Court Matters

President Biden names two LGBTQ+ Judicial nominees. Two LGBTQ+ women, Charlotte Sweeny and Vermont Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson, were both nominated to serve as federal district court judges. Sweeny will be in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and Robinson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Biden announced these two nominees as part of his promise to create a more diverse court system. 

2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Nominee advances out of Judiciary Committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved PFLAG National-supported Myrna Perez on August 5th. She now will be voted on by the full Senate before being confirmed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Perez was President Biden’s second nomination to the New York-based federal appeals court and has been a strong advocate for voting rights.

Federal Matters

More elected officials than ever identify as LGBTQ+, including 11 members of Congress. An estimated 1,000 elected officials now identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, more than ever before. However, this number represents only .19% of total elected officials in the US, while LGBTQ+ people make up 5.6% of the US population. 30,000 additional LGBTQ+ elected officials would need to take office for LGBTQ+ people to hold 5.6% of elected offices.

State Matters

Michigan - State board of elections to determine whether a ballot initiative to enact LGBTQ+ protections can move ahead. The Michigan Bureau of Elections found that the petition drive failed to get enough signatures before the legal deadline. However, the Fair and Equal Michigan campaign says the bureau is excluding signatures that should be counted. Stay tuned to PFLAG National social media channels as this progresses.

Tennessee - HRC sues Tennessee over anti-trans bathroom bill. HRC is backing two young students in Tennessee who are facing discrimination over their gender identity because of a bill passed this past legislative session which forces students to use the bathrooms that align with their sex at birth. 

West Virginia - Charleston becomes West Virginia’s first to ban so-called conversion therapy. Charleston makes history by banning conversion therapy for minors in West Virginia. This marks an important step in protecting LGBTQ+ youths residing in West Virginia from this harmful practice.

Global Matters

Ghana - Ghana tightens LGBTQ+ laws. Ghana’s parliament is discussing a new bill that will criminalize the country’s LGBTQ+ community and allies. The bill increases support for conversion therapy and mandates up to five years in prison for queer people and allies. Activists are calling this a “homophobes dream” bill and are fighting to kill this legislation. 

Hungary - Budapest Pride march challenges recent anti-LGBTQ+legislation. Harmful, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being considered in Hungary encouraged many LGBTQ+ people and allies to march in Budapest’s pride parade. For more information on this story, please check out PFLAG National’s “Something To Talk About Live” from July 29th. 

New Zealand - Conversion therapy ban bill introduced in parliament. New Zealand’s government has introduced new legislation that will ban attempts to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression through so-called conversion therapy. If passed, it could include a punishment of up to five years in prison for those convicted.

Media Matters

Queer Eye’s Tan France brings home first child.Tan France and his husband have just welcomed home their baby boy after he had spent his first three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The couple named their child Ismail and plan to incorporate France’s South Asian culture in raising him. 

DaBaby dropped from multiple music festival lineups. After using anti-LGBTQ+ language at a Miami festival, DaBaby has been dropped from upcoming festivals. The rapper has been called out by other celebrities including Elton John, Madonna, and Dua Lipa for spreading harmful stereotypes to the LGBTQ+ community. Miley Cyrus, who is openly bisexual, released a statement on Instagram encouraging DaBaby to have a conversation with her. She wrote, “As a proud and loyal member of the LGBTQIA+ community, much of my life has been dedicated to encouraging love, acceptance, and open mindedness. The internet can fuel a lot of hate & anger and is the nucleus of cancel culture… but I believe it can also be a place filled with education, conversation, communication & connection.”

Jamie Lee Curtis’s child comes out as transgender. Jamie Lee Curtis opened up about her family and her 24-year-old transgender daughter, Ruby. Curtis explains that she is filled with pride for her daughter and will even be officiating her wedding next year.

Olympic boxer dedicates medal to LGBTQ+ community. Openly lesbian Filipina silver medalist Nesthy Petecio dedicated her medal to the LGBTQ+ community saying her win is a win for them and encouraged them to keep fighting. She won her medal in boxing and was the first Filipino boxer to win a medal at the Olympic Games in almost 25 years. 

180+ out LGBTQ athletes participating in 2021 Olympics. The 2021 Olympics show an increase in participation of publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes. This includes first openly transgender woman Laurel Hubbard participating in weightlifting, openly gay Gold medalist Tom Daley, and nonbinary Canadian women’s soccer player, Quinn. If LGBTQ+ athletes were competing together under one flag, they’d rank 14th in medals won.   

New Cinderella movie includes genderless fairy godmother. Billy Porter is excited to play Cinderella’s fairy godmother in a gender-neutral way. Porter is ecstatic that this new role is modern and includes the LGBTQ+ community in media representation. Cinderella will be released on September 3, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video.

Muppet Show includes gender non-conforming character. This children's show recently included an episode called “Gonzo-ella,” where a male character wears a dress to the ball. They even go as far as telling Gonzo boys that they have to dress up as knights, not princesses, but Gonzo makes the choice to wear the dress.

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,

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