Watch out, Kim Davis
You're not done paying for discrimination yet.
In case you missed it, I put out another bonus issue this weekend highlighting the Trump administration’s arguments that it should be legal to fire people for being gay. The explainer walks you through what the law says and how the arguments work on both sides, and even includes some silly visual aides like this one:
I hope you’ll check it out!
It’s a bit of a slow Monday, but we still have some LGBTQ news to cover!
TSA = Transgender scrutiny authority
For many transgender people, going through airport security almost guarantees a pat-down —or worse thanks to the gendered scanners the TSA uses. In a new investigation, ProPublica examines just how pervasive the problem is — and the psychological toll it takes on trans people.
Illi-nonbinary
Illinois is the latest state to approve the issuance of gender-neutral driver’s licenses and state IDs for people who identify as non-binary. Unfortunately, they won’t be available until 2024.
Straight shame
The Modesto Straight Pride event took place this weekend, drawing possibly dozens of participants, who were significantly outnumbered by counter-protesters. The event was a total flop in every possible way.
Hate crimes sans prosecution
Hate crimes have been on the rise across the country, including here in Washington, DC. What’s being done about it? Nothing, because the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Jessie K. Liu, isn’t prosecuting them.
Bar altercation being investigated as hate crime
An ugly incident happened at the Los Angeles bar La Perlas Friday night, when two trans women of color and a gay man were targeted for harassment, then forcibly removed by the bar’s security staff. Police have launched a hate crime investigation.
Justice still awaits Kim Davis
The courts may have ruled that the state of Kentucky has to pay out the legal fees for Kim Davis’ court case, but the appeals court also ruled that she can still be sued for damages for her discrimination. Her lawyers at the hate group Liberty Counsel are already frantically begging for money.
Neighborhood solidarity
A Manchester man was almost immediately accosted after hanging a rainbow flag for Manchester Pride by two men, who called him “a f*****g b***y b*y, a c**k s****r, a p**f,” according to the Manchester Evening News. Now his neighbors are all hanging Pride flags as well in solidarity.
Turkey cancels “Queer Olympix”
Over 130 LGBTQ athletes were gathered to compete in the third annual Queer Olympix in Istanbul when authorities canceled the event at the last minute. In fact, riot police were waiting when organizers arrived to set things up. Authorities claimed they canceled the event to protect “public health, public order, and public morality.”
Watch strangers stand up for transgender people
Last week, ABC’s What Would You Do? took on a very real-life scenario of transgender people being denied access to a public restroom. Watch as strangers stand up for the trans woman — but not everybody.
Make sure you also watch the bonus clip with trans actress Nadia Hunter, who role-played the scenario, as she discusses her own experiences with her identity.
Until next time, stay platinum!