A mass shooting at a Colorado gay club has left 5 dead and 25 injured. The tragedy occurred on Saturday night when 22-year old Anderson Lee Aldrich entered the bar, Club Q, in Colorado Springs. Reports say he was stopped when club patrons subdued him by hitting him with one of his guns. Since 2002, Club Q has stood as one of Colorado Springs’ only gay clubs and acted as a safe space for queer people to gather and celebrate their identities. But Colorado Springs has a hefty conservative population and acts as headquarters for a conservative Christian group called Focus…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
New findings from Booking.com have found that LGBTQ+ travelers seek inclusivity and acceptance when traveling. Data shows that around 59% of LGBTQ+ travelers experience discrimination during their travels, and an additional 50% agree that identifying as LGBTQ+ has made them “more insecure and self-conscious as a traveler” according to TravelPulse. The same data finds that around 56% of LGBTQ travelers are considering their destination’s local legislation on marriage equality prior to booking, with 53% considering whether that destination is more or less accepting of queer people than their home country. With the release of this data, Booking.com also announces a…
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…
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…
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…
A landmark study on LGBTQ+ identities from 2016 has vanished from the National Park Service’s website following the removal of LGBTQ+ content across government agency websites. The Washington Blade reports that the study was entitled “LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer History” and was commissioned by the National Park Service after they received a grant from the Gill Foundation to include LGBTQ+ historical information on their site in 2014. The Washington Blade reportedly reached out to the NPS for comment and received a response that the agency is implementing Trump’s executive order: “Defending Women…
A “romantic” getaway is different for every couple. Some might want to visit an exciting city with lots of art and culture, while others may prefer to visit a tropical location and enjoy sun, sand, and sea. Whatever your preference, here are five destination that are perfect for you and your lover this Valentine’s Day. Lyon, France Paris is famed for its romantic flair, but for a Valentine’s getaway with the same French mystique head to Lyon, France. Here you’ll discover beautiful medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the famous Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a famous basilica with hilltop views. You can…
The mayor of the small town, Cedar Falls, Iowa has recently rescinded his decision to reject a proposal that would recognize the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the town. According to reports from the Advocate, mayor Rob Green originally cited his Christian values as a reason for rejecting the proposal, but soon after he reconsidered when members of the town voiced concern and fear for living in an anti-LGBTQ+ community. The proclamation that would recognize June as the official Pride Month of Cedar Falls was proposed by the Human Rights Commission of Cedar Falls in March, and…
Actress Annette Bening spoke out against anti-trans rhetoric during a guest appearance on The View recently. Bening has a 32-year-old trans son who she shares with husband Warren Beatty. She spoke of her relationship with him to the show’s hosts. “At the beginning, I felt very protective of his privacy, because he’s the son of these two famous people,” she said. “I felt it was his right to say what we wanted to say publicly, or not.” Bening spoke about her shift from remaining quiet on political topics in the public sphere to speaking openly about her support for the…
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…
With the recent elections in Israel giving far-right extremists control of the government, LGBTQ+ citizens there have become increasingly concerned. Major election wins included the re-election of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a member of one of Israel’s right-wing party, Likud. Israel’s election system relies on the election of parties as opposed to individuals. The party with the most votes, in this case the Likud party, brings along with it an entire bloc of parties in alliance. The parties to have the most seats in Israel’s newest Knesset (parliament) after the Likud include the extremist Religious Zionist Party and other…
Pack your bags and head to Provincetown for the holidays! One of the most popular LGBTQ destinations in the world, P’town knows how to deck the halls during this feative time of year! Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Holly Folly from December 2nd through 4th. Considered one of the world’s best LGBTQ+ holiday festivals, this three-day event offers residents and visitors to Provincetown the ultimate holiday celebration. Events include: food, drink, shopping, nightlife, live entertainment and more in “the U.S.’s queerest resort town.” Visit the Canteen Holiday Market, which Provincetown describes as “a cross between your favorite beach bar and…
A new poll from Gallup has found that more than six in ten adults say they oppose bans on gender-affirming care for minors. However, 51% of Americans still believe changing one’s gender to be morally wrong, and 44% say it is morally acceptable. Despite the fact that most Americans oppose bans on gender-affirming care, around 25 states have enacted laws or policies to restrict access to this care, according to Gallup. Throughout the country, these bans block minors from receiving psychological counseling, being prescribed puberty blockers or hormone treatments and undergoing gender-affirming surgeries. Gallup polled Americans on their thoughts on…
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…
Attempts by Ron DeSantis to prevent rainbow Pride displays on state bridges this month have been countered by an out and proud LGBTQ+ community in Florida. The veiled attempt to limit the flying of the Pride colors was announced by Florida Transportation Secretary James Perdue. Instead, the state will display patriotic colors on bridges as part of Florida’s new “Freedom Summer,” between May 27 and September 2. According to The Washington Post, the phrase “Freedom Summer” originates from a civil rights effort to register black voters in Mississippi, DeSantis has completely removed any civil rights notion from the phrase with…
President Biden announced Thursday morning that WNBA player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Brittney Griner, is returning to the United States after being detained in a Russian prison for nearly a year. Griner, 32, was set to serve a 9-year sentence after being found guilty of drug-smuggling charges. She was returned in exchange for Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” a Russian arms dealer being held in the U.S, who was set to serve 25 years in an American prison for conspiring to sell arms to people who planned to kill Americans. In February, Griner was detained for carrying…
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has all the makings to be a great Vice President of the United States of America. He served a total of 24 years in the Army National Guard before retiring in 2005, and has since advocated for veterans after being elected to the U.S. House. He also worked as a school teacher and football coach at a public school in Minnesota before he became a Congressman and governor. Though Walz holds plenty of progressive stances, he also plays both sides of the fence, being a gun owner, football fan, and military vet, traits that will undoubtedly…
An organization called HudsonUP, located in and advocating for the upstate town of Hudson, New York has been providing a monthly $500 stimulus to members of their community since 2020. Founded by two non-profits called The Spark of Hudson and the Humanity Forward Foundation, the organization has garnered support from Hudson’s mayor, sending a much needed message on how to provide a basic guaranteed income to small-town America. HudsonUP’s mission aligns closely with the ideas Mayor Kamal Johnson has upheld in his campaigns and work in office. Johnson, who is hoping to run for a third mayoral term after his…
A new Tennessee law signed by Gov. Bill Lee last week allowed public officials to refuse to perform marriages if a union does not align with their beliefs, a law that poses a threat to the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision. This law attempts to subvert the U.S. Supreme Court landmark marriage equality decision with Obergefell v. Hodges case. According to Talking Points Memo (TPM), “the new law effectively removes half of what is needed under state law to become legally married.” This is because according to Tennessee state law, marriage must be verified by the issuance of a marriage license…
The top court in Hong Kong has ordered the city government to draw up a framework for same-sex unions over the next two years despite the city’s refusal to legally recognize these unions. This ruling follows an appeal by activist Jimmy Sham who has been fighting for five years for the recognition of his union with his husband, which was officiated in a New York wedding in 2013. He has been pro-democracy activist fighting for same-sex marriages registered abroad to be recognized in Hong Kong for the past five years, according to the Associated Press. In 2019, when Hong Kong…
Actress and long-time LGBTQ advocate, Jamie Lee Curtis, recently spoke out about the anxieties and danger many people who are trans face in daily life, reflecting upon her own fear for her trans daughter, Ruby, who came out in 2020. In an interview with the Spanish pubication Cadena SER, she said of her daughter, “there are threats against her life, just for existing as a human being. There are people who want to annihilate her.” She continued to explain that she is seeking to use her voice and platform to speak out against transphobia, facism and ignorance. Ruby was married…
Though the list of LGBTQ+ authors is constantly expanding, and new iconic and groundbreaking literary works are being published every year, here are five classic writers every LGBTQ+ person and ally should be aware of. Virginia Wolfe Not only was Woolfe an incredible literary talent, penning bestsellers that included Mrs. Dalloway, To The Lighthouse, and Orlando, she also was an advocate for women’s rights and mental health visibility. She published many works that are still studied today, and in 1922, Woolfe met and began a romantic relationship with Vita Sackville-West. Both Woolfe and Sackville-West were married to men while their…
President Joe Biden dropped Uganda and three other African countries from a major trade pact on Monday due to “gross violations” of human rights. The exclusion from the trade pact follows anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed earlier this year in Uganda. In May, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni making gay sex a criminal offense. The bill was backed by 389 of 389 members of parliament. In addition, the law also makes “aggravated” homosexual acts punishable by death, while consensual relations can earn you life in prison. The bill has been called the “Kill the Gays” law…
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…
This year, trans rights have been rejected and questioned incessantly by conservative state legislatures. A major point of conflict has been gender-affirming care which spans various forms of health care that aid trans people in their physical transitions. These include puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender-affirming surgeries. It is important to note that these medical treatments have only been made illegal in the case that they are performed on or prescribed to those wishing to transition. In 2023, 22 states introduced bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors and adults, laws which create great suffering in the lives of trans…
Wine lovers will be heading to California’s sunny Sonoma County to celebrate Gay Wine Weekend Friday, July 14th through Sunday, July 16th. Gay Wine Weekend, hosted by Out in the Vineyard, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy world-class wine and culinary delights all while attending amazing events like VIP receptions, wine excursions, a drag brunch, pool party and wine auction. For 2023, explore new locations and wineries in Sonoma’s Healdsburg and Russian River Valley, a region which is home to more than 400 wineries. Funds from this fun-filled weekend benefit Face to Face, Sonoma County’s HIV/AIDS Network, an organization which…
Popular kids video game company Nintendo has revealed that the newest version of their 2004 game “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” will feature a transgender character. The character, named Vivian, discusses her gender identity with Mario during the game, explaining that she realized she was a girl and not a boy, after which her evil siblings began bullying her. These “evil siblings” are the games’ villains. The game has undergone some changes from the original Japanese version, in which Vivian was derogatorily referred to with male pronouns and called a “man” on various occasions. The English version which was released…