different from those in Canada. As a result, you could face certain barriers & risks when you travel outside Canada. Research & prepare for your trip in advance to help your travels go smoothly.” Last June HRC also released a guidebook designed to inform LGBTQ people on relevant state laws & to help our community stay safe when living, working & traveling in the U.S. Kelley Robinson, President of Human Rights Campaign stated, “When another country is affirming the state of emergency that LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. are currently living through, it only further validates the grim reality that our community is facing. These declarations are anything but theatrical. This year alone, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures throughout the country, with over 220 of those bills specifically targeting transgender people. Over 80 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law this year, more than any year on record. We are seeing this political extremism also manifesting into real life, fatal violence. LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a crisis and it’s vital that LGBTQ+ people stay informed about the risks & realities when traveling to and throughout the U.S.” 
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