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Alan Cumming stars in hilarious GLAAD and GMHC #CelibacyChallenge campaign
A coalition of organizations, including GLAAD and Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), launched a new PSA and social media campaign starring openly bisexual actor Alan Cumming to raise awareness about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) blood donor deferral policy for gay and bisexual men. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi NY and Bullitt, #CelibacyChallenge urges the FDA to implement a blood donation system that screens all donors based on risk, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The PSA premiered on BuzzFeed, and has since been covered by People Magazine, The Huffington Post, Jezebel, Mic, Adweek, and more, and was a trending topic on Facebook. Read more here.
Report finds that transgender people are among most vulnerable in America
A new report, Understanding Issues Facing Transgender Americans, has found that transgender people are among the most vulnerable communities in America. Transgender women and trans people of color are at particular risk. The Movement Advancement Project (MAP), released the report in partnership with GLAAD, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Transgender Law Center. Read more here.
Southern conservative mother talks accepting her transgender daughter
This week on GLAAD's video series, GLAAD: All Access, GLAAD's Claire Pires caught up with Debi Jackson, a Southern conservative mother of a six-year-old transgender daughter, to talk about acceptance. Pires interviewed her at the Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive conference in Portland, Oregon, where Jackson was a featured speaker. This video was part of GLAAD Southern Stories, which aims to amplify the voices of LGBT people and allies in and from the American South. The video was picked up by The Huffington Post, TransGriot, and Trans-Parenting.com. Watch the interview here.
LGBT advocates in Florida hit the screen
GLAAD Director of Spanish-Language Programs Monica Trasandes helped LGBT advocates at Equality Florida write scripts for public service announcements in Spanish with LGBT-affirming messages. Equality Florida will film the PSAs in Spanish and share them with local Spanish-Language outlets.
Unlikely LGBT ally meets GLAAD in moving story
GLAAD Spanish-Language Media Strategist Janet Quezada wrote a moving piece about an encounter she had on the bus with an unlikely ally. Janet candidly re-told her experience with this Mexican older gentleman who had heard anti-LGBT sentiments in his own family and disagreed with them because of his religion. The story is part of GLAAD's #GotYourBack campaign, which aims to amplify the voices of LGBT people and allies. Read more here.
#GotYourBack campaign spreads messages of acceptance across social media
Support continues to grow for GLAAD's #GotYourBack campaign, which encourages LGBT people and allies to voice their support for the LGBT community. Celebrities like Sara Ramirez and Elizabeth Perkins have participated, as well as countless allies and LGBT people throughout the U.S. and around the world. Read more here.
Denver advocates cover death of gender non-conforming person accurately
GLAAD Spanish-Language Media Strategist Janet Quezada led a conservation with LGBT advocates from Denver, Colorado, about the best way to cover the police shooting and death of a young gender non-conforming local, Jesse Hernandez. Quezada helped craft questions and shared best practices for accurately telling the story in the media.
People of faith rally in Texas to end gender discrimination
GLAAD supported hundreds of clergy and other people of faith as they gathered at the Texas Capitol to call on lawmakers to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The gathering, organized by Equality Texas and the Texas Freedom Network, garnered the attention of The Advocate, LGBTQ Nation, the Austin Statesman, and the Associated Press. Read more here.
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