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Supreme Court Decision an Important Ruling for Marriage Equality; Stresses the Need for Workplace Non-Discrimination Laws
Contact: Max Rosenblum or Jordan Dashow
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Beyond Marriage Equality
On Wednesday night at the ESPY Awards, Caitlyn Jenner accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, named after the African American tennis star who died of AIDS in 1993. In her moving speech, Caitlyn described the struggles trans people face, including bullying, suicide and even murder, and the importance of education and accepting trans people and their identities. Caitlyn’s speech highlighted several of the many issues that the LGBT community and their allies now have to address following the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision.
A Turning Point
Donald C. Cutler is the Co-Chair of the Reform Jewish Voice of New York State (RJV) Steering Committee. He is a former Legislative Assistant.
Emphasizing the Need for Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Protections
On Monday, Saks Fifth Avenue backtracked on its claim that they had the right to discriminate against employees for being transgender. Earlier this month, Leyth Jamal, a transgender woman who had worked at Saks Fifth Avenue, filed a lawsuit against her former employer for fostering a hostile work environment which culminated in her firing. Saks Fifth Avenue originally filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that trans identities are not protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination (not discrimination based on sexual orientation). Although Saks Fifth Avenue withdrew this motion, the discrimination that Jamal faces, as well as the continuous fight on the state level against anti-LGBT legislation, illustrate the urgent need for comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination legislation.
Combatting Bisexuality Erasure
Last month, I wrote about the importance of ensuring that our advocacy is trans inclusive, however, trans individuals are not the only people who are commonly erased in larger conversations about LGBT rights. Often times, the ‘B’ in LGBT is also overlooked, leading to the erasure and, at times, even rejection of bisexual identities.
Stop Cuts to Family Planning
The past few weeks have brought mixed news in the realm of sexuality education. At the end of June, we wrote about a House sub-committee vote to eliminate programs proven to reduce teen and unplanned pregnancy, reduce abortion and save tax dollars in Fiscal Year 2016.
Since then, a Senate sub-committee voted to advance similar cuts, proposing a budget that would significantly cut funding for the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) and for Title X family planning centers, while increasing funding for abstinence-only until marriage programs by 300 percent. By gutting funding to family planning services for low-income individuals and undermining evidence-based programs like TPPP, these appropriations bills would leave millions of Americans without information and services to keep themselves safe and healthy.
It Takes Two, Me and You
In many Jewish weddings I have officiated at over the years, the bride and groom have chosen to add to the traditional vows these words from the prophet Hosea: V’eirastich Li b’tzedek uv’mishpat uv’chesed uv’rachamim, “I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lov
Personal is Political
As the first child in Pennsylvania to be adopted by a same-sex
Introduction of Comprehensive LGBT Civil Rights Bill Long Overdue
Contact: Max Rosenblum or Jordan Dashow
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Supreme Court Term in Review
The 2010-2011 Supreme Court term ended on Monday with a little less fanf