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Sep 7, 2018 18 tweets 14 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
1/ Hi everyone - it’s Judy Shepard (@WyoJudyShepard) and Louvon Harris. We are joining @HRC today for a #HRCTwitterTakeover to discuss how Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination potentially threatens hate crimes protections nationwide. #StopKavanaugh
2/ I'm the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was killed because he was gay. In honor of Matthew, our family began the Shepard Foundation, working to erase hate by replacing it with understanding, compassion & acceptance. - @WyoJudyShepard #HRCTwitterTakeover matthewshepard.org Judy Shepard at HRC's Time to THRIVE Conference.
3/ I am the sister of James Byrd, who was killed because of his race. In remembrance of James, our family began the Byrd Foundation for Racial Healing. We are working to promote healing and diversity through education. - Louvon Harris #HRCTwitterTakeover thebyrdfoundation.org Louvon Harris with President Barack Obama.
4/ On Day 4 of Kavanaugh’s SCOTUS hearing, we’re still being denied access to much of his record, including docs from his time at the W. Bush White House when Bush fought our efforts to create inclusive, effective hate crimes law. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover
5/ At the time, existing hate crimes law covered a narrow class of crimes. Jurisdiction was limited, and it offered no protection if you were attacked because of your gender identity or sexual orientation. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover hrc.org/resources/hate…
6/ Federal law did not protect Matthew, who was tortured and left for dead on an October night in 1998 in Wyoming. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover matthewshepard.org/about-us/ Matthew Shepard pictured.
7/ Federal law was ineffective in protecting James, who was dragged to his death in chains behind a truck in East Texas that same year. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover thebyrdfoundation.org/about/45942973…
8/ Matthew was killed because he was gay. James because he was African American. They were both killed by the dark forces of hate that prey upon the innocent and terrorize entire communities. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover
9/ In remembrance of Matthew and James, and so that families like ours would see better justice done, we fought for a federal law with more effective, comprehensive protections. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover hrc.org/resources/hate…
10/ The Bush administration opposed us. As staff secretary, Kavanaugh would have had input as the White House and their allies ignored our pleas and worked against passing inclusive hate crimes legislation. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
11/ Some of those who worked against us then now hold some of the highest positions of power in this current administration, including AG Sessions, Secretary Pompeo, and anti-LGBTQ extremist Mike Pence. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover
12/ Then-Rep. @Mike_Pence believed hate crimes law "served no practical purpose" and that covering sexual orientation and gender identity would have a "chilling effect" on religious leaders. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover hrc.org/realmikepence
13/ Only later, and with the strong support of President Barack Obama, were we able to pass the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) in 2009. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover hrc.org/blog/commemora… Judy Shepard and Louvon Harris with President Barack Obama.
14/ To this day, we don’t know what Kavanaugh’s position or role was in the decision to oppose hate crimes legislation. We don’t know if he would uphold the HCPA if it came before him sitting on our nation’s most powerful court. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover
15/ We don’t know because @ChuckGrassley and @SenateMajLdr decided that these records are unimportant. We don’t know because they have chosen ruthless expediency over fairness and integrity. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover washingtonpost.com/opinions/repub…
16/ We — the families of Matthew & James — demand answers. With reported hate crimes on the rise, we need to know that the HCPA will continue to protect countless Americans. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover naacp.org/latest/naacp-s…
17/ We need to know that families like ours — who will forever grieve these terrible, brutal losses — will at least have a real chance to see justice. - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover
18/18 In the history of our country, far too many families have been denied justice and answers. Will you deny us answers now? #ReleaseTheRecords - @WyoJudyShepard & Louvon #HRCTwitterTakeover

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More from @HRC

Oct 6, 2018
1/ We’ve spent months on the front lines fighting this nomination. From mobilizing for rallies, sharing stories of survival & making thousands on thousands of calls to senators—including 15,000 @HRC members today.

We’ve left nothing on the field in the fight to #StopKavanaugh.
2/ And we have done that because the stakes of this nomination—for LGBTQ people, for women, for people of color, for survivors of sexual assault—could not be any higher. Across the country, we have turned out to say we #BelieveSurvivors and we must #StopKavanaugh.
3/ Unfortunately @SenatorCollins, @Sen_JoeManchin and others in the U.S. Senate made clear today that they will nevertheless back this dangerous, unqualified nominee. This is a slap in the face to Americans everywhere. #StopKavanaugh
Read 7 tweets
Sep 29, 2018
1/ As #SuicideAwarenessMonth draws to a close, we must all reaffirm our commitment to supporting the well-being of LGBTQ youth who are too often made to feel hopeless and alone simply for being who they are. hrc.org/youth
2/ We pause to remember those in our community who we have lost, including Jamel Myles, Leelah Alcorn, Tyler Clementi, Sergio Urrego and far too many others. #SuicideAwarenessMonth
hrc.org/blog/following…
3/ In 2016, suicide was the second-leading cause of death worldwide among all youth ages 15 to 29, according to the World Health Organization (@WHO). #SuicideAwarenessMonth who.int/en/news-room/f…
Read 9 tweets
Jun 29, 2018
1/ Hi it’s @aijenpoo. I’m the director of @DomesticWorkers, co-director of @CaringAcrossGen and an organizer working for the #FamiliesBelongTogether campaign. I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover to talk about Trump’s “zero tolerance" policy. — @aijenpoo Ai-jen Poo
2/Images displayed across the media don't begin to capture the horror of what’s happening. Recently, hundreds of us spent Father’s Day holding a vigil at a Border Patrol processing center in McAllen, TX, where ~1,000 kids are held at any given time. —@aijenpoo #HRCTwitterTakeover
3/ We chanted “You are not alone,” as buses passed us. It was the most heartbreaking experience of my life. And separations haven't ended. 3,000+ kids have been separated from their families & dispersed across the US with no plan for reunification. — @aijenpoo #HRCTwitterTakeover Ursula Border Processing Center in McAllen, Texas.
Read 13 tweets
Jun 20, 2018
Hi, this is @Kimahli Powell. I’m the executive director of @RainbowRailroad, a Canadian-based international organization that helps #LGBTQ individuals facing persecution escape to safety. I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover today to mark #WorldRefugeeDay. Kimahli Powell, Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad
In the spirit of and with homage to the Underground Railroad, the mission of the @RainbowRailroad is to help #LGBTQ people as they seek safe haven from violence, murder or persecution. — @Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover rainbowrailroad.ca Rainbow Railroad
Let’s start with 3 terms:
⚫Migrant: Anyone who chooses to leave their country of origin;
⚫Asylum seeker: Anyone seeking international protection;
⚫Refugee: An official designation for individuals forced to flee their country of origin.
@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover
Read 19 tweets
Mar 26, 2018
Hey Twitter! This is @SaraRamirez, artist and proud Mexican Irish American #immigrant #bisexual #queer #woman. To mark #BiHealthMonth, I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover to talk about the need to address #biphobia and #bi-erasure. #BHAM18 Sara Ramirez takes over the HRC Twitter in honor of Bisexual Health Awareness Month.
Those of us who love more than one sex/gender use many different labels, but we share a common experience: our presence makes people uncomfortable. Our very existence as #bisexual threatens heteronormativity and the gender binary. —@SaraRamirez #HRCTwitterTakeover
#Bisexual, #queer, #pansexual, #fluid, non-monosexual folk are the single largest group within the #LGBTQ community, and we come in all Pantone shades, all genders, and no gender. We're trans, cis, nonbinary. We're ✨everywhere ✨. —@SaraRamirez #HRCTwitterTakeover Bisexuals are the single largest group within the LGBTQ community.
Read 18 tweets

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