South Dakota Supports Trans Kids

Good news out of South Dakota. Governor Dennis Daugaard has vetoed House Bill 1008 that would have restricted transgender & gender non-conforming students’ access to school restrooms & locker rooms. Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund stated, “We would like to thank Governor Daugaard for vetoing this bill, which if made law would have been a direct attack on transgender & gender non-conforming children & young people at school. It’s good to see decency & dignity prevail over appalling discrimination targeting some of the most vulnerable in an environment where they should be protected. We also want to thank all the advocates, groups, businesses, parents & allies that worked so hard to achieve this victory.” Mara Keisling Executive Director of National Center for Transgender Equality added, “Governor Daugaard has demonstrated true leadership in listening to the hundreds of transgender South Dakotans & their families who would have been directly impacted by this bill. He has made a carefully informed decision that protects all students in South Dakota. His example shows that scare tactics can be overcome by understanding who trans people really are.” While this is a major victory for fairness there is still much more work to be done to combat the pervasive attacks on transgender people in South Dakota & around the country. What happened in South Dakota is a huge step on the way to ensuring that all transgender people can live full lives, safely & without fear of discrimination.
For More Info: transequality.org
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Boston Wicked Queer Film Festival

The 32nd Wicked Queer Boston LGBT Film Festival is kicking things off at their annual preview party at Post 390 Restaurant in Boston on Sunday, March 20th for a fabulous brunch prepared by Chef Nick Deutmeyer & his team. It’s an opportunity to watch trailers for festival films, network, hangout & learn more about the festival that runs March 31st to April 10th. James A. Nadeau, Executive Director stated, “We are proud to announce the 32nd edition of the Boston LGBT Film Festival. Now known as Wicked Queer: The Boston LGBT Film Festival, we are still the same old festival bringing you the best in contemporary films for, by, and about the lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans community. Join us for 11 days of cinema that celebrates the diversity of our community with films from Russia, Syria, South Africa, Cuba & many more communities around the world. From romantic comedies to powerful documentaries, the Boston LGBT Film Festival promises to be an event you don't want to miss.” The Wicked Queer Boston LGBT Film Festival’s mission is to present the past, exhibit the present & develop the future by supporting & displaying LGBT media works that challenge, encourage & educate through the medium of the moving image & the power of queer cinema. There will also be a few special screening leading up to the festival.
For Info & Tix: wickedqueer.org 
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Childhood With An LGBT Parent

In a UK study in Psychology & Sexuality authors Victoria Clarke & Eleni Demetriou found that children of lesbian, gay or transgender parents accept diversity, have the advantage of parental openness, pride in facing prejudice & overall the family unit centers on love just like any other family. Clarke & Demetriou conducted a survey of 14 adults, 13 of whom were born to a heterosexual relationship in which one partner came out as gay, lesbian or transgender. Participants were invited to recount their stories of childhood & the present in relation to opening up about their families & the effect on their own adult relationships & sexuality. The results endorsed previous findings of positive influences in childhood tolerance, acceptance, honesty, respect & broad mindedness. Many downplayed the importance of parental sexuality in their upbringing & attached more importance to having a parent of each gender (regardless of sexuality), having a strong biological link to parents & in one case stressing the masculinity of his gay father. Clarke & Demetriou concluded, “Adult children of lesbian, gay & transgender parents clearly reject the notion that they have been ‘damaged’ by their LGT parents’ sexuality/gender identity & by being a member of a non-normative family. They present their families as ‘just like’ other families & downplay the significance of their parents’ sexuality/gender identity…participants located the source of any difficulties they & their parents had experienced in a heterosexist, homophobic & transphobic social context.”
For More Info: tandfonline.com
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LGBT Spin On Oscar Diversity

We’re gearing up to watch the 88th Academy Awards tonight. For our LGBT community we have a mixed spin on representation of LGBT diversity in this year’s nominees. Though “Carol” the fabulous romantic lesbian film & “The Danish Girl” about the first transgender pioneer both received nominations they were not included in Best Director or Best Picture category & “Tangerine” was totally overlooked. However last night at the Independent Spirit Awards history was made when Mya Taylor won for Best Supporting Actress in “Tangerine” becoming the first transgender actress to win a major film award. Laverne Cox stated, “I am so happy, inspired & proud of Mya Taylor for making history tonight becoming the first transgender actor to win at the Spirit Awards. And I loved her call to action in her acceptance speech to the filmmakers in the room to put transgender talent in your films. We have award winning talent & craft that just needs a chance to shine.” Also at the Independent Spirit Awards Ed Lachman won for Best Cinematography for “Carol”. Carol’s Ed Lachman & Screenwriter Phyllis Nagy are both nominated for Oscars tonight along with Cate Blanchett for Best Actress & Rooney Mara for Best Supporting Actress with “The Danish Girl” Eddie Redmayne nominated for Best Actor along with Alicia Vikander for Best Supporting Actress. So while we wait to see who wins this year listen to our exclusive audio interview with Oscar Nominated Screenwriter Phyllis Nagy:

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Hispanic Agenda LGBTQ Inclusive

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) which is a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations released its quadrennial Hispanic Public Policy Agenda, a comprehensive outline of the policy concerns & priorities of the nation's Latino community. The coalition urged the candidates for president, along with Congress & the current administration to take careful note of the policy recommendations which affect the 58 million Latinos in the United States. Along with long-held positions on issues such as economic empowerment & immigration, the 2016 policy agenda includes policy recommendations specifically aimed at improving the well-being of LGBTQ Latinos. Jessica González-Rojas, Co-Chair of the NHLA Health Committee & Executive Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health stated, “Since joining NHLA four years ago, I have been honored to be among a growing cadre of Latina leaders working to ensure that we fully embrace & include Latinas in a policy agenda that recognizes the challenges of gender-based discrimination & violence, & the importance of health care for women & LGBTQ Latino/as. This year’s agenda is the most gender-inclusive in the history of NHLA! The policy priorities outlined demonstrate a commitment to improving Latina reproductive health & rights, critical measures to expand health care access for LGBTQ Latino/as, to ensure that young parents have the resources needed to thrive & to address HIV and AIDS within our communities, regardless of immigration status." The policy agenda covers the unique health challenges facing our LGBTQ Latino community as well as the need to protect LGBTQ Latinos from employment discrimination & abuse in immigration detention. In the criminal justice context, the coalition calls for better data collection that includes sexual orientation & for ending the use of solitary confinement for transgender & gender non-conforming individuals. This is the most explicitly LGBT-inclusive policy agenda produced by the NHLA to date.
For Info: nationalhispanicleadership.org
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Boston Pride Week 2016 Theme

Boston Pride announced that the theme for 2016 will be “Solidarity Through Pride.” Hundreds from the community participated in the vote that selected this year’s theme with many suggestions that touched on solidarity & the issues faced within the LGBT community. The theme encourages the LGBT community to see that there are multiple struggles in a wide range of communities but are all related and intertwined. This is the first year that Boston Pride has had the same theme as InterPride, the organization that ties together Pride organizations across the globe. Sylvain Bruni Boston Pride President stated, “Our theme for 2016, Solidarity Through Pride, recognizes the intersectionality of identities within our very diverse community & the call for solidarity & support among all parts of our community. The theme also reminds the community & beyond that they need to stay unified to gain equality for all, beyond marriage, to fight the epidemic of violence against trans women of color, eliminate trans & bi-phobia, racism, anti-Semitism & to ensure the protection of our youth.” Intersectionality is the overlapping of social identities & relates to the concept of how discrimination against one ultimately represents discrimination against all. Intersectionality will be the topic of discussion of an upcoming public Community Forum hosted by Boston Pride, Black Pride & Latin@Pride with a focus on the challenges faced by trans people of color in the community, on Tuesday March 22nd at 6:30P at the Blackstone Community Center in Boston. Pride Week 2016 will be held June 3rd-12th in Boston.
For More Info: bostonpride.org
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Ending LGBT Conversion Therapy

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) & the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a federal consumer fraud complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against People Can Change, an organization that preys on vulnerable LGBT people & families by using damaging & discredited claims that it can change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Samantha Ames NCLR #BornPerfect Campaign Coordinator stated, “Today, after decades of advocacy, the voices of conversion therapy survivors have carried all the way up to the highest levels of government. This historic complaint is not only the first clear opportunity the Obama Administration has had to end these deadly practices for good, but, if investigated fully, could very well be the final nail in the coffin of the entire conversion therapy industry. We sincerely look forward to working with the Federal Trade Commission to investigate this fraudulent & unethical organization along with every trusted professional who profits from the anguish of LGBTQ youth & their families. But, even more so, we look forward to the day when every human being, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, knows they were born perfect.” Chad Griffin HRC President added, “Conversion therapy is abusive, harmful to children & we urge the FTC to join our call to ban its practice once & for all. This is dangerous junk science that uses fear and shame to tell young people the only way to find love & acceptance is by changing the very nature of who they are.”
Read Full Complaint…
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