Speak Up, Speak Out

Now is not the time to remain silent.

There comes a time in our lives that we are at the crux where we have to speak up, Martin Niemöller poem said it best, we need to speak up against tyranny. Make no mistake this is a pogrom against us by the Republican party.

The Jewish Anti-Defamation League issued this statement in 2018…

Transgender people can’t be defined out of existence. They are our neighbors, community members, and family, and their rights are all of our civil and human rights. We will work relentlessly with our allies to stop this bigoted proposal in the courts and in state legislatures. And we will work with our allies to ensure Congress passes necessary federal comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals. Because every person deserves to be treated with human dignity, equally, and consistent with their gender identity under federal law.

Anti-trans bills have been introduced in just about every state, hundreds of bills have been introduced by Republicans and some of them have passed in laws. These bills will, not may result in deaths.

The NCAA has spoken out…

The NCAA, which regulates college athletics in the U.S., backed transgender athletes Monday, saying it won’t hold championship events in locations that aren’t “free of discrimination.”

As Republicans in more than two dozen states target transgender athletes, the NCAA Board of Governors said it "firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports."

The AMA had this to say…

Among the concerning legislation are bills that would criminalize the provision of medically necessary gender transition-related care to minor patients and, in some states, deem such care child abuse. These bills target surgical interventions as well as medications and hormone therapies that delay puberty while the child explores their gender identity.
[...]
The AMA views these bills as a dangerous legislative intrusion into the practice of medicine and has been working closely with state medical associations to vigorously oppose them. In letters to legislators (PDF), the AMA has emphasized that it is “imperative that transgender minors be given the opportunity to explore their gender identity under the safe and supportive care of a physician.”

USA Today in regard to the Arkansas reported that…

The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association have publicly opposed the bill. The American Academy of Pediatrics also spoke out against the bill.

Missoula Current reported that…

Unease and concern about the measures extends to many business sectors and industries in Montana, including tech companies working to expand their professional market in the Treasure State.

In February, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, at the request of some of its members, compiled a web page with information about how HB 112 and other “anti-LGBTQ+ bills could be harmful to our industry.” While MHTBA, founded by Gianforte in 2014 before he first ran for office, does not take part in formal lobbying efforts, the information was emailed to the group’s approximately 200 members, including the governor. A spokeswoman for the alliance declined to comment on whether there has been additional correspondence with Gianforte about the legislation.

As its report states, bills that would negatively impact LGBTQ people “may lead to lost business, lost jobs, slower growth, and damage to Montana’s reputation as a safe and welcoming place to work.” The state’s tech sector, MHTBA explained, competes for a global roster of clients and potential employees, and is consequently held to industry standards that trend toward explicit support and protections for LGBTQ employees.

Businesses must speak up! They have to speak up like they did in Georgia and Texas over voter disfranchisement.

The Tennessean reported…

Amazon, Vanderbilt University, Nissan, Warner Music Group and dozens more Tennessee corporations, industry associations and small businesses sent a letter to state lawmakers opposing bills targeting LGBTQ residents.

The open letter comes a week after the state Senate approved a bill barring transgender athletes from participating in middle and high school sports teams under their gender identity.
[…]
The letter, signed by 137 businesses and industry groups, calls the bill and other similar legislation discriminatory and unfair.

Of course the big question is whether the Republican party will listen. I think one way to get them to listen is for businesses to stop their campaign donations and that is where we can step in. Businesses are more likely to listen to us their customers than the Republicans are to listen to the voters.

We have to call businesses to be accountable when they have a 100% HRC Equality rate but they are still donating to the Republican party a party that is trying to divide the nation. The HRC needs to include in their equality index if the company supports non-discrimination laws and opposes legislation that discriminates.

How can a business have an excellent LGBTQ+ non-discrimination policy and still donate to a party that is rooted in hate?