RADICAL GOP MEMBERS ATTEMPT TO STRIP HEALTH CARE FROM MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES: Last night, HRC lambasted an anti-transgender amendment being offered by Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO). A House floor vote is expected today on the amendment to the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ban critical access to transition-related health care for military service members and their families. “Rep. Hartzler’s attack on active duty troops and their families is unconscionable,” said Stephen Peters (@StephenPeters2), HRC National Press Secretary and Marine veteran. “The proposal would bar access to medically necessary health care for military families and transgender service members who put their lives on the line for this country. It puts their health at risk and undermines military readiness by stripping away the ability of medical professionals to ensure their patients have the care they need and deserve. It is imperative that the House of Representatives reject this harmful amendment.” Hartzler previously failed in her effort to amend the bill to ban transgender service members. More from HRC and Washington Blade.

Using people for political pawns is no way to run this country. Shame on Congress & @RepHartzler for not honoring those who serve. 4/4

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) July 13, 2017

#DearBetsy -- SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO UPHOLD TITLE IX: Today, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is scheduled to meet with advocacy groups and survivors of campus sexual assault to discuss the many pressing reasons she should continue the Obama Administration's championing of Title IX of the Education Act of 1972. The important provision requires schools receiving federal funds to address sexual harrassment, including sexual violence, as sexual harrassment is a form of sex discrimination. A 2011 "Dear Colleague" letter from the Department of Education details schools' obligations under Title IX to ensure "prompt and equitable resolution[s]" to complaints of sexual violence. Read a powerful open letter sent to DeVos before today’s meeting by 114 survivors of sexual assault in Teen Vogue.

● Studies show that LGBTQ people face higher rates of sexual violence than their straight and cisgender counterparts. More from HRC.

● HRC Policy Coordinator Jordan Dashow (@J_Dashow) laid out out the stakes for LGBTQ survivors in an oped for Advocate.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Argentina became the first Latin American country with marriage equality in 2010. Since then, the country has continued to push forward on equality for the LGBTQ community -- including passing laws allowing transgender people to easily change their legal documents and protecting transition-related health care. More on this historic event, and the ongoing work of LGBTQ advocates, from World Politics Review.

ALL EYES ON TEXAS AHEAD OF SPECIAL SESSION FOCUSING ON ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION: Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and other Texas politicians are gearing up for the July 18 start of a 30-day special session that will include consideration of at least three measures targeting protections for transgender people. HB46, HB50, and SB23 would prohibit entities such as cities and school districts from protecting LGBTQ people in restrooms, locker rooms, and other changing facilities. Such legislation would not only harm transgender people, but also damage the state’s economy and reputation. Texas should not repeat the mistakes of North Carolina by allowing discrimination against transgender people in restrooms and other public accommodations. More from HRC.

HEY, AG SESSIONS -- WHERE ARE THE TRANSCRIPTS? U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions canoodled with anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) this week -- but he closed the meeting to press, and refuses to release his remarks. ADF won’t release them either, but, unlike Sessions, they aren’t the nation’s top lawyer sworn to protect and represent all of us. Tell us, Mr. Sessions, what exactly did you say to this hate group that you can’t share with your clients - the people of the United States of America? Read HRC’s compilation of 10 shocking facts about the hate group Sessions was cozying up to; more from ABC and NBC.

“LIVES LITERALLY DEPEND ON US TO UNITE, RESIST AND ENLIST TO DEFEAT HATE”: HRC has launched HRC Rising, a massive grassroots campaign aligned with staff and volunteer deployments across 50 states, with significant additional investments in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. “In this moment, it is not just our community’s progress that’s at stake; who we are as a nation is also on the line,” HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof writes in an oped for Advocate. “Lives literally depend on us to unite, resist, and enlist to defeat hate and discrimination in all of its forms and to move equality forward from coast to coast.” More from Advocate.

PENTAGON’S DELAY OF TRANSGENDER RECRUITS RESTRICTS QUALIFIED SERVICE MEMBERS: For transgender troops like Mac McEachin and Brynn Tannehill, the Pentagon's decision to delay a policy to enlist transgender troops throws their call to service into question. More from The Washington Blade.

THIS FLINT, MICH., LGBTQ CENTER IS HELPING DURING THE WATER CRISIS: Wellness AIDS Services provides clean drinking water to Flint’s LGBTQ community, a public health necessity for all people, especially those living with HIV or AIDS. More from NewNowNext.

WEDDING BELLS IN MALTA: The Mediterranean island nation of Malta took another big step toward marriage equality today when its parliament voted overwhelmingly to advance a marriage equality bill after the third and final debate on the issue. More from HRC.

THE BATTLE FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY IN EL SALVADOR: While the government supported a LGBTQ Pride parade for the first time, advocates are also reporting high rates of violence, especially against the transgender community. ESMULES -- an LGBTQ organization -- Executive Director and HRC Global Innovator Andrea Ayala spoke to Radio Free Qtopia about her personal story and the fight for LGBTQ equality. More from Radio Free Qtopia.

READING RAINBOW

Bisnow interviews LGBTQ people working in real estate; Advocate lists 42 LGBTQ reality TV stars; Slate talks to a gay Libyan refugee in America fighting against Donald Trump’s executive order barring refugees

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