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☆ Biden administration restores protections for gay and transgender Americans seeking health care
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Avery Lotz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration announced a new rule Friday expanding safeguards against potential discrimination of gay and transgender Americans seeking medical care, in a reversal of Trump-era limitations that nixed federal health protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In a set of expansive new rules unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, the department moved to advance civil rights protections for patients by barring health providers and insurers receiving federal funding from discriminating against those seeking care on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The HHS rule restores Obama-era protections for transgender patients that the Trump administration rolled back in 2020 — a move that was condemned by LGBTQ+ advocacy and human rights organizations. The finalized rule comes as access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth has been tangled in political controversy, with more than 20 states in recent years attempting to restrict youth access to such care. The Biden administration in 2021 announced its intention to protect transgender Americans from health care discrimination through Section 1557 and Title IX regulations, citing a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that affirmed federal civil rights law bars discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

Persons: CNN —, Trump, Obama, “, Xavier Becerra, Barack Obama, ”, Biden, Kelley Robinson, Harris, CNN’s Devan Cole Organizations: CNN, Biden, Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, Affordable, Trump, Congress, Human Rights

☆ More than 500 companies had perfect scores on top advocacy group's LGBTQ+ index
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Courtney Reagan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)In a year stained by boycotts, protests and heightened consumer choice, hundreds of companies came through for LGBTQ+ equality, according to a leading advocacy group. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded 545 companies with a perfect score on its annual Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates U.S. based companies that opt into the survey on their policies for LGBTQ+ equality. More than 800 of the 1,384 companies scored earned at least 90 of the possible 100 points. When the index first began in 2002, only 13 companies earned the highest score. Target scored a 95 this year, while Anheuser-Busch scored a 75.

Persons: Rodin Eckenroth, they're, Kelley Robinson, Robinson, JPMorgan Chase, Salesforce, Busch, Target, Brian Cornell, we've, Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney Organizations: Rights, Foundation, Employees, Cola, JPMorgan, HRC, Target, Anheuser, Nike Locations: Hollywood , California

His death has been memorialized as an egregious hate crime that helped fuel the LGBTQ+ rights movement over the ensuing years. In 2011, the military scrapped the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that kept gay, lesbian and bisexual service members in the closet. Several activists interviewed this week by The Associated Press evoked Matthew Shepard as they discussed broader developments. The act expanded the federal hate crime law to include crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It is a popular choice for high school theater productions but has faced opposition due to policies resembling Florida's “Don't Say Gay” law that have surfaced in various states and communities.

Persons: It's, Matthew Shepard, we've, Kevin Jennings, “, you've, they're, we’ve, ”, Ron DeSantis, “ We’re, ” Shannon Minter, Rodrigo Heng, Lehtinen, ” Heng, James Esseks, Esseks, ” Esseks, Kelley Robinson, —, James Byrd Jr, Barack Obama, Shepard, Shepard's, Judy, Matthew Shepard’s, Shelby Chestnut, Chestnut, Cathy Renna Organizations: of Wyoming, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Lambda, GOP, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, American Civil Liberties, HIV, Human Rights, Associated Press, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Transgender Law, New, National, Task Force Locations: Vermont, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Laramie , Wyoming, New York City

CNN —The Canadian government is warning its LGBTQ citizens of risks they could face when traveling to the US, citing new laws in several states. Check relevant state and local laws,” reads the updated advisory posted on Tuesday. Neither the statement nor the travel advisory single out specific states or laws. The updated travel advice comes after US-based advocacy group Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ people in June. “Foreign laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) can be very different from those in Canada.

Persons: ”, “, Kelley Robinson, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, ” Global Affairs Canada, Human Rights, ”, State Department, Embassy, Ottawa’s Capital Pride Locations: U.S, Canada, ”, United States, Ottawa, Haut

Ikeguchi had also made “several disparaging remarks” about the flag before shooting Carleton, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The store’s flag has been torn down several times before, but it was always replaced with a bigger flag, Carleton’s daughter, Ari Carleton told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday. “I know that she passed standing up for something she believed in,” Ari Carleton said. Hollywood director Paul Feig paid tribute to Lauri Carleton, calling her a wonderful friend. Lauri Carleton and her husband were married for 28 years and share “a blended family of nine children,” according to the website.

Persons: Laura Ann “ Lauri ” Carleton, Travis Ikeguchi, Ikeguchi, “, Carleton, Sheriff Shannon Dicus, ”, Ari Carleton, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, . Carleton, Kelley Robinson, Gavin Newsom, Dicus, ” Ari Carleton, Lauri Carleton’s, Paul Feig, Lauri Carleton, Bort, Lauri, ” Feig, ” Lauri Carleton’s, “ Lauri, ” Matthew Clevenger, Clevenger, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, San, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s, Carleton, ., Human, Twitter, ArtCenter College of Design, Lake Arrowhead Locations: Southern California, Cedar Glen, Los Angeles, San Bernardino County, California, ” California, Pasadena , California

But under a Colorado public accommodations law, she said she cannot post the statement because the state considers it illegal. The ruling – rooted in free speech grounds – will pierce state public accommodation laws for those businesses who sell so-called “expressive” goods. It is the latest victory for religious conservatives at the high court and will alarm critics who fear the current court is setting its sights on overturning the 2015 marriage case. When the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in February 2022, the justices sidestepped whether the law violated Smith’s free exercise of religion. In court, Waggoner said that the law works to compel speech in violation of the First Amendment.

Persons: Justice Neil Gorsuch, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Lorie Smith, Gorsuch, ”, Smith’s, ” Gorsuch, Sotomayor, “, ’, Kristen Waggoner, Matthew Shepard, ” Sotomayor, Bostock, Trump, Kelley Robinson, Ritchie Torres, ” Torres, Waggoner, Smith, Smith –, –, ” Smith, ” Waggoner, Eric Olson Organizations: CNN, Chief, U.S, Supreme, Pride Month, Civil, American Civil Liberties Union, ”, Democratic, Twitter, Appeals Locations: Colorado, United States, Clayton County

☆ Opinion | L.G.B.T.Q. Americans Could Become a ‘New Class of Political Refugees’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Charles M. Blow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

According to research by the Clark University professor Abbie Goldberg published in January by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, which surveyed 113 parents in Florida who are L.G.B.T.Q. And as the study notes, for some families with L.G.B.T.Q. legislation creates “will be significant.” Uprooting and moving to get away from political persecution is a privileged option that’s just not feasible for everyone, at least in the short term. One high-profile family that resolved to leave Florida is that of Dwyane Wade, who won three N.B.A. The couple has a transgender daughter, 16-year-old Zaya, and Wade has said that Florida’s anti-L.G.B.T.Q.

Persons: Kelley Robinson, Abbie Goldberg, Florida’s, “, Goldberg, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Wade, ” Organizations: Human Rights, Clark University, Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, ” —, Miami Heat Locations: America, Florida, Miami, “

☆ Opinion | Yes, We’re in an L.G.B.T.Q. State of Emergency
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Charles M. Blow | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the L.G.B.T.Q. bills since 2018, and that number has recently accelerated, with the 2023 state legislative year being the worst on record. According to the Human Rights Campaign, in 2023 there have been more than 525 such bills introduced in 41 states, with more than 75 bills signed into law as of June 5. In Florida — the state that became known for its “Don’t Say Gay” law — just last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that banned gender transition care for minors and prohibited public school employees from asking children their preferred pronouns.

Persons: There’s, —, Ron DeSantis, Kelley Robinson Organizations: Pride, Human Rights, Gov Locations: Florida

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) said over 70 bills it considers anti-LGBTQ were passed in statehouses this legislative session, double last year's previous record. The number of such bills introduced has steadily increased in recent years, growing from 115 in 2015, HRC said. HRC President Kelley Robinson named Florida, Tennessee and Texas as the most hostile states, saying Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had "weaponized his position." Twenty states now ban gender-affirming care, and 32 states introduced such legislation this year, HRC said. HRC praised Michigan and Minnesota for expanding LGBTQ rights in 2022-23.

Persons: Florida's, Octavio Jones, Kelley Robinson, Ron DeSantis, " Robinson, Jeremy Tedesco, Jeremy Redfern, Daniel Trotta, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Tuesday, Rights, HRC, Republican, Alliance Defending, Heritage Foundation, Family, Promoters, Michigan, Thomson Locations: Tallahassee , Florida, U.S, United States, statehouses, Florida , Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Minnesota

☆ Human Rights Campaign declares a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For the first time in its four-decade history, America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization has declared a national state of emergency for members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Human Rights Campaign said Tuesday. “LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency. The historic announcement – just a few days into Pride Month – follows “an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023,” according to the Human Rights Campaign, as violence against LGBTQ people continues and the community’s rights have become a flashpoint in the 2024 election. They include pronoun refusal laws, forced student outing laws, anti-drag bans and “don’t say LGBTQ+” laws. But even as Human Rights Campaign trumpets warnings, the group insists it will not back down from any attempts to stymie the community: “LGBTQ+ people nationwide will not be erased – not now, not ever,” the group said.

Persons: Kelley Robinson, “, Ron DeSantis, who’s, “ don’t, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds Organizations: CNN, Human, Human Rights, GOP Gov, American Civil Liberties Union, Station, Capitol, Getty Locations: Florida, Colorado, Washington , DC, AFP

☆ Target is being held hostage by an anti-LGBTQ campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —During every Pride Month in June for the past decade, Target has sold merchandise for LGBTQ customers, employees and allies. But this year, Target faced an anti-LGBTQ campaign that went viral on social media. Fueled by far-right personalities and on social media platforms, the anti-trans campaign spread misleading information about the company’s Pride Month products and its business practices. It won’t be worth whatever they think they’ll gain.”The campaign became hostile, with threats levied against Target employees and instances of damaged products and displays in stores. Meeting demandTarget became the focus of the anti-LGBTQ campaign’s ire for its Pride Month merchandise, but the campaign misrepresented Target’s ambitions.

Persons: ”, Matt Walsh, Kelley Robinson, Bud Light, Yoram, “ It’s, Brian Cornell, Fortune, Erik Carnell, ” Target, Gavin Newsom, Sarah Kate Ellis, Tim Calkins, Ron DeSantis, “, Paul Argenti Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target, Twitter, Human Rights, Pride, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Gallup, ”, Wall Street Journal, GLAAD, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Companies, Nike, Disney, Florida Gov, Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger, Dartmouth University’s Tuck School of Business Locations: New York, California, statehouses

But now there is a discrepancy about, 'Is sex gender and can I change it?' Major medical and psychological associations endorse gender-affirming care and say transgender identities should be respected, while conservative groups claim that children are too easily allowed to transition. While researchers say sex generally refers to physiological characteristics and gender is more a social construct, when it comes to federal civil rights law, they are essentially the same. "By defining sex so narrowly, you are excluding LGBTQ people from bringing claims in state court based on discrimination on the basis of sex," said Sarah Warbelow, HRC's legal director. The laws also stand to limit nontransgender people who have a discrimination claim based on sex stereotyping, Warbelow said.

☆ FDA proposal would allow gay men in monogamous relationships to donate blood
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Under the guidelines proposed on Friday, gay and bisexual men who are in monogamous relationships would be allowed to donate blood. The FDA had imposed a lifetime ban on men who have sex with men donating blood during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. The agency had eased the ban in 2015, allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood if they had not had sex in the previous year. The American Medical Association had criticized the FDA's restrictions on gay men donating as discriminatory. Those taking injections to prevent HIV would not be allowed to donate blood for two years following their most recent injection.

☆ Fact Check-U.S. Rep. Katie Porter did not say pedophilia was an ‘identity’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Comments by California Representative Katie Porter during a congressional hearing on anti-LGBTQ violence on Dec. 14 have been misrepresented online. A congressional hearing on Wednesday by the U.S. House Oversight Committee explored anti-LGBTQ violence following the deadly shooting at the Club Q nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last month where five people were killed and another 22 wounded. Porter did not say that pedophilia is an identity.”VERDICTFalse. This video does not show Rep. Katie Porter saying that pedophilia is an identity. Full footage of her remarks at a congressional hearing on Dec. 14 shows she was condemning content online that labels members of the LGBTQ+ community as “groomers” or “pedophiles.”This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ After the Colorado Springs attack, LGBTQ people are furious at the rhetoric targeting them
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

And she’s angry with people who have spread anti-LGBTQ rhetoric online — some for years — leading up to the shooting. Courtesy Elizabeth Pixie / Snapchat“They can call it religion, they can call it politics, they can call it saving people,” Pixie, who lives in Colorado Springs, said. The suspect was apprehended by police after being injured in the attack and is in the hospital. James Davis said the attack at Club Q was a result of "cause and effect." Parker Grey used to be a regular at Club Q but stopped going out of safety concerns.

☆ Human Rights Campaign, largest U.S. LGBTQ advocacy group, names new president
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Human Rights Campaign announced Tuesday that Kelley Robinson will serve as its ninth president — the first Black queer woman to lead the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. Robinson will step into the role a year after HRC fired its previous president, Alphonso David, who was the organization's first Black president. David allegedly consulted with the governor's office in December 2020, while president of HRC, the report said. David maintained that he wasn’t aware of allegations of sexual harassment against the governor during his time as chief counsel. In February, David sued the organization in federal court, alleging that he was underpaid and then terminated “because he is Black."

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