Category: Gender - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

A simple quiz from GLAAD - No Hate In Our States

11/21/2023

Take this simple quiz from GLAAD

Every year, GLAAD measures the quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBTQ characters in films released by major motion picture studios in our annual Studio Responsibility Index.

Can you guess which genre had the highest percentage of LGBTQ-inclusive films this year?

A. Drama

B. Animated/Family

C. Action/Sci-Fi/Fantasy

D. Comedy

E. Horror

F. Documentary

Over the last 10 years, LGBTQ-inclusive films grew 50%. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without your support. As we look to the next decade of change, we are thankful to have you by our side.

Thank you for making this progress possible. Together, we will achieve 100% LGBTQ acceptance.

P.S. GLAAD has created this document, Where We Are on TV 20-23 that’s worth a look.

PACG Webmaster

GLAAD at the Emmy Awards

11/21/2023

GLAAD to receive award at Emmy Awards ceremony

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

We have exciting news to share. The Television Academy announced today that GLAAD was selected to receive the Governors Award during the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy® Awards ceremony! GLAAD’s President and CEO will accept the award live onstage on January 15, 2024. This is a major milestone in GLAAD’s history and an achievement that wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

The Governors Award is not given every year and is only bestowed at the discretion of the Television Academy to recognize profound, transformational, and long-lasting contributions to television. For over four decades, supporters like you made it possible to transform how the LGBTQ community is represented in television, educating everyday Americans – directly from their living room – about who LGBTQ people are beyond the stereotypes.

This work is especially critical today. We’ve seen a record-hitting 550+ anti-LGBTQ bills proposed across the country this year, all of which feed on misinformation and lack of awareness about LGBTQ people and issues. Television has the unique power to tell human stories that grow empathy and acceptance, mending the compassion gap one word, one image, one story at a time.

Maggie, thank you for being an advocate for LGBTQ equality. This honor is just the latest example of the impact your support has made towards 100% LGBTQ acceptance.

To learn more about how GLAAD tracks the quantity, quality, and diversity of LGBTQ representation while also informing our own advocacy to hold the television industry accountable, read our latest Where We Are on TV 20-23 report.

PACG Webmaster

ACLU takes fight for Trans to SCOTUS - No Hate In Our States

11/2/2023

ACLU takes fight for Trans youth health care to Supreme Court

Gender Equity Forum

ACLU: We’re determined to pursue every path available toward a brighter future for trans people and our families.

In the span of just a few years, transgender people have had their rights and lives radically reshaped by a litany of political attacks against our freedom, our dignity, and the health care many of us need to live. As part of a coordinated national effort to erode legal protections for trans people and push us out of public life, a wave of bills targeting gender-affirming health care for transgender people have effectively banned it for nearly one-third of transgender youth in the United States. These laws uproot entire families and communities, alarm doctors and medical experts, and endanger the very young people they laws claim to protect.

While the ACLU and our nationwide affiliates succeeded in the trial courts when the judges actually considered the facts, these early wins have increasingly been overturned, allowing these devastating bans to take effect. This includes the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where a three-judge panel overturned a lower court decision, which had blocked Tennessee’s ban. As a result of the Sixth Circuit decision, health care bans have gone into effect in Tennessee and Kentucky.

In each of these challenges, we are committed to exhausting every option we have with the goal of protecting the ability of our community to access this care for as long as possible. That’s why, today, we’ve asked the United States Supreme Court to review the lower court’s ruling and block these dangerous laws from further threatening transgender youth, destabilizing their families, and needlessly tying the hands of their medical providers.

In this case, we have the honor of representing LW, a 15-year-old transgender girl, and her mother Samantha Williams. Like nearly 100,000 families with transgender kids ages 13 to 17 who now live in a state that has banned their health care, LW and her parents face the risk of either being denied the care they and their doctor know is right for their daughter or leaving the only home LW has known. Tennessee’s ban — like the nearly identical laws passed in 20 other state legislatures in the last three years — directly targets LW because she is transgender.

At the core of our argument before the court are two basic constitutional claims. First, Tennessee’s law bans treatment only when that treatment is provided to transgender youth like LW who have gender dysphoria. This targeted restriction discriminates based on both sex and the fact that a person is transgender and violates the Equal Protection Clause.

Second, Tennessee’s law interferes with the ability of parents like Samantha to make medical decisions for their minor children even though their children and doctors all agree the treatment is necessary. The law substitutes the state’s judgment for that of loving parents who are following the guidance of their children and the advice of doctors. The Supreme Court has long recognized that parents have certain fundamental rights concerning the care and custody of their minor children. While the rights of parents are importantly not absolute — and transgender youth have rights all their own — Tennessee’s law forces a one-fits-all approach to treatment that overrides the informed judgment of parents, adolescents, and doctors. Tennessee’s law forces parents like Samantha to “co-parent” with their state legislature. It is particularly pernicious when that legislative body has made it clear they have no interest in learning the truth about this medical care and young people like LW.

Asking the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision is always something we take seriously. We have witnessed this court disregard and infringe people’s bodily autonomy repeatedly, most recently with its devastating decision in Dobbs, which overturned Roe v. Wade. We take this step with full knowledge that, no matter what happens, we will have to fight for each other and use every tool in our toolbox to defend all our rights to bodily autonomy. With such critical, life-or-death health care on the line, we must continue to fight back against Tennessee’s law and exhaust every option available to us. No matter what happens, we will continue to fight thoughtfully and creatively to ensure that everyone can access the health care they need.

The last few months have been the most personally and professionally devastating of my life. My heart — and the heart of every transgender advocate fighting this fight — is heavy with the weight of the dehumanization and needless harm trans people like us are experiencing nationwide. But I also know that every out trans person has embraced the unknown in the name of living free from shame or the vice of other people’s expectations. By virtue of being a living, breathing trans person, each of us has chosen hope over despair. Regardless of any court, we will always exist in joyful defiance of efforts to limit who we are and who we can be.

The entire article is here. Cases like this are a good reason to support the ALCU.

Scholastic Books changes from book bans - No Hate In Our States

10/25/2023

Scholastic Book Fairs Are Putting Some “Diverse Titles” in a Separate Category

Them.us

Gender Equity Forum

Julia Nikhinson / For Washington Post via Getty Images

Scholastic employees, librarians, and authors have slammed the decision.

Many former public school kids in the U.S. look back on the Scholastic Book Fair with fondness. But the company recently made a decision about book fairs that is proving controversial, by putting “diverse” books in a separate category and making them an optional offering at elementary school book fairs.

Discussion of the decision has been swirling on social media for weeks and started gaining steam last week when the feminist blog The Mary Sue reported on the decision. Scholastic issued a statement in response to the controversy on Friday, stating that the allegation that the company puts all of its diverse titles into an optional case is a “misconception.” However, the statement went on to say that they have indeed created an “additional collection” called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” for elementary schools, which the company says they made as a way of protecting educators from the legal entanglements they could face as a result of book bans.

“There is now enacted or pending legislation in more than 30 U.S. states prohibiting certain kinds of books from being in schools – mostly LGBTQIA+ titles and books that engage with the presence of racism in our country,” the statement reads. “Because Scholastic Book Fairs are invited into schools, where books can be purchased by kids on their own, these laws create an almost impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted.”

The company claimed that the only other option would be to not offer the books at all. But the decision was slammed by many people, including authors. Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, a novelist who is also a senior digital manager at Scholastic, posted to X on Sunday to call the decision “a cowardly, demoralizing, and harmful way for Scholastic to use its power in this industry.”

Wolfgang-Smith went on to note that Scholastic is the largest publisher and distributor of children’s books in the world, and that the company “could be using its position to push back and advocate for the children it claims to serve.”

Molly Ostertag, a cartoonist who has worked on a number of titles for Scholastic and who has written for The Owl House, also posted to X on Sunday to speak out against the decision, sharing the text of a speech she gave at a party for Scholastic’s graphic novel imprint.

“It seems to be a good faith effort to protect teachers and librarians, and I understand the reasoning, but I feel the need to stand up tonight and say that I think this is a grave miscalculation,” she said. “It doesn’t come across as anything but an attempt to compromise with, frankly, fascist laws.”

A September report from the literary advocacy group PEN America found that book bans had increased by 33% during the 2022-2023 school year, despite the fact that the majority of Americans don’t support them. 30% of book bans applied to books that represent LGBTQ+ identities. And yet, people are still buying LGBTQ+ books en masse, with one report finding that sales of queer fiction have jumped 173% since 2019. (See the entire article here at Them.us.)

(Get the best of what’s queer. Sign up for Them’s weekly newsletter here.)

UPDATE to this post (before we published it in the Progressive Action Update): The article at Them.us referenced above was dated October 17, 2023. As of October 26th, a new article says that Scholastic has changed their minds! They heard our outrage! Scholastic removes optional diverse book section after controversy is a follow-up news story from ABC. Read that article here.

PACG Webmaster

October Hands Off! Happy H0ur - PACG Event

10/22/2023

✋ Hands Off! 🤚 Happy Hour
Wednesday, October 25th at 5:00 pm

Mary’s On Second
832 W 2nd ST
Davenport, IA (map)

Gender Equity Forum

Please join us at our next Hands Off! Happy Hour. Relax and visit with like-minded folks concerned about gender equity issues. Feel free to bring snacks to share if you’d like something to eat. See you there!

Alta Price

“Why 'coming out' can take a lifetime" - No Hate In Our States

9/29/2023

Why 'coming out' can take a lifetime

No Hate In Our States

BBC
Prejudice, discrimination and ignorance cause measurable harm to LGBT+ people's health and wellbeing, but family support can make a big difference.

Attitudes in many societies may be changing, but plenty of prejudice against the LGBT+ community still abounds across the world. In the US, LGBT+ people are nine times more likely than non-LGBT+ people to be victims of violent hate crimes...Families cannot protect their LGBT+ relatives from all the challenges they will face – but the quality of support from our relatives can make a big difference. In fact, family support is a serious predictor of the wellbeing of LGBT+ people across the lifespan. However, declaring tolerance, and providing meaningful support, can be two very different things. Read this incredibly in-depth article here.

I have my own recollections of this in my life. I was 8 years old when I finally understood I was different from most people I knew. My father constantly disparaged my uncle for "acting gay” when, in reality, I believe he was simply what would be considered more “effeminate” in nature. These complaints from my father hurt me personally because my uncle Vince was the only person in my family who truly mentored me.

I often cry when reading articles about queerness, whether they are supportive or unsupportive stories. Even the good ones make me sad because I wish I had had something besides threats of military school from my dad whenever I showed signs of not being a mini-me for him and his hunting buddies.

Reading this article has helped me put things in perspective just a little bit more. I wanted to share this with the PACG community because LGBTQ+ allies need to understand. Why? Because even people that think they're kind can unintentionally hurt the queer people they love. And the prolific hate in America today is debilitating for the queer community. And, likely, for you as well.

This comprehensive article has certainly tracked with my experience as a young queer person growing up in the 60s. The hate has always been here but I'm a lot more afraid of where society is headed now than I ever have been before. Articles like this can help. They won't stop the queer haters, but might open the eyes of people who think they care but aren't exactly showing support in careful, meaningful ways. We can all be more mindful.

Dee VanThournout

IA ACLU September Challenge Drop In - PACG Event

9/12/2023

IA ACLU September Challenge Drop In
Saturday, September 16th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm

Bettendorf home

Gender Equity ForumWe are working with Iowa ACLU to gather signatures for their September Challenge - Reproductive Freedom for All. Read our blog post here. Drop in to get informational materials and learn how to collect signatures for this important initiative.

Contact me for information about this event.

Alta Price

Honoring QCAD founder Joyce Wiley - No Hate In Our States

9/5/2023

QCAD - the nonprofit that started LGBTQ+ support in the Quad Cities 33 years ago

Gender Equity Forum

PACG members interested in gender equity or civil rights will appreciate this wonderful article about Joyce and Jack Wiley and QCAD (Quad Citians Affirming Diversity) from the RealMainstream.com's Christine Hawes.

Joyce Wiley taught me how to be an activist! I'll always be grateful for her and Jack for all they did to help me and for their ongoing efforts to make the Quad Cities a better place to live. You may donate here to QCAD in honor of Joyce.

Alta Price

Support for Transgender rights in Iowa - No Hate In Our States

8/12/2023

Transgender in Iowa - Know your rights!

ACLU Iowa

While there is still much work to be done, Iowa law protects the fundamental right of transgender people for respect, dignity, and equal treatment.

Unlike some states, Iowa has protections for transgender people written into its law. Chapter 216 of the Iowa Code is known as the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA) of 1965. ICRA provides protection against various forms of discrimination on the basis of specific individual traits or characteristics. Among other things, ICRA prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, which were added as protected characteristics in 2007.

ICRA defines "gender identity" as "a gender-related identity of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth." ICRA also established the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, the state agency that receives and investigates complaints about ICRA violations. There may be local civil rights and human rights ordinances in your community that provide additional protections.

Transgender people are entitled to equal treatment in every aspect of employment. Read more here, including a link to a downloadable flyer about these issues.

And, during these unfortunate times of injustice for our LGBTQ+ friends, it’s more imporant than ever to support organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Donate to ACLU Iowa here.

PACG Webmaster

San Diego book ban backfires big time - No Hate In Our States

8/1/2023

Attempt to remove San Diego Library’s LGBTQ books backfires

MetroWeekly

Two San Diego residents checked out books from the library’s Pride Month display in an attempt to bar others from reading the books. (MetroWeekly)

(Photo: Robert Kneschke, Dreamstime)

Two San Diego residents checked out nearly every single book in their library’s Pride Month display, claiming that such materials shouldn’t be available to children.

Across the nation, conservative groups have pushed to ban books that discuss LGBTQ issues from libraries and schools, often arguing that they are pornographic or obscene merely because they depict LGBTQ identity.

This attempt to stoke culture-war flames in San Diego backfired, according to The New York Times, ending with an outpouring of community support for the library in the form of increased monetary and book donations.

As soon as The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the protest, new copies of the checked-out books began to arrive at the library. About 180 people, mostly from San Diego, donated $15,000 to the city’s public library system. The funds, which the city will match, will go toward LGBTQ materials and programming, including drag queen story hours.

Furthermore, the books were recently returned after the patrons who checked them out realized their scheme had backfired — this is not the future that conservatives wanted.

Read the full article here.