MIKE PENCE PROMOTES DANGEROUS, ANTI-LGBTQ AGENDA AT CPAC: Yesterday at CPAC, Mike Pence claimed that the U.S. stands up to dictatorships -- however, the Trump-Pence administration has consistently ignored state-sponsored anti-LGBTQ violence in Chechnya, Egypt and around the globe. He also proudly promoted his tax scam that was carefully crafted to undermine the Affordable Care Act and other vital health care programs.

• The worst of the worst on the agenda for today: Donald Trump, Laura Ingraham, David Clarke and various representatives of the hate-fueled Heritage Foundation
• And this weekend: Confirmed neo-Nazi Sebastian Gorka and Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), whose recent GOP intelligence memo showed more loyalty to Trump than the Constitution or rule of law

"They are doing everything they can to win back Congress this year."- Mike Pence at CPAC.

How'd you know, Mike Pence?! What was your first clue? We're doing everything we can to mobilize pro-equality voters in 2018. ����️

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 22, 2018

HRC PRESIDENT CHAD GRIFFIN (@ChadHGriffin) AND LAWYERS COMMITTEE PRESIDENT KRISTEN CLARKE (@KristenClarkeJD) CALL FOR ACTION ON SURGING HATE VIOLENCE: “Understandably, many across our country feel fear right now. But fearfulness does not have to mean powerlessness. Fighting back will take courage and cooperation—but it is essential if we want to preserve the values that make our country great. [...] Those of us with power and privilege must use our platform fearlessly. Lives are at stake and the growing list of those killed by hate violence is a sobering reminder of the urgency of this cause.” More from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

STATE DEPARTMENT ORDERED TO ROLL BACK SECTIONS ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND ANTI-LGBTQ DISCRIMINATION IN ANNUAL REPORT: Said HRC Global Director Ty Cobb (@TyWesleyCobb): “As LGBTQ people are under attack in Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and many other places, it's unconscionable that Trump-Pence political appointees are ordering State Department officials to roll back language on anti-LGBTQ discrimination and women's rights in the annual human rights report. This shameful move is yet another indication of Secretary Tillerson's dangerously negligent indifference toward LGBTQ people around the globe.” More from Politico.

• Also out of the Trump-Pence administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will remove “nation of immigrants” from its mission statement. No matter how much this administration tries to erase it, it will never not be true. More from The Intercept.
• New report from Amnesty International: Trump “wasted little time putting his anti-rights rhetoric of discrimination and xenophobia into action” since taking office at the start of last year. More from CNN.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY -- A SMALL TOWN’S BIG SUPPORT OF A TRANS CHILD: When Luchina Fisher’s daughter, Gia, came out as trans, she worried her child wouldn’t have the support she needed from her school or community. However, Gia’s school was determined to get it right, and the family received an outpouring of support from the community -- even down to the local Starbucks. Read this powerful story, which ran on the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration rescinding critical guidance regarding trans students from ABC.

On the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration reversing federal guidance for transgender youth in schools, my 14-year-old daughter is thriving. Read our story at ABC News - https://t.co/pKiJPXMyHI via @ABC #GenderCoolChampion

— Luchina Fisher (@luchina) February 22, 2018

HRC’S MARY BETH MAXWELL ON JANUS V. AFSCME: “Unions have played a critical role in strengthening and protecting so many American families, including LGBTQ families... At the end of the day, Janus v. AFSCME is about whether we weaken or hold firm to the freedoms Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and the sanitation workers fought for so bravely 50 years ago.” More from The Advocate.

ONE YEAR OF ATTACKS ON TRANSGENDER AND OTHER MARGINALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE: One year ago yesterday, the Trump-Pence Administration rescinded protective guidance for transgender students. Said HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride): “In the past year, we have seen attack after attack on transgender young people, sexual assault survivors and Dreamers from the Trump-Pence administration. This administration has made it clear that they do not care about the safety or well-being of America’s most vulnerable youth. Instead, they have sided with a dangerous agenda that attacks them.”

CHECK OUT JUST SOME OF THE ANTI-LGBTQ STATE INITATIVES HRC IS FIGHTING: From Massachusetts to Alaska, ballot initiatives and bills targeting the LGBTQ community are making their way through state legislatures across the country. Additionally, HRC is fighting proposals in statehouses that would repeal laws protecting transgender people, degrade marriage equality and give child welfare agencies a license to discriminate against LGBTQ prospective parents. More from NBC.

HRC OPPOSES KENNETH MARCUS’ NOMINATION AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: HRC joined 60 other civil rights groups in a letter to the U.S. Senate urging senators to vote against Marcus. More from The Leadership Conference.

MORNING MUST READ -- EMMA GONZALES IS THE BISEXUAL LATINX TEEN LEADING THE CHARGE FOR COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY REFORM: More from Into.

• Also, check out these heartbreaking and heartwarming images from Al Jazeera of Parkland survivors uniting with Pulse survivors to demand action.

Students who survived the Florida school shooting met survivors of the Pulse Nightclub shooting before boarding buses to head to the state capitol to demand action on gun reform. pic.twitter.com/6afZtJMViu

— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 20, 2018

HRC ENDORSES MARK PHARISS FOR TEXAS STATE SENATE: “Mark Phariss will fight for all of his constituents -- no matter who they are or whom they love -- if he is elected to the Texas State Senate,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “We are proud to endorse Mark’s candidacy and look forward to working with him in the Texas Legislature, where he would be the first openly gay state senator in the Lone Star State.” More from HRC.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

HORRIFYING -- SOUTH AFRICAN MAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND HUMILIATED FOR BEING GAY: More from Gay Star News.

READING RAINBOW - Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

The Bay Area Reporter shares San Francisco’s journey to protect its LGBTQ history; Healthline explores anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the health care system