tag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:/blogs/action-alerts?p=4Action Alerts2023-08-24T00:00:00-07:00ActionLink: The Center Action Networkfalsetag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/68599372023-08-24T00:00:00-07:002023-10-16T07:52:44-07:00The Time For Equality Is Now<p><span style="color:#e74c3c;">UPDATE: THE EQUALITY ACT was reintroduced as S. 5 in the Senate and HR. 15 in the House on June 21, 2023. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/lgbtq-people-need-federal-nondiscrimination-protections/" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:#e74c3c;"><strong><u>Tell your lawmakers</u></strong></span></a><span style="color:#e74c3c;"><strong> </strong>to support nondiscrimination protectons for every American! </span><span style="color:hsl(0, 75%, 60%);">President Biden has committed to signing the bill into law.</span></p><p>Discrimination is still commonplace for LGBTQ+ Americans. Opponents of LGBTQ+ equality continue to file discriminatory bills in states across the country in an attempt to undermine existing protections in adoption, marriage and access to basic public services and businesses. Full federal nondiscrimination protections would ensure that all LGBTQ+ Americans can live, work, and access public spaces free from discrimination, no matter what state they call home. </p><p>The nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute recently found that national support for these protections is around 83 percent. This is the strongest level of support the bill has ever seen. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=11175" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="We must tell lawmakers that now is the time to pass this legislation."><strong>We must tell lawmakers that now is the time to pass this legislation.</strong></a></p><p>Take action today by contacting your senators by email or phone and telling them to pass federal nondiscrimination protections. It's so easy - just a <a class="no-pjax" href="https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=11175" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="few clicks"><strong>few clicks</strong></a> will get it done.</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=11175" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Get started now."><span class="text-big"><strong>Get started now.</strong></span></a></p>ActionLink: The Center Action Networktag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/71758572023-03-21T11:39:45-07:002023-04-07T09:41:07-07:00Urge Congress To Oppose HR5<p>So far this year, hundreds of bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth and families have been introduced across the country — many targeting schools. And, now HR5, the so called “Parents Bill of Rights” has been introduced into Congress.</p><p>HR5 puts LGBTQ+ youth and families at risk and makes our schools a stage for unnecessary, harmful culture wars. Specifically, HR5 would divert resources <i>away </i>from our families' real needs, require schools to forcibly “out” students, and open the door to censorship in the classroom. </p><p>HR5 would insert the federal government as a national school board, undermine local control, and hurt the ability of parents and teachers to support children. This unprecedented federal government interference would disrupt the public education system, undermine communities, especially LGBTQ+ families and families of color, and cut LGBTQ+ youth off from the resources and support they need to thrive.</p><p><span style="color:rgb(36,36,36);">Some members of the House have proposed an alternative: The “</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-bill-rights-students-and-parents" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:rgb(36,36,36);"><strong>Bill of Rights for Students and Parents</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(36,36,36);">”. This bill encourages parent-teacher collaboration and prevents book bans and dangerous attempts to erase our history in the classroom.</span></p><p>The vote on HR5 is scheduled for this week, so we must act fast! <a class="no-pjax" href="https://action.familyequality.org/action/hr-5-2023?mc_cid=61ac352f46&mc_eid=d205a1bda2" data-link-type="url"><strong>Contact your legislator </strong></a><strong>and urge them to prioritize real parental engagement—not parental censorship—by SUPPORTING Representative Bonamici’s “Bill of Rights for Students and Parents” and OPPOSING HR5.</strong></p><p>Together, we can ensure that our students are learning in safe, inclusive, and affirming environments that actually meet their needs. </p>ActionLink: The Center Action Networktag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/71668642023-03-07T13:20:34-07:002023-03-07T13:46:35-07:00Tell Your Lawmakers To #LetKidsPlay<p><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p><span>This week, the Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” (</span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/734?s=2&r=7"><span>H.R. 734</span></a><span>), which would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires a federal ban of transgender & intersex girls and women from participating in sports.</span></p><p><span>The passage of this bill would prevent transgender & intersex women and girls across the country from accessing the proven mental and physical benefits of sport, and it fails to take into account </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://cces.ca/transgender-women-athletes-and-elite-sport-scientific-review"><span>recent research</span></a><span> and </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.athleteally.org/ioc-framework-inclusion-and-non-discrimination/"><span>policies at the highest level of sport</span></a><span> which affirm that transgender women do not have an inherent advantage in sports.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="color:#0f1419;"><i>We are strongest as a country when everyone is safe, welcome & included in all parts of life, including sports. Tell your Congressional rep today to #LetKidsPlay! </i><strong>Call the </strong></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"><strong>United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the legislator you request </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/?source=adwords&gclid=CjwKCAiA3pugBhAwEiwAWFzwdemPBfE_9zXGKzy-UWl54HRwfGPW1L-daJlYj5BnAPDe0nUMUFJORxoChVoQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"><strong>(find your Congressional reps here).</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"><strong> </strong></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">Your voice has the power to show legislators and their constituents that all kids deserve the chance to have their life changed for the better through the power of sport. </span></p>ActionLink: The Center Action Networktag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/68101782023-02-16T10:55:00-07:002023-03-07T10:53:18-07:00End Conversion Therapy For LGBTQ Youth<p>Nearly 700,000 people in the US alone have gone through a form of conversion therapy. Research published in July 2020 demonstrated that LGBTQ youth who underwent conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year. For this reason, alongside its correlation with high rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and social withdrawal, the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and virtually every other professional health organization have publicly opposed these practices.</p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/285455/d557c1ef4dc9d6bc024171fcbb16c3f13599c267/original/for-lgbtq-youth-1.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" />Ending conversion therapy starts with having conversations with community members and lawmakers. <strong>Hold a screening of the critically acclaimed film "Pray Away" at your organization to educate the community on the dangers of conversion therapy.</strong> <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.prayawayfilm.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Click here to learn more about the film."><strong>Click here to learn more about the film</strong></a><strong> then contact ActionLink to get started with setting up your screening: </strong><a class="no-pjax" href="mailto:actionlink@lgbtcenters.org" target="_blank" data-link-type="email" contents="actionlink@lgbtcenters.org"><strong>actionlink@lgbtcenters.org</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p>Pray Away was created with the goal of supporting the acceptance, safety, and wellbeing of LGBTQ people. The film is a clear-sighted examination of the motivations that drive efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity, deepening audience’s understanding of the harms of “conversion therapy.”</p><p>Pray Away also offers a forum for discussing difficult topics and propelling community conversations toward action. For some communities this might look like engaging in advocacy or launching a public education campaign. For others it could be setting up a local support group or creating a network of LGBTQ services. <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.prayawayfilm.com/resources" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Use this discussion guide"><strong>Use this discussion guide</strong></a> as a resource for your work.</p>ActionLink: The Center Action Networktag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/67681682023-02-02T16:00:00-07:002023-03-07T11:08:06-07:00Peace Of Mind With Medicaid<p>In uncertain times like these, we can all use a little peace of mind. For many, knowing you have affordable, quality health insurance if you or a family member gets sick or injured, or that you can afford your next prescription, offers that sense of stability and protection we all need. </p><p>But for too many, the price of health insurance feels out of reach. Fortunately, Medicaid offers free or low-cost health insurance that helps you get the care you need and protects you and your family from large medical bills. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health care, and more. </p><p>You can enroll in and disenroll from the program at any time. For many, Medicaid can be a helpful temporary option while they search for a new job, are between jobs, or simply need some assistance affording health insurance in this moment. Even if you’ve applied before, it may be worth trying again. Medicaid eligibility is based on your monthly income, so if you’ve lost or changed jobs, had your hours cut back, or any other change in circumstances, be sure to check out your options. </p><p>There are many ways to get Medicaid. <a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.healthcare.gov" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Visit Healthcare.gov to learn more">Visit Healthcare.gov to learn more</a>.</p>ActionLink: The Center Action Networktag:www.lgbtactionlink.org,2005:Post/69628142023-01-16T10:00:00-07:002023-03-07T10:52:13-07:00Abortion Access And The LGBTQ+ Community<p>LGBTQ+ people are affected by reproductive issues like abortion restrictions. All LGBTQ+- identified people who could become pregnant are at risk for an unintended pregnancy. In fact, studies have shown that young lesbian cisgender women are <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.nclrights.org/abortion-access-is-an-lgbt-issue/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="two to ten times">two to ten times</a> more likely to become pregnant than young heterosexual cisgender women. One <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512219305845" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="study">study</a> shows that up to 30% of transgender men have experienced an unintended pregnancy. There is a dearth of reliable statistics for LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people who can become pregnant, and we know these statistics are likely under representative of actual challenge and need.</p><p><strong>Take action by educating yourself with these additional informational documents:</strong></p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sso9JQo1F-ONky5Q_S2ny6-gNl1sNZve/view" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Abortion Access Talking Points">Abortion Access Talking Points</a> <br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xutiLH7iV1-pGeEYJK8Ci3LYVoTsGBZD/view" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="LGBTQ+ Reproduction Rights Talking Points&nbsp;">LGBTQ+ Reproduction Rights Talking Points </a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/rightfully-ours/bans-off-our-bodies" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Planned Parenthood Bans Off Our Bodies&nbsp;Website&nbsp;">Planned Parenthood Bans Off Our Bodies Website </a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/03/statement-by-president-joe-biden-4/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="President Biden's Statement">President Biden's Statement</a> <br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/05/03/statement-alleged-draft-supreme-court-opinion-re-roe-v-wade-health-and-human-services-secretary-xavier-becerra.html" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra's Statement">Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra's Statement</a></p><p> </p>ActionLink: The Center Action Network