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…
Author: Keith Langston
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…
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…
The other week we featured five streaming services with LGBTQ collections, but seeing as binge-watching is at an all-time high due to the lockdown, we thought we’d bring you five more great places to watch all the queer content you want! From Sasha Velour to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, here are five more great streaming platforms with LGBTQ+ content! PLUTO TV Pluto TV is determined to change the future of streaming. They want to provide live television as well as on-demand movies and TV shows, all for free. Their current library is astonishingly large, and their LGBTQ section…
DIVA media group, along with The Advocate, and Kantar, have released the findings from a new survey of LGBTQ+ women. The answers were received prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, so they give a good indication of what women were feeling during relative “normal” times. In all, they managed to get over 1,400 responses to the survey, proving to be the largest piece of research of LGBTQ+ women to date. Now, as Lesbian Visibility Week begins, DIVA has released the survey results, and some might surprise you. The results from the survey revealed that 43% suffer from stress and anxiety and…
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruled yesterday that Jamaica’s Anti-LGBTQ law, colonial-era ban on same-sex relations, known as the “anti-buggery” law, is incompatible with the American Convention on Human Rights. The Commission recommended that the law be repealed, and instructed the country to pay reparations to the plaintiffs in the case. Same-sex relations have been criminalized in Jamaica since colonial times under the Offences Against the Person Act, which prescribes a prison or hard labor sentence of up to 10 years. While the law has rarely been enforced in recent years, its continued existence has perpetuated pervasively negative…
Starbucks is in a bit of a predicament at the moment. The company just released an ad in the UK that depicts Starbucks as being welcoming and accepting of everyone. The main character in the commercial is a young trans man who feels safe using his name at a Starbucks store. Soon after the ad was released, the trans community raised their issues with the recent allegations that the company is transphobic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcSP1r9eCWw The company has a history of high-profile instances of discrimination, while also having a history of high-profile efforts for inclusion. Their most recent brush with controversy has…
A new wave of controversy has arrived as the town of Saint-Jean-de-Braye in France suspends its Sister City status with Tuchow, Poland over their anti-LGBT sentiments. But to truly understand this story, we have to look at the anti-gay policies that are over-taking Poland and endangering its LGBTQ citizens and visitors. By Keith Langston Poland Becomes More Conservative Poland, along with numerous other countries around the world, has actually regressed in recent years, becoming more and more conservative and nationalistic. One of the main political figures in Poland hyping anti-LGBTQ sentiment is politician Jarosław Kaczyński. He’s said things such as…
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…
The film Hair Love has just won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Though only a little under seven minutes, the movie manages to be funny, joyful, and heartwarming, while sending a powerful message of of acceptance and inclusion. View Hair Love here, and share this wonderful film with your family and friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V_Fkw28 During the Oscars, Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver accepted the award and called awareness to an issue many don’t know about: The CROWN Act. CROWN, which is an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlyDdE3mveY The act is…
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…
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…
Ritchie Torres is currently NYC’s District 15 (The Bronx) councilman. But earlier this year, he launched his campaign to run for congress, hoping to replace his district’s current seat in the US House of Representatives (it’s important to note that in 2020, all 435 House seats are up for reelection, promising to completely alter the landscape of American politics.) Torres made waves in 2014 when he was elected as District 15’s councilman, becoming the youngest elected official in New York City at just 25 years old. He also became the first LGBTQ elected official from the Bronx. Torres is openly…
Earlier this week Mike Pence attended a homophobic sermon at the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Memphis. Making matters even worse is that the White House officially streamed the sermon and then put it on their YouTube page, giving the republican base a clear expression of where the Trump administration stands. Not only did Pence attend the sermon, but he was invited on stage to give a few words. He, of course, ran the typical dog and pony show, stating how the Trump administration is creating jobs, is good for the economy, especially in the South, as…
A guesthouse in Bali has come under intense scrutiny after people complained that it is marketing itself to the gay community. Villa Angelo (sometimes labeled as Angelo Bali Gay Guesthouse) is the first of now multiple guesthouses that are being questioned for their “gay” status. The story was originally published by the Balinese website Coconuts. Stating, “A villa in Seminyak is taking the spotlight and making headlines in Bali this afternoon after allegations surfaced that it exclusively catered to the gay community. Authorities on the island have since expressed their disapproval based on their belief that homosexuality is against cultural…
This last decade was a tremendous one for gay rights. The USA became the most populous nation to legalize gay marriage so far, same-sex marriage finally became legal in an Asian country (Taiwan), and now, over one billion people live in countries where same-sex marriage is legal! 2020 is also off to a great start, with one more country being added to the list. Gay marriage is now legal in Northern Ireland, with the first ceremonies expected to take place in February. Social acceptance in the UK has changed drastically in the past 10 years. Some people have been swayed…
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…
UPDATE (March 4, 2020) This just in from the Wahington Blade! U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday released from its custody a Washington Blade contributor from Cuba who won asylum in the U.S. The Board of Immigration Appeals, which is overseen by the Department of Justice, on Feb. 28 dismissed an appeal of Judge Timothy Cole’s ruling that granted Yariel Valdés González asylum last September. Thanks to everyone who worked to secure the release of Yariel Valdés González! ——————————————— Background report published in February 2020. The Washington Blade is renowned as one of America’s leading sources for LGBTQ news.…
According to the South China Morning Post, a Judge in Hong Kong just deemed it unconstitutional for the government to deny public housing to same-sex couples. Previously, the government had barred same-sex couples from getting public housing because it wanted to “protect traditional family formations.” The government used the excuse that the parameters for public housing units larger than single-person dwellings are for “husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild.” The government also claimed that by allowing same-sex couples to apply for public housing would hurt the chances of “traditional families” from receiving housing by adding more names…
Lambda Literary, the premiere LGBTQ nonprofit for literature, needs your help. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization was forced to cancel many of their high-profile events, such as the Lambda Literary Awards ceremony, their program that brings LGBTQ authors to schools, and numerous public events. In a statement, the organization said, “For over thirty years, Lambda Literary has centered and celebrated LGBTQ writers because books affirm, validate, and save lives. And we must continue to champion LGBTQ voices and stories.” However, with the cancellation of many of their biggest events, the nonprofit is now in need of funding. Lambda…
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.…
The New York Post has reported that Housing Works, an NYC nonprofit that that works to end the HIV epidemic and homelessness, has created temporary shelters for homeless people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The nonprofit has worked together with volunteers, local organizations, and city government to create temporary shelters for homeless people battling the coronavirus. These temporary isolation shelters have been built into vacant hotels around the city. In the shelters, patients can receive 24/7 food, medical care, laundry, and social services. The goal is to not only keep the homeless population protected from unnecessary death, but to…
This is a tough time for everyone, but especially for the LGBTQ+ community. Many people traveled home to be with family during the pandemic, but for a lot of LGBTQ+ people home isn’t a place where they feel comfortable. Also, large portions of the LGBTQ+ community live in major cities, which have been the hardest hit by the outbreak. LGBTQ+ people also have disproportionate amounts of financial and housing disenfranchisement. For all of these reasons, among many others, it’s easy to see how life in lockdown can make you feel anxious, scared, and frustrated. But you don’t have to go…
According to NBC News, a man who had recovered from the COVID-19 infection was in the perfect position to donate antibodies for a new experimental immunotherapy treatment. However, since the man was gay, he was turned away from donating, despite a doctor saying he had a “robust” number of antibodies in his system. This all goes back to the AIDS epidemic when many feared that by receiving blood from a gay man, they’d be at risk of contracting HIV. However, in 2015, that rule was slightly modified by saying gay men could donate blood as long as they had been…
Due to the hundreds of cancellations of pride celebrations around the world, a new online pride event will be taking place on June 27, 2020, called Global Pride. The event will live-stream performances, speeches, and keynote addresses from famous figures around the planet. The massive event is being put on by pride groups from every continent, including InterPride and the European Pride Organisers Association. They will be spearheading the campaign and getting organizers from all over the globe to help make the event a reality. In a statement, J. Andrew Baker, Co-President of InterPride, said, “We need community and connection…
The temporary field hospital being built in Central Park to help people affected by the Coronavrus in New York City is going to be staffed by volunteers of Samaritan’s Purse, a religious organization whose President and CEO is evangelical fanatic Franklin Graham. Graham has, to date: Thought the world was coming to an end in 2011. Claimed Obama was a Muslim and part of the Muslin Brotherhood. Thinks God helped Trump get elected. Is in favor of gay conversion therapy. Opposed gay marriage. Called Pete Buttigieg a sinner. Praised Putin’s anti-gay positions. And now, Graham’s organization, Samaritan’s Purse, will be…
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…
Today, the High Court of Singapore upheld the controversial article 377A of the constitution, which states that same-sex relationships (pertaining mostly to men) are illegal, and can be punished with up to two years in prison. Three separate cases were challenging the law, stating that it was archaic and unnecessary. The law is rarely used and is largely a leftover from Britain’s colonial rule of the small city-state. Unfortunately, Justice See Kee Oon dismissed all three cases, saying the law was constitutional because it was “safeguarding public morality.” Jessica Stern, Director of OutRight International, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting for…
As everyone knows, the coronavirus is disrupting numerous high profile events, including many of the year’s largest LGBTQ prides and social gatherings. Below is a status update for some of the major events scheduled for the spring and summer of 2020. If your event has been cancelled or postponed, please let us know and we will share it with our readers. APRIL Pride of the Americas The event has been rescheduled for sometime in the fall, and the organizers have said that all tickets purchased for April will be honored in the fall. However, if you’re unable to attend,…
East River State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is about to make history. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the park will be renamed in honor of LGBTQ activist and icon Marsha P. Johnson. Johnson was an integral figure in the New York LGBTQ scene for decades. She was one of the leaders of the Stonewall uprisings and was one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front. Besides her activism, she was a prominent performer, artist, and even modeled for Andy Warhol. She was so beloved by the community that she even earned herself the reputation of being the “Mayor of…