The A.M. READ newsletter is a news tipsheet highlighting LGBTQ+ news and HRC updates. It covers a wide range of topics from breaking news to politics to LGBTQ+ pop culture to sports and everything in between.

THE LATEST TEA

HRC & OUT FOR HARRIS-WALZ LAUNCH 10 DAYS OF ACTION BATTLEGROUND BARNSTORM: Just weeks before Election Day, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Out for Harris-Walz, the Harris-Walz campaign’s national LGBTQ+ organizing coalition, along with PA Democrats, are launching 10 Days of Action, a series of over 170 events aimed at mobilizing and turning out LGBTQ+ and allied voters. During the push, HRC, Out for Harris-Walz, and PA Democrats will harness the power of LGBTQ+ voters to phone bank, canvass, rally, and fundraise through daily opportunities that will make a meaningful impact, both in-person and remotely through a new ad campaign targeting LGBTQ+ voters in battleground states, digital organizing program that empowers individuals to drive voter mobilization from wherever they are, a virtual rally on October 10, ahead of National Coming Out Day, to bolster recruitment and GOTV efforts in battleground states on October 12, amplifying student voices on HBCU Out Loud Day on October 16, and more. Learn more about 10 Days Of Action here.

BATTLEGROUND STATE VOTERS WANT TRANS PEOPLE TO BE LEFT ALONE: According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll reported by journalist Erin Reed, a majority of voters in battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin believe that society should accept transgender people as the gender they identify with. The finding comes as MAGA conservatives are investing tens of millions of dollars in political ads targeting the rights and existence of transgender Americans, despite proof that voters routinely reject anti-LGBTQ+ candidates who peddle transphobic campaigns. Other polling also indicates that Democrats continue to be the trusted defenders of LGBTQ+ equality.

SPOTLIGHT STORY

THEM — THIS PORTAL LETS LGBTQ+ KIDS ASK QUESTIONS OF QUEER AND TRANS PRO ATHLETES: Athletes have long been role models for young people, and at a time when LGBTQ+ young people are under attack, it’s especially important for them to have queer and trans athletes to look up to. Q&Athlete helps provide a safe space for kids to interact with older LGBTQ+ sports figures by allowing young LGBTQ+ athletes to submit anonymous questions, matching questions with older athletes who can answer them, and posting the questions and answers together on their website. Upcoming athletes include nonbinary Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz and swimmer Schuyler Bailar, who was one of the first out trans men on a D1 NCAA men’s sports team. Young people can submit their questions here, and anyone can learn more about the initiative from James Factora here.