HRC STANDS #WITHDREAMERS AND AGAINST HARMFUL PLANS TO RESCIND DACA:  HRC joined governors, attorneys general and hundreds of elected officials and other civil rights organizations across the country in a letter supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and Dreamers. The letter comes amidst reports that Donald Trump is considering ending DACA after ten attorneys general from across the country called for it to be rescinded. That would leave immigrant youth who were brought to the U.S. as children -- including an estimated 75,000 LGBTQ Dreamers -- without work permits, driver’s licenses, and vulnerable to deportations. Read the full letter here.

.@HRC and broad coalition of elected officials, civic and religious leaders are standing #WithDreamers. https://t.co/Cs0S1SdwgB pic.twitter.com/wwfISlsr1M

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) August 31, 2017

HUNDREDS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS DENOUNCE ANTI-LGBTQ “NASHVILLE STATEMENT”: Hundreds of Christian leaders, pastors, theologians and advocates have denounced the vicious, anti-LGBTQ manifesto “Nashville Statement” with a powerful statement affirming the inclusion of LGBTQ and intersex people within faith communities and broader society. The 10-point treatise, titled Christians United, holds “that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and that the great diversity expressed in humanity through our wide spectrum of unique sexualities and gender identities is a perfect reflection of the magnitude of God's creative work.” In the first 24 hours of its release, the Christians United statement was signed by over 1,000 Christians from around the world, including top theologians and leaders of some of the world’s most influential Christian denominations. More from HRC.

• “Evangelicals are killing LGBTQ youth from the inside out -- soul first,” writes Cody Sanders in a piece for Baptist News. “If those of us who stand in contradiction to the theology represented in the Nashville Statement are going to make any lasting difference, we must stop being content to affirm in subtlety and silence or with once-a-year celebrations,” he writes. Read more at Baptist News.
• Morning Must Reads: “Why even conservative evangelicals are unhappy with the anti-LGBT Nashville Statement” from The Washington Post and “How Catholics Can Welcome LGBT Believers” from The Wall Street Journal.

MAJOR GENERAL JON A. JENSEN JOINS CHORUS OF MILITARY LEADERS SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER TROOPS: After being named by Gov. Mark Dayton to lead the Minnesota National Guard, Major General Jensen delivered a powerful message to his 13,000 troops, saying “I truly believe this: service should be open to everyone. Not everyone will select to serve, but it should be open to everyone.” Despite the Trump-Pence ban on transgender military service to ban qualified transgender people from military service, Jensen said, “We have supported them, and we will continue to support them going forward.” More from Minnesota Public Radio.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY -- SAME-SEX COUPLE SEPARATED BY TRUMP’S MUSLIM TRAVEL BAN FINALLY MARRY: In a heartbreaking HRC video earlier this year, Paul Harrison recounted how Trump’s executive order targeting seven Muslim-majority countries put on indefinite hold his plans to marry his Iranian fiancé. But on August 5, thanks to his determination and support from HRC and other civil rights groups including the ACLU, Harrison and his fiance finally reunited on American soil and married 10 days later in a small civil ceremony in Texas. More from HRC.

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH: The month gives us time to connect with those affected by suicide, reflect on how suicide has touched our own lives, and to share resources to better support individuals, families and their communities in efforts to prevent suicide. More from HRC.

HRC FOUNDATION’S WELCOMING SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHTED AT GENDER ODYSSEY CONFERENCE: Welcoming Schools Director Johanna Eager shared information on how to talk to elementary school students about gender, and offered lesson plans and books to help educators create welcoming and inclusive classrooms. The international conference focused on the needs and interests of transgender and gender diverse people, their loved ones and professionals who serve them.  Its founder, Aidan Key, leads the largest network of support groups in the nation for families raising transgender and gender-nonconforming children at Seattle Children's Hospital. He is also a HRC Welcoming Schools Facilitators. Learn more about this conference from HRC.

• Back to School with the National Education Association (NEA): As part of our Back to School campaign to support LGBTQ students and their families, we spoke with the dynamic and inspiring NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia to learn more about how the NEA supports LGBTQ youth. More from HRC.

NEW STUDY -- TRANS TEENS MORE LIKELY TO ABUSE DRUGS DUE TO HEIGHTENED STRESS AND DISCRIMINATION: The research by California’s Chapman University cites “tremendous social stress” as a factor that contributes to the health disparities between transgender and cisgender teens. The study, published in the Journal of School Health, also offers solutions, including creating more transgender-inclusive communities and schools. More from NBC.

ORLANDO’S LGBTQ CENTER RENOVATES, GROWS: After halting construction following the Pulse nightclub massacre, The Center opened its new, larger facility this week. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

LEWES, DEL., SCHOOL DISTRICT CREATES LGBTQ COMMITTEE: The Henlopen School District created the LGBTQ Outreach Committee in response to reports that the district was not adequately addressing anti-LGBTQ bullying. More from the Washington Blade.

AKRON (OHIO)’S FIRST EVER PRIDE FESTIVAL: Mayor Dan Horrigan led the parade, saying “As mayor, it is my mission to create an inclusive and welcoming city that serves and uplifts all residents.” More from Akron.com.

CHICAGO LIBRARY WILL KEEP LGBTQ BOOK: After some parents complained about a children’s book celebrating LGBTQ history, the library board affirmed that the book would stay on the shelves. More from CBS Chicago.

SCOTLAND TO INTRODUCE “TURING LAW” TO PARDON GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN: The law, named after gay World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing, will pardon any man convicted under the country's now-abolished laws criminalizing same-sex sexual relations. More from BBC.

READING RAINBOW

Salon looks at Louisiana’s path to LGBTQ equality; Boston Globe interviews university transgender advocates; NBC shares the story of David and Bart, new parents navigating fatherhood; Pink News highlights five LGBTQ people of color trailblazers; Forbes speaks to MRSHLL, an openly gay Korean pop star pushing the envelope in the conservative country; Good Sports reports on the NFL’s path to accepting openly gay players

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