SGN Sep 20, 2019 - Part 1

Ann Hampton Callaway previews “In Technicolor” at Jazz Alley Magnificent

Seattle Gay News

Creating Community Now:

Join the upcoming Generations Celebration and the LGBTQ Health and Longevity Conference on October 4 and 5

Results from the Washington State LGBTQ Equity & Diversity Project conducted with UW partners from the Schools of Social Work, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Policy & Governance as well as

43rd

more than 45 community partners throughout the state depict an epidemic of social isolation among LGBTQ elders, as well as younger LGBTQ generations experiencsee GEN EVENTS page 4

District Dems break with tradition, endorse Sawant

Sawant calls for unity against corporate influence

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

The 43rd District Democrats have endorsed Kshama Sawant for re-election to the Seattle City Council. This is the first time in history that a Seattle Democratic

Party organization has endorsed a nonDemocrat for election.

Sawant won handily at the September 17 meeting, with 69% of the votes, well over the 60% threshold required for endorse -

see DEMS page 4

“Pose” actress Angelica Ross to host presidential candidate forum on LGBTQ issues

(September 16, 2019) – “Pose” actress and star of the next installment of “American Horror Story” Angelica Ross will host the national 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues. Con -

firmed to participate are Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julián Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Sestak, Elizabeth Warren, and Marisee LGBTQ FORUM page 6

Arizona Supreme Court OKs anti-LGBT discrimination

4-3 majority says religion trumps equality

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

The Arizona State Supreme Court ruled on September 16 that businesses may turn away LGBT customers if they offer a religious excuse for doing so. The majority in

favor of privileging religious sentiments was a narrow 4-to-3.

The case involved a calligraphy studio, called Brush & Nib, that refused to provide wedding invitations for same-sex couples.

see ARIZONA page 11

OBITUARY IN MEMORIAM – BRIAN A. WILLETT

Brian A. Willett, age 43, born April 5, 1976 in Bozeman MT, died suddenly June 24, 2019 in Seattle, Washington.

Brian’s formative years were spent in Montana where he graduated from Bozeman HS in 1994. His first year of college was spent at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his studies at the University of Oregon, graduating in 1998 with a BA in Political Science. Brian was elected President of the Young Democrats while attending college. He served as an Intern for Congressional Representative Ron Wyden. Ron is now U.S. Senator Wyden for Oregon.

Professionally, Brian’s career took hold in the medical field. Employers included Oregon Medical Labs, Harborview Medical Center, Merck, and finally Bloodworks NW (a blood bank in Seattle).

Brian had a lifelong love of travel and of maps. In his childhood, he was a regional champion in the geography bee. While still in grade school, Brian took a round the United States trip with his older sister, Terry. The trip cemented his love of learning about people and places different than himself. That love lead to several European trips as well as countless travels across the United States and Canada.

He had an extraordinary eye for photography and combined this skill with his passion for fine dining. The subsequent Facebook posts are legendary.

Brian’s gentle ability to call people back to their better selves on social media will be sorely missed. Facebook friends remained friends even after Brian let them know (always privately) that they had overstepped boundaries or were making themselves look foolish.

Brian is survived by his mother, Bea and father, Walt of Billings, MT, two sisters, Terry Wheeler of Sierra Vista, AZ, Tammy Novakovich of Red Lodge, MT and a brother, Paul of Billings, MT. Brian is also survived by his partner of five years, David Anderson of Seattle, WA.

A memorial/celebration of life will be

September 27, 7pm at

OBITUARY

IN MEMORIAM: MIKE SCHEMM

Dear GSBA Members and friends,

It’s with great sadness that I write to let you know of the passing of Mike Schemm, one of our community’s most generous and amazing champions of LGBTQ equality.

Mike Schemm, longtime member of GSBA, passed away on Saturday, Sept 7, 2019. Mike was one of the first accountants who joined GSBA when it was formed in 1981 and immediately become the trusted accountant of so many in our community.

Earlier this summer, some of us had the gift of seeing Mike at our Jewel Luncheon and then again at the annual Founders Brunch, where he proudly proclaimed that he still had a copy of his first dues check he wrote to GSBA in January of 1982. A

past GSBA Board Member, Mike was an unwavering champion for GSBA, including the GSBA Scholarship Fund.

For some of us, he is best known for his yearly mailing parties, when we gathered to stuff personal letters which he wrote to every client encouraging them to give generously, and – if they needed a suggestion as to where to give – he gently suggested, “Why, the GSBA Scholarship Fund, of course!” This personal touch brought in over $20k per year. Many of these donors we never even met, but Mike was so trusted, community members were always happy to follow his lead.

If you didn’t see Mike at a GSBA event, there’s a high likelihood that you would see him at a Seattle Men’s Chorus concert. He always showed up for his two most beloved organizations. Although Mike moved to Bali, Indonesia, a few years back, he continued to return to Seattle, especially to attend our annual Scholars Dinner.

We send our loving thoughts to his partner, Pion – who lives in Bali – as well as his sisters and brother, plus our entire community, made stronger and more loving because Mike walked among us. Mike led by example of how to live your values and love your community. There are literally hundreds of students whose lives were forever changed through Mike’s generosity. Mike, we will think of you often and miss you a lot.

With profound sadness,

Louise Chernin

President & CEO

Courtesy of GSBA

ment. Shaun Scott, also a socialist, won endorsement from the 43rd District too, with 62% of the votes.

“We made history tonight, becoming the first Democratic Party legislative district in Seattle to endorse someone from outside the party, whose values we align with,” said Amy Madden, a leader in the 43rd LD Democrats.

“Kshama has long-standing relationships with environmental, housing justice, and other organizers within the 43rd Democrats. She has fought beside us, from the campaign to divest the city from fossil fuel industry,

GEN EVENTS

continued from cover

ing economic, health and social disparities, disconnected from the history and wisdom of their elders. This research shows that LGBTQ older adults are at higher risk for many chronic medical conditions, yet are also resilient and proactive when it comes to taking care of their health. But one burden for LGBTQ older adults is more subtle and pervasive: social isolation. A health hazard of its own, loneliness has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, early onset of disability, depression, and a greater risk of cognitive decline. The research also shows that accessing affordable, stable housing is a critical issue for the LGBTQ population at large. LGBTQ people are vulnerable to difficulties securing housing and finding supportive communities, said Karen Fredriksen Goldsen,

to the fight for 15, to passing landmark renters’ rights legislation. The scale of corporate PAC money spending against progressive candidates in this election points to just how effective our progressive coalition has been in recent years. We’re going to continue to build a more inclusive, compassionate city, if Democrats, socialists, labor, and other progressives stick together.”

Scott Alspach, the chair of the 43rd LD Democrats, added that “our members know that Councilmember Sawant is a strong advocate for workers, renters, and marginalized communities throughout Seattle. With the vote tonight our membership made it very clear that we care more about the values a candidate holds than the labels they use.”

Retiring City Councilmember Mike

a University of Washington professor of social work and principal investigator of the Washington State LGBTQ Equity & Diversity Project and the landmark longitudinal study, Aging with Pride

The Inaugural Generations Celebration on October 5 will recognize and honor our elders, link lives, and build bridges across LGBTQ generations and allies! This premier event represents our mission to build community support for all to live healthy and openly without fear. Our research found that when coming of age, most LGBTQ elders had to hide their lives for fear of family rejection, criminal prosecution or incarceration in mental health facilities. Despite the adversity they’ve faced, these elders built vibrant communities and powered a decades-long movement, the freedoms from which we enjoy today. Yet, many LGBTQ elders report being forced back into the closet as they age without the services and support they need.

O’Brien, a member of the 43rd District Dems, spoke in favor of the Sawant endorsement, saying, “She is a fierce advocate… I have never doubted who Councilmember Sawant represents on City Council.”

The 43rd District covers large portions of Sawant’s City Council District 3 and Scott’s District 4. Sawant is the incumbent councilmember, while Scott is running for an open seat.

Sawant also won the unanimous endorsement of the King County Young Democrats on September 15. She also managed to block endorsement of her opponent, Egan Orion, by the 37th District Democrats.

Rules prevent the 37th District from endorsing anyone but a Democrat, but Sawant still got 59% of the vote, leading

While also displaying many strengths, the younger generations continue to experience significant health, economic and social disparities, disconnected from those older in our community. Emceed by Shellie Hart of Warm 106.9, come enjoy this gala with a reception followed by a three-course dinner and hosted wine while enjoying a variety of live entertainment, music with dancing. We will recognize our LGBTQ elders 70 and older by providing complimentary tickets for them. We are also offering scholarships to those without the financial resources to attend. Parking is provided and the event will be accessible; captioning is provided. For updated entertainment and to buy tickets visit genevents.org/gala/.

At the LGBTQ Health & Longevity Conference on October 4 we will present exciting innovations from around the state. The findings from the Washington State LGBTQ Equity & Diversity Project will be presented for the first time. The conference

that group to declare “no endorsement” in the race. This was seen as a victory for Sawant’s supporters.

After the endorsement meeting, Sawant called for a united front of progressives to take on corporate influence in city politics.

“As I said to the 43rd members before the vote today, now more than ever, we need to unify working people, Democrats, socialists, and the labor movement against big businesses attempt to buy City Hall – but also to offer a positive vision: for a Green New Deal, rent control, taxing big business to massively expand social housing, and to fight for a city that works for ordinary people,” she said.

will be joined by Karen Parker, PhD, Director, Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office, National Institutes of Health, who is looking to our area’s research to shape national policy, effective interventions and future research. Many other speakers will provide engaging presentations across three tracks including LGBTQ Health, LGBTQ Aging and Longevity, and Trans & Gender Diverse Health. There will also be a Resource Fair and Continuing Education Units are offered. Scholarships are available to those without the financial resources to attend. Parking is provided and the event will be accessible; captioning is provided. For a list of presenters and to register, visit genevents.org/conference/.

“The goal of our Gala and Conference is to create community and to ensure relevant and culturally appropriate services and to connect LGBTQ people, their families and their communities,” Fredriksen Goldsen said.

anne Williamson. The forum is presented by GLAAD, One Iowa, The Gazette, and The Advocate and will be live-streamed from Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 20 at 7 p.m. CT. Country artist and contestant on season 11 of “The Voice” Billy Gilman is set to perform the national anthem at the event.

As a transgender activist, Ross is an ideal host for the forum. Ross will join GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis on the stage as they bring LGBTQ specific-issues to the forefront of discussion in the 2020 presidential election. During the forum, each candidate will discuss their plan and vision for improving LGBTQ acceptance in a divisive time for marginalized communities.

“This LGBTQ Presidential Forum is a pivotal moment in the 2020 election cycle,” said Ellis. “It’s the first time that LGBTQ issues will be exclusively discussed by 2020 presidential candidates on a national stage.”

She added, “We look forward to hearing how the 2020 candidates plan to reverse the attacks and rollbacks of the Trump administration and put LGBTQ Americans on a course to 100% acceptance.”

This comes at a time when members of the American LGBTQ community have faced more than 124 anti-LGBTQ attacks in policy and rhetoric from the Trump administration. This includes the ban on transgender Americans from serving in the military and the administration’s opposition to the Equality Act.

Ross was a part of television history with “Pose,” which included the largest transgender cast ever for a scripted series – and trans

women of color at that. When she was cast in Ryan Murphy’s forthcoming “AHS: 1984,” she made history again as the first trans performer to land two series regular roles on TV.

She is also the President of Miss Ross, Inc. and founder and CEO of TransTech

Social Enterprises, an organization that helps people lift themselves out of poverty through technical training and digital work that creates social impact and brings economic empowerment to marginalized communities and members.

You can watch the livestream of the Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues [at https://youtu.be/d0k1rGd5oZA].

Courtesy of GLAAD

Lambda Legal and MMAA urge 4th Circuit to uphold court order preventing discharge of HIV-positive airmen, in lawsuit against Pentagon

RICHMOND, VA (September 18, 2019)

– Today, lawyers for two active-duty Airmen who are living with HIV urged a threejudge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to uphold a preliminary injunction granted in February that prevents the Trump administration from continuing with discharge proceedings against members of the US Air Force living with HIV. Today’s argument came in Roe & Voe v. Shanahan, the lawsuit filed last December on behalf of two Airmen, identified pseudonymously, by Lambda Legal, the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA, formerly OutServe-SLDN), and pro bono partner Winston & Strawn LLP.

“Serving my country has been the greatest honor of my life, one that I am extremely grateful for and proud of,” said plaintiff Victor Voe. “All my fellow service members in this lawsuit and I want is to be able to continue to serve, and to do so without unnecessary restrictions preventing us from giving this country what it deserves –our best.”

In February 2019, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted the preliminary injunction against the US Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force to halt discharge proceedings against active-duty HIV-positive Airmen. In granting the preliminary injunction, the district court ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims that the military policies preventing the deployment of service members with HIV are outdated and irrational.

“The trial court appropriately ruled that these airmen should be able to continue to

serve while this case is being tried, and it put the discriminatory policy on hold,” said Scott Schoettes, HIV Project Director and Counsel at Lambda Legal. “The government could have allowed the case to go to trial last week – instead they pursued this appeal in an effort to discharge these patriotic young men before they get their day in court. It’s disappointing, but not surprising, given the strength of the evidence we will present at trial.”

“Thanks to modern science, there is no legitimate reason to deny service members living with HIV the ability to continue to serve their country,” said MMAA Executive Director Andy Blevins. “Major advances in the treatment of HIV have rendered the virus untransmittable. At a time when the military is struggling to meet recruiting goals, the last thing the Department of Defense should be doing is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and discharging highly trained service members based on outdated science. We’re proud to be suing the Trump-Pence administration to ensure that all service members, including those living with HIV, are treated equally with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

In the briefs on appeal, lawyers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) argue that the Air Force can discharge these airmen – despite a regulation prohibiting discharge based on HIV status alone –because airmen with HIV are not allowed to deploy. In opposition, the lawsuit argues that preventing the airmen from deploying because they have HIV and then discharging them because they can’t deploy is the same as discharging them because they

have HIV. Furthermore, plaintiffs argue there is no rational basis for prohibiting the deployment of service members with HIV, because they can easily be provided with appropriate medical care and present no real risk of transmission to others, even in combat situations.

“I joined the Air Force to follow in my parents’ legacy of serving this country. I am honored and privileged for the opportunity to serve, but I joined this lawsuit because of a lack of understanding and stigma around what it means to live with HIV today,” said plaintiff Richard Roe. “The only qualification to serve should be whether one can perform the job, and service members with HIV can perform their job as well and as safely as anyone else. We look forward to a final decision that allows us to serve the country we love, free of discrimination.”

In July, several military experts, medical associations and HIV advocates filed three amicus briefs with the 4th Circuit opposing Trump administration’s deployment and discharge policies with respect to service members living with HIV. The medical brief argues the policies are irrational and discriminatory given the strides in HIV diagnosis and treatment that suppress viral load to undetectable levels –thus eliminating the risk of transmission and allowing people to return to health and lead full lives. The brief from HIV advocates and public health experts discussed the effects of HIV stigma and discrimination in combatting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. And the friend-of-the-court brief from former military leaders – including former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus,

former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, and former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James – explains that there is no military justification for preventing service members with HIV from deploying into combat positions.

Background

The lawsuit challenges the Pentagon’s discriminatory deployment policies, which prevent service members living with HIV from deploying outside the United States without a waiver. For years, these unjustifiable policies have restricted the opportunities of service members living with HIV. Now the Trump administration and the Pentagon are using these same deployment restrictions to justify discharging service members solely based on HIV status.

The Modern Military Association of America (formerly OutServe-SLDN) is also an organizational plaintiff in this case to advance the interests of its members who are living with HIV and serving in the military. Along with Harrison v. Shanahan and Deese and Doe v. Shanahan, this is the third lawsuit that Lambda Legal and MMAA have brought to challenge military policies that discriminate against people living with HIV.

The case is entitled Roe and Voe v. Shanahan, et al. Joining Lambda Legal and MMAA on the legal team are attorneys from Winston & Strawn LLP and Greenberg Traurig LLP, serving as pro bono counsel.

Courtesy of Lambda Legal

HRC responds to decision in Brush & Nib Studio v. Phoenix

PHOENIX, AZ (September 16, 2019)

– Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to a decision in the Arizona Supreme Court undermining Phoenix’s six-year-old nondiscrimination ordinance.

“Governor Ducey’s Supreme Court just issued a license to discriminate against Arizona’s LGBTQ community in an alarming decision that puts the state’s people, reputation, and economy at risk,” said HRC Deputy Campaign Director Justin Unga.

“For years, Arizona’s economic councils, lawmakers, and leaders from every community, including faith and business leaders, worked together to build an Arizona that is open to everyone and attracts investments from across the country. Not only does this decision affect countless LGBTQ Arizonans, it sends a message about inclusivity to businesses and institutions seeking to invest in states that welcome all people. Today’s decision could also open the door for discrimination against other communities protected by the ordinance, including religious minorities and women. LGBTQ Arizonans pay taxes, own businesses, serve in our military, and contribute to our

ARIZONA

continued from cover

The owners of the business, Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, claimed their Christian religion forbade them from sanctioning same-sex marriages.

Their decision not to accommodate LGBT customers put them squarely in violation of Phoenix City Code 18-4(B)(1)-(3). Adopted in 2013, the ordinance prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability. It applies to businesses offering services to the general public.

economy, and they deserve a government that stands with them. The HRC joins the vast majority of Arizonans who believe discrimination is wrong, and we will mobilize the over one million Equality Voters in Arizona to proactively pass pro-equality reforms and elect leaders who believe all people deserve dignity and respect.”

Earlier this year, the Arizona Supreme

Duka and Koski sued the City of Phoenix over the law, saying it violated their First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion. Lower courts upheld the city ordinance, but the majority of the state’s high court agreed with Duka and Koski.

“The rights of free speech and free exercise, so precious to this nation since its founding, are not limited to soft murmurings behind the doors of a person’s home or church, or private conversations with likeminded friends and family,” Justice Andrew Gould wrote in the majority opinion.

“These guarantees protect the right of every American to express their beliefs in public. This includes the right to create and sell words, paintings, and art that express a

Court heard arguments in Brush & Nib Studio v. City of Phoenix. The Brush & Nib Studio proactively sought the authority to turn away same-sex couples in violation of a Phoenix city ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. The Supreme Court received this case after the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a ruling denying the

person’s sincere religious beliefs.

“With these fundamental principles in mind, today we hold that the City of Phoenix ... cannot apply its Human Relations Ordinance ... to force Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio, LC (“Brush & Nib”), to create custom wedding invitations celebrating samesex wedding ceremonies in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs. Duka, Koski, and Brush & Nib (“Plaintiffs”) have the right to refuse to express such messages under article 2, section 6 of the Arizona Constitution, as well as Arizona’s Free Exercise of Religion Act (“FERA”), A.R.S. § 41-1493.01.”

Local human rights activists charged

business owners the ability to discriminate against same-sex couples. The HRC joined the ACLU in an amicus brief supporting LGBTQ rights and the City of Phoenix.

Prior to this case, Arizona confronted yet another attack on LGBTQ rights in SB 1062, a bill from the Arizona legislature that would have allowed individuals to refuse service because of a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation. That bill caused tremendous backlash from the business community both in Arizona and across the nation. At a point, the NFL even threatened to move Super Bowl XLIX if the legislature did not pull the bill, putting millions of dollars in expected revenue at risk. After continued pressure from business groups and civil rights organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, then-Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the bill.

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

that Brush & Nib was a creation of the antiLGBT Alliance Defending Freedom – a fake business specifically created to give the Alliance a vehicle to challenge city law.

They noted that Brush & Nib sued the City of Phoenix preemptively, without having had any encounters with potential LGBT customers. Brush & Nib does not currently maintain a physical location but sells its products and services off the website Etsy – in spite of Etsy’s nondiscrimination polices.

The Alliance Defending Freedom has also recruited two Minnesota videographers to set up a wedding video business that then challenged that state’s Human Rights Act.

HRC report: State and federal officials failing LGBTQ community in data collection

WASHINGTON, DC (September 17, 2019) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) published a report, “LGBTQ-Inclusive Data Collection: A Lifesaving Imperative,” revealing how the failure of state and federal officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity is causing harm to LGBTQ Americans, who remain largely invisible to the government entities entrusted with ensuring their health, safety, and well-being.

“It is imperative that municipal and state governments close the gap on data collection across this country – and we are calling on them to pass legislation to ensure every single LGBTQ person is counted,” said Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “We must also collect this data at the federal level. The Office of Management and Budget is failing LGBTQ people every day they do not act in collecting information on gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition, Congress should swiftly pass the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act, which would require federal agencies to include voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in data collection instruments that include demographic data.”

“Failure to include sexual orientation and gender identity in demographic surveys brings about real and dire consequences for LGBTQ Americans. It is long past time that

officials in every level of government include all marginalized communities, including LGBTQ Americans, in all relevant data collection efforts,” said HRC Senior Legislative Counsel Xavier Persad. “Countless sweeping legislative and regulatory proposals, as well as decisions directing hundreds of billions of dollars in public funding, are based on demographic data that exclude sexual orientation and gender identity. This means LGBTQ people are systematically left out of policy and funding decisions that carry lifesaving potential.”

The HRC is calling on the Office of Management and Budget, as the federal agency charged with coordinating the efforts of the vast and complex federal statistical system, to act quickly in issuing a statistical directive that requires sexual orientation and gender identity measures where data on sex is collected. In addition, Congress should swiftly pass the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act, which would require federal agencies to include voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in data collection instruments that include demographic data.

Currently, there are no state or federal laws requiring government and government-funded data collection efforts to include sexual orientation and gender identity data alongside other demographic data such as race, ethnicity and sex. Only four

states – New York, California, Oregon, and New Jersey – and the District of Columbia have narrower laws or regulations mandating LGBTQ-inclusive data collection in specific areas other than hate crimes.

The Trump-Pence administration since day one has engaged in a concerted effort to stymie and roll back existing LGBTQ-inclusive data collection, including the following:

• The US Census Bureau reversed plans to include sexual orientation and gender identity on the American Community Survey.

• The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) renounced its plans to include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its Annual Program Performance Report for Centers for Independent Living.

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development withdrew its request for comments on a proposed LGBTQ youth homelessness survey.

• HHS published its Strategic Plan for 2018–2022, which excluded any mention of sexual orientation and gender identity.

• The Department of Justice announced that it would stop asking 16- and 17-yearolds voluntary and confidential questions on their sexual orientation and gender identity in the National Crime Victimization Survey.

• HHS published a proposed rule change

that would abandon data collection on the sexual orientation of foster youth and foster and adoptive parents and guardians in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System;

• HHS announced it would be removing questions on sexual orientation and gender identity from the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants. Fortunately, these questions were restored following public outcry.

Comprehensive laws on every level of government are the most effective first step in ensuring that LGBTQ people are recognized and that their unique needs are adequately addressed. Municipalities, states, and the federal government can and should promulgate laws and policies that require their respective data collection undertakings to be fully inclusive of the LGBTQ community.

The full report can be found [at https:// assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRCLGBTQ-DataCollection-Report.pdf].

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

Sierra Club denounces Trump administration’s indefensible attack on states’ freedom to curb vehicle pollution

WASHINGTON, DC (September 18, 2019) – Today, Donald Trump tweeted out that his administration is revoking the Clean Air Act waiver that allows California to adopt and enforce stronger greenhouse gas emissions standards on new cars and light trucks than the federal government’s. It also allows the state to require auto manufacturers to sell increasing numbers of electric vehicles in the state.

The EPA’s revocation of California’s

waiver has wide-reaching implications –it also affects […] 14 states (plus DC) that have adopted these stronger restrictions on pollution from cars, and 11 states that have adopted the Zero Emission Vehicle standards. The clean-car standards protect the environment and the public health of more than 118 million people, upwards of 40 percent of the US population.

In response, Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, released the fol-

lowing statement:

“Donald Trump is committing an unprecedented and illegal attack on the Clean Air Act that will increase pollution in our communities and steal money from people’s wallets. This move is nothing more than pure vindictiveness from an administration set on giving Big Oil a polluting pass at the expense of our climate and the well-being of American families.

“For four decades, the Clean Air Act

has granted states the right to protect their residents from dangerous air pollution caused by transportation. Trump’s actions will not go unchecked. The Sierra Club will challenge this indefensible attack in court and hold this administration accountable.”

Courtesy of the Sierra Club

New report offers look at lives of LGBT People of Color in rural America, shattering stereotypes of life in rural communities

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people of color are central to the fabric of rural life in America.”

– David Johns, executive director of

the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)

DES MOINES, IA – Media coverage often portrays rural America as singularly white, conservative and working-class. Yet at least 10 million people of color, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of color, call rural America home. Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new report, Where We Call Home: LGBT People of Color in Rural America (https://www.lgbtmap.org/rural-lgbt-poc), which examines the unique challenges of LGBT people of color in rural America and highlights distinct experiences across different communities of color. As the second publication in the Where We Call Home series (http:// www.lgbtmap.org/rural), this report details how the structural challenges of rural life amplify acceptance of or discrimination against LGBT people of color. Where We Call Home: LGBT People of Color in Rural America is released in partnership with the Equality Federation, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

“Rural communities have always been home to people of color and LGBT people of color, but their lives and needs are often unexamined or overlooked,” said Ineke Mushovic, executive director of the Movement Advancement Project (MAP). “LGBT people of color are more likely to live in poverty, more vulnerable to discrimination and less able to respond to its harmful effects. Comprehensive nondiscrimination laws are vital to improving the lives of LGBT people of color in rural America – as is blocking and rescinding religious exemption laws that allow employers and taxpayer-funded service providers to discriminate.”

This report offers extensive new findings on LGBT people of color in rural communities, where discrimination based on race and immigration status is compounded by discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

As discussed in the report findings:

• People of color, including those in rural areas, are more likely than white people to identify as LGBT: people of color comprise 42% of the national LGBT population, compared to 36% of the total U.S. population. And, LGBT people of color generally live in the same rural areas as other people of color do. For example, the U.S. South is home to nine in ten Black people who live

in rural and small-town areas, and Black same-sex couples are also concentrated in the South.

• LGBT people of color in rural states are especially vulnerable to discrimination. Overall, rural states are significantly less likely than majority urban states to have vital nondiscrimination protections, and are also more likely to have harmful, discriminatory laws. Also, among rural states, those with worse LGBT policy climates also have higher populations of people of color, meaning LGBT people of color are especially at risk of discrimination and especially likely to lack protection against it.

• LGBT people of color experience similar or higher rates of both poverty and unemployment compared to both nonLGBT people of color and white people. Additionally, rates of poverty are higher in rural areas than in urban ones, so LGBT people of color in rural areas are likely at an even higher risk of experiencing poverty.

• Smaller populations in rural communities mean any “difference” is more noticeable. For LGBT people of color, increased visibility as both people of color and as LGBT people in rural communities may mean further vulnerability.

• When LGBT people of color in rural areas face discrimination, they may have fewer alternatives for culturally competent providers and fewer opportunities to find a job. This is especially true when businesses and service providers are given a license to discriminate. For example, many senior care providers and hospitals in rural areas are religiously affiliated. Increasing religious exemption laws may allow such providers to discriminate, even when providing taxpayerfunded services. Not only can providers then reject people simply for being LGBT, a provider with racial bias may also choose to reject LGBT people of color, claiming the rejection is because the person is LGBT, not because they are a person of color.

• LGBT people of color have fewer support structures and resources that accept them both as a person of color and someone who is LGBT. The relative social and geographic isolation of rural areas can compound this problem. For example, LGBT-focused programs in rural areas, if available at all, may not fully recognize or be equipped to support people who are both LGBT and a person of color, and programs for people of color in rural areas may not be accepting of people of color who are also LGBT.

Click here (http://lgbtmap.org/image/ rural-poc-infographic-01.png) to view this as an infographic.

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/ SGL) people of color are central to the fabric of rural life in America,” said David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). “With little to no attention paid toward the challenges and joys of what it means to be a LGBTQ/ SGL person of color living in places like the South or the rural Midwest, this report reveals the heightened risk of discrimination for those who are both LGBTQ/SGL and a person of color. This is especially salient for Black people who continue to be disproportionately impacted by the intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and location in America. NBJC is committed to ensuring the livelihood of LGBTQ/SGL people of color in rural communities, in order to close the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ/SGL equality.”

Where We Call Home: LGBT People of Color in Rural America concludes with recommendations for community organizations, educators, healthcare providers and policymakers to address the specific needs of LGBT people of color in rural communities. Because LGBT people of color may experience discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and their race or ethnicity, passing nondiscrimination protections at the federal, state, and local level is vital to ensure full participation in all aspects of life. States and the federal government should also rescind and block harmful religious exemption laws that may allow service providers and employers to legally discriminate against LGBT people. Additionally, addressing the broad structural challenges facing rural communities while also addressing the specific needs of LGBT people of color in rural areas (e.g., expanding data collection on LGBT people of color, repealing HIV criminalization laws, and more) will help to improve the quality of life for LGBT people of color in rural America.

Courtesy of the National Black Justice Coalition

The Human Rights Campaign to honor Dominique Jackson and welcome Ryan Russell and Jake Choi to the 23rd Annual National Dinner

Jackson, Russell and Choi will join Ricky Martin, previously announced as the recipient of the National Visibility Award, and the Human Rights Campaign’s new president, Alphonso David

WASHINGTON, DC – Today [September 19, 2019], the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced that the organization will honor actress Dominique Jackson with the HRC National Equality Award at HRC’s 23rd Annual National Dinner in Washington, D.C. on September 28, 2019. HRC previously announced that it will also honor global superstar Ricky Martin with the HRC National Visibility Award. HRC will welcome openly bisexual NFL veteran Ryan Russell and actor Jake Choi as special guests, as well. This will mark the first HRC National Dinner under the tenure of new HRC President Alphonso David, who will deliver remarks from the stage. DJ Nhandi and comedian Dana Goldberg will be providing entertainment during the program, as well.

“Dominique Jackson has brought her one-of-a-kind charisma and talent to the hit FX series “Pose”, all while being a visible and forceful advocate for LGBTQ rights –especially the rights of transgender women of color,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Her onscreen poise and off-screen passion have cemented her place as a fierce leader in the LGBTQ rights movement, and we are looking forward to presenting her with the National Equality Award.

“We are also thrilled to welcome special guests Ryan Russell and Jake Choi, trailblazers in their respective worlds of sports and entertainment,” David continued. “Earlier this year, Russell became the only active NFL player to publicly come out as bisexual. Choi has received critical acclaim for his roles on the screen, bringing the often underrepresented identity of an LGBTQ Asian-American into the living rooms of families across the country.”

Global Music Icon Ricky Martin continues to soar in his third decade as a leader in the Entertainment Industry. Since his first solo album release in 1991, Martin has

appreciated a worldwide fan base, sold over 70 million records, and has won multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards.

Martin’s passion for music, his instinctive rhythmic style, and a zest for performing, are all rooted in his success. He is a multitalented phenomenon as an actor, a New York Times Best Seller, and a passionate philanthropist and humanitarian. Martin came out as gay in 2010. Recently, he was publicly involved in the protests against the former governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, who used homophobic and other bigoted language in private conversations.

Martin’s tenth studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, was released on February 2015 debuting at No. 1 on U.S. and Puerto Rico album charts. It also won Best Latin Pop Album at the 2016 Grammy® Awards. Martin recently completed his second residency, “ALL IN,” at the Park Theatre at Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His early acting roots and love for performing have also led him to the stage and screen. His Broadway debut as Marius in Les Miserables later landed him the role of Ché in the first revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seven-time Tony Award-winning musical EVITA in 2012. His television credits include a guest star role on Ryan Murphy’s hit high school musical series, “GLEE”, and most recently, Martin has joined forces with Ryan Murphy once again. He most recently starred as Antonio D’Amico, Gianni Versace’s longtime partner, in the multi Emmy nominated FX Drama Series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” with Martin nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor.

Dominique Jackson is a TobagonianAmerican transgender actress, author, model, and reality television personality, most famous for her performance as Elektra Abundance in FX’s Television series “Pose”. She is a great advocate for social change, transforming her community through her partnership with nonprofit organizations such as Destination

Tomorrow in the Bronx to advocate for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights. The star has an extensive social media following, with a fanbase of over 100,000 combined followers on Instagram and Twitter. In an interview with Forbes magazine, Jackson states, “If we can tap into our minds both scientifically and spiritually, we can reach unthinkable heights. Such heights let us more clearly assess successes and failures, and provide us with direction.”

Ryan Russell is a professional football player in the NFL, a published poet, writer and artist. He was drafted in 2015 to the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round. He saw a large part of his success in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. On April 26th, his mother’s birthday, he released his debut poetry book Prison or Passion. In 2019 Russell became the only male athlete in the four major professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) to openly identify as LGBTQ.

The son of Korean immigrants to the United States, Jake Choi was born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens. Fluent in English and Korean, Jake is a series regular on the ABC comedy series “Single Parents”. He plays the lovable but misguided Miggy, a 20-year-old, sleep-deprived dad raising a baby boy alone after the child’s mom departs for college. In 2019, he also starred in the MGM and Warner Bros. feature film The Sun is Also a Star alongside Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton. Previously, Jake was the lead of the 2015 independent film Front Cover, a gay romantic dramedy tackling the intersection of ethnicity and sexuality. Jake’s television credits include roles on the TV Land comedy series “Younger,” Hulu’s “Difficult People,” and Comedy Central’s “Broad City”. He is a staunch advocate for the rights, protections and positive media representations of members of marginalized communities, especially people of color and LGBTQ individuals. On a recent cover of The Advocate magazine, Jake stood shoulder to shoulder with Nico

Santos and Vincent Rodriguez III, for a feature titled “Crazy Amazing Asian-Americans: These Out TV Stars are Changing More Than Just Hollywood.”

The Human Rights Campaign will also honor Cathy Nelson, the organization’s Senior Vice President of Development and Membership, who will be leaving HRC after decades of work in service of the LGBTQ community. She has worked at HRC for 30 years and is the longest serving employee in the organization’s history. As the head of membership and development she helped grow HRC to its 3+ million members and supporters. Cathy’s impact is far reaching and her contributions to HRC are vast; the organization is thrilled to thank and honor Cathy in this way at HRC’s signature event, which she helped start.

The 23rd annual HRC National Dinner will take place at the Washington Convention Center and is expected to draw more than 3,500 guests from across the country and around the world. It will be selling out this week; for tickets and more information, go to www.hrcnationaldinner.org

NOTE: Join HRC for “Equality Unmasked: A Masquerade Affair” –The 20th Annual HRC Seattle Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle (1400 6th Ave., in downtown Seattle). Dress: Formal/festive attire, masquerade masks encouraged. Tickets: https:// www.hrc.org/events/hrc-seattle-gala

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

Courtesy of HRC