SENATE INCHES CLOSER TO APPROVING TRUMP ANTI-LGBTQ NOM BROWNBACK: It’s looking like the Senate may vote as soon as today on Sam Brownback’s nomination for Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. HRC has strongly urged senators to oppose the staunchly anti-LGBTQ politician. “Given Governor Brownback’s anti-LGBTQ record, it is deeply worrying that he could use this position to promote the harmful idea that individuals holding certain religious views should somehow be permitted be discriminate against LGBTQ people or other minorities,” HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy said about Brownback. “This is particularly concerning because LGBTQ people often face persecution in the same countries where religious minorities face persecution.” More from HRC and from The Associated Press.

HRC ENDORSES ELISSA SLOTKIN FOR U.S. HOUSE SEAT FOR MICHIGAN 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: “Elissa Slotkin has spent her career in service to our nation. She is a tenacious fighter and she will be a champion for Michigan’s working families. When elected, she will be a strong voice in the effort to move equality forward,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. Slotkin will be facing incumbent Rep. Mike Bishop (R), who received a zero on HRC’s most recent congressional scorecard and voted in favor of an amendment that would have banned critical access to transition-related health care for military service members and their families. More from HRC.

.@HRC endorses @ElissaSlotkin for Congress. Her long career working to advance fairness & justice make her the champion Michigan’s working families need in the effort to move equality forward. https://t.co/r1Tz0lpFPN

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) January 23, 2018

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY -- THE HATE GROUPS FUNDING -- AND WRITING -- ANTI-LGBTQ LAWS ACROSS THE NATION: Rolling Stone’s Sarah Posner (@sarahposner) dives into the disturbing efforts of anti-LGBTQ extremists funding the promotion of anti-LGBTQ laws -- particularly those targeting trans people. The well-founded groups are advocating for “licenses to discriminate” in state houses and courtrooms. And in states including North Carolina and Texas, they have pushed for legislation that would bar transgender people from public life. Now, many of their extremist leaders are finding friends in the despicable Trump-Pence administration. More from Rolling Stone.

• One of the groups, Alliance Defending Freedom, recently issued a memo outlining its strategy to undermine marriage equality. More from Rewire.

VIRGINIA SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES TWO PRO-EQUALITY BILLS: The first would prohibit discrimination in public employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The second would do the same for housing. More from Metro Weekly.

A bi-partisan #Virginia Senate committee has approved 2 vital bills to prohibit discrimination against #LGBTQ people in public employment and housing. https://t.co/QvdU2SaUht

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) January 24, 2018

TRUMP’S RACIST RHETORIC COULD MEAN DEATH FOR LGBTQ REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS: Trump’s vulgar, racist assertions about Haiti and African nations during a recent White House meeting are tragically consistent with his longtime disparagement of people of color, immigrants, Muslims and others. For LGBTQ asylum seekers from these countries, the comments could spell death. More from Advocate.

• When LGBTQ refugees arrive in other countries, they too often are discriminated against by immigration officers. More from Reuters.

MEET THE OPENLY LGBTQ ATHLETES HEADED TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS: More from HRC.

RT to cheer on these incredible openly #LGBTQ Olympians! ������ https://t.co/PRlZNeJjrD

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) January 23, 2018

A DEPLORABLE ANNIVERSARY: One year ago, President Donald Trump issued an executive order reinstating and massively expanding the global gag rule, which prevents federal funding to foreign non-governmental organizations that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion information, referrals or services. Also known as the Mexico City policy, the gag rule harms health care efforts for women, LGBTQ people and others around the world. It has also impeded the efforts of health providers to speak freely in counseling their patients and to address the family planning needs of women throughout the world. More from HRC.

TOMORROW -- START YOUR ENGINES, AND MAY THE BEST WOMAN WIN! Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on VH1, 10 internationally renowned drag queens will compete for a spot in the All Stars Hall of Fame in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3. Let’s Get All-Started! More from People.

INDIAN POLICE ARE EXTORTING TRANS SEX WORKERS -- INCREASING RISK OF HIV: The Centre for Sexuality and Health Research and Policy (C-SHaRP) and the Mumbai-based Humsafar Trust have found that police in India are forcing transgender sex workers to engage in unsafe sex, increasing the risk of HIV. More from Reuters.

HORRIFYING -- PAKISTANI TRANS ACTIVIST KIDNAPPED AND RAPED BY NINE MEN: The victim was reportedly targeted because she was advocating for the trans community. More from The Express Tribune.

READING RAINBOW

Ask Amy shares advice on welcoming a transgender family member; NewNowNext describes how the show “Grown-ish” perfectly handles a plotline involving biphobia; U.S. News and World Report gives an overview of LGBTQ equality in Latin America; Nylon explores LGBTQ representation in pro wrestling