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…
Author: Keith Langston
Every year, World AIDS Day is observed on December 1st. It’s a day to remember the lives lost to the virus, as well as to raise awareness of new treatments and to help remove the stigma around those who are living with HIV/AIDS. For those looking to get involved and who want to help, there are events taking place around the globe (as well as online). Beloit, Wisconsin The small town of Beloit, Wisconsin, home to the prestigious Beloit College, will be hosting an event at the local public library at 7pm. The event, titled Pandemics: The Fight Against AIDS…
LGBTQ tennis legend, Lisa Raymond, has been nominated for this year’s round of admittees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Raymond holds six major titles in women’s doubles, and five in mixed doubles. She also took home a Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics, along with her playing partner Mike Bryan. Raymond even ranked as the #1 doubles player for 137 consecutive weeks. Other members who have been nominated include Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Jonas Björkman, and Sergi Bruguera. https://twitter.com/TennisHalloFame/status/1308120860881047552 ITHF President Stan Smith. “All five Player Category candidates have achieved incredible results…
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…
Today, Orbitz has launched their new ad campaign, Travel As You Are, shot by the famed Cass Bird. Bird, a member of the LGBTQ community, has shot for famous brands like Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Nike, Levi’s, and more. Now, Bird is bringing their talents to Orbitz to celebrate pride. The new ad campaign sees LGBTQ couples traveling freely, loving freely, and enjoying all the gorgeous destinations that the world has to offer. The ad campaign is a beautiful array of diversity, inclusion, self-love, and queer pride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_gcF1Hg1oc In a statement, Cass Bird said, “I wanted to work on…
Two gay men were arrested on a beach in Tulum, Quintana Roo, not far from the tourist hotspots of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Shortly after being handcuffed, a large crowd gathered around the men and the police, voicing their displeasure with the blatant homophobia being perpetrated by the police officers. The police claimed that they received a call that the men were partaking in “immoral acts” and that they were spotted performing oral sex on each other. The nearby beachgoers all denied this, saying that none of them had noticed them having any form of sex. As…
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…
Elton John has been dominating the music industry for decades now and has released 27 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and 40 charting songs on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary list. He’s easily one of the most talented musicians of all time. During the pandemic, forced to cancel his tour, Elton John decided to record a new album, this time collaborating with other musicians of different genders, ages, and musical traditions. The album, The Lockdown Sessions, features 16 tracks, all of which include Elton John collaborating with other artists, including Nicki Minaj, Yo-Yo Ma, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Lil…
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…
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…
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…
Tim James, a Republican candidate for Alabama’s governor, has launched a new ad that directly harms LGBTQ youth. The subject of the ad is the Magic City Acceptance Academy, a public charter school outside of Birmingham that bills itself as an “LGBTQ affirming learning environment” and is known to be the only LGBTQ-focused learning academy in the entire Southeast. In his ad, James claims the school is perverse and is using taxpayer money to indoctrinate children. It’s been reported by AL.com that James has since doubled down on his claims, calling the school “perverse”. Sadly, according to CBS Birmingham, the…
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…
Back in 2016, the then 27-year-old architect, Alfie Arcuri, had a life-changing experience: He was selected to audition for Australia’s version of the popular reality series The Voice. Before he knew it, he was crowned the winner, had a record label, a hit album, and a future as a musician. Recently, I was lucky enough to sit down with this handsome and charming Aussie and ask him some questions about his life. With his cat (whom he adopted from Delta Goodrem) perched in his lap, and his dog asleep on the couch beside him, Alfie opened up about his life, his…
Orbitz, easily the most inclusive online travel agency, is once again showing their commitment to the LGBTQ community. This time, they’re teaming up with Jeremy Pope and Indya Moore, the stars in FX’s POSE. Together they’re launching #TheJourney project which is all about celebrating the people and places that have helped you come into your own. From supportive relatives to inspirational teachers and more, #TheJourney is all about giving thanks for the special people and places in your life. Orbitz is encouraging everyone to visit Orbitz.com/thejourney from December 1-6 so you can share your own story. Better yet, for every…
Trixie Mattel is one of the most famous drag queens on the planet…behind only RuPaul herself. Mattel starred on the seventh season of Drag Race and then came back for All Stars 3 – a season she ended up winning. Since then, Mattel has become a huge social media star, amassing millions of followers on Instagram and YouTube. She’s even launched her own cosmetic line and a soon-to-be-opened Palm Springs resort called Trixie Motel, which is also the title of her new reality on Discovery+ about purchasing and remodeling the property. On top of all that, Mattel is a talented…
Skeleton is a sport many have seen, but few probably know its name. It’s the sport where athletes glide down bobsledding tracks on nothing but small toboggans, having to use their bodies to steer the sled and race down the track as fast as possible. During a race, the sleds can exceed 80mph. Now, openly gay athlete, Andrew Blaser, has been added to Team USA’s skeleton team for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first openly LGBTQ athlete to ever be on the team. When speaking to OutSports, Blaser said, “Making this team is honestly just crazy…I…
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…
The mayor of Ridgeland, Mississippi, Gene McGee, is currently withholding over $110,000 from the local library system, insisting that they must remove their LGBTQ content if the libraries wish to remain funded. According to the Mississippi Free Press, during an interview with Library Director, Tonja Johnson, she said the mayor “explained his opposition to what he called ‘homosexual materials’ in the library, that it went against his Christian beliefs, and that he would not release the money as the long as the materials were there.” When speaking to CBS 12, the mayor said he wasn’t withholding money due to LGBTQ…
I was lucky enough to snag a seat on Virgin Atlantic’s Pride Flight, which flew from London Heathrow into New York City to herald in the start of WorldPride. The flight was, put simply, completely insane. I’m talking conga lines through the aisles, Britney blasting on the speakers, and the plane being completely depleted of its alcohol supply. It was a flight that will surely go down in history. Here are 8 things that made it epic! THE FUN BEGAN AT THE AIRPORT The festivities began the second you walked up to the doors of Heathrow’s T3. A giant…
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…
Religious leaders within the Catholic faith in Germany are planning to hold mass blessings of same-sex couples around the nation in protest of the Vatican’s recent anti-gay proclamation. In March, the Vatican’s office of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a memo announcing that God “does not bless sin”, referring to same-sex marriage. Despite becoming known as the “progressive Pope”, it was later revealed that the memo was released with the blessing of Pope Francis. Since then, many LGBTQ organizations and religious leaders have come out in protest against the Vatican’s message, and it has even led some…
Liquor brand Jägermeister has heralded a campaign throughout the pandemic called the Save the Night Initiative, which has been dedicated to helping keep local bars open during the pandemic. And upon hearing the news that only 15 lesbian bars remain in the US (and that the pandemic is seriously threatening their livelihood), Jägermeister has vowed to extend their campaign by including the Lesbian Bar Project to the lineup. The project is dedicated to educating people about the importance of lesbian bars, preserving their history, and fighting to keep the last remaining ones open for future generations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW2db4HuqA&feature=emb_logo The campaign released…
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…
The popular gay hookup/dating app Grindr has been fined 65 million Norwegian Krones ($7 million USD) for what Bloomberg Law calls “unlawful sharing of personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.” According to Jusrist.org., The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (DPA) “found that Grindr violated Articles 6(1) and 9(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for disclosing personal data without legal basis and disclosing special category personal data without valid exemptions. Grindr argued it had the consent of its users as a legal basis for sharing personal data, but the DPA disagreed and found that users were not properly…
Lil Nas X, the country-rapper best known for his mega-hit “Old Town Road” has just been nominated for six Grammys, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. This honors Lil Nas X as the first openly gay rapper to be nominated for a top award in rap history. On top of his monumental Grammy nominations, he already made history earlier this month when he won a Country Music Award, becoming the first openly gay man to win a CMA ever. So far, his hit single, “Old Town Road” has gained over 388 million views on…
This week, it was announced that San Francisco will honor transgender people during the month of August. The city’s mayor, London Breed, stated that San Francisco will create the nation’s first Transgender History Month, which will be celebrated every August. Though it’s nearing the end of the month, the city still has some events planned, including the ‘Riot Party’ block party that will be taking place in San Fransisco’s famously queer Tenderloin District. This is also the neighborhood where much of the trans rights movement began, after a group of trans women decided to fight back against police brutality. According…
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…
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…
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…