Nine EU Countries refused to sign a new LGBTQ+ rights bill at a conference held in Brussels on May 17. These include popular travel destinations like Italy, Croatia, and Hungary. Other countries that refused to sign the declaration are Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Italy backed its decision to decline signature by citing a similar bill proposed by Italian Democratic Party MP and gay activist Alessandro Zan, which would increase penalties for anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. It was speculated that Italy refused to sign the EU declaration, for the same reason it declined Zan’s bill. Despite this, Italy did…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
Following an extreme alt-right backlash in 2023, Target has announced it is limiting Pride month merchandise, which will now only appear in select stores. In a recent press release, the mass retailer announced it would be limiting the number of stores where customers can purchase Pride merchandise this year. In addition, stores who are including LGBTQ+ merchandise will not have Pride apparel for children this year. Despite citing “historical sales performance” as their primary reason for discontinuing the sale of Pride merch, it seems uncanny that these actions follow a boycott of Pride products in 2023, when alt right groups…
Gay Wine Weekend, hosted by Out in the Vineyard, returns in July, 2024 for another year in California’s sunny Sonoma County. This exclusive event invites the LGBTQ+ community around the country to celebrate three days of fun in wine country. Last year, Gay Wine Weekend officially relocated to the Russian River Valley/Healdsburg Region of Sonoma County to take advantage of a wealth of new venues, restaurants, and wineries. “It was a huge success and so much fun to introduce guests of Gay Wine Weekend to this part of Sonoma Wine Country,” said Out in the Vineyard owner Gary Saperstein. The…
As the newest season of the hit Netflix series “Bridgerton” hits screens across the country, heartthrob of last season, Jonathan Bailey, raised over £30,000 after running the Hackney Half Marathon. According to Pink News, over 20,000 runners participated in the half marathon which stepped off from the Hackney Marshes and passed through the Regent’s Canal and London Fields. Bailey ran hoping to raise 25,000 for charity Just Like Us, which provides queer youth the tools to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ issues in schools, and helps prevent bullying through an ambassador program. A day before the race Jonathan posted to his…
In a landmark win for the queer community, Aetna has agreed to provide equal fertility coverage to LGBTQ+ people after reaching a settlement with a group of plaintiffs in a case over medical discrimination. The insurance company will now be required to payout $2 million to members of the lawsuit. They will also be required to update their fertility coverage for LGBTQ+ couples. Fertility medical discrimination is often a hidden struggle for LGBTQ+ couples trying to conceive. The winning case, Goidel et al. v. Aetna was filed in September 2021 according to LGBTQ Nation. It was pioneered by Emma Goidel and…
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has released their official 2024 Social Media Safety Index. The index, one of the leading reports on anti-LGBTQ online hate and discrimination, is intended to increase safety for LGBTQ+ people according to the report’s official release. “As we have seen over and over again, there is a direct line from dangerous online rhetoric and targeting to violent offline behavior against the LGBTQ community,” according to GLAAD. The report analyzes various popular social media platforms based on user safety, and rates them accordingly. These Platform Scorecard ratings provide an overview of “the current…
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 United Methodist Church has reversed a ban that prohibited LGBTQ people from being ordained and practicing as clergy. The church, which has more than 12 million members globally, removed the 40-year-old declaration which declared “the practice of homosexuality…incompatible with Christian teaching,” according to AP News. The United Methodist church is a Christian denomination that practices Protestant tradition. The vote to reverse the ban along with other discussions on the revision of the language around marriage and LGBTQ+ people took place at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church which occurred over 11-days in Charlotte, N.C. The ban was…
A collection of billboards across major cities in the UK are celebrating Trans+ History Week through Sunday as part of a QueerAF initiative. This week in Britain, Trans+ History Week honors trans and gender fluid representations throughout history. Piloted by QueerAF, the first ever event of its kind explores how transgender people have appeared throughout history. QueerAF is a platform supporting LGBTQIA+ creatives to build a career in media, and their most recent project celebrates the history of trans, non-binary, intersex and gender-diverse people. The colorful Billboards were displayed in cities including Manchester, Liverpool, London, and Newcastle and feature the…
Nemo, a singer from Switzerland, is the first non-binary artist to win the Eurovision song contest. Thirty seven countries in Europe are invited each year to debut a new song at Eurovision to compete for first prize. This year, the 68th annual competition came to Malmö, Sweden and invited some of Europe’s most popular musical artists. Nemo Mettler who is just 24 years old won the competition with their song “The Code.” Nemo told interviewers, their song is the first they have written about queer joy and feeling comfortable in their own skin. “To stand here at the end and…
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…
A new report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has revealed the challenges LGBTQ+ faculty are facing in higher education as many of them consider leaving their posts. LGBTQ+ faculty at colleges and universities nationwide are growing tired of the lack of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) laws protecting them from discrimination at work, especially in states like Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and more that have tried to dismantle DEI laws. The crack down on DEI laws across the United States has included limiting funding for DEI initiatives, preventing mandatory DEI training for faculty, and banning…
The National Health Service (NHS) of England has banned the prescription of puberty blockers for individuals under the age of 18. Puberty blockers are hormonal treatments most often prescribed to transgender or gender questioning individuals to halt the process of adolescent development. The ban, which ensures no child will have access to puberty blockers even with the permission of their parent or guardian, has been met with ample backlash from the transgender community in the U.K. and around the world. This is just one effect of the NHS’s recent call for an independent review of gender identity treatments, which commissioned Dr.…
Popular gay men’s dating app Grindr has introduced a new travel feature that might help you meet other people when traveling. Grindr’s official travel mode, titled “Roam,” allows users to change their location settings to talk and text with people in other destinations before they travel there. While in Roam travel mode, Grindr users can pick a new location and swipe for up to an hour. This is meant to provide an opportunity to meet new people and get an idea of the best places to eat, drink, stay, and explore. It also give users the opportunity to arrange a…
A new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS) has found that “minority stress” experienced by LGBTQ+ people can lead to cancer. ACS’s 2024 Cancer Facts and Figures report published in January, produced data on the rates of cancer in all people According to Pink News, minority stress is the physical stress response that is triggered by experiences of discrimination and prejudice. ACS’s report finds that enduring these hardships can affect people on a “cellular level.” “Psychological stress influences biochemical changes such as increased cortisol levels, which can lead to chronic inflammation that increases the risk of cancer and other…
Iraq has officially criminalized same-sex relationships with new legislation backed by Shia Muslim political parties, the largest coalition in the country’s parliament. The new law penalizes same-sex marriage with a 15-year maximum prison sentence. Supporters claim it will uphold religious values, despite being condemned by civil rights advocates in Iraq, according to reports from Al Jazeera. A copy of the law acquired by Reuters says it aims to “protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality [that] have overtaken the world.” Officially known by the title “The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality,” it bans same-sex relationships…
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…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is drawing up a proposal to put an end to the rule that bans men who have had sex with other men from donating sperm. The FDA is planning on trading the full ban for a set of carefully curated screening questions that will evaluate an individual’s risk for transiting HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, according to The Wall Street Journal. The current ban on MSM was put into place at the height of the AIDS epidemic, and intended to block high risk sperm donors from spreading diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Since…
Over the past year, many far-right conservatives have made it their mission to protest every image of progress in the media. This has included everything from a children’s animated television series, to beer advertisements and dog food ads. Conservatives are up-in-arms over even the briefest depiction of queer identities. Here are five LGBTQ+ representations in the media that made conservatives go bonkers during the past year. Dylan Mulvaney’s collab with Bud Light A social media ad campaign for Bud Light beer with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, sent an uproar through conservative communities around the country who love to drink…
The Biden Administration has extended the reach of famous civil rights law Title IX to provide more protections and support for LGBTQ+ students, survivors of sexual assault, and pregnant and parenting students. Title IX was first passed into law in 1972 under President Richard Nixon. Initially, the law sought to address discrimination on the basis of gender in education. Since then Title IX has seen vast changes to address sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct in national educational institutions. And today it continues to expand. The U.S. Department of Education’s newest rules guarantee protections to LGBTQ+ students who face discrimination on the…
Last week, the German Parliament voted to pass a new law that allows trans people to easily change their legal gender with a simple administrative procedure. The new law makes this gender-affirming practice a breeze and replaces outdated preconditions from the ‘80s that required people seeking to legally change their gender to provide declarations of support from doctors. It also no longer requires individuals to undergo invasive procedures, according to The Washington Blade. Also included in the new law are fines for up to $11,000 for those who disclose a trans person’s deadname or previous gender with malice, unless required…
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…
A new report has found that job-seekers who display pronouns on their resumes are less likely to be hired than those who exclude them. The study was conducted by an University of Toronto economics PhD student Taryn Eames, who evaluated the findings from 7,970 fictitious CVs submitted to job vacancies across 15 occupations in six of the country’s major cities. Eames sent CVs to both corporate giants and small businesses to render her results. Each job listing received a fictitious job application with and without pronouns included, and Eames found those without the identifier were more likely to move to the…
The United Nations has taken a big stride in LGBTQIA+ rights by passing a resolution to stop intersex discrimination. According to Pink News, this resolution is the first of its kind recognizing that “persons with innate variations in sex characteristics,” have faced discrimination in “all areas of life.” The resolution was published last week with no opposition from any member states. The resolution officially calls on all member states to “combat discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against intersex people. This is the first of its kind for the United Nations,” according to the Office of the High Commissioner of Human…
A bill against the LGBTQ+ community has been proposed in Kansas to censor queer websites citing them as a danger to minors. If passed, Kansas’ new bill would require age verification on sites where more than 25% of its content is deemed “harmful to minors.” Depictions of homosexuality and other LGBTQ+ identities are included on the list of “harmful” content. In the proposed bill, even pictures of queer couples holding hands could potentially be considered “pornographic” Democrats warn. In the statute, homosexuality is listed alongside “overtly sexual acts” as harmful to minors. According to the Kansas City Star, Democrat Rep.…
Judges Melissa DuBose and Nicole Berner made history last month after the Senate confirmed their judicial appointments. LGBTQ Nation reports, DuBose makes history as the first woman of color and the first out LGBTQ+ person on the Rhode Island District Courts, while Berner was appointed to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, making her the first gay person to serve in the role. DuBose and Berner are not only openly LGBTQ+, but both are also working moms. DuBose, who is married with two sons, told the Washington Blade, she is grateful to her children “for gracing me…
Thailand has passed a landmark bill legalizing same-sex marriage, being the first Southeast Asian country to do so. According to CBS News, lawmakers in Thailand’s lower house of Parliament approved the marriage bill on March 27. In its final reading, the bill received the approval of 400 out of 415 members of the House of Representatives – 10 voted against, two abstained and three did not vote. The bill amends the current Civil and Commercial code to alter the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners.” This gives LGBTQ+ couples full access to legal,…
Canadian celebrities are showing their support for Trans rights in a letter titled “Artists Against Anti-Trans Legislation in Canada,” which highlights the ways in which the country is failing the trans community. The letter was drawn up by pop duo Tegan and Sara, whose foundation raises funds to fight for LGBTQ+ equality and justice through programming and support of grassroots organizations and activists. Signers include Canadian icons, actor Elliot Page, pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, Alanis Morrisette, and Adam DiMarco. In March, Tegan and Sara accepted the Humanitarian Award at the 2024 June Awards, the Canadian Academy of Recording…
Washington state has mandated that public schools begin teaching LGBTQ+ history. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington signed a new law last week that will ensure the state’s public schools introduce new curriculum detailing LGBTQ+ history by 2025 In signing this bill into law, Washington joins six other progressive states which have already implemented similar mandates for public schools. These states include: California, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Illinois and New Jersey, according to LGBTQ+ think tank, Movement Advancement Project. The new law seeks to encourage feelings of safety and acceptance at school for students of all races, gender and sexual identities. NBC affiliate…
In response to anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed in Louisiana, queer high school students hoped to inspire change by performing a play about their own experiences and struggles. When legislation was introduced to regulate students’ pronouns, bathroom use, and discussions of gender and sexuality in the classroom, it was met with protests from students. At Benjamin Franklin high school in New Orleans, students have held walkouts, and this year students are trying a different approach. After writing a play based on their own experiences, the students performed it on the steps of the state Capitol, hoping to spark more empathy, according to…