Jun 12, 2019

Beto O'Rourke targets Trump policies in LGBTQ protection plan

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

2020 Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke shared his campaign's plan to increase protections for LGBTQ Americans on Wednesday.

The big picture: O'Rourke is focused on reversing the Trump administration's policies that he says infringe on the rights of the LGBTQ community, like the administration's ban on transgender military personnel.

Details:

  • Protecting the LGBTQ community: O'Rourke is pledging to use his executive authority to reverse Trump's policies to expand protections for transgender Americans, including reversing the transgender military ban. O'Rourke says he will also fight against practices that harm the LGBTQ community such as conversion therapy and appoint judges who support LGBTQ rights.
  • Ensure full equality: O'Rourke wants to work with Congress to pass the Equality Act, which passed the House last month, to guarantee protections for LGBTQ Americans in all 50 states.
  • Strengthen global safeguards for the LGBTQ community: O'Rourke plans to partner with other nations to reform the asylum and refugee processes for persecuted LGBTQ immigrants. He also wants the U.S. to secure a global treaty protecting LGBTQ individuals, invest in the Global Equity Fund and have a special envoy for LGBTQ human rights.

Go deeper: Beto O'Rourke on the issues, in under 500 words

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World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

The European Union is considering an $826 billion coronavirus rescue package to fund recovery efforts for all member states, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.

By the numbers: More than 5.6 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 and over 2.3 million have recovered from the virus. Over 355,500 people have died globally. The U.S. has reported the most cases in the world (over 1.6 million from 15.1 million tests).

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 22 mins ago - Health

U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

More than 100,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins — a milestone that puts the death toll far beyond some of the most tragic events in U.S. history.

By the numbers: Over 1.6 million have tested positive in the U.S. Nearly 354,000 Americans have recovered and over 15.1 million tests have been conducted. California became the fourth state with at least 100,000 reported cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, along with Illinois, New Jersey and New York.

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 25 mins ago - Health

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8 p.m. ET: 5,682,389 — Total deaths: 354,944 — Total recoveries — 2,337,385 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 8 p.m. ET: 1,697,459 — Total deaths: 100,276 — Total recoveries: 391,508 — Total tested: 15,192,481 — Map.
  3. Public health: Fauci says data is "really quite evident" against hydroxychloroquine — Nearly half of Americans say someone in their household has delayed medical care.
  4. States: California hospitals strained by patients in Mexico — Texas Supreme Court blocks mail-in expansion to state voters.
  5. Business: MGM plans to reopen major Las Vegas resorts in June — African American business owners have seen less relief from PPP, Goldman Sachs says.
  6. Tech: AI will help in the pandemic — but it might not be in time for this one.
  7. 1 🎶 thing: Local music venues get rocked by coronavirus.
  8. 🎧 Podcast: Trump vs. Twitter ... vs. Trump.
  9. What should I do? When you can be around others after contracting the coronavirus — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  10. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

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Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy