TAKE ACTION

#SaveThePostOffice

Postmaster General DeJoy has said actions to continue removal of blue mailboxes and mail sorting machines will end for now, but has also said that they will not be returned and there is still a hiring freeze. In the meantime, millions of people, including LGBTQ+ people, who depend on the post office to deliver their medications, paychecks, Social Security checks, and bills on time are left without options. To learn more about the USPS, and the recent history, visit pflag.org/blog/saving-election-means-saving-post-office-too.

Beginning today and throughout election season, you can take action to #SaveThePostOffice. Learn more at pflag.org/pflagvotes2020.

Tell your story with our friends at Color of Change.
Join a rally at your local post office.
- Aug. 22 at 11am local time (PFLAG chapters can’t host these, but folks can attend as individuals.)
- Aug. 25, all day (PFLAG chapters can host a rally on Tuesday.)
Call your Senators (1-833-828-9069). Stand up America created a call-tool that gives you a message with a suggested script then connects you to your Senator.
Send some love to your local Postmaster. Let them know why you appreciate your local postal service and ask that they support citizens by defending service provision.
Contact your local election officials or your state’s Secretary of State and ask them to add more voting drop boxes.

COURT MATTERS

SCOTUS sets November 4th for Fulton v. City of Philadelphia case's oral arguments. The case to determine whether a tax-funded foster care agency can refuse LGBTQ+ people from fostering or adopting children, denying kids a forever family, is readying for its day at the U.S. Supreme Court. Read the PFLAG National and Family Equality amicus brief on the SCOTUS docket (have tissues handy). The history of the case and all related briefs and materials are available, too.

Federal judge in New York rejects Administration rule removing transgender people’s healthcare coverage and protections. The federal government attempted to repeal the ACA’s existing nondiscrimination protections that include gender identity under the definition of sex, but U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block issued a preliminary injunction blocking the repeal.

Federal judge rules against Idaho's sports law. U.S. District judge David Nye ruled on August 17th in an 87-page decision that the law barring transgender girls from competing in girls sports violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Federal judge rules in favor of equal access to bathrooms for transgender Florida teen. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit’s August 7th ruling ensures that transgender students in the St. Johns County school district are allowed to use the restroom of their affirmed gender and that a public school may not harm transgender students by establishing arbitrary, separate rules for their restroom use.

New York Supreme Court Justice rules cosmetic surgeon to pay $375,000 in damages for HIV discrimination, violating the American with Disabilities Act. The surgeon, Emmanuel A. Asare, MD, was ordered on August 19th to pay three men $125,000 each for refusing to perform surgery on them because they have HIV, a violation of the ADA. Department of Justice investigators also discovered that he tested patients for HIV without their knowledge.

Iowa Court of Appeals dismisses case opposed to Medicaid not being required to cover gender-confirming surgeries. The August 5th ruling followed an appeal filed on behalf of two plaintiffs by the ACLU after Polk County District Court judge David Porter dismissed the case on July 19th, ruling that the issue was not ready for judicial review.

Federal judge allows Louisville photographer to refuse to serve same-sex couples' weddings. U.S. District Judge Justin Walker of the western district of Kentucky ruled that the Louisville Metro Government could not penalize a photographer for advertising that she only photographs and blogs about opposite-sex weddings, blocking enforcement of the city’s Fairness Ordinance against the photographer, who was seeking a religious exemption.

FEDERAL MATTERS

Women's suffrage ratified 100 years ago; Black women remain at the forefront of voting rights and access. While the 19th Amendment is cited as giving women the right to vote, Black women only secured the right to vote with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Ryan White Care Act for HIV treatment in its 30th year. August 18th marks the 30th anniversary of this hard-fought landmark legislation becoming the largest federal program dedicated exclusively to providing care and treatment services to people with HIV (as opposed to HIV prevention services). The law enacts the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

STATE MATTERS

Arizona - Transgender teens sue Arizona for for denying Medicaid coverage for gender confirmation surgery. The teens declared their physical and psychological harm due to the state’s refusal to cover the expense of medically necessary medical interventions.

California - Two arrested in police-described “hate crime” against three transgender women in Hollywood. Video widely shared on social media earlier this week showed a man threatening Eden the Doll, Jaslene Whiterose and Joslyn Flawless; all three women are influencers with large social media followings.

Connecticut - Stamford Board of Representatives passes Resolution to Uphold Title IX Protections for Transgender Students. On August 3rd, Stamford Board of Representatives met virtually and passed the Resolution on a bipartisan basis, 29-3-3. PFLAG Hartford worked hard for victory on this Resolution and invited PFLAG National to support as well.

Florida - Two transgender women arrested at rights rally call treatment at Miami jail ‘dehumanizing.’ Gabriela Amaya Cruz and Jae Bucci were arrested while participating in a July 19th protest in Miami for Black transgender people. The two women reported feeling “erased and dehumanized” by Miami-Dade County officers as the women were being held and processed, even as they repeatedly corrected the officers.

Michigan - On August 19th, Holland City Council approved its expanded Non-Discrimination Ordinance with a vote of 8-1. PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore was an instrumental leader and partner in the years-long work to deliver the successful passage of this comprehensively inclusive ordinance.

Lesbian baker in Detroit got homophobic cake order: Why she made it anyway. The African-American lesbian couple who owns a bakery received an online order to make a cake, iced with an anti-LGBTQ+ message on top. They made the cake, concerned about legal risk, but they didn’t include the message because of their ordering guidelines for special writing on special orders. The buyer showed up days after the cake would be safe to sell and demanded another. ACLU advised that the cake bakers acted within their rights.

GLOBAL MATTERS

New Zealand - Authorities added gender neutral title "Mx" for voter registration. With elections being held next month, more than 1,000 have chosen the gender neutral option as they registered to vote.

Poland - Three charged with “offending religious feelings” after placing rainbow flags on Warsaw statues. The individuals charged were protesting President Andrzej Duda, who has stated that he would attempt to ban marriage and adoption by LGBTQ+ community members.

Protesters decry the government's anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes and actions. Demonstrators turned out in Warsaw and other cities on August 8th to protest anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes and treatment promoted by the government as well as the detention of pro-LGBTQ+ protesters.

United Kingdom - Work begins on a support center for LGBTQ+ people in Manchester. This will replace the outdated Sidney Street center, and will be able to support an additional 50,000 people.

MEDIA MATTERS

Disney Channel’s “The Owl House” makes history with Disney’s first bisexual lead character. “I’m bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit!” series creator Dana Terrace tweeted. “Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am very supported by current Disney leadership.”

Major league baseball team commentator suspended after using anti-LGBTQ+ language during game broadcast. Cincinnati Reds commentator Thom Brennaman was pulled from air after using the word, following a commercial break. The team issued a statement calling his comment “horrific.” Outsports ran two opinion pieces, one from co-founder Cyd Zeigler about why he should not be fired, another from Managing Editor Dawn Ennis about why he should. Via PFLAG National’s long-time partnership with MLB, Brennaman will be working with the Learning and Inclusion team--which runs PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality^TM program--as part of a learning process about the language he used, why it is problematic, and how he can learn from the experience.

Drag Race’s Chi Chi DeVayne dies. DeVayne, who competed on season 8 of the show, had been in the hospital being treated for pneumonia.

Remembering the passion of Larry Kramer. The founder of POZ Magazine shares insights about his friend, the late author and legendary activist.

Marvel Comics historically has first same-sex wedding of gay superheroes. On the last page of “Empyre” No. 4, which was released in comic book stores the first week of August, readers learned that Young Avengers co-founders Hulkling and Wiccan are married. The wedding ceremony, attended by other Young Avengers, was revealed in a flashback.