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Filtering by Tag: #ACLU

CELEBS TWEET IN SUPPORT OF TRANSGENDERS AFTER TRUMP LIFTS BATHROOM PROTECTION LAWS

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

On Wednesday, the Donald Trump administration reversed Barack Obama’s federal protection laws that allowed transgender students to use whichever bathroom corresponds to their gender identity.  The White House explained Trump’s decision in a statement: "As President Trump has clearly stated, he believes policy regarding transgender bathrooms should be decided at the state level.  The joint decision made today by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education paves the way for an open and inclusive process to take place at the local level with input from parents, students, teachers and administrators."

The reversal sparked protests and angered several civil rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union.  The LGBT project director for the ACLU, James Esseks, said: "Revoking the guidance shows that the president's promise to protect LGBT rights was just empty rhetoric.  But the bottom line is that this does not undo legal protections for trans students, and school districts can and must continue to protect them and all students from discrimination.  School districts that recognize that should continue doing the right thing; for the rest, we'll see them in court."

Obama’s decision to protect transgender rights in the bathroom had previously been celebrated among civil rights groups, including the ACLU.  The group wrote about Obama’s move: “This is a BIG deal – the federal government just made history and set clear standards to protect transgender people!”

Several celebrities took to Twitter to express their outrage at Trump revoking the protections, and show their support of the transgender community.  THE WANNA has gathered the reaction tweets below.

 

Ya Know You Wanna!

UNITED TALENT AGENCY CANCELS ANNUAL OSCARS PARTY TO PROTEST TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION BAN

REX/Shutterstock

REX/Shutterstock

On Wednesday, the United Talent Agency announced they canceled their annual Academy Awards party to protest Trump’s travel ban.  Instead, the UTA will donate $250,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee, as well as host a rally to support immigration.  The rally will take place on February 24th, two days before the Oscars, to “express the creative communities' growing concern with anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States.”  The UTA said the rally will aim to combat the “potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas and freedom of expression.”

UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer said in a letter to agency employees: “This is a moment that demands our generosity, awareness, and restlessness.  Our world is a better place for the free exchange of artists, ideas, and creative expression.  If our nation ceases to be the place where artists the world over can come to express themselves freely, then we cease, in my opinion, to be America.”

Trump’s travel ban affected the UTA personally since they represent Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who is nominated this year in the Best Foreign Language Film category for “The Salesman.”  Farhadi has chosen to boycott the Oscars this year in protest of Trump’s order.  When contacted by the UTA about their decision, he responded with a text saying he was “honored and in tears.”

 

Ya Know You Wanna!