According to the HRC, 2021 has now become the deadliest year on record for trans and non-binary people with 45 murders.The past two years have been hard on the LGBTQ community, especially for trans individuals and queer people of color. The pandemic created unique challenges for the LGBTQ community, often resulting in higher numbers of unemployment and poverty. In 2021, the new wave of anti-trans bills across the nation has incited a rash of hatred and fear of the trans community, leading to increased violence against them. In a statement, the HRC stated “This year, the transgender community has faced…
Author: Keith Langston
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) has released a massive and in-depth study about the rampant spread of misinformation and lies about conversion therapy online. According to the findings, search engines and social media networks like Facebook and Instagram do a good job of weeding out misinformation when people search the phrase “conversion therapy”. The problem, the study says, is that conversion therapy providers have started changing the phrasing and narratives of their practices. Now, terms like “reintegrative therapy” and “unwanted same-sex attraction” are becoming the norm within conversion therapy networks. Search engines and social media sites have much higher…
Florida’s anti-democracy state senate has approved a Putin-inspired ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. However, a majority of Floridians don’t even support this legislation. A statement released by the Human Rights Campaign says, “According to the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at the University of North Florida, 49% of Floridians oppose the legislation while only 40% support it. Opposition for the bill is even stronger in younger populations. A majority of Floridians between the ages of 18 and 24 disapprove of efforts to erase LGBTQ+ people in classrooms.” Governor DeSantis, who supports the bill, is going against the bulk of his own…
The ‘Old Gays’, a group of older gay friends who live life to the fullest, have become a social media sensations, amassing 4.5 million followers on TikTok and 306,000 on Instagram. Recently, they visited with a young fan, Evan, who is autistic and identifies as nonbinary. In Evan’s own words he calls himself a “girlboy” and loves wearing dresses. In an NBC News article, his mom, Erica McLead, says that Evan is supported at school and at home, but that he never gets to see other people like him in the world. To fix that, the old gays dropped by…
Last night, Greg Berlanti received the prestigious Norman Lear Lifetime Achievement Award for his tremendous contributions to Hollywood throughout the decades, including his work as writer and producer for award-winning series like Dawson’s Creek, Riverdale, Political Animals, and more. According to Deadline, during his acceptance speech, Berlanti spoke of his experience growing up as a closeted gay man, and the ramifications homophobia has. He stated: I think you have to understand what it was like to be ‘other’ in the ’70s or the early ’80s. I was a deeply closeted gay kid, and the kind of vitriol we’re seeing now…
This month is Pride month. However, because of the global coronavirus outbreak, almost every single pride celebration around the world had to be canceled…except for one. Taiwan, which will host its full Pride celebration in October, is putting on a special party and parade on June 28th in Taipei to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the world’s first pride parade in 1970. The festivities will also honor countries around the world as well as the tenacity of the LGBTQ community. On June 20th, WERK!, Taiwan’s biggest gay party, will be putting on a pre-pride celebration where partygoers can dance the…
The angry moms over at One Million Moms (the alt-right hate group that’s anti-LGBTQ and promotes 1950s gender roles) are enraged once again, this time, at Sephora. The beauty product company has released a new holiday ad titled “Holiday Gifting 2021: It’s the Beauty You Give” which features various people giving and receiving gifts from the store. One vignette features a gay couple who (gasp!) kiss at the end of the commercial. Naturally, this offended the one million moms, who curiously only have 4,119 followers on Twitter (not exactly a million, but again, this is a group who believes that…
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…
A new organically-made soda brand, Mixwell, isn’t shying away from showing its values. In their new ad, they blatantly make fun of the MAGA crowd by starting their commercial with a burly man in a truck complaining about needing to make America more manly again. The ad finishes by revealing that the man has a husband, and the two then embrace for a long kiss. The spot concludes with the words “If Real Freedom Offends You, Please Don’t Buy Mixwell.” The ad is quick, witty, fearless, and completely hilarious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7esCe-LhtSY&t=60s The commercial very clearly mocks Trump-era America, which has…
A same-sex couple in Maryland has filed a lawsuit against the US State Department with the help of LAMBDA Legal, Immigration Equality, and a pro bono counsel. The State Department is claiming that the couple’s child is not a US citizen. Both fathers, Roee and Adiel Kiviti, are US Citizens. According to a press release sent out earlier today by LAMBDA and Immigration Equality, Because only Adiel has a biological connection to Kessem, the State Department is disregarding Roee and Adiel’s marriage and treating Kessem as “born out of wedlock,” meaning she must have a biological relationship to a U.S.…
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) and Jagermeister are sponsoring a contest to create a LGBTQ ‘Safe Space logo. The contest is to create a logo that public establishments can hang in their doorways or windows to show the LGBTQ+ community that they’re a safe space. According to the official release, “Through a 10-step process, entertainment venues, food and beverage locations, stores, businesses and other public venues, can become certified as a Safe Space for LGBTQ+ members of the community.” Stacy Lentz, CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative said, “Safe Spaces uplift LGBTQ+ people by providing a…
Recently, I sat down with the “Beyoncé of Comedy”, international air hostess and ambassador for Air Italy, Pam Ann. As someone who tours the world, Pam Ann has seen it all. I figured, what better person to give me the inside scoop to some of the world’s greatest places than someone who’s been almost everywhere? Here’s what Pam had to say. By Keith Langston Keith: So, tell me, what is your favorite place in the whole world? Pam: Well, ultimately, my favorite place is coming home to Miami, where I now live. I’m probably a bit biased, but I…
Marie Cau made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected as mayor in France. Cau is now the mayor of the village of Trilloy-lez-Marchiennes, a town of just 550 people. Cau’s background was in engineering and she ran on a platform of environmental sustainability and boosting the local economy. On top of being mayor, she will continue running her IT consulting business on the side. The election of Marie Cau also provides a new dynamic to the idea of rural vs. city values. If a small town of just 550 people can vote for a transgender…
I love good luggage. I think it’s important to travel with items that are sleek, stylish, and make you feel like you’re going somewhere wonderful. However, I also understand that my luggage is going to be thrown around, dropped, rained on, snowed on, get lost in during a layover, and then mailed to my home two weeks later (long story, don’t ask.) Therefore, as much I love stylish travel bags, I’m not willing to fork out tons of money for something that is going to spend its life being abused at every turn. That’s why I always search the net…
A new ad that was posted to YouTube by Congressman Eric Swalwell features the hit Taylor Swift song, Only the Young. The ad, which according to Rolling Stone, had Swift’s full permission to use the song, features prominent moments that have shaped the last four years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VO2_KG6g-Q&feature=emb_logo It shows moments from the COVID pandemic, the #MeToo movement, ICE raids, the Black Lives Matter protests, the Women’s March, the wildfires that have deviated California, attacks on the USPS, the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and more. The ad asks younger viewers what kind of country they want to live in and…
Betsy DeVos, the US Secretary of Education, is threatening to cut federal funding to Connecticut schools unless they ban transgender girls from playing sports on girl’s teams. The move, which was first reported by the AP, is yet another attack by DeVos against the LGBTQ community. The claim is that trans girls aren’t biologically girls, but boys, and therefore, will have an unfair advantage in the realm of sports. The Alliance Defending Freedom (a conservative Christian organization) backed up the claim by stating, that it “isn’t fair, destroys girls’ athletic opportunities, and clearly violates federal law,” The Department of Education’s…
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…
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.”…
Today, the Supreme Court delivered two rulings in favor of religious freedom over civil rights, moving America further backward in the quest for human rights. Unfortunately, these decisions shouldn’t come as a surprise. After June’s big Supreme Court wins for civil rights, Republicans have been on a fervent crusade to tarnish the reputation of the Supreme Court justices. The court’s conservative justices (which is most of them) have been under extreme pressure to “be more conservative”, and unfortunately, today’s rulings show that they’ve listened to the pressure coming from republican media. First off, there was the ruling of Our Lady…
The documentary film A Secret Love tells the story about professional female baseball player Terry Donahue and her wife Emma Marie Henschel. The two had to keep their love a secret for decades due to homophobia from both their family and the public. In fact, despite being together for almost 70 years, the couple didn’t actually get married until 2015, when it was finally legal to do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghv3-lpFOcc Donahue played for the Illinois-based women’s baseball teams the Redwings and the Admiral Music Maids back in the 40s. Though Donahue played almost every position in the game, she was most commonly…
On the state level, 2021 has been a devastating year for the LGBTQ community, with numerous bigoted laws being passed around the nation, many of which specifically target the trans community. However, on the city level, progress has actually been made. In fact, according to the Equality Index, a yearly survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign and The Equality Federation, a record-breaking 110 cities achieved the index’s top score of 100. Cities earning the top marks include Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Hoboken, New Jersey; Lexington, Kentucky, and more. The Equality Index looks at municipality-level laws, policies, public services,…
The village of Cap d’Agde in the South of France, the world’s largest naturist colony, has been connected to almost 150 cases of COVID-19, with many more probable cases on the way. During an investigation into a cluster of coronvirus cases, medical professionals realized they all stemmed back to the nudist village. CNN reports that during a test of 490 people, 95 came back positive. That’s 1 in 5 people testing positive. There’s still 310 tests awaiting results, so the number of positive cases is estimated to increase. The village has year-round residents, and visitors can stay in hotels, campgrounds,…
In a historic moment for equality, the Sapporo District Court in Japan declared that sexuality, like race and gender, isn’t a choice, and therefore discriminating against people because of it goes against the Japanese Constitution. According to the AP, “Judge Tomoko Takebe said in the ruling that not allowing same-sex marriages violates Article 14 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits discrimination “because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.” While the ruling doesn’t have any immediate legal impact, it does mark a significant change in the mindset of Japan, a country that has long been fueled by traditionalism and…
OREO has just launched a new campaign in support of the LGBTQ community during LGBTQ History Month. According to Delish, OREO and PFLAG partnered up to create a campaign that would inspire parents to feel proud of their LGBTQ children and loved ones. To launch the campaign, OREO released a new short film, called Proud Parent. Without revealing too much, the film explores the relationship between a daughter and her father. You can watch it below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpfLklSG2dQ On top of the new film, OREO has also created a limited-edition collection of rainbow cookies. However, these cookies will not be sold…
The trucker “protest” in Canada has become a rallying cry for alt-right trolls and white supremacists. Now, Confederate and Nazi flags can even be seen being waved at the blockades. The rhetoric used by the “protesters” has also devolved into racist and homophobic slurs, as well as militant language, with many of these truckers now calling themselves “soldiers”. To fight back against the growing movement fueled by racism and homophobia, counter-protesters have been filling up alt-right chatrooms, video calls, and voice chats by blasting “Ram Ranch”. The song is a hardcore, death metal ode to life on a very gay…
On Thursday, the New York City Council claimed to make a tough decision: They decided to put forward legislation that would reverse the city’s ban on gay conversion therapy. What are they thinking? This is a decision based on fear, and the law must not be repealed. So why would NYC want to allow gay conversion therapy? As the New York Times puts it, “The City Council fears that if a federal lawsuit challenging the ban were to reach the Supreme Court, the panel could issue a ruling that protected the practice.” In essence, the City Council is worried about…
Trixie Mattel. Drag queen, singer, songwriter, autoharp pro, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and star of her YouTube series UNHhhh alongside her drag partner-in-crime, Katya. With all this success, Trixie has become a world traveler. Whether she’s selling out concert halls to play music or on the road with Katya for UNHhhh Live, one thing’s for sure, she’s been everywhere. I had the privilege of catching up with Trixie at New York’s DragCon to discuss all things travel. From her favorite destinations to her must-have travel accessory, and even an inflatable urine-filled pillow…Trixie Mattel reveals it all. By…
The stories, experiences, and history of LGBTQ people have often been suppressed in society. However, despite hundreds of years of oppression, the community has managed to mobilize, fight for equal rights, and usher in a new era that includes greater acceptance and inclusion. Now, The American LGBTQ+ Museum is set to open in New York City and will be located inside an expansion of the New York Historical Society on the city’s Upper West Side. While the physical museum isn’t set to open until 2024, online programming is already underway. The museum will showcase LGBTQ+ history, as well as New…
Model and transgender advocate, Kataluna Enriquez, was just crowned Miss Nevada USA. After winning her state-level competition, she will now compete in the national Miss USA pageant. Enriquez is breaking barriers, becoming the first openly trans contestant in the competition’s history. Upon hearing the news, GLAAD’s Head of Talent, Anthony Allen Ramos today said, “Kataluna Enriquez being crowned Miss Nevada is a huge win for trans visibility and sends a powerful, but simple message to the world: trans women are women,” said Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent. “Enriquez’s presence on the Miss USA stage later this year will…
Orbitz has long been an ally to the LGBTQ community, and in recent years they’ve really increased their commitment by launching their own LGBTQ Travel webpage. However, Orbitz has now gone one step further, creating an LGBTQ-inclusive travel tool for visitors to use in order to find lodgings that have expressively committed to being safe and welcoming properties for all. The best part is that after announcing the campaign, Orbitz saw more than 35,000 properties opt-in to the initiative. Everyone from large resort chains to independent and boutique hotels have joined the effort to commit themselves to diverse and inclusive…