AUSTRALIANS OVERWHELMINGLY SAY “I DO” TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN NONBINDING POSTAL SURVEY: HRC hailed the results of Australia’s Marriage Law Postal Survey showing that that 61.6 percent of Australian voters who participated endorse marriage equality. Since the results are non-binding, it is now up to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government and the Australian Parliament to enact legislation ensuring marriage equality becomes the law of the land. “We congratulate Australia’s LGBTQ advocates and allies who worked so hard to ensure a victory in this postal survey,” said Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global. “It’s crucial that loving, committed same-sex couples in Australia have the same rights and protections that come with marriage. We urge the Australian Parliament to take swift action ensuring marriage equality becomes the law of the land.” Yesterday’s results -- and the fact that 79 percent of registered voters responded to the survey -- provide unassailable proof that a clear majority of Australians want marriage equality to become the law of the land. More from HRC.

BREAKING: Australia Votes in Favor of #MarriageEquality in Nonbinding Postal Survey. https://t.co/Nr53UGJOmZ pic.twitter.com/hXUdDc8i5t

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) November 14, 2017

U.S. SENATE MUST REJECT RADICALLY ANTI-LGBTQ JUDICIAL NOMINEE JEFF MATEER: Yesterday, HRC and other civil rights organizations and advocates rallied against Mateer at the U.S. Capitol. Mateer, nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, has referred to transgender children as part of “Satan's plan,” supports the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” and has claimed that marriage equality will lead to bestiality. More from The Washington Blade.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING WEDNESDAY: Artist MILCK (@MILCKMUSIC) has created a powerful music video for her song “Quiet,” depicting the impact of sexual assault on all communities -- including the transgender community. “[W]e have seen our power when we no longer remain quiet,” HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride said in a tweet about the video.

MORNING MUST READ -- “FORGET WHITE SWING VOTERS. TO WIN CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS MUST APPEAL TO LGBT, MINORITY VOTERS”: Courage Campaign Organizing Director Tim Molina (@tmmolina) writes in The Sacramento Bee: “People of color, the LGBTQ community, young voters and white progressives are much more likely to vote for Democrats, and there are nearly enough of them to carry some of these districts all on their own… [T]he progressive movement in this state must serve as a model for politicians across the country. Our message is elevate the voices and concerns of everyday Americans, and they’ll have your back. Given the stakes of next year’s election, it isn’t just a moral strategy. It is a winning strategy – and frankly, the only strategy that can keep the GOP from undoing so much of the progress in our communities. More from The Sacramento Bee.

• HRC Rising, HRC’s largest grassroots expansion in the organization's 37-year history is focused on mobilizing voters in six key states. Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, HRC has identified more than 52 million likely Equality Voters -- those who are strong supporters of policies that advance LGBTQ equality, including marriage equality and other measures such as prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Latest from Frank Bruni (@FrankBruni): On Danica Roem (@pwcdanica), “Being transgender isn’t the whole of her identity, the extent of her purpose or the crux of her mission. The obstacles in her life are particular, but the hell of rush hour is universal. And her job as a lawmaker is to attend to the nitty-gritty that has an immediate, measurable impact on all of her constituents. When circumstances warrant it, she can be every bit as boring as the next politician.” Read Bruni’s full piece from The New York Times.

PENTAGON APPROVES OF TRANSITION-RELATED CARE FOR TRANSGENDER TROOP: The care is for an active duty transgender service member. Regardless of Trump's attempts at enshrining discrimination in policy, we must ensure that transgender troops are treated the same as everyone else. That includes equal access to medically-necessary care. More from The Daily Beast.

• State of Washington joins Karnoski v. Trump challenging trans troops ban: They join two individuals who seek to join the military; one current service member who seeks appointment as an officer; HRC; Gender Justice League; and the American Military Partner Association as plaintiffs. More from Lambda Legal.

U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY: Yesterday, the commission marked its history of advancing voting, education, housing, immigration and LGBTQ rights for all.

We were honored today with the presence of Susan Bro and many other supporters of our ongoing mission - now entering 61st year - to promote full respect for #CivilRights #USCCR60yrs https://t.co/ikJ3ajExsV

— USCCR (@USCCRgov) November 14, 2017

DEJA VU -- MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AGAIN DECLINES TO AFFIRM THAT ANTI- LGBTQ DISCRIMINATION IS ILLEGAL: The commission this week declined again to act on a request from Equality Michigan to affirm that discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing and public accommodations is illegal under Michigan state law. More from Michigan Live.

HRC HONORS TOP ARIZONA BUSINESSES FOR LGBTQ WORKPLACE INCLUSION: Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and representatives from Univision, Cigna and JPMorgan Chase & Co. joined HRC in Phoenix recently to launch the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI).  The three companies were among those earning the CEI’s top score of 100. “This year we had the opportunity to evaluate almost 1,000 companies, of which, more than half had the chance to earn the highest rating,” said Milagros Chirinos, HRC's Bilingual Media Manager-Spanish (@MChirinos84). More from Univision Arizona.

HRC HONRA A LAS PRINCIPALES EMPRESAS DE ARIZONA EN EL ÍNDICE DE IGUALDAD CORPORATIVA: El alcalde de Phoenix, Greg Stanton, y representantes de Univision, Cigna, JPMorgan Chase & Co. y HRC fueron parte del lanzamiento del Índice de Igualdad Corporativa (CEI, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Fundación HRC en Phoenix. Las tres compañías se encuentran dentro la lista de entidades que obtuvieron una calificación del 100% en nuestro CEI. “Este año tuvimos la oportunidad de evaluar casi mil empresas, de las cuales, más de la mitad tuvieron la oportunidad de obtener la calificación más alta”, dijo Milagros Chirinos, jefa de prensa bilingüe-español de HRC (@MChirinos84).  Vea más en Univision Arizona.

TRANS MODEL MUNROE BERGDORF, “SUPPORTING A [TRANS] CHILD IS NOT A DEBATE”: Bergdorf (@MunroeBergdorf) shared her thoughts on Twitter regarding being invited to debate transphobic pundits on TV, saying, “A child's emotional and physical welfare is not up for debate... It is essential.” More from HuffPost.

COSTA RICAN VP ATTENDS LATIN AMERICA’S FIRST CONFERENCE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Ana Helena says she was inspired by her daughter to fight for LGBTQ equality. More from The Washington Blade.

REPORT ON TRANS RIGHTS SUBMITTED TO MALAYSIAN STATE’S LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: If accepted as an official document, it would be the Penang state government’s first recognition of the transgender community. More from Gay Star News.

GANGA KUMARI BECOMES FIRST TRANSGENDER PERSON TO JOIN RAJASTHAN POLICE FORCE: She is the third transgender person in India to join a state police force. More from The Times of India.

READING RAINBOW

Gay Star News reports that a New Zealand school has set up a support group for transgender students; HRC discusses the importance of transgender representation in children’s books

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