#AM_Equality Tipsheet: September 11, 2017

by Allison Turner •

HRC joins our nation, and the world, in remembering 9-11; HRC and GLAAD ask Stanford to debunk junk science

NEVER FORGET: TODAY THE WORLD REMEMBERS 9/11. We will never forget the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the heroes who lost their lives to help save others & keep our nation safe.

HRC AND GLAAD CALL ON STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND RESPONSIBLE MEDIA OUTLETS TO DENOUNCE JUNK SCIENCE: HRC and GLAAD are calling on Stanford University and responsible media outlets to expose dangerous and flawed research that could cause harm to LGBTQ people around the world. A professor affiliated with Stanford University has published a research study that resulted in several media outlets wrongfully suggesting that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to detect sexual orientation. HRC Director of Public Education and Research Ashland Johnson said, "This is dangerously bad information that will likely be taken out of context, is based on flawed assumptions, and threatens the safety and privacy of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people alike. Imagine for a moment the potential consequences if this flawed research were used to support a brutal regime’s efforts to identify and/or persecute people they believed to be gay. Stanford should distance itself from such junk science rather than lending its name and credibility to research that is dangerously flawed and leaves the world -- and this case, millions of people’s lives -- worse and less safe than before." Read more from GLAAD and HuffPost.

NYTIMES -- PANDERING TO RELIGIOUS RIGHT, TRUMP-PENCE AGGRESSIVELY UNDERMINING RIGHTS OF WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS AND LGBTQ PEOPLE: A troubling, revealing review by The New York Times found that the Trump-Pence Administration is quietly undertaking a “fundamental repurposing of the federal bureaucracy to promote conservative social priorities.” The piece by Ben Protess (@benprotess), Danielle Ivory (@danielle_ivory) and Steve Eder (@SteveEder) found that “the aggressive regulatory effort, which runs counter to the Trump administration’s less-is-more credo about government meddling, has led to policy changes related to gun ownership, gay rights, reproductive choices, immigration and other divisive political issues.”  Read more at The New York Times.

  • How the LGBTQ Movement Came Together to Fight Trump-Pence Trans Military Ban:  Eric van der Vort (@ericibid) writes in today’s Washington Post, “The pushback against Trump’s trans military ban shows that decades of effort to bridge tensions over identity and tactics have come together — to defend trans rights broadly and the right to serve specifically.” Read the full piece at The Washington Post.

⚕️ TEXAS HEALTH INSTITUTE & EQUALITY TEXAS TO LAUNCH TEXAS TRANSGENDER HEALTH PROGRAM: The partnership is aimed at providing affordable and competent health services to transgender Texans. Many medical schools and nursing colleges do not offer education that addresses the health needs of trans patients. The program will work to remedy that shortcoming by offering  online and in-person training. Read more from Out in SA.

  • Perseverance. Strength. Power.: Over the weekend, Philadelphia hosted the 16th annual Trans Health Conference, where transgender individuals, allies, and health-care providers came together to discuss topics ranging from advocating for trans rights in schools to transgender history. Read more from Philadelphia Gay News.
  • Grandparents Day Reflection - “Loving Our Transgender Grandchild”: Bobbie L. Celeste, a counseling psychologist in Columbus, Ohio, writes movingly about her transgender grandson in a piece at HRC.

MUST WATCH MONDAY: As part of its special project “Firsts,” TIME profiles Candis Cayne, who landed a major role on a prime-time TV show, Dirty Sexy Money. Candis, who has always wanted to be a performer and actress, says about taking the role, “This wasn’t just about me wanting to be an actress, this was about moving the fabric of society forward.” Watch the video here.

JAY-Z’S MOM OPENS UP ABOUT COMING OUT: On the D’USSE Friday Podcast, Gloria Carter talks about how she decided to come out on the rapper’s new album. She says, “I’m tired of all the mystery … I’m gonna tell them.” Read more and listen at NME.

ACTOR ASIA KATE DILLON RECEIVES HRC VISIBILITY AWARD: Known for playing Brandy Epps in Orange is the New Black on Netflix and Taylor in Showtime’s Billions, Dillon was honored during Saturday’s 18th annual HRC Dinner in Seattle, and also took over HRC’s Instagram for the night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. HOLDS MAYORAL PRIMARY TUESDAY: Tomorrow, residents of North Carolina’s largest city will choose candidates for its general election. HRC has endorsed  Mayor Jennifer Roberts for reelection. Throughout the discriminatory legislative attacks of HB2 and HB142, Mayor Roberts stood by the LGBTQ community despite the political pressure being exerted from state lawmakers seeking to enshrine anti-LGBTQ animus into law. Read more from Associated Press.

CANADA GRANTS ASYLUM TO 31 GAY AND BISEXUAL CHECHENS: Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian advocacy group, made the announcement on Friday. Twenty-two have already arrived safely in Canada. More from Reuters.

RALLY FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA DRAWS RECORD CROWD: Just days before ballots for the postal vote on marriage equality will be mailed out, a record crowd of more than 20,000 people gathered to show their support. Read more from Reuters.

THE FAROE ISLANDS HAS ITS FIRST SAME-SEX WEDDING: Leslie Travers and Richard McBride traveled to the Faroe Islands for a small wedding -- and discovered that theirs was the first same-sex wedding since marriage equality was legalized in June. More from PinkNews.

READING RAINBOW

Forbes details changes that health insurance providers are making to domestic partner health coverage; Campus Reform reports that a group of professors is asking college administrators to advocate more strongly for LGBTQ students; Essence describes CNN anchor Don Lemon’s (@donlemon‏) speech when accepting the Davidson/Valentini award at the GLAAD Gala San Francisco; Washington Blade reports that advocates gathered at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. yesterday to protest anti-LGBT violence and Islamophobia;


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