SGN Oct 11. 2019 - Part 1

Seattle Gay News

Trans

medical

care

by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer

ECHOES page 4

Reps. Jayapal and Engel introduce the Safe Gun Storage Act

WASHINGTON, DC (October 16, 2019)

– US Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Eliot L. Engel (NY-16) today introduced the Safe Gun Storage Act, legislation that would direct the Consumer Protection Safety Commission to establish safety standards for firearm safes and firearm locks.

Unsafely stored firearms are a major public safety and public health issue in our country. According to a 2018 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health survey, 54% of gun owners report not storing their firearms safely, and 34% of these

violates

freedom

of

religion,

federal

Same judge ruled all of Obamacare unconstitutional

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

A federal judge in Texas has overturned rules guaranteeing medically necessary treatment to Transgender patients.

LGBTQ voter registration lags, new study says

Half of registered LGBTQ voters identify as Democrats

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

An astonishing 21% of LGBTQ adults are not registered to vote, according to a study released this week by UCLA’s Williams Institute. By contrast, some 17% of non-LGBTQ adults are unregistered.

This finding comes at a time when LGBTQ rights could be a major issue in the 2020 presidential election. Some LGBTQ voters already face an uphill battle making their voices heard at the ballot box.

The rules, known as Section 1557, were a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) and stated that insurers and providers who receive federal see

On Referendum 88: Vote to approve I-1000

Special to the SGN from Pride at Work

When ballots come in the mail, we will have an opportunity to correct an injustice – we will be able to vote to restore affirmative action in Washington state.

Referendum 88 asks voters to approve of the action of the state legislature in passing Initiative 1000, which restored fairness in hiring, education, and awarding of contracts to women, veterans, people of color, and disabled persons.

It also recognizes the LGBTQ community as a marginalized group protected by state laws.

It used to be the law in Washington state that public goods be distributed fairly, and

that marginalized groups be entitled to a shot at getting a job, going to school, and winning a state contract. In 1997, however, Initiative 200 took all that away.

I-200, by the way, was one of the first electoral efforts of the then unknown but now infamous Tim Eyman.

This year, more than 400,000 voters signed Initiative 1000, asking the legislature to take action to restore access to jobs, education, and contracts. To its credit, the legislature did just that.

But opponents of fairness – who recently hired the right-wing anti-LGBT Proud Boys to be their “security” goon squad – filed a referendum to challenge the legislature’s action.

SGN readers will remember Referen-

dum 74, the campaign that challenged marriage equality. It’s the same constellation of backward forces behind this latest effort. Fairness just doesn’t work for them. But fairness works for most of us. Say so when you mark your ballots. On Referendum 88, vote that I-1000 should be “approved.”

Pride at Work is an LGBTQ labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Pride at Work has chapters in ML King and Pierce counties. To find out more about Pride at Work, visit PrideAtWork. org. To see more info on Referendum 88, go to WAFairness.org.

The League of Women Voters presents “Ballots & Baristas”

WHAT: In partnership with Cupcake Royale and several local coffee shops, the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County is hosting “Ballots & Baristas,” a series of community conversations about ballot issues to simultaneously take place at nine locations throughout King County. Volunteers from the League of Women Voters will be available at the coffee shops to facilitate neighborly discussion of the

initiatives appearing on King County voters’ ballots, including motor vehicle taxes, affirmative action, and advisory votes. Sample ballots will be available for participants. These events are free and open to the public. The League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 22, from 6pm to 8pm (unless otherwise noted below)

WHERE: Four Cupcake Royale locations in Seattle: Ballard @ 2052 NW Market St; Capitol Hill @ 1111 E Pike St; Downtown @ 108 Pine St (5pm to 7pm); West Seattle @ 4556 California Ave SW And at these coffee shops throughout King County: Starbucks @ 903 NE Park Drive, Issaquah (6pm to 8pm); Starbucks @ 3016 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd. SE, Sammamish (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.); The Local @ 1616 Cole St., Enumclaw (4pm to 6pm); Caffe Ladro @ 18610 Bothell Way NE, Bothell (6pm to 8pm); Common Grounds Coffee & Cupcakes @ 900 S 3rd St #A, Renton (5:30pm to 7:30pm)

Courtesy of League of Women Voters

ECHOES

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The lower level was packed with Seattle’s LGBTQ elite and it was a great evening to see old friends and remember the friends who are no longer with us.

Like the memorial it is ushering in, ECHOES was a celebration of life and collective memories, while also standing as a call to action. It’s the next step in honoring both our past and our future.

Hosted by former KIRO reporter Micki Flowers the night featured performances by the Showtunes Band & Ensemble, Billie Wildrick, Whim W’Him, Alexandria Henderson, Justin Huertas, with a very subdued finale by the Seattle Men’s Chorus & The Seattle Women’s Chorus.

Bill Hall, DeAunté Damper, Pat Migliore, and Steven Parsons shared personal stories and recounted their experiences of the diverse communities affected by the epidemic.

SGN publisher and editor-in-chief and AMP Advisory Committee member George Bakan said, “I haven’t had more fun in years. It was an excellent talent variety

show, carefully organized, with talented performers. My favorite was the dancing from Whim W’him and the stories from people with HIV, especially the narrative from the man who assumed he would die when he learned of his diagnosis and said, as a closing line, “And here I am 33 years later.” The house stood and cheered for 5 minutes. The several vocalists were exceptional as well and the giving period raised over $50,000 using cell phones to pledge donations. The evening underscored the energy and the support in the LGBTQ community for the AIDS Memorial Pathway project in process on Broadway adjacent to the light rail station and the north end of Cal Anderson Park.”

Aleksa Manila and Laura Michalek (with the help from The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) took the lead and got the attendees to text a pledge amount to the AMP to raise more money for the AMP project, that total came out to be over $60K. It was an evening to remember. For more information and to make a contribution to the AMP, visit https://theamp.org/

Photos by MK Scott

Rachel Maddow takes over Benaroya Hall

by MK Scott

SGN Contributing Writer

RACHEL MADDOW

SEATTLE ARTS & LECTURES

BENAROYA HALL

October 11

Benaroya Hall was a madhouse last Friday, October 11 when MSNBC talker and author, Rachel Maddow, was the featured guest of Seattle Arts and Lecture to promote her book, Blowout. The book reveals the power of the unimaginably lucrative and equally corrupt oil-and-gas industry. Before the event lines formed in front of the box office and I was told that these were standby lines. This event had been sold out for months, probably the most attended event I have ever been to at Benaroya Hall in its 21-year history.

More lines formed in the lobby, to get through the security that extended out of the building.

When Maddow came out it was to a standing ovation. What was obvious was she was walking with crutches. She later answered an

OutRight Action International presents community forum on ending “conversion therapy” in Washington state and around the world

In 2018, Washington banned so-called “conversion therapy” for minors in our state – a practice that amounts to psychological – and sometimes physical or sexual – abuse. But “conversion therapy” is still prevalent not only in the U.S. but around the world.

On Tuesday, October 29, from 6-8pm, at Swedish Cherry Hill Auditorium (500 17th

Avenue) come hear about OutRight Action International’s recent research and efforts to ban “conversion therapy” in the U.S. and around the world and to increase acceptance of LGBTIQ people.

This community forum is FREE, but please RSVP to OutRightinternational.org/ CTSA.

David Treuer delivers the 2019 A. Scott Bullitt lecture in American history at the Seattle Public Library Nov. 7

The Seattle Public Library presents anthropologist and author David Treuer in a discussion of American Indian lives, including popular images and narratives, common influences and damaging stereotypes on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 7pm to 8:30pm, at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, 206-386-4636.

Reading popular depictions of Native American history has been a struggle for Treuer, many of which seemed to conclude that his culture was a relic of the past. Having grown up on an Ojibwe reservation, he knew that Native American history did not end with a battle in 1890. In both fiction and nonfiction, Treuer has spent his career dissecting narratives around Native American life. His work reveals the unprecedented resourcefulness and reinvention it took to preserve Native languages, traditions and families.

PRESENTER BIO

Treuer’s most recent work is The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee. He has written four novels: Prudence, The Translation of Dr. Apelles, The Hiawatha and Little. His nonfiction books include Native American Fiction: A User’s Manual and Rez Life

Treuer’s essays and stories have appeared in Granta, Harper’s, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Esquire, Slate and The Washington Post, among others. Treuer is

the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, two Minnesota Book Awards, and fellowships from the NEH, Bush Foundation and Guggenheim Foundation. The Translation of Dr. Apelles was named a Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post, Time Out and City Pages Treuer is a graduate of Princeton University and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology. He divides his time between his home on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota and Los Angeles, where he teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Southern California.

ABOUT THE LECTURE

The A. Scott Bullitt Lecture in American History is made possible by a generous gift from the late Priscilla Bullitt Collins in honor of her father, A. Scott Bullitt.

This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation, media sponsor The Seattle Times and presented in partnership with The Elliott Bay Book Company. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

MORE INFORMATION

Library events are free and open to the public. Tickets and reservations are not required.

The Library believes that the power of knowledge improves people’s lives. We promote literacy and a love of reading as we bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. For more information, call 206-386-4636 or visit www.spl.org and Ask Us. For ADA accommodations, please contact: leap@spl. org.

Courtesy of the Seattle Public Library

audience question that she had torn three ligaments in her left ankle – a fishing accident –and one of those ligaments ripped off a piece of her bone. Despite this, she was still able to read from her book at the podium for the first 20 minutes.

The book, Blowout, could not have come at a better time with the current issues with Russia and Ukraine and provided supporting evidence that Russia had interfered with the 2016 elections because Obama had blocked Russia from gaining access to Ukraine’s oil supply. With Trump’s latest attempt of withholding aid, when she mentioned the impeachment of Donald Trump, the crowd roared. Later, Maddow sat down with KUOW’s Joni Balter for a one-on-one interview before responding to questions from the audience.

Photo by MK Scott

Join us for a conversation with:

• Amie Bishop, OutRight Research Advisor Amie is a global health and human rights consultant and advocate. She has worked in more than 20 countries, including Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia, Tanzania, and Morocco. From 1989 until 2014, she worked for PATH, where she focused on women’s cancers, tuberculosis, and HIV, with a focus on key populations. From 2008 to 2017, she served on the Board of Directors of OutRight Action International, where she now serves as lead Research Consultant. Amie is an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Public Health at the University of Washington; member of the Global to Local Initiative’s Advisory Committee; and a member of the Civic Council for the UW Jackson School’s Master’s in Applied International Studies program. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Master’s of Science Degree in Social Work, both from Columbia University, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco.

• Mathew Shurka, Born Perfect Founder Matt is a conversion therapy survivor and co-founder of Born Perfect, a campaign that has become a global movement to end conversion therapy. Mathew leads the campaign alongside a team of lawyers and conversion therapy survivors committed to protect LGBTQ+ people through legislation, litigation, and public education. During his five years of conversion therapy from ages 16-21, Mathew endured many different types of fraudulent and scientifically discredited “treatments” that he was told would “cure” his homosexuality. After seeking treatment for the trauma he endured and reconciled with his family, Mathew at 24, began advocating to end conversion therapy with The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and worked with NCLR to create Born Perfect in 2014. By elevating the voices of survivors and their families, educating policymakers, and partnering with supportive therapists, and professional organizations, 18 states and more than 55 cities have passed laws to protect LGBTQ+ youth since Born Perfect’s creation. Mathew lives in New York City as a proud out gay man.

• Monisha Harrell, Equal Rights Washington Chair As Board Chair of Equal Rights Washington, Monisha spearheads ERW’s advocacy work on issues including trans healthcare, anti-bullying in schools, and legal recognition and protection for LGB-

TIQ Washingtonians. Just in the past two years, Monisha’s work with ERW helped ban conversion therapy for minors, pass the Uniform Parentage Act, ban legal gay and trans panic-defenses, and more. A Seattle native, Monisha graduated from Columbia University and obtained an MBA from the Foster School of Business at UW. She also owns her own marketing firm, Rule Seven, specializing in market research, strategy, brand development and design.

• Marko Liias, Washington State Senator State Sen. Marko Liias represents Washington’s 21st Legislative District. Before his appointment to the State Senate in 2014, Marko served for six years in the WA House of Representatives and for two years on the Mukilteo City Council. In the Legislature, Marko has focused on policies to advance a strong economy, a quality education system, and balanced transportation systems. He has sponsored legislation on digital citizenship in our schools, protecting college students from predatory loan practices, improving pedestrian and bicycle safety, and banning so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. Marko has also worked as a freelance journalist, communications advisor, and small business owner. He graduated from Georgetown University and completed graduatelevel courses at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at UW.

• José Cardona, Entre Hermanos Community Health Educator José Cardona is from Honduras. He has worked over the past 10 years as a Human Rights Advocate (UN, ACNUR, Interamerican Human Right Court) and International development programs in youth issues, access to health and empowerment of women (OXFAM), and as a HIV prevention specialist Medical Case Manager for POCAAN, providing cultural competence services for Latinx and POC communities. José is excited to be working with Entre Hermanos as a Bilingual Community Health Educator.

Courtesy of OutRight Action International

“If you want thoughts and prayers, there are many other offices to call. If you want action, Kshama's office is the one you need. ” LGBTQ community leader and activist Mac McGregor

Presidential primary debates continue disturbing trend of leaving out LGBTQ issues in presidential debates

NEW YORK (October 15, 2019) –GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, tonight released the following statement at the conclusion of the fourth presidential primary debate, in which there was no mention of issues important to LGBTQ Americans from the moderators or 2020 presidential candidates.

“We are living in an alarming time for LGBTQ Americans, when just last week, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments and will now decide whether employers should be granted the right to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD. “The recent LGBTQ forum in Iowa and town hall in Los Angeles demonstrated that presidential candidates are passionate about our community and eager to address issues that are important to us. The election media cycle now needs to reverse course and ensure that questions that address marginalized communities take center stage during debates and are not relegated to the sidelines.”

Previously, GLAAD co-hosted a candidate forum in Iowa with The Advocate, One Iowa, and The Gazette, and last week saw the CNN/HRC town hall. Candidates were asked about a range of LGBTQ issues, including the epidemic of violence facing trans women of color, HIV treatment and prevention, and employment discrimination.

Tonight, during the New York Times and CNN debate, the only question touching on LGBTQ-specific issues was a question about Ellen DeGeneres’s recent comments about George W. Bush.

Courtesy of GLAAD

LGBTQ VOTERS

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“Voter suppression has primarily targeted voters of color, who also happen to include LGBTQ Americans, who far too often face disproportionate barriers in accessing their right to vote,” HRC president Alphonso David told the Washington Post

David also pointed out that voter ID laws in some states require that a person’s documentation match their birth-assigned gender, a rule that could prevent Transgender people from casting a ballot.

While about 137,000 Transgender people who had transitioned in the US were eligible to vote ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, more than half might lack documentation or ID that correctly reflected their gender, the Williams Institute found in an August 2018 study.

The Williams Institute data are part of a larger poll of 2,237 people that measured LGBTQ voters’ demographic characteristics and political attitudes. The survey sample included 136 registered LGBTQ voters and 1,836 registered non-LGBTQ voters.

Almost 9 million LGBTQ adults are eligible and registered to vote next November, according to a recent poll, which was conducted by Ipsos in collaboration with the Williams Institute and Thomson Reuters. Half said they were Democrats, while 22% were independents, and 15% were Republicans.

The survey also revealed significant differences in political attitudes between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ voters.

For example, LGBTQ people were more likely than non-LGBTQ people (51% to 40%) to support “a career politician who knows his or her way around the political process,” the Williams Institute study found.

LGBTQ voters and non-LGBTQ voters alike showed greater support for younger candidates, and both groups signaled that

PFAW reacts to presidential primary debate

WASHINGTON, DC (October 15, 2019) – Following tonight’s Democratic presidential primary debate, People for the American Way (PFAW) Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Marge Baker released the following statement:

“We applaud the fact that finally the issue of the federal courts, and specifically the Supreme Court, came up at tonight’s Democratic presidential primary debate. The courts will play a critical part in the kind of democracy candidates talked about this evening: one that works for all of us, not just for the powerful and privileged. Democrats understand the need to repair the harm done to our democracy by President Trump and to institute reforms to achieve a vibrant and inclusive democracy, and that can only happen if the courts are

the race of a candidate wouldn’t impact how they voted – though LGBTQ voters were more likely than non-LGBTQ voters to back a candidate because that person was black or Latino.

Majorities of both groups said it wouldn’t matter to their vote if a candidate were gay or lesbian, but far more LGBTQ voters than non-LGBTQ voters said they were “more likely to support a gay candidate” (41% to 10%) or “more likely to support a lesbian candidate (34% to 11%).

LGBTQ voters also showed greater support for possible candidates who were Transgender or nonbinary.

Self-identified LGBTQ voters also showed some important demographic differences from those who did not identify as LGBTQ.

“LGBT voters differ from non-LGBT voters in several ways. For example, they are more likely to be young, [be] male, and live in urban areas,” study author Christy Mallory, the Williams Institute’s state and local policy director, said in a statement.

The Williams Institute did not try to sort out same-sex attracted persons who failed to self-identify as LGBTQ, presumably older respondents or those who live in rural areas where social pressures might make them feel unsafe being out.

a key part of the next Democratic president’s agenda. Courts are absolutely critical when it comes to virtually every right and freedom we have in this country, so it’s vital that voters know what kinds of judges and justices the next president will appoint. And it’s just not true anymore that only Republicans consider the federal courts an electoral issue.”

PFAW recently launched its #VoteTheCourts2020 campaign to elevate the issue of federal courts in the 2020 election. The campaign urges candidates to describe their vision for the courts and judges and justices they would appoint, and encourages voters to remember the importance of the courts when they go to the voting booth. Recent (2019) data show that voters in battleground states see the courts as a reason

ACA

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money could not deny treatment or coverage to anyone based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, or termination of pregnancy.

US District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled on October 15 that the Obama-era policy violates the religious freedom of Christian providers. The policy violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, O’Connor claimed.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is a federal law passed in 1993 that was intended to allow Native American shamans to use peyote in religious ceremonies and to conduct rituals on federal property that had previously been recognized as sacred land.

O’Connor is perhaps best known as the judge who ruled last year that the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. His ruling in that case is still working its way through the appeals process, and his latest ruling is also likely to be appealed.

O’Connor also wrote an opinion in 2016 challenging the Obama administration’s reading of Title IX, the federal law that bars school districts from discriminating on the

to vote for Democrats. Associated Press polling after the 2018 midterms showed that voters who named the Supreme Court as an important factor in their votes tended to choose Democrats.

People for the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity, and justice for all. It encourages civic participation, defends fundamental rights, and fights to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more at http://www.pfaw.org.

Courtesy of People for the American Way

basis of sex. The Obama administration held that the law protected Transgender students. O’Connor insisted that it did not and issued a nation-wide injunction against enforcement of the administration’s guidelines.

O’Connor was appointed by George W Bush.

Section 1557 was initially challenged in court in 2016 by a group of Christian providers called the Franciscan Alliance, as well as five Republican-controlled states. They argued that the rule forces insurers to pay for abortions and compels doctors to perform gender transition services even if they disagree with those services on moral or medical grounds.

O’Connor agreed and issued a nationwide injunction against enforcing the rule. Because of the injunction, the nondiscrimination rules remain in effect, but insurers and providers cannot be sued to force them to comply.

Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services defended the rule in court, but the Trump administration decided to drop its defense and argued the rule should be sent back to the agency to be rewritten.

The proposed rewrite would scrap protections for gender identity and stipulate that the word “sex” only refers to biological sex and not to gender identity.

AHF mourns passing of Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a moral giant

LOS ANGELES (October 17, 2019) –AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) was deeply saddened to learn today of the death of U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryland).

“Representative Cummings was a giant,

irreplaceable moral figure who passionately fought for the rights and needs of the downtrodden. AHF had the good fortune of working alongside him in fighting against the abuses of big pharma, and we are proud to serve his district with healthcare services,”

Congressman Adam Smith statement on the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 17, 2019) – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) today issued the following statement after the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

“The passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings is a profound loss for the nation, Maryland, and those who, like me, were lucky enough to call him both a colleague and friend.

“Chairman Cummings devoted his life to service, starting as a teen on the front lines of the civil rights movement. Since then, his lifetime of dedication to justice made him an icon in the fight for equality in his local community and nationwide. A passionate advocate, he leaves the legacy of a generation who showed us that we can be better. In his unyielding way, he sought and rallied for the truth that the American

people deserve. For that, we are grateful.

“Chairman Cummings was a tremendous leader, but more importantly he was a great human being. I served beside him in Congress for decades, and I had the privilege to work closely with him on the Benghazi Committee. While we served together for years, it didn’t take long for me to realize he was an incredible human being with acute moral clarity. As Chairman of the Committee on Oversight, he wielded immense power, but he did so with grace.

The entire Congress will deeply miss his voice, perspective, and grace.

“I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those whose lives have been affected by his service to our nation.”

Courtesy of the Office of Congressman Adam Smith

GLAAD response to AG Barr’s support of anti-LGBTQ discrimination at faith-based schools

Howdy, folks – Hope everyone had a great week!

Tonight, [October 12, 2019] U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced his support of allowing faith-based schools the so-called right to discriminate against educators for being LGBTQ, including even firing them from their jobs. Speaking at a Notre Dame law school event, Barr also revealed his support of allowing these schools to cut any LGBTQ-based curriculum from its classrooms.

GLAAD issued the following statement in response to what is the 129th attack the Trump Administration has made against LGBTQ Americans:

“This Administration has made it perfectly clear that they don’t care about the lives of LGBTQ people so this coming from AG Barr is not surprising at all. LGBTQ people deserve to be represented in curriculum.”

Thanks,

Drew Anderson Director of Campaigns and Rapid

Response GLAAD

Courtesy of GLAAD

said AHF President Michael Weinstein. The Congressman also appeared in the AHF-produced 2018 documentary DRUG$ – The Price We Pay. We invite you to watch his interview from the film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ v7SBrK54yU&feature=youtu.be&t=3818

In his long career of public service, including Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates and chairman of the powerful Committee on Oversight and Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairman Cummings was the conscience of America. His death today leaves an enormous void for all who care for the poor, the marginalized and the most vulnerable. The AHF family extends its heartfelt sympathy to Chairman Cummings’ family, friends and loved ones.

GUN STORAGE ACT

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homes had children 18 years or younger in the home. Eighteen percent of all gun injuries in our nation occur because of improperly stored firearms in homes.

Additionally, household gun ownership increases the rate of gun-related suicides, and this is particularly true in households with young children. In 2016, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] (CDC) noted that 60% of all firearm deaths were from suicides, with more than 1,100 suicides by people between 10 and 19 years of age. The following year, 43% of all youth suicide involved a firearm. A 2018 study conducted by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that a 10% increase of households with firearms has led to a 25% increase in the rate of youth suicide by a firearm. Study after study shows a clear correlation between an increased rate of households with guns and an increased rate in youth suicide by a firearm.

“Establishing reasonable, commonsense standards for storing guns and gun locks in the home is just one simple part of the responsibility we have to keep children and families safe,” said Rep. Jayapal. “It is our moral imperative to do all we can to prevent the all-too-frequent occurrence of gun violence, and I’m proud to partner with Rep. Engel in introducing this important piece of legislation.”

“Our nation has been plagued with gun violence. But what too often gets lost in the debate is the suicide rate by firearm,” said Rep. Engel. “Youth suicide rates are already staggeringly high and have been trending upward. We must decrease them, and we can, by ensuring firearm safes and firearm locks are used in homes. Those safes and locks also must have strong safety standards to prevent unauthorized people, especially children, from gaining access to

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.3 million people in 43 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www. aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www. facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

Courtesy of AHF

firearms. This bill will save lives, and I’m proud to introduce it with my colleague, Rep. Jayapal. I thank her for joining me in this effort to keep our families and communities safe.”

Brady Vice President for Programs Kyleanne Hunter said, “Safe storage is a critical part of responsible gun ownership, and Americans deserve to know that the products designed to safely secure their firearms are up to the task. As a veteran and a gun owner, I find the lack of federal standards appalling. We applaud Reps. Engel and Jayapal for introducing this important piece of legislation to determine standards for safely storing guns and keeping them out of the wrong hands.

“The majority of guns used in school violence and youth suicides are taken from the home, a friend, or a relative. We know that safe storage of firearms can help save lives and prevent tragedies before they happen,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. “That’s why we support this legislation that will help ensure that firearm safes and firearm locks meet the highest safety standards. When you purchase one of these products, you should be assured that they will work and will never unintentionally put a child or loved one at risk.”

John Feinblatt, Everytown for Gun Safety’s president, stated, “It’s not hard to understand the need for better gun locks and safes: bad things often happen when firearms end up in the hands of children, thieves, or domestic abusers. We applaud Rep. Engel and Rep. Jayapal for taking action to ensure uniform safety guidelines for gun safes and locks, which are essential tools in the effort to keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

Courtesy of Rep. Pramila Jayapal

KarmaScentsCandles

HRC celebrates 31st annual National Coming Out Day

WASHINGTON, DC (October 11, 2019) –Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, is celebrating the 31st annual National Coming Out Day (NCOD). Every year on October 11, NCOD emphasizes the importance of coming out and creating a safe world in which LGBTQ people can live openly as their authentic selves.

“National Coming Out Day is an important opportunity to celebrate the power of visibility to change hearts and minds and how coming out can transform our lives and our movement,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “The tragic reality is that there are still far too many LGBTQ people across America and around the globe who are forced to live in fear. At a time when transgender people, especially transgender women of color, face an epidemic of violence, it is imperative we address this crisis at all levels of government and in every community. If you come out but cannot be safe, you are not free. The only way to triumph over fear is with love – love of ourselves, our LGBTQ community and the diversity of communities and experiences that enrich our humanity. We must turn that love into action by living our truths and fighting for a world where every person is safe to live theirs.”

In honor of NCOD, the HRC launched a powerful video and digital campaign highlighting inspirational stories of celebrities and influencers who have come out over the past year, including Lil Nas X, Ryan Russell, Willow Smith, and Lilly Singh.

In recent years, the LGBTQ community has made great strides toward full equality in the US through legal victories and political change built on decades of grassroots activ-

ism. This May, for the first time, a chamber of Congress passed a comprehensive LGBTQ civil rights bill, the Equality Act.

Yet at the same time, the LGBTQ community faces unprecedented attacks from the Trump-Pence administration, including the rescinding of key protections for transgender students, the banning of transgender troops from serving openly, and the advancement of policies that would open the door to discrimination against LGBTQ people in health care, housing, public accommodations, and other aspects of life. In addition, 50% of LGBTQ Americans live in the 29 states that still lack statewide legal nondiscrimination protections, leaving their residents and visitors at risk of being fired, denied housing, or refused service. And in 2019, at least 19 transgender people have been killed in the United States, nearly all of them Black women.

Research shows that when an individual

knows someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support LGBTQ equality.

For example, a 2016 survey commissioned by the HRC Foundation, the educational arm of HRC, found that 35% of likely voters know or work with a transgender person, twice as many as a report from 2014 found. Significantly, more than two-thirds of those who said they know a transgender person expressed support for full LGBTQ equality.

Last year, the HRC worked with Twitter to mark the occasion for the first time in history with a dedicated National Coming Out Day emoji in conjunction with the hashtag #ComingOutDay. Social media users can use the hashtag again this year to elevate their voices, connect with the community, and share their stories.

The HRC Foundation has launched several resources to encourage and support individuals in their coming out jour-

HRC Foundation launches the first-ever #HBCUOutLoud Day

WASHINGTON, DC (October 16, 2019) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation announced the first-ever National #HBCUOutLoud Day, providing an important opportunity for everyone who cares about supporting the LGBTQ community and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to speak up and speak out.

As part of #HBCUOutLoud Day, and in cooperation with the bipartisan HBCU Caucus and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, the HRC is today hosting a discussion on Capitol Hill exploring the ways Congress can partner with HBCUs to support LGBTQ diversity and inclusion efforts on campuses.

“For decades, HBCUs have been driv-

ing forces of social justice movements and equality around the country – however, the stories, experiences, and contributions of Black LGBTQ folks can often go unnoticed or underrecognized,” said HRC Foundation HBCU Program Director Leslie Hall.

“The HRC’s #HBCUOutLoud Day seeks to elevate the visibility, awareness, and stories of LGBTQ students, staff, and alumni of HBCUs who are challenging norms and stereotypes and pushing to create a more equitable and inclusive society.”

The HRC Foundation is also on the ground today at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in Texas for the grand opening of the school’s LGBTQ+ Resource Office. The event will include a “Building an Inclusive Campus” workshop at 10 a.m., conducted by HRC Foundation HBCU Program Manager Rishard Butts, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. The office at PVAMU will be the fifth designated LGBTQ office or center at an HBCU in the US.

Research demonstrates that the landscape for equity and inclusion for LGBTQ students on HBCU campuses is improving, yet many still lack the policies and practices that seek to end discrimination, stigma, and bias still experienced by too many. In creating the national #HBCUOutLoud Day, the HRC Foundation is not only raising public awareness about the HBCU LGBTQ community but also providing easy ways for

ney, including guides on coming out as your true identity, in communities of faith, among different racial and ethnic identities, in the workplace, at the doctor, and in a variety of other contexts. Visit hrc.org/ comingout for more information. For more information and resources on NCOD, visit HRC’s Coming Out Center [at https://www.hrc.org/explore/topic/comingout].

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

people to make a make a difference on their campuses and in their wider communities.

The HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program mobilizes and supports HBCUs in enhancing policies and services that promote excellence in LGBTQ inclusion, equity, and engagement. The program focuses on promoting individual competencies and collective action, empowering leaders and stakeholders, and building a network of committed leaders in pursuit of eliminating stigma and enriching the college experience for LGBTQ students and the entire student body.

The HRC’s HBCU Program was founded to support LGBTQ students at HBCUs by providing resources and trainings to advance affirming and supportive college campuses. The program is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation. For more information about the HRC’s HBCU Project, visit http://www.hrc.org/hbcu.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of 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

New research-based poster series launched to build healthy futures for LGBTQ & gender-diverse children & youth

SAN FRANCISCO (October 11, 2019) –High levels of risk for LGBTQ adolescents for suicide, substance abuse, depression, and victimization call for evidence-based approaches that increase support and connectedness at individual and institutional levels, starting with the family.

Foundational research from the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) at San Francisco State University has shown that parents and caregivers have a compelling influence on their child’s risk and well-being that provides a behavioral framework to reduce risk, strengthen families and support positive development for LGBTQ children and youth. In conjunction with National Coming Out Day, FAP is releasing a new series of posters that are designed to be used in public spaces like libraries and community centers and everywhere that children and youth are served, including schools, to share key information from FAP’s peer-reviewed studies and family support work with ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse families and their LGBTQ children.

Disseminated in conjunction with a range of international, national, and local groups, the posters will educate the public, families, youth, religious leaders, and others about the critical link between specific family-rejecting and [family-]accepting behaviors with risk and well-being for LGBTQ children and youth – especially suicide. They provide a dynamic education and intervention resource to help families decrease rejection to prevent risk and increase acceptance and support to promote well-being for LGBTQ children and youth.

Often compared to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study that is shaping interventions to prevent health risks, FAP’s research has identified specific family behaviors that predict risk and well-being for LGBTQ youth in adulthood. In addition, FAP has developed the first evidence-informed family support model that is being integrated into systems of care, including behavioral health care, family preservation services, foster care, school-based care, trauma-based care, and faith-based mental health care, [which] will use the posters and other evidence-based FAP materials that are also Best Practice resources for suicide prevention. FAP’s research has found that family behaviors, such as not letting an LGBTQ youth learn

about their sexual orientation and gender identity, […] have the same impact related to risk as physically beating an LGBTQ child. Similarly, FAP’s research has found that supporting a young person’s gender expression is among the most wellnesspromoting behaviors [and helps] protect against risk and foster well-being.

FAP’s poster series is being released in conjunction with National Coming Out Day in the US and internationally, in English and Spanish, to emphasize the importance of family and caregiver reactions to LGBTQ and gender-diverse children and youth. FAP is working with groups in the US and other countries to disseminate the posters in a wide range of settings, including public spaces, clinics, schools, and congregations, to promote open conversations between parents and children, between young people and their providers, and in families and communities, [in order] to increase acceptance and support for LGBTQ children and youth. FAP is partnering with University of Oregon Implementation Science and Prevention Science researchers to evaluate the impact the posters have on care for LGBTQ young people.

Said Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “We know that suicide risk is increased for LGBTQ youth, particularly when rejection occurs in their lives. So educating parents and others about the research surrounding the critical role they can play in the […] well-being of their children is vitally important. We all need to learn more about what constitutes accepting versus rejecting behaviors. These posters are a prime example of how research can be turned into lifesaving action.”

Dr. Judith Cohen, co-developer of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, the most widely used trauma treatment model for children and youth, noted that “FAP’s posters provide simple, evidencebased ways for families to support their LGBT children and improve their health and happiness. We’re very excited to integrate FAP’s posters and intervention strategies into trauma- focused cognitive behavioral therapy for LGBT youth who have experienced trauma.”

Dr. Caitlin Ryan, director of the Family Acceptance Project, noted that “the posters are key resources to help families and

HRC endorses Eliz Markowitz

FORT BEND, TX (October 15, 2019) –Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced the endorsement of Eliz Markowitz in her bid for the Texas State House of Representatives in the upcoming special election. This endorsement was released alongside our Texas partners, Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas.

“As a member of the LGBTQ community and lifelong educator, Markowitz will be an important addition and necessary voice for equality in the Texas legislature,” said HRC Texas State Director Rebecca Marques. “Without federal or state protections, LGBTQ Texans need more leaders in Austin working to protect them. We have a lot of work to do to make Texas a fairer and more equal place, and we’re glad to take on the fight to create a pro-equality majority in the statehouse, starting with electing Eliz Markowitz.”

“The dozens of discriminatory bills filed [in] the Texas legislature in recent years and the cases pending at the US Supreme

Court show there is still much more work to be done before we can say LGBTQ people in this state truly have full equality,” said TFN 21st Century Education PAC Political Director Carisa Lopez. “We need people like Eliz in Austin defending the rights of LGBTQ Texans and fighting for the kinds of pro-equality policies – like employment and housing protections – that polling shows are supported by a clear majority of Texans. TFN PAC fully supports Eliz Markowitz because she is clearly the best candidate in the HD-28 special election.”

“We have an opportunity to create a state that reflects our values and priorities. We must come together and fight for the state we want. Now is the time to act with our vote. It is our civil right and our civic duty. Eliz Markowitz is a pro-equality candidate and represents the type of representative we want in the Texas legislature. In addition to Dr. Markowitz being an openly gay candidate, she is running on a platform of equality and anti-discrimination,” said Angela Hale, acting CEO of Texas Equity PAC.

In 2018, the HRC deployed staff on the ground across the state to help elect other pro-equality candidates across Texas. Our work led to a resurgence for pro-equality candidates across Texas, including electing Reps. Lizzie Fletcher and Colin Allred, as well as State Rep Julie Johnson. Earlier this year, the HRC added Texas as a Project One America state, increasing our electoral and programmatic work across the state. So far, the HRC has endorsed Reps. Fletcher and Allred, congressional candidate Gina Ortiz Jones, and State Rep. Julie Johnson.

Heading into the 2019 Texas legislative session, there were 23 anti-LGBTQ bills filed. With the leadership of the newly created LGBTQ Caucus, the Texas legislative session concluded with only one anti-LGBTQ bill, SB 1978, being passed into law. SB 1978 was originally filed as a broad, sweeping anti-LGBTQ bill. However, after concerns raised by the LGBTQ Caucus, advocates and other organizations, significant changes were made to the bill.

The LGBTQ caucus was started by five

providers understand the critical need for family support and the impact that specific family accepting and rejecting behaviors have on risk and well-being for LGBTQ children and youth. Efforts to change, deny, and minimize a child’s LGBTQ identity and gender expression start at home and last a lifetime, just as affirmation and support build healthy futures for LGBTQ children and youth. The posters are free and available for all to use. We hope that agencies, congregations and communities will download, print, and use them everywhere.”

For more information about the Family Acceptance Project and to view and download the posters, visit http://familyproject. sfsu.edu.

Direct links:

• Main landing page: http://familyproject. sfsu.edu/poster

• English main page: http://familyproject. sfsu.edu/poster-english

• Spanish main page: http://familyproject. sfsu.edu/poster-spanish

Courtesy of Target Cue

women in the House: Rep. Mary González, Rep. Celia Israel, Rep. Jessica González, Rep. Julie Johnson, and Rep. Erin Zwiener. Several of the members identify as openly LGBTQ. Earlier this year, at the National Conference for State Legislators in Nashville, the Human Rights Campaign honored the members with a reception to celebrate their leadership and legislative success in 2019. Should Markowitz be elected, she would join the caucus as its sixth member.

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

National and state LGBTQ and advocacy organizations rise up against hate ahead of anti-LGBTQ group’s annual conference

Hi from the Southern Poverty Law Center,

Sixteen national and state LGBTQ and advocacy organizations joined together in an open letter against hate ahead of the anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council (FRC) holding its annual conference in Washington, D.C. starting today [Friday, October 11, 2019].

FRC has made a name for itself by vilifying the LGBTQ community and works to turn its hateful rhetoric into policy at the state and federal levels.

The open letter reads:

“We refuse to accept hateful bigotry that has hurt our communities through harmful policies and rhetoric that destroys lives.

“Today, we join together to say enough.

“As a group of allied organizations committed to equality and justice, we are pushing back against organizations like the Family Research Council (FRC) that continue to demonize others in their campaign of hate targeting the LGBTQ community.

“This week, some of the nation’s most extreme anti-LGBTQ groups, their leaders and elected officials are gathering in Washington D.C. for FRC’s “Values Voter Summit” – a conference that is an all-out assault on the freedoms we fight each day to achieve.

“They demonize LGBTQ people by spreading lies that pour fuel on the fire of hate. These groups are extremely dangerous, not only because of their intent to denigrate vulnerable communities, but because they have direct access to the White House, Congress and state legislatures, where they peddle junk science and use fear mongering tactics to support their harmful and divisive legislation and policies to further exclude those that they deem to be different.

“ Anti-LGBTQ hate has no place in our country.

“Together, we are rising up against hate.

“Co-Signed, “American Atheists; Athlete Ally; CenterLink; Equality California; Equality Federation; Equality Florida; Family Equality; GLAAD; Lambda Legal; National Center for Lesbian Rights; National Center for Transgender Equality; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Planned Parenthood Southeast; Southern Poverty Law Center; Transgender Law Center; The Trevor Project”

Courtesy of the Southern Poverty Law Center

36,000 adults in Southwest Florida identify as LGBT

–

LOS ANGELES (October 4, 2019)

An estimated 36,000 adults in Southwest Florida, 3.4% of the population, identify as LGBT, according to a new regional analysis by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Almost a third (31%) are Latino/a, and 17% of LGBT adults age 25 and older are raising children.

Researchers analyzed data from the Gallup Daily Tracking Survey to create a comprehensive look at the demographics and socioeconomic status of LGBT adults in five counties: Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry. Findings show that LGBT adults are similar in many ways to their heterosexual, cisgender peers. Both populations have similar levels of poverty and food insecurity, rates of military service, and health insurance coverage. However, there are notable differences as well. LGBT adults in the region are more likely

to report depression, high cholesterol, and current smoking.

“Research shows that poor mental health, including depression and smoking, have been associated with increased exposure to specific stressors, such as discrimination and violence,” said lead author Kerith J. Conron, Blachford-Cooper Distinguished Scholar and Research Director at the Williams Institute. “To further understand the LGBT population in Southwest Florida, we need better data on the impact of stigma on LGBT individuals.”

Key findings

• One in five (21%) LGBT adults are 18-24 years old, compared to 9% of nonLGBT adults.

• Half (52%) of LGBT adults are single and have never been married, compared to 20% of non-LGBT adults.

• Almost a third (31%) of LGBT adults are Latino/a, compared to 19% of nonLGBT adults.

• Overall, LGBT adults age 25 and older are less likely to be raising children. However, parenting rates are similar for LGBT and non-LGBT people in two populations: women and Latino/a adults.

• Two-thirds (66%) of LGBT adults are in the labor force, compared to 55% of nonLGBT adults.

• 35% of LGBT adults are poor or near poor, which is a similar rate to non-LGBT adults.

• Nearly one in five (20%) LGBT adults did not have enough money to buy food they needed in the past year.

“This report outlines ways to ensure the health and well-being of Southwest Florida’s diverse LGBT community, including evaluating access to poverty-reduction and

other support services, as well as culturally competent health care,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, which funded the study. “As funders, we want to better understand our entire community and this report provides important insights on how we can all work together to improve the quality of life for everyone in our region.”

Read the report [at https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/ LGBT-in-SW-Florida-Oct-2019.pdf].

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, a think tank on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research with real-world relevance.

Courtesy of the Williams Institute

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and its UN Free & Equal campaign partner with GLAAD for Spirit Day

NEW YORK (October 16, 2019) –

Today, GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced a partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and its UN Free & Equal campaign for Spirit Day, which takes place tomorrow, October 17.

As part of the partnership, the UN Free & Equal campaign has created an emotive campaign video titled “Purple the World,” calling for action against anti-LGBTI bullying. The video is available in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, English, Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish).

Watch the “Purple the World” video [at https://youtu.be/WQXf6NOHoy4].

UN Free & Equal has also created a landing page for Spirit Day, where visitors can educate themselves about the human rights concerns facing LGBTI youth and find information about how allies, teachers, and governments can support LGBTI children who are being bullied. To access the unique Spirit Day landing page, visit https://www.unfe.org/spiritday/.

“The UN Human Rights office is proud to stand up for the human rights of young LGBTI people on Spirit Day – and every day. No child should be bullied for who they are or whom they love. We all have more power than we think to stop bullying and to build societies where all young people, in all their diversity, can grow and thrive. Together we can stop hatefulness and embrace freedom, dignity, and equality,” said Veronica Birga, chief of

OHCHR’s Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section and head of the UN Free & Equal campaign. “We’re excited to partner with GLAAD to win over more allies to stand in solidarity with LGBTI young people around the world.”

In July 2013, the OHCHR launched UN Free & Equal – an unprecedented global UN public information campaign aimed at promoting the equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTI people. The campaign reaches around two billion social feeds around the world with its human rights messaging every year – including powerful videos, impactful graphics, and plain-language fact sheets. Several campaign videos rank among the most watched videos ever produced by the United Nations. National level spinoff campaigns and events have been organized in almost 35 countries, with visible support from UN; political, community, and religious leaders; and celebrities in all regions of the world.

On Spirit Day – the world’s largest and most visible LGBTI anti-bullying campaign – millions of people around the world will wear purple or go purple online in a unified stand against bullying and to show support for LGBTI youth. Purple symbolizes “spirit” on the rainbow flag. Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals.

This year, presenting partners Pantene and Target, official partners Kellogg’s and the NBA & WNBA, as well as community partners Amazon, Johnson & Johnson,

Kirkland & Ellis, and Wells Fargo will all participate in the anti-bullying campaign.

“We are so honored to be partnering with UN Free & Equal this year to take the fight against anti-LGBTI bullying to a global level,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD. “By using its platform to call on leaders and governments to address the issue of bullying on Spirit Day, UN Free & Equal plays a crucial role in amplifying the message that we will continue to fight for a world where LGBTI youth are fully safe and accepted.”

Previous Spirit Day participants include the Obama White House, the Empire State Building, Oprah Winfrey, Britney Spears, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Kerry Washington, Laverne Cox, Shaquille O’Neal, Jimmy Kimmel, Alyssa Milano, Bebe Rexha, MJ Rodriguez, Yara Shahidi, Troye Sivan, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, the NBA, all Major League Baseball teams, NASCAR, WWE, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and the Las Vegas Strip.

In 2018, #SpiritDay sparked over 150 unique press stories and 100K+ unique social mentions across platforms, and earned over 1.6 billion social media impressions.

Coinciding with National Bullying Prevention Month, Spirit Day began in 2010 when then high school student Brittany McMillan created a Tumblr post asking students to wear purple following the suicide deaths of several LGBTI and LGBTIperceived young people.

According to GLSEN’s most recent

National School Climate Survey, 70.1% of LGBTI students report being verbally harassed. Additionally, 59.5% of LGBTI students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 44.6% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 87.3% of LGBTI students experienced harassment or assault based on personal characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender expression, gender, religion, actual or perceived race and ethnicity, and actual or perceived disability.

For more information on Spirit Day, visit http://glaad.org/spiritday.

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

UN Free & Equal is a global United Nations campaign for the equal rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) people everywhere. The campaign, launched in July 2013 and led by the UN Human Rights Office, aims to raise awareness of sexual, gender, and bodily diversity and challenge negative stereotypes of LGBTI people around the world.

Courtesy of GLAAD