- Nic F. Anderson
Queer Catch Up: Friday, Oct. 25, 2019
Welcome back to yungmiga’s Queer Catch Up, a weekly post where folks can catch up recent queer news and pop culture.
News Round-Up
Federal judge overturns ObamaCare transgender protections, ruling that the 2016 policy is a religious freedom violation of Christian providers. The Hill reported: “Judge Reed O’Connor in the Northern District of Texas vacated an Obama-era regulation that prohibited insurers and providers who receive federal money from denying treatment or coverage to anyone based on sex, gender identity or termination of pregnancy.
"It also required doctors and hospitals to provide “medically necessary” services to transgender individuals as long as those services were the same ones provided to other patients. O’Connor, the same judge who last year ruled that the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, said the rule violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. His ruling is likely to be appealed.”
A Georgia school district reverses transgender-friendly bathroom policy after their board members, employees and students received death threats. Board of Education for Pickens County School released a press release that stated:
"There have been many serious safety concerns raised in the past few days. School board members, staff, and students have been threatened due to the administration’s implementation of Adams vs. St. John’s County School District. There have been death threats, student harassment, and vandalism of school property. The District understands and acknowledges that it has the responsibility to protect its staff and students. However, the District has concerns that it may not be able to meet these recently increased demands. Therefore, the District shall return to bathroom procedures in place at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year until it can consult with law enforcement and other safety professionals so that these concerns may be addressed.”
Wisconsin woman was fired from restaurant for refusing to serve transphobic customers. Brittany Spencer was working at Fat Joe’s Bar & Grill in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as a server when one of the tables she was waiting began to make transphobic comments to her. KATC reported: “‘They were asking me if I thought it was disgusting and wrong and why we would let someone like that into the establishment," Spencer said. "To which I answered, no, I do not agree with that and walked away.’According to ownership at Fat Joe's, both groups are regulars at the bar. Spencer says she went to her manager to ask if someone else could serve the table because she didn't feel comfortable.‘[My manager] essentially told me to suck it up or go home,’ Spencer said. ‘To which I said, OK. I will leave.’”