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Fed Court Victory For Trans Students

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed a lower court ruling that required a suburban Jacksonville, Florida school district to treat transgender student Drew Adams equally by allowing equal access to the restroom that matches his gender. Drew Adams’ case was the country’s first trial involving a transgender student’s equal access to restrooms. Tara Borelli, Counsel at Lambda Legal stated, “Today, the court sent a clear message that schools must treat transgender students with the same dignity & respect as any other student. The trial court was correct when it ruled that the law requires that Drew Adams be treated like every other boy & be allowed to use the boys’ restroom. We are glad the court saw the school board’s policy as unjust & discriminatory, & affirmed the inherent dignity of transgender students.” Drew Adams, 19, a former student at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida added, “I am very happy to see justice prevail, after spending almost my entire high school career fighting for equal treatment. High school is hard enough without having your school separate you from your peers & mark you as inferior. I hope this decision helps save other transgender students from having to go through that painful & humiliating experience.” The 11th Circuit Judges ruled, “A public school may not punish its students for gender nonconformity. Neither may a public school harm transgender students by establishing arbitrary, separate rules for their restroom use. The evidence at trial confirms that Mr. Adams suffered both these indignities. The record developed in the District Court shows that the School Board failed to honor Mr. Adams’s rights under the Fourteenth Amendment & Title IX.”
For More Info: lambdalegal.org
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Senator Tammy Baldwin Virtual Event

LPAC (Lesbian Political Action Committee) is hosting “A Salute to Senator Tammy Baldwin” on Wednesday August 19th at 5P ET via Zoom. The event comes during the DNC Convention that runs from Monday August 17th to Thursday August 20th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the state where Baldwin has served for over thirty years. The virtual event is co-hosted by Emily Giske with proceeds benefiting LPAC & will feature a range of high-profile elected officials & celebrity guests including Billie Jean King, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Stacey Abrams, Rep. Sharice Davids, Rep. Angie Craig, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Gov. Kate Brown, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Alexis McGill Johnson, Gloria Steinem among others. There will also be a live interview with Senator Baldwin conducted by CNN contributor & LPAC board member Hilary Rosen. Stephanie Sandberg LPAC Executive Director stated, “We’re thrilled to host Senator Baldwin -- her insights & commitment to progressive values, her leadership in the Senate & the example she provides girls & women everywhere, underscore the importance of LPAC's work. As the only organization solely dedicated to electing more LGBTQ women to office, we're always grateful for such opportunities to bring our mission to life!” In 1998 Tammy became the first out LGBTQ woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives & the first woman to represent Wisconsin in Congress. She served seven terms before making history again in 2012 as the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the U.S. Senate – a race where she received LPAC's very first endorsement. Tammy's 2018 reelection with an 11% margin sent her back to the Senate with a clear mandate & new opportunities for leadership – including hosting this year’s Democratic National Convention.
For Info & RSVP…
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Our Mini Vacation In Provincetown

Every summer for over 20 years my partner now wife & I have taken our vacation break in Provincetown, MA. This year with COVID-19 we knew all that would change a bit but we managed to escape to Ptown midweek for a short holiday. First we took an exploratory daytrip on the Fast Ferry from Boston to meet some friends who ventured to the Cape from NYC. It was great to actually spend some quality time catching up at The Canteen & then dinner at The Lobster Pot before returning to Boston on the 7:30P ferry. The entire trip of course was spent safe distancing & wearing masks as it is now mandatory throughout Massachusetts. The Provincetown Office of Tourism has successfully created a new concept for the summer of 2020 entitled “Safecations” which can be accomplished at its beaches, dunes & outdoor dining making it easier than ever for an LGBTQ getaway this summer. When we returned the following Monday for our four-day midweek mini-safecation we had dinner at Fanizzi’s Restaurant where they had turned their parking lot into outdoor dining with a bay view. The food was fabulous & our server Tom was great. Everyone was masked except when eating & all tables were at least six feet apart. We brought breakfast from Boston & spent our mornings biking & our afternoons at Herring Cove with a picnic lunch. This is the first time we didn’t stroll down Commercial Street but the weather was perfect & it was great to be finally out & about. The second night we had dinner at Bubala's By the Bay & besides the fact that our waiter Julius was masked as were everyone on the street everything was quite normal. The last night we had dinner with friends at their home & the next day headed safely back to Boston.
For More Info: ptowntourism.com
LISTEN: Actor Phillip Keene Talks Project Wingman & More
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U.S. Military Bans LGBTQ Pride Flag

When the Department of Defense released their new official flag policy list in order to remove the Confederate Battle Flag from displaying on military bases our LGBTQ Pride flag & sovereign Native Nations flags were eliminated. The new authorized list includes the U.S. flag, the flags of states & territories, the POW-MIA flag, those of allied countries, unit flags, senior leader flags & flags flown for protocol purposes. This policy does not explicitly ban the Confederate Battle Flag & by omission bans sovereign Native Nations & LGBTQ Pride Flags on installations. More than two dozen House Democrats are demanding the reinstatement of LGBTQ Pride & Sovereign Native Nations flags on military installations stating, “The implicit banning of these symbols of diversity & inclusion runs counter to our ideals as a nation & a military. The Department must have the strength & courage to be able to simultaneously stand against a symbol of hate & oppression in the Confederate Battle Flag while allowing the display of support for civil rights, equity & justice. The resolute ideal that “all men are created equal” is embodied by the victory of the United States Armed Forces in the American Civil War & the defeat of an armed insurrection that sought to maintain the slavery & oppression of African Americans. We ask that you immediately revise the new policy on flag display, explicitly ban the Confederate Battle Flag & ensure that service members can express support for diversity & inclusion through the display of sovereign Native Nations & LGBTQ Pride flags.”
For More Info: modernmilitary.org
LISTEN: Actor Phillip Keene Talks Project Wingman & More
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San Francisco LGBTQ Virtual Expo Event

Now in its fifth year the OurTownSF LGBTQ Nonprofit Expo 2020 is going virtual on Saturday August 15th from 12:30P to 4:30P. This is the world's largest LGBTQ resource fair with over 150 groups serving the San Francisco community from all over the Bay Area with thousands of attendees expected to tune in. These groups are going through tough times so take this opportunity to meet up with dozens of groups & help support them as a new client, board member, volunteer or donor. Groups participating will be providing a free expo of arts, community fundraisers, health, athletic, legal, political, recovery service & spiritual groups. The program will included an intro by Mayor London Breed & Supervisor Rafael Mandelman plus entertainment by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band & a member of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. Attendees will be directed to links in order to reach participants discounts at various Castro businesses & door prizes with links to several forms of health consultations & insurance registration will also be available. It is free to attend & offers Bay Area groups serving the LGBTQ community the opportunity to attract new clients, volunteers, board members & donors. Natalie stated, “Paul & OurTownSF team, thank you for having Community Initiatives. We were so happy to meet so many people & organizations leaving this world a better place than they found it. Thank you for the hospitality & for the wonderful gathering!” OurTownSF is a program of REAF a 501(c)3 non-profit providing aid to HIV/AIDS, hunger & underserved youth programs.
For More Info: ourtownsf.org
LISTEN: Actor Phillip Keene Talks Project Wingman & More
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GLAAD Media Awards To Air On Logo

GLAAD hosted a virtual ceremony to announce the award recipients of their 31st Annual Media Awards that will air on Logo on Monday August 3rd at 8P EST. The online event was hosted by comedians Fortune Feimster & Gina Yashere & featured special performances from Chloe x Halle, Shea Diamond & Ben Platt. Shea Diamond performed “I Am America” introduced by Demi Lovato who stated, “I specifically want to remind trans youth that you matter. I know things are crazy hard right now & you may not have your usual support system around you...but don’t let anyone, especially the Trump administration, fool you into thinking you are anything less than perfect & meant to be. Be proud of who you are, keep your voices loud & strong & know that we’re out here fighting for you.” The online ceremony featured appearances by Jennifer Garner, August Getty, Gigi Gorgeous Getty & Nats Getty, Dan Levy, Rachel Maddow, Ryan O’Connell, Dolly Parton, Peppermint, the cast & producers of Pose, Geena Rocero, Angelica Ross, Lilly Singh, Benito Skinner, Brian Michael Smith, Darryl Stephens, Lena Waithe, Olivia Wilde, Raquel Willis & more. Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade presented the award for Outstanding Drama Series to the cast of Pose stating, “We stand as allies with the LGBTQ+ community as proud parents of a transgender child. Our daughter Zaya is leading us in our journey & we’re doing all we can to give every one of our kids the ability to live their truth. I didn’t always understand how to do that – but I thank Zaya for teaching me & GLAAD for elevating the images & messages that accelerate acceptance in every family.”
For More Info: glaad.org
LISTEN: Actor Phillip Keene Talks Project Wingman & More
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
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Defunding The Transgender Military Ban

The United States House of Representatives approved the Rule for consideration of the FY21 Defense Appropriations Act which defines which amendments the House will consider as they fund the Department of Defense operations in the next fiscal year. Among the amendments approved for debate in the Rule is amendment #66 offered by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) that would prevent DoD from using any funds to implement the transgender military ban. The amendment will be considered by the full House of Representatives later this week. Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center stated, “The Department of Defense should not be spending taxpayer money on a politically motivated policy that keeps qualified people out of the military, particularly when the military continues to face enlistment shortfalls. The House’s immediate passage of Rep. Speier’s amendment would send the fiscally responsible message that we should be spending money on protecting Americans, not on baseless policies enacted to score political points.” Last week on the third anniversary of Trump’s transphobic tweets announcing that transgender troops would be banned from the military the Palm Center released a policy memo explaining that the ban can be easily reversed in under thirty days. The memo was authored by retired Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, the former Surgeon General equivalent of the U.S. Coast Guard & it provides a regulatory roadmap of the precise steps needed to immediately restore transgender military service. The Palm Center is an independent non-partisan research institute that conducts scholarly analysis of U.S. military personnel policy with an emphasis on LGBTQ populations.
For More Info: palmcenter.org
LISTEN: Actor Phillip Keene Talks Project Wingman & More
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