News
Carney: Brewer ‘did the right thing’ by vetoing anti-gay bill
But controversy won’t prompt Obama to sign ENDA executive order
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer “did the right thing” by vetoing a controversial bill that would have enabled discrimination in her state against LGBT people.
In response to question from Sirius XM Radio’s Jared Rizzi, Carney articulated Obama’s support for Brewer’s veto of SB 1062, which would have enabled individuals and businesses to refuse services to individuals ā including LGBT people ā if engaging in that act violated a person’s religious beliefs.
“As I have noted, we don’t weigh in as a rule on every piece of legislation, but the president does believe that Gov. Brewer did the right thing by vetoing this bill,” Carney said.
Prior to the veto, Carney said the legislation sounds “pretty intolerant,” but didn’t offer full-throated opposition to the measure as no LGBT advocates called on Obama to weigh in. However, following a national outcry, including opposition from business leaders, Republican lawmakers and LGBT advocates,Ā Brewer vetoed the legislation on Wednesday.
Carney’s words mark the first time the White House itself has spoken out on the Arizona bill in the aftermath’s of Brewer’s veto, although Labor Secretary Thomas Perez talked about it Thursday during an interview on MSNBC, saying the legislature’s approval of the measure was “personally baffling” as he renewed the administration’s call for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
But as the Daily Beast’s Scott Bixby notes, anti-LGBT discrimination is still allowed in Arizona even in the aftermath of Brewer’s veto. Arizona state law affords no protection to LGBT people either in public accommodations or employment, and no federal protections exist explicitly barring employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Under questioning from the Washington Blade, Carney said he had no updates when asked if President Obama sees an opportunity to sign a heavily sought-after executive order barring anti-LGBT job bias among federal contractorsĀ following the outcry over LGBT discrimination that lead to the Arizona veto.
“I don’t have any update on that matter,” Carney said. “We, of course, hope very much that further action will be taken in Congress on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill that if it became law would be far more comprehensive in its effect. But, as a general matter ā and I said this about the Arizona bill last week ā the president believes that all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity should be treated fairly and equally with dignity and respect.”
Still, Carney went on to acknowledge that the national outcry over the proposed legislation was significant and said Brewer’s veto was symbolic of the country’s progress on LGBT issues.
“And it was gratifying to see Americans from all walks of life, including business leaders, faith leaders, regardless of party, speak out against this measure ā and it’s further evidence that the American people fundamentally believe in equality, and it’s time to get on the right side of history,” Carney said. “And as I mentioned before, I think we all note with pride and amazement the progress that this country has made on these issues in recent years, and I think this veto reflects on that progress, and on the sentiment of the American progress.”
When the Blade pointed that an executive order would be a much quicker way to capitalize on the symbolic nature of the veto because the legislative process in Congress would take longer, Carney once again turned to ENDA.
“Again, I don’t have new information to provide to you on a hypothetical executive order,” Carney said. “When I can tell you is we do support legislation that would enshrine in law the non-discrimination approach the president believes is the right approach for the country.”
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.
āAccessing mental health care and support has become increasingly difficult in nearly every state in the country,āĀ said Butler, who is the first Black LGBTQ senator. āBarriers 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.
āMental 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.āĀ
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. mayorĀ honors 10th anniversary of Team Rayceen Productions
LGBTQ entertainment, advocacy organization praised for āvital workā
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.
āWhereas 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,ā the proclamation states.
The proclamation adds that through its YouTube Channel, Team Rayceen Productions created a platform for āBlack 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.ā
It also praises Team Rayceen Productions for its partnership with the Mayorās Office of LGBTQ Affairs in helping to produce āexciting events like the District of Pride talent showcase held each June and the iconic 17th Street High Heel Race celebrated in October.ā
āWhereas 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,ā the proclamation continues.
āNow, 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,ā it concludes.
āWe thank Mayor Bowser for this special proclamation, which highlights where it all began, with the Black LGBTQIA+ community of Washington, D.C,ā Team Rayceen Productions says in a statement. āStarting 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 Mayorās Office of LGBTQ Affairs, we are #dcproud of what we have accomplished in the Nationās Capital,ā 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 ā as online co-hosts, event staff, performers, DJs, photographers, and more,ā 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 āderisive, 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 āit 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 ātext, 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.