HRC STATEMENT ON SHOOTING AT CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL PRACTICE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Today, HRC released the following statement following a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, that has reportedly injured House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, two Capitol Police officers, and several staffers who had gathered at a congressional baseball practice. “We stand in solidarity and unity with those injured in this horrific attack and hope for their speedy recovery,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We condemn all forms of violence, and moments like these remind us of the need to work together in finding commonsense solutions to gun violence, hate-motivated violence, and terrorism. The swift response of the U.S. Capitol Police and first responders is testament to their selfless service to our nation.” More from The Washington Post.

AMA OFFICIALLY OPPOSES POLICIES THAT HARM TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: Yesterday, HRC hailed the American Medical Association’s (AMA) adoption of resolutions opposing discriminatory efforts to restrict access for transgender people to services and facilities, including restrooms, and supporting policies that ensure equal access to those same programs and facilities in accordance with one’s gender identity. “The AMA, one of the most respected associations of medical professionals in the world, knows better than most the harmful consequences of ill-conceived anti-transgender actions,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC Senior Vice President for Programs, Research and Training. “Policies that seek to restrict access for transgender people to vital programs and facilities can result in negative physical and mental health outcomes for those targeted for discrimination and mistreatment.” The AMA has previously adopted resolutions affirming the medical necessity of transition related care for transgender individuals, opposing the use of so-called conversion therapy, and calling for access to accurate identity documents for transgender individuals, among other issues affecting the health of transgender people. More from HRC.

THE LGBT PRIDE ACT WOULD COMBAT VIOLENCE, SUICIDE: Yesterday, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) introduced the Provide a Requirement to Improve Data Collection Efforts (PRIDE) Act, which calls on the Center for Diseases Control (CDC) to improve the process of data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity of victims who face violent deaths, including bias-motivated violence and suicide. The PRIDE Act would authorize $25 million to fund the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), which collects a wide range of data on victims of violent crimes. “The LGBTQ community, particularly transgender women of color, continue to face an epidemic of violence," said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. "In order to help understand the full scope of this violence, it is critically important we ensure victims' sexual orientation and gender identity are included as part of the information gathered in the National Violent Death Reporting System.” More from HRC and The Washington Blade.

.@HRC's David Stacy: #LGBTPrideAct would help fund efforts to collect data & find solutions to combat violence against LGBTQ community. pic.twitter.com/CrVYIItozs

— Stephen Peters II (@stephenpeters2) June 13, 2017

● To mark LGBTQ Pride Month, the Pentagon held a celebration with LGBTQ service members and veterans, including HRC National Press Secretary Stephen Peters (@StephenPeters2). More from Washington Blade.

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY: The Pew Research Center yesterday highlighted five key findings from recent research on LGBT Americans. Research shows increased acceptance of LGBT people and more LGBT people living openly. Bisexual people make up the largest percentage of the LGBT community, but are less likely to be out than their gay or lesbian counterparts, research also shows, and younger Americans are far more likely to identify as LGBT. Read the report here.

DANICA ROEM COULD BECOME ONLY OPENLY TRANS STATE LEGISLATOR: Yesterday, she won the Virginia primary to face off against anti-LGBTQ Virginia House Delegate Bob Marshall in the general election. More from The Washington Blade.

PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS IN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT STILL FAR TO GO: The New York Times’ Sharon Otterman (@SharonNYT) reports this morning on the welcome 100 LGBTQ Catholics received recently from Cardinal Joseph Tobin at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he told the faithful. Tobin was appointed by Pope Francis to replace anti-LGBTQ Archbishop John Myers, whose ugly views still reflect those of a wide swath of church leadership -- though not Catholics who fill the pews. “It’s the beginning of a dialogue,” said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBTQ Catholics. Read Otterman’s piece at The New York Times. 

TEN YEARS OF LGBTQ WORKPLACE EQUALITY FOR U.S. BANK: U.S. Bank has earned a perfect 100 point score in HRC Foundation’s annual Corporate Equality Index for a decade. Recently, U.S. Bank Vice President, Global Inclusion & Diversity Greg Cunningham  sat down with HRC’s Deputy Director of Employee Engagement, Workplace Equality Program, Beck Bailey to talk about the bank’s efforts to ensure a fully-inclusive workplace. Read the interview here. More from HRC.

LGBTQ TEACHERS BRING PRIDE TO THE CLASSROOM: For many LGBTQ teachers, the decision to be out to their students is difficult -- but their action can help them serve as much-needed role models for young LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ students. More from Mic.

BISEXUAL CEO ON IMPORTANCE OF LIVING OPENLY: When Lloyd’s of London CEO Inga Beale came out as bisexual in 2008, it led to her becoming a powerful mentor to her company’s younger employees. More from Fortune.

ADORABLE -- 8-YEAR-OLD DRAG QUEEN GOES VIRAL: Lactatia is taking over the Internet after a video of her on stage with fellow drag queen Bianca Del Rio went viral. More from Advocate.

SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY USING DATING APPS TO TARGET LGBTQ SOLDIERS: Some are calling it a “gay witch hunt.” More from CNN.

CAMBODIA TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT LGBTQ ISSUES: A new “life skills” course will teach students about gender identity, sexual orientation and LGBTQ-inclusive sex education. More from Gay Star News.

READING RAINBOW

Reuters reviews a new documentary about LGBTQ life in Syria; Teen Vogue interviews Tim Manley (@TimTimManley), creator of a webseries about a bisexual man; Insider shares the history of the rainbow as a symbol for the LGBTQ community; Georgia Voice highlights the city’s plans for permanent rainbow crosswalks;

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