MAKING HISTORY TODAY -- EQUALITY ACT PROTECTING LGBTQ AMERICANS TO BE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS WITH UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT: Members of Congress, LGBTQ advocates and allies will join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) this afternoon to announce the re-introduction of the Equality Act in Congress. With the largest number of co-sponsors for any piece of LGBTQ rights legislation in history, the bipartisan bill would ensure LGBTQ people are protected under the nation’s civil rights laws. “The new pro-equality majority in Congress has the chance to finally ensure LGBTQ people’s rights are not determined by what side of a city or state line they live on,” said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin). More from CNBC.

• New PRRI survey -- “Americans Show Broad Support for LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections”: From the report, “Amid our currently polarized political climate … majorities of Americans across virtually all demographic groups and geographical locations support laws protecting LGBT people” -- including majorities in every state, political party and religious affiliation. Read more at PRRI.

TRUMP MOVES TO IMPLEMENT TRANSGENDER TROOP BAN: Last night, the Trump-Pence administration announced its plan to implement the discriminatory ban in 30 days. “Transgender people have been serving in the military with distinction for the last two years and the arbitrary, animus-fueled reversal of open service will be a stain on our nation's history,” said HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride). More from The Hill.

.@realDonaldTrump’s revival of his bigoted, disgusting ban on trans Americans serving in our armed forces is a stunning attack on the patriots who keep us safe. No one w/ the strength & bravery to serve should be turned away because of who they are. https://t.co/E51DkMehvA

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 13, 2019

CONGRESS MUST PASS THE DREAM AND PROMISE ACT: The measure would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and permanent legal protections for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. “It is imperative that we support the more than one million Dreamers in the United States, including more than 75,000 LGBTQ young people,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy (@David_Stacy). Read more at HRC.

HRC ON THE HILL -- CALLING FOR FUNDING TO DEFEND & ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS OF LGBTQ PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE: “Congress has a crucial role to play in protecting human rights around the globe,” said HRC Senior Vice for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof (@JoDeelive) in remarks before a House Appropriations Subcommittee. “Even as we push for the Equality Act to move toward a more perfect union, LGBTQ people worldwide face daily challenges to be who they are, safe from violence or death.”

1/ @HRC’s JoDee Winterhof (@JoDeelive) is testifying before a House Appropriations Subcommittee on the foreign assistance budget in support of funding to defend and advance the human rights of #LGBTQ people around the globe. https://t.co/wf6EBbwuTk pic.twitter.com/o0cdplcpL4

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 12, 2019

WHAT WE’RE READING WEDNESDAY -- TEN BI, PAN QUEER AND FLUID WOMEN LEADERS WHO ARE BREAKING BARRIERS:  In honor of Bisexual Health Awareness Month and Women’s History Month, HRC’s Helen Parshall (@PartiallyHelen) and Rokia Hassanein (@RokiaHass) celebrate some of the incredible people leading at the intersection of identities. More from HRC.   

This #WomensHistoryMonth and #BiHealthMonth, we celebrate bi, pan, queer and sexually fluid women at the intersection of those identities who are using their platforms to bring visiBIlity. https://t.co/WKjc9pOBDQ

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 12, 2019

STATEHOUSE ROUNDUP

• New Texas bill could allow LGBTQ Texans to be exposed to discriminatory employment practices because it could gut enforcement of local non-discrimination ordinances. More from The Texas Tribune.
• Indiana becomes the sixth state to offer residents non-binary option for driver’s licenses and other state-issued identifications. More from NBC and IndyStar.
• New Mexico bill allowing individuals to change gender marker on personal identification documents moves to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for her signature. More from KUNM.
• HRC in Florida:      

.@HRC was proud to join @equalityfl today in Tallahassee to encourage lawmakers to protect the rights of LGBTQ Floridians and not pursue legislation that would roll back their rights. #FlaPol �� pic.twitter.com/2HcRZPxxls

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 13, 2019

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

INSPIRING -- “I’M READY” SAYS THAILAND’S FIRST TRANSGENDER CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER: More from Openly.

BOTSWANA COURT HEARS CASE TO DECRIMINALIZE SAME-SEX RELATIONS: More from Gay Star News.

Botswana is set to decriminalize homosexuality, here's everything you need to know!

On the 14 March 19, the ���� High Court in Gaborone will hear a case challenging these laws. #Repeal164 #DecrimBotswana #ReBatswana https://t.co/ACxfowlBjr

— #LEGABIBO (@legabiboadvo) March 11, 2019

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

The Washington Post honors the late Gillian Freeman, whose novel Leather Boys was a LGBTQ literature landmark
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