A Utah lawmaker tears up while arguing against an anti-trans bill, Rhode Island could add a LGBTQ landmark to the historic registry, and the Department of Justice Pride in the District of Columbia shut down.
Lawmaker Tears Up While Arguing Against Anti-Trans Bill
Utah’s first openly bisexual, and only LGBTQ, lawmaker held back tears while pleading to her House colleagues to not pass a bill targeting transgender students, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The bill would prohibit trans students attending Utah’s public universities from living in a dorm that aligns with their gender identity.
“I have to tell you, the LGBTQ community is so tired,” Rep. Sahara Hayes said. “We are so tired of being scared every year when this body meets, because we don’t know how we’re going to be targeted. … But it’s starting to feel inevitable that it’s going to happen.”
Despite her plea, the bill moved forward and awaits a Senate vote.
State Could Add LGBTQ Landmark To Historic Registry
PPS Executive Director Marisa Brown.
The state of Rhode Island could add its first LGBTQ landmark to the National Register of Historic Places, according to The Providence Journal.
The Providence Preservation Society (PPS) was awarded almost $75,000 from the National Park Service to identify locations rooted in LGBTQ history. PPS would then select one nominee to add to the registry.
“There are thousands of sites in Rhode Island that are on the national register,” said PPS Executive Director Marisa Brown. “But there is not one that was listed solely because of its history and relationship to LGBTQ+ histories.”
DOJ’s LGBTQ Group Shuts Down
Photo via Unsplash.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Pride, an LGBTQ employee resource group, has shut down shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order, NBC News reported.
Trump’s executive order sought to eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government.
DOJ Pride’s board emailed members on Jan. 28, stating it will “cease to operate effective immediately.”
“In this time of uncertainty and concern, we have taken the extraordinary measure of ceasing operations of DOJ Pride,” the email said. “We have made this decision in the interest and for the protection of all members.”
A DOJ staffer who spoke anonymously to NBC News said they felt safe to be out at DOJ because of the LGBTQ group.
“It's shuttering,” the staffer said. “[It’s] extraordinarily alarming and echoes back to the days not so long ago that federal employees were fired or barred from employment for merely being gay. If I could go back into the closet at work, I would.”
Another staffer that spoke anonymously said DOJ Pride was diverse in life experiences and political views, and noted that the group operated under Trump’s first administration.
“The fact that the board felt the need to dissolve the group — I think that speaks to the fear of retaliation and fear of persecution,” they said.
