NATIONAL NEWS: A Transgender Bathroom Ad Causes Big Buzz

Screenshot from the controversial bathroom ad.

A national TV ad depicting transgender bathroom discrimination will premiere during the Republican National Convention.

A new ad spotlighting the bathroom discrimination struggles faced by transgender people will make its national television debut on the FOX News channel on Thursday, July 21st, during the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. The 60-second ad, now available to watch at www.FairnessUSA.org, features a transgender woman from North Carolina, where HB2 passed earlier this year, discussing how the lack of state and federal nondiscrimination protections affects her every day. HB2 makes it illegal for transgender people to use restrooms in public buildings that match the gender they live, making them susceptible to even higher levels of harassment and violence. The ad has had thousands of views since its online release on Monday. After the RNC, the ad will run again run nationally on MSNBC during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia the following week.

UNITE HERE Local 737 activists were arrested as they sat in Sen. Marco Rubio’s Orlando office for 49 hours to honor Pulse shooting victims.

On Monday, activists from the union UNITE HERE Local 737 sat in Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s Orlando office for 49 hours to call attention to inaction on addressing gun violence and homophobia during his tenure. The 49 hours are intended to symbolize the number of victims murdered during the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in June. “Marco Rubio is a symbol of the inaction of so many political leaders who are just giving lip service with thoughts and prayers but not taking any real action to end the hate and violence happening in our community,” said union president Jeremy Cruz-Haiken to the press. Ten of Cruz-Haiken’s fellow protesters were arrested during the sit-in for being reluctant to leaving the office after its closing. During the protest, Cruz-Haiken told the reporters that a representative from Rubio’s office came out and thanked them for making their voice heard.