The newest Miss USA was crowned this past weekend, and though a trans woman competed for the title and didn’t win, her participation in the contest marks a huge win for trans representation. Winning the competition was Alma Cooper, who competed under her former title of Miss Michigan USA. She will now move on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Cooper is a 22-year-old U.S. Army officer https://youtu.be/j_VdMOElFXk?feature=shared Though she didn’t win the Miss USA contest, the trans contestant Bailey Anne Kennedy made history with her Miss Maryland USA win in June. Not only was she one of the first…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts has launched a tourism campaign in Florida and Texas with billboards featuring same-sex couples. Last year, Healey was elected the U.S.’s first openly lesbian governor, and this year in celebration of pride, Healey issued a statement letting the public know that Massachusetts is a safe place for LGBTQ+ couples, families and individuals to live and work. “At a time when other states are misguidedly restricting LGBTQIA+ rights, we are proud to send the message that Massachusetts is a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for all,” said Healey. “To anyone considering where they want to live,…
Seychelles took strides forward recently after lawmakers approved a bill that will add protections against hate crimes for LBGTQ+ people. Seychelles’ National Assembly made the provision to the national penal code in an 18-8 vote margin. According to The Washington Blade, the provisions include protections for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV/AIDS status and other factors. Under the bill, those convicted of hate crimes based on any of these factors could be fined or face up to two years in prison. Though it is a small island off the coast of the African continent, Seychelles is…
The Vatican has announced new guidelines for gay men hoping to become priests, a switch from previously held beliefs expressed by Pope Francis that gay men were not fit for priesthood. In a press release from the Italian Bishops Conference, the Vatican made it clear that it’s fine for those studying for priesthood – or seminarians – to be gay so long as they don’t act gay, engage in sexual relations, or support the “gay lifestyle.” The document emphasizes the importance of celibacy. “The objective of the training for priesthood in the emotional-sexual sphere is the ability [to] welcome chastity…
Billion dollar box office hit “Barbie” has caused a cultural wave in the United States and many places around the world, driving movie-goers to wear hot pink to the theaters, repeat the film’s classic phrase “Hi Barbie,” and reevaluate their position on feminism. But not everyone agrees with the stance the film takes on feminism and identity, and some countries have gone as far as to ban it from theaters. According to Reuters, In Lebanon, cultural Minister Mohammad Mortada banned the film claiming it promoted “homosexuality” and did not align with the country’s religious values. Mortada’s is known to be…
Following Russia’s ban on LGBTQ propaganda, Moscow’s Bolshoi theatre has cancelled a performance tribute to famed Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev. According to The Guardian, the show “has had a troubled history in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has long promoted conservative values as part of a nationalist agenda backed by the Russian Orthodox Church.” In November, Russia passed a bill prohibiting the spread of LGBTQ propaganda classifying any positive depictions of ‘non-traditional values’ similarly to promotions of violence, pornography, or racial and religious violence and more. Not only does the bill affect theatrical works, but it also bans classic Russian…
Springtime in Provincetown is filled with exciting things to do, see, and experience. Enjoy the beautiful coastline along the Atlantic, explore queer-owned shops in town, and spend evenings imbibing and dancing at some of the region’s best gay bars, restaurants, and clubs. In May, Ptown hosts Single Women’s Weekend where lesbian singles are invited to mingle over dancing, food, dune tours, and late night parties. During this event, Ptown remains an ever-safe space for women to connect with themselves and each other. The empowerment continues into June with Women of Color Weekend, three days of events exclusively for LGBTQ+ women…
Gender dysphoria clinics across the U.K. are facing inquiries following concerns raised about the care they provide to the LGBTQIA+ community. According to The Guardian, The National Health Service of England (NHS England) announced it would be setting up a review of how seven specialist services deliver care, following alarming reports from past and present staff. This announcement also follows the publication of the Cass report last week which made suggestions on how the U.K.’s health system should restructure the way in which trans youth receive care, Pink News reports. So what is the Cass report? It’s an NHS-funded report…
Thailand may become the first southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the government would submit a new bill for cabinet review on Oct. 31. The bill would officially legalize same-sex marriage throughout Thailand, according to Bloomberg. Currently in Thailand same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are granted the same rights, however, only heterosexual couples can get legal recognition for their marriages. Prime Minister Thavisin is hopeful that the new bill will spread equality in Thailand. According to eTurbo News Thavisin said “I see this (bill) as important in order for society to be more…
New York State will celebrate the Capital Region’s first-ever Pride Ski Weekend running Jan. 20 – 21 at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount. The Pride Center of the Capital Region is partnering with Belleayre Mountain, the Ulster County Tourism Office of Film, SKI NY and I LOVE NY LGBTQ+ for two days of slope-side fun. Special lift ticket packages will be available to registering guests which includes access to amazing events like an Après Ski Tea Dance with DJ RVMBA on Saturday from 4 – 7 p.m. Dust off your skis or borrow some from the mountain’s equipment rentals and take…
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage this week after receiving Royal Assent. The bill legalizing same-sex marriage was introduced and approved by Thailand’s lower house of Parliament in late March. During its final reading the bill was approved by 400 of 415 members of Thailand’s House of Representatives. After receiving approval, the bill was sent to King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Following the Royal Assent, the bill is slated to take effect in 120 days, and the first same-sex weddings are anticipated for January, according to LGBTQ Nation. Thailand is the third Asian nation to pass a marriage…
Massachusetts’ Senate introduced a bill recently to better allow healthcare professionals and lawyers to work safely with people accessing gender-affirming and reproductive care. The bill was first introduced by Sen. Cindy Friedman (D) who cited Trump’s latest attacks on healthcare as a motivating force. Friedman included the bill as part of a larger legislative effort called “Response 2025,” which reportedly is meant to counter alt-right Project 2025, NBC 10 Boston reports. If approved, the bill would prevent state agencies from providing information to, or working with, federal or out-of-state investigators who may seek to prosecute a healthcare provider or lawyer…
Lake Worth Beach has become Florida’s first sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ community. Last night, the Commission of Lake Worth Beach declared itself a sanctuary and safe space that is dedicated to protecting the healthcare, education and lives of the queer community. Mayor Betty Resch told CBS News, “Lake Worth Beach is a vibrant and diverse city with a proud history of embracing the gay community. Today we continue that tradition by ensuring our city remains a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people.” CBS also indicated a similar proposal has been made in Tallahassee, Florida. Lake Worth Beach and the greater…
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced that a record 1,400 hundred companies are participating in this year’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI). That represents more than 21 million employees across the U.S. according to HRC president Kelley Robinson. The Human Rights Campaign is an organization that has been working for 40 years to support marginalized Americans who suffer from violence, discrimination and fear based target hate, legislation and bigotry. The HRC launched the CEI in 2002, and since then they have been cultivating the index to survey whether or not U.S. corporations are protecting their employees by evaluating company policies,…
As the Trump administration pushes forward on a federal funding freeze for essential organizations and institutions nationwide, two federal judges have moved to check his power but they have been unsuccessful so far. In the early days of Trump’s second term, he directed Matthew Vaeth – director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – to order all federal agencies and departments to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.” According to LGBTQ Nation, Trump issued the freeze to stop funding initiatives that “advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social…
A new state policy in Texas has barred transgender residents from changing the sex listed on their driver’s licenses. An internal email from the Department of Public Safety found that if a trans person presented the state of Texas with a certified court order or an amended birth certificate, the gender marker on their license still cannot be altered with the exception of a clerical error. The new policy, according to investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy, was instituted, quietly last week and is currently in effect. McGaughy posted the news to X last week, and received comments from transgender residents claiming the…
Thousands of people participated in a pride event in New Delhi, India on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage. According to AP, “dancing to drums and music, the participants walked for more than two hours to the Jantar Mantar area near India’s Parliament. They held banners reading “Equality For All,” “Pride Not Prejudice,” and “Queer And Proud,” and walked with a shroud of rainbow balloons arching over them. The Supreme Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage claiming that it was ultimately Parliament’s responsibility to make the law. Prior to the decision, the Supreme Court saw 21…
What teams are you cheering on at The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris? According to OutSports, at least 155 out athletes from 25 countries around the world are competing in many categories, including basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, and more. Big names competing this year include track star Sha’Carri Richardson, trans nonbinary runner Nikki Hiltz, and British diver Tom Daley. Hiltz made history as she qualified for the games this year, finishing in record time for a 1500m race in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials. “I wanted to run this one for my community,” they told OutSports. “All…
In a battle between transphobes, Elon Musk has called on J.K. Rowling to tone down her transphobia online. Ironically, Musk has railed against transgender people for years. Billionaire Musk, who bought the social media platform Twitter (now called X) told J.K. Rowling to write something more “interesting and positive” last weekend after she published a 709-work essay on her transphobic views on X. Interestingly, Musk has utilized the platform to make his own transphobic views known over the years, according to LGBTQ Nation. In her essay published on April 6, Rowling took to X to explain her narrow view of…
The Supreme Court has blocked a Florida bill that banned family-friendly drag performances. The bill, passed earlier this year, attempted to put limits on drag performance art by barring children from being present at drag shows and events. It was challenged by a popular restaurant chain, Hamburger Mary’s, in May when they sued the state claiming the law violated First Amendment rights. In June, a federal judge blocked the law calling it “dangerously susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement.” Many laws passed by Ron DeSantis have been blocked for their violation of constitutional rights. Perhaps the most infamous is the “Stop-WOKE”…
State Senator Sarah McBride from Delaware is inching closer to becoming the first trans member of Congress after winning the primary for the only Delaware state seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. McBride won the Democratic primary by a landslide last week beating her competitors, including Earl Cooper and Elias Weir according to NBC. McBride first came onto the scene with her historic November 2020 win, when she became the first transgender state senator, beating out Republican candidate Steve Washington to represent Delaware’s 1st Senate District. This win puts McBride on track to win the general election that will replace…
Last week, long running tensions between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney boiled over as the company filed a first amendment lawsuit against the politician claiming political retaliation. Disney took a stand against DeSantis’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law last year, a law that bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in educational settings. According to The New York Times, the governor along with other state legislators have targeted Disney ever since. Consequences of this feud have seen Florida legislators end the resort’s “long-held ability to self-govern its 25,000-acre resort as if it were a county,” and appoint a new…
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…
After years of decline, a new article from NBC says lesbian bars are back and in the midst of a renaissance. In 2020, the outlet reported that less than 20 lesbian bars were still open across the country, a downturn which has since made a big comeback. NBC reports lesbian bars began to dwindle in the ‘70s as a result of the rising cost of living, gentrification of urban areas, and consistently low wages for women. NBC spoke to Angela Barnes, a co-owner of up and coming lesbian bar Nobody’s Darling in Chicago. Barnes recalled a time when queer women had…
Conservative Texas just elected its first LGBTQ+ person, Molly Cook, to the state Senate. Cook will take the place of Democrat John Whitmire who was just sworn in as the mayor of Houston in January. She will finish his term until January, and is also running for the next full term in a Democratic primary runoff on May 28. Prior to running for office, Cook served as an emergency room nurse and community organizer. Cook identifies as bisexual and has openly supported gun control and reproductive rights throughout her campaign. According to LGBTQ Nation, in the special election for the…
The Danish are famous for taking their nightlife and drinking culture very seriously. Many traditions through the course of a Danes’ life include drinking and partying, so you’ll know that a night out in the capital city of Copenhagen is sure to be a good time. By day Copenhagen has a lovely atmosphere, the city lives in harmony with a gentle river, and is frequented by cyclists, tourists and Danish locals who spend afternoons lazing in the sun, grabbing drinks at food markets, or strolling through parks and back streets. But the evening atmosphere in the city is a world…
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has expressed concern for the increasingly prevalent anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the United States. The UNHRC is responsible for the review of human rights records of countries that signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international human rights treaty. Participating countries in the ICCPR opt to submit themselves for review of human rights policies and practices every four years. According to the ACLU, “The ICCPR obligates countries that have ratified the treaty to protect and preserve basic human rights, such as: the right to life and human dignity; equality before…
Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker stood up for trans kids and called Donald Trump a “cruel bully” at a recent Human Rights Campaign event. Pritzker has a reputation for backing LGBTQ+ rights and other civil liberties. In 2019, he signed an executive order to protect trans youth in 2019, and in 2023 he introduced legislation to prevent book bans. He spoke at the Human Rights Campaign dinner last month in L.A. about the Trump Administration’s agenda, which becomes more and more threatening with every executive order signed by Trump. “Right now it’s drag queens reading books and transgender people serving in the…
A new law was passed in Hungary this week banning all Pride events. The draconian legislation officially makes holding a public Pride event a criminal offense according to Outright International. The bill, that was pushed through hastily thanks to an initiative from nationalist-populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, imposes crackdowns on civil rights throughout the country leading up to the 2026 general elections. It passed with a wide margin, with 136 votes in favor and only 27 against. The bill is aligned with Orbán’s rhetoric surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, i.e. that they are a threat to society, namely minors. The new law…
Around the country new LGBTQ+ businesses and organizations are popping up and fueling communities. Whether it’s a new restaurant with an amazing menu, a cocktail bar with new twists on the classics, or community spaces where all are welcome, we’re glad to see the LGBTQ+ community thriving. But there’s still something to be said for the mainstays of LGBTQ+ culture in the U.S.’s cities. Queer bar and nightclub spaces have come and gone in a near constant rotation since the mid-20th century, but a few strong pillars remain. Here’s our some highlights. The Stonewall Inn – Greenwich Village, New York …