Former Vice President Joe Biden has said the struggle for transgender equality is the “civil rights issue of our time”, in the forward of a new memoir by a leading campaigner.
Sarah McBride, who made history by becoming the first transgender woman to address a major party gathering when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention, is set to publish Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.
Ms McBride, 27, first made headlines in 2012 when, having completed her term as student body president at American University, she came out publicly as transgender in the college’s student newspaper. The Associated Press said she went on to serve as a White House intern, the first openly transgender woman to do so.
.@JoeBiden is a champion of equality. I'm honored he's authored the foreword to my book, Tomorrow Will Be Different. https://t.co/YPAugcXX9r
— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) October 4, 2017
When she spoke at the DNC in Philadelphia in July 2016, she received loud applause when she declared: “I am a proud transgender American. Today in America, LGBTQ people are targeted by hate that lives in both laws and heart. I believe tomorrow can be different.”
During her speech she spoke of her love for Andrew Cray, a transgender man and fellow activist, whom she met at the White House. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2014 and died a few days after they were married.
Trump praised a Muslim soldier who was killed in Iraq but continued to rail against his father.
Donald Trump praised a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in Iraq but continued to criticize the man's father, who spoke out against Trump at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last week.
After a day of backlash over the GOP presidential nominee's comments regarding the family of Humayun Khan, Trump released a statement late Saturday night honoring him.
"Captain Humayun Khan was a hero to our country and we should honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe. The real problem here are the radical Islamic terrorist who killed him, and the efforts of these radicals to enter our country and do us further harm," Trump said.
“While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr. Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things. If I become President, I will make America safe again.”
Khan's father, Khizr Khan, a lawyer who immigrated from Pakistan, addressed the Democratic convention last week, asking what Trump had sacrificed and whether he had ever read the Constitution.
Trump lashed out at Khan and his wife, Ghazala, who stood at his side on the stage, on Saturday.
The GOP nominee said he had "made a lot of sacrifices" through his work and raised questions about Khan's speech and why his wife hadn't spoken, suggesting that she "wasn't allowed" because of her Muslim faith. Ghazala Khan later said she was too upset to take the microphone.
The comments immediately sparked backlash from both Republicans and Democrats.
In his Saturday statement, Trump bashed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for her Middle East foreign policy record and the attack on U.S. personnel in Benghazi and warned against radical Islamism and immigration from certain countries.
“Given the state of the world today, we have to know everything about those looking to enter our country, and given the state of chaos in some of these countries, that is impossible,” he said.
Channel 2 declines to say more about Michael Brown-related issue
Bobby Hughes, an overnight reporter/photographer for KTVI (Channel 2), no longer works for the station.
Hughes became the subject of a story because of a comment he made on July 22 that Hughes himself later characterized as "incredibly insensitive."
Suzie Mahe, a KTVI spokeswoman, said she could not comment on personnel matters, and would only say "Bobby Hughes no longer works here; he's no longer an employee of KTVI."
The situation began when the Gateway Pundit website posted a story on Facebook about Michael Brown's mother, Lezley McSpadden, possibly speaking at the Democratic National Convention. (Ultimately, she only appeared on the stage.)
The post generated numerous comments critical of McSpadden and Brown, with Hughes being among those commenters.
On Tuesday, the Ethical Society of Police, which represents black officers in the St. Louis Police Department, issued a press release to St. Louis media that brought attention to Hughes' comment.
Those comments already had been deleted and the Post-Dispatch could not verify the wording. Then on Wednesday morning, Hughes' comment became the subject of an exchange between current and former local reporters.
Later Tuesday evening, Hughes sent an apology to the police society, according to Anthony Gray, a spokesman for the police organization — and also an attorney for the Brown family.
The apology contained Hughes' "incredibly insensitive" description of his own remark, and also explained that his comment did not reflect the views of KTVI," Gray said.
See also: St. Louis American: Fox 2 reporter Bobby Hughes fired after deplorable joke about Mike Brown's death
Fox News did not air several speeches from the 2016 Democratic National Convention that focused on gun violence, equality, immigration, national security, and reproductive rights. Here are some of the speeches they ignored.
Clinton Caps Off Four-Day Democratic National Convention
AP: “Clinton Capped A Four-Day Convention Celebration” With Her Speech. The Associated Press reported that Hillary Clinton “capped a four-day convention celebration with a plea for national unity and tolerance” in a speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president. From the AP July 29 report:
Hillary Clinton capped a four-day convention celebration with a plea for national unity and tolerance. Now, one of the most divisive and distrusted figures in American politics must convince voters that she, rather than Republican rival Donald Trump, can bring a deeply divided nation together.
"America is once again at a moment of reckoning. Powerful forces are threatening to pull us apart," Clinton said to a rapt Democratic convention audience. "And just as with our founders, there are no guarantees. It truly is up to us. We have to decide whether we all will work together so we all can rise together." [Associated Press, 7/29/16]
Fox Did Not Air Several Convention Speeches That Challenged Right-Wing Narratives
Speeches Ignored By Fox Tackled Gun Safety, Abortion, LGBT Rights, Racial Justice, And Respect For Muslim-Americans. Many of the speeches Fox News did not air from the convention addressed topics at odds with Fox’s decades-long right-wing fearmongering and smears about the LGBT community, gun violence prevention, abortion and reproductive rights, police-involved shootings, racial justice, and the Muslim-American community. [Media Matters, 7/29/16]
Here Are The Speeches Fox Ignored:
Gun Violence
Mother Whose Son Was Killed In The Orlando Nightclub Massacre Advocated “Common Sense” Gun Safety Laws. Christine Leinonen spoke to the convention on July 27 about her son, Christopher “Drew” Leinonen, who was killed in the June 12 mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, FL. In her speech, Leinonen criticized the lack of “common sense” gun safety laws and voiced her support for prohibiting the sale of assault weapons. [Media Matters, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention, via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Daughter Of Sandy Hook Victim Called Out Politicians Who “Cower Behind The Gun Lobby.” Erica Smegielski, whose mother Dawn Hochsprung was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, spoke to the convention on July 27, saying that “too many politicians cower behind the gun lobby” and will not act to pass legislation to curb gun violence. Smigielski said, “We don’t need another Charleston or San Bernardino or Dallas or countless other acts of everyday gun violence that don’t make the headlines.” [CBS News via YouTube, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention, via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Advocated “Stand[ing] Up To The Gun Lobby.” Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), who was shot in the head during a 2011 shooting at a Tucson constituent event, addressed the Democratic National Convention on July 27 and called for legislation to end gun violence. In her speech, Giffords praised Clinton, calling her “tough” and “courageous,” adding that “she will stand up to the gun lobby” and “fight to make our families safer” as president. [Huffington Post, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention, via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Charleston Church Shooting Survivors Lauded Clinton For Pushing To “Close The Charleston Loophole.” Felicia Sanders and Polly Sheppard, who survived the June 17, 2015, shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, highlighted in their July 27 speech Clinton’s call for “lawmakers to close the Charleston loophole” that allowed the gunman to purchase a gun. Sanders noted that “Because of the loophole, even though the shooter had an arrest record, he was able to “still buy that gun.” Fox aired footage of the speech in the corner of the screen during a commercial break, but did not play any audio and did not identify the speakers. [PBS NewsHour, via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Called For “Common Sense Measures To Reduce Gun Violence.” Charles Ramsey, who previously served as Philadelphia police commissioner, called for “common sense measures to reduce gun violence,” saying, “I’ve seen the cost of gun violence” and “Police need these common sense measures.” In his July 27 address, Ramsey recounted his years policing, and argued that passing measures to reduce gun violence will “protect our officers from being outgunned by weapons of war.” [NBCPhiladelphia.com, 7/28/16; Democratic National Convention, via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Equality And Civil Liberties
Sarah McBride, The First Openly Transgender Person To Speak At A Major Party Convention, Called For Transgender Equality. . Human Rights Campaign Foundation press secretary Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention on July 28. In her speech, McBride spoke about the need “to pass the Equality Act, to combat violence against transgender women of color, and to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic once and for all.” McBride further noted that “Today in America, LGBTQ people are still targeted by hate that lives in boths laws and in hearts.” Fox aired footage of the speech during its regular programming, but did not play any audio and did not identify McBride. CNN and MSNBC carried the entire speech live. [Media Matters, 7/28/16; PBS NewsHour via YouTube, 7/28/16]
Father Of An American Muslim Soldier Killed In Iraq: Trump “Consistently Smears The Character Of Muslims.” Khizr Khan, an American Muslim whose son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed while serving in Iraq, spoke at the convention on July 28. In his remarks, Khan criticized Donald Trump, saying he “consistently smears the characters of Muslims” and has “sacrificed nothing and no one.” Fox aired footage of the speech in the corner of the screen during a commercial break, but did not play any audio and did not identify Khan. [CNBC.com, 7/28/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/28/16]
Disability Rights Advocate: Trump “Bullies And Profits Off Of The Vulnerable Americans.” Anastasia Somoza, a disability rights advocate who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia when she was born, spoke at the Democratic convention on July 25, saying Trump “defines being an American in the narrowest possible of terms” and “shouts, bullies, and profits off of vulnerable Americans.” Somoza also praised Clinton, saying “in a country where 56 million Americans with disabilities so often feel invisible, Hillary Clinton sees me.” Fox aired footage of the speech during its regular programming, but did not play any audio and did not identify Somoza. [CNN.com, 7/25/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/26/16]
Immigration
Eleven-Year-Old Girl Spoke About Her Fear Her Parents Could Be Deported. Karla Ortiz, an 11-year-old American citizen, spoke at the convention on July 25, relaying her fears that her parents, who are undocumented, may be deported. Ortiz said “I’m scared that at any moment my mom and my dad will be forced to leave.” Ortiz translated for her mother, Francisca, who said that Clinton will fight for people like her. [Huffington Post, 7/25/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/26/16]
DREAMer: Clinton “Will Fight To Keep Our Families Together.” Astrid Silva, a DREAMer who came into the country undocumented but has received deferred action from deportation under President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, described growing up in the United States without legal status in her July 25 speech. Silva addressed her support for Clinton, saying “she will fight to keep our families together.” Fox aired footage of the speech during its regular programming, but did not play any audio and did not identify Silva. [Huffington Post, 7/25/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/25/16]
Policing And Criminal Justice Reform
Mothers Of The Movement Urge “Common Sense Gun Legislation” And Criminal Justice Reform. The “Mothers of the Movement,” nine women of color who lost children to gun violence or police shootings, spoke on July 26. The women praised Clinton, saying she is a leader “who will say our children’s names” and “isn’t afraid to say that black lives matter.” The Mothers of the Movement also called for criminal justice reform and “common sense gun legislation” to curb violence in their communities. Fox aired footage of the speech during its regular programming, but did not play any audio and did not identify the speakers. [Media Matters, 7/26/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Pittsburgh Police Chief: “We Can Respect And Support Our Police Officers While At The Same Time Pushing For These Important Criminal Justice Reform.” Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay acknowledged “a crisis of trust in the police and the criminal justice system” in his July 26 address. McLay said that “We can respect and support our police officers while at the same time pushing for these important criminal justice reforms,” adding that police and communities should work together to “seek common ground with the objective of creating an America that truly is and truly provides a source of liberty and justice for all.” Fox aired footage of the speech in the corner of the screen during a commercial break, but did not play any audio and did not identify McLay. [WTAE.com, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Former NYPD Detective: Clinton Is The “Toughest Champion” For 9/11 First Responders. Former New York Police Department detective Joe Sweeney highlighted the “lifelong health problems” that thousands of first responders to the September 11 terror attacks have developed. Sweeney said in his July 26 speech that “Hillary Clinton was there every step of the way” and was the “toughest champion” for the first responders after the attacks. [CBSNews.com, 7/26/16; Democratic National Convention, 7/27/16]
National Security
Former CIA Chief Leon Panetta: Electing Trump Would Put “An Erratic Finger On Our Nuclear Weapons.” Leon Panetta blasted Donald Trump in his July 27 address to the convention, saying a vote for him would be “deadly serious” and would place “an erratic finger on our nuclear weapons.” The former CIA director and defense secretary criticized Trump for saying “he gets his foreign policy experience from watching TV and running the Miss Universe Pageant.” Fox aired footage of the speech in the corner of the screen during a commercial break, but did not play any audio and did not identify Panetta. [ABCNews.com, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Retired Admiral Slammed Trump For Endorsing Torture, Praising Dictators, And Calling For Russia To Hack Clinton. Retired Navy Rear Adm. John Hutson, a onetime Republican who served as the Navy’s top lawyer, criticized Trump, saying his call for Russia to hack Clinton’s emails is “not law and order. That’s criminal intent.” Hutson also said that Trump’s call to reinstate torture would violate international law and that his praise for Putin would be “an automatic F” in his national security law class. Fox aired footage of the speech during its regular programming, but did not play any audio and did not identify Hutson. [Politico,7/27/16, Democratic National Convention via YouTube, 7/27/16]
Reproductive Rights
NARAL President Ilyse Hogue Recounted Her Decision To Have An Abortion, Noting That “About One In Three American Women Have Abortions.” . NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue described her decision to get an abortion in her July 26 speech at the Democratic National Convention. In her speech, Hogue explained that her story “is not unique,” because “About one in three American women have abortions by the age of 45.” Hogue noted that “it’s not as simple as bad girls get abortions and good girls have families. We are the same women at different times in our lives — each making decisions that are the best for us.” [Yahoo News, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention, 7/27/16]
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards Was The First Speaker To Say The Word “Abortion” On The Convention Stage. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, was the first speaker at the 2016 Democratic convention to use the word “abortion” on stage. Richards lauded Clinton in her July 27 speech, saying Clinton “has always been in Planned Parenthood’s corner because she knows women deserve someone who is in theirs,” and pointed out that proposals to defund Planned Parenthood would cut women “off of life-saving care” and are “rooted in a deeply disturbing worldview.” [Media Matters, 7/26/16, 7/27/16; Democratic National Convention, 7/27/16]
