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…
Author: Keith Langston
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…
It’s a historic moment for Bangladesh. In the town of Trilochanpur, Nazrul Islam Ritu was just elected mayor. Ritu is a trans woman and is now the nation’s first transgender mayor in history. Making the event even more powerful is that Ritu won in a landslide victory, gaining 9,569 votes, compared to her opponent’s 4,517 votes. Even more historic is that the town of 40,000 people is majority Muslim. During her campaign, Ritu ran on a social issues platform that vowed to rid the community of corruption and drug abuse. Bangladesh as a whole is also heavily Muslim, and trans people…
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced today that Twitter will be banning all political ads, globally. In true twitter form, the announcement came via tweet. In it, Dorsey stated: https://twitter.com/jack/status/1189634360472829952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1189634360472829952&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2019%2F10%2F30%2Ftechnology%2Ftwitter-political-ads-ban.html For anyone out there wondering why this is, here is a great example. Political ads can come in various forms. Political ads can be harmless, such as this ad by Elizabeth Warren: But political ads can also be extremely divisive, offensive, hurtful, and untrue. Here’s an advertisement that has recently popped up on a popular movie website. Many say that allowing ads like this to be spread around the country, simply…
Ultra-conservative Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, is clearly doing everything he can to send a message to the LGBTQ community. Previously, he’s gained notoriety for spreading Trump’s lies about election fraud and making it illegal for companies to request vaccine verification (Florida also has one of the highest numbers of COVID deaths in the country) Now, DeSantis is continuing his mission to disenfranchise the people of his state. On June 1st, the first day of Pride month, DeSantis signed into law a ban on transgender girls playing sports in schools. The Miami Herald even revealed that in the last six years,…
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 South Dakota House of Representatives just passed HB1057, legislation that bars transgender youth and their parents from making decisions about their gender-affirming medical care. Even scarier, the bill states that doctors can be imprisoned for providing care to trans and gender-nonconforming citizens. Dr. Alex Chavez of The Trevor Project wrote a piece for NBC News chastising South Dakota for their blatant discrimination. In fact, in the article, Dr. Chavez even quotes a peer-reviewed medical study that clearly states that providing transgender and nonconforming youth with gender-affirming care dramatically increases their mental and physical wellbeing. https://twitter.com/voxdotcom/status/1222519860267188229 The need for gender-affirming…
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…
Out of the Blue, the a capella group of Oxford University, is celebrating the holiday season by doing their own rendition of Elton John’s popular Christmas hit ‘Step Into Christmas’. The group has performed numerous Christmas songs in the past, including Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’, ‘I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday’ by Wizzard, ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham, and many more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuDVzqtJmb8 Their new version of ‘Step Into Christmas’ is a charity single that’s raising money for the Helen and Douglas House, a nonprofit that cares for terminally ill children and their families. Out of…
This year, Provincetown’s famous Carnival celebration is going online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that now, everyone can watch the show for free from anywhere! On Saturday, August 22nd, at 5 pm, one of America’s most famous Pride events will begin a new chapter by streaming online for free. This year’s carnival is titled FOREVER PROVINCETOWN and will celebrate the past 42 years of the famed PTown event, while also looking towards the future and what’s next for the queer community. The event will include a virtual tea dance, performances by world-renowned talents like Courtney…
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…
The European Parliament has voted to make the entire 27-nation European Union an ‘LGBTQ Freedom Zone’. The motion passed by a vote of 492 to 141. While the motion is largely symbolic, it will add political pressure on certain EU countries that are leaning into radical and hateful conservativism, such as Poland, Hungary, and Latvia. In recent years, parts of Poland have been declaring themselves as ‘LGBTQ-free’, and Hungary has passed anti-LGBTQ legislation. The EU wanted to send a strong message about these new policies. According to Politico, the resolution states, “Rather than discriminating against LGBTIQ persons, the authorities at…
At this year’s Brit Awards, Elton John teamed up with singer Olly Alexander, who performs under the name Years and Years. The duo recreated the controversial and highly popular song “It’s a Sin” which was originally released by the Pet Shop Boys in 1987. The song was written by Pet Shop Boy’s lead singer Neil Tennent and tells of his time growing up in a Catholic school, being told that the way he was is a sin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk4eMIswunQ The video uploaded to YouTube doesn’t show what happened before the performance, but according to Vulture, Elton John’s husband, David Furnish, came…
On Friday, July 30th, New Zealand’s ruling party introduced a bill that would make conversion therapy (the process of trying to change one’s sexual orientation because it’s believed to be “wrong”) illegal. The nation is going a step further and is even aiming to make the practice punishable by up to five years in prison. According to The Washington Post, Kris Faafoi, New Zealand’s justice minister, stated, “Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing.”…
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…
On December 10th, 2019, Sanna Marin, who previously served as the Transport and Communications Minister, was elected as Prime Minister of Finland with a 99-70 vote. She is now the world’s youngest sitting head of government at 34 years old. Marin is known for her liberal policies and down-to-earth demeanor, which many people relate to and want in their Prime Minister. Furthermore, Marin grew up in what she calls a “rainbow household,” and was raised by two women. Earlier this year, Finland made huge strides in its government. A new female-powered government took control over the summer, promising to lead…
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…
Larry Kramer died at age 84 today, leaving behind a body of work that changed not only the LGBTQ community, but the world as a whole. Kramer came to prominence in 1969 when he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie Women in Love. Almost a decade later, Kramer would make waves again for his shocking and controversial 1978 novel, Faggots, which was based on his own life. The novel focuses on a young man trying to make it in New York City, all while feeling alienated by his fellow gays who partake in the hyper-sexualized, drug-obsessed nightclub…
Carl Nassib, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, has become the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Nassib made the announcement in an Instagram post that has since received more than 600,000 likes. He began by stating, “What’s up, people? I’m at my house here in Westchester, Pennsylvania. I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest. I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends,…
The Legal Aid Society, a New York-based nonprofit that seeks to ensure that residents are not denied their right to equal justice because of poverty, has publically called on New York City’s newly-elected mayor to rescind his appointment of Erick Salgado to Assistant Commissioner of Outreach for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Mayor Eric Adams recently appointed Salgado to the position, however, as The Legal Aid Society points out in a press release that cited The City, “Mr. Salgado rallied against marriage equality in 2011 and then was endorsed by a nonprofit group opposed to same-sex marriage during…
Savvy travelers love the hilarious and irreverent comedian, Pam Ann. She’s known for her hot takes on airlines, the lives of cabin crew, and all the biggest news in the travel industry. However, like everyone else, she’s been out of the skies since the pandemic began. On January 28th, Pam Ann returns for her first new live show, PAMDEMIC! premiering at Hunters Nightclub Wilton Manors in Fort Lauderdale. I was lucky enough to chat with the seasoned comedian to ask about life during the pandemic, and to learn what she has planned for her triumphant return. Before we get to…
The Human Rights Campaign has reported that there have been 10 murders against LGBTQ people in just 15 months in Puerto Rico. Five of those murders happened within the last two months. The HRC confirms that most of the murders have been against trans and non-binary women. In a statement, Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesperson for the Broad Committee for the Search for Equity, says that radical right-wing politicians are to blame. “The violence we are experiencing is rooted in rhetoric and hateful actions on the part of religious fundamentalist politicians who incite their followers to persecute, demonize, and attack LGBTTIQ…
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…
Celebrate the end of the pandemic by getting your vaccine and then booking a spot on what’s sure to be one of the best cruise experience of 2022. Setting sail from January 9-16, 2022 will be the inaugural Legends of Drag Cruise, starring drag queen royalty Jackie Beat, Lady Bunny, Varla Jean Merman and Miss Coco Peru. The festivities will be MC’d by Frank DeCaro. The queens will be taking over Holland America’s 5-star luxury liner, The Koningsdam, and embarking on an epic sail around the Mexican Riviera. Ports of call will include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo, and more. https://vimeo.com/520803197 Each of…
Republicans are continuing their attack on LGBTQ rights and are continuing to demonize the community in order to win votes without having to tackle America’s real, pressing issues. The newest target in Republicans’ scapegoating scheme is television. It’s been revealed that five Republican senators have signed a letter asking for shows to be given a special content warning if they feature LGBTQ characters. According to LGBTQ Nation, the five senators are Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Steve Daines (R-MT). The publication quotes the group’s letter, which says, “In recent years, concerning topics…
The Washington Blade, America’s oldest LGBTQ news outlet, has just become the first LGBTQ publication in history to receive a seat in the prestigious White House Briefing Room. Blade reporter Chris Johnson will serve as the White House reporter for the publication. In an article, the Washington Blade says that it will be sharing a seat with the Boston Globe, one of America’s most notable and historic newspapers. Sadly, that seat is right next to The Daily Caller, an alt-right publication so riddled with controversy that it has no place in the White House, and EWTN, a homophobic, anti-LGBTQ right-wing…
Since mid-March, much of the world has been forced to endure a grueling lockdown that has been mentally draining and has had a massive impact on the global economy. In times like these, when many people have lost their jobs and are forced to deal with it in solitude, comedy is as important as ever. It’s a way to help relieve stress and make us feel like life is somewhat normal again. Drag queens have always been leading figures in the LGBTQ community. They hold a larger-than-life presence and are seemingly afraid of nothing. That tradition continues throughout the coronavirus…
A new streaming service called Documentary+ is offering tons of nonfiction content, completely for free. The streaming service is available through its website, its mobile app, and on Apple TV, Amazon, and Roku. The streamer contains a number of famous and highly praised documentaries, including The Aristocrats, Confessions of a Superhero, and The Nightmare, among many others. They’ve also released a whole lineup of LGBTQ films that can easily be found in their Pride category. Highlights include Hit So Hard, which follows the life and struggles of Hole’s drummer Patty Schemel, who is openly a lesbian, and Southwest of Salem,…
Back in 2017, California enacted a law, known as Assembly Bill 1887, that bars state-sponsored travel for state employees to any state that discriminates on the basis of sexuality and gender identity. One of the eleven states on that list is Texas, who has decided that it’s wrong and illegal to discriminate against states that discriminate against citizens. According to The Hill, Texas is claiming that California isn’t respecting their “religious beliefs” and (almost hilariously) claiming that California “demonstrates a disregard for the safety and well-being of Texas children.” The irony here is almost too much to handle. Conservatives regularly…
Comedic actress and legendary gay icon Fran Drescher is set to star in Lifetime’s new LGBTQ holiday movie, The Christmas Setup. In the film, Hugo heads home to Milwaukee for the holidays. But once he arrives, his mom (Drescher) decides to play a little matchmaking between him and his high school crush. Hugo is forced to question what’s truly important in his life and what direction his life should take. It looks like the perfect offering to add to your Christmas watch-list. Plus, with Drescher involved, there’s sure to be a good dose of humor and fun along with way.…