Though same-sex marriage has been legal across the nation since the Supreme’s Courts landmark ruling with Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, LGBTQ+ people still fear a potential overturn of the ruling, especially following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which made it legal for states to ban abortion, and limit reproductive rights. What’s more, Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have signaled that they would be open to reversing the same-sex marriage ruling. Mary Bonauto, who defended same-sex couples during the Obergefell case and now serves as civil rights project director at GLBTQ Legal Advocates &…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
It’s gift giving season and frequent fliers, backpackers, and luxury travelers alike are in need of gifts that elevate their travel adventures. Whether you’re settling in at home, preparing to spend the holidays with your chosen family, or packing to kick back on a beach for the next few weeks, we’ve got a gift for you and your travel savvy loved ones. HANDY DANDY Gloves are a travel item we tend to overlook, but Arc’teryx Venta Gloves answer the call for perfect on-the-go hand wear that feel essential to any cool-weather trip. Thanks to versatile high-performance design, these gloves provide…
Walmart has decided to give up on its $100 million Center for Racial Equity along with other initiatives that promoted company diversity and minority support. The corporation, the largest retailer in the world, joins a growing list of organizations and companies rolling back diversity efforts and commitments. Walmart plans to curb racial equity training for employees and stop giving priority treatment to suppliers based on race and gender. Up until this point, these diversity boosting efforts helped businesses run by people of color and women thrive, and prevented racial discrimination in the workplace. These changes will also include discontinuing some LGBTQ+…
For the first time in decades, the top three STIs have decreased by 2% over the past year according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, over two million sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed within the last year, an all time record high. The New York Times reports these numbers are about a million more than the same figure two decades ago. And in 2023, nearly 4000 babies were diagnosed with congenital syphilis. The Times says doctors are “cautiously optimistic” about the recent downturn. Some public health measures and medical interventions have proven to be effective…
Conservative Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) has introduced a bill that would legally erase transgender people if passed. Officially titled the “Defining Male and Female Act of 2024,” Marshall’s bill will apparently put an end to what he considered the Biden administration’s attempt to “replace biological sex with dangerous radical gender ideology,” according to LGBTQ Nation. The draconian law includes a long list of definitions for terms like “male,” “female,” “father” and “girl.” Marshall’s hope is that these definitions would bar transgender people from interacting with society in ways that align with their gender identities. This includes participation in school sports,…
The Cincinnati City Council passed a motion last week allocating $500,000 to healthcare for transgender youth, according to reports from the Cincinnati Enquirer. The funding is a small fraction of the Cincinnati Health Department’s $22.1 million budget. Passed with a 9-0 vote, the motion now awaits an additional vote that will confirm the ordinance. “Increased risk of suicide is a very concerning thing in this population,” said the city’s Health Commissioner Grant Mussman during a Budget and Finance Committee meeting. “For children, especially young children, having that mental health support is very important.” Over the next two years, the fund will…
In the wake of the 2024 presidential election results, a scramble to proactively protect reproductive rights has begun with vasectomy appointments alone seeing a 1200 percent rise after Nov. 5. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration in January, Americans are speculating Trump’s early targets in office will include reproductive rights. However, it’s unclear whether or not a nationwide ban on abortions or other reproductive resources and practices is at the top of Trump’s agenda, though it remains a hot topic amongst federal and state lawmakers. Trump has in the past taken credit for the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which forced…
Recent reports claim that Donald Trump plans to discharge transgender members of the U.S. military from their posts when he takes office in January of 2025. The New York Times reports, Trump could implement the executive order on his first day in office, which will dismiss thousands of service personnel on a “medical discharge,” that would deem them unfit to serve. In addition, any transgender person would also be barred from joining the military. The Telegraph reports there are approximately 15,000 active service personnel who are trans. The dismissal of transgender service personnel will only worsen the U.S. armed forces difficulties…
Uzbekistan in Central Asia has joined a growing list of countries with anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda laws including Russia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Leader of Uzbekistan’s ruling Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Party, Alisher Qodirov, announced on his Telegram channel that the country’s governing body was drawing up legislation to ban LGBTQ+ content, according to The Times of Central Asia. Qodirov also shared a post from Ivanka Trump discussing her father Donald Trump’s intentions to cut federal funding for schools that promote “inappropriate sexual content” and “transgender ideology.” Homosexuality is still illegal in the Central Asian nation with penalties of up to three years…
Germany’s new Gender Self-Determination Act allows German citizens to more easily change their gender on legal documents. The act is a great leap forward for trans rights across Germany. Now, people who wish to change their gender on official documents must simply fill out an application entitled the “declaration with self-assurance” at their local registry office. According to The Washington Blade, the new law will replace the former “Transsexuals Act” implemented in the 1980s. This law required those who wished to change their legal gender to submit two psychological assessments to a judge for approval. Not only can trans adults access…
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed several nasty anti-LGBTQ+ bills and the reason why is surprisingly refreshing. Beshear, a member of the Democratic party has historically had more progressive stances despite Kentucky’s status as a primarily red state. When it comes to topline issues for voters, Beshear has consistently leaned left, supporting abortion access, educators and other public-facing professions, equal pay, safe gun laws and more. Beshear also signaled his support for the LGBTQ+ community after vetoing some harsh legislation. In September he banned the use of conversion therapy statewide saying “Let’s be clear: conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or…
As the nation’s LGBTQ+ community brace for yet another Trump term, good news hails from Hawaii as the island state passes a pro same-sex marriage amendment to their constitution. Though Donald Trump won the presidential election, various states included back-of-ballot referendums to pass protections for their residents. In Hawaii, a ballot initiative to protect marriage equality passed with approximately 52% of voters in favor and 40% opposed. The referendum officially asked residents to repeal a state constitution amendment passed in 1998 which allowed state legislature to ban same-sex marriage. The 1998 decision followed a challenge to the state by same-sex…
Following Trump’s win, various organizations have put out messages of hope and plans for moving forward to help guide LGBTQ+ Americans into the next presidential term. According to the Washington Blade, executive director Erin Whelan of SMYAL, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ youth in D.C. said in a message “Remember this: No decision, no law, no societal judgment can change who you are or the incredible strength you carry within you.” She expressed anger and sadness at the country’s decision to re-elect a convicted felon. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) also answered the call. President Kelley Robinson released a statement on…
LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines have seen a significant increase in calls following Trump’s win in the presidential election. As the country prepares for four years with Donald Trump pushing the racist, transphobic, and misogynistic Project 2025 agenda, many LGBTQ+ youth are scared for what the future holds. The LGBTQ+ community is undoubtedly fearful, The Trevor Project, a youth LGBTQ+ suicide prevention intervention organization, reported a 125% increase in calls and messages on election day and the day following. According to Pink News, Rainbow Youth Project’s executive director Lance Preston said calls received to their organization were based in the “Fear that…
A new report from various state universities around the country has estimated that U.S. public schools have been forced to spend upwards of $3.2 billion on security, public relations, and legal assistance in fighting legal attacks from conservatives. During the 2023-2024 school year, conservatives targeted schools relentlessly for “supposedly teaching about race and LGBTQ+ identities” according to reports from The Advocate. The report was supported by the University of California, Riverside and L.A., University of Texas at Austin, and American University. Researchers surveyed nearly 500 public school superintendents across 46 states to find that many schools, even those with low conflict,…
Ireland’s national parliament has taken action against a recent increase in hate crimes by passing The Criminal Justice (Hate Offenses) Act. The newest legislation combating hate crimes was passed in 78-52 vote in late October. Once enforced it will add stricter penalties for crimes motivated by hatred based on race, color, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, descent, disability, gender, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation, according to The Washington Blade. Up until passing the act, Ireland remained an outlier across the globe in lacking hate crime legislation. However, the law faced difficulty in passing through Ireland’s government, facing backlash in…
Trans citizens in the U.K. have been turned away when seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) over the past year, according to reports from Trans Actual. Around 215 individuals have been refused these gender affirming treatments, and around 26% of those cases had recommendations from National Health Service (NHS) gender clinics. Individuals facing this issue were seen across the U.K.’s territories including Scotland and Wales. According to Pink News, 27% of those seeking medication were using a new prescription, 73% had previously been treated with HRT, and 38% had been discharged by a NHS gender clinic. Almost half of those reporting difficulties…
Across the nation, many U.S. voters are mourning the arrival of yet another Trump presidency, this one laden with the misogynist, transphobic, and homophobic agenda of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. However, this week’s election still brought victories for the LGBTQ+ community, as some winning candidates make history. Big wins across the country include Keturah Herron who was elected to the Kentucky State Senate. Herron will become the first out LGBTQ+ person of color in a seat of this kind. Over in Georgia’s State legislature, Rashaun Kemp becomes the first gay black man elected. We also saw Gabby Salinas become…
In a historic step forward for the LGBTQ+ community in Poland, new legislation has been introduced to support the legal recognition of partnerships between same-sex couples. Presently, only five countries in the EU (Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia) do not offer legal recognition for same-sex couples despite a recent ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in 2023 that these countries are violating civil rights. Though the majority of Poland’s ruling coalition support the bill, it is also suspected that conservative groups will reject it. What’s more, the bill could be approved in parliament but may still be…
The tried and true LGBTQ-friendly destinations around the world are undoubtedly beautiful and rich in culture and experiences, but once in a while, a new queer-friendly gem surfaces amongst the world’s many tempting cities. This year, travel publication Lonely Planet has named Toulouse, France as the winner for city travel worldwide in 2025. Each year Lonely Planet drops a “Best in Travel” hotlist featuring 30 trending destinations to consider for new year travel. Now in its fifteenth year, the hotlist commonly features lesser known locations that can still offer a hearty slice of travel deliciousness. France is the number one…
The most progressive country in Asia for LGBTQ+ rights takes another stride toward equality by officially recognizing same-sex marriages between Taiwanese and Chinese nationals. The move will allow these couples’ unions to be registered under the same regulations as opposite-sex couples. Hundreds of couples living in Taiwan will be affected by this news. Couples will, however, only be able to register their marriages in Taiwan after getting married outside of the country’s borders and outside of China, according to a press release from the Ministry of the Interior. Taiwanese LGBTQ+ groups have celebrated the win calling the change “a long-awaited,…
A recent report has found that Uganda’s draconian anti-homosexuality bill has cost the country $1.6 billion to uphold so far. According to the Washington Blade, some Ugandan queer rights organizations have asked the government to repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) since it was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May of last year. The act is under appeal with the country’s Supreme Court, mostly to save the country from continued economic losses. Why is the bill costing Uganda so much money? Well some of the country’s strongest economic allies have invoked consequences on the country for their harsh bills,…
Around the world LGBTQ+ ‘gayborhoods’ have popped up in many major cities, where LGBTQ+ people and their friends and families can feel free to socialize, drink, eat, and hang out at LGBTQ+-owned businesses. These neighborhoods are most often created by individuals to accommodate the needs of their community. In Detroit, however, The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce is planning a LGBTQ+ business district, according to LGBTQ Nation. Detroit was home to dozens of LGBTQ+ bars in the 1970s, a number that diminished by the ‘80s. Today, there are just under ten queer spaces in the city at large. Detroit’s Regional…
Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has reaffirmed his stance on LGBTQ rights during a recent guest appearance on the podcast We Can Do Hard Things. Minnesota Gov. and now Democratic running mate to Kamala Harris, Walz has been revered for his support for the LGBTQ+ community not just in his political career, but also in his profession as a teacher. Former students of Walz remember him as kind and accepting and recalled that he even helped form his school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) in the 90s. During his guest appearance on the podcast with co-hosts Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, and Amanda…
Though religious institutions are often flanked by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, one transgender pastor in California is creating a more accepting and nurturing place of worship. Pastor Drew Stever preaches at the Hope Lutheran Church, a branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which ordained the first ever transgender priest nearly a decade ago. His journey to his current life, living with his partner Hazel and their three kids, was documented on CBS Mornings series “The State of Spirituality with Lisa Ling.” Currently, Stever uses his position in the church to champion inclusivity. One of his congregants, Emma Halbert, told CBS…
A new iteration of Marvel’s famous Hawkeye character appears in the franchise’s latest volume of “The Ultimates” set in Earth-6160. “The Ultimates” presents an alternate version of the Avengers. A character called Iron Lad, “creates ready-to-go superpowers in a portable form called ‘origin boxes’ and sends them into the past,” according to Inverse. However, a box meant for the original Hawkeye, Clint Barton, reaches him and is thrown in the trash instead, in a rejection of the task. Instead, a stranger named Charli Ramsey takes the gear and begins using the superpowers. After some investigation by other lead heroes Captain…
A recent ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that all EU member states must officially recognize gender and first name changes obtained within its jurisdiction. The court sided with Romanian citizen Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi after he obtained legal recognition of his male gender identity in 2020 in the U.K. where he is also a dual citizen. Mirzarafie-Ahi challenged a decision by Romanian authorities when they refused to issue him a new birth certificate after his gender and first name change, according to Le Monde. A Bucharest court in Romania asked the EU court for guidance on the decision. The upper…
After Georgia’s president Salome Zourabichvili refused to sign anti-LGBTQ+ legislation recently the parliament signed it into law anyway. According to LGBTQ Nation, Georgia’s Georgian Dream party modeled the legislation after Russia’s recent vehemently hateful anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The new laws imposes “draconian curbs on LGBTQ+ rights and provides a legal basis for Georgian authorities to outlaw Pride events, the rainbow flag, and public displays of affection, and also to impose censorship of film and books.” Furthermore, the law also re-certifies the existing ban on same-sex marriage attained abroad and gender-affirming surgeries, bans LGBTQ+ people from adopting or changing their gender on…
The Supreme Court is gearing up to hear a landmark case on transgender healthcare, an issue that has swept the nation, threatening the well-being of the trans community at large. The case, U.S. v Skrmetti, will follow up on a legal challenge to ban gender-affirming care in Tennessee. Tennessee lawmakers approved the care ban last year. The ban threatens civil penalties for any adult who aids a minor in receiving out-of-state gender-affirming care without parental consent. Similar laws or policies are in effect in 26 states throughout the country, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Pink New reports that the…
In a recent anti-trans ad blitz, Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have invested more than $65 million in anti-trans television ads airing in swing states. Additionally, In just the past three weeks Trump’s campaign kicked more than $15 million into anti-trans ads specifically targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her support for gender-affirming care. https://youtu.be/lhnHt1NB0M0?feature=shared According to NBC News, the ads are running during breaks from college and professional football games as well as baseball playoffs games, and are often punctuated by the tag line “Kamala is for they/them; President Trump is for you.” During his presidential debate with…