Federal Matters
ACLU files suit to protect immigrants with life-threatening illness from deportation. On September 5th, ACLU Massachusetts announced this lawsuit to the policy that was announced in August and met with public outcry.
The Department of Labor proposed a rule allowing “religion-exercising organizations” with federal contracts to raise religious exemptions if accused of bias in their hiring practices. The DOL proposed a rule that aims to let government contractors fire workers who are LGBTQ+, HIV positive, or who are pregnant and unmarried, based on the employers’ religious views. PFLAG National opposes taxpayer-funded discrimination and using the freedom of religion as a license to discriminate. Public comments will be accepted until September 16th; watch for PFLAG’s invitation to submit yours next week.
USCIS issues new policy notice to make children born to U.S. military members and government employees working overseas no longer automatically to be considered U.S. citizens. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the new policy on August 28th, slated to be effective on October 29th. You can view the new policy notice here, and do read the FAQs.
Court Matters
U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds ruling that state of Kentucky must pay four same-sex couples' legal fees and costs for refusing to issue them marriage licenses in 2015 after the Obergefell ruling by SCOTUS. The Appeals ruling upheld the federal district court’s ruling from 2017 that former Rowan County clerk Kim Davis rightfully could be sued for her actions not to issue marriage licenses to the four couples. The three-judge Federal Appeals Court panel in Cincinnati ruled on August 23rd that Kentucky must pay $224,00 to the couples and that Davis, who lost her reelection bid in 2018, can be sued as an individual.
SCOTUS to hear oral arguments on Title VII cases on October 8th. The day of oral arguments will include a rally at SCOTUS featuring comments from organizations who submitted amicus briefs, including PFLAG National, and other civil rights leaders. The cases, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, and Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC, are the focus for the oral arguments, and the ruling would be on whether Title VII’s protections apply to LGBTQ+ employees. PFLAG National’s position is that Title VII protections, as affirmed in prior court rulings and in guidance by the EEOC, do include gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation under the protections regarding sex and sex stereotyping.
State Matters
California - PFLAG Bakersfield launches “Pride in the Classroom” program. The event, giving away rainbow flags, symbolizing gay pride, are meant for educators to display in their classrooms and offices.
Iowa - Student groups get "license to discriminate" against LGBTQ+ students. This effort is a pattern across the U.S., and PFLAG National is working in coalition to stem these, working with chapters and partner organizations.
New York - LGBTQ-inclusive plan would localize healthcare for those who need it. A new City Council proposal would connect New Yorkers to culturally competent, community-based healthcare services through an LGBTQ-inclusive program geared towards uninsured and underinsured folks.
Media Matters
Drag Queen Story Hour opponents and supporters meet at the Library with the Board. Read about this inspiring meeting that features a PFLAG mom who prepared a statement that followed her heart and protects PFLAG families.
New study reported in journal of Science finds there is no single “gay gene.” The study analyzed the DNA of nearly a half a million people and found that, while genetic differences play a significant role in sexual behavior, there’s no single “gay gene,” calls into question such sexual orientation frameworks as the Kinsey scale, and hints at the complex factors that influence human sexuality, including society and the environment. You can read the study's abstract here.
Lil Nas X speaks out on the challenges of intersectionality faced by many young gay men in the black community. According to reports from the Human Rights Campaign, gay black men are more likely to face economic hardship, harassment, and intolerance than their white counterparts.
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