LGBTQ Committee of the MCDEC

06/28/2024

Biden's debate performance last night was not up to his usual strong delivery ; he obviously did not feel well given his hoarseness. However, he still had an amazing command of the facts; something which Trump never has had. Trumps performance was much worse, not answering questions put to him by the moderators plus being a loud and belligerent liar does not win a debate. Please vote for Biden this November based on what he has done this past three years and to preserve our democracy. Please refrain from being blue lemmings running over a cliff screaming 'all is lost'.

06/27/2024

Wise words.

06/03/2024

Happy Pride Month everyone! Remember the only major political party that stands with the LGBTQ community is the Democrat Party. We have a President that has our back and publicly states it. Pride began with riots in New York City and San Francisco. Pride now celebrates that beginning not with violence but with joy, parades, gatherings of all the letters of the rainbow alphabet and our allies.

Remember how Pride started and vote to make sure riots are never needed again to keep our rights.

June 14 is Pride LoDa art walk in Mobile, come out, show your colors, walk and celebrate who we are as a community. TransLucent a celebration of the Trans community will also coincide with this celebration. There will be music, speeches, a parade of sorts lead by local Drag queens, and a Drag show on a stage in front of B-bobs. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

05/21/2024

Interesting report from 2020 on primarily the LGB community, they sorta forgot that transgender people exist.

"Researchers and LGBT community members have seen an inherent incompatibility between LGBT identity and Republican affiliation. Nonetheless, LGBT people, like other minority groups, hold diverse beliefs and political affiliations."

04/17/2024

Good synopsis of what is happening in the Alabama Legislature.
We have, including today, 7 legislative days left in Alabama's 2024 legislative session.

April 9-11: The Week Ahead
News From Last Week
HB111 passed the House floor with a significant amendment. The bill has been engrossed and now awaits assignment to a Senate committee.
HB164 has been enrolled and awaits Ivey’s signature to enact.
Tuesday, April 16
House convenes 1:00 PM
Proposed special order calendar
Looks like the House is starting with the Ways and Means Education Budget, which includes HB145.
Bills to watch for, in the order they appear on the regular order calendar:
SB10 – public library boards – would then go to Ivey’s desk
SB77 – AL Archives board – would then go to Ivey’s desk
HB130 – Don’t Say Gay – would then go to Senate committee
HB195 – “s*xual risk avoidance” education – would then go to Senate committee
HB385 – repeal of public and school library obscenity law exemption
Senate convenes 2:00 PM
Bills to watch for, in the order they appear on the regular order calendar:
SB92 – “What is a Woman” – gender identity amendment, “unknown” s*x marker amendment – would then go to House committee
SB57 – residential protest ban – amendment with additional restrictions – would then go to House committee
Wednesday, April 17
Judiciary Committee (House) – 1:30pm – Room 200
HB409 – absolute immunity from civil suit for Attorney General, district attorneys, and others – PUBLIC HEARING
SB240 – allows involuntary commitment of mentally ill people with co-occurring substance abuse disorder

04/03/2024

"In the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which protected the constitutional right to abortion, Americans have dealt with a s*xual and reproductive health landscape that is a complex puzzle, featuring fractured s*x education, gender-affirming care, and family planning and abortion services. In the report card’s twelve-year history, the U.S. overall grade has dropped from a C- to an F, and the number of failing states has skyrocketed—from nine in 2012 to 25 this year."

In the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which protected the constitutional right to abortion, Americans have dealt with a s*xual and reproductive health landscape that is a complex puzzle, featuring fractured s*x education, gender-affirming care, and family planning and...

03/27/2024

"Marilyn Lands, a Democrat who made reproductive rights a central part of her campaign, will win a special election Tuesday for an Alabama state House seat, CNN projects. CNN's Kaitlan Collins discusses the significance of her victory with former Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL)."

Marilyn Lands, a Democrat who made reproductive rights a central part of her campaign, will win a special election Tuesday for an Alabama state House seat, CNN projects. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins discusses the significance of her victory with former Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL).

03/23/2024

"new data commissioned by Run For Something, a political action committee that supports young progressives running for state and local office, sheds light on a new narrative: 61% of young Democrats in battleground states say they are more likely to turn out if there’s also a young, progressive candidate running down-ballot."

“These are folks who might not show up right now.”

03/21/2024

All things federal also impact local politics and policies.

"Over 40 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ riders were defeated during budget negotiations with Republicans. Previous reporting indicated that riders targeting trans people could be a red line for the party."

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/massive-defeat-for-anti-trans-and?utm_campaign=email-post&r=btio&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Democrats had the back of the LGBTQ+ community in these budget negotiations.

Over 40 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ riders were defeated during budget negotiations with Republicans. Previous reporting indicated that riders targeting trans people could be a red line for the party.

03/20/2024

PSA

Urgent call to action! I'm boosting this call from the team at ALTRAC.

"The most pressing concern for us at the moment is the possibility that either iteration of the “What is a Woman” Act (SB92/HB111) could go to a floor vote in the Senate or the House this week. The fact that these bills are identical means they could pass in parallel this time around, so it’s important we keep reaching out to our lawmakers now to prevent this from happening.
Even if you’ve already called or written your own reps about this, we’ve added new contacts (the House and Senate Rules Committees) for y’all to reach out to. On the SB92/HB111 email campaign, we’ve added the ability to quickly contact all the members of both Rules Committees in just a few clicks. And if you visit the call campaign page on our website, you’ll be presented with the Rules Committee chairs to reach out to in addition to your own representatives. Please, if you have a few minutes, send an email to each of them, and also call if you can.
Thank you so much for tuning in, and for passing this message to your friends."

https://altrac.works/?fbclid=IwAR11wktTHa2BXlHLsm5k04e1KazOCerqjIjgwHtYSoBKf2BGqQQ2LzWNAqU

ALTRAC provides the information you need to help protect the rights of transgender Alabamians. Learn how to contact your state representatives, and find out about local rallies where you can make your voice heard.

03/15/2024

LGBTQ rights in the news this week across the nation.

The rights of LGBTQ+ people continue to be in flux across the U.S. with a new flurry of developments.

03/13/2024

As Gomer Pyle used to say "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise" 😡

"Sate Rep. Mack Butler, Gadsden, said he has only heard secondhand rumors about the recent uproar over a transgender Space Camp counselor at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
But he’s heard enough that he plans to expand HB130, a bill prohibiting the instruction or discussion of s*xual orientation and gender identity in public schools, to programs at the Space and Rocket Center."

Yes, they can do this. "The U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp (formerly U.S. Space Camp) in Huntsville are operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, which is a state agency whose members are appointed by the Governor of Alabama."

I wish they would just try the 'thoughts and prayers' approach to us like they do on the mass shootings in schools.

An amendment would make it apply to all programs and activities at Space Camp.