Tag: anti-transgender

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Texas Association Of Business Announces 7 Figure Media Buy To Oppose Proposed “Bathroom Bill”

As the Texas legislature begins debating an anti-transgender “bathroom bill” during a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, Jeff Moseley, CEO of the Texas Association of Business, announces a seven-figure media buy to oppose the hideous bill.

Via press release:

“Today the Texas Association of Business is announcing a seven-figure media buy in opposition to the unnecessary bathroom bill.

“For more than 95 years, TAB has been on the front lines of every issue that impacts Texas businesses; and today we represent more than 2,000,000 employees and $6 Billion in business.

“What affects business in Texas affects ALL Texans: it affects our schools, our roads, our state budget, and our quality of life. When businesses succeed, Texas communities and families succeed.

“The bathroom bill distracts from the real challenges we face and would result in terrible economic consequences—on talent, on tourism, on investment, on growth, and on small businesses. That’s why TAB and the Keep Texas Open for Business coalition are investing heavily in this effort and remain steadfastly opposed to this unnecessary legislation.”

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Amendment To Deny Transgender Military Service Members & Family Healthcare Voted Down In U.S. House

The U.S. House of Representatives voted down an amendment today that would have ripped away critical health care for transgender service members and military dependents.

Proposed by virulently anti-LGBT Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), the amendment would have barred access to transition-related health care — including critically important care such as hormone therapy — for service members and military family members.

The amendment was defeated by a vote of 214 to 209.

“Congresswoman Hartzler’s attempt to strip healthcare from service members and their families in a time of war was unpatriotic, unconstitutional, and just plain vile, we are pleased to see that the House of Representatives voted down this amendment” said OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn.

Since October 2016, it has been the policy of the Department of Defense to allow transgender members of the armed forces to serve openly and authentically. Estimates show there are more than 15,500 transgender individuals currently serving in the armed services. In addition to these service members, thousands of service members also have members of their families who are transgender.

(via press release)

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Podcast: Anti-Trans Bathroom Measure Fails In WA; Germany Close To Adopting Marriage Equality; New Out Music From Superfruit

In this week’s headlines on The Randy Report podcast:

• An anti-trans bathroom measure in Washington state fails in epic fashion

• Germany is close to adopting marriage equality

• Chechnya resumes rounding up and torturing gay men

• UK Prime Minister Theresa May sends best wishes for “Happy Pride” in London

• Nelsan Ellis (TRUE BLOOD’s “Lafayette Reynolds”) passes away at 39

• New music from Superfruit – the disco-tastic “Bad 4 Us”

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

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News Round-Up: July 5, 2017

Gus Kenworthy/Instagram

Some news items you may have missed:

• Woofy out Olympian Gus Kenworthy shares the above from his ESPN Magazine “Body Issue” shoot.

• NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, but Trump supporters (who didn’t know what they were reading) took it to be “propaganda” against the Donald.

• Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler said transgender people serving in the military is as big a threat to national security as “North Korea, and Putin and ISIS.”

• The Colorado baker who refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple told the ladies at The View, “I don’t believe that Jesus would have made the cake if he had been a baker.” Joy Behar’s simple response: “Come on — Jesus would have made the cake.”

• A New York City man, indicted on hate crime charges, could face 15 years in prison for violently punching a lesbian on the subway as he shouted “dyke” and “faggots.” The victim suffered a concussion, fractured nose, a broken eye socket and multiple deep cuts.

• According to a new Pew Research Center poll, more Americans (56%) trust German Chancellor Angela Merkel than they do Donald Trump (46%).

• MSNBC’s Morning Joe had it’s biggest ratings ever the day after Donald Trump tweeted about the co-hosts. #SoMuchWinning

• Bonus “Just because” from Lony Pizarro, fitness model. Photo: Anthony Deeying

A post shared by Lony Pizarro (@lonypizarro) on Jun 30, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

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Texas Governor Calls Special Session Of State Legislature For Anti-Trans “Bathroom Bill”

The Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has called a special session of the state legislature beginning July 18, and the anti-transgender “bathroom bill” will be on the agenda.

Via the Texas Tribune:

Abbott laid out 19 items that he will then ask legislators to take up. Among those 19 items: a so-called “bathroom bill” that would regulate which restrooms transgender Texans can use.

“We need a law that protects the privacy of our children in public schools,” Abbott said, reiterating his support for a proposal that did not make it to his desk during the regular session, House Bill 2899.

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Texas House Moves Anti-Transgender “Bathroom Bill” Closer To Passage

The Dallas Morning News reports on Texas’ anti-transgender “bathroom bill,” which took another step towards passage last night.

The Texas House voted late Sunday on a bill that will keep transgender public school children from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

The measure, a Republican deal on the “bathroom bill,” passed the GOP-dominated chamber by a vote of 91-50. It needs one more vote to officially pass the House. If the Senate agrees to the measure, and Gov. Greg Abbott doesn’t veto it, Texas will become the second state in the nation to pass such legislation.

Debate was emotional and divisive, with Democrats likening it to a Jim Crow-era attack on defenseless kids and Republicans insisting the measure did not single out or target anyone.

“America has long recognized that separate but equal is not equal at all,” said Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Houston Democrat who has served in the House since 1972. “What’s wrong with treating kids with equality and not making them feel like they are second-class citizens?”

“Transgender students are God’s business, and you know what, He loves them, too.”

The measure would keep transgender kids from using multi-occupancy school bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, unless no one else is present. If other children are around, they’d have to use a different, single-use restroom elsewhere in the school.

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North Carolina Legislature Pushes Fake “Repeal” Of Anti-Transgender Law HB2

UPDATE: The legislation passed in the House 70-48. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Whether this actually satisfies the NCAA remains to be seen.

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In a race to meet an NCAA deadline for consideration to host championship sporting events through 2022, the North Carolina legislature is ramming through a fake “repeal” of the state’s hateful anti-LGBT law, HB2. The “compromise” was concocted in a middle of the night/backroom deal between Phil Berger, the Senate leader, Tim Moore, the House speaker, and the new Democratic governor, Roy Cooper.

While being touted as a repeal, the new bill – HB142 – bans local municipalities from passing any non-discrimination ordinances through 2020.

Additionally, HB142 bans protections for transgender individuals in restrooms and other single-sex spaces forever.

“This law does not repeal HB2, it doubles down on discrimination,” said Cathryn Oakley HRC Senior Legislative Counsel at a press conference in Raleigh Thursday morning.

“If you vote for this bill you are not a friend of the LGBTQ community,” said Chris Sgro, Equality NC Executive Director.

What is particularly galling is newly installed Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who campaigned on repealing the so-called “Bathroom bill,” is supporting this effort even as he admits it’s not “a perfect deal.”

The new bill passed the state Senate today by a vote of 32 to 16.

The legislation now moves to the state House.

LGBT advocacy groups are rightfully angry.

From Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign:

From Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD:

From the national office of the ACLU:

Businesses in the state have begun chiming in as well. From Levi Strauss:

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Texas Senate Moves Anti-Transgender Bill Closer To Final Vote

The Texas legislature is one step closer to passing anti-transgender legislation in the Lone Star state.

From the Texas Tribune:

The Texas Senate on Tuesday tentatively signed off on the so-called “bathroom bill” on a 21-10 vote with one Democrat — state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville — voting in favor of the bill.

Senate Bill 6, a legislative priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and other publicly-owned facilities that match their “biological sex” and not gender identity. And it would preempt local anti-discrimination laws meant to allow transgender residents to use public bathrooms that match their gender identity.

The floor vote came a week after a marathon hearing during which senators heard 13-plus hours of public testimony from hundreds of individuals, largely in opposition, before advancing the legislation to the full Senate.

The upper chamber must still give the legislation a final stamp of approval before sending it on to the House. That vote, known as “third reading,” could come as early as Wednesday.

Assuming the bill passes out of the state Senate, it heads to the House where the future is less clear for the legislation. House Speaker Joe Straus told reporters last week, “I’m not a fan of the bill.”

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Charlotte City Council Repeals LGBT Protections

The Charlotte city council in North Carolina has voted to repeal it’s LGBT protections ordinance.

The move is part of a bargain  made by GOP state lawmakers who vowed to repeal the anti-LGBT legislation HB2, if Charlotte would repeal their ordinance first.
We’ll see if the GOP controlled legislature fulfills its promise.
The council’s repeal measure requires the legislature to repeal HB2 by December 31 or its ordinance would stand.

Stay tuned.
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A Bathroom Break At Broadway’s KINKY BOOTS

Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper, and the cast of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Best Musical” Kinky Boots shares this upbeat rewrite of the show’s finale – “Just Be” – weighing in on the current rash anti-transgender bathroom laws. #JustPee

In related news, Lauper performs tonight in Raleigh, North Carolina. According to reports, the proceeds from her concert will be donated to the campaign seeking to repeal the state’s HB2 bill; word is her concert rider requires the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts must have a gender-neutral bathroom.