The results are in and LGBTQ Americans make up 10% of the population. Sephora includes a gay couple in their ad and the anti-LGBTQ hate groups come running. A Black trans woman sues Crunch Fitness for not allowing her use the women’s facilities and she won!
Show Notes
00:00 – Welcome & Intro
00:26 – The Kaya Kollection Ad
01:02 – Intro Music
01:42 – The results are in and LGBTQ Americans make up 10% of the population
03:41 – Sephora includes a gay couple in their ad and the anti-LGBTQ hate groups come running
04:28 – A Black trans woman sues Crunch Fitness for not allowing her use the women’s facilities and she won!
05:52 – Anna’s Got a Word
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An intersectional approach to a daily news podcast where race & sexuality meet politics, entertainment and culture. Tune-in to reporting which centers & celebrates all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. Hosted by Anna DeShawn. 7 minutes a day, 5 days a week, ready by 9 a.m.
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Transcript
Family, this is your favorite Queer radio personality Anna DeShawn here with our Queer news from today.
The results are in and LGBTQ Americans make up 10% of the population. Sephora includes a gay couple in their ad and the anti-LGBTQ hate groups come running. A Black trans woman sues Crunch Fitness for not allowing her use the women’s facilities and she won!
Our leading story for today is about the results coming out of the Household Pulse Survey administered by the Census Bureau. Today, the Census still does not count LGBTQ folks in their numbers but the Household Pulse Survey did which made it the first time in history the Census Bureau asked about sexual orientation and gender identity. A huge milestone. The results are in and they suggest that 20 million adults in the US are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. That accounts for approximately 10% of the population. Here are some key numbers that came out of the survey. First, the data is telling us that more than 2 million adults equate to more than 1% identifying as trans which is much higher than the previous estimates of 1.4 million. Second, bisexuals still lead the way as the largest group of LGBTQ+ folks comprising 4% of participants where gay and lesbians make up 3%. Lastly, I bet you’ll never guess the two states with the largest LGBTQ populations. I’ll wait… well it is California & Texas. California clocks in at 2.6 million and Texas at 1.7 million. Bonus fact, less populated states such as Arizona had roughly 600,000 LGBTQ peole in their sample representing a larger overall percentage of their population. Arizona ya’ll. Jonie Madison, the interim HRC President said, ““LGBTQ+ people are here – in every town, in every city, in each and every ZIP code” … “This data shows what we’ve suspected: our community is larger and more widespread than we could have known up to this point. We’re proud to bring this data to light and set the stage for a future where all the millions of LGBTQ+ people in America enjoy full legal and lived equality.”
In other news this morning, the infamous anti-LGBTQ hate group One MIllion Moms funded by the right-winged evangelical group the American Family Association has found another thing to complain about. This time Sephora is on the other end after featuring a gay couple kissing at the end of their ad. First off, the ad is really cute. If you’re interested in seeing it visit our blog page for today’s episode. Secondly, groups like this try to use intimidation to influence the moves these larger companies make. Kudos to Sephora for not changing course and deeming it necessary to show different types of families in their ads. Representation still matters and brands like Sephora know that inclusiveness is not just a good thing to do, it is good business.
Now speaking of good business Crunch Fitness just realized what can happen when your employees choose ignorance over people & the law. Christynne Wood, a Black trans woman in California, sued Crunch Fitness after they didn’t allow her to use the women’s facilities at the gym. Christynne informed the employees of her transition, even provided legal proof of her name and gender change, and told them as a result she would be using the women’s accommodations. Well the employees didn’t agree and refused to allow her to use the bathroom that aligned with her identity. Well for eleven months, she was forced to continue using the men’s locker room, where she endured harassment more than once. After that, the gym finally allowed her to switch to the women’s facilities. In 2018, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) sued the gym on Wood’s behalf for violating California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on gender identity and expression. After years of fighting family, Christynne was victorious and won her case last week. She will receive a financial settlement and Crunch Fitness employees are mandated to take anti-discrimination training that includes a focus on gender expression. God bless her and her legal team for having the courage to stand up. It is not easy. Congratulations again Christynne. You deserve.
As always we close out our podcast with a word of the day. Today’s word is forgiveness. The word is so easy to say but so challenging to practice. When people have wronged us it’s hard to let that go. There have been times when I just walked away from friendships without even a conversation. There have been times when I held on to that wrong so long, I forgot what I was mad about and still chose not to speak to that person again. Was it worth it? Is that a healthy way to live? I say all this to say that forgiveness is freedom. Only things you give energy too can percolate in your world. So choose to give your energy to something and someone else. Let that burden go. Release that harm. Forgive & experience the freedom that gives you in your life. Till tomorrow family, peace.
Sources
LGBTQ Nation
Over 20 million Americans identify as LGBTQ people
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/20-million-americans-identify-lgbtq-people/
Anti-gay evangelicals attack Sephora for including a happy gay couple in new commercial
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/anti-gay-evangelicals-attack-sephora-including-happy-gay-couple-new-commercial/
A gym refused to let a trans woman use the women’s locker room. She just won a settlement.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/gym-refused-let-trans-woman-use-womens-locker-room-just-won-settlement/
VICTORY: Today, our client Christynne Wood won a settlement with Crunch Fitness in El Cajon, after the gym had refused her to use the women’s locker room and restroom, even though it is clearly her right under California law. https://t.co/oK9k6H5LJg
— ACLU SoCal (@ACLU_SoCal) December 8, 2021