The A.M. READ

HRC’s Tipsheet to Spill the Equali-Tea

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.

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THE LATEST TEA

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ LAWS: The over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ laws proposed by state legislatures across the U.S. in the past two years, and 126 passed into law, has taken a toll on the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community with 44.3 percent of LGBTQ+ adults and 63.5 percent of transgender adults reporting that this discriminatory legislation has harmed their or their loved ones' mental health. In an interview with The Advocate, Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Public Education & Research Director Dr. Shoshana Goldberg discusses the newly released data from The Impact of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation on LGBTQ+ American Adults report and how many LGBTQ+ Americans are affected by the proposed legislation saying, "There is also the harm that can result simply from the passage of these bills, through the transphobic rhetoric that arises in discussions of these bills, and the messages they send about the ‘validity’ of transgender people." Read the full story here.

PRO-EQUALITY HOUSE MEMBERS: FEDERAL GOVT CAN’T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TRANS AMERICANS: Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end legal recognition of transgender and non-binary people implements unlawful discrimination and attacks on civil rights, according to a letter to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) penned by Congressmen Mark Takano (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Gerald Connolly (D-VA). “Executive Order 14168 unlawfully attacks the civil rights of transgender Americans, and while Executive Order 14168 is in and of itself troubling, it is your memo and guidance that actually implements unlawful discrimination by the federal government against transgender people in the civil service and the provision of federal services,” the letter says. The lawmakers went on to call out the Administration’s clear motives behind the order as well, stating its inherent animus and that any policies motivated by such hatred are clear violations of the Constitution. Their bottom line (and ours): the order must be rescinded because equal protection of the law is indeed under attack.  

NO SURPRISE — CONSUMERS SUPPORT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: Turns out that a small but loud group of politically-motivated detractors are facing an inevitable dose of reality as major companies like Salesforce, Costco, Delta, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs have reaffirmed evidence-based positive business benefits of diversity and inclusion efforts. A recent article in LGBTQ Nation underscores what companies have known for decades now: commitments to inclusion are beneficial to bottom lines. “‘Market research about DEI paints a clear picture: Regardless of which political party wins in any given election, the American population is becoming more diverse and wants corporate America to reflect this diversity,’ wrote Hunter Johnson, CEO of Xpedition. “If you’re not championing diversity, you will lose customers and market share.’”  

SPOTLIGHT STORY

PEOPLE — TRANS CONGRESSWOMAN WANTS LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO KNOW THAT ‘MILLIONS’ ARE FIGHTING FOR THEM: This weekend, Congresswoman Sarah McBride spoke to People at the HRC Greater New York Dinner about the path ahead for LGBTQ+ young people in America. "While we see attacks against our community from the federal government and too many state governments, also know that we have millions of people who are fighting alongside us, to fight for you and to deliver progress for all of us," McBride said. "Hang in there. Find that hope in all of the allies that love you. And together, know that we are unstoppable… know that you are beautiful, that you matter and that you belong here in America." Read more from her interview here.