THe Need for Full Federal LGBT Equaility

As you know, same-sex couples can now get married in all 50 states and territories across the United States of America... But get this: the fundamental right to marriage does not protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public spaces. Seriously. HRC has put together a helpful infographic that you can share that outlines the areas where LGBT Americans regularly face discrimination and the risks they face on a daily basis. Here's why we're asking you to share our infographic: Most Americans that live in one of the 31 states lacking LGBT non-discrimination protections have no idea that LGBT people lack explicit federal non-discrimination protections. HRC has launched a campaign for full federal equality — nothing more, nothing less. To get there, we must pass the Equality Act — a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination bill that was introduced in Congress last week. This effort has been heralded as the next major fight for the LGBT community by both the Washington Post and the Huffington Post. Within 24 hours of the introduction of this unprecedented bill, millions of Americans learned about the discrimination LGBT people face and the Equality Act from HRC and through dozens of national news stories. HRC members in every single congressional district across the country sent messages to their legislators. Corporations immediately stepped up, as well — including Apple, Microsoft, and General Mills — and the list continues to grow. We need to keep the momentum going and make sure even more people learn about the Equality Act and the very real discrimination LGBT people encounter every day all across the country. You can keep the drumbeat going with HRC today. Share this infographic to spread the word about how many forms of discrimination LGBT people face in their daily lives. By informing others of just how many forms of discrimination LGBT people continue to face, you will help lay the groundwork for the passage of this crucial bill. It's time for a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination law. It's time for the Equality Act.

© 2015 The Human Rights Campaign. All rights reserved. Human Rights Campaign | www.hrc.org 1640 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 Phone: 202-628-4160 TTY:202-216-1572 Fax: 202-347-5323

Practice Spirit Do Justice Ohio Power Summit

A Leadership Training for All People of Faith
Fairlawn West, United Church of Christ, 2095 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313
4 pm Friday, October 24 -- 4 pm Sunday, October 26
Special Clergy Session 9 am -- 3 pm, Friday, October 24                                         
                                                    
                                                   
Come and be part of an inspiring statewide community of faith to support LGBTQ inclusion! In Ohio, the state legislature will be considering a vote on statewide protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people in the workplace, housing and public accommodations.                        

This training will prepare over 200 people of faith to make a bold impact within their congregations for LGBTQ justice; to educate people about the harms caused to LGBTQ people by discrimination; and, to ready their congregations, we'll train lay leaders and clergy how to build relationships with legislators around Ohio.

REGISTER NOW!
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=9oIMJSOtGgILJSNCH&s=gkJWKcNULlJSK2MKJqG&m=gqKNJ0OEKeLLL6J)                                                 

Training topics are both for people at the beginning of their welcoming journey and for those who have been on the path for a while. These include:                        

--Why is transgender justice key to an LGBTQ welcoming movement of faith?                            
 
--How can we increase our skills and knowledge about transgender people's needs in our congregations and in public life to become the best allies we can be?                            
 
--Understand and use conversations with people you know to lift up listening as a spiritual practice within individual conversations and learn how people you know feel about LGBTQ inclusion.                            
 
--Learn how to be a congregational leader and effectively develop teams of people to advance LGBTQ justice through strategic key activities including: educational conversations, visibility, letter-writing to legislators, letters to the editor, relationship building with questioning legislators and non-welcoming people of faith.                            
   
--Clergy facilitation includes media training, writing op eds, sermons about the harms caused to LGBTQ people and the need for redress and visibility.                            
 
--From idea to event: clear and effective action steps planning, including inspiring invitations.                            
 
--The Ohio Faith Council and the Equality Ohio Education Fund faith organizer will deliver a campaign update on the work toward a statewide non-discrimination law.                                                                          

Logistics:
--Our training site is Fairlawn West, United Church of Christ, 2095 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313

--Meals provided: Friday dinner, Sat & Sun cold breakfasts and lunches

--Materials include a participator list, all training materials and a next steps work plan template

--Training fee is $100.00. Scholarships are available and we encourage you to request one.

--Request a Scholarship
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=chKSK1MFIjLRL2PPG&s=gkJWKcNULlJSK2MKJqG&m=gqKNJ0OEKeLLL6J)

--Gas stipends will be offered for people who request them.

--Our preferred hotel is the Holiday Inn, 4073 Medina Rd, Akron, OH 44333. The hotel is 7-10 minutes away from the training. Call Tami Mahoney, 330.666.4422 to make a reservation.

--Limited community housing will be offered, so please request that on the registration form.                        


For More Information:

Call or text Kathleen Campisano, 202-577-3139; kcampisano@thetaskforce.org.                        


Sponsoring faith organizations include:
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources, Integrity Episcopalians, More Light Presbyterians, Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ, Reconciling Works: Lutherans for Full Participation, Reconciling Ministries Network, Equality Ohio Education Fund, the Ohio Faith Council, the Overbrook Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, and Believe OUT LOUD.                         


The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community from the ground up. The Task Force is the country's premier social justice organization fighting to improve the lives of LGBT people, and working to create positive, lasting change and opportunity for all. The Task Force is a 501(c)(3) corporation incorporated in Washington, D.C. Contributions to the Task Force are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. (C) National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. 1325 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Phone 202.393.5177. Fax 202.393.2241. TTY 202.393.2284. theTaskForce@theTaskForce.org.                                                                                                                  

                                                                
BUILD POWER     TAKE ACTION     CREATE CHANGE   
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Webinar on Supporting LGBT Peers with Their Employment Goals Is Sponsored by Peerlink NTAC

On Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. ET until 3 p.m. ET, Peerlink National Technical Assistance Center is hosting “Employment over the Rainbow: Supporting LGBT Peers with Their Employment Goals.” Peerlink NTAC writes: “This webinar is dedicated to discussing the barriers and challenges that LGBT peers face when seeking employment.” For more information or to register, click here. http://www.peerlinktac.org/webinar-events/

Message from The Task Force on Opposing ENDA

We hope by now you have seen news reports about the Task Force's decision to oppose the current version of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act (ENDA). I walk through our reasoning in this Op-Ed in The Advocate (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=8nJHIOOpFdIEILMzD&s=bpKMLXOAIgKIJNMqElH&m=esIKKZPIKgJQIdI) and encourage you to read it.

It was not a decision we made lightly. We have appreciated hearing from so many of you through social media, phone calls and e-mails, expressing support for doing the right thing regarding ENDA's broad religious exemption.

We simply couldn't continue to endorse a piece of legislation that -- especially in the light of the Supreme Court's recent Hobby Lobby ruling -- contains a huge loophole to discriminate against LGBT employees. The overwhelming majority of people across this country believe that employers shouldn't have a free pass to discriminate. Millions of people of faith believe that discrimination is immoral. That's why we took the stand we took -- to ensure that in the end we get the protections we have fought for and deserve.

We believe LGBT people deserve the same protections modeled on the language that's in Title VII of the landmark federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. This language contains protections and a reasonable religious accommodation. Equality is equality.

Please keep sharing your feedback with us as we intensify the fight for legislation that really provides the employment protections LGBT people deserve.

My best,
Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund


PS: Read more about our decision to oppose ENDA in an Advocate Op-Ed here (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=bqKNJXPBIgLKKVPMF&s=bpKMLXOAIgKIJNMqElH&m=esIKKZPIKgJQIdI).

DONATE
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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund builds the grassroots political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The Task Force Action Fund does this through direct and grassroots lobbying to defeat anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and legislation, and works to pass pro-LGBT legislation and other progressive initiatives. The Task Force Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation incorporated in New York. Contributions to the Task Force Action Fund are not tax-deductible. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, 1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C., 20005. Phone 202.393.5177. TTY 202.393.2284.

BUILD POWER TAKE ACTION CREATE CHANGE
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hmKZKfNZImIWKfNcG&s=bpKMLXOAIgKIJNMqElH&m=esIKKZPIKgJQIdI)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. We are excited to launch a new video to help you raise awareness about the impact smoking has on the LGBT community and also promote the 50th Anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health.

New Video Launched

Smoking is the largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. In this video, “Smoking Within the LGBT Community,” Dr. Scout, director of the Network for LGBT Health Equity at CenterLink, talks about what smoking does to LGBT communities, including the tobacco industry’s long history of marketing to the LGBT community.

What can I do to help spread the word?

You can help us to highlight this important tobacco-related health information  by using this material in your media, communication and outreach to promote and share SGR50 findings.  

You can also continue to spread the word that free help is available for all who want to quit – they can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to the Tips From Former Smokers Web site.

Here are some sample Tweets and Facebook posts you can consider using for your social media channels.

Sample Tweets

·         Learn how the tobacco industry uses marketing to target the LGBT community. #SGR50 #LGBTPrideMonth  http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

·         DYK that the LGBT community has higher smoking rates than any other population? #SGR50 #LGBTPRideMonth http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

·         The truth behind the tobacco industry’s eagerness to support the LGBT community. #LGBTPrideMonth #SGR50 http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

Sample Facebook Posts

·         Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans smoke at much higher rates than average, so they suffer more smoking-related death and illness. This video explores one of the main culprits of this health disparity. http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

Help us shed light on the tobacco industry’s deceptive strategies against the LGBT community by sharing this video  http://youtu.be/qOdT-K66u3o

The Foundations of Culturally Appropriate Integrated Services for LGBT Individuals

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2:00-3:30pm Eastern/11:00am-12:30pm Pacific

Integrated primary care and behavioral health providers can create culturally appropriate, highly accessible integrated care to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community with behavioral health conditions. Join CIHS and the CDC National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control to discuss ways to evaluate current organizational barriers to accessing care, strategies for reducing these barriers, and actionable steps for implementing culturally appropriate services. Review how to internally evaluate your agency’s services, and leave with an understanding of best practices and resources to increase engagement efforts with the LGBT community.

Presenters: Andrea Washington, LCSW-S, SUD and Integrated Care Coordinator, Montrose Center; Dr. Scout, Director, Network for LGBT Health Equity at CenterLink; and National LGBT Health Education Center, The Fenway Institute

Register Today at www.integration.samhsa.gov/about-us/webinars

National Council Celebrates LGBT Pride Month

National Council Celebrates LGBT Pride Month

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, and to celebrate, the National Council is promoting several resources from SAMHSA to support community providers’ efforts to improve service delivery and outcomes for LGBT individuals.

LGBT Training Curricula for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Practitioners – A list of six training curricula for behavioral health and primary care practitioners to help them assess, treat, and refer LGBT clients in a culturally sensitive manner.

A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children - Offers information and resources to help practitioners throughout health and social service systems implement best practices in engaging and helping families and caregivers to support their LGBT children.

A Provider's Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender – Informs clinicians and administrators about substance abuse treatment approaches that are sensitive to LGBT clients. Covers cultural, clinical, health, administrative, and legal issues as well as alliance building.