| | | | Want to help get the Equality Act passed? Phone bank with us! PFLAG National, in partnership with the NEAT, is providing an opportunity for our members and supporters to talk to voters in target states and patch them through to their Senators’ offices to urge them to vote YES on the Equality Act. Never phone banked before? No worries! Our partner organization, The NEAT, provides a quick training to get you comfortable with using the phone bank tool. You can sign up any time and phone bank whenever is convenient for you. | | | | | | | | Court invalidates anti-deadnaming law for nursing homes - The Third District Court of Appeals in California on July 19th overturned part of a law prohibiting nursing home employees from misgendering and deadnaming transgender seniors, claiming it violated free speech protections. Nursing home employees can purposefully misgender and deadname trans seniors “to express an ideological disagreement,” one judge wrote. Federal Judge rules DACA unlawful - Judge Andrew S. Hanen of the United States District Court in Houston ruled on July 16th that former President Obama’s DACA program exceeded his presidential authority. The Department of Homeland Security will continue to accept applications but is temporarily prohibited from approving them, not affecting current recipients. | | | |  | | | PrEP made free under almost all insurance plans - On July 19th, the Federal Government, guided by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury, issued guidance that PrEP must be covered by almost all insurance plans with no additional costs or fees. Clinic visits and lab tests are also included in the new coverage, expanding resources to almost all insurance plans. | | | | | Arkansas - Anti-trans healthcare law blocked by judge - A bill that would have banned physicians from providing trans healthcare, including hormones and puberty blockers, to transgender minors has been blocked by a federal judge. The ACLU filed a suit against this law on behalf of four trans youths and two physicians. California - $3 Million added to budget to train teachers about LGBT issues - California is the first state to allocate money specifically to train teachers about LGBTQ issues. This is seen as a major win for LGBTQ+ students, who face increased bullying and other discrimination at school. Georgia - Police arrest three attackers for homophobic assault - Video footage shows a 12- year-old boy allegedly being assaulted and harassed by two women and a man, who were arrested. The two women remain in Fulton County jail; the man posted a $50,000 bond. Louisiana - Anti-trans athlete bill blocked - Louisiana’s Governor Edwards veto of the anti-trans “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” has been sustained after efforts to override it failed in the state house. There will be no requirement to designate athletic teams according to athletes’ sex assigned at birth. Montana - ACLU sues Montana over transgender birth certificate change ban - Montana passed a law requiring proof of gender affirming surgery before the gender designation on a birth certificate can be changed. ACLU, along with two Montana citizens, are suing over this invasive, transphobic law. West Virginia - Anti-trans athlete ban bill blocked - A Federal Court blocked implementation of a law that would prohibit trans athletes from participating on teams that recognize their gender identity. Wyoming - Bar criticized for selling apparel promoting violence against LGBTQ+ people - The Eagle’s Nest in Cheyenne was called out on social media for selling anti-LGBTQ+ shirts with violence-promoting language and a slur. Reportedly, production and sale will cease. | | | | | Chile - Senate approves marriage equality bill - The Senate passed the Marriage Equality Bill after President Sebastián Piñera announced his support. The bill next goes to the House. China - LGBT accounts deleted on WeChat - Dozens of accounts on WeChat were deleted for being associated with or promoting the LGBT community. The LGBTQ+ community faces discrimination and many fear it is increasing. E.U. - E.U. Takes Action Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws - The European Commission is taking action against Poland’s and Hungary’s discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ bills that closely link gender identity and sexual orientation with pedophilia, launched with towns proclaiming they are “LGBTQ+-free and unwelcoming to queer people.” Hungary - LGBTQ+ Hungarian Authors Expect Books to be Banned - Parliament recently passed a law banning material that includes or promotes LGBTQ+ people. Authors claim their books and others will be removed from libraries to comply with the law. Many publishers, booksellers, and writers claim this is an infringement on their freedom of expression. Hungary - Prime Minister will Hold Referendum on Anti-LGBTQ+ Law - Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is said to hold a referndum on new Anti-LGBT law that prohibits any depiction of LGBTQ+ people in media targeted for minors. Orbán claims this law is an effort to protect kids from pedophilia. Sixteen E.U. states have denounced this law. Israel - Surrogacy Rights Given to Same-Sex Couples - Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled the current ban on same sex couples and surrogacy rights unlawful. Israeli LGBTQ+ activists praise the ruling and the ban will be lifted within six months. New Zealand - Laurel Hubbard to be First Openly Trans Athlete in Olympics - The International Olympics Committee supports New Zealand’s transgender weightlifting athlete to participate in the women’s event. She will be the first openly transgender athlete to ever compete in the Olympic Games, although allowed since 2004. | | | | | First Openly Transgender Model to be on Cover of Sports Illustrated - Sports Illustrated Magazine is to include its first openly transgender model in the swimsuit edition. Leyna Bloom will be accompanied by Naiomi Osaka and Megan Thee Stallion in this edition. Mj Rodriguez Nominated for Emmy - Rodriguez is the first openly transgender woman nominated in the lead drama actress category for her performance in the show ‘Pose.’ Former openly trans Emmy nominees include Laverne Cox for the guest drama actress category and Rain Valdez for the short form comedy or drama actress nomination. NHL Player Publicly Comes Out - Nashville Predetors defenseman, Luke Prokop, came out on social media to fans publicly saying he is gay and wants to be able to be himself as he follows his dreams of playing in the NHL. Prokop is the first active NHL player under contract to announce he is gay. Queer Represenation in Movies Increases - Despite fewer movie releases due to the pandemic, queer representation in film increased. 23% of movies released in 2020 featured a queer character. This has a 4.2% increase from 2019’s LGBT representation of 18.6%. | | | | | | The PFLAG National Advocacy, Policy, and Partnerships Team is always here to support you with your work, so please don't ever hesitate to reach out to us for assistance. Yours in PFLAG power, | | | |  | Diego M. Sanchez, APR
Director of Advocacy, Policy & Partnerships
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Email: [email protected] | | |  | Patrick Cochran
Advocacy and Policy Engagement Senior Coordinator
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Email: [email protected] | | | | | | | |
