Court Matters SCOTUSBlog previews the arguments in the upcoming October 8th cases on federal employment protection for LGBTQ+ workers. This is a great website that does deep dives and real-time coverage of the Supreme Court. Bookmark it for October 8th, as they are likely to live-blog the proceedings, which will not be broadcast live. SCOTUS decides to consider Louisiana abortion access law case. On October 4th, the Court agreed to take up an abortion case this term, adding the first abortion case to be argued since Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the bench. Justices will consider a Louisiana law that requires doctors to obtain admitting privileges from a nearby hospital. Federal District Court Judge upholds Harvard's race-conscious admissions process. Judge Allison D. Burroughs detailed in a 130-page document filed on September 30th why she rejected claims that Harvard intentionally discriminated against Asian-American applicants. The New York Times adds some depth in describing “five takeaways” from the ruling. Counsel for the plaintiffs said they plan to appeal. Transgender law enforcement officer files federal suit against Georgia county for discrimination by not having gender dysphoria treatment in its health insurance. Houston County Sheriff Sgt. Anna Lange sued the county and its board of commissioners, saying she’s being denied coverage for medically necessary sex reassignment/gender affirming surgery. Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) is legal counsel for Sgt. Lange. Federal Matters U.S. House subcommittee holds hearing on ICE detention facilities. The House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship fielded testimony from witnesses, including a gay man with HIV from Russia who testified about mistreatment he suffered. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson makes dismissive comments about transgender people, angering agency staff. At an internal meeting, he expressed concern about “big, hairy men” trying to infiltrate women’s homeless shelters, as relayed by three meeting attendees who interpreted the remarks as an attack on transgender women. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Katie Hill (D-Calif.) introduced a House Resolution denouncing his actions as transphobic and decrying his policies as anti-LGBTQ+. U.S. House passed the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act on September 20th. The FAIR Act (H.R. 1423) would outlaw the practice of contractually demanding that employees and consumers use private dispute resolution, allowing workers and the public to pursue litigation. The vote was 225-186. The bill now moves to the Senate as S. 610. State Matters California - Mother of transgender boy who died by suicide gets LA County Supervisors' attention to investigate the failure to provide behaviorial health treatment while in foster care, ignoring wishes from his mother. The death of Andrew Martinez, 19, is being investigated because of a motion filed by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to determine if there was a systemic failure that led to his death. New York - New York will soon be the first state in the country to offer veterans’ services staff all certified in LGBTQ+ cultural competency, the Modern Military Association of America announced. Its Rainbow Shield program will provide LGBT and HIV-positive competency training to the entire New York State Division of Veterans’ Services. About 90 of the division’s employees will receive the Association’s training. Tennessee - Joshua Smith, brother of Channing, speaks out about his brother who died by suicide last weekend after being outed on social media. Channing’s ex-girlfriend and his brother said that he never said whether he identified as either gay or bisexual (to them). We need to give a special shout out to the nearby PFLAG Tullahoma chapter, namely leader and Sec. Elect and Media Rob Keel, President Elect Gwen Carr, Treasurer Krystal Carpenter, Publications Coordinator Beth Thames and to PFLAG National’s Regional Director Kathy Halbrooks. They immediately reached out to connect with the affected families, which includes the family of friends of Channing’s (including his brother Josh) and Channing’s friends parents. They’ve attended vigils, offered support and allowed others to meet and spend time with PFLAG parents who love their LGBTQ+ children. Global Matters Australia - Australia Post release marriage equality stamps. Two commemorative stamps were unveiled to mark the passage of marriage equality nearly two years ago, on November 15, 2017. France - France’s football governing body takes action when homophobia happens. Activists say this is a long-standing problem. Fans endured being handed leaflets, receiving fines and threats of jail time. But when two referees stopped play in two separate games a week apart over anti-LGBTQ+ chants, fans cried foul. Some fans are pleading with the governing body and even the government to prohibit game interruption in this country where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013. Lebanon - Beirut Pride organizers cancel opening concert event after threats. Threatening phone calls and posts on social media regarding Lebanon’s third annual LGBTQ+ week made organizers question whether they could guarantee attendees’ safety at the concert, but all other events are scheduled to run through October 6th. Lebanon is the first Arab country to hold a pride week and has done so since 2017. Poland - Riot police fire tear gas and arrest dozens of protesters attempting to disrupt LGBTQ+ march on September 29th. Hundreds tried and failed to disrupt Lublin’s second march for LGBTQ+ rights. Russia - A Russian court has ruled that two popular LGBT networking sites be blocked for disseminating "anti-family values," including a major online group with nearly 200,000 members. Homophobia is widespread in Russia where reports of rights violations and attacks on LGBTQ+ people are common, though there are gay scenes in major cities. Media Matters Billy Porter makes history, wins 2019 Emmy Award as best lead actor in a drama. Porter was awarded for his role of ballroom MC and mentor Pray Tell on FX’s Pose. This win makes Porter the first openly gay Black man to win in this Emmy category. Tampa Bay's LGBTQ film festival celebrates 30 years of Queer film. When the Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival was born in 1990, the region wasn’t quite ready to embrace it. Life has changed for the LGBTQ+ community in the last three decades, mostly for the best. Gay and trans talent are being cast in major works, on camera and behind it. SCOTUS will consider transgender rights historically for the first time on Oct. 8th. PFLAG friend and Blade reporter Michael Lavers wrote a special profile about Aimee Stephens who was fired from Harris Funeral Home in 2013 for being transgender. At 2019 Emmy Awards, Patricia Arquette dedicates her acceptance speech to plead for transgender rights, notes sadness at losing her openly transgender sister Alexis in 2016 at age 47. The actress won for her supporting role as Dee Dee Blanchard in Hulu’s true-crime limited series The Act. ICYMI: ”Here, take our Kleenex.” You’ll need it for this clip from Pasadena Playhouse’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. This is a powerful, inclusive, and diverse production, starring Pose’s MJ Rodriguez as Audrey, the first transgender actress ever to play the role. | 
