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Dow soars 1,000 points after Trump team and China dramatically lower tariffs; Alabama lawmakers send grocery tax cut bill to governor; Probation, supervision after incarceration comes with a catch in NC; How immigrants can protect themselves and their data at the border.

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The Pentagon begins removing transgender troops as legal battles continue. Congress works to fix a SNAP job-training penalty. Advocates raise concerns over immigrant data searches, and U.S. officials report progress in trade talks with China.

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Volunteers with AmeriCorps are reeling from near elimination of the 30-year-old program, Head Start has dodged demise but funding cuts are likely, moms are the most vulnerable when extreme weather hits, and in California, bullfrogs await their 15-minutes of fame.

CT lawmakers urged to focus on LGBTQ+ legislation

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025   

Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community want Connecticut lawmakers to consider bills that would help address a variety of this community's needs. They include legislation to ensure LGBTQ+ seniors in long-term care facilities aren't discriminated against, and expanding protections under no-fault eviction legislation.

William Ollayos, administrator with the LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network, noted that the group is also looking for funding to update a needs assessment that was first done in 2021.

"Something like that should be reciprocal and done every couple of years, because community needs change. If you're talking about any marginalized community - queer folks, people of color, immigrants - their needs are going to change year to year. And especially after COVID, we just really need that updated data to inform some of the additional legislation we're talking about," he said.

The current needs assessment finds 69% of people in this community have experienced discrimination. Ollayos said other issues legislators should work on include safe school initiatives that preventing queer kids from being bullied, and mental health care.

While the General Assembly's LGBTQ+ Caucus has grown, competing priorities are expected to be a challenge to passing these bills.

Matthew Blinstrubas, executive director of Equality Connecticut, predicts President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration and Congress' Republican majority will harm the work they're doing.

"We are always concerned about the federal government maintaining its support for medical services, keeping our schools safe and welcoming, and making sure that our community is not used as a political tool to hold funding hostage," he said.


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