SAM CLOVIS IS THE LATEST -- AND AMONG THE WORST -- IN LONG LINE OF ANTI-LGBTQ EXTREMISTS NOMINATED BY TRUMP: Clovis, Donald Trump’s nominee for chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has a disturbing history of anti-LGBTQ extremism, reports CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski (@KFile) and Paul LeBlanc (@PaulLeBlanc1). Clovis, who has no scientific background, has repeatedly peddled the falsehood that being LGBTQ is a “choice.” Clovis has also disgustingly equated protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination with protecting pedophiles, and he opposes marriage equality. Read a full report on Clovis’s vile assertions about LGBTQ Americans at CNN.

Trump nominee Sam Clovis has spewed junk science about LGBTQ people. Few less qualified to be USDA's top scientist. https://t.co/JnsNrD1143

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) August 21, 2017

TUESDAY TWEETS: Did you catch the eclipse yesterday? Hopefully you had a better viewing experience than Donald Trump, who looked directly into the sun. Former White House LGBT liaison Gautam Raghavan (@gauragDC), who served during the Obama Administration, had some choice words about the event. Also check out this zinger from HRC National Press Secretary Stephen Peters (@StephenPeters2) Talk about #shade, More here.

I mean, he's already blind to justice, equality, democracy, dignity, compassion, integrity, morality... https://t.co/jym7axNpnE

— Gautam Raghavan (@gauragDC) August 21, 2017

.@FLOTUS: "Donald, the scientists said not to look directly at the sun!" @realDonaldTrump: "I don't believe in science" pic.twitter.com/slTqJwmysr

— Stephen Peters II (@stephenpeters2) August 21, 2017

AHEAD OF TRUMP’S PHOENIX RALLY, ORGANIZATIONS URGE HIM NOT TO PARDON JOE ARPAIO: Today Voto Latino led a coalition letter sent to President Donald Trump expressing opposition to the potential presidential pardon of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The letter was signed by a diverse group of organizations including HRC, the Center for American Progress (CAP), Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), National Urban League and UnidosUS. It cites Arpaio’s long record of violating the civil rights of the Maricopa County’s Latinx population, carrying out a hate-filled agenda through extreme racial profiling of children, tourists, legal residents and U.S. citizens as crimes for which he must be held accountable. Read the full letter here.

LGBTQ YOUTH SHELTERS FIGHT HARROWING EPIDEMIC: An estimated 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. These young people cite running away from home or being rejected by their families because of their LGBTQ status as the two most common reasons for being homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Recently, The Washington Post and The Charlotte Observer took a look at local shelters helping to provide a home for LGBTQ youth and end this epidemic once and for all.

MAKING EVERY SCHOOL A WELCOMING SCHOOL: Learn how the HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program helps administrators and educators make schools more inclusive for LGBTQ students and families. Watch here.

• National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell (@No_Wax_Nate) shares how his organization collaborates with HRC to develop resources in a guest blog post for HRC.

NEW STUDY -- TRANS TEENS MORE LIKELY TO ABUSE DRUGS DUE TO HEIGHTENED STRESS AND DISCRIMINATION: The research by California’s Chapman University cites “tremendous social stress” as a factor that contributes to the health disparities between transgender and cisgender teens. The study, published in the Journal of School Health, also offers solutions, including creating more transgender-inclusive communities and schools. More from Refinery29.

UGANDAN PRIDE ORGANIZER -- ‘PLEASE DO NOT ABANDON LGBT UGANDANS’: Frank Mugisha (@FrankMugisha), in a piece for The Guardian, writes about the troubling shut down of this year’s Ugandan Pride events by Minister of Ethics Simon Lokodo, and how it followed last year’s police raid on the Pride festival, which resulted in dozens of arrests. “If the international community doesn’t help LGBT Ugandans, the persecution will only increase,” Mugisha writes. More from The Guardian.

• Despite harrowing setbacks, advocates in Uganda held a Pride celebration in secret to build community and plan for the future of Pride in the country. More from The Washington Blade.

LGBTQ ADVOCATES, JOURNALISTS ATTACKED AND ARRESTED IN RUSSIA: The events took place at a LGBTQ Pride event in St. Petersburg earlier this month. One advocate was arrested, and ten were injured. More from Open Democracy.

COULD CHILE BECOME THE NEXT COUNTRY WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY?: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet plans to introduce a marriage equality bill on August 28. More from Gay Star News.

MALTA TO GIVE FREE ACCESS TO TRANSITION-RELATED HEALTH CARE: While the Ministry for Equality did not give a specific date, a spokesperson said “[I]t is this government’s intention to implement this electoral pledge without delay.” More from Times of Malta.

READING RAINBOW

NewNowNext highlights seven LGBTQ Americans who deserve monuments more than Confederate leaders; USA Today reports on the NFL’s new initiative to make more inclusive environments for LGBTQ athletes;

Have news? Send us your news and tips at AMEquality@hrc.org. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!