Teal Media’s Post

"With the support of music, many of us begin to break our silence, completing a personal journey from self-discovery to self-expression and self-acceptance." To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, Youth Music NextGen writer, David Simkins, examines the importance of queer representation and identification in music for young people. #LGBTplusHM https://lnkd.in/e8xD-_iN

In: Respecting people's pronouns. Read our founder Elle Moxley’s article in LGBTQ Nation on the importance of pronouns and give the gift of respecting people's pronouns in 2024! 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/edpDncye

Can't wait to get this book! Will be very interesting to read.

Section 28: The Queer Education We Never Had. For LGBT+ History Month. 20 years on from the repeal of Section 28, I spoke to WE CREATE SPACE about how leaders and businesses can prevent history from repeating itself. "20 years on from the repeal of Section 28, as important as it is to celebrate the progress and victories for LGBTQ+ rights and equality, it’s vitally important we recognise the way history has been repeating itself in recent years. We can draw many parallels from the attacks on gay rights back in the 80’s and 90’s to the experiences the trans community is facing in the UK today. I am reminded of the similarities when it comes to the increasing transphobia, down to almost identical language used by political leaders, the dis-informative media coverage and attempts to introduce trans exclusionary measures into businesses, schools, and education. But when we make strong comparisons by looking back into our history, we might just be able to find some answers and adopt similar methods to help us make positive change for the future. For organisations seeking to make improvements for their LGBTQ+ employees, any plan should include year round education, understanding of historical barriers faced by marginalised groups, and how that affects how people show up...." Read full piece here:

Today, we highlight one of the key topics from our Change that Lasts report: lesbian, bisexual, and queer rights. Over the years, we’ve supported nearly 840 grants across 82 countries, significantly advancing LBQ rights.  Our efforts have paved the way for marriage equality, decriminalization of same-sex behaviour, and the right to adopt for same-sex couples in numerous countries.  Learn more about these impactful changes and the courageous activists behind them on our special 40 Years of Impact website. Discover how we have supported and accompanied LBQ communities to fight for their rights and achieve monumental victories!  https://lnkd.in/d-dJmXXF #MamaCash40Years #LBQRights #ChangeThatLasts #40YearsOfImpact 

Thanks for the feature, Loyola University Chicago School of Law! It was an honor to write HB 1286 in law school and to advocate for its passage into law. ⚖ ✅ HB 1286, now Public Act 103-0518, allows businesses, schools, nonprofits, and more to install multi-stall gender-inclusive restrooms, which were previously restricted under an archaic Illinois law. With HB 1286’s passage, our state restroom law is now more inclusive for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNCI) individuals, who often face harassment or physical abuse in gendered restrooms. This first-in-the-nation law bolsters Illinois’ status as a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community—I am proud to have led this effort alongside advocates across the state. Contrary to what the media may tell you, this law doesn’t just serve TGNCI folks—it serves everyone in our society. Many groups would benefit from using gender-inclusive restrooms: parents wanting to help their kids of a different gender in the restroom, older heterosexual couples who accompany and assist each other in the restroom, and caretakers of patients of a different gender. I firmly believe that inclusive initiatives like HB 1286 can benefit society as a whole, even unintentionally. After all, we as a society are better when everyone can participate equally. We must continue to make society more inclusive. It’s common sense. But despite the common sense behind HB 1286, passing it was not easy. The bill’s legislative sponsor, Rep. Katie Stuart, received death threats for pushing this bill. A Republican lawmaker, during debate and in public record, threatened violence over this bill. Yet I continue to be so proud of my work on this bill. Changing minds and hearts is never easy, but the advocacy is worth it when you know our society is better for it. I am thankful for this victory, and the lessons and friends I’ve gained from it, and I am eager to carry all of this with me for the rest of my career. If you’d like to learn more about gender-inclusive restrooms, consider reading my op-ed in Crain’s Chicago Business: https://lnkd.in/gz_8Xp6H.

September 15th is International Day of Democracy! Democracy is, at its core, the idea that every person counts and has an equal say in the governance of the nation. But today there are relentless efforts to make it harder for eligible citizens to register to vote, cast a ballot, and have their ballots counted. Beyond the right to vote, politicians consistently advocate for or implement policies of exclusion, isolation, and marginalization, especially towards communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and vulnerable populations. All of this undermines the values of our democracy by explicitly or implicitly asserting that some people are not fully included in our shared community. Today we recognize it is more important than ever to continue the work that remains in upholding civil liberties for all.

As business leaders, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conversations often hold limited purpose thoughts: race and sex. I’m thankful that Advanced Group recognizes diversity conversations must be broader. Visibility matters. We should take this day to ask ourselves: “Are our actions helping transgender and non-binary workers feel seen, supported and safe.” Asking the question impacts so many lives, including your own. Your business will be positively impacted as well. It is impossible to garner the rich benefit diversity provides if we refuse to see. #dei #diversity

GLAAD’s 2024 Accelerating Acceptance Study arrives at a monumental inflection point for the LGBTQ community and for our entire country. While #acceptance for #LGBTQ people remains at supermajority levels, the data this year also sounds substantial alarms about threats to this progress and to freedoms valued by every American. The same extremist lawmakers, judges and media sources targeting abortion access, contraception, free and fair elections, and free speech, are using the same strategies of fear and disinformation to undermine LGBTQ people and our equality. Fortunately, the data also points to proven ways to keep expanding and accelerating acceptance. Our study shows that more non-LGBTQ people have been inspired to speak up for LGBTQ #equality as a result of accurate news coverage, and voters have shown up in election after election to reject extremist candidates and their anti-trans campaigns. GLAAD’s Accelerating Acceptance Study should continue to inspire and empower all of us to rise up and speak out for everyone’s freedom to be themselves. Our #safety, our collective success, and the future of our democracy depend on it. Check out GLAAD’s 2024 Accelerating Acceptance Study here ⤵ https://lnkd.in/g4NujX2M

Check out this episode of Level Up Law where we explore some of the crucial legal issues that LGBTQ+ clients face after a name change or identity marker change: https://buff.ly/3UNZvdY