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Reactions To Education And Justice Department Guidelines On Trangsgender Students

This morning, the U.S. Justice and Education Departments issued joint guidelines to public schools on how transgender students should be treated and protected from discrimination.

Groups from across the political spectrum weighed in immediately.

From the Human Rights Campaign:

“These groundbreaking guidelines not only underscore the Obama administration’s position that discriminating against transgender students is flat-out against the law, but they provide public school districts with needed and specific guidance guaranteeing that transgender students should be using facilities consistent with their gender identity,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This is a truly significant moment not only for transgender young people but for all young people, sending a message that every student deserves to be treated fairly and supported by their teachers and schools.”

From Campus Pride:

“President Obama has affirmed today the lives of transgender young people and that they deserve human dignity and respect for who they are,” said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride. “Saving lives of trans youth means taking action and responsibility to ensure their safety in schools. We applaud President Obama for his leadership and these guidelines that make it clear that discrimination toward transgender students is against the law. There is now direction, without any doubt, for public and federally funded colleges and universities that trans students are entitled to using facilities consistent with their gender identity.”

From the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund:

“This is a big day for the transgender community. It means that the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights will accept allegations of discrimination, investigate them, and may bring claims in federal court. The other implication — especially with regard to North Carolina’s HB2 — is that the federal government will leave no stone unturned when enforcing already existing civil rights laws against illegal sex discrimination. This sends a clear message for the repeal of HB2 and to other states that are currently considering discriminatory legislation. This is very good news for the advancement of LGBTQ freedom, justice, equity and equality,” said Victoria Rodríguez-Roldán, J.D., Director, Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Justice Project, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

And, of course, the haters are howling.

From the Dallas-Fort Worth NBC affiliate:

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick spoke to NBC 5 soon after the directive was first reported, saying, “This will be the beginning of the end of the public school system as we know it.”

Patrick compared the guidance from leaders at the departments of Education and Justice to a recent guideline from the Fort Worth school district superintendent meant to accommodate transgender students.

“President Obama, in the dark of the night – without consulting Congress, without consulting educators, without consulting parents – decides to issue an executive order, like this superintendent, forcing transgender policies on schools and on parents who clearly don’t want it,” Patrick told NBC 5.

Port Neches-Groves Superintendent Dr. Rodney Cavness in Texas (via ABC):

“I got news for President Barack Obama. He ain’t my President and he can’t tell me what to do. That letter is going straight to the paper shredder. I have 5 daughters myself and I have 2,500 girls in my protection. Their moms and dads expect me to protect them. And that is what I am going to do. Now I don’t want them bullied, but there are accommodations that can be made short of this. He is destroying the very fiber of this country. He is not a leader. He is a failure.”

You’ll note: NOW they bring up “accommodations?” Before it was an executive order, the haters said trans kids had to just suck it up and deal with it. NOW they bring up accommodations.

Anti-LGBT activist Tony Perkins sent this out via email begging for money (why does he need money to stand up to something?):

Protect Our Children! The Obama administration is ramping up its efforts to force public schools to allow students to use the restroom and locker rooms of the opposite sex. Boys who are clearly boys would be free to use the girls’ facilities and vice versa.

And if parents and students object? They are either ignored or vilified as bigots. It’s all part of the U.S. Department of Education’s “Title IX Mandates” (Title IX is part of the U.S. Education Code governing federal rules for education).

These rules have been revised to provide special protections for “transgenderism” — boys or men who perceive on any given day they identify as a female, or women and girls who perceive they are male.

You’ll note how Perkins uses language like “boys or men who perceive on any given day they identify as a female.” No, Tony Perkins, transgender females don’t switch their gender identity on a whim.

If some straight, male predator puts on a dress to go into a ladies room and he doesn’t actually identify as female then these protections will not apply. These guidelines are for transgender students who are simply trying to live their lives (and use the bathroom).

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Justice And Education Departments Issue Guidelines For Trans Students In All Public Schools

Today, the federal Justice and Education Departments issued joint guidelines ensuring that all transgender students can attend school without the risk of discrimination or bullying based on their gender identity.

The guidance explains how existing law, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, views the issue of “gender identity” as part of a student’s determined “sex.” Therefore, any bullying based on gender identity would fall under “sex discrimination” which is outlawed under Title IX.

The guidance does not require any student to use shared bathrooms or changing spaces, when, for example, there are other appropriate options available; and schools can also take steps to increase privacy within shared facilities.

Federal education guidelines apply to public districts serving K-12 students, public universities, and other education facilities receiving federal money.

The guidance is not legally binding; however, it reinforces the administration’s position that it will take legal action against violators.

Via press release:

Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 schools receiving federal money may not discriminate based on a student’s sex, including a student’s transgender status. The guidance makes clear that both federal agencies treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of enforcing Title IX.

“No student should ever have to go through the experience of feeling unwelcome at school or on a college campus,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “This guidance further clarifies what we’ve said repeatedly – that gender identity is protected under Title IX. Educators want to do the right thing for students, and many have reached out to us for guidance on how to follow the law. We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence.”

“There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “This guidance gives administrators, teachers, and parents the tools they need to protect transgender students from peer harassment and to identify and address unjust school policies. I look forward to continuing our work with the Department of Education – and with schools across the country – to create classroom environments that are safe, nurturing, and inclusive for all of our young people.”

“Our federal civil rights law guarantees all students, including transgender students, the opportunity to participate equally in school programs and activities without sex discrimination as a core civil right,” said Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. “This guidance answers questions schools have been asking, with a goal to ensure that all students are treated equally consistent with their gender identity. We look forward to continuing to work with schools and school communities to satisfy Congress’ promise of equality for all.”

“Every child deserves to attend school in a safe, supportive environment that allows them to thrive and grow. And we know that teachers and administrators care deeply about all of their students and want them to succeed in school and life,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our guidance sends a clear message to transgender students across the country: here in America, you are safe, you are protected and you belong – just as you are. We look forward to working with school officials to make the promise of equal opportunity a reality for all of our children.”

The guidance explains that when students or their parents, as appropriate, notify a school that a student is transgender, the school must treat the student consistent with the student’s gender identity. A school may not require transgender students to have a medical diagnosis, undergo any medical treatment, or produce a birth certificate or other identification document before treating them consistent with their gender identity.

The guidance also explains schools’ obligations to:

* Respond promptly and effectively to sex-based harassment of all students, including harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived gender identity, transgender status, or gender transition;

* Treat students consistent with their gender identity even if their school records or identification documents indicate a different sex;

* Allow students to participate in sex-segregated activities and access sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity; and

* Protect students’ privacy related to their transgender status under Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

At the same time, the guidance makes clear that schools can provide additional privacy options to any student for any reason. The guidance does not require any student to use shared bathrooms or changing spaces, when, for example, there are other appropriate options available; and schools can also take steps to increase privacy within shared facilities.

In addition to the Departments’ joint Title IX guidance, the Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education also released Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students, a compilation of policies and practices that schools across the country are already using to support transgender students. The document shares some common questions on topics such as school records, privacy, and terminology, and then explains how some state and school district policies have answered these questions, which may be useful for other states and school districts that are considering these issues. In this document, the Education Department does not endorse any particular policy, but offers examples from actual policies to help educators develop policies and practices for their own schools.

Many parents, schools, and districts have raised questions about this area of civil rights law. Together, these documents will help navigate what may be a new terrain for some.

The documents referenced can be found here:

Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students

Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students

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Obama Administration To Public Schools: Allow Trans Students To Use Gender Identity-Matching Bathrooms

Big news for transgender students!

The Obama administration is set to release directives that will instruct all public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

From the New York Times:

A letter to school districts will go out Friday, fueling a highly charged debate over transgender rights in the middle of the administration’s legal fight with North Carolina over the issue. The declaration — signed by Justice and Education Department officials — will describe what schools should do to ensure that none of their students are discriminated against.

It does not have the force of law, but it contains an implicit threat: Schools that do not abide by the Obama administration’s interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid.

The move is certain to draw fresh criticism, particularly from Republicans, that the federal government is wading into local matters and imposing its own values on communities across the country that may not agree. It represents the latest example of the Obama administration using a combination of policies, lawsuits and public statements to change the civil rights landscape for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people.

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Hillary Clinton Meets With HIV/AIDS Experts & Advocates

Longtime AIDS activist Peter Staley  with Hillary Clinton

Although Sen. Bernie Sanders cancelled his scheduled meeting with HIV/AIDS experts and activists, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today met with a diverse coalition of more than 70 leaders and organizations in the HIV community.

Longtime HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley just posted this after taking part in the meeting:

We started about an hour late, but she stayed well beyond our budgeted 45 minutes — over an hour, in the end. A frank exchange. It was a first step in what we all agreed would be an ongoing process with her campaign. No surprise — she’s an HIV wonk.

Among other things, Hillary proposed expanding access to PrEP for prevention,  protect HIV+ folks from discrimination, and increase HIV/AIDS research.

Via press release:

The meeting took place at the Hillary for America headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, where they discussed Clinton’s continued commitment to tackling the epidemic in the U.S. and globally, fighting discrimination against PLHIV and AIDS, and working together with HIV and AIDS experts and advocates to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

Hillary Clinton has been a longtime advocate in the fight to treat and prevent HIV and AIDS.

As First Lady, Clinton traveled the world to raise awareness on combating HIV and AIDS and assembled government officials and world leaders to increase funding for prevention and research efforts.

As Senator, Clinton introduced legislation to improve and expand global HIV and AIDS research, assistance, and education. She also co-sponsored the Early Treatment for HIV Act to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income people living with HIV.

As Secretary of State, Clinton began an ambitious campaign to usher in an AIDS-free generation. She oversaw a more than 200 percent increase in the number of people on antiretroviral treatment directly supported by the United States to reach over 6.7 million men, women, and children around the world.

Clinton has also emphasized HIV and AIDS in her philanthropic work. Almost 10 million people with HIV or AIDS around the world have benefited from more affordable medicine because of the Clinton Foundation. And since 2002, the Clinton Health Access Initiative has reduced the cost of HIV and AIDS medications in many countries from over $10,000 per person per year to just $100 to $200 per person per year.

During this campaign, Clinton has released specific policies to tackle the HIV and AIDS epidemic. As President, she will:

Cap out-of-pocket pharmaceutical expenses for people with HIV and AIDS. Clinton has announced a plan to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable and to achieve lower drug costs for Americans, including for medications that help treat HIV and reduce the risk of contracting AIDS. Clinton will ensure that Americans can get the care their doctors prescribe by requiring health insurance plans to cap covered out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $250 per month. She also will allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and will stop direct-to-consumer advertising subsidies for drug companies—reinvesting those funds in research.

Expand the utilization of HIV prevention medications, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). While we work to diagnose and treat all Americans with HIV and AIDS, we also must work to prevent exposure. Decades of research are beginning to offer a promising path to prevention. Clinton will increase the CDC investment to ensure populations at greatest risk of infection have access to PrEP, and encourage states to follow suit.

 Protect those with HIV and AIDS from discrimination. Clinton will work with Congress to review and reform outdated and stigmatizing HIV criminalization laws—and call on states to do the same. And she is committed to continuing to aggressively enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws to fight HIV-related discrimination.

Continue to increase HIV and AIDS research and invest in the promising innovations that research is producing. Researchers at the NIH and elsewhere are poised to make even more progress towards curing HIV, developing long-acting treatments that do not require daily pill taking, and better understanding the social and structural factors that can impact a person’s ability to access HIV prevention and care services. As President, Clinton will increase funding to ensure this progress to continue.

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Massachusetts State Senate Advances Transgender Protections Bill

By a vote of 33-4, the Massachusetts state Senate today advanced legislation that would outlaw discrimination against transgender people.

The bill now goes to the state House of Representatives, where the legislation has strong support. The only real question at this point is whether Republican (but socially liberal) Gov. Charlie Baker will sign the bill into law.

The measure would make Massachusetts the 18th U.S. state to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

As many folks know, with the passage of marriage equality last summer, focus in the world of LGBT rights has shifted in part to transgender protections with many conservative states passing laws which effectively legalize discrimination against trans folks.

(source)

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First Look: Laverne Cox As “Dr. Frank-N-Furter” In Upcoming ROCKY HORROR Remake

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at OITNB star Laverne Cox as the iconic “Dr. Frank-N-Furter” and Tony Award winner Ben Vereen as “Dr. Scott” from the upcoming remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show:

You may notice that this Frank has a somewhat different look, and that’s by design (the costumes for this Show are by Tony-winner William Ivey Long).

“We were on set and a reporter saw me and said I looked like the love child of Grace Jones and David Bowie. I said ‘That’s exactly right.’ I think we mix up the look more than they did in the original,” Cox explains.

“It’s inspired by the original but it’s really our own take. It’s way more elaborate and couture. [Director] Kenny Ortega had this vision that Frank was at this old theater and found these old burlesque costumes and is, like, using them and wearing them now but has altered them a bit.”

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HAMILTON’s Lin-Manuel Miranda Does Not Suffer Fools (Or Thieves) Lightly

Lin-Manuel Miranda, author/star of Hamilton

Pulitzer Prize-winner (and about to win a ton of hardware at this year’s Tony Awards) Lin-Manuel Miranda took to Twitter recently to let the world know HE CAN SEE you folks in the audience who pull out your phones to record his Broadway blockbuster Hamilton.

Check this from yesterday:

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Donald Trump’s Butler Calls For The Murder Of President Obama

Donald Trump’s long-time butler at Mar-A-Lago, Anthony Peter Senecal, has posted on his Facebook a call to execute President Obama.

To all my friends on FB, just a short note to you on our pus headed “president” !!!! This character who I refer to as zero (0) should have been taken out by our military and shot as an enemy agent in his first term !!!!! Instead he still remains in office doing every thing he can to gut the America we all know and love !!!!! Now comes Donald J Trump to put an end to the corruption in government !!!! The so called elite, who are nothing but common dog turds from your front lawn are shaking in their boots because there is a new Sheriff coming to town, and the end to their corruption of the American people (YOU) is at hand !!!! I cannot believe that a common murder is even allowed to run (killery clinton) OR that a commie like bernie is a also allowed to also run !!!! Come on America put your big boy pants on—this election you have a choice—GET YOUR ASS OUT AND VOTE !!!! Thank you !!!!

Senecal stood by his post when asked by Mother Jones:

Though Senecal’s Facebook page is public, this message could only be read by his Facebook friends. In an interview with Mother Jones, Senecal confirms that those were his words: “I wrote that. I believe that.”

A spokeswoman for the Trump campaign says, “This individual has not worked at Mar-a-Lago for many years.”

“I cannot stand the bastard,” Trump’s longtime butler says of Obama.”I don’t believe he’s an American citizen. I think he’s a fraudulent piece of crap that was brought in by the Democrats.”

Senecal, who is 84, says he has been employed at Mar-a-Lago since about 1959. Trump acquired the property in 1985, and Senecal remained on staff. “As [Trump] says, I came with the furniture,” Senecal remarks. About seven years later, he became the butler for the celebrity mogul who is now the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee. In 2009, Senecal informed Trump he wanted to resign as butler, and Trump persuaded him to stay on as the in-house historian at Mar-a-Lago. There is no salary for the job, Senecal says, but he makes money leading tours of the estate.

Senecal regularly posts screeds on his Facebook page from a far-right perspective in which he decries Obama and his wife—along with Hillary Clinton, other Democrats, and Republican leaders. He often refers to Obama as “zero,” and several times he has called for the president’s execution. He confirms that he has written all the posts on the page that have appeared under his name. “It’s all me,” he says.

The Mother Jones article documents several of Senecal’s many racist, right-wing screeds of the past. It’s quite the read.

The post can only be seen by Senecal’s Facebook friends, but you can see screen capture below.

I’m sure The Donald is thrilled.

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Target CEO Brian Cornell: We Are Not Backing Down On Transgender Policy

Target CEO Brian Cornell

Brian Cornell, CEO of Target Corp. told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that the super-department store will stick with its policy of allowing transgender customers to choose the bathroom they wish to use.

Cornell also announced the company is expanding the number of family restrooms in its stores from 1,400 to 1,800 for people who worry about the mixing of sexes in bathrooms.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:

“We want to make sure we provide a welcoming environment for all of our guests,” Cornell said. “One that is safe, one that is comfortable.”

“Everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” Target said in its initial statement. “And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.”

“We took a stance,” he said. “We’re going to continue to embrace our belief in diversity and inclusion, just how important that is to our company. But we’re also going to make sure our focus on safety is unwavering.”

He noted Target took a lot of criticism in the 1960s when it was one of the first retailers to use black models in its advertising.

“Back then, it wasn’t well received,” he said. “We had a lot of tough feedback. But sitting here today, we know we made the right decision.”

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Raul Ryan & Donald Trump Issue Joint Statement After “Unity” Meeting

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan tweeted out this message today after his highly anticipated meeting with presumptive Republican front-runner Donald Trump:

“The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents. That is why it’s critical that Republicans unite around our shared principals, advance a conservative agenda, and do all we can to win this fall.”

“While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground.

“We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there’s a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal. We are extremely proud of the fact that many millions of new voters have entered the primary system, far more than ever before in the Republican Party’s history.

“This was our first meeting, but it was a very positive step toward unification,