New York To Allow Electronic Voting For People With Disabilities
A report in The New York Times covers a lawsuit settlement made by the New York State Board of Elections, under the terms of which the state will create a system to allow voters with disabilities like blindness or paralysis to vote. Also: HIV rates in Florida, transgender laws in Kentucky, and more.
The New York Times:
New York Agrees To Expand Voting Access For People With Disabilities
Voting in New York will become easier for blind and disabled residents following the settlement of a lawsuit against the New York State Board of Elections this week. Under the new terms, the state board has until June 1 to create an electronic voting method that will allow voters with disabilities that make reading or writing text difficult, such as blindness or paralysis, to print out ballots online and mail them back. (Wong, 4/6)
In updates from Florida —
WLRN 91.3 FM:
South Florida Is Seeing An Uptick In Rates Of HIV Diagnoses Among Ages 50 And Older
After basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson received an HIV diagnosis in 1991, he made an announcement in a room full of sports reporters that people remember to this day. "Because of the HIV virus that I have obtained, I will have to retire from the Lakers," Johnson said. That press conference is included in an Apple TV+ documentary series coming out on April 22. At the time, Johnson clarified he had the human immunodeficiency virus, not AIDS — a disease that may result because of HIV. "I plan on going on living for a long time, bugging you guys like I always have, so you'll see me around," he said. (Zaragovia, 4/6)
NBC News:
Florida Ride Where Teen Fell To His Death Is ‘Serious Danger To Public Health,’ Officials Say
The Florida amusement park ride where a teenager fell to his death last month is an "immediate serious danger to public health," state officials said in an order closing the ride. The order from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which was released to the public Monday, formally closed the Free Fall ride on March 25, the day after the incident at ICON Park in Orlando. (Fitzsimons, 4/6)
In LGBTQ+ health news —
Louisville Courier Journal:
Transgender Sports, Critical Race Theory Bills Vetoed By Gov. Beshear
Among eight vetoes issued Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear aimed at two of education's most controversial topics this year: transgender student-athletes and "critical race theory." The omnibus Senate Bill 1, Beshear wrote in his veto message, "represents a step backward for public education in the Commonwealth." Its shift of principal and curriculum selection away from school-level councils of teachers and parents to superintendents "lessens, if not eliminates" parent voice, Beshear wrote. (Krauth and Sonka, 4/6)
Dallas Morning News:
Los Angeles Bans Official Travel To Texas, Florida Over LGBTQ Policies
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to prohibit official travel to Texas and Florida in response to those states’ policies regarding LGBTQ rights, according to multiple local media sources. The Pasadena Star-News reported that the board vote was unanimous and specifically called out Florida’s legislation barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law by critics, as well as Texas’ recent decision to investigate certain gender-affirming medical care for trans youth as child abuse. (McGaughy, 4/6)
Health News Florida:
A Florida Proposal Would Ban Minors From Having Gender Confirmation Procedures
Republican Rep. Randy Fine plans to introduce legislation next session that would ban gender-confirming medical treatments for minors. Fine, of Brevard County, says the bill wouldn’t stop gender-nonconforming and transgender children from seeking services such as therapy or counseling. “So if a boy wishes to be known as a girl, if a boy wishes to dress as a girl or vice versa, if a boy wants to go get gender switching counseling from a psychologist, none of those would be forbidden under this bill," Fine says. "It is simply medical procedures whether it is puberty blockers, or actual surgery to do things that cannot be undone.” But he says it would prohibit anyone under 18 from medically transitioning through the use of drugs or gender-affirmation surgery. (Prieur, 4/6)
Salt Lake Tribune:
West High Students Walk Out To Protest HB11: ‘Trans Kids Belong In Sports’
As two students circled the crowd in front of West High School during a walkout against HB11 Wednesday, they debated where to stand. One student suggested they stand with their gay friends, but the other was concerned they shouldn’t since they aren’t gay. “Today you are,” the first student said. “Today you are standing with the gays.” The bill, which bans transgender girls from participating in female school sports, was passed into law through an override by the Utah Legislature on March 25, despite being vetoed by Gov. Spencer Cox. (Sanders, 4/6)
Also —
The Texas Tribune:
UT Austin To Allow Students To Live Together Regardless Of Gender
The University of Texas at Austin is starting a two-year pilot program next fall that will allow students to live together in certain campus residence halls regardless of their gender or sexual identity. Called the “Family and Friend Expanded Roommate Option,” any UT-Austin student can select any other UT-Austin as a roommate. Student advocates have been pushing the university to create a gender-inclusive housing option since at least 2006, according to Adrienne Hunter, a senior and transgender woman who has advocated for the change over the past few years. (McGee, 4/6)
