myGwork - LGBTQ+ Business Community’s Post

After a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills were filed across the nation in 2023, LGBTQ+ Americans have already seen 125+ anti-trans bills filed within the first week of 2024. In Kentucky, where the community is still navigating 2023’s Senate Bill 150, one of the strictest anti-trans bills in the country, Queer Kentucky is closely following the 2024 General Assembly for other LGBTQ+-targeted bills. Also at play is the potential for anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to become a major theme in this upcoming election year. In Kentucky, all 100 state house seats and half of the state senate seats (19) are up for election. In what can be seen as a response to last year’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, there was a number of LGBTQ+ candidates filing prior to the deadline. Here are four races to watch featuring LGBTQ+ Kentuckians running for the Kentucky State House or State Senate:

At least two million LGBTQ Americans are not registered to vote. We must have pro-equality elected officials in place to guard against the erosion of our rights. LGBTQ voters have demonstrated our incredible power to elect pro-equality candidates to protect our rights for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. Read my essay outlining the stakes of this year's elections and find links to check your registration status and key dates ⬇ #Voting #LGBTQ #ProEquality https://lnkd.in/euZaxEBy

"At least two million LGBTQ Americans are not registered to vote." Folx, #voting is the cornerstone of #democracy, and for LGBTQ+ people, it holds particular significance in ensuring the protection of our #rights and freedoms. Every election cycle brings crucial decisions about policies, legislation, and representatives that directly impact us. From anti-discrimination laws to marriage equality, these pivotal issues are being shaped by the votes and advocacy of our community, including our #allies. Without active participation in the electoral process, we risk losing even more of our rights. Voting empowers us to have a say in our own destiny and to hold our elected officials accountable for upholding the principles of #equality and #inclusivity. Not voting effectively means relinquishing a fundamental tool for change and progress. It denies us a voice in shaping the political landscape and leaves us vulnerable to the influence of those who may not prioritize LGBTQ+ rights or may be entirely against us. If we neglect our civic duty to vote, we forfeit our right to voice discontent when anti-LGBTQ+ #legislation is enacted. Please read Sarah Kate Ellis' essay. Please register to vote. And please vote!

New survey results show: ↪️ Most American voters believe the US needs stronger protections for LGBTQ+ people against discrimination and violence ↪️ A plurality of voters believe that the nation has become increasingly politically hostile towards LGBTQ+ people Read more on this below:

"Lawmakers have introduced a record number of bills targeting gay and transgender Americans this year, but hardly any have passed, raising questions about whether the push to restrict LGBTQ+ rights is losing momentum. The bills have sought to regulate matters such as which bathrooms transgender people can use and whether Pride flags can be raised in public buildings. Similar bills sailed through state legislatures in recent years. This year, they have failed even in states where Republicans have supermajorities and governors demanded wins. So far, just 20 bills have passed, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, down from more than 75 last year. Strategists on both sides say Republicans appear increasingly unwilling to stake their reelections on cultural issues. Though many Americans support policies such as banning trans girls and women from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity, polls have found that the issues aren’t especially important to voters. Few Republicans have parlayed the issues into electoral success, and as politicians in swing states ask for votes, some may be feeling risk averse." via The Washington Post https://lnkd.in/eT-75V2j

OUT FOR BIDEN! I am extremely humbled to be partnering with so many iconic LGBTQ+ activists, advocates & community leaders to support President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with “Out for Biden-Harris!” As Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez has said, “LGBTQ+ Americans couldn’t have more at stake this election: Donald Trump and his extremist allies are running to gut LGBTQ+ rights and erase history as their top priorities. LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will fight for every American’s freedom and dignity. That’s what President Biden and Vice President Harris have done throughout their time in office, and what they will do if reelected, including pressing Congress to pass the Equality Act.” This election, there’s so much at stake for the LBGTQ+ community – for our families, our freedoms, and our futures. Out for Biden-Harris will mobilize voters around the clear choice. President Biden believes that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity and be able to live without fear no matter who they are or who they love. We get the government we elect so please join us in re-electing the most pro-LGBTQ+ President and Vice President to ever occupy the White House! #OutForBiden #LGBTQIA #WhiteHouse https://lnkd.in/eYV63X7b

Reading about the continuous erosion of LGBTQIA+ rights is emotionally exhausting. The constant battle for our basic #rights, even the right to exist, feels like rowing against a relentless current. If I had a dollar for every article discussing our rights, I'd never have to work again. Kelley Robinson’s perspective on shifting from assimilation to embracing #diversity resonates deeply. It reflects the sentiment that we shouldn't have to conform to be #accepted and deserve rights. The fight for #equality is like a marathon, and it's heartbreaking to see setbacks in recent years. Robinson's approach of disrupting the status quo and seeking change at its roots is inspiring. The upcoming #election in 2024 is pivotal, emphasizing the need for representation not just at the national level but also in state #legislatures and local #governments. The battles to roll back rights are fought in these arenas, making it crucial to elect #candidates aligned with our cause. The call for setting new expectations for a government that legislates with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind is a rallying cry for progress. The fatigue we feel is real, but the hope lies in reshaping the narrative and steering towards a more inclusive future. #LGBTQIA #GenderIdentity #SexualOrientation #Voting

Beyond thrilled about today's launch of The "Out for Biden-Harris" campaign. I still remember when then Vice-President Biden pushed President Obama into outwardly supporting marriage equality. It was a demonstration of his commitment to the #LGBTQ+ population in the United States. Today, Gallup reports that we are 7.6% of the U.S. population, and our numbers edge higher with our younger counterparts. These are self-reported numbers and given all of the hate, violence and legislation that we've experienced since 2016, I'm sure the size of our population is perhaps greater. There is no question about Joe and Kamala's full support of #Queer people. And I hope that I can see a day when it doesn't matter if you are a democrat or republican in elected office, that you believe in our full rights, our full equality and our full dignity (and hopefully on the last point, the Catholic Church will come around). Being for our inclusion isn't about politics, it is about human rights. Yet, one party has preyed upon us. One party has so-called leaders who consider us to be "filth." One party is truly trying to move us back into that lonely closet. And I can tell you from the years I existed in one; it's terrifying. So yes, as a proud board member of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, I am working to ensure that more LGBTQ people feel confident in doing something that I lacked confidence in: running for office. And part of this means, supporting candidates like Sarah McBride, Malcolm Kenyatta, Joe Vogel, Will Rollins in their runs for office this year. But as a gay man, I am well aware of the threat that exists for our wonderful fellow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer citizens. And that's why I believe we all need to be "Out for Biden-Harris." And a word to businesses. I recognize that businesses are non-partisan. But I also believe that you hold sway and command attention. Please let your employees and customers know that you support LGBTQ full equality. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain in being on the right side of history. Supporting politicians and rulers who think we are filth and support our imprisonment and worse is dangerous and shows a lack of moral courage.

The recent developments in New Hampshire's legislature, where anti-trans bills have gained traction with some Democratic support, are deeply concerning and indicative of a broader political issue. Despite the vigilance of the transgender community and its allies, the challenge remains in mobilizing centrists and moderate politicians to understand the real cost of their actions. This isn't a new issue; it's a continuation of the pattern where transgender rights are perceived as a political liability rather than a non-negotiable aspect of human rights. The support from some Democrats for these bills is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for transgender equality. It's a reflection of the uncomfortable and often unpopular position transgender rights hold in mainstream political discourse. The inclusion of transgender individuals in equality measures seems to be more of a theoretical concept rather than a practical commitment for some politicians. This underscores the need for additional strategies in engaging with centrists and moderates. A focus on educating and showing the tangible, human impact of discriminatory policies, and aligning transgender rights with broader principles of fairness and freedom that many centrists claim to uphold. It’s crucial to shift the narrative, emphasizing that transgender rights are an integral part of the social fabric, not a matter of convenience or popularity. Though honestly, this is something that we have been doing very well. They just haven't been listening... https://lnkd.in/dTUM3vNw

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - WhiteHouse Talking Points - Team Biden-Harris Launches Out for Biden-Harris / Team Biden-Harris is launching Out for Biden-Harris, a national organizing and engagement program to mobilize LGBTQ+ voters, communities, and leaders across the country. With more than 8 percent of the U.S. population, and over 20 percent of Americans aged 18-25 identifying as LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ voters will be a key part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’s winning coalition this November – just as they were in the 2020 election and in 2022, where they made up more of the electorate than in any other election in American history with over 39% of voters viewing LGBTQ+ equality as a make-or-break issue. The launch of Out for Biden-Harris today comes alongside endorsements from LGBTQ+ organizations across the country, including Equality North Carolina PAC, Fair Wisconsin, Delaware Stonewall PAC and the Center for Black Equity Political Action Fund in their first-ever presidential endorsement. These organizations join other critical state-level endorsements from Equality California and Silver State Equality and the historic, joint endorsement in 2023 from the Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Trans Equality Action Fund, and Equality PAC. Collectively, these groups represent more than 3.8 million members who will use their resources to mobilize equality voters across every battleground state. The Biden-Harris Administration is the most pro-LGBTQ+ in history. President Biden has taken historic action for the LGBTQ+ community, including reversing Trump’s un-American ban on transgender military service, signing the Respect for Marriage Act, safeguarding and expanding access to quality health care for everyone, and continuing the charge for federal action to protect all LGBTQ+ Americans through the Equality Act. The fight for equality for all Americans is at stake this November as Trump and his allies plan to roll back the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans. Trump and his MAGA allies are running on an extreme, anti-LGBTQ+ agenda which would push to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, even going after the right to marry who you love. Trump would also reverse President Biden’s efforts to restore the right for trangender Americans to serve in the military and take away Title IX’s existing protections for transgender students. Donald Trump and his allies want to take us backwards, dictating who Americans can and cannot love and who they can or cannot be. It’s wrong and it is dangerous. “LGBTQ+ voters are a force to be reckoned with. They were critical to our victory in 2020, and they will be critical to winning again this November. That’s why we’re thrilled to launch Out for Biden-Harris.