SGN Nov 8, 2019 - Part 1

Mo Rocca to appear at Town Hall on Nov. 12

Seattle Gay News

Election 2019: Money can’t buy you love Feds sue Gilead over PrEP patents

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Federal attorneys filed suit on November 8 against Gilead Sciences, the pharmaceutical giant that makes and markets PrEP medications Truvada and Descovy.

According to the lawsuit, Gilead infringed on patents owned by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and refused attempts by HHS to license its patents and collect royalties.

see GILEAD page 13

candidates

Most ever in an odd-numbered election year

WASHINGTON, DC (November 6, 2019) – More openly LGBTQ candidates won elected office in 2019 than in any other odd-numbered election year in United States history. As of November 6, at 1:30 p.m. ET, a total of 144 openly LGBTQ candidates won election out of the 382

known openly LGBTQ candidates who ran throughout the year. Last night alone, 99 of the 200 known openly LGBTQ candidates on the ballot won their races – with six still undecided and six candidates heading to a

see LGBTQ CANDIDATES page 5

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Amazon wasted more than $1 million on Seattle’s City Council election. That’s the inescapable conclusion as the SGN goes to press after three days of ballot counting.

Amazon’s number one target, District 3 incumbent Kshama Sawant, now trails her opponent, Egan Orion, by only 739 votes after lagging behind by almost 2,000 on election night. Late voters – who are historsee SEATTLE ELECTION page 4

BREAKING NEWS: Lambda Legal decries execution of South Dakota gay man sentenced to die by jury tainted with antigay bias

SIOUX FALLS, SD (November 5, 2019) – Last night, Charles Rhines, a South Dakota gay man, was put to death by lethal injection after the US Supreme Court rejected a final motion that would have allowed Rhines to bring new evidence to the court showing that antigay bias may

have motivated the jury to sentence him to death. Recently, it was discovered that jurors suggested that sentencing Mr. Rhines to life in prison with other men would be “sending him where he wants to go.”

Seattle Gay News

POZSeattle to host Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Social

POZSeattle is pleased to present our Annual POZSeattle Thanksgiving Potluck Social on Wednesday, November 13th from 6-7:45pm at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave @ E Pine St).

Please join us in the downstairs bar for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with TURKEY prepared by and served up by your POZSeattle volunteers and board members with SALADS, SIDES & DESSERTS provided by POZSeattle members and guests.

This is not only a great event for our community, but it gives us a chance to expand, meet new people, experience a different environment and atmosphere.

Since this is our annual Holiday Potluck, we ask you to bring SALADS, SIDES & DESSERTS – like Thanksgiving turkey dressing, potatoes, gravy, veggies, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and all the fixins.

Please join us for socializing, to catchup with old friends, to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun.

We ask a $5 donation per plate for this community dinner to help with our costs.

You can always give more. We are fully self-supported by your donations.

No one is ever turned away due to lack of funds.

Beverages will be provided as always, by The Cuff at regular prices.

Again, this event is for all HIV-Positive men and women and our friends, family, and support networks (HIV-Positive or not) regardless of age, shape, size, origin, citizenship, color, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity or any other protected characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

POZSeattle is a social community organization run for and by Seattle-area HIVpositive folks, their family, friends, and support network, that is committed to plan-

ning and promoting

SEATTLE ELECTION

continued from cover

ically younger, poorer, and more progressive than early voters – have broken decisively for Sawant.

If Sawant gets a similar share of the ballots yet to be counted, she will win reelection. In her first go at the City Council in 2013, she trailed incumbent Richard Conlin for several days before catching up and finally winning the seat by 1,640 votes.

Lisa Herbold, arguably Amazon’s number two target, leads Amazon-backed Phil Tavel by 1,848 votes for reelection to her District 1 seat. Herbold has been ahead since election night.

In District 2, labor activist Tammy Morales is also leading Amazon’s candidate, Mark Solomon, by 2,885 votes.

In District 6, Dan Strauss is riding his union endorsements to a win over former

one-term City Council member Heidi Wills. Strauss now holds a 2,374-vote lead over Wills. Her previous political career crashed and burned in 2003 when she was caught taking campaign contributions from reputed mobsters in exchange for a favorable vote on a zoning variance for their strip club. This year she was backed by Amazon rather than gangsters.

In District 7, union-endorsed Andrew Lewis now leads Amazon-backed former police chief Jim Pugel by 365 votes after trailing by 202 on election night.

Debra Juarez, the District 5 incumbent, was endorsed both by labor unions and Amazon. She was always expected to win reelection, and she currently leads her opponent, anti-density activist Ann Sattler, by 4,251 votes.

The only casualty of Amazon’s spending spree was Shaun Scott in District 4, who trails business-friendly Alex Pedersen by 2,371 votes.

Farewell, Larry Gossett

The other significant election news is the apparent end of Larry Gossett’s long and historic political career.

Gossett fought back from a disastrous showing in the August primary, in which political newcomer Girmay Zahilay beat him by almost two-to-one, but he has still fallen short. He currently trails Zahilay by 8,704 votes.

Gossett, a Black Panther and founder of the Black Student Union in his youth, was first elected to the County Council in 1993. Since then, he’s been reelected seven times, never getting less than 80% of the generalelection vote in a district that includes the University District, Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Southeast Seattle.

Zahilay, an immigrant from Ethiopia via Sudan, grew up in Seattle’s public housing before attending Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania Law School. Zahilay raised more money than

any candidate for the County Council, and about $17,000 more than Gossett.

Federal Way gives renters rights

Meanwhile, voters in Federal Way are passing Initiative 19-001, aimed at ensuring fair rights for renters in Federal Way, in early election results.

Approximately 55% of residents voted in favor of the measure, while about 45% voted against it, according to preliminary King County Elections results.

If it passes, the measure would require landlords to prove just cause for evicting tenants, ensure that family members may live together, bar retaliatory evictions, and protect members of the military, first responders, seniors, health care providers, and educators from discriminatory evictions.

Seattle Parks and Recreation and Freeway Park Association encourage the community to participate in the future of Freeway Park

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Freeway Park Association invite the community to participate in the Freeway Park Improvement project. Please visit the website www.seattle.gov/parks/restorefreewaypark to review project information and take a short survey. Your feedback is important and will be incorporated into the design for the future repairing, restoring and enhancing of Freeway Park. The survey closes November 27 at 5pm.

SPR and the Freeway Park Association would like to thank everyone who attended the Open House in October and we encourage those who missed the event to watch it on the Seattle Channel (http://seattlechannel. org/videos?videoid=x108063). The program features the presentation of the project by Walker Macy followed by a lively moder-

ated panel discussion with Randy Gregg, Portland Parks Foundation Executive Director; Alison Hirsch, USC School of Architecture Director of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism; Kenneth Helphand, University of Oregon Professor Emeritus in Landscape Architecture; Charles A. Birnbaum, President + CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and Iain Robertson, Associate Professor and Adjunct Faculty, University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Designed by Lawrence Halprin and constructed in 1976, Freeway Park (700 Seneca St.) was the first park to ever be built over an interstate highway. The park is a respite from the city’s urban environment and is a result of community activism, forward thinking, and Seattle’s civic process.

SPR has $10 million in funding from the Washington State Convention Center Expansion Project as part of the public benefit package associated with the Convention Center expansion. The funding will repair, restore and enhance Freeway Park. Of the $10 million, $750,000 is for activation within the park and $9,250,000 is dedicated to capital improvements which includes actual construction (approximately $6 million), as well as design and project management, permitting, sales tax and contingencies. The initial scope of the capital improvements is based on the Finding Freeway Park concept plan, produced by the Freeway Park Association, and identifies infrastructure upgrades, lighting, wayfinding and possibly a new restroom. The design phase is expected to be com-

plete with all necessary permits/approvals and construction bid documents by June 2021.

For additional questions about the project please contact David Graves, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at 206-684-7048 or David.Graves@seattle.gov or visit http:// www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/currentprojects/freeway-park-improvements.

In 2019, Freeway Park Association celebrated 25 years as community stewards of Freeway Park. To learn about all they do and to get involved please visit https:// www.freewayparkassociation.org/.

Courtesy of Seattle Parks & Recreation and the Freeway Park Association

LGBTQ CANDIDATES

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runoff. Of the 382 known openly LGBTQ candidates who ran in 2019, 176 were endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

Below are key takeaways and a demographic and informational breakdown of the 382 openly LGBTQ candidates who ran in 2019. A statement from Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, is also included below. The most up-to-date information on the state of the races for candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund can be found at victoryfund. org/results2019.

37.7% of known openly LGBTQ candidates won their races throughout 2019 (including Tuesday night), and 63.1% of Victory Fund–endorsed candidates were successful.

In 2019, LGBTQ men ran in much higher numbers than LGBTQ women, yet the women candidates won at a higher rate (46.2% to 36.9%).

56.3% of known out trans women who ran for office in 2019 won their races. In 2019, 83.2% of LGBTQ candidates ran as Democrats and 40.3% won, whereas 2.4% of LGBTQ candidates ran as Republicans and just 33.3% won.

Statement from Mayor Annise Parker President and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund

“By knocking on doors and speaking to the issues most pressing in their communities, LGBTQ candidates are winning elections in numbers and in parts of the country thought unthinkable a decade or two ago. LGBTQ people are in every community –we are people of color, women, immigrants, and people with disabilities – and we come from families both liberal and conservative. This beautiful diversity provides an opportunity to connect on some level with every single voter in America. That is the reason LGBTQ candidates are winning in unprecedented numbers, and this will only accelerate in the years ahead.”

Courtesy of the LGBTQ Victory Fund

RHINES

Following the news of Rhines’ tragic execution, Ethan Rice, Lambda Legal’s Fair Courts Project senior attorney, made the following statement:

“No person in our society should be put to death. Cases where bias is a factor in jury decision-making show exactly why the death penalty is unjust and should not be maintained in our society.

“Mr. Rhines’ case represents one of the most extreme forms anti-LGBT bias can take. It’s evident that the he was sentenced to death because he was a gay man. We are deeply troubled that the court chose not to review his case today when it is clear that the constitu-

tional right to a fair trial must include whether jury deliberations involved bias.

“If our legal system allows antigay bias in jury deliberations, the integrity of our entire court system is undermined. The death penalty is an irreversible and harsh misuse of government power. When it is applied in a biased manner, courts should take every possible opportunity to correct that wrong. In this case, no court has ever reviewed the evidence of antigay bias that occurred during jury deliberations in Mr. Rhines’ sentencing.”

Richard Saenz, senior attorney and criminal justice and police misconduct strategist, said, “Lambda Legal opposes the death penalty precisely because we deal with the legal system’s fallibility and the effects of bias on court decisions every day.

We are saddened by Charles Rhines’ death, and we will continue to fight for fair courts [and] push for more safeguards in the legal system to preserve the courts and weed out jury bias and discrimination against LGBT people and everyone living with HIV.”

Background

Last year, Lambda Legal and five other civil rights organizations filed a friend-ofthe-court brief following the discovery of comments from jurors suggesting that sentencing Mr. Rhines to life in prison with other men would be “sending him where he wants to go.”

The brief provided information about the long and painful history of discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in the United States and asked the court

to issues a certificate of appealability to Mr. Rhines to allow him to present evidence of juror bias.

More information on the case and the amicus brief is available at www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/rhines-v-young and www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/ rhines_sd_20180802_brief-of-amici-curiae.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

Courtesy of Lambda Legal

Gay man asked US Supreme Court to stay execution and order district court to hear new evidence of jury’s antigay bias

WASHINGTON, DC (November 1, 2019) – Attorneys for Charles Rhines filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus with the US Supreme Court today and asked the court to direct a federal district court to hear new evidence of some jurors’ antigay bias. New evidence shows that some of the jurors who sentenced Mr. Rhines to death knew that he was gay and thought he would enjoy life in prison with other men if they did not vote for death. No court has ever considered the new evidence on the merits or judged the constitutionality of Mr. Rhines’ death sentence in light of it. He is scheduled to be executed during a weeklong window beginning Sunday, November 3, 2019.

Mr. Rhines’ petition for writ of habeas corpus can be viewed at https://tinyurl. com/yxmpkmxs.

“Antigay prejudice should never have any role in sentencing a man to death. It is shocking that no court has ever considered the new evidence of some jurors’ antigay statements. The US Supreme Court must intervene to make sure a court hears this evidence before Mr. Rhines is executed,” said Shawn Nolan, Chief, Capital Habeas Unit, Community Federal Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Rhines’ attorney.

During jury deliberations, the jury sent a note to the judge that indicated that Mr. Rhines’ status as a gay man had become a focal point for deliberations. The note asked whether, if sentenced to life without parole, Mr. Rhines would “be allowed to mix with the general inmate population,” be able to “brag about his crime to other inmates, especially new and/or young men,” [or] enjoy “conjugal visits” and asked other questions about Mr. Rhines’ access to other men while in prison. (Petition at p. 3.)

The new evidence comes in the form of three statements from jurors who served at Mr. Rhines’ capital trial and sentencing. One juror stated that the jury “knew that [Mr. Rhines] was a homosexual and thought that he shouldn’t be able to spend his life with men in prison.” Another juror recalled a juror commenting that “if he’s gay we’d be sending him where he wants to go if we voted for [life without parole].” A third juror confirmed that “[t]here was lots of discussion of homosexuality. There was a lot of disgust.” (Petition at p. 3.)

The new evidence confirms what the jury’s note strongly indicated at the time of Mr. Rhines’ sentencing: antigay bias played a role in some jurors’ decisions to impose the death penalty on Mr. Rhines. No court has ever held an evidentiary hearing or determined whether he suffered a violation of his right to an impartial jury.

In 2017, in Peña-Rodriguez v. Colorado, the US Supreme Court held that states must consider evidence that jurors

relied on racial stereotypes or animus to convict a defendant in a noncapital case.

Attorneys for Mr. Rhines argue that since the principles underlying Peña-Rodriguez apply to antigay prejudice, the court should allow Mr. Rhines the opportunity to present evidence that antigay bias was a factor in some jurors’ decisions to sentence him to death. The need for review is especially compelling because the antigay bias in Mr. Rhines’ case may have made the difference between life and death.

A broad array of prominent organizations have urged courts to intervene and/ or spoken out about the unfairness in this case, including the American Bar Association, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the American Civil Liberties Union, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the Human Rights Campaign, the National LGBT Bar Association, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

The US Supreme Court has the power to entertain an original habeas petition and transfer it to a federal district court. The Court exercised this power in Troy Davis’ case in 2009.

Also today, attorneys for Mr. Rhines petitioned the US Supreme Court to obtain the assistance of psychiatric and neuropsychological experts in support of his petition for reprieve and clemency. Congress created a right for indigent death-sentenced state prisoners to obtain legal and expert services in support of these requests. Mr. Rhines has sought the assistance of experts to attest to his cognitive and psychiatric impairments. Absent a court order, state corrections officials have for years refused to permit his experts to evaluate him in person. Mr. Rhines’ petition for certiorari can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y669t4m9.

Rhines case overview

Jurors who voted for death expressed a desire to prevent Mr. Rhines from serving a life sentence “with men in prison,” or enjoying “conjugal visits,” and made other statements that showed a disgust for his sexual orientation. Antigay bias should have no role in a capital jury’s life or death decision-making. (Petition at p. 3.)

Before trial, Mr. Rhines’ attorneys asked prospective jurors if they had any antigay bias that would prevent them from giving Mr. Rhines a fair trial. The jurors selected to hear his case said they could be fair and free of prejudice. The new evidence indicates otherwise. (Petition at p. 4.)

At trial, the jury heard through witnesses presented by the state that Mr. Rhines was gay and had relationships with other men. They were asked to choose between life in prison without parole and the death penalty for a murder committed when an employee surprised Mr. Rhines in the course of a commercial burglary. During their deliberations, the jury sent a note to the judge showing that deliberations had become infected with antigay stereotypes and prejudices. Among other things, the jurors asked whether Mr. Rhines would be allowed to:

• “mix with the general inmate population;”

• “create a group of followers or admirers;”

• “brag about his crime to other inmates, especially new and/or young men jailed for lesser crimes;”

• be “jailed alone or … have a cellmate;” or

• “marry or have conjugal visits.”

The judge did not address these questions and failed to head off the antigay bias that the questions revealed. The same day, about eight hours later, the jury voted to sentence Mr. Rhines to death. (Petition at pp. 5-6.)

New evidence confirms that Mr. Rhines’ sexual orientation was a focal point for jury deliberations. Three jurors have made statements indicating that antigay prejudices played a significant role in the jury’s decision to impose the death penalty instead of life without the possibility of parole. One juror stated that the jury “knew that [Mr. Rhines] was a homosexual and thought that he shouldn’t be able to spend his life with men in prison.” Another juror recalled a juror commenting that “if he’s gay, we’d be sending him where he wants to go if we voted for [life without parole].” A third juror confirmed that “[t]here was lots of discussion of homosexuality. There was a lot of disgust. This is a farming community… There were lots of folks who were like, ‘Ew, I can’t believe that.’” (Petition at pp. 3, 8.)

Mr. Rhines is seeking to prove that he was denied his 6th Amendment right to

an impartial capital sentencing jury. The court must not allow antigay bias to infect jury decision-making. In 2017, the court held that states must consider evidence that jurors relied on racial stereotypes or prejudice in convicting a defendant (Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado). The court explained that this ruling helped “ensure that our legal system remains capable of coming ever closer to the promise of equal treatment under the law that is so central to a functioning democracy.”

Pena-Rodriguez, where the court intervened to ensure the right to an impartial jury, was a noncapital case. The need for the court’s review is even more urgent in this case because Mr. Rhines is facing the death penalty. As Mr. Rhines’ petition states, “Antigay bias, if left unaddressed in this case, risks systemic harm to the justice system and, in particular, capital jury sentencing.” (Petition at p. 19.)

In Pena-Rodriguez, two jurors came forward to state that a third juror, during deliberations on guilt in a noncapital case, had expressed anti-Hispanic bias toward the defendant and the defendant’s alibi witness. The court held that the 6th Amendment required the trial court to consider the evidence that the juror relied on racial stereotypes or animus and the state rule against inquiring into jury deliberations had to give way. (Petition at p. 19.)

Racial bias in the determination of guilt was intolerable in Pena-Rodriguez, and so too was the antigay bias that infected Mr. Rhines’ sentencing decision. Prejudice based on sexual orientation is a long-standing and deeply rooted facet of American life. (Petition at p. 14.)

The court has acknowledged this reality. For example, the court recently observed that “[u]ntil the mid-20th century, samesex intimacy long had been condemned as immoral by the state itself in most Western nations, a belief often embodied in the criminal law” (Obergefell v. Hodges). The lower courts have recognized the harmful effects of antigay stereotypes, including that gays and lesbians are “promiscuous, …‘disease vectors’ or child molesters” (SmithKline Beecham Corp. v. Abbott Labs).

Juries have discretion, but they cannot be permitted to abuse their discretion by allowing racial and antigay prejudices to affect their votes. As the court has recognized, death is different than all other punishments and requires a greater degree of scrutiny. (Petition at pp. 27-28.) The stereotypes and disapproval of Mr. Rhines’ sexual orientation cannot stand as an influence on the jurors’ decision to sentence him to death.

Courtesy of Dupont Circle Communications

Danica Roem defeats anti-LGBTQ opponent in VA; is first out Transgender state legislator to win reelection

WASHINGTON, DC (November 5, 2019)

– Virginia Delegate Danica Roem –the first openly out-and-seated transgender state legislator ever elected in the United States – defeated her anti-LGBTQ challenger Kelly McGinn tonight in a race that was considered a bellwether for whether Virginia is trending Democratic. Holding her seat was considered critical to Democratic efforts to retake the House of Delegates in 2019. Roem is now the first out trans state legislator to win reelection.

Victory Fund invested heavily in Roem’s reelection race – raising more than $120,000 and directly contributing $2500.

“In 2017, Danica wrote the playbook on how transgender candidates can defeat anti-LGBTQ opponents through authenticity and attention to everyday issues – and her reelection victory sets it in stone,” said Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Voters did not head to the polls to make history, yet they proved trans candidates can win battleground races in battleground states despite transphobic attacks from opponents. Danica inspired trans people across

the nation to run for office. Her reelection proves that political revolution is a lasting transformation – not an aberration.”

Out & Equal reacts to election results

SAN FRANCISCO (November 6, 2019)

– Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates [reacted] to [last night’s] election results:

“Two years ago, Danica Roem broke an important barrier when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the

Virginia statehouse. Today, she made history again as the first to be re-elected! This historic victory is a meaningful affirmation that transgender Americans belong in every aspect of public life – at work, in our armed forces, and in elected office.”

In the final weeks of the campaign, an organization with strong ties to Roem’s opponent released an online ad attacking her gender identity. The ad was reminiscent of transphobic attacks from her 2017 opponent, Bob Marshall, a 25-year incumbent and self-described “chief homophobe” of the Virginia state legislature. She became the first openly trans person to win and serve in a state legislature when she defeated Marshall.

Roem is one of five openly LGBTQ incumbent state legislators. State Sen. Adam Ebbin, as well as Delegates Dawn Adams, Mark Levine, and Mark Sickles all had elections Tuesday night. All were considered critical to Democrats taking the state House.

Since Danica’s 2017 win, the Victory

Fund helped elect three more trans state legislators. Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon in New Hampshire, and Brianna Titone in Colorado, all won state legislative seats in 2018. There are currently just 21 openly trans elected officials in the entire country. A total of 18 openly trans candidates ran for office in 2019.

The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government. victoryfund.org

Courtesy of the LGBTQ Victory Fund

HRC applauds new pro-equality majorities in Virginia legislature

RICHMOND, VA (November 5, 2019) –Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, celebrated Virginia’s newly elected pro-equality majorities in both the House and Senate.

“Tonight’s election results send a powerful message that Virginians support a bold, progressive vision for the future of the commonwealth,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “For far too long, anti-LGBTQ poli-

ticians have had a chokehold on Virginia’s legislative process and blocked efforts to pass statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, sowing hate and division while putting the lives and livelihoods of LGBTQ Virginians at risk. The Human Rights Campaign worked tirelessly to turn out the 1.2 million Equality Voters in Virginia, and tonight we elected new leadership in Richmond that will put Virginians first. We look forward to working with the new majority to ensure these critically important protections

are finally passed into law.”

For years, the Human Rights Campaign has worked with Equality Virginia and others to expand Virginia’s nondiscrimination protections to include LGBTQ people. However, despite majorities in both the House and Senate supporting the legislation, Speaker Kirk Cox refused to bring the legislation up for a vote. Cox and Majority Leader Tim Hugo not only acted counter to members of their own caucus and the Virginia public but also counter to the desires of their own base. According

to polling, these measures have overwhelming support among Virginians, including a majority of Virginia Republicans. Over the past several elections, the HRC has successfully elected pro-equality champions at every level of Virginia’s state government and will continue to engage in this important work in the weeks and months leading up to this November’s election.

In August, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed 27 candidates and committed to invest over $250,000 to elect pro-equality candidates across Virginia. The endorsements marked the beginning of HRC’s largest-ever field, digital, and direct-mail program in the commonwealth of Virginia.

From Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads, HRC field organizers were deployed to mobilize 1.2 million Equality Voters across the commonwealth. In 2018, the HRC used sophisticated analytics to identify and mobilize 57 million “Equality Voters” nationwide who prioritize LGBTQ-inclusive policies, including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The HRC targeted and turned out these voters in the 27 districts where the HRC made an endorsement.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Courtesy of the HRC

Trump issues 130th attack against LGBTQ Americans

The Trump Administration is at it again. This time, they are granting taxpayerfunded adoptions agencies the ability to forbid children from being placed in homes of LGBTQ couples – based on so-called “religious beliefs.” (https://twitter.com/chrisjohnson82/status/1190297884681547776) This move follows a decision from January which granted South Carolina this antiLGBTQ policy too.

GLAAD issued the following statement on this decision:

“This is the 130th attack on the LGBTQ community since the Trump Administration took office: https://glaad.org/trump” –GLAAD, 11.01.19

In addition, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s 130th anti-LGBTQ attack:

“Children should never be denied the opportunity to join a stable, loving family – even if that means the family is LGBTQ. Research has shown LGBTQ families provide the same kind of love, protection, and support as other families, and no child should be denied that kind of environment. The Trump Administration has once again demonstrated how they prefer to prioritize the gross work of anti-LGBTQ activists over the safety and well-being of our children.”

To read all of the Trump Administration’s 130 anti-LGBTQ attacks, please go to GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project –https://www.glaad.org/tap/donald-trump

Courtesy of GLAAD

ACLU comment on Trump administration proposal that will allow discrimination in federally funded programs

WASHINGTON, DC (November 1, 2019)

– The Trump administration proposed a rule today that would allow agencies receiving billions of taxpayer dollars in funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services to discriminate against program participants based on religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This proposal would impact recipients of a broad range of services, including individuals experiencing homelessness, those in HIV prevention programs, and

children and families involved in the foster care system.

Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT & HIV Project, had the following reaction:

“This rule will open the door to discrimination based on faith, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in countless federally funded programs, including critical programs that serve the more than 400,000 children in foster care around the country. Today the Trump administration has turned

its back on each of them. It is despicable that this administration would authorize taxpayer-funded child welfare agencies to discriminate against children and turn away qualified families they desperately need. Children and families should not be denied services because of discrimination.”

This move comes as the Supreme Court is considering whether or not to take a case out of Philadelphia, which requires government contractors to comply with a nondiscrimination requirement to ensure that

children do not lose out on any qualified families.

An analysis of the arguments used in this case is here: https://www.aclu.org/ news/lgbt-rights/will-the-supreme-courtsanction-the-use-of-a-religious-litmus-testfor-foster-parents/

Courtesy of the ACLU

Sen. Murray fights back against Trump administration attacks on health care

WASHINGTON, DC (November 1, 2019) – Following her efforts to stand up for women’s and veterans’ health care in Washington state, US Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, has continued her fight against President Trump and his administration’s constant attacks on health care in the other Washington. Last week, Sen. Murray wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar, denouncing a cruel and politically motivated Trump proclamation barring immigrants based on whether they can afford health care coverage. In the letter, Sen. Murray urged the department to reverse the proclamation and demanded to know why it was implemented in the first place.

The next day, Sen. Murray took to the Senate floor to blast the Trump administration’s 1332 waiver rule, which encourages states to eliminate protections for patients with preexisting conditions, increases costs, and promotes harmful junk insurance plans. The rule encourages states to promote high-cost, low-quality health insurance plans that fail to cover preexisting conditions, prescription drugs, maternity care, mental health care, and more.

Earlier this week, Sen. Murray returned to the Senate floor to advocate for a vote on

a Congressional Review Act resolution to roll back the Trump administration’s 1332 waiver rule, forcing Republicans to either stand with patients and families or the Trump administration and big health insurance companies. Ultimately, 52 Republicans went on the record against families’ health care by voting against the resolution.

As open enrollment started this week, Sen. Murray also joined some of her Democratic colleagues in the Senate to call out the Trump administration’s attempts to undermine health care enrollment by slashing federal funding for the Navigator program, and called attention to the Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach,

Learning, and Longevity (ENROLL) Act to ensure that people have the information and support they need to find a quality health care plan at a price they can afford. She also released a video on social media reminding families about the start of open enrollment.

In addition, Sen. Murray led Democrats in sending a letter to Secretary Azar this week denouncing the administration’s delay in addressing the growing epidemic of youth tobacco use in Washington state and across the country. In the letter, Sen. Murray also urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize its promised compliance policy and clear the market of unauthorized, flavored e-cigarette products, including mint and menthol flavors. There have been twelve cases of vaping-related illness in Washington state alone, and e-cigarette use has increased by more than 75% among high school students across the country, largely fueled by the appeal of products with flavors like candy, fruit, mint, and menthol. The Senate health committee, of which Sen. Murray is the ranking member, also announced this week that it will be having a hearing on e-cigarettes on November 13.

Courtesy of Sen. Patty

Murray

Lambda Legal: Trump administration attacks LGBTQ people yet again with HHS proposed rule

NEW YORK (November 1, 2019)

– Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a proposed rule that would allow HHS to issue grants to social service agencies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as religion and sex. The rule seeks to permit discrimination by HHS-supported social services ranging from foster care, adoption, and HIV and STI prevention programs to programs for seniors and people experiencing homelessness and many other public health services.

Sharon McGowan, Lambda Legal’s chief strategy officer and legal director issued the following statement: “HHS is charged with protecting the health and well-being of all people, but its actions today demonstrate once again its complete disregard for its mission. Today’s proposed rule rolls back critical protections against discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion, and in doing so, puts at risk some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including LGBT people who are

poor or experiencing homelessness; LGBT seniors and LGBT youth in out-of-home care, including foster children in need of loving families; people living with HIV; and many others.

“Furthermore, HHS’s announcement that it will immediately cease enforcement of existing nondiscrimination protections, rather than adhering to the established procedures for changing regulations such as these, once again demonstrates the Trump administration’s utter disregard for the rule of law.”

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

Courtesy of Lambda Legal

HRC: Trump attacks LGBTQ people, religious minorities with proposed HHS regulation

WASHINGTON, DC (November 1, 2019) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to news that the Trump-Pence White House has proposed a federal regulation that would strip away nondiscrimination requirements and permit all Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant recipients, notably adoption and foster care agencies, to discriminate against LGBTQ people, and in many circumstances religious minorities and women, and still receive federal funding.

“The Trump-Pence White House has proposed a horrific federal regulation that would permit discrimination across the entire spectrum of HHS programs receiving federal funding,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “This would permit discrimination against LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and women in programs related to foster care, adoption, HIV and STI prevention, youth homelessness, refugee resettlement, elder care programs, and more. It is unconscionable that the Trump-Pence administration would prioritize advancing discrimination over the well-being of vulnerable people and expect taxpayers to foot the bill for their discrimi-

natory policies. The Trump-Pence White House is relying on the same flawed legal reasoning they’ve used in the past to justify discrimination against LGBTQ people and other communities.”

When the proposed regulation is formally published, the American people would only have 30 days to offer public comments, an unusually short period to consider a policy that would enable widespread discrimination against LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and women that do not align with the belief system of an HHS grant recipient. Furthermore, the Trump-Pence White House has declined to enforce existing nondiscrimination requirements regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and sex in programs that receive federal funding where the protection isn’t statutorily required while the proposed comment is pending.

This is the latest action since Trump and Pence took office that grants HHS recipients a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and women:

In May of 2017, the Trump-Pence White House put out an executive order mandating the Department of Justice to work agency by agency to regulatorily create broad exemptions allowing faith-based organiza-

tions to discriminate against those who do not agree with their personal beliefs.

In January of this year, Trump-Pence’s HHS granted a waiver from federal nondiscrimination requirements to South Carolina’s foster care program, which has contracted with a child welfare provider who seeks permission to refuse to serve prospective parents who do not share their religious beliefs but who want to continue to receive federal funding to provide those services. South Carolina requested the waiver to allow federal funds to go to a child welfare agency that refused to work with Jewish and Catholic people who were otherwise eligible to support children in need.

This continues a pattern of citing court decisions unrelated to nondiscrimination laws to justify stripping away protections for LGBTQ people and others.

In 2017, the HRC released a report, titled “Disregarding the Best Interest of the Child: License to Discriminate in Child Welfare Services,” detailing the harms of efforts to write anti-LGBTQ discrimination by child welfare agencies into law. Statistics suggest that an estimated two million LGBTQ adults in the US are interested in adoption, but the LGBTQ community often remains an untapped resource when it comes to finding families for children and

youth in foster care. The report debunks the myth that having more providers is the key to higher rates of placement in homes; the bottleneck is not the number of providers but the number of prospective parents. Where providers have ceased to provide services rather than comply with nondiscrimination laws, placement rates did not decrease significantly as a result.

Further, research consistently shows that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, as many have been rejected by their families of origin because of their LGBTQ status and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment while in foster care. This regulation would only exacerbate these challenges faced by LGBTQ young people.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Courtesy of the HRC

BOOKS

Local Gay author, Lonnie Lusardo, launches his new book The Anatomy of Organized Hate at First AME Church on Nov. 12

THE ANATOMY OF ORGANIZED HATE

BY LONNIE LUSARDO BOOK

LAUNCH

FIRST AME CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL

November 12 @ 5:30pm

I’m pleased to announce that my book, The Anatomy of Organized Hate: Stories of Former White Supremacists – and America’s Struggle to Understand the Hate Movement, is now available on Amazon. com and at a growing number of bookstores.

I hope you can attend my book launch on November 12 at First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. This event is sponsored by the First AME Church Sarah Allen Sisterhood.

Ignore the Diamond pay-to-park signs. PARKING IS FREE for this event. For public transit, First AME is on the #11 bus route on E Pine St and the nearby #12 bus route on E Madison St. The First AME Church is just a short walk from The Cuff and from Central Co-op. The meeting space is accessible from the east parking lot.

Please register today at https://lonnielusardo-booklaunch.eventbrite.com. It is FREE. You are welcome to attend without a ticket, however seats are limited. Light refreshments will be served. A supply of autographed books will be available. You may also purchase copies in advance at Amazon: The Anatomy of Organized Hate

The Anatomy of Organized Hate looks behind the curtain of the evolving American hate movement. Written in two parts, the book explores the world that exists inside hate groups and then examines the sphere of government agencies and organizations working to stop hate crimes and extremist behaviors from the outside.

Part One tells the stories of six former white supremacists – how they got involved, the crimes they committed, and what precipitated their change of heart. These narratives explain how and why people are attracted to the hate movement and the catalysts that influence their decision to abandon it. Like no other book in its category, The Anatomy of Organized

Hate compares commonalities among extremists (aka domestic terrorists) and ways to prevent their brutal and misguided actions.

Part Two presents a historical perspective on the hate movement, with two strong assertions substantiated by researched data and guidance from the Southern Poverty Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

Assertion #1: “What most Americans know or believe about hate groups and hate crimes is based on information that is misleading, grossly incomplete, or dead wrong.” This is a consequence of faulty FBI statistics, inadequate media reporting, conflicting state laws, and other issues.

Assertion #2: “The father of all hate groups is the US government.” This statement is supported by a centuries-long history of Presidential orders, Congressional Acts, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions designed to restrict or deny Constitutional rights to specific Americans and/or to halt entry to the U.S. by selected immigrant population all deeply rooted in erroneous assumptions. It is no coincidence that the same groups earmarked by these exclusionary laws and policies have always been the hate movement’s top targets – immigrants, religious minorities, people of color, and LGBTQ, disabled, and homeless people.

The final chapter, “Seven Ways to Resist Hate”, provides a roadmap to prevent and STOP the growing epidemic of hate and extremism.

If you are an educator or involved in a community association created to support businesses and ethnic, religious, or LGBTQ groups, I’d be honored to present my talk, “The Truth About Hate Groups and Hate Crimes” for your organization.

Please share this event on Facebook and Twitter. Hope to see you on November 12.

Thanks,

Lonnie Lusardo

First LGBT senior cohousing in North America under construction

Village Hearth Senior Cohousing in Durham, North Carolina, the first LGBT Senior Cohousing Community in North America is on course for occupancy in Spring of 2020. This 28 single-story home community on a 15-acre wooded lot near central Durham is more than a set of structures, it represents community, camaraderie and safety for the residents who will occupy these special homes.

Village Hearth Cohousing holds at its core the value of creating community for LGBTs, straight friends and allies. This senior cohousing community is the first in the nation dedicated to LGBT issues while maintaining the values that form the basis of many cohousing communities: environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Designed by cohousing architect

Charles Durrett, there are a number of features that reflect residents unique wishes, along with the features that are common to cohousing, such as the 2,600-squarefoot common house with a kitchen, dining/meeting room, sitting area with a gas fireplace, laundry room, exercise studio, and art studio. Other plans include the possibility of a separate workshop and storage building, along with a dog park, gardens, walking trails, and fire pit after residents move in. All but four homes have been purchased with the age range of owners between 55 to 73.

LGBT seniors may face more than the usual hurdles as they age. Some are known to have gone back “in the closet” for fear of discrimination or harm in healthcare and nursing facilities. Many LGBTs do not have

the support of their families, do not have children, and fear lack of recognition of their families of choice.

With many conventional retirement and aging options closed to LGBTs, this makes the model of a senior cohousing community an important solution. “We want to be able to live comfortably as ourselves, without having to hide any aspect of ourselves.” observes Pat McAulay, Village Hearth founding community member.

Village Hearth seeks to be a model for others across the nation to come together as “out and proud” seniors who support each other through this process called aging.

Village Hearth will provide the comfort and safety of living among those who share similar life experiences, with the recognition of how far LGBTs have come, and an

understanding of what’s important to preserve and defend while creating the experience of the best years yet.

The notion of “creating place” is both essential and deeply heartfelt. “In New York, there was this pride about not knowing your neighbor – but now it’s time to not only have neighbors but to know them. To be among people who care about you,” explains Christopher Ross, Village Hearth founding community member.

Learn more: www.villagehearthcohousing.com; www.cohousingco.com

Lambda Legal applauds as second judge vacates HHS Denial of Care Rule

Chicago, IL (November 7, 2019) – Today, U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Judge Stanley A. Bastian struck down the Denial of Care Rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), becoming the second judge in two days to vacate the rule, recognizing its discriminatory and unconstitutional scope. Lambda Legal, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the County of Santa Clara are currently litigating a similar case challenging the same rule in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Jamie Gliksberg issued the following statement:

“Two judges in two days have recognized the Denial of Care Rule for what it is, an egregious and unconstitutional attack on women, LGBT people and other vulnerable populations. In his ruling, delivered from the bench, Judge Bastian joins Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York in vacating this discriminatory and harmful rule, and in likely saving

countless lives. The Denial of Care Rule targets some of our most marginalized and vulnerable communities and deserves to be relegated to the dustbin of history.”

The Denial of Care Rule, which was issued in May by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), invites any health care worker – including doctors, nurses, EMTs, administrators, janitors and clerical staff – to deny medical treatment, information and services to patients because of personal religious or moral beliefs. Health care facilities risk losing essential federal funding if they do not grant employees carte blanche to deny services. Because the rule is confusing and infeasible to implement, many health care facilities will likely be forced to eliminate services such as reproductive and LGBTQ care, leaving millions across the United States without access to critical health care.

On October 30, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California heard arguments in County of Santa Clara v. HHS, where Lambda Legal and co-counsel argued that HHS exceeded its authority and

arbitrarily and capriciously failed to consider the rule’s potential harm to patients and the health care system, in violation of the federal Administrative Procedure Act. Lambda Legal and co-counsel also argued that the rule is unconstitutional because it advances specific religious beliefs in violation of the First Amendment; violates patients’ rights to privacy, liberty and equal dignity as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment; and chills patients’ speech and expression in violation of the First Amendment, all to the detriment of patients’ health and well-being.

On November 6, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a ruling in State of New York v. HHS completely vacating the Denial of Care Rule. Read the opinion and order here – https://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/ legal-docs/ny_20191106_ny-v-hhs_opinion Judge Bastian ruled from the bench today in State of Washington v. Azar, agreeing with the ruling out of New York. A written opinion is forthcoming.

The plaintiffs in Lambda Legal’s law-

suit include the County of Santa Clara, which runs an extensive health and hospital system that serves as a safety-net provider for the county’s 1.9 million residents; the health providers Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, Pa., Center on Halsted in Chicago, Hartford GYN in Connecticut, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia, Trust Women Seattle and Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, D.C.; the associations AGLP, GLMA and Medical Students for Choice; and five doctors. Read more about County of Santa Clara v. HHS here – https://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/ cases/county-of-santa-clara-v-hhs

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Courtesy of Lambda Legal

Haring Foundation

NEW YORK (November 7, 2019) – A historic partnership between Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and the Keith Haring Foundation will result in a medical innovation that will change the health care landscape: the first Keith Haring Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Fellowship in LGBTQ+ Health.

This health care innovation – the first in the United States – will be made possible by a $2.5 million donation to Callen-Lorde by the Keith Haring Foundation. It is the largest private gift ever made to Callen-Lorde, and the largest donation made by the Keith Haring Foundation in its three decades of operation. The gift will establish the Keith Haring LGBTQ+ Health Equity Endowment, which will fund the fellowship.

The fellowship will be officially announced at Callen-Lorde’s Community Health Awards gala, to be held on Thursday, November 7, at Tribeca Rooftop in downtown Manhattan.

“Keith Haring was a visionary in the fight against HIV/AIDS, raising awareness, challenging stigma, and engaging hearts and souls through his art as a person living with HIV,” said Wendy Stark, executive director of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.

“The Keith Haring Foundation continues his legacy, and this landmark grant to CallenLorde will significantly impact culturally competent health care access for LGBTQ people for years to come.”

GILEAD

Gilead’s HIV-prevention drugs can cost patients up to $20,000 a year. The government lawsuit accuses the company of earning billions from research funded by US taxpayers without paying taxpayers back.

Gilead makes more than $3 billion a year on Truvada. HHS says hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money went into research that led to the government patents.

“Gilead must respect the US patent system, the groundbreaking work by CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] researchers, and the substantial tax-

Callen-Lorde’s Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Fellowship in LGBTQ+ Health will be the first in the nation. The project will address a lack of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) training for clinical providers at the national, state, and local level. It will have large-scale impact by producing culturally competent providers who will then take the body of knowledge gained through their time in the program wherever they choose to practice after, and producing a guide that will assist other organizations to implement their own population-specific residency programs.

The fellowship will have a home within Callen-Lorde’s brand-new site in downtown Brooklyn, slated to open in 2020 at 40 Flat-

payer contributions to the development of these drugs,” HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar II said in a statement. “The complaint filed today seeks to ensure that they do.”

Wider access to PrEP is central to the government’s goal, announced in February, to reduce new HIV infections by 75% over five years, and to “end the HIV epidemic in America” by 2030.

HIV activists say the price tag of PrEP medications limits accessibility for highrisk people with low incomes, thwarting efforts to control the disease.

In May, Gilead said it would donate enough PrEP medications to supply 200,000 patients with the drug for up to 11 years. Some one million Americans are estimated to be at risk for infection, and

bush Avenue Extension. The fourth clinical site will be designed specifically to meet the considerations for a successful residency program. The space will allow Callen-Lorde to nearly double its capacity, with an additional 25,000 square feet of space to provide critically needed health care services to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the uninsured.

The Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Fellowship is a timely effort that directly responds to the need for entry-to-practice training for advanced practice nurses statewide, as well as calls from the Institute of Medicine, National Institute of Health, American Medical Association, and others for LGBTQ+ health care training.

only about 270,000 people are currently on PrEP.

PrEP4All, an activist group that has pushed for wider access to medications, called the government lawsuit “a necessary first step to ensure access to effective HIV prevention for everyone who needs it.”

“For nearly a decade, Gilead’s price gouging on PrEP has prevented hundreds of thousands of Americans from accessing this life-saving medication, despite it being a taxpayer-funded invention,” the group said in a statement.

“If HHS is truly invested in ending the HIV epidemic, it will use these patents as leverage to ensure that everyone who needs PrEP can get it.”

Gilead has not responded to the lawsuit

Visit the Callen-Lorde website for additional information and to access the fellowship application: callen-lorde.org/haringfellowship

The mission of the Keith Haring Foundation is to sustain, expand, and protect the legacy of Keith Haring, his art, and his ideals. The foundation supports not-for-profit organizations that assist children, as well as organizations involved in education, prevention, and care related to HIV/AIDS.

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ health care. Since the days of Stonewall, Callen-Lorde has been transforming lives by providing a welcoming environment for LGBTQ communities to get quality care, free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, Callen-Lorde pioneers research, advocacy, and education to drive positive change for LGBTQ communities around the globe. The first LGBTQ-centric health care provider, Callen-Lorde is widely recognized for its innovative HIV and transgender care. For more information about Callen-Lorde, visit www.callen-lorde.org.

Courtesy of Callen-Lorde

with a statement. The company previously characterized the government’s patent claims as invalid.

In Africa, generic Truvada costs about $60 per patient per year. Gilead has sued companies that have tried to bring generic versions to the United States. Settlements to those legal actions have effectively kept the generic drug out of the US market. Descovy, approved by the FDA in October, contains a newer version of tenofovir, the active ingredient in Truvada. Gilead has been marketing it as a replacement for Truvada, but so far it has been tested only in men and Trans women. For final approval, the FDA will require the company to study the drug on cisgender women.