LAST NIGHT -- HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID ON THE “NEW NORMAL”: During HRC’s national virtual event “Time For Equality Live,” HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) gave remarks on the “new normal” in America and why it is more important than ever to fight for equality and justice. More from HRC.

HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID ON MORNING JOE: This morning, HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) was interviewed on Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) about HRC’s letter calling on corporate leaders to stand with the LGBTQ community and take action against discriminatory and anti-trans legislation. More from HRC.

2021 SLATED TO BECOME WORST YEAR FOR LGBTQ STATE LEGISLATIVE ATTACKS IN U.S. HISTORY: “Hundreds of bills have been introduced in state legislatures around the country that attempt to erase transgender people [and] make LGBTQ people second class citizens,” said HRC President Alphonso David this week in an open letter to Corporate America published as a full-page ad in The New York Times. “In order to achieve equality, we need those in positions of power at the largest businesses in the country to rise up against injustice and discrimination.” More from Forbes and HRC.

🏘️ HRC PRAISES SEC. FUDGE’S DECISION TO RESTORE EQUAL ACCESS RULE: “The Trump Administration left a long legacy of devastating attacks on trans Americans and their families, and we praise Secretary Fudge’s leadership in taking necessary steps to preserve and implement the Equal Access Rule,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Trans and non-binary people are significantly more likely to be experiencing homelessness, and consequences from that experience, especially for young people, can last a lifetime. Safe housing is an essential right for every American, no matter their gender identity, and we celebrate HUD’s decision to preserve and implement the Equal Access Rule and protect trans lives across our country.” More from Politico, LA Blade and HRC.

NEXT WEEK -- JOIN HRC TO CELEBRATE LESBIAN VISIBILITY DAY: Monday (4/26) is Lesbian Visibility Day, and we invite you to join the National LGBTQ Task Force (@thetaskforce), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) and HRC for an event called ‘What the L?’: Lesbians, Feminism and Where We Fit in the Queer Universe in 2021. More from The Task Force.

📍 IN THE STATES

KANSAS GOV. LAURA KELLY VETOES ANTI-TRANS SPORTS BAN: “This discriminatory legislation -- pushed forward by state legislators in the middle of the night -- has no place in the state of Kansas. This veto will prevent further discrimination against transgender kids who are simply trying to play sports with their friends,” said HRC Kansas State Director Shawn Copeland. More from Advocate, Metro Weekly and HRC.

📺 GET CULTURED

🏑 THIS 14-YEAR-OLD TEEN ATHLETE IS LIKE ANY OTHER KID: With anti-trans laws targeting trans youth, it is kids like Rebekah (@therealrebekah) that are being harmed. Her story was featured by HRC in a video showing exactly the kind of kids that just want to play sports that GOP lawmakers are targeting. More from LGBTQ Nation.

🌍 GLOBAL EQUALITY

LGBTQ SOUTH AFRICANS AND ALLIES DEMAND JUSTICE AFTER HATE CRIME WAVE: With the murders of four gay men in South Africa in less than a month, LGBTQ South Africans and their allies have taken to the streets to demand justice. More from them.

🏉 DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE RUGBY TEAM: In a documentary featuring the Kings Cross Steelers (@kxsrfc), a U.K. LGBTQ-inclusive rugby team, the importance of acceptance in sports and its life-saving impact is on full display. More from Gay Times (UK) and ESPN.

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