HRC MOURNS VICTIMS IN TRAGIC MOSQUE SHOOTINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH: Statement from HRC President Chad Griffin

“We are heartbroken and outraged by this terrorist attack on Muslims in places of worship, and we mourn for the victims and their families. Hate violence against Muslims is a global epidemic, fueled by the toxic combination of Islamophobia and xenophobia that has led to tragedies here in the United States and in nations around the world. While in these moments, only the attackers are directly responsible, there is a broader climate of hate that encourages and inspires deadly extremism such as this. We call on politicians who traffic in dangerous anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate speech, including Donald Trump, to immediately stop the fear-mongering and divisive politics that can have deadly consequences. Now is a time to be united against hate -- not engage in the ‘both sides’ rhetoric that only serves to legitimize extremists.”

Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) continued, “On this day, and every day, we join in solidarity with the Muslim community, including LGBTQ Muslims, to honor the victims of hate-fueled violence with action and to combat hate and bigotry in all of its forms.” More from HRC.

• Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) (@SenAmyKlobuchar), who joined Griffin this morning at HRC’s annual Equality Convention in Washington, D.C., said: “For me this is just another moment where we should be standing up against hate ... But we should also be standing up for the Muslim community.”
• Also this morning at the Convention, which draws hundreds of HRC volunteers, members and leaders from across the nation, The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) led an emotional discussion with U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) (@RepDavids), Susie Lee (D-NV) (@RepSusieLee) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) (@RepChrisPappas) on the rise of hate and crimes targeting the Muslim community, communities of color and the LGBTQ community.

This morning @HRC President @ChadHGriffin called on @realDonaldTrump to end his trafficking in dangerous anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant hate speech. Fear-mongering & divisive politics can have deadly consequences. #NewZealandMosqueShooting #UnitedAgainstHate https://t.co/D0zf4pxcK1 pic.twitter.com/3z9A4C80GC

— Stephen Peters (@stephenpeters2) March 15, 2019

“A STAIN ON OUR COUNTRY” -- FORMER SECRETARY OF THE NAVY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST TRUMP-PENCE’S TRANSGENDER TROOP BAN: Ray Mabus says that the ban “tells our children that merit has no place, while prejudice does.” More here.              

Ray Mabus served as Secretary of the Navy from 2009 to 2016 — the longest tenure as leader of the Navy and Marine Corps since World War I. https://t.co/csjTaTcsLc

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 14, 2019

MAKING HISTORY -- SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR APPOINTS FIRST LGBTQ FIRE CHIEF: Jeanine Nicholson, a 25-year veteran in the department, is also only the second woman to hold the position. More from NBC.

FEEL-GOOD FRIDAY: #HRCONTHEHILL -- HUNDREDS OF HRC VOLUNTEERS AND MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY ON CAPITOL HILL: More from HRC.

.@HRC's Lobby Day is in full swing. Coming off yesterday's introduction of the #EqualityAct, 300+ volunteers from around the country are fanning out across Capitol Hill to advocate for LGBTQ equality. So proud of this team. pic.twitter.com/sRXeXg1R1j

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) March 14, 2019

“QUEER PEOPLE NEED ACCESS TO ABORTIONS, TOO”: Reclaiming February and March as Black Bi Women’s History and Health months, National LGBTQ Task Force’s Candace Bond-Theriault (@attorney_bond) writes about how “in the conversations about reproductive rights, the needs of LGBTQ+ people are often erased despite the fact that we face even greater barriers to getting the reproductive health care we need.” More from Out.

“For far too long, cishet, white, middle-to-upper class women have been centered in the fight for abortion and reproductive rights,” writes @attorney_bond.

“We must end that. It’s time to make access a reality for all of us.” https://t.co/KWnKDljxGD

— Out Magazine (@outmagazine) March 13, 2019

LGBTQ AND WRITERS OF COLOR STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT: Read more from The New York Times.

ATLANTA MAYOR CREATES POSITION TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS: More from Project Q Atlanta.

STATEHOUSE ROUNDUP

• The Maryland House this week approved legislation allowing an ‘X’ gender marker option on personal identification documents. The bill heads to Governor Larry Hogan for consideration. More from the Baltimore Sun.
• The Illinois House approved a measure requiring public schools to update their curriculum to include LGBTQ history. The bill now heads to the state Senate. More from Illinois News Network.
• An Ohio Senate panel reviews proposed legislation that would update the state’s nondiscrimination laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. More from Dispatch.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASES ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: The report notes occurrences of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but for the second year in a row, has refused to report on women’s sexual and reproductive rights as human rights. More from our partners at the Council for Global Equality.

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

WAMU features a touching story of Alexander Flores Olivas, one of the 15 LGBTQ migrants from Central America seeking asylum in the District; The Washington Blade honors the late Nancy Ruth David, a cryptographer, travel writer and LGBTQ activist; Variety announces that Netflix’s One Day at a Time (@OneDayAtATime) will be canceled after its third season

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