HRC TO LAUNCH 2ND EQUIDAD PROJECT TO RATE LGBTQ WORKPLACE INCLUSION IN CHILE: Tomorrow, HRC will kick off its groundbreaking partnership with Fundación Iguales & Pride Connection with an international launch of HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier report tracking LGBT inclusion in the world’s largest companies. “Following the equality trend across the Americas, Chile is now taking a clear lead by investing in LGBT inclusion in the workplace, which is both fair and smart for business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “As we have seen in the U.S. and Mexico, more and more Latin American businesses are interested in working on LGBT diversity and inclusion. This partnership with Fundación Iguales demonstrates our commitment to deliver concrete results for LGBT employees in Chile and around the globe.” HRC has previously launched the CEI internationally in Mexico, marking the historic HRC Equidad MX initiative that works with leading employers in country to create more diverse and LGBT-inclusive workplaces.

HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WITH SERVICE: Yesterday, HRC members and supporters held more than 25 community service events across the country to mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, joining millions who honored his legacy by participating in the annual day of service. “Because our community is so diverse and expansive, there are many ways in which we can use this day to deepen our commitment and connection to those in our community who are too often at its margins,” said Nicole Cozier, HRC Director of Diversity and Inclusion. More from HRC.

Why the Dream is still not a reality.
Racial inequalities in wages, income, and wealth show that MLK’s work remains unfinished https://t.co/JsZat1y4Bq #MartinLutherKing @NAACPecon pic.twitter.com/y9Ru1EBUQG

— NAACP (@NAACP) January 15, 2018

• To cap off the historic day, the NAACP held its annual Image Awards, honoring visionaries and trailblazers including Halle Berry (@HalleBerry), Audra Day, Common (@common) and Ava DuVernay (@Ava). HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) attended the event with transgender trailblazer and advocate Blossom Brown (@BlossomCBrown).

.@Sifill_LDF is one of the most tireless advocates for equality I’ve ever had the honor of working with. Inspired by her work at @NAACP_LDF every single day. #ImageAwards pic.twitter.com/CYEgHH4N1x

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) January 16, 2018

AHEAD OF TRUMP’S DESPICABLE STUNT TO ATTACK THE MEDIA, 37 ARTICLES HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE: HRC is sharing stories Trump no doubt hopes you’ve missed from 2017 -- those that illustrate the Trump-Pence administration’s disastrous, dangerous first year. Why 37? Because the number aligns perfectly with Trump’s record-low 37 percent approval rating. More from HRC.

• Could these so-called “awards” violate ethics rules? More from Politico.

#10 on our list of 37 stories Donald Trump hopes you've missed: Why Didn't Trump Mention Pride Month? We Asked 30 Times.
See the full list:https://t.co/ka7ZsVNfZi

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) January 15, 2018

TUESDAY TWEETS -- HRC CELEBRATES VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM’S SWEARING IN: HRC worked aggressively to ensure Northam and other pro-equality candidates claimed victory on Election Day. “Ralph Northam consistently campaigned on a platform of equality for all Virginians,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “By electing Northam and other fair-minded candidates up and down the ballot, Virginians resoundingly rejected the Trump-Pence politics of hate, fear, and discrimination.” More from HRC.

• In one of Northam’s first acts, he signed an executive order protecting state employees from discrimination -- including on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. This executive order also added gender expression for the first time. More from WTOP.

“This management team can be an example to our friends in the corporate world.

When people say, ‘we can’t find enough women, or enough diverse candidates for leadership roles,’ I say—you’re not looking hard enough.”

— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 16, 2018

“This cabinet is led by women. And like this new General Assembly, it is also one of the most diverse in our history.”

— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 16, 2018

HRC MOURNS VICCKY GUTIERREZ, SECOND TRANS WOMAN MURDERED IN 2018: HRC was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Viccky Gutierrez, a transgender woman from Honduras killed in what officials are calling a “suspicious” fire in her Los Angeles home early Wednesday. Friends took to social media to mourn Gutierrez, describing her as “a young trans Latina immigrant woman whose warm smile would give anyone comfort.” More from HRC and Autostraddle.

ADVOCATES CALL FOR NOTORIOUS EXPORTER OF HATE TO BE BANNED FROM ENTERING JAMAICA: Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Arizona, a Southern Poverty Law Center designated anti-LGBTQ hate group, is headed to Jamaica this month on a so called “missions trip”. “Steven Anderson is endangering LGBTQ people around the world with his reckless words and dangerous messages,” said HRC Global Director Ty Cobb (@TyWesleyCobb). “We stand in solidarity with Jamaican advocates as they tirelessly organize to counter the hateful bigotry he is peddling.” Anderson has called for gay people to be executed and, in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy in 2017, he called LGBTQ people “perverts” and “pedophiles” and praised their murders. A petition launched by Jamaican LGBTQ activists is calling for Anderson to be banned from the island nation. More from HRC.

HRC MOURNS LGBTQ AND HIV & AIDS ADVOCATE DR. MATHILDE KRIM: Dr. Krim, 91, founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research. More from Towleroad.

BILL INTRODUCED IN WASHINGTON STATE TO PROTECT YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: Introduced in the state Senate Health Committee, it would ban the debunked and abusive practice for anyone under 18. More from My Northwest.

HOW HATE CRIMES AFFECT ENTIRE COMMUNITIES: The Hate Crime Project at the University of Sussex released findings that show even hearing about hate crimes can have negative consequences on communities, even if they are not directly connected to the victim. More from BBC.

JESSICA PLATT IS THE FIRST TRANSGENDER WOMAN TO COME OUT IN NORTH AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY: She joins Harrison Browne, a transgender man who came out in 2016. Both the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and the National Women’s Hockey League have updated their policies regarding transgender athletes to align with International Olympic Committee rules. More from ESPN.

READING RAINBOW

The Washington Post interviews openly gay Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy (@GusKenworthy) about his powerful coming out in 2015; The New York Times reports on an analysis stating that marriage equality in Australia will boost the local wedding industry revenue by 10 percent;