News
National news in brief: November 18
Mass. passes law barring gender identity employment discrimination, Catholic Charities ceases providing foster services in Ill., Mich. poised to pass anti-bullying bill
L.A. LGBT Center celebrates 40 years
LOS ANGELES — Saturday, one of the nation’s oldest LGBT institutions celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Westin Boneventure Hotel, honoring Chaz Bono, gay actor Neil Patrick Harris and his partner, celebrity chef David Burtka.
According to Karen Ocamb of Frontiers L.A., the ceremony was hosted by comedian Leslie Jordan and included presentations by Center Board member and Queer As Folk actor Peter Paige, “Glee” star and board member Jane Lynch and actor David Arquette, whose sister is trans actress Alexis Arquette, presenting an award to fellow “Dancing With The Stars” contestant, Chaz Bono.
“Today we are living in an increasingly uncivil society. Gone are the optimistic aspirations for a New Frontier or a Great Society that would conquer the problems of ignorance and prejudice and eliminate injustice,” said Center CEO Lorri Jean. “The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center stands in stark contrast to all of that.”
Mass. legislature passes trans rights bill
BOSTON — After passing in the lower house Tuesday 95-58, and passing by voice vote in the Senate Wed., a bill that would bar employment and housing discrimination — but leaves out public accommodation discrimination — for transgender residents of Massachusetts passed the Senate in a voice vote on Wednesday. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has said he would sign it.
It’s a bittersweet victory for some Massachusetts trans rights activists, who have criticized the lack of public accommodations language in the bill.
“We want complete protections for transgender people – including in public accommodations – but also know that in order to get there, we cannot walk away from the legislature’s first step toward achieving those full protections,” GLAD Transgender Rights Project director Jennifer Levi said in a statement.
Calif. FAIR Education law takes effect Jan. 1
SACRAMENTO — The law that mandates schools include in the curriculum important figures from the LGBT community and disabled community will take effect in seven weeks.
Opponents of the FAIR Education Act, known as SB 48, attempted to derail the legislation by collecting signatures toward a “people’s veto” ballot measure. That effort failed, and schools are now gearing up to comply with the mandate.
“Our history is more complete when we recognize the contributions of people from all backgrounds and walks of life,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said after the legislation was signed into law in July.
Supporters of the law say it will improve the self-esteem of LGBT young people and possibly curb bullying.
Ill. Catholic Charities ends foster care services
CHICAGO — Catholic Charities of Illinois has announced that it will no longer provide foster care services in Illinois as three Catholic dioceses dropped lawsuits against the state seeking to skirt state law mandating same-sex couples in civil unions be allowed in the foster care system.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the dioceses of Joliet, Springfield and Belleville sued the state in an attempt to avoid recognizing same-sex couples. However, after the state forced 2,000 foster cases to transition to non-religious agencies, and judges refused to halt the process before the Nov. 30 deadline, the dioceses agreed to the state’s terms and end adoption and foster care placement services in Illinois.
Secular agencies in the regions serviced by the dioceses have already agreed to assist in the transition.
‘Religious exemption’ in Michigan bullying bill dropped
LANSING, Mich. — Controversial language in a Michigan anti-bullying bill that would exempt from punishment those expressing “sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction,” will be stricken from the Senate bill after outrage from LGBT and Muslim groups.
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Paving the way to make the bill easier to pass, State Senator Rick Jones agreed last week to drop the language in Matt’s Law, a bill named for a young Michigan man who committed suicide in 2002 after severe bullying and harassment. Matt’s father, Kevin Epling joined with leaders from Equality Michigan and the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in denouncing the bill.
“That one paragraph, though, negates most of the things that we tried to put in,” Epling told ABCNews in regard to the religious exemption.
Michigan is one of only three states without an anti-bullying law.
Congress
Sens. Butler, Smith introduce Pride in Mental Health Act to aid at-risk LGBTQ youth
Bill is backed by Democrats in both chambers
U.S. Sens. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced the Pride in Mental Health Act on Thursday, legislation that would strengthen resources in mental health and crisis intervention for at-risk LGBTQ youth.
“Accessing mental health care and support has become increasingly difficult in nearly every state in the country,” said Butler, who is the first Black LGBTQ senator. “Barriers get even more difficult if you are a young person who lacks a supportive community or is fearful of being outed, harassed, or threatened.”
“I am introducing the Pride in Mental Health Act to help equip LGBTQ+ youth with the resources to get the affirming and often life-saving care they need,” she said.
“Mental health care is health care,” said Smith. “And for some LGBTQ+ youth, receiving access to the mental health care they need can mean the difference between living in safety and dignity, and suffering alone through discrimination, bullying, and even violence.”
The Minnesota senator added that data shows LGBTQ students are experiencing “an epidemic” of “anxiety, depression and other serious mental health conditions.”
For example, a 2023 study by The Trevor Project found that 54 percent of LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of depression, compared to 35 percent of their heterosexual counterparts.
Joining the senators as cosponsors are Democratic U.S. Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Bob Casey (Penn.), Peter Welch (Vt.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Cory Booker (N.J.), and Tammy Baldwin (Wis.). Baldwin was the first LGBTQ woman elected to the House in 1999 and the first LGBTQ woman elected to the Senate in 2013.
Leading the House version of the bill are LGBTQ Democratic U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids (Kan.), Eric Sorensen (Ill.), and Ritchie Torres (N.Y.), along with 163 other House members.
Organizations that have backed the Pride in Mental Health Act include the Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association (NEA), National Center for Transgender Equality, Seattle Indian Health Board, PFLAG National, The Trevor Project, American Psychological Association, Whitman-Walker Institute, InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Mental Health America, and Center for Law and Social Policy.
District of Columbia
D.C. mayor honors 10th anniversary of Team Rayceen Productions
LGBTQ entertainment, advocacy organization praised for ‘vital work’
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser today issued an official proclamation declaring Monday, March 18, 2024, as Team Rayceen Day in honor of the local LGBTQ entertainment and advocacy organization Team Rayceen Productions named after its co-founder Rayceen Pendarvis.
“Whereas Rayceen, along with Team Rayceen Productions co-founder, Zar, have spent 10 years advocating for the Black LGBTQI+ community using various forms including in-person events, social media, and YouTube,” the proclamation states.
The proclamation adds that through its YouTube Channel, Team Rayceen Productions created a platform for “Black LGBTQIA+ individuals to discuss various topics including spotlighting nonprofit organizations and small businesses, voter registration and participation, the state of LGBTQIA+ rights and resources in D.C, gender equality and equity, and the amplification of opportunities to bring the community together.”
It also praises Team Rayceen Productions for its partnership with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs in helping to produce “exciting events like the District of Pride talent showcase held each June and the iconic 17th Street High Heel Race celebrated in October.”
“Whereas I thank Team Rayceen Productions for its vital and necessary work and am #DCProud to wish you all the best as you continue to support Black LGBTQIA+ residents across all 8 Wards,” the proclamation continues.
“Now, therefore, I, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., do hereby proclaim March 18, 2024, as TEAM RAYCEEN DAY in Washington, D.C. and do commit this observance to all Washingtonians,” it concludes.
“We thank Mayor Bowser for this special proclamation, which highlights where it all began, with the Black LGBTQIA+ community of Washington, D.C,” Team Rayceen Productions says in a statement. “Starting with The Ask Rayceen Show, Reel Affirmation, and events with D.C. Public Library to Art All Night, Silver Pride by Whitman-Walker, and events with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, we are #dcproud of what we have accomplished in the Nation’s Capital,” the statement says.
“For TEAM RAYCEEN DAY, we thank the diverse group of individuals who have made everything we have done possible by volunteering their time and talents over the past decade – as online co-hosts, event staff, performers, DJs, photographers, and more,” says the statement.
U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court declines to hear case over drag show at Texas university
Students argue First Amendment protects performance
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear a First Amendment case over a public university president’s refusal to allow an LGBTQ student group to host a drag show on campus.
The group’s application was denied without the justices providing their reasoning or issuing dissenting opinions, as is custom for such requests for emergency review.
When plaintiffs sought to organize the drag performance to raise money for suicide prevention in March 2023, West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler cancelled the event, citing the Bible and other religious texts.
The students sued, arguing the move constituted prior restraint and viewpoint-based discrimination, in violation of the First Amendment. Wendler had called drag shows “derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny,” adding that “a harmless drag show” was “not possible.”
The notoriously conservative Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who former President Donald Trump appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, ruled against the plaintiffs in September, writing that “it is not clearly established that all drag shows are inherently expressive.”
Kacsmaryk further argued that the High Court’s precedent-setting opinions protecting stage performances and establishing that “speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend” was inconsistent with constitutional interpretation based on “text, history and tradition.”
Plaintiffs appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is by far the most conservative of the nation’s 12 appellate circuit courts. They sought emergency review by the Supreme Court because the 5th Circuit refused to fast-track their case, so arguments were scheduled to begin after the date of their drag show.
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