BIDEN PARDONS LGBTQ+ SERVICE MEMBERS CONVICTED FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION
President Biden pardoned LGBTQ+ service members who were convicted of a crime under military law based on their sexual orientation last month, a move that is expected to affect thousands of service members who were convicted over the six decades that military law formally banned consensual homosexual conduct, reported CBS News.
“Today, I am righting an historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves,” the president said in a statement.
SAN FRANCISCO BECOMES A SANCTUARY CITY FOR TRANS & NONBINARY PEOPLE
San Francisco has become the largest city in the nation to declare itself a sanctuary city for transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and Two Spirit people to safely receive gender-affirming healthcare, reports LGBTQ Nation.
The city’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last month to bar city officials from assisting any out-of-state investigations into individuals who obtain, provide, or help others access gender-affirming care. It now joins a growing list of cities and states that have adopted safe haven policies in response to Republican-led state legislatures banning gender-affirming care across the country.
COURT MAINTAINS PrEP COVERAGE UNDER OBAMACARE
PrEP access has been maintained for most Americans after an appeals court ruling ended a lawsuit that challenged the medication’s coverage, reports The Advocate.
In a ruling that upholds crucial components of the Affordable Care Act, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last month in Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Becerra, mandating that most insurance providers continue to cover preventive services, including PrEP medication.
PLAN TO STOP ABUSE OF LGBTQ+ ELDERS NATIONWIDE
Legislation to create a new task force to combat LGBTQ+ elder abuse has been introduced by out Rep. Angie Craig of (D-MN) and fellow Equality Caucus member Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), reports LGBTQ Nation.
Gottheimer announced the bill, dubbed the “Elder Pride Protection Act,” at an annual roundtable of North Jersey LGBTQ+ community organizations and advocates.
The bill would require the attorney general to establish a Department of Justice (DOJ) task force composed of members of the DOJ’s Elder Justice Initiative and the Office of Civil Rights, according to reporting from The Hill.
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY TOUTS ADMINISTRATION’S LGBTQ SUPPORT
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the first lesbian to hold the position, reaffirmed the Biden-Harris administration’s support for the LGBTQ+ community during a press briefing last month, highlighting the president’s efforts to advance equality and justice as part of Pride Month celebrations.
“In recognition of Pride Month, the Biden-Harris administration joins Americans across the country to celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the LGBTQI+ community,” Jean-Pierre said at the top of the briefing.
