FIVE LGBTQ STORIES WORTH KNOWING
1. ANTI-EQUALITY LEGISLATION SWEEPING THE STATES
A new year, a new slate of coordinated anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state legislatures. Most of the bills target access to gender-affirming healthcare for LGBTQ kids or trans kids attempting to play school sports. Over 15 states are working to ban pro-LGBTQ education, criminalize LGBTQ lessons under obscenity laws, or force teachers to out LGBTQ students.
Many pieces of the legislation are introduced under the guise of ‘parental rights’, claiming they empower parents to keep kids ‘safe’ from harmful issues like reproductive justice, race theory or LGBTQ issues. Others are just “zombie” bills: bills that are cobbled together by anti-LGBTQ lawmakers, funded by extremist conservative organizations, again and again in the hopes they will finally pass.
But passing the bills is not the point. The point is to scare LGBTQ kids, healthcare workers, teachers and other allies and force their silence with the chilling effect. And it’s working: LGBTQ kids are being erased from classrooms. In South Dakota, where the first anti-trans bill of 2022 passed earlier this year, extremist Governor Kristi Noem was asked why so many LGBTQ youth suffer from anxiety and depression. She was unable to summon an answer (hint: it's her fault).
Florida and Texas have earned national headlines this month for the egregious attacks against the LGBTQ community.
In Florida, LGBTQ elected officials, allies and activists are mobilizing against the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. According to Equality Florida, the sponsor of the bill once compared the LGBTQ community to “drunks” and “drug abusers”.
The Florida House debated the bill on Tuesday – and our LGBTQ leaders were on-hand to block the bill. Out LGBTQ Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby recognized her wife at the start of the session before proposing amendments to celebrate and teach different backgrounds. The amendment was voted down.
Out LGBTQ Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith called the bill “fearmongering” and later proposed an amendment requiring the teaching of LGBTQ history and LGBTQ leaders. After the bill was voted down, Rep. Smith gave an eloquent and emotional lesson on LGBTQ history, calling the bill a “deeply personal” attack.
The LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus urged the Florida legislature to drop the bill, while Equality Florida has been mobilizing the response in the state. The organization issued a new set of TV ads aimed at raising awareness and exposing Governor Ron DeSantis’s extremism. You can watch both ads here.
DeSantis has signaled that he will sign the House bill and accompanying state Senate bill into law, should they pass. The Florida House is expected to vote on Thursday.
When anti-trans legislation failed to pass in Texas, Governor Greg Abbot took matters into his own hands. His administration directed state agencies to investigate gender-affirming healthcare for trans kids as child abuse, going so far as to criminally penalize doctors, nurses, teachers and other manual reporters who do not out trans kids. Members of the public are also encouraged to report trans youth.
The White House issued statements about Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine spoke out against Abbot’s actions. America’s first out gay governor, Jarod Polis, called the slate of bills “un-American”.
While Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and the outrageous actions by Texas’s governor are (rightly) gaining global condemnations, homophobic and transphobic legislation is also moving forward in Alabama (as is a bathroom bill), Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, as well as state legislatures in Kansas, Georgia and Virginia.
LGBTQ elected officials in these states have been working overtime to stop these bigoted bills – while preparing for more legislation to come.
2. CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
This month, we've been highlighting the phenomenal Black LGBTQ leaders who continue to pave the way. Today, there are just 101 out LGBTQ Black officials serving in the U.S. Here is some of the work they’re doing to further equality today…
Out LGBTQ U.S. Representatives Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres are leading the fight to ensure the latest PrEP drugs are covered by healthcare, removing barriers to life-saving medications.
When Florida’s first out LGBTQ state Senator Shevrin Jones isn’t speaking against the hateful bills in the legislature, he’s busy working to ease voting restrictions in Florida.
Illinois state Senator Mike Simmons, the first out gay member of the Illinois state Senate, has passed the Crown Act! The bill bans hair discrimination in schools and normalizes the inclusion of Black hair styles.
Travis Nelson shattered a rainbow ceiling as the first out LGBTQ Black member of the Oregon state House! Travis was appointed to Speaker Tina Kotek’s seat as she runs for Oregon Governor.
Oklahoma state Representative Mauree Turner, the first non-binary state legislator elected in the U.S., spoke with Oklahoma Watch about their experiences in the Oklahoma House.
Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack is leading the charge to update the state’s sex education laws and require the courses to include conversations around gender and sexual orientation. Mack later faced abusive attacks from alt-right accounts online.
West Virginia Delegate Danielle Walker celebrated Black History Month as the only out LGBTQ Black woman to serve in either chamber. Danielle was, unfortunately, also threated by West Virginians for Life with an anti-abortion message featuring Klansman. She is now suing the organization.
Andrea Jenkins, the first out trans city council president in U.S. history, reflected on her historic accomplishment and the remaining work to be done to ensure Black LGBTQ lives are preserved.
San Antonio City Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez spoke to Kris 6 News about his groundbreaking victory as the first out LGBTQ Black man ever elected in Texas – and his future plans for San Antonio.
3. MOST PRO-EQUALITY ADMINISTRATION IN U.S. HISTORY
Congratulations to Chantale Wong, who was confirmed and sworn-in as the first out LGBTQ person of color confirmed to an ambassador-level post! Chantal also makes history as the first out lesbian in the role. Victory Institute’s Presidential Appointments Initiative was honored to work with Chantale and the Biden Administration during this process. Executive Director Ruben J. Gonzales joined her for the swearing-in ceremony:
4. PRIDE AROUND THE WORLD
Victory Institute team members spoke with 2021 EMPODERA trainees on their work to advance trans rights in Peru. Learn more about their work with Fraternidad TransMasculina (FTM) and their work to reshape equality in Peru.
Honduras elected its first out gay Congressman, Victor Grajeda, this month! Read up on Victor’s plans to advance LGBTQ equality and address anti-trans violence.
5. NEW GALLUP DATA & THE REPRESENTATION GAP
There’s good news: a new poll from Gallup shows that 7.1 percent of the U.S. population now identifies as LGBTQ! Here’s the bad news: that now means we must elect 35,876 more LGBTQ people to achieve equal representation in government. This is a huge representation gap – so if you’re an LGBTQ person interested in exploring a career in politics, check out our program and training deadlines below!
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