⏰ 25 DAYS ⏰

HRC MOURNS THE LOSS OF TRAILBLAZING WRITER AND ACTIVIST MONICA ROBERTS: “Monica Roberts was an icon and a trailblazing voice for transgender rights, both in her home state of Texas and around the country,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “We are deeply saddened to learn of her passing, and offer our most heartfelt condolences to her friends, family and loved ones. For decades, Monica has been a fierce leader -- bringing light to the injustice transgender people face, especially Black transgender women. She leaves behind a strong, and vital legacy -- one that every LGBTQ person and ally should work to honor and advance. Rest in power, Monica, and thank you.” More from HRC, The Advocate and the Washington Post.

HRC CELEBRATES NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY WITH NEW COMING OUT RESOURCES: “This year, more than ever, we are reminded why coming out matters, and why we have to continue to be as visible as possible, even if most of us are still at home,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Now, during a pandemic, we know that it is vitally important for LGBTQ people – especially youth who may be stuck at home in unaccepting environments – to see LGBTQ people publicly and vibrantly living our lives. That’s what coming out means: being visible for those who can not be. And at a time when we cannot gather in person, and continue to be attacked and vilified by the anti-equality Trump-Pence administration, our public existence is resistance.” Check out the resources here.

FRIDAY FEATURE -- AMY CONEY BARRETT’S CONFIRMATION WOULD BE AN LGBTQ RIGHTS EMERGENCY: “We fear, with good reason, a Supreme Court -- whose increasingly rightward bent could likely not be curbed for decades -- whose clear goal would be to undermine years of progress,” write Jim Obergefell (@JimObergefell) and HRC President Alphonso David in the op-ed. More from the Washington Post.

• On MSNBC, HRC’s Alphonso David speaks on how the Trump White House continues to target the LGBTQ community and their rights. “This election is the election of our lives, and we need to make sure that LGBTQ people and people of color are protected,” said David on Morning Joe. More from MSNBC.

AHEAD OF NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY 2020 -- LGBTQ COMMUNITY SHARES STORIES OF STRUGGLE AND TRIUMPH: To commemorate the occasion, USA Today shares the diverse coming out stories of the LGBTQ community from across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. More from Asbury Park Press.

LGBTQ YOUTH OVERWHELMINGLY DISTRUST THE POLICE, SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER: More than 70% of LGBTQ youth say they have little to no trust in the police, especially among Black LGBTQ and trans or non-binary youth. More from Axios.

ICE RAIDS ARE PREVENTING LATINX GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER MEN FROM RECEIVING HIV CARE AND TREATMENT: More from Forbes.

STUDY BY HRC SHOWS THAT LGBTQ WORKS ARE 30% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED: More from CBS46.

MEET THE CANDIDATES WHO COULD CHANGE THE FACE OF AMERICA: From the possibility of the first openly LGBTQ member of congress in Texas to HRC’s own Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) who, if elected, would be America’s highest ranking transgender politician, check out the candidates making history across the U.S. More from NowThis.

📺 GET CULTURED - Entertainment, arts and sports news!

DRAG RACE FOUNDERS HIGHLIGHT POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF DRAG KINGS AND TRANS PERFORMERS IN THE FUTURE: More from Out.

🌏 GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LGBTQ REFUGEES MUST TELL THEIR OWN STORIES, AND YOU NEED TO LISTEN: “To embrace true justice, equality and inclusion requires that those with privilege and power to use it -- and sometimes just step out of the way -- to uplift the voices of the marginalized, allowing them to speak for themselves, tell their own stories and demand their own justice.” Read the full op-ed in Out.

KOREAN SINGER KWON DO-WOOD COMES OUT AS GAY: “I wanted to speak up as a representative voice of sexual minorities and wanted to open up the prospect of coming out more widely in the entertainment industry,” Kwon Do-woon wrote in his statement. More from Pride.

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