TRUMP ADMIN VOTES AGAINST UN RESOLUTION CONDEMNING DEATH PENALTY FOR SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS -- CLARIFIES POSITION FOLLOWING OUTCRY: The United States voted against a United Nations resolution that included a provision for the first time condemning the death penalty as a punishment for consensual same-sex relationships. After facing a firestorm of criticism from HRC and others for the U.S. vote, a White House spokesperson sought to clarify the U.S. position. According to the Washington Blade, the spokesperson said, “The United States unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty for homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery and apostasy. As in years past, we voted against this resolution because of broader concerns with the resolution’s approach to condemning the death penalty in all circumstances.” More from HRC, Advocate, and The Wisconsin Gazette.

• 27 nations voted in favor of the resolution, 13 voted against it, and seven abstained. Those who joined Haley in voting against it included ambassadors from China, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. More from Forbes.

Shame on US! I was proud to lead U.S. efforts at UN to protect LGBTQ people, back in the day when America stood for human rights for all ���� https://t.co/3Y403bP7Wh

— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) October 3, 2017

WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR WEDNESDAY -- THE NATION’S WORST ANTI-LGBTQ STATE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT NEXT WEEK IN MISSISSIPPI: The law, deceptively titled “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act,” is by far the most sweeping and devastating state law to be enacted against LGBTQ people in the U.S. Under this law, almost any individual or organization could justify discrimination against LGBTQ people, single mothers, unwed couples, and others. It would also give foster families the freedom to subject an LGBTQ child to the dangerous practice of “conversion therapy,” and subject a pregnant unwed girl to verbal abuse, without fear of government intervention or license suspension. Furthermore, schools, employers, and service providers could refuse transgender people access to appropriate sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity. More from HRC.

HRC ESTRENA GUÍA DE RECURSOS PARA LA COMUNIDAD BISEXUAL: La guía publicada por la Fundación HRC, en asociación con BiNet USA, Bisexual Organizing Project y Bisexual Resource Center para ayudar a personas bisexuales de todas las edades, está ahora disponible en español. La “Guía de Recursos: Salir del Clóset para las Personas Bisexuales” presenta testimonios inspiradores de personas bisexuales que han salido del clóset y encontrado una comunidad y apoyo. El recurso ofrece, además, consejos sobre los riesgos y beneficios de vivir abiertamente, estrategias para manejar situaciones y formas seguras de compartir la noticia en el plano familiar, laboral y en otros contextos. Más de HRC.

HRC MOURNS CAMERON ROBINSON AND BOBBY EARDLEY, COUPLE MURDERED IN LAS VEGAS SHOOTING ALONG WITH ALL VICTIMS: Robinson was a father of three who worked for the city. The couple were attending the country concert where at least 58 people have been killed and 515 injured. More from Queerty.

TENN. SCHOOL BOARD SHAMEFULLY SEEKS TO REMOVE POLICY PROTECTING LGBTQ STUDENTS AND STAFF: The Knox County Board of Education will vote in two weeks on whether to remove language in the school system’s harassment policy protecting LGBTQ students and staff. LGBTQ and allied students are protesting the proposed changes. More from WATE.

DESPICABLE -- FLORIDA TEACHER TRANSFERRED OUT OF CLASSROOM FOR USING GENDER-NEUTRAL PRONOUNS: Chloe Bressack was removed from their fifth-grade classroom in Leon County following parent complaints that Bressack uses they/them/their pronouns and the gender-neutral prefix Mx. Bressack will now teach adults. It is vital that LGBTQ students see themselves represented in the classroom. This is an injustice to Bressack and their students More from The Washington Post.

MICHIGAN SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER STUDENTS: Under the policy being considered by the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education, students would be allowed to use facilities most aligned with their gender identity. More from Lansing State Journal.

• The Lansing State Journal editorial board supports this policy, writing “The facts are clear: Policies like the one being considered are based on best practices of the cities, schools and 18 states across the country that already have protections in place to protect this vulnerable population.” Read the full piece here.

THE BATTLE FOR EQUALITY IN ALASKA: HRC is on the ground in Anchorage, where existing vital protections for the city’s LGBTQ community could be taken away. On April 3, voters will be asked to weigh in on Proposition One, a dangerous measure that would undermine the comprehensive, fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance passed in 2015, and enshrine discrimination into the city code by forcing transgender residents to use facilities that are inconsistent with their gender identity. More from HRC.

TEXAS STATE REP. -- STATE WON’T BE ON AMAZON’S LIST FOR POTENTIAL HQ UNLESS IT CAN PROTECT LGBTQ PEOPLE: In a piece for The Austin American-Statesman, Rep. Byron Cook writes, “But if Amazon does go outside of Texas with its location for a second headquarters — and if our state continues to suffer similar economic losses over the ‘bathroom bill’ — how many more billions in economic development, lost jobs, lost sporting and entertainment events, and lost tourism dollars will Texas need to lose before the reality of common sense prevails?” Read the full piece from The Austin American-Statesman.

NEW REPORT DETAILS EXPERIENCES OF BLACK TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY: Last week, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), along with Black Transmen Inc., Black Transwomen, and the National Black Justice Coalition, released a report detailing the experiences of black respondents who participated in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS). The USTS, released last December, is a groundbreaking report on the experiences of transgender people in the U.S.. More from HRC.

NEW SERIES CHRONICLES SAME-SEX COUPLE LOOKING TO ADOPT: The F Word tells the story of Nicole and Kristan, a queer California couple looking to adopt a child from foster care. Watch here.

GERMAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY BEGAN ON SUNDAY: Bodo Mende and Karl Kreile were among the first same-sex couples to wed after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signed marriage equality into law in July. This makes Germany the 24th country with marriage equality. The Berlin couple said it was an “incredible honor.” More from The Associated Press.

AT LEAST 34 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN EGYPT ON SUSPICION OF BEING LGBTQ: This terrifying renewed crackdown on the LGBTQ community follows a recent incident where seven were arrested for raising a rainbow pride flag at a concert in Cairo. They were charged with “inciting immorality,” a common charge against the LGBTQ community. In Egypt, same-sex relationships are not illegal, but the community is frequently targeted by authorities. Some reports estimate at least 57 have been arrested. More from The New York Times.

• Egypt bans media from showing support for LGBTQ community: The Supreme Council for Media Regulation issued an order stating that media can only depict LGBTQ people “repenting for their unacceptable behavior.” More from NewNowNext.
• A spokesperson from the State Department expressed concern over these crackdowns in Egypt and in Azerbaijan, saying “We are concerned by reports of detentions and arrests of LGBTI persons in Azerbaijan and Egypt, respectively,” More from The Washington Blade.

THOUSANDS MARCH IN URUGUAY FOR TRANS EQUALITY: The march called for non-discrimination protections for the transgender community in education, job placement and access to health services. More from Telesur.

INDIAN POLICE FORCE ACCEPT TRANSGENDER CANDIDATES: Three transgender women will begin training next month. More from Pink News.

READING RAINBOW

Advocate shares a photo series of LGBTQ elders at a poetry workshop; Vanity Fair transgender advocate interviews Victoria Cruz; NewNowNext highlights nine LGBTQ superheroes;
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