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GOP Caitlyn Jenner’s Campaign Is Going Down In Flames Parents Sue Tennessee For Discriminating Against Trans Students Here Are Some Basic Facts About HIV/AIDS You Should Know, Don’t Be Like DaBaby A 'Troubling Rise' In Business Owners Refusing Gay Couples, Advocates Say House Democrats Call For Release Of Trans & HIV Positive Detainees From ICE Facilities LGBTQ-Inclusive Valdemar Fantasy Universe Is Finally Coming To TV
5 Breathtaking LGBT-Friendly Travel Destinations For Summer 2021 A’keria C. Davenport’s Fondness for Funeral Homes Runs in the Family Jax Gay Monthly Happening Lesbian Atty General Says She Won’t Accept HRC’s Donations Until The Group’s Pres Resigns
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GOP Caitlyn Jenner’s Campaign Is Going Down In Flames By Leigh Wan
Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, who is transgender, spent years living in front of a television camera as part of the Kardashian clan. And after she launched her longshot campaign to become the next governor of California, she wasn’t able to resist the opportunity to appear on TV again.
Jenner tweeted that her campaign will continue even though she’ll be on the other side of the world: “I am honoring a work commitment that I had made prior to even deciding to run for governor. There is no pause at all on this race to save CA!” “My campaign team is in full While Jenner has abandoned operation as am I. I am in this her campaign for the Australian race to win for California, reality show, she also stopped because it is worth fighting for.” fundraising. So now her But Jenner will miss the campaign is going broke and, upcoming high-stakes worst of all, voters don’t seem California GOP gubernatorial to mind that she left. debate as her campaign piles Jenner’s run in the recall up debt. election to replace California Since she launched her Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has campaign, Jenner has only been marred by constant raised $747,000 while she’s gaffes from the politically spent $910,000. Reports show inexperienced first-time that the campaign is over candidate: she doesn’t seem to $150,000 in debt and has have an inkling about how about $21,000 in the bank. out-of-touch her wealth has Most of the money has gone to made her, she lied about not pay a Republican fundraising voting in the 2020 election when she actually did vote, and service, former head of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign she has insulted anyone who Brad Parscale, and Ari might ever support her Fleischer, former President campaign, from rightwing George W. Bush’s press podcasters to transgender secretary. While she was proud voters. to announce that big-name Then she ran off to Australia. Republican strategists were part of her campaign back in
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April, she apparently hasn’t succeeded in earning the money needed to pay them. Gov. Newsom, on the other hand, has raised over $40 million to fight off the recall. “The campaign will be fully funded to enter the final stretch of the election with the necessary resources to end Gavin Newsom’s time as governor,” Jenner’s campaign spokesperson told Politico. She has consistently polled poorly with California voters. As of last week, she was tied for fifth place among GOP contenders with three percent support.
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Parents Sue Tennessee For Discriminating Against Trans Students By Theresa Bennett
The state of Tennessee is being sued again over one of the anti-LGBTQ bills it passed this year, now by parents who say that allowing cisgender students to sue school districts if they encounter a transgender student in the restroom will make life harder for their children. The LGBTQ organization HRC filed a federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn H.B. 1233, which requires schools to provide transgender-free restrooms for cisgender students or risk being sued by their families or even school employees. “I’m worried that if she’s forced to use the boys’ bathroom about her being bullied,” one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit told them. She is only identified as “Julie B.” in court documents and her six-year-old daughter Ariel is transgender.
H.B. 1233 was introduced by state Rep. Jason Zachary (R), who said that high schools felt “handcuffed” by the law, unable to ban transgender students from using the correct bathroom..
“There’s not much they can do about it,” he said at the time. “This bill takes care of that. It stops all that and just provides absolute clarity.” HRC’s lawsuit argues that H.B. 1233 violates federal law, including Title IX, which bans discrimination in education, as well as the Equal Protection Clause in the U.S. Constitution. Effectively, they’re saying that a state law can’t lift the handcuffs that Zachary mentioned, which include federal law. “Courts have time-and-again ruled against these dangerous and discriminatory laws and we “A lot can happen in the are going to fight in court to bathroom because it is such a strike down this one and private location. There’s not protect the civil rights of any adult supervision in there.” transgender and non-binary young people,” said HRC Julie said that her daughter President Alphonso David in a doesn’t understand why she statement. could be forced to use the boys’ bathroom “because I’m a The family of a transgender 14girl, not a boy.” year-old boy is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. They say that he 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
never uses the bathroom at school because he’s not allowed to use the boys’ restroom and was instead told to use the girls’ restroom or a single-occupancy bathroom for teachers or next to the nurse’s office. Since he doesn’t want to be misgendered – and outed – by using the wrong restroom or singled out by using staff facilities, the teen says that he says he avoids drinking water while at school and then runs home right after school to use the bathroom. The lawsuit says that he is effectively being denied access to educational programs because of he is part of a historically oppressed minority. It also cites President Joe Biden’s executive order from earlier this year that says that Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination also bans discrimination against LGBTQ people because it’s impossible to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity without taking sex into account. The White House has stated that it’s his
administration’s policy that transgender people equally or if a teacher is going to mention “trans rights are human rights.” face up to six months in prison. LGBTQ people. The Tennessee attorney general’s office said that they are reviewing the lawsuit. This is the second lawsuit over an anti-LGBTQ law that Tennessee is facing this year after it passed at least four anti-LGBTQ laws in just the first few months of the year. Last month, the ACLU succeeded in getting a temporary injunction against H.B. 1182, a law passed this year that requires businesses to post signs warning customers that they treat
“These signs would have damaged our businesses and the environment we have tried to create for our community, customers, and staff,” said Kye Sayers, one of the two business owners who are plaintiffs in that case. The state also passed a bill this year to ban transgender girls from participating in school sports. H.B. 529, also passed in Tennessee this year, requires schools to give parents 30 days notice and an option to opt out
“As a parent, I find out when my child comes home what video they saw that day, not 30 days before so I can protect my own child from that,” Rep. Ryan Williams (R) said in support of the law. “Our kids are young and impressionable, and what we allow in their minds is important.” The state also banned doctors from providing gender-affirming care to “prepubertal minors,” which is not a thing that happens. How the law will affect the care trans youth receive is not yet known.
“Bitch, we like AIDS, I’m on your ass, we on your ass, bitch, we won’t go ‘way,” he raps in his new song, which was recorded prior to his Here Are Some Basic Facts initial comAbout HIV/AIDS You Should Know, ments, but he felt that he had Don’t Be Like DaBaby By Debbie Hearn to release it – instead of Grammy-nominated rapper editing it first – to “stay true to DaBaby made headlines when yourself & DROP DAT BITCH he denounced gay people and in the height of the commotion.” people living with HIV/AIDS at At the end of the video, a still a show in Florida. reading “DONT FIGHT HATE As comments continue to come WITH HATE” is shown in from fellow entertainers rainbow colors. “My apologies condemning his remarks, there for being me the same way you has been little time dedicated want the freedom to be you,” to the actual facts about HIV text on the screen says. and AIDS. There are many reasons DaBaby said at the Rolling DaBaby’s comments have Loud Miami festival this past been both serophobic (hatred weekend, “If you didn’t show up or fear for someone living with today with HIV, AIDS, or any of HIV) and homophobic. But he them deadly sexually is far from the only person to transmitted diseases, that’ll have perpetuate such make you die in two to three ignorance, with people from the weeks, then put your cellphone former President’s son to the lighter up,” to try to get the former President himself crowd energized. furthering such notions. “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking dick As Elton John said in response in the parking lot, put your to DaBaby’s ignorant remarks, cellphone lighter up,” he added, “Homophobic and HIV mistruths have no place in our Video of his comments went society and industry and as viral online and he got both support and criticism from other musicians, we must spread compassion and love for the musicians. He apologized on most marginalised people in Tuesday night but then days our communities.” later he’s released a video, “Giving What It’s Supposed to Here are some clear truths and Give,” upsetting more people. realities about HIV and AIDS for those who don’t know or 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
need a refresher. HIV Is Not A “Gay Disease” Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that infects and remains in the blood cells of someone living with HIV. It can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if there is a lack of treatment or other factors, but generally, and this was what happened in the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis. In June 1981, doctors noted that five gay men in California — described as “active homosexuals” — had displayed similar, severe symptoms of what appeared to be unusual infections. Within a year of the discovery, medical professionals would declare an epidemic and name the disease AIDS. This led to HIV and AIDS being associated with LGBTQ people, but the fact is that it is very likely that the virus existed for dozens, if not hundreds of years, prior to its discovery. The virus is believed to have first received introduction into
humans via contact with a species of chimpanzees, and the CDC believes it may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans “as far back as the late 1800s.” So HIV and AIDS have effected people of all identities and backgrounds for a long time, but early on, it was mainly the LGBTQ community and its advocates who had to commit to the work and activism that became necessary to save lives. While today, HIV and AIDS advocacy is no longer restricted to the LGBTQ community, it is still inextricably linked to LGBTQ history and culture. But HIV Is Used To Ostracize/ Discriminate Against LGBTQ People
President Joe Biden said this year, on the 40th anniversary of those first documented AIDS cases. Studies have shown that when anti-LGBTQ policies are in place, Men who have sex with men were almost five times more likely to have HIV. Countries such as Uganda have used HIV as their reason for enacting anti-gay policies, to prevent the “gay disease” from spreading. HIV Can Be Transmitted Through Activities Outside Of Sexual Activities When many people learn about sexually transmitted infections (STI), they presume that means that the virus can only pass through sex or body contact. But there are many Unfortunately, the assumption other ways it is transmitted beyond sex. that it was only effecting gay people or men who have sex Some people that are not living with men led to many years with HIV are very serophobic where the response to HIV and and fear any contact with AIDS lacked care and the people that are living with HIV. necessary attention to curb it An alarming result from one before it became a global study found that 28 percent of issue. This was especially so young adults admit they have under the administration of avoided hugging, talking to, or Ronald Reagan, who ignored being friends with someone the growing number of HIV with HIV. infections for nearly his entire A person living with HIV is not presidency. “contagious” or constantly “In the decades since, more “shedding” HIV onto others. than 700,000 Americans and Unlike COVID-19 and the flu, it 32.7 million people worldwide cannot be be transmitted by have been lost to AIDS-related casual contact. The most illnesses – a heartbreaking recognized ways to receive HIV human toll that has is through unprotected anal sex disproportionately devastated between people of any sex or LGBTQ+ communities, identity. Oral sex and noncommunities of color, and penetrative vaginal sex have underserved and marginalized drastically reduced risks for people around the world,” transmitting the virus.
It is also very hard to transmit the virus without an exchange of blood cells. Although people have been charged with “attempting to transmit” HIV by spitting or kissing, there is little evidence that it’s possible to get the virus through closed mouth lip locking. The CDC says flat out, “HIV is not transmitted through saliva.” Blood cells, semen, and breastmilk are the bodily fluids that would need to be exchanged for the virus to inoculate someone else. So how else can it be transmitted? There are many possibilities, but most of them beyond sex are considered less than common. Breastfeeding is one example. There’s also the use or reuse of needles, syringes, and other drug infection equipment that may have been used by someone living with HIV. (Reducing new HIV transmission cases are part of the reason why many urban areas have needle exchange programs and other punishment-free methods of providing safe equipment for drug users.) There are no known cases of someone getting HIV from receiving a tattoo or piercing, but the CDC believes it’s possible if equipment is unused. And especially outside of the United States, HIV transmissions through medical procedures such as blood transfusions or organ donations, generally due to a lack of resources or inadequate www.cityxtramagazine.com 11
following of standards. Many People Don’t “Choose” To Get HIV People that are living with HIV are usually blamed for getting the virus, shamed for living with it, or both, especially in media representation and anti-LGBTQ environments. This stems from generally sex-negative culture that shames people who engage in sexual activity. But since there are a number of ways to transmit the virus other than consensual sex, not everyone “chooses” to be, or knows they were being, exposed to HIV. HIV transmission through sexual assault is a well documented method of inoculation, but scientists haven’t concluded whether or not being violently assaulted is “more” likely to transmit HIV than consensual sex. As described by our previous method of inoculation, people can be born with HIV if their mother is living with it, or they receive fluids from someone living with it while pregnant or giving birth. While very rare, people have also gotten exposed to HIV in the workplace and again, through medical care. 12 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Regardless, becoming inoculated with HIV through these methods does not mean that some people living with HIV deserve more sympathy or respect than others. As David Duran wrote in the article “It Doesn’t Matter How I Got HIV” for The Body Magazine in 2014, “What answer is the questioner looking for? What answer would stop the questioner from casting shame upon me? …I don’t deserve any additional guilt or shame to be thrown my way because of a single moment in my life.” Duran added, “Regardless of how I answer, my response will have an impact on how you view me.” People living with HIV are deserving of respect and consideration regardless of how they became inoculated with the virus. There Are Many People That Are Living With HIV The CDC believes that at least 1.2 million people were living with HIV in America at the end of 2018, which is similar to the number of people who identify as non-binary. There are a number of celebrities and well-known figures publicly living with HIV. The most notable person to come out as HIV-positive this year was out Pose star actor Billy Porter in May. Another notable person who has shared their HIV diagnosis publicly for years was NBA star Magic Johnson, who went public with his diagnosis in 1991. A number of late celebrities have lived with HIV and
succumbed to AIDS or AIDSrelated illnesses, both out and not. Out entertainers such as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, singer Sylvester, and Alvin Ailey lived with HIV and died of AIDS-related illnesses. Late Celebrities who were straight or not out include rapper Eazy E, tennis athlete Arthur Ashe, and actor Howard E. Rollins did as well. But beyond famous people, thousands of new HIV diagnoses are made every year. You likely know or have a relationship with such a person, even if they haven’t disclosed their status to you. It’s Against The Law To Disclose Someone’s HIV Status Publicly Without Their Permission Except in specific law-mandated instances or when medically necessary, it is illegal to disclose someone’s HIV status under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), in addition to other, possibly more stringent state laws. Because of the ostracization people living with HIV have faced historically, especially when it may out them as an LGBTQ person or lead people to presume they are one, people would not get tested out of fear that the information would get out. To combat this, state and federal law bar any disclosure of someone else’s status and go to extensive efforts to prevent the outing of someone with the virus or AIDS.
People who are reported as living with HIV have their information anonymized by medical bodies, who send them to public health officials or agencies such as the CDC to keep track to try to inform and get others tested who may be at risk.
someone’s risk of dying earlier than anyone else.
There is even a man known as “the Lisbon Patient” that lived with HIV to at least 100. There’s also several treatments that limit the progress and severity of AIDS-related illnesses now. A person who is living with HIV So no, living with HIV and even is also entitled to similar AIDS is no longer one of those protections against infections “that’ll make you die discrimination as others living in two to three weeks,” as with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act DaBaby claimed. (ADA). The ADA and other But We Are Still In The laws prevent a person from Middle Of An Epidemic, legally being fired solely Just Like With COVID-19 because they are living with The AIDS epidemic is still HIV. ongoing. The difference In some places, there are some between an epidemic and legal mandates requiring peo- pandemic is that the former is a ple living with HIV to disclose sudden outbreak of viral their status with current infections, while the latter is the partners, and even stage when it has affected a criminalizing people who don’t. wider population. This is called “duty to warn.” So while there are millions of But as social ostracization people living with HIV/AIDS, lessens around HIV, the more the number of COVID-19 people are becoming infections far outweigh that, comfortable with sharing their and since coronavirus is much status with partners and even easier to contract or spread beyond. than HIV or any other STIs, HIV Itself Is No Longer A that earned pandemic Death Sentence classification from the CDC within the first few months of Advances in technology have 2020. made it very possible for people to live with HIV without Still, the spread of HIV/AIDS is less of a quality of life still considered part of an compared to people who do not epidemic and there are still live with HIV. In fact, a new resources desperately needed study found that early death to continue combatting the rates for Americans living with virus for it to become less HIV are no longer that different common and to prevent widefrom people who are HIVspread infections. negative. As With COVID, The Initial That means being inoculated Government Response Was with HIV may not increase
Lacking, It Cost Lives
Dr. Anthony Fauci is the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a position he’s had since 1984. He was thus a major figure in early HIV/AIDS history, as he was the official under the Reagan administration tasked with managing the response, which did not put much resources toward curbing the spread of HIV. Dr. Fauci became the target of queer HIV/AIDS activists, and similarly so when the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020. Still, he believes there is a major difference between how HIV/AIDS activists treated him, and why they were calling him out, versus the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers of today. Dr. Fauci expressed earlier this year that he learned two major things from the start of the AIDS epidemic: “One of them is the importance of getting the community involved and dealing with the community and their special needs…if you look at the incidence of infection and the incidence of serious disease, including hospitalization and deaths, brown and Black people suffer disproportionately more than whites. “We also learned the importance of fundamental basic science in getting solutions,” he explained. “Back in the early days, getting infected with HIV was a virtual death sentence for the overwhelming majority… it was www.cityxtramagazine.com 13
and even a potential implant that would work for up to a year. There is also post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is available at almost all emergency rooms and from the fundamental basic science medical providers to prevent of targeted drug development HIV transmission after an that allowed us to develop unexpected exposure to the combinations of drugs… that virus has happened. PEP is ultimately completely transtaken within 72 hours of formed the lives of people living potential exposure for best with HIV.” chances of effectiveness. But Just Like There’s COVID These Have Helped Make It Vaccines, There’s A Very More Than Possible To Have Effective Preventative And Sex With Someone Who Has Emergency Treatment: HIV Without Transmitting The PrEP/PEP Virus Pre-exposure prophylaxis The slogan “Undetectable = (PrEP) just became free to Untransmittable” refers to peomost insured Americans under ple who are living with HIV, but the Biden administration’s thanks to advancements in direction, and several clinics treatment, carry such a low and wellness services provide it amount of the virus that they to people that need them most. are “undetectable.” This PrEP is an anti-retroviral, increases the likelihood that preventative treatment for they aren’t passing on the virus exposure to HIV that limits its to others, and those chances ability to spread from a person are even lower if one or both carrying the virus to someone partners use protection or take who isn’t. PrEP has been PrEP. shown to reduce the risk of And Like There Are contracting HIV from sexual Anti-Vaxxers, There Are contact by about 99% when Anti-PrEP Activists taken as directed. There is a concerted effort to Currently, PrEP is available in spread disinformation regarding daily pill form by prescription for PrEP and misconstrue it as virtually anyone that is ineffective or even dangerous. considered at “high risk” for Why? Well, whatever the receiving the virus, including reasons, they’re likely similar to men who have sex with men. why anti-vaxxing and There are other methods of anti-masking activists work to providing PrEP being spread disinformation about developed, such as an injection treatments and preventative that could be more effective for measures that clearly work. much longer than the daily pill, Anti-PrEP disinformation is
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often spread via social media. In 2019, several ads claiming that PrEP was dangerous were not only shown on Facebook, but “verified” by third-party fact checkers. The information was in fact not true. LGBTQ and public health organizations tried to work with Facebook to get them removed, saying that the ads make false claims about PrEP which can put people’s lives in danger. It took over 50 LGBTQ, HIV, and public health organizations signing an open letter urging them to pull the ads for Facebook to slowly begin doing so in 2020. PrEP has been found 99 percent effective in preventing HIV transmission when taken as prescribed. One pill can bring protection for up to 21 days, although it is much less effective if not taken consistently. Like almost anything, it is not perfect, but the risk of a “breakthrough” inoculation of the virus is very slim — and the more people that take it, and the less infections that happen, the easier it will be for science to find advancements in the treatment. But we may be inching closer to getting a vaccine for HIV. American Gene Technologies (AGT), a biotechnology company in Maryland, said in August 2020 that it got approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move forward with trials for a gene therapy protocol that it believes will eliminate the virus in people living with HIV.
Aries Tax Service, said the issue “is a matter of personal conviction.” A 'Troubling Rise' In Business Owners “I put it to any Refusing Gay Couples, Advocates Say By Drew Browning reasonable person: ‘If you Amy and Stephanie Mudd have a matter that's a central drove an hour from their home conviction for you, are you in Glasgow, Kentucky, to the willing to stand up for it?’” he city of Radcliff on April 3 to said. “I am.” meet with an accountant at He added that there are other Aries Tax Service. tax preparers in the area that Mudd said her mother-in-law, same-sex couples could use who lives in the area, and that he’s protected by recommended the business federal law. because it offers a $55 flat fee There’s no federal law that to file taxes electronically. explicitly allows people, based When they got there, they saw on their personal beliefs, to turn a sign on the door that listed 10 away same-sex couples or things customers should have other classes of people, but with them if they want the there’s also no federal or business to e-file their tax Kentucky state law that return. But the last item on the protects LGBTQ people from list stopped them from opening discrimination in public the door. It read, “Homosexual accommodations, such as marriage not recognized.” businesses. Stephanie Mudd said the first Legal advocates say situations emotion she felt was anger that like the Mudds’ are on the rise businesses can still turn away as conservative religious same-sex couples. organizations, such as the “It just kind of makes your heart Alliance Defending Freedom, fall into your stomach,” Amy have been building campaigns Mudd said. and lawsuits for years to The couple took a photo of the challenge civil rights laws. sign and left. “They want to get legal rulings that there are religious and free “We wanted to bring attention speech rights to violate these to it, so that he knows that that's not OK,” Amy Mudd said. laws,” said Jennifer Pizer, law “Nowadays, you're providing a and policy director at Lambda Legal, a national LGBTQ legal public service, and it's federal taxes, and in the United States, organization. “We have seen a significant rise and a very it's OK for us to be married.” troubling rise in these cases, Kenneth Randall, owner of and it's not an accident.” 16 www.cityxtramagazine.com
For years, same-sex couples have been turned away by business owners who don’t want to provide weddingrelated services, citing their religious or moral beliefs. In 2018, the Supreme Court narrowly ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, a Christian baker who refused to make a cake for a gay couple’s wedding. The court ruled on a technicality — avoiding the issue of whether a business owner, due to their religious beliefs, could refuse to serve a same-sex couple. Since then, religious denial-ofservice cases have continued. In 2019, the Washington Supreme Court ruled against a florist who refused to provide services for a gay couple’s wedding. Last year, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice backed a wedding photographer in Kentucky who sued the city of Louisville over its anti-discrimination ordinance that prohibited her from refusing to serve same-sex couples. That case is ongoing. Earlier this month, the ADF filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York arguing that the state’s nondiscrimination law unconstitutionally prohibits wedding photographer Emilee Carpenter “from adopting an editorial policy consistent with her beliefs about marriage.” The complaint says Carpenter “is already willing to work with clients no matter who they are, including those in the LGBT community” but that the state goes too far by requiring that
she “celebrate” same-sex marriage in images on her website. The ADF also argues that part of the state law limiting statements that certain customers are “unwelcome, objectionable or not accepted, desired, or solicited” interferes with Carpenter’s free speech, because it doesn’t allow her to express her views about samesex marriage on her website. Pizer said the New York case represents an area of law that is unsettled, specifically as it relates to people who work in artistic fields like photography. For the most part, courts have upheld nondiscrimination laws, but in the instances they haven’t, they often rule on technicalities or rule that the laws violate the freedom of expression of creative professionals, Pizer said. For instance, in September 2019, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the state’s nondiscrimination law violated the free speech of two artists who create custom wedding invitations by compelling them to promote same-sex weddings. Pizer said using free speech rights to justify discrimination “represents a dramatic shift from what the law has been for a long time.” “Why would you think that a video of a couple's wedding would be the message of the person holding the camera?” she said. “If the law changes in that way, then it's hard to see where there's a limiting princi-
ple, and it means that civil rights laws, at best, have a big hole in them and maybe, at worst, have very little effect at all.” The free speech argument could also represent a potential challenge to the Equality Act, proposed federal legislation that would protect LGBTQ people in many areas. The measure passed the House in February but has not yet been voted on in the Senate.
would only do it if he could put them down as single, he said. “I don’t hate a particular individual. It's a stand on a particular institution that I find wrong,” he said, adding that he’s been harassed and threatened since local news outlets published stories about his sign. “If people are willing to accept that, fine. If they are not willing to accept it, there's plenty of other places to go for insurance.”
Pizer said that, because Kenneth Randall is an accountant and not a creative professional, she doesn’t think an argument related to free speech would apply if there were a federal or state nondiscrimination law in Kentucky.
Pizer said the idea that people can receive services elsewhere “ignores a core purpose of civil rights laws.” She said the lunch counter sit-ins held by Black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960 to protest racial segregation weren’t about whether they could “get a sandwich.” “It was about whether they were being treated the same as other people,” she said. In the absence of a federal measure like the Equality Act or a statewide nondiscrimination law, the
But Randall said he refuses to file taxes for same-sex couples because it would require him to express recognition of their marriage. Randall also sells insurance, and he said he has both sold insurance to and filed taxes for single gay people. But if a same-sex couple asked him to sell them insurance, he
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Mudds and couples like them don’t have any options for legal recourse, Pizer said, and businesses can — and do — continue to refuse to serve them. In North Carolina, which also doesn't have a statewide anti-discrimination law protecting LGBTQ people, at least two wedding venues made national news within the span of four months for refusing to host events for same-sex couples. But the issue extends far past weddings. Some states, like Arkansas, have passed legislation that allows medical providers to refuse to serve LGBTQ people if it conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs. The Supreme Court will also soon decide a case that could allow private religious adoption agencies that receive
federal funds to reject samesex couples.
As for the Mudds, they said they wouldn’t pursue legal Pizer said growing acceptance action even if they could, but of LGBTQ people has they wanted to make a pressured some religious statement about Randall’s people “to stop doing types of choice to refuse same-sex discrimination that they've done couples. for a long time.” That pressure “I understand that there's has made them uncomfortable freedom in this country, and and it has made them feel that is what we were founded victimized, in some cases, she on,” Amy Mudd said. “And I said, and they’re fighting back. understand that as a private “Being encouraged to treat practice, I guess he is allowed everyone according to the to do that … but to provide a golden rule is not being service to the public and deny victimized and it's not being such a huge population is bad excluded and it's not being business.” discriminated against,” she Stephanie Mudd added, “If said. “When we’re operating in we're talking about morals, the public marketplace, being that's quite the opposite of asked to stop discriminating is morals. People often hide not to suffer discrimination behind their religion to justify yourself. It's to be invited to their hate, and that is what is play by the same rules that so frustrating.” everybody else is expected to play by.”
abuse of trans inmates. It is addressed to Secretary House Democrats Call For Release Of Trans & of HIV Positive Detainees From ICE Facilities By Ben Hearn Homeland Security Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) has Alejandro Mayorkas, appointed once again led a group of by Biden and confirmed, as Democrats in the House of well as ICE Acting Director Tae Representatives requesting Johnson, a holdover from the that the Immigration and end of the Trump Customs Enforcement (ICE) administration. Biden’s agency release all transgender nominee for ICE Director, detainees in their detention former Houston sheriff Ed facilities. This follows a similar Gonzalez, awaits confirmation. measure by Quigley and “Immigration detention is several House Democrats notoriously dangerous and issued in early 2020, harmful for transgender In a new letter, Quigley and 29 immigrants, who are likely to other members of the House be seeking asylum based on additionally asked for the transphobic violence they have release of all detainees living already faced,” the letter with HIV. Quigley — the Vice states, “and because of such Chair of the House LGBTQ+ histories are likely to suffer Equality Caucus — and others from depression, are also seeking data specific post-traumatic stress disorder, to LGBTQ detainees in ICE and other mental health custody from the agency. conditions.” Quigley’s letter comes just one The letter notes that even day after ICE announced that it when ICE makes trans-only will reverse a policy enacted detention facilities, their treatunder the Trump ment of detainees and the administration, and stop unstable condition of said detaining people who are facilities led most of them to be pregnant, nursing or just gave closed. birth within the last year in their “Even when ICE has facilities for deportation. endeavored to set up specific This letter, like one previously detention units tailored to issued by Quigley and others, comply with the requirements asserts that ICE’s detainment of its own 2015 guidance on and judicial procedures are the detention of transgender disproportionately harming individuals, its efforts have trans people, citing recent failed,” the letter denotes. evidence of rampant sexual The members of Congress also add that “Evidence has 20 www.cityxtramagazine.com
overwhelmingly shown that those with HIV receive woefully insufficient and inconsistent treatment for their condition,” and “for those living with HIV, such poor medical care could quickly lead to death or serious health consequences.” For these reasons, “It’s clear that ICE is not fully capable of safely and humanely detaining transgender and HIV+ individuals. As these individuals face civil, and not criminal proceedings, alternatives to detention that protect the health and safety of these individuals is paramount,” the letter continues. “We therefore write again today to urge ICE to ensure the release of all transgender people and people living with HIV currently in custody either on recognizance or under supervision.” The authors also ask for the agency or its overseeing federal department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), “to formally and publicly announce that ICE will no longer detain transgender individuals and people living with HIV, utilizing release into the community or alternative to detention programming instead.” Finally, the letter requests information in five areas is consistently provided to Congress, most notably, “How many trans detainees are in ICE custody” and “How many people living with HIV are currently in ICE custody.”
The House Democrats also ask for information on ICE’s current policies, training, and written material regarding trans detainees or outlines “discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity with individuals in ICE custody.” Lastly, they request any information pertaining to “any work between ICE and NGOs to facilitate the release of and legal representation for all transgender individuals.” In addition to Quigley, other House Democrats to sign onto the letter include Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Marie Newman (D-IL), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), among others. Out members of the House, Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark Takano (D-CA) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY), also signed on. In addition to the Congressional signatories, 60 advocacy organizations also co -signed the letter, which goes along with a letter of similar requests sent by some of the same groups on June 18. LGBTQ advocacy organizations such as AIDS Foundation Chicago, Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project, the Casa Ruby Community Center, the LGBTQ Freedom Fund, Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and the Transgender Law Center were among the co -signers to the Congressional
letter. In January 2020, Quigley spearheaded a letter co-signed by 43 other House Democrats to DHS and ICE. “The United States is bound by domestic and international law to protect — not punish — vulnerable populations escaping from persecution,” that letter read. They noted that LGBTQ inmates “are 97 times more likely to be sexually victimized than non-LGBT people in [ICE] detention.” They specifically named two trans women detainees of ICE facilities who have died – Roxsana Hernández, who passed from AIDS-related complications on May 25, 2018, and Johana Medina León on June 1, 2019. Hernández was sick in custody for 12 days without treatment. León came to the country to file for asylum, and was not here illegally – yet, she was preemptively detained by ICE, and died days after her eventual “parole.” Since the Biden administration began in January 2021, ICE policy has been revised to allow for “generally” releasing migrant families that are detained together — rather than detaining them and separating them in various facilities across the country —
and now people who are pregnant or have given birth recently. Advocates hope that trans people and people living with HIV will get that consideration soon. Members of one co-signing organization, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, expressed why they believe the letter was necessary in statements released by Quigley’s office. “We marched to call urgency to end trans detention for all queer and trans people as well as those living with HIV while in custody,” Familia lead organizer Jorge Gutierrez said, “we rallied from National City Christian Church to the White House and we will do it again until all the Victoria’s, Roxsana’s and Johana’s facing a death sentence while in ICE custody are free!”
“Victoria’s” refers to Victoria Arellano, a trans woman that lived with HIV who died in an ICE facility in 2007 after being refused medical care. www.cityxtramagazine.com 21
LGBTQ-Inclusive Valdemar Fantasy Universe Is Finally Coming To TV By James Proctor
Author Mercedes Lackey’s iconic Valdemar fantasy universe is finally coming to television. The series of novels was one of the first to feature LGBTQ characters as heroes. EastSiders creator Kit Williamson and author Brittany Cavallaro will adapt the novels for the show. The Last Herald-Mage trilogy will comprise the first season. With over 50 books set inside the universe, spanning thousands of years of history, the two have an incredible array of options for subsequent seasons beyond the most popular set of stories. “We are incredibly excited to draw inspiration from the expansive world that Lackey has built, with its rich history, diverse characters and intricate systems of magic,” Williamson told LGBTQ Nation, noting that no decisions have been made on which novels will come next. Vanyel, the main character of the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, becomes a powerful magician in the series and also discovers his sexuality as he bonds with his Companion, a telepathic magical horse. The two battle everything from depression to dragon-like monsters together. 22 www.cityxtramagazine.com
Vanyel’s loves and losses make up large portions of the stories as they would have for a straight character. The novels are frequently cited by LGBTQ people as inspirational or comforting influences on their lives. LGBTQ people are depicted as both good and bad characters and range over all aspects of life without engaging in blatant stereotypes. “I discovered the books as a closeted teenager in Mississippi and devoured every one of them I could get my hands on,” Williamson said. “I read Vanyel’s story shortly after I came out and related so deeply to his journey that I reread them immediately after I finished them, then reread them again. I was also particularly drawn in by the Arrows, Mage Winds and Mage Storms trilogies.” “The universe is so vast that you can literally get lost in it, and that is exactly the kind of escape I needed as a teenager – to inhabit a world where the hero could be gay, but still had to face and overcome challenges, including bigotry, heartbreak, and colddrakes.”
“Vanyel in The Last Herald Mage series was one of the first gay characters I encountered, and as a recently out 16-year-old I can’t stress enough the impact that these books had on me. The Valdemar series was far ahead of its time in the portrayal of LGBTQ characters, and Lackey’s writing afforded them a level of depth and complexity that is still very rare, especially in genre storytelling,” Williamson told Deadline. Williamson says he bonded with Cavallaro over the books at school and he couldn’t be more excited to be working on the project together with her. “She is a Velgarth encyclopedia, and she introduced me to more characters in the expanded universe, including the prequels,” he said. “We’re both committed to creating a faithful and reverent adaptation of these books that meant the world to us growing up.” “I have hoped for decades that The Last Herald-Mage would be adapted for television,” Lackey said when she announced the news. “
one on the Rainbow Index of LGBTfriendly countries and is one of five 5 Breathtaking LGBT-Friendly Travel countries in the world that Destinations For Summer 2021 has LGBT+ By David Vandygriff rights at a If you’re planning a late constitutional level. The summer getaway, here are 5 of Mediterranean archipelago is the best LGBT-friendly known for its beautiful, clean hotspots. beaches; historically important As a queer person, it isn’t architecture and world-class always as simple as picking a diving sites. destination and packing your bags — we want and need Right now, it has some of places where we can relax, feel Europe’s lowest COVID-19 safe, accepted and comfortable rates and highest vaccination to explore. rates, with fully-vaccinated tourists able to arrive and head Fortunately the world is a changing place, and there are straight for the beach without any quarantine time – plus, more and more destinations there are financial incentives to that are welcoming to queer holidaymakers. While the most benefit travellers. LGBT-friendly destination is There are some LGBT+ spaces ultimately subjective and down here including bars and clubs, to personal experience, we’ve but with Malta’s increasingly rounded up some of the inclusive ethos, the need for hotspots renowned for specifically queer spaces has inclusivity – as well as breath- thinned out a little as the entire taking sights, exhilarating island opens up for us. activities and kaleidoscopic 2. Staycation In Britain’s nightlife. Queer Capital, Brighton Official advice on travelling Brighton has long been amid the pandemic is considered the LGBT+ capital continually changing, so be of the UK – a reputation it’s sure to check the government’s fiercely proud of – and is website for the most up-to-date thought to have one of the information on rules and queerest populations in the restrictions. country. 1. Malta Is One Of Europe’s There’s a bunch of queer bars Most Beautiful LGBTand restaurants, but the city as Inclusive Spots a whole is incredibly inclusive Malta has been ranked number and celebratory. As it has a mix of other attractions like museums, comedy shows and 24 www.cityxtramagazine.com
beaches, it’s a great destination for families. Brighton is home to one of the biggest Trans Pride events (17 July), while its Pride festival draws crowds from across Europe (it’s usually the first weekend of August but alas, cancelled this year). The seaside favourite is also a top destination for LGBT+ weddings and civil partnership ceremonies. 3. Barcelona, Spain Is Perfect For City Breaks LGBT+ people are largely treated as equals in Spain and as such, the buzzing city of Barcelona has a multitude of destinations that are friendly for queer folk. The LGBT+ district Eixample (known locally as Gaixample) has a range of inclusive restaurants, bars, shops as well as hotels. Some 35km southwest of Barcelona, the coastal city of Sitges is another great LGBT+ destination with a year-round calendar catering to the entire community – as well as its world-famous Bear Week in September. 4. Adventure In Accepting Reykjavik, Iceland In 2006, same-sex couples were granted the same rights as everyone else in Iceland, without limitations, making it a no-brainer for LGBT+ travellers. It’s a real adventure destination with incredible landscapes, ice caves, waterfalls and volcanoes. Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, is often described as one of the most accepting and inclusive
places in the world, with an annual calendar of events including Pride and Bears on Ice. As many as 100,000 people have been known to join Pride celebrations – impressive for a country with a population of 350,000. This destination is more for adventure, though you can find a few LGBT+ spots for a drink, like Kíkí Queen Bar, in Reykjavik. 5. Go Back To Party City (Berlin, Germany) Where You Belong For decades, Berlin has been hailed as one of the queerest cities on earth. It’s filled with spots that celebrate the queer and kink communities with events throughout the year. More of a party destination, its open queer scene dates backs to the 1920s — the districts of Kreuzberg, Prenzlauerberg and the ‘rainbow neighbourhood’ of Schöneberg (where Pride takes place) have a range of restaurants, bars and clubs that all wave the queer flag with delight. Check out Visit Malta to plan your next LGBT-inclusive getaway. www.cityxtramagazine.com 25
encounter herself. On this week’s episode, you talk about how you believe in ghosts and witchcraft. I A’keria C. Davenport’s Fondness for have to ask, Funeral Homes Runs in the Family have you ever By Jennifer Rudolph seen a ghost? Have you ever had a spooky A’keria Chanel Davenport, the experience? Like, where self-proclaimed “diamond” of does that belief come from? Season 11, returned to the So, my grandfather owned a workroom knowing how fierce funeral home, and so it’s just she is, and bringing some one of those things where I feel absolutely gag-worthy runway like you kind of feel the eslooks with her. sence of dead people, of loved On RuPaul’s Drag Race All ones. As far as witchcraft, that Stars Season 6, A’keria cast a comes from traveling the world spell with her Frill of it All flower and seeing different black look, her Patterns sewing magicks and stuff like that, and couture, and her electrifying actually seeing it happen. Like, Prince halftime show tribute. I had a lady who I knew to be Things got downright spooky in voodoo, and I won’t get into when A’keria and the other the details of the spell, but it queens were transformed into actually happened. It was real“Coven Girls” for this week’s ly, really creepy. And plus the acting challenge. whole Ouija board situation. It’s just a lot. While A’keria’s critiques from the judges weren’t that bad, So your love for funeral this season’s competition is homes came from your stiff, so in the end, it was grandfather owning one? A’keria and Ra’Jah O’Hara in Yes, and my grandmother the bottom two — just like in often did hair and makeup for Season 11, when the two the dead. queens lip-synced against You’ve said that one day, each other, with Ra’Jah you want to own one. ultimately sent packin’. This I definitely want a funeral time, though, it was A’keria’s home. I definitely have to have turn to sashay away. me a funeral home. I’m not A’keria spoke with cityXtra even scared of dead bodies, I about her experience on All just like it. Like, I really find it Stars, including where her love interesting. And then you have for funeral homes came from to think about it: Doing hair and and if she’s ever had a ghostly makeup for a dead person, you don’t have to worry about any
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complaints. You don’t have to worry about them talking back, you can tell them about your day, tell them about your problems. They won’t push any problems on you. If your grandmother used to paint for the dead, does that mean your makeup skills run in the family? Maybe so. She may have taught me a trick or two, or I might have taught her a trick or two. Going back to the episode, what was it like getting acting advice from Angela Bassett? You all looked so shocked. Listen, I am a fan of that lady’s body of work. I’m a fan of that lady’s body. I’m a fan of that lady’s face. So to actually be in the moment and talk to her… it was so rewarding just to even have her speak and say my name or even answer a question. It was amazing. And she gave us some great, great advice. Yeah, she did. You asked her about American Horror Story, but what’s your favorite season of American Horror Story? Do you watch? Of course I watch. My favorite season is definitely Coven. It’s just something about powerful women that tickled my fancy, honey. What was it like filming “Coven Girls” on set? What was that whole experience like? It was stressful as always, because you want to do right. You want to make sure that you’re not in the bottom. But for
me, I honestly had fun with it. Like, I had so much fun with them in it. I enjoyed everything about it. In the episode, your critiques from the judges aren’t actually that harsh. Were you surprised that you were in the bottom? I was. But then again, honestly, I wasn’t. I was surprised but not surprised.
it’s kind of like — we think about it in hindsight, the drama of it all — is like, wow. I loved your runway look so Yeah, the drama was dialed up. But I loved when you much. What was the were talking with the other inspiration for that? queens back in the Alexander McQueen meets workroom. I loved your Thierry Mugler. Those two attitude, how you just inspire so much of my drag. seemed really grateful for the You were in the bottom with experience of being back for Ra’Jah, and she was really All Stars. Is that the attitude emotional about it. How were you had going into it? you feeling about being up I’m the type of person to where against Ra’Jah again? And I just like to face reality of did you talk with Ra’Jah situations. And in that moment about it? of being in the bottom, knowing Well, I mean, honestly, I knew my track record versus it was going to be emotional Ra’Jah’s track record, knowing because me and Ra’Jah are the critiques, it was basically sisters. We grew up together. me in the moment facing my We’re both from Dallas, Texas, new reality of going home. So so we already have a love for that point just allowed me, each other. And we instead of begging to stay, it experienced having to battle allowed me just to talk about each other on Season 11 how much I’m grateful for where, luckily in that moment I actually being here, and for this was successful. So here we experience, and actually are again, reliving this moment. growing another sisterhood It’s a triggering situation, but
with a different group of girls. I also loved how with this week’s look, we got to see more of your tattoos. What is that “Believe” tattoo? What’s the significance of that? The Believe tattoo comes from if you take the B-E out of Believe and the Y-O-U out of yourself, it also says be you. Meaning to just live your truth and live for you. Do you have any Drag Raceinspired tattoos, or would you get one after All Stars? Well, I actually did on the inside of my arm on my left side. I have two… I have the number 11, and the 11 is in diamonds because I feel like I’m the diamond princess. I love to shine. And I have the 11 because, of course, my season. So I’m the diamond of Season 11.
Jax Gay Monthly Happening By David Vandygriff
It’s August already, which means Jacksonville Black Pride & Duval Black Pride. Many events happening around town for both organizations. Visit Facebook.com/ DuvalBlackPrideLGBT & Facebook.com/ JacksonvilleFloridaBlackPrideInc for a full listing of events. The annual PFLAG Scholarship Banquet has been changed to a Zoom event out of precautions of ongoing COVID pandemic. People that purchased tickets can receive a refund but are encouraged to allow the purchase to become a donation to PFLAG Scholarship fund.
is continuing games on Sundays at the Willowbranch Park at this time.
We will keep everyone up to date on happenings via our social media as COVID continues to spread. Please get vaccinated and wear a mask to help protect yourself and others. Save The Date: OCTOBER 13, 2021 JASMYN’s Annual Coming Out Day Breakfast. Join JASMYN live at the Hyatt on October 13 or through a live stream. Individual tickets on sale soon. Look for upcoming news on the keynote speaker and awards. The Randy Rainbow Concert at For sponsorship the Florida Theater schedule opportunities: for August has been resched- https://tinyurl.com/ uled to January 2022 because CODBSponsorPacket2021 For of COVID outbreak. However, sponsorship commitment: One Night of Queen concert is https://tinyurl.com/ still a go at the Florida Theater. CODBSponsor2021 The Stonewall Sports League JASMYN chose the national
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day of observation, Coming Out Day, to celebrate diversity in our Northeast Florida workforce. Our breakfast honors the work of individual leaders, employee resource groups, corporations and non-profit partners while focusing support for our LGBTQ young people. Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing: Visit the Florida Department of Health in Duval County on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for walk-up COVID-19 testing. Drive-up testing is available for those with a disability. For more information, please call 904-253-1850. www.Duval.FloridaHealth.gov At press time we have been notified Jacksonville Florida Black Pride events have been canceled due to COVID and will be rescheduled at a later time.
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Lesbian Attorney General Says She Won’t Accept HRC’s Donations Until The Group’s President Resigns By Roger Graham
A high-ranking lesbian elected official said that she will refuse donations and campaign support from the LGBTQ organization Human Rights Campaign (HRC) until its leader steps down. HRC President Alphonso David allegedly leaked confidential information about a woman who accused the governor of New York of sexual harassment and assault in order to discredit her. “I will not be accepting any campaign donations or support from @HRC unless and until there is a new president of this organization,” tweeted out Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel earlier today, along with a tweet about the accusations. This past Tuesday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James reported the findings of an independent investigation into the accusations from 11 women that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) sexually harassed and assaulted them. James found that Cuomo likely violated state and federal law in harassing the women, and major Democrats including 30 www.cityxtramagazine.com
President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have called on Cuomo to resign.
The report says that HRC’s president played a role in Cuomo’s campaign to discredit the women. David worked as a lawyer for the LGBTQ organization Lambda Legal for several years in the mid-2000’s and then worked for then-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s Office on civil rights law, later serving in the governor’s cabinet – where he worked on the state’s marriage equality legislation – before being named president of HRC in 2019. James’s report says that he kept a personnel file on former Cuomo advisor Lindsey Boylan, who had accused the governor of forcibly kissing her. The report also said that Cuomo commented on her looks, compared her to an ex-girlfriend, touched her in various inappropriate places on her body, and made sexual comments like “let’s play strip poker” when she was on a plane with him. Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa allegedly told David to keep a file on her and that he gathered information about her in the file, including confidential
documents. He even kept documents related to counseling on workplace conflicts that had nothing to do with Cuomo, as well as a document that said that she voluntarily resigned in 2018 after she first accused Cuomo. The report says that David helped DeRosa track down part of the file in late 2020, after Boylan had gone public with her accusations against Cuomo. David allegedly sent confidential documents to Cuomo senior adviser Richard Azzopardi. At this time, David was already the president of HRC and no longer worked for Cuomo. David told the independent investigation that he kept the files since it was the only time he “was actually involved in a counseling of an employee.” Azzopardi then allegedly sent the confidential files to the AP, the New York Times, and the New York Post, along with a note that “there is simply no truth to these claims,” referring to Boylan’s accusations. The report also says that David tried to find people to sign a draft op-ed to discredit Boylan. He did not sign the op-ed himself and it was never published. David says that the report does not show that he engaged in any wrongdoing, saying in an email to HRC’s board that the accusations against Cuomo “are beyond comprehension to me and they break my heart as a former employee.” He wrote in the email that, as former
should resign,” he wrote. The boards of directors of HRC and the HRC Foundation released a joint statement saying that they “have full confidence in Alphonso David as president of the organization” and that employee.” He wrote in the his contract has been extended email that, as former counsel, for another five years. he had to provide files to his “In recognition of his former client, which was the extraordinary leadership during governor’s office. extremely challenging times, In fact, David called on Cuomo we were proud to extend his to resign as governor this contract to stay on in his role week. for five more years,” the “After reading the AG’s statement says. “For the last devastating report that two years he has been boldly concluded Gov. Cuomo leading the organization as it engaged in a pattern of sexual works to achieve its mission: harassment, in violation of both full equality for all LGBTQ federal and state law, he people, in the midst of a global
pandemic, a nationwide reckoning on racial justice, and the most important presidential election of our lifetimes.” David said that he has no intention to resign. “This is my life’s work,” he told the Washington Blade. “I’ve been a civil rights lawyer for 20 years. This is what I’ve been doing, this is what I did in government. I wrote the marriage equality law. I drafted the Paid Family Leave Law, drafted the minimum wage law, drafted regulations to prohibit discrimination against trans people. This is my life’s work. So, I intend to continue the work that I’ve been doing because the work of marginalized communities, the work to actually represent marginalized communities is too important.”
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