TRUMP-PENCE-MCCONNELL STILL PUSHING DANGEROUS PLAN TO DISMANTLE HEALTH CARE: Senate Republicans are continuing their ongoing efforts to roll back the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a scheme that would cause an estimated 22 to 32 million people to lose their health care coverage by 2026 and unleash real harm on countless LGBTQ Americans. In the face of this relentless onslaught on essential health care coverage by Trump-Pence-McConnell, HRC and other LGBTQ advocates remain vigilant. As HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy told Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson (@ChrisJohnson82). “... HRC will continue to engage our millions of members across the country and keep the pressure on Congress to reject any proposals to dismantle our health care system.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, under Trumpcare, 17 million people could lose insurance in the next year. Responding to these attacks on access to health care, HRC members have logged over 15,000 calls and emails to congressional offices on both sides of the aisle and voiced support for the ACA at rallies across the country. HRC also joined key civil rights and health care organizations in letters to the Senate emphasizing the need to protect Medicaid, and during HRC’s spring lobby day, more than 300 advocates traveled to Washington and, in more than 60 meetings on Capitol Hill, emphasized the importance of protecting ACA. More from Washington Blade.

• Yesterday, HRC joined 166 civil rights organizations in urging senators to protect the ACA. Read the full letter here.
• Former Senator David Durenberger (R-MO) penned a compelling oped for USA Today titled, “Resist the bullying. Don't vote for a mystery health care bill.”

TEXAS SENATE TO VOTE ON ANTI-TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION: Today, radical members of the Texas Senate are likely to advance the patently anti-LGBTQ SB3, introduced by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst with support from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The measure mandates HB2-style discrimination in any multiple-occupancy restroom or locker room in any property owned by a city, county, school district or other political subdivision. It especially attacks transgender Texans. Additionally, it would overturn LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances protecting millions of people across Texas in cities including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth insofar as those ordinances protect people from discrimination in bathrooms. It also prohibits these entities from forbidding discrimination in athletics on the basis of any characteristic not currently reflected in state law -- an obvious attack on transgender athletes.

• OPINION DESK TEXAS ROUNDUP: The Washington Post Editorial Board, “Texas, stop trying to pass this bathroom bill;” Jennifer Finney Boylan for The New York Times, “My Gay Agenda”

The #Texas Senate could vote on anti-#transgender bill #SB3 as soon as TODAY. Tell lawmakers: Vote NO on this discriminatory bill. #txlege pic.twitter.com/SYT5HMXvRv

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) July 24, 2017

What people in the southern US have to say about what it means to be trans pic.twitter.com/XkspGKfwar

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) July 23, 2017

TUESDAY TWEET: In a powerful new video, transgender people from the South share their stories with BuzzFeed and Transilient, a series highlighting the experience of transgender people living in four southern states. Watch the video here.

COULD ANTI-TRANS ZOMBIE AMENDMENT RETURN FROM THE DEAD? Earlier this month, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) failed in her attempt to attach a hateful and cruel anti-transgender amendment to the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment, which Defense Secretary James Mattis opposes, would have prevented military service members and their families from accessing critical transition-related health care. It failed with bipartisan opposition. However, The Hill reports that anti-equality extremists -- including the Family Research Council, Heritage Action and Alliance Defending Freedom -- are trying to revive it. More from The Hill.

NEW JERSEY IMPLEMENTS TWO LAWS PROTECTING TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY: One requires the state to give guidance to public schools about policies regarding transgender students, including schools’ obligation to allow students to use restrooms aligned with their gender identity. More from The Associated Press. The second law prohibits state-licensed hospitals, health providers, health insurers and Medicaid from refusing service to an individual because they are transgender. More from ThinkProgress.

HRC MOURNS LOSS OF BILLY MANES, FORMER EDITOR OF WATERMARK: Manes was the editor of Orlando’s LGBTQ magazine, Watermark, which powerfully covered the Pulse nightclub tragedy and brought together a community. More from South Florida Gay News.

• Yesterday, NPR paid tribute to Manes, airing an interview he did with Ari Shapiro (@AriShapiro) after the Pulse nightclub tragedy. Listen at WAMU.

Our hearts are heavy learning @billymanes has passed away. Always a vibrant force of nature with a healthy dose of wit. You'll be missed. pic.twitter.com/OamLQgUgWY

— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) July 21, 2017

SHAMEFUL -- SAME-SEX COUPLE TURNED AWAY FROM BRIDAL SHOP: The couple alleges they were turned away from the Pennsylvania shop, which refused service based on an employee’s religious beliefs. More from NewNowNext.

NEW WASHINGTON BLADE SERIES EXPLORES BISEXUAL EXPERIENCE: The two-part series is the result of dozens of interviews with bisexual advocates around the world. Read the first installment at The Washington Blade.

INDIA TO BREAK GROUND ON GOVERNMENT HOUSING FOR TRANS COMMUNITY: The housing project begins in Kerala with shelters for the trans community, with government housing to follow. More from Gay Star News.

FILIPINO LAWMAKER INTRODUCES SAME-SEX CIVIL PARTNERSHIP BILL: The bill was introduced by Speaker of the Lower House Pantaleon Alvarez. More from Reuters.

READING RAINBOW

Cleveland.com reports that a local health care provider is expanding its LGBTQ services; Advocate interviews the founders of San Diego’s IndieFest; The Huffington Post offers five suggestions to help people better care for transgender children; HRC is holding a webinar on caring for LGBTQ youth as a foster or adoptive parent

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