In yet another blow to civil rights during the Trump era, members of the Supreme Court are now declaring that gay marriage is an attack on “religious liberty” and is “hurting people’s lives”. The anti-gay opinions came from justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. after the court declined to hear the case of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis (who was famously jailed for refusing to do her job after gay marriage was legalized.) While the two supported not hearing Davis’ case, they followed up by stating, “Davis may have been one of the first victims of this court’s cavalier…
Author: Keith Langston
With everyone stuck at home, streaming movies and TV shows have become the national pastime. Over the last five years, more and more streaming services have entered the market, offering everything from Oscar-winning classics to anime. Some streaming platforms have even included LGBTQ+ collections to their online libraries, giving everyone access to queer cinema, a genre they may not have known otherwise. Below are five awesome streaming services that have LGBTQ+ collections. NETFLIX Netflix was one of the first streaming platforms to include an LGBTQ section. But then again, Netflix was also one of the first streaming services, period.…
Rachel Levine, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania’s Health Secretary, has been chosen by Joe Biden to be his assistant secretary of health. Levine has a long history of medicine and public service. She’s Harvard educated and attended the Tulane School of Medicine. She was a pediatrician by trade, and later became a Pennsylvania physician general, as well as holding her spot as the state’s Health Secretary. According to NBC News, Biden said of Levine, “Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code,…
Skier Hig Roberts recently revealed that he was gay to the New York Times. Roberts is a two-time national champion skier for the US Ski Team, and was an alternate for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Roberts detailed his struggles with his sexuality, claiming that the mental toll of being in the closest ultimately hindered his performance in the sport, leading him to retire in 2019 at the age of 28. However, according to Attitude, Roberts has a new take on life. He now lives in Norway, working in finance and is much happier. The magazine quoted him saying, “I am…
December 1st marks World AIDS Day this year. The event was created in 1988 to raise awareness for the AIDS pandemic around the world. This is the event’s 31st year. So, how will people around the planet be commemorating the day? Here’s a list of some of the events taking place to help raise awareness of AIDS/HIV and to encourage HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. By Keith Langston MAUI, HAWAII On December 1st, the Maui AIDS Foundation will gather at the VFW hall to to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and…
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…
Jim Obergefell is best known for being the title name on the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges. The Supreme Court ended up ruling by a vote of 5 – 4 that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and that all fifty states, Washington DC, and even the insular areas (like Guam and the US Virgin Islands) were required to perform same-sex marriage, thus legalizing it nationally. Now, Obergefell has headed back to his hometown of Sandusky, Ohio, and is running as a Democrat for the State Legislature to represent Ohio’s 89th District. Sandusky is a lakeside town that’s best…
Florida’s recently-passed “Don’t Say Gay” bill isn’t going as smoothly as Republicans had hoped. The party was hoping to pass blatantly bigoted legislation under the guise of “protecting children”, thinking it would stoke massive support from the ever-grown alt-right base. However, Americans, Hollywood, and even Disney have taken a massive stand in defense of LGBTQ people in an act of defiance the Republican party has never seen before. Now, conservatives and conservative news outlets are forced to dig themselves deeper and deeper into a hole in order to find “logical” reasons to justify supporting a bill that is widely hated…
The new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which premieres on Friday, is causing quite a stir. The show will be introducing its first-ever straight, cis-gendered drag queen, Maddy Morphosis. Some members of the LGBTQ community are sharing their outrage that a cishet male is able to partake in drag, a performance art that is largely associated with LGBTQ men. PAPER magazine shared comments from Twitter users that said things like, “Oh yes, the most oppressed group of people needed representation in media.” and NBC News shared a user’s comment that said, “imagine being a drag queen having drag as your…
Previously, we reported that cities and regions around Poland are declaring themselves as “LGBT-Fee” zones, and trying to “rid themselves of LGBTQ people and ideology.” Over 80 regions in Poland have declared themselves to “LGBT-Free.” This hateful movement now includes more than 1/3 of the entire country. These regions claim that LGBTQ people go against “traditional values” and lead to the downfall of society. Many activists are calling on the European Union to take action against the blatant human rights violations that are underway in Poland and other countries in Europe, including Hungary and Croatia. And while it’s understandable that…
Today, the onePULSE Foundation, which was created in memory of those who lost their lives in the 2016 shooting, has announced that they have created 49 scholarships – one in honor of each victim – that will be given to students who are looking to pursue higher education. They can be used in universities, in career studies, and technical colleges. Each scholarship is dedicated to the passions and interests of each of the victims. Scholarships are available for a wide range of studies including, nursing, business, cosmetology, journalism, education, and many that are open to any area of study. The…
Today marks the start of Transgender Awareness Week, which takes place from November 13-19 and leads up to November 20, which is National Transgender Day of Remembrance. Transgender Awareness Week was created to help raise the visibility of trans people and to help enlighten and engage the public in order to destigmatize the trans community. This year, Transgender Awareness Week is starting off with a lawsuit. Lambda Legal, along with the help of others, is filing a federal lawsuit over West Virginia’s exclusion of gender-confirming care in the state’s Medicaid plan. The case, Fain vs. Crouch was officially filed yesterday,…
When Brody Neville came out to his friends, many of them stopped talking to him. The young Calgary resident was left with only two friends, one of whom had a homophobic father who forbids her to see Brody often. With an upcoming birthday, his mother feared that his birthday party would be ruined. According to the CBC, she stated, “I was asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday and he was in tears and said since he came out as gay he lost all his friends, so he didn’t even have people who could come.” She put…
During Tuesday’s historic election, Delaware elected Sarah McBride to the state’s senate, which, according to NBC, makes McBride the first and only trans person to serve in a state senate anywhere in the country. This new position will also make McBride the highest-ranking trans politician in the country. An ABC affiliate in Deleware quoted McBride as saying, “I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too. As Delaware continues to face the Covid crisis, it’s time to get to work to invest in the policies that will make a difference for working families.”…
Sprinkles is one of the most famous names in cupcakes. During the cupcake craze of 2010, the brand exploded in popularity and even became known for their cupcake vending machines. Now, Sprinkles is using its platform to help the LGBTQ community. In honor of pride month, Sprinkles has teamed with popular Austin BBQ joint, la Barbecue. Helmed by LeAnn Mueller and her wife Alison Clem, the BBQ spot has become famous in every corner of Texas for producing some of the state’s most badass brisket, ribs, and house-made sausages. For Pride Month, the ladies have partnered with Sprinkles to bring the…
OUTFEST, the world’s premiere LGBTQ entertainment festival, has partnered with the Colin Higgins Foundation to secure grants worth $15,000 to be awarded to young LGBTQ filmmakers. The Colin Higgins Foundation is named after acclaimed LGBTQ screenwriter and director Colin Higgins, who wrote hit films (and queer classics) like Harold and Maude, 9 to 5, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Sadly, Higgins was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. After receiving his diagnosis, he was determined to help the future of the LGBTQ community in whatever way he could. He then established the Colin Higgins Foundation, which would be used…
Canadian nonprofit Rainbow Railroad has a mission: To help save LGBTQ people who are trapped in hostile nations. Earlier this year Brunei reversed its death penalty for gay sex, but still remains very dangerous for the LGBTQ community. And Brunei isn’t the only country with harsh anti-gay laws. According to CBS, same-sex relations are illegal in 70 countries, with 7 of those mandating the death penalty as punishment. Rainbow Railroad aims to provide a way for LGBTQ people to escape these dangerous areas so they can live the free, safe, and happy life they deserve. Rainbow Railroad executive director Kimahli…
Part burlesque, part musical, and part spectacle, with a pinch of Hedwig and the Angry Inch thrown in. If you’re asking what this is, it’s LatinXoxo, the new one-man show by performer Migguel Anggelo. The show premiered earlier this year at Joe’s Pub and went on to be featured in the Afterglow Festival. Now, due to popular demand, Anggelo will reprise his show for three nights only at Joe’s Pub. Preview night is October 15 and then the show will run November 6-7. The show is inspired by Anggelo’s Venezuelan background. Machismo culture is prevalent in Latin countries, so growing…
Health Canada, the nation’s official health department, announced last week that it will be ending its ban on LGBTQ people donating blood. According to PBS, Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said that the nation had done extensive research into the legitimacy of claims that say using LGBTQ blood could “taint” the nation’s blood supply. The country spent millions doing research to determine if using LGBTQ blood was safe, and the answer that came back was: yes. ABC News stated that Trudeau wished the ban was lifted “10 to 15 years ago, but research proving it would not affect the safety…
NYC Pride announced today that tickets are on sale for the opening ceremony of this summer’s epic WordPride. The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, from 7-10 P.M. NYC Pride says the ceremony will be formatted as a benefit concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Proceeds from the ticket sales to this historic concert event will support the Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality, and SAGE. The event is set to be a star-studded who’s-who of New York. EGOT-winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, is primed to host the event. Goldberg stated, “I’ve been a longtime advocate of the…
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…
Target is one of the biggest names in retail; not just in America, but across the globe. In honor of Pride Month, the brand has unveiled a huge selection of products, all themed around Pride, acceptance, and diversity. From clothing to accessories, home decor, books, and even gifts for your pets, Target has something for everyone. This year’s collection was designed by LGBTQ designers, like TomboyX and Humankind, giving the community a voice and providing the products with an authentic touch. According to an official statement from Target, the company stated, “We teamed up with LGBTQIA+ designers, entrepreneurs, and Target…
In 1999, a new film made its way around the festival circuit. It redefined what LGBTQ characters could be. And it had critics hailing its wit and humor. Before But I’m a Cheerleader, gay characters were often only seen in a negative light. Then, suddenly, this film showed queer characters as lovable, innocent protagonists. The film was also hysterically funny, with outstanding performances from stars Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall, as well as supporting actors like RuPaul, Mink Stole, and even Michelle Williams. The movie had its theatrical release in 2000, and now, 20 years later, the anniversary is being…
Hollywood veteran, Udo Kier (best known for starring in unsettling Lars von Trier films and grindhouse horror classics by directors like Rob Zombie), is taking on an extremely unexpected role in his new film, Swan Song. The movie, which premiers on August 6th, sees Kier play Pat Pitsenbarger, a retired hairdresser who now lives in a dingy retirement home. Once a prominent hairdresser, he’s since become a burnt-out old man simply waiting for death…that is, until he gets word that a prominent former client of his has died and is requesting that he do her postmortem hair and makeup for…
Scapegoating is the typical M.O. for many politicians who wish to remain in power without actually helping their constituents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and after the January 6 riots, Republicans have been very busy doing everything they can to not address those issues. Instead, they’ve found an easy victim to blame for the world’s problems: trans people, with a focus on trans women and girls in particular. The excuses they’ve been throwing around sound more like fearmongering, stating that trans women in women’s bathrooms would result in “Peeping Toms” and that trans girls playing on girls’ sports teams would actually…
The current season of Jeopardy! has become known as the season of “Super Champions” since four contestants have already gone on to have impressive winning streaks. But it’s also become the season of LGBTQ Jeopardy! champions. First off was Amy Schnieder, who became the highest-earning female contestant in Jeopardy! history. Now, a new champion has entered the race to potentially become the top winner this season: a 23-year-old from Canada named Mattea Roach. Mattea is openly a lesbian and even says so on her Twitter profile. So far she’s won 14 games and has amassed $320,081 in winnings. Jeopardy! contestant…
A recent investigation by the UK-based organization, openDemocracy, found that there are numerous anti-LGBTQ groups on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the charity arm of Amazon.com which allows customers to choose from a variety of nonprofits from which a portion of Amazon sale profits goes toward. According to LGBTQ Nation, bigoted groups making money on AmazonSmile include the American Family Association and The Family Leader, which once said that homosexuality is a public health risk. Beyond that, Mother Jones did an investigation that uncovered a wide range of harmful groups profiting off of AmazonSmile, including multiple anti-vaccination groups, and various hate groups…
Tobi, a 16-year-old transgender student at Siegel High in Murfreesboro, was harassed and threatened while using the boy’s bathroom at their high school. According to the Daily News Journal, while Tobi was using one of the stalls, a group of boys entered the bathroom yelling slurs and began banging on the stall door. At one point, Tobi had to press against the door with all their weight in order to keep it from opening. When help finally arrived, Tobi was in the stall crying and shaking with fear. Tobi was given permission to use single-person bathrooms in the school, however, on…
During Biden’s first week as president back in January, he signed a wave of executive orders to help undo many of the Trump-era’s harmful policies. One of Biden’s executive orders was to allow trans people to openly serve in the US military. Now, the Pentagon has finally released its revised codes and rulings that will put Biden’s order into effect. According to NPR, the Pentagon’s new policies include allowing military personnel to transition while serving, to be protected from discrimination based on gender identity, and to create new medical guidelines to help trans people who are serving. The new policies…
In a new video called If Donald Got Fired internet celebrity Randy Rainbow held a debate for Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with the help of his special guest, Patti LuPone. As the debate breaks down into chaos, Rainbow and LuPone break out into song, condemning Trump’s legacy as president and wishing America could go back to the way it used to be. The video mocks Trump’s inability to hold a debate, his horrible tweeting, his campaign’s rampant spread of fake news, and more. Ultimately, the video asks viewers, haven’t you had enough of this administration? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AoY6RRfMZM&feature=emb_logo The video, which…