The popular San Fransisco LGBTQ+ film festival, Frameline, returns this June in partnership with the Castro Theatre. Because of lockdown restrictions, the event will mostly be digital, with a special premiere taking place at a drive-in. This year, Frameline44 will take place June 25th-28th. The organizers have teamed up with filmmaker HP Mendoza (known for the popular movie Fruit Fly) to work as a creative partner and bring life to the digital festival. The main highlight of this year’s event will be the screening of Ahead of the Curve, which is set to have its premiere at the West Wind…
Author: Keith Langston
Earlier this year, it was requested that a few crosswalks in the small town of Chilliwack, BC would be painted rainbow in honor of Pride. Sadly, the city council voted it down. According to HuffPost, Councilwoman Sue Knott stated, “When it comes to painting a rainbow on a crosswalk, or baby feet, crosses, anti immigration or anything else, it becomes a political statement…It also becomes a target for vandalism and a canvas for intolerance and hate. You cannot change attitudes by painting crosswalks.” It seems that many people in the community did not agree with the City Council’s views. And…
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…
Released in 2019, the book Gender Queer has become a lightning rod for controversy in America. The illustrated novel by Maia Kobabe talks about their experiences wrestling with and discovering their true self, while questioning gender and not fitting into the binary of gender. Recently, however, the book has gained ample amounts of controversy. The debate began because a few of the book’s illustrations depict teenagers engaging in sexual acts (the book is written for teenagers) and others make references to sexual fantasies. Confusingly, a page discussing the author struggling with their first period also became part of the debate,…
Pantene, the renowned beauty company known especially for their Pro-V products and their famous advertisements from the ’80s which featured supermodel Kelly LeBrock saying, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful,” is now being known for something else…their inclusivity. Earlier this month, the beauty company launched their Home for the Holidays video series, along with the hashtag #BEAUTIFULGBTQ. The series highlights different members of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. Watch the opening trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsJWzXtNlgw The trailer begins with “137 million Americans will travel home this holiday season…” Followed by, “44% of LGBTQ people feel they can’t come home as their…
Idaho Governor Brad Little signed two anti-transgender bills into law yesterday, despite the global pandemic. The first, House Bill 500, bans transgender women from playing on girls and women’s sports teams at public schools and colleges. The law deems that to qualify as a woman you’d have to be examined for “reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously 19 produced testosterone levels.” The Idaho Attorney General, however, cautioned forcing genetic testing on athletes likely violates the constitution. The second, House Bill 509, bans people from changing their gender on Idaho birth certificates. Back in 2018, Idaho tried passing a similar…
In order to help young people discover new books, diverse voices, and topics that might pertain to them, the Brooklyn Public Library has launched a new campaign called ‘Books UnBanned’. Book Riot states that the new program allows “anyone across the country between the ages of 13 and 21 to get a free eCard from BPL, which will give them access to 350,000 ebooks and 200,000 audiobooks, as well as access to databases.” In an interview with the Los Angeles Blade, Nick Higgins, chief librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library said, “Challenges to books and book bans are nothing new,…
Last week, the Trump administration rolled back yet another Obama-era law. This time, they attacked the protections granted to trans people in the Affordable Care Act. In what is known as the Health Care Rights Law, groups were protected from discrimination based on things like sex, race, and gender. The trans community was included in this list. However, last week, the Department of Health and Human Services claimed that there was no authority to create such protections, and so they will now, “enforce Section 1557 by returning to the government’s interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of…
Lauren Boebert – the Colorado congresswoman who has famously praised Qanon conspiracy theories, claims Donald Trump won the 2020 election, and is in favor of making guns easier to access – has now taken to Twitter to say that she believes LGBTQ people should be at least 21 before they can come out. Her tweet states, “We require people to be 21 to purchase alcohol beverages, and 21 to purchase tobacco products. Why is it so unreasonable to require people to reach a certain level of maturity before making life-altering decisions about their sexuality and identity?” Naturally, your sexuality and…
Releasing on July 23rd, Joe Bell is a film that will chronicle the true story of Joe and Jadin Bell. In 2013, Jadin Bell attempted suicide by hanging himself on the jungle gym of a local elementary school. He was rushed to the hospital and put on life support. However, as it became clear that Bell wouldn’t be able to survive without the equipment, he was removed from life support, dying only a few weeks after the incident. It was revealed that Jadin Bell was experiencing extreme bullying for being gay, both at school and online. To honor his son’s…
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,…
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…
On Friday, December 18th, Switzerland passed a bill in favor of allowing same-sex marriage, an initiative that’s been seven long years in the making. Registered partnerships have been legal in the country since 2007, but now the Swiss House and Senate have passed a bill in favor of allowing same-sex marriage as well. Along with allowing marriage, the bill also made it legal for transgender people to legally change their names. Activists are saying this is a huge milestone for LGBTQ rights and is one step closer to making the entire continent of Europe a welcoming place for diversity and…
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…
Fans around the world became obsessed with the wild, almost unbelievable feud between big cat activist Carole Baskin and breeder Joe Exotic in Netflix’s popular docuseries, Tiger King. Now, Peacock dives behind the scenes of the lives of both Joe and Carole and explores their escalating conflict, and even the making of Tiger King with the new limited series Joe Vs. Carole. In the show, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus) will play Joe Exotic and Kate McKinnon (SNL) will play Carole Baskin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62VFGOJhg8w Based on the podcast “Joe Exotic,” hosted and reported by Robert Moor, the series…
Lashana Lynch, who is about to star in the upcoming Bond film, has been named one of the Harper’s Bazaar ‘Women of the Year’. She holds this title alongside other women, such as Jane Fonda and Gillian Anderson. Lynch, who is best known for starring in Captain Marvel (and creating quite a stir about a potential Captain Marvel LGBTQ love interest) and appearing in the series Bulletproof, is about to make history when she stars in No Time to Die, alongside Daniel Craig. This will be the 25th Bond film and the first time a black woman is portraying Agent…
Hey, Chicagoans and visitors to the Second City! Are you looking for a great way to get outside, get some exercise, experience the beauty of your city. and help others? Take part in Chicago’s AIDS Run and Walk! In order to promote social distancing, the event will be taking place in various parts of the city throughout the week beginning September 28th. Event locations include Hyde Park, The Loop, and Lakeview, among others. There are numerous ways to take part – You can walk, run a 5k or 10k, support a participating team, or even simply by sharing the news…
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…
Last year, the Los Angeles LGBT Center (often referred to as simply “The Center”) raised $1.3 million for queer charities thanks to their Love in Action telethon. To ensure that grassroots nonprofits are able to continue enacting change, the center is putting on another telethon this summer. On Saturday, August 14th from 7-9 pm PT, the Love in Action telethon returns. The center is partnering with the TV station KTLA 5 to broadcast the event, and KTLA 5 news anchor, Cher Calvin, will be joining actress Jane Lynch as host for the evening. The event will have a star-studded ensemble…
According to a joint release from the Campaign for Southern Equality and Equality NC, new protections for LGBTQ people have gone into effect in four different North Carolina Communities. The cities of Asheville, Durham, Greensboro, and the county of Buncombe have all seen new protections go into effect as of today. These new measures help protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity while in spaces of private employment and in places of public accommodation (such as restaurants and stores). In addition to the four ordinances taking effect today, other measures have already been adopted…
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…
Being Seen is a new podcast that tackles the struggles, accomplishments, and unique intersectionality of queer black men. The podcast is presented by ViiV Healthcare (a healthcare company dedicated primarily to HIV research) and is hosted by Darnell Moore. Moore is a queer black activist, as well as the author of the bestselling memoir, No Ashes in the Fire, and has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Ebony, and more. On December 1st, Being Seen will launch an episode to coincide with World AIDS Day that will address the stigma and shame many in…
President Joe Biden showed his continued support of the LGBTQ community last week by taking time to tell young LGBTQ Americans that his administration has their back. The comments came as Florida gears up to pass a “don’t say gay bill” which will prohibit discussing LGBTQ issues in schools for grades deemed too young…however, what criteria Florida will use to deem who is “too young” has yet to be seen, leading many to fear they will try to limit LGBTQ discussions as much as possible. In response to this, Biden sent out a tweet saying, “I want every member of…
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…
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…
The Trevor Project has long been known as a group that’s dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth and young adults. To help raise awareness of acceptance and diversity during September’s Suicide Prevention Month, the organization has created fun outfits in their signature orange color, accented by the rainbow flag design for Animal Crossing players. According to Mashable, The Trevor Project’s lead designer, Jonathan Silberman, stated, “Our research has found that LGBTQ young people who have a space where they feel affirmed in their identity are significantly less likely to attempt suicide. All of these factors contributed to our decision to design…
Olivia the travel company for LGBTQ+ women, has launched their new Because She Said Yes campaign in Times Square. According to Curve Magazine, the travel company stated, “This is not just a marketing campaign, this is a political statement. As our community finds itself under attack from the nation’s top officeholder, representation is more important than ever.” The advertisements have been placed on the side of the Thomson Reuters skyscraper, in the heart of Times Square at 7th Avenue and 42nd Street. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7MRy7LgXsc The advertisements are encouraging LGBTQ+ women everywhere to share photos of themselves around the world, to help…
Netflix recently released the Dave Chappelle stand-up special, The Closer, in which the comedian mocked trans women and the LGBTQ community as a whole (a topic he’s brought up in numerous specials now). Netflix has stood by the comedian and says they support his right to free speech and won’t take action. For many Netflix employees, this was the final straw. Now, employees will stage a walkout on Tuesday, October 20th to show Netflix how serious they are about their concerns for Chappelle’s stand-up film. Now, Bloomberg has revealed that employees had actually made internal concerns about The Closer before…
Nevada has just become the first state to recognized same-sex marriage in their constitution. According to NBC News, Question 2 on Nevada ballots asked voters whether they support an amendment recognizing marriage “as between couples regardless of gender.” Nevada voters overwhelmingly supported the measure, with 88% voting yes. According to NBC Las Vegas, the first same-sex couples were married in the state back in 2014 (which, really wasn’t that long ago) and they also pointed out that Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the entire world, so it’s only fitting that the state recognizes marriage in the most inclusive…
Legacy fashion brand, Gap, has launched a new limited collection to help celebrate Pride. The collection, titled GAP x PRIDE features colorful and uplifting images and was designed by Gap’s own LGBTQ employees. Better yet, to help the LGBTQ community, Gap has committed to donating $50,000 to GLAAD, an LGBTQ nonprofit dedicated to making media more inclusive, safe, and welcoming. Check out some of the artists and and their designs below: Artist: Star Casimir, Senior Manager, Product Engineering, Athleta “I am excited to design for Pride because working for Gap Inc, it’s the first time I haven’t had to hide who…