Take Action

Last chance to register for We Are the Change: The 2021 PFLAG National Convention. As a person committed to advocacy in support of creating a just and equitable world for all people--including our LGBTQ+ loved ones--you won’t want to miss this year’s all-virtual convention, taking place Friday, October 22nd through Sunday, October 24th. Visit pflag.org/wearethechange today - the deadline to register is next Thursday, October 21st at 11:59pm ET!

Urge your senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act! It's time for the most comprehensive democracy reform law enacted in decades. The Freedom to Vote Act prioritizes fair voting access by enacting federal guideposts that prohibit gerrymandering and voter suppression. It would put in place common-sense campaign finance reforms, leveling the playing field and giving all Americans a chance to raise their voices and be heard by their representatives. Our country needs a fully functioning democracy where all voices can be heard, not just those of the wealthy and powerful. Contact your senators and tell them to vote YES on the Freedom to Vote Act!

Join the team and help pass the Equality Act! There are millions of people like you who support equality, but the loudest voices right now are from people who do not want our LGBTQ+ loved ones to have equal rights. Your voice can make a difference. Join PFLAG National’s #Fight4Equality to call, email, or Tweet your Senators every Tuesday or Thursday (or both!) to urge them to pass the Equality Act. You’ll get weekly reminders and all the tools and information you need to take action on the day you choose. Together, we’ll make equality for everyone, everywhere, at all times the law of the land!

Court Matters

Fifth Circuit Court reinstates Texas abortion ban following District Court injunction. The Circuit Court temporarily lifted a judge’s order blocking enforcement of the law and ordered the government to respond by October 12th. The Justice Department, in turn, asked the Fifth Circuit to block enforcement of the law.

Federal Matters

House votes to raise the debt ceiling, avoiding default. The temporary measure, passed on a party-line vote on October 12th, extends the debt limit into early December. The Senate already approved the legislation earlier this week, and President Biden will sign it. 

On National Coming Out Day, President Biden calls for anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures to be defeated, Equality Act to be passed. The President called state legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community “discriminatory” and called upon the Senate to expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect LGBTQ+ people, women, people of color, and people of faith. You can join PFLAG’s #Fight4Equality to call, email, or Tweet your Senators every Tuesday or Thursday (or both!) to urge them to pass this critical federal legislation now.

President Biden becomes the first president to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In a proclamation issued on October 8th, President Biden proclaimed October 11th Indigenous Peoples’ Day, saying “Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.”

State Matters

California - Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission recommends Historic-Cultural Monument designation for Oil Can Harry’s. Oil Can Harry’s, which closed in January, was one of the oldest gay bars in the San Fernando Valley. The bar opened in Studio City in 1968. 

Maryland - Gay/Trans Panic Defense Ban goes into effect. The new law eliminates the gay-trans panic defense which was used as a legal defense in killings that said the discovery of the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity caused the person to be killed and in turn, reduced the murder charge to manslaughter. Maryland is one of 15 states to ban this legal defense.

Missouri - Students in Missouri walk out in support of bullied gay student. Danny Lillis, an openly gay senior at Lee’s Summit High School outside of Kansas City, reported he and his friends have been the subjects of bullying from another group of students since the beginning of the school year. Lillis was suspended following a physical fight with the suspected bullies. Students are protesting that Lillis and his friends are receiving the same punishment as their accused bullies.

North Carolina - Lt. Governor Mark Robinson faces calls to resign following anti-LGBTQ+ comments. A video surfaced in which the Lt. Governor said “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” to a church congregation in Seagrove. Numerous elected officials and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have condemned the speech and some are calling for the Lieutenant Governor to step down. 

Pennsylvania - LGBTQ+ rights activists to be honored with historical markers at state capitol. The two markers were unveiled in Harrisburg on Oct. 10, honoring Richard Schlegel and former Governor Milton Schapp. Richard Schlegel was a gay rights activist who was fired from a federal job for being gay during the Lavender Scare of the 1950s. Gov. Schapp created an executive order protecting LGBTQ+ state employees against discrimination in 1975.

Tennessee - Clarksville City Council approves LGBTQ+ protections in hiring and contracting. The measure passed 12-1 on October 7th was approved by the City Council members Thursday. Openly LGBTQ+ Councilwoman Ashlee Evans stated in support of the measure “It’s important, as a governing body, to recognize our diversity and proudly stand for all of our citizens that inhabit Clarksville.”

Texas - Texas House passes anti-trans athlete ban. The legislation, HB25, which requires that student athletes compete with teams associated with the gender marker on their original birth certificate, passed on October 14th on a 76-54 vote. HB25 will now head back to the Senate, where similar legislation has already passed.

Department of Family and Protective Services website removes resource page for LGBTQ+ youth after criticism from primary challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott. Don Huffines, a conservative activist and owner of a real estate development company, said the Department of Family and Protective Services was publishing “disturbing information about our youth” and claimed tax dollars were being used to “advocate for transgender ideology” by publishing resources for LGBTQ+ youth. PFLAG’s book for LGBTQ+ youth, Be Yourself is available here in English and here in Spanish.

Global Matters

Botswana - Court of Appeals judges postpone ruling on case to overturn a 2019 ruling that decriminalized same-sex relations. The judges said the matter needed more research and debate after the Government brought forward the case to reinstate the ban, which was punishable by seven years in prison prior to 2019.

Canada - Canadian Blood Services has expanded plasma donation eligibility to gay and bisexual men in Calgary and London. This moves marks a step forward in the agency’s promise to eliminate the blood ban prohibiting gay and bisexual men from donating blood. At donor centers in Calgary and London, gay, bisexual and certain transgender people who have sex with men are now eligible to donate plasma, provided they have not had a new sexual partner or their partner has not had sex with another partner in the last three months.

France - The National Assembly unanimously backs ban on so-called conversion therapy. French lawmakers voted 115-0 on October 5th for the draft law proposed by members of President Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche! Party and now heads to the Senate for approval. The new law would introduce prison sentences and fines for people who attempt to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ+ citizens.

Namibia - High Court rules son of a gay couple born via surrogacy is a Namibian citizen by descent. High Court Judge Thomas Masuku ruled that Yona Luhl-Delgado, born via surrogacy in South Africa in 2019 to Namibian-born Phillip Luhl and his husband, Guillermo Delgado, is a Namibian citizen. Yona’s twin sisters are also battling to obtain Namibian citizenship in a separate case; they were also born via surrogacy in South Africa.

Netherlands - Prime Minister Rutte announces Crown Princess can marry someone of the same sex without giving up her right to the throne. Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, 17, has not made any comment on the matter, but the Prime Minister wrote, "The government believes that the heir can also marry a person of the same sex," in a letter to Parliament. Parliament must approve of all royal marriages. 

Portugal - Parliament moves to ban disrimination against LGBTQ+ blood donors. Portuguese parliament approved four bills on October 8th that extend Portugal’s existing non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people to blood donations in law.

Spain - LGBTQ+ organizations criticize doctor who diagnosed patient as “homosexual.” A 19-year-old gay woman was examined by a gynecologist at Reina Sofía hospital for a menstrual condition, however the doctor wrote in his report “Current Condition: Homosexual.”The patient and her family raised the issue with a local LGBTQ+ rights organization, Galactyco, which has lodged a demand for answers and an apology from the regional government, health ministry and health service.

Media Matters

Superman's son comes out as bisexual in a new comic. Clark Kent’s son, Jonathan Kent is slated to come out as bisexual in the pages of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5, written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timms, which will publish on November 9th. Jonathan and his male friend Jay, introduced earlier in the series, will share a kiss.

Equality Forum honors Secretary and Chasten Buttigieg. The Equality Forum granted the couple the International Role Model Award, which is a long-standing recognition of activists and allies who have advanced LGBTQ+ civil rights, at their event LGBT History Month event in Philadelphia. 

Netflix trans employee resource group (ERG) plans company-wide walkout following dispute over Dave Chappelle comedy special. Netflix first suspended, then reinstated Terra Field after she posted a tweet thread, which subsequently went viral, about the Dave Chappelle special, saying it “attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness,” and then attended a director-level meeting to which she was not invited. The walkout is planned for October 20th.

Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley urges International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban countries which persecute LGBTQ+ people. Speaking at the Attitude Awards, at which he received the Sports Award, Daley said it is his "mission" to ensure any country which persecutes the LGBT community is banned from taking part in the games. The British diver won his first gold medal in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform event at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. 

Janice Covington Allison, Trans LGBTQ+ activist, dies in Charlotte. Allison died Friday at Atrium Health Mercy hospital, according to a friend, September McCrady. Allison, a military veteran, became the first transgender woman to represent North Carolina at the Democratic National Convention when she was elected a delegate to the 2012 convention in Charlotte and was Charlotte Pride’s inaugural recipient of the Champions of Pride Harvey Milk Award in 2013. 

Playboy Magazine features gay man on its cover for the first time. Bretman Rock, known for his makeup tutorials on YouTube, a beauty line, and an MTV reality show, was selected as the cover model for Playboy’s October issue. Rock has become an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community since achieving more widespread recognition.

You're Invited

Two free chances to learn about one federal program, The Child Tax Credit. Perhaps you’ve heard about the Child Tax Credit, but did you know that for 2021, your family can receive advance payments? It’s true. Don’t be left out; find out how your LGBTQ+ family can make sure you get the benefits you deserve. The IRS is hosting inclusive training webinars to explain it simply to people who have not yet filed their 2021 taxes. People who filed need take no action.

The American Rescue Plan Act Advance Child Tax Credit allows all families, both those who have filed their taxes and those who have not yet, with children under the age of 18 at the end of 2021. Register now for one of these free one-hour webinar sessions:

Thurs, 10/21, from 2:00-3:00pm ET 

Tues, 10/26, from 4:00-5:00pm ET

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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