Earlier this week an appellate court in Illinois upheld a decision from a lower court that Hobby Lobby broke anti-discrimination laws by not allowing a trans employee to use the women’s restroom. The case centers around Hobby Lobby employee, Meggan Sommerville, who has worked at the company for 20 years. Back in 2010, Sommerville transitioned. After identifying as a woman, Hobby Lobby refused to allow her to use the women’s restroom. The lawsuit states that this led to numerous problems for Sommerville, including having to limit how much she drank at work for fear of having to enter the men’s…
Author: Keith Langston
To celebrate Pride month (June 1 -30), United Airlines is teaming up with their credit card partners, Visa and Chase, to help reward those who donate to LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Eligible United Visa Cardmembers can receive five miles for every dollar donated to select nonprofits (up to $1,000 per card). The eligible nonprofits are The Trevor Project, the Human Rights Campaign, and StartOut. In a statement, Suzi Cabo, United’s managing director of global community engagement, said, “This Pride Month, United is celebrating our year-round mission of advocating and supporting our LGBTQ+ employees and customers by spotlighting organizations that share our commitment…
The 2000s was a decade filled with groundbreaking LGBTQ television and cinema. From Eating Out and Latter Days to Queer as Folk and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. But no piece of media was quite as absurd, offensive, and hilarious as Another Gay Movie. The film set out to parody popular teen comedies like American Pie, but flipped the script, and, unlike your average teen comedy, focused on a group of gay friends instead. The cast included the then-unknown Michael Carbonaro, and supporting roles were filled by some of the queer community’s favorite stars, like Graham Norton, Lypsinka, and…
Flash Pack, the travel and adventure company for solo travelers in their 30’s and 40’s has just released a list of the best places to take a holiday from the holidays. If you’re the kind of person who would rather travel during this festive time of year, then these great destinations may be perfect for you. Pack you bags, tell your family you’ll see them next year, and head out on an epic journey with a group of other solo travelers. By Keith Langston JORDAN Christmas lights are great and make the season festive, but wouldn’t you prefer to…
A new rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking to allow federally-funded homeless shelters to decide a person’s sex based on a “good faith belief.” The rule states that employees of homeless shelters are not allowed to turn someone away for being transgender, but are allowed to decide whether they go in a men’s or women’s shelter. Making the measure even crueler, is the process by which how an employee can decide. The rule says that someone’s sex can be determined by their physical characteristics, such as height, the presence of facial hair, or having an…
The Salt Lake Tribune reports some (basically) good news today. According to a study from the University of Utah that was published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers believe that the coronavirus is NOT spread through bodily fluids like semen, so, therefore, isn’t considered “sexually transmitted.” The article went on to say that the new novel coronavirus (which can lead to the COVID-19 disease) is spread through tiny droplets of moisture, similar to the cold or flu, that spread from coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking. However, you can also become infected from touching a surface that has these…
Late last week, the Utah state legislature put forth a bill that would ban trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams in schools. The bill, which was pushed by Republicans, called trans girls “biological men” and claimed that they couldn’t compete on girls’ sports teams because they had an advantage and made girls feel uncomfortable. During the bill’s debate, Republicans attacked trans girls and made numerous offensive remarks, at one point even comparing trans people with animals. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Republican State Senator, David Hinkins, said, “Even in the equine industry, they don’t run fillies against…
Puerto Rico Governor, Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation after massive protests erupted on the island’s capital of San Juan. The protests came after offensive messages surfaced between the governor and his inner circle via Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism. The messages included homophobic and sexist remarks, as well as jokes about victims of Hurricane Maria. Besides the comments, recent events have set the platform for the massive protests against the governor. Many Puerto Ricans are still suffering after the devastation of the hurricanes, and political corruption has long angered the island’s residents. Furthermore, just one day ago, Rosselló’s Chief…
On Sunday night, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the presidential race. After winning the Iowa Primary, and coming in a close second in New Hampshire, Buttigieg’s numbers quickly dropped when primaries in more diverse states took place. In Nevada, he picked up only 14.3% of the vote, and in South Carolina, he only picked up 8.2% of the vote. His lacking numbers are believed to be the cause of his dropping out, as well as a campaign that was understaffed. With Super Tuesday around the corner, it was becoming more and more apparent to Buttigieg and his campaign that there…
According to LGBTQ Nation, Disney’s Board of Directors is encouraging shareholders to reject three anti-discrimination and pro-human rights resolutions. The three resolutions Disney wants rejected are: “The first suggests a diligence report evaluating the company’s human rights impacts. The second is a report on median and adjusted pay gaps across race and gender. The third is a workplace non-discrimination audit and report.” – It’s important to note that the human rights impact evaluation would heavily involve Disney’s pandering to China, despite the country’s various human rights violations. The publication received three screenshots as proof (seen below). It’s completely absurd that,…
At the popular South by Southwest festival (SXSW) over the weekend, singer Lizzo took the mic to condemn Texas officials for their anti-abortion and anti-trans policies. Recently, Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, told Texans to spy on their neighbors and report anyone they believed might be aiding their child with gender-affirming care. Telling people to spy on and report their neighbors is literally something that was happening in Nazi Germany. Over the weekend at the festival, Lizzo stood up for civil rights. According to NBC News, Lizzo said, “I’m proud to rep Houston, but I’m not proud to rep Texas politics…
Singer, actress, and activist, Cyndi Lauper, has announced that not even COVID can stop her annual holiday event, Home for the Holidays. The event, which will be online this year, will be filled with music, comedy, and uplifting stories of holiday cheer. This will be the show’s 10th year, and per tradition, it will be hosted by Lauper herself. Proceeds from the show go towards Lauper’s nonprofit, True Colors United, which helps homeless LGBTQ+ youth. This year’s show will feature big-name celebrities sharing their talents to help inspire and bring holiday joy to everyone. Special guests include: ADAM LAMBERT, AMANDA…
As the battle between The Walt Disney Company and Florida continues, Charlee Corra Disney, the son of Roy P. Disney, has decided to speak up In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Charlee came out as transgender and has admitted that he historically hasn’t done enough to fight against discrimination, but is now ready to take a stand. Thirty-year-old Charlee told The LA Times, I feel like I don’t do very much to help. I don’t call senators or take action. I felt like I could be doing more.” Charlee continued saying, “I had very few openly gay role…
Skeleton is a sport many have seen, but few probably know its name. It’s the sport where athletes glide down bobsledding tracks on nothing but small toboggans, having to use their bodies to steer the sled and race down the track as fast as possible. During a race, the sleds can exceed 80mph. Now, openly gay athlete, Andrew Blaser, has been added to Team USA’s skeleton team for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first openly LGBTQ athlete to ever be on the team. When speaking to OutSports, Blaser said, “Making this team is honestly just crazy…I…
Canada’s women’s soccer team will be heading for the final match against Sweden on Friday, August 6th. Not only was this a monumental win because Canada beat the US team (which was favored to win) but also because one of the teammates on Canada’s team is trans. Quinn, who plays midfielder for the Canadian team, came out last year and began using they/them pronouns. Because Canada is moving on to the final game, it means the team is assured at least a Silver medal, and if they win, they’ll be awarded the coveted Gold medal. This means that regardless of…
The mayor of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Gene McGee, is currently withholding over $110,000 from the local library system, insisting that they must remove their LGBTQ content if the libraries wish to remain funded. According to the Mississippi Free Press, during an interview with Library Director, Tonja Johnson, she said the mayor “explained his opposition to what he called ‘homosexual materials’ in the library, that it went against his Christian beliefs, and that he would not release the money as the long as the materials were there.” When speaking to CBS 12, the mayor said he wasn’t withholding money due to LGBTQ…
Brigham Young University is a large college in Utah that’s run by the Mormon church (LDS). It’s long been known how homophobic Mormonism is, but many are probably unaware that BYU actually bans and prohibits LGBTQ relationships, effectively forcing queer students to live in fear and secrecy. Even worse is that this is blatantly enforced and isn’t a secret. Students can be punished if they’re caught holding hands or kissing another student of the same sex, and in an NBC News article, the school shamelessly stated, “BYU is within its rights to enforce the church’s policies against same-sex relationships.” A…
The Stephen Petronio Company was founded in 1984 by choreographer Stephen Petronio to showcase and celebrate dance, as well as to provide a platform for broader and more diverse voices in art. The dance company is teaming up with New York’s famous experimental dance center, La MaMa, to premiere Petronio’s Punk Picks and Other Delights from November 18-21, 2021. The show revives a series of iconic solos and duets from Petronio’s formative days in the East Village, featuring collaborations from the ’80s and ’90s. The program includes solos from Full Half Wrong (1993), Stephen’s version of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of…
Nikki de Jager, best known for her popular YouTube channel, NikkieTutorials, has become the first openly transgender celebrity to host the Eurovision Song Contest. Jager began YouTubing over a decade ago, and shot to global fame from her make-up videos. She has even had the honor of doing make-up for celebs like Jessie J and Lady Gaga. In 2019, Jager was even hired by Marc Jacobs Beauty to be their global beauty advisor. However, in early 2020, Jager became the victim of blackmail. Her 14 million+ fan base didn’t know that she was trans, and an unknown assailant threatened to…
T.J. Osborne, one half of the hit country duo, the Brothers Osborne, has been making waves in the country music industry this year since coming out in February. Since then, he’s become an advocate for equality as well as standing as an example that LGBTQ people can achieve their dreams, no matter what they are. Last night at the annual Country Music Awards, the Brothers Osborne won the award for Vocal Duo of the Year – marking the fourth time the Osbornes have taken home that award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxLVx8wYoI Upon hearing of their win, the two brothers hugged each other, and…
According to the WHO, there are currently 3,413 confirmed monkeypox cases globally, with thousands more suspected cases that are awaiting verification from lab testing. Now, the HRC has launched a resource page about monkeypox that is specifically geared to the LGBTQ community. Info on the page includes risks, symptoms, what to know when having sex , and specific info for those living with HIV. It’s also creating a page with info on where and how to get tested and where to receive a vaccine. The US government has also stated it’s going to start offering vaccines to high-risk communities. For…
Jalen Mckee Rodriguez has won his city council seat in San Antonio’s second district. Rodriguez is the first Black, openly gay candidate to ever be elected to any office in the state’s history. He is also an extremely young candidate, being just 26-years-old. According to the Gay Times, Rodreguez was quoted saying, “A lot of people said that District 2 wouldn’t be ready for a candidate like me. Would District 2 be ready for a young, gay candidate? Is Texas ready for a young, gay Black man to be elected anywhere into any position? And, so I think what we…
According to NBC News, this year, 77 commercials will air during the Super Bowl, bringing in a whopping $400 million dollars in profit for FOX. The Super Bowl is the most expensive time-slot of the entire year, with each commercial costing companies millions of dollars. But this year, a new trend is taking place in a very unlikely space…Inclusivity at the Super Bowl. That’s right, this year’s commercials are filled with LGBTQ personalities and famous females. Here are eight #superbowl commercials you’ll must see! SABRA HUMMUS Starring Miz Cracker and Kim Chi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ex5xnVm2po RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Miz Cracker…
According to a newly released Gallup poll, 7.1% of American adults now identify as LGBTQ. This is up from last year’s record-breaking number of 5.6%. According to The Washington Post, Gen Z is making up a bulk of the LGBTQ community, with 21% of Gen Zers identifying as LGBTQ. That’s about 1 in 5! This is a huge increase from a decade ago when Gallup’s polls showed that only 3.5% of Americans identified as LGBTQ. The study also revealed that: 10.5% of Millenials identify as LGBTQ 4.2% of Gen X identify as LGBTQ 2.6% of Baby Boomers identity as LGBTQ…
The website Apartment Guide just released the new list of America’s most expensive zip codes for renters. They collected data for rental prices for one bedroom apartments throughout the month of October and compiled the rankings. If you’re thinking 90210 is on the list… you’d be wrong. Manhattan isn’t even one of the most expensive places anymore! So, what zip codes did make the list…? 10.) 90292 Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, California Avg. Price: $3,170 Marina Del Rey, one of LA’s beachside neighborhoods, has boomed in popularity recently. And why wouldn’t it? In Marina Del Rey you can…
On September 24, the ACLU was presented with the Emmy for Outstanding Short Documentary for their film Trans in America: Texas Strong. The film was made in partnership with Little by Little Films, and was distributed by Conde Nast’s LGBTQ brand, Them. The film centers around 8-year-old transgender child Kai Shappley and her mother Kimberly. At a very young age Kai showed signs that she didn’t identity with her gender at birth. Her mother, Kimberly, struggled with trying to understand and comprehend what was happening. Finally, Kimberly accepted her daughter Kai and embraced her with love and affection. However, with…
The 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics set records for having the most openly LGBTQ athletes in Olympic history. Now, the Paralympics are also breaking records. The Paralympics, which are also taking place in Tokyo, will began on August 24th and current reports state that there are 28 openly LGBTQ athletes from eight countries competing in this year’s games. Among them are Robyn Lambird, a wheelchair racer from Australia, and Sir David Lee Parson, an 11-time gold medal para-equestrian from the United Kingdom. The International Paralympic Committee states that a total of 22 sports will take place this summer, including swimming, cycling,…
Lil Nas X, the country-rapper best known for his mega-hit “Old Town Road” has just been nominated for six Grammys, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. This honors Lil Nas X as the first openly gay rapper to be nominated for a top award in rap history. On top of his monumental Grammy nominations, he already made history earlier this month when he won a Country Music Award, becoming the first openly gay man to win a CMA ever. So far, his hit single, “Old Town Road” has gained over 388 million views on…
Club Cumming, the popular East Village lounge founded by the legendary Alan Cumming himself, will be opening “Club Cumming on the Coast” in Kennebunkport, Maine this summer. The seaside village is home to intimate resorts, stunning ocean views, and endless acres of New England charm. This summer though, Club Cumming will be turning the town into a red hot piano bar and cabaret. The Manhattan lounge is famous for its Broadway singers, jazz bands, drag performances, burlesque shows, and more. Now, the troupe will bring all that excitement to the Maine Coast. Anchored at the Kennebunkport Inn, the show will…
The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is believed to be the largest LGBTQ library in the world. The archive is made up of more than six million pages of LGBTQ history. If all the books were stacked up on top of each other, they would equal the height of two Empire State Buildings. However, the Stonewall National Museum and Archives also understands the critical need to enter the digital age and create an online database that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. Hence how the new In Plain Sight exhibit was born. https://www.stonewallnma.orgThe digital exhibit can…