1. ACTIVISTS PETITION GATES FOUNDATION TO NOT AWARD INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER: Activists presented a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to the Gates Foundation in Seattle on Monday, imploring the organization to not honor India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event next week, citing the government’s recent crackdown in Kashmir. Actors Riz Ahmed and Jameela Jamil have dropped out of the event. Huffington Post: “In a statement to HuffPost India, the Gates Foundation said it would still be giving the award to Modi next week, saying it is for ‘the progress India is making in improving sanitation’ and credited the Indian government’s Swachh Bharat initiative with expanding access to ‘safe sanitation’ to millions. … As part of Modi’s visit to the U.S. next week, he will also participate in an event with President Donald Trump in Houston ‘to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India,’ according to the White House.”
2. GLOBAL CITIZEN TO LAUNCH NEW CONCERT EVENT SPANNING FIVE CONTINENTS: Humanitarian nonprofit organization Global Citizen is launching a new concert inspired by Live Aid, 35 years after the original event. Titled "Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream," the 10-hour event is aiming to be the biggest live broadcast in “cause event history,” according to a release. The event is slated for September 26, 2020, and will raise funds for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. CNN: “Global Citizen, known for its efforts to end extreme poverty, teamed up with C.E.O. advisory firm Teneo to secure top entertainers, lead production partner and promoter Live Nation, corporate chieftains, and government leaders to bring the event to life. At a press conference scheduled for September 26 of this month, Global Citizen and Teneo will unveil the names of those who have already committed to participating, kicking off a yearlong effort to enlist other partners in ‘getting the world back on track to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change, and achieve the U.N. Global Goals.’”
3. ‘POSE’ STAR WILL HOST L.G.B.T.Q. PRESIDENTIAL FORUM: Glaad has tapped Pose star and trans activist Angelica Ross to host the official presidential candidate forum on L.G.B.T.Q. issues, taking place September 20 in Cedar Rapids. Candidates including Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, and Kamala Harris will speak at the forum, which will be live streamed on YouTube. The Hollywood Reporter: “Ross will join Glaad president and C.E.O. Sarah Kate Ellis onstage to bring L.G.B.T.Q. specific-issues to the forefront of discussion, topics that have largely been ignored from the public debates thus far. As part of today's announcement from GLAAD, the organization cited ‘more than 124 anti-LGBTQ attacks in policy and rhetoric from the Trump Administration, including the President’s ban on transgender Americans from serving in the military and the administration’s opposition to the Equality Act.’”