#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 8, 2019

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WISCONSIN GOV. TONY EVERS SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER PROTECTING LGBTQ STATE EMPLOYEES: The executive action prohibits LGBTQ discrimination in state employment and by employers receiving contracts and in grants from the state, and bars LGBTQ discrimination in the provision of state governmental services. “Discrimination in any form is wrong, and through his actions today -- signing his first executive order since taking office -- Governor Evers continues to demonstrate that he will fight day in and day out to uphold the Wisconsin values of fairness, justice and equality,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout, who called for legislation that will finally safeguard protections for transgender Wisconsinites, who are still denied basic and explicit protections from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public spaces. More from HRC.

MICHIGAN GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER SIGNS DIRECTIVE PROTECTING LGBTQ STATE EMPLOYEES -- EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: The executive directive prohibits LGBTQ discrimination in state employment and by employers receiving contracts and in grants from the state, and bars LGBTQ discrimination in the provision of state governmental services. “These executive actions are an important step forward in the fight against discrimination, but there’s more work to be done,” said HRC Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman, who called for passage of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly protect the LGBTQ community in the state. More from the Oakland County Times.

MUST WATCH HRC WELCOMES THE 116TH CONGRESS AND PRO-EQUALITY CHAMPIONS AT CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION: Watch Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) and Tina Smith (D-Minn); and Reps. Donna Shalala (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Mark Takano (D-CA) and David Cicilline (D-RI) share their vision and commitment to work for LGBTQ equality -- including passing the Equality Act.

TUESDAY TWEET -- ANTI-EQUALITY STATE BILLS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2019: In the Daily Beast, HRC State Legislative Director Cathryn Oakley previews the upcoming state legislative session, noting bills that could preempt cities from protecting LGBTQ citizens and bills providing people a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people -- including anti-LGBTQ child welfare bills that harm children in need of a loving home. More from Samantha Allen (@SLAwrites) in The Daily Beast.

Great piece by @SLAwrites about what to expect on #LGBTQ nondiscrimination in 2019: https://t.co/Pzj7kMHD52 #wontbeerased

— Kasey Suffredini (@KaseySuffredini) January 4, 2019

NEW VIDEO FROM RAICES DETAILS “HELLISH TREK” OF LGBTQ MIGRANTS:

OUT TODAY: Our video on LGBTQ+ migrants who made a hellish trek to seek asylum.

They were refused food, transport, services, etc on the caravan up. Water was thrown in their faces. They were discriminated against widely.

They banded together for protection. This is their story. pic.twitter.com/GkKIoZA3SW

— RAICES (@RAICESTEXAS) January 7, 2019

ROBERT DE NIRO EXPRESSES FEAR FOR GAY SON DURING TRUMP-PENCE ADMINISTRATION: “When you see someone like [Trump] becoming president, I thought, well, OK, let’s see what he does -- maybe he’ll change. But he just got worse. It showed me that he is a real racist,” the actor told Guardian’s David Smith (@SmithInAmerica). “Yeah, I worry, and one of my kids is gay, and he worries about being treated a certain way. We talk about it.” More from Guardian.

CUDAHY, WISC., PROTECTS YOUTH FROM DANGEROUS, ABUSIVE “CONVERSION THERAPY”: The city joins Wisconsin cities Milwaukee, Madison and Eau in embracing these vital, potentially life-saving protections. More from Our Lives Madison.

HRC MOURNS KANANI KAUKA, LGBTQ ADVOCATE AND AUTHOR: More from Lambda Literary.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

NEARLY 250 DUTCH MINISTERS SIGN “NASHVILLE STATEMENT,” A VICIOUS, ANTI-LGBTQ MANIFESTO: More from Dutch News.

HORRIFYING -- TWO MEN SEPARATELY ATTACKED IN CHILE FOR BEING LGBTQ: One of the victims remains hospitalized in critical condition. Police are investigating. More from Pink News.

AWFUL -- JAPANESE RULING PARTY LAWMAKER SAYS LGBTQ PEOPLE COULD “COLLAPSE” NATION: More from Japan Today.

FIRST-EVER TRANS PRIDE IN PAKISTAN: The Pride was supported by HRC.

READING RAINBOW - Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

Queerty interviews gay, disabled actor and filmmaker Daniel Monks (@DanielMonks) about his upcoming film Pulse; Washington Blade speaks to Ricardo del Real, the first openly trans man on the Mexican Olympic Committee

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