“The speed with which modern society has adapted to accommodate the world’s vast spectrum of gender and sexual identities may be the most important cultural metamorphosis of our time. Facebook, which can be seen as a kind of social census, now offers nearly 60 different gender options, including ‘questioning’ and ‘bigender’ — or no gender at all. […] Plainly, we are in the midst of a profoundly exhilarating revolution. And ‘queer’ has come to serve as a linguistic catchall for this broadening spectrum of identities, so much so that people who consider themselves straight, but reject heteronormativity, might even call themselves queer. But when everyone can be queer, is anyone?”
“[A coalition of national LGBT equality organizations will launch] a groundbreaking ad depicting the challenges faced by transgender people in accessing public restrooms—and highlighting the lack of state and federal nondiscrimination protections for transgender people—that will have its national television debut on FOX News Channel next Thursday, July 21, during the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The ad will air nationwide again on MSNBC during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia one week later.”
“The 60-second ad, which will be seen all across the country, features a transgender woman from North Carolina, where HB2 passed earlier this year. HB2 makes it illegal for transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings that match the gender they live every day, making them susceptible to even higher levels of harassment and violence.”
“’As Americans get to know transgender people as their neighbors, coworkers and friends, they come to understand that all of us, including transgender people, should have an opportunity, free from the fear of discrimination, to provide for ourselves and our families,’ said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation. ‘This groundbreaking ad will help build much-needed empathy at a time when transgender people face very serious violence and discrimination.’”
“The national debate between LGBT rights and anti-LGBT discrimination in the name of ‘religious freedom’ was on full display Tuesdayduring a congressional hearing on the First Amendment Defense Act.”
“The House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform held the three-and-a-half hour hearing on the federal legislation on the one-month anniversary of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.”
“Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chair of the committee, said during his opening statement he convened the hearing because free exercise of religion ‘has been and still is the fundamental part of the foundation of our nation.'”
“Opponents of the First Amendment Defense Act say it would allow businesses to withhold benefits from LGBT employees, allow companies to deny time off to an employee to care for a same-sex spouse and permit housing discrimination against same-sex couples.”
“North Carolina’s House Bill 2 captured headlines across the country over the past three months, but interviews with voters and analysis by election experts indicates it’s unlikely to help many candidates capture public office this fall.”
“‘The thing right now that will drive voter turnout will be the intensity level around the presidential race,’ said Paul Shumaker, a consultant who works for Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, among others.”
“During a news event this spring, Shumaker showed off data about what happened when voters were asked about their biggest frustration with government. House Bill 2 ranked low, garnering only a few mentions in the Raleigh and Charlotte markets.”
“Based on that and other surveys, Shumaker said, people who either passionately supported or opposed the law were likely already voters and had already a well-formed political allegiance. For example, it’s unlikely that someone opposed to House Bill 2 was going to support conservative Republicans in any case.”
Editor’s note: While A.G. Hood will not appeal the ruling, Gov. Bryant has appealed and the case is likely to appear before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“After nearly two weeks of hinting, Attorney General Jim Hood finally confirmed Wednesday that he would break with Gov. Phil Bryant and not appeal U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves’ decision to strike down House Bill 1523.”
“Hood also backed off of his earlier promise to appeal a separate decision in which Reeves had indicated he would invalidate the part of House Bill 1523 allowing clerks to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He now says he ‘may appeal’ the federal court’s decision in this case. Both cases would go before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.”
“In a nine-paragraph statement Hood said he had grown tired of fighting for what he called “an empty bill” that had brought months of negative attention to the state.”
“A Virginia school board asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to block a transgender male from using the boys restroom when he returns to school in September until the high court decides whether to review the case.”
“The Gloucester County School Board filed an emergency appeal with Chief Justice John Roberts in an attempt to prevent Gavin Grimm from using the bathroom that matches his gender identity when school resumes this fall, saying it will ‘put parents’ constitutional rights in jeopardy.'”
“Grimm was born female but identifies as male. He was allowed to use the boys restrooms at the school for several weeks in 2014.”
“The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Grimm in April, saying the federal judge who previously rejected Grimm’s Title IX discrimination claim ignored a U.S. Department of Education rule that transgender students in public schools must be allowed to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The court reinstated Grimm’s Title IX claim and sent it back to the district court for further consideration.”
“Grimm’s case has been closely watched since North Carolina enacted a law banning transgender people from using public restrooms that correspond to their gender identity. Several cases over the law are pending in federal courts in North Carolina.”
“U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder will hear arguments on Monday, August 1, on a motion for a preliminary injunction that asks the court to block the provisions of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 that target transgender people for discrimination in single-sex facilities while a legal challenge proceeds through the court system.”
“The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of North Carolina, Lambda Legal and the law firm of Jenner & Block are representing six LGBT North Carolinians and members of the ACLU of North Carolina in their federal court challenge to House Bill 2.”
A Q&A with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic’s Jenny Black on PPSA’s Trans Services By Paul Blest, INDY Week“For transgender people in the South who are looking to transition, accessing the health care they need can be daunting. Hormone replacement therapy can run around $1,500 per year, and some of the services associated with it may not be covered by health insurance. What’s more, some doctors are not always sensitive to the needs of people who are transitioning.”
Planned Parenthood has tried to fill that gap. Hormone replacement therapy is now offered at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Asheville, and soon will be available in Charlotte as well. The nonprofit has also updated its language and programming to be more inclusive.”
“‘We’ve reduced our costs quite a bit by removing the barriers that are often in place with other providers,’ says Jenny Black, PPSA’s president and CEO. ‘So we don’t require psych exams or other costly lab workups, which reduces the cost quite a bit. It’s my understanding that a lot of these services aren’t covered by insurance, making reducing those out-of-pocket expenses important.'”
“The INDY spoke with Black about PPSA’s services for transgender people—and issues associated with offering them in a state whose government is openly hostile toward LGBTQ rights.”
Editor’s note: El Cambio, an organization featured in this clip, is a recent recipient of a Southern Equality Fund (SEF) grant from the Campaign for Southern Equality to support queer youth in NC. Read more about their work and that of the other grantees here.
“Growing up in rural North Carolina, [Moises] Serrano fell in love with a country that refused to recognize his full humanity—both as an undocumented immigrant and as a gay man. The documentary project “Forbidden” follows Serrano’s personal journey as an activist fighting for the American Dream. Serrano was a model student even securing a full-ride scholarship to attend Sarah Laurence College. However for most of his life, Serrano has had to keep his personal life private. He is gay and was afraid of what his neighbors and colleagues would say about him, or even if they could be compelled to hurt him for his sexual orientation.”
“Today, Serrano has made strides to be more open to the public and he is in a long-term relationship while still fighting against changing immigration policies and governmental referendums to secure citizenship, Serrano refuses to give up the fight to be equal. As debates rage on about LGBT rights, immigration, and violence toward LGBT people, Serrano stands at the forefront and wants to effect change, not only in North Carolina, but the world.”
during a congressional hearing on the First Amendment Defense Act.”
