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Fla. students walk out after school board's anti-trans actions
In Florida, hundreds of students at Coconut Creek's Monarch High School held a walkout on Nov. 28 after their principal and several other school officials were reportedly reassigned over a transgender student's participation on the girls ...
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BOOKS Lucas Hilderbrand reflects on gay history in 'The Bars Are Ours'
In The Bars Are Ours (via Duke University Press), Lucas Hilderbrand, a professor of film and media studies at the University of California-Irvine, takes readers on a historical journey of gay bars, showing how the venues ...
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Pope Francis's community of transwomen
It's a rare opportunity to meet the pope. It's even rarer if you're a transgender Catholic. However, on Nov. 19, in Torvaianica, Italy, a community of transwomen, many of them sex workers, were welcomed and seated ...
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Billy Masters: The Dolly Cowboy Cheerleaders
Whoever intended to dumb down the citizens of America have done a FANTASTIC job. We are dumb as shit!"—Patti LuPone in an interview with broadcaster Tom Power prior to her touring show Don't Monkey with Broadway ...
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SHOWBIZ Billy Porter, queer novel, 'Tammy Faye,' queer DJ, Bella Ramsey
Billy Porter released his long-awaited new album, Black Mona Lisa, via Island Records UK/Republic Records, and it's executive-produced by Justin Tranter, a press release noted. Porter said, "So many of the songs on my album have ...
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NATIONAL Trevor Project, anti-trans crimes, priest sentenced, hate-crimes unit
The Trevor Project announced the extension of its partnership with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, reaffirming its commitment to providing specialized assistance to LGBTQ+ people who call 9-8-8, The Advocate reported. Interim Senior Vice President ...
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Openly gay OpenAI CEO back in charge of company
On Nov. 21, OpenAI said it had reinstated Sam Altman as its chief executive—the latest chapter in a saga that involved a boardroom coup and staff backlash. The company, which is behind ChatGPT, also said it ...
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OPINION For LGBTQ+ children, the holidays are often the most challenging time of the year
Holiday time for most of us is a time to spend more time with family and loved ones, but for many children, it is a harsh reminder of their non-acceptance and thus, is all the more difficult as well. ...
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Photographer Irene Young launches book with stellar concerts
"Something About the Women" was appropriately the closing song for two sold-out, stellar concerts at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage November 19, in celebration of the new book of the same name by Irene Young, the legendary ...
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Billy Masters: Was Kim Kardashian officiating your wedding worth it?
I'd hoped to never again type the word "Jada" again. But this week, it's inevitable. It is being alleged that actor Duane Martin (don't feel bad—I had to look him up as well) slept with Will ...
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Out sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson receives multiple honors
Over the past few weeks, LGBTQ+ sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson has received several honors. The city of Dallas honored LGBTQ+ sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson—twice, according to LGBTQ Nation. Her former high school named the track where she ran ...
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SCOTUS Hamburger Mary's decision: small victory, big concerns
In a surprise move, a 6-3 majority of the U.S. Supreme Court did something good for LGBTQ+ people: It rejected Florida's request for a stay against a lower court decision—a stay that would have enabled the ...
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PASSAGES Best-selling author, labor lawyer, feminist, LGBTQ ally Linda Hirshman
Best-selling author, renowned pro-union labor lawyer, Brandeis University professor, feminist and LGBTQ ally Linda Hirshman died Oct. 31 in Burlington, Vermont of cancer. She was 79. Hirshman was born April 26, 1944, in Cleveland where she ...
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NATIONAL Bishop removed, business news, Jezebel shutting down, MAP head
Pope Francis removed the bishop of Tyler, Texas—a conservative prelate active on social media who has been a fierce critic of the pontiff, PBS reported. A one-line statement from the Vatican said the pope had "relieved" ...
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SHOWBIZ Music awards, military film, Tom of Finland, Yo-Yo Ma, 'Harley Quinn'
Video below
Brothers Osborne—a duo that includes gay brother TJ Osborne—won Vocal Duo of the Year for the sixth time at the recent CMA Awards, per a media release. Backstage, TJ told reporters, "I did not expect us ...
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Illinois attorney general part of effort against Oklahoma anti-trans youth law
--From a press release
Chicago — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is opposing a state law in Oklahoma that severely limits the ability of transgender youth to access critical, lifesaving gender-affirming care. Raoul, along with a coalition of attorneys general, ...
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Santos not seeking re-election after wrongdoing evidence is revealed
On Nov. 16, the House Ethics Committee found "substantial evidence" that U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) violated federal law, setting the stage for another push to expel the embattled gay first-term Congressman and prompting him to ...
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GLAAD to receive Television Academy's Governors Award
The Television Academy announced LGBTQ+ media-advocacy organization GLAAD as the 2023 Governors Award recipient. Founded in 1985 by Vito Russo, author of The Celluloid Closet, and other LGBTQ advocates, GLAAD works with leaders in television, film, ...
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Eye-opening LGBTQ+ women's survey shatters myths and spotlights challenges
The realities, ambitions and hardships of queer women aren't often given deep analysis by researchers. Mainstream socio-political conversations, research data and legislative choices frequently center individuals whose lives are marked ...
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Rainbow Wave: 238 LGBTQ+ candidates win public office in 2023, all time high for an odd year election
--From a press release
Washington, DC — 238 out LGBTQ+ candidates have won elections in 2023, as of 3 p.m. ET, surpassing the record 185 who won in 2021 — the last odd-year election. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is awaiting final ...
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Anti-LGBTQ+ GOP presidential candidate Tim Scott leaves race
In a Nov. 12 announcement that surprised his own staff, Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott decided to suspend his presidential campaign, Politico reported. ...
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Megan Rapinoe ends career with injury
Soccer icon Megan Rapinoe ended her legendary career on Nov. 11, as an injury caused her to leave her team's championship loss in the NWSL championship, ESPN reported. Rapinoe's team, the OL Reign, fell to NJ/NY ...
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SHOWBIZ Kaytranada, NFL star, Alexandra Billings, video game, George Michael
Out Montreal DJ/producer Kaytranada teased his latest single, "Out of Luck," with Mariah the Scientist, on Twitter, Complex noted. "THIS IS THE ANTHEM!" Kaytra wrote in his quote-tweet of the song playing at a release party. ...
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Out ex-Gov. Jim McGreevey running for Jersey City mayor
Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey formally re-entered politics on Nov. 9, as he announced he aims to become mayor of Jersey City—two decades after he resigned as governor, Politico reported. His announcement video, titled "Second ...
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NATIONAL Election results, campus items, Puerto Rican icons, healthcare suit
Historic developments took place during the Nov. 7 elections that happened in some states. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidate Rue Landau won an at-large seat on the Philadelphia City Council—making her the first out LGBTQ+ candidate to ...
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Charles Busch dishes on life as a storyteller
Performer/writer Charles Busch, who recently penned his autobiography, Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy, said that collecting his most precious and salient memories in a book felt "inevitable." "Storytelling is such an essential ...
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Rainbow wave: Historic number of LGBTQ+ Candidates elected in 2023
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Over 200 out LGBTQ+ candidates won their elections in 2023 — including 148 tonight — more than in any other odd-numbered election year in U.S. history. The number of victories is expected to ...
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Mississippi makes history with first LGBTQ+ state lawmaker, county supervisor
On Nov. 7 Fabian Nelson—backed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund—won the general election to represent District 66 in the Mississippi State House, making history as the first out LGBTQ+ candidate to win election to the state ...
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Billy Masters: Barbra's bio hits stores...but don't rain on Cher's parade either
"I will be forced to be in a position where I will have to openly say how I feel about the film and go against you, my mother and this film publicly."—Lisa Marie Presley's e-mail to director Sofia Coppola after reading ...
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Three states sue to block abortion-pill sales
On Nov. 6, three states—Idaho, Kansas and Missouri—sued the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Senior Services for approving the abortion pill mifepristone and allowing its ...
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Emerald Fennell takes audiences on a twisted trip to Saltburn
The new film Saltburn, directed and produced by Emerald Fennell, is the twisted tale of a student named Oliver Quick, played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, who visits a classmate's estate in the seaside town of ...
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SHOWBIZ Allen Ginsberg, film series, Galantis, Patricia Velasquez, queer pianist
The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg is now available via streaming and a two-DVD set, per a press release. For 25 years, Oscar-nominated director Jerry Aronson accumulated more than 60 hours of film on Ginsberg, ...
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NATIONAL Trans deaths, endorsements, Sakia Gunn, museum news, Maddow
A man was arrested in connection with the murder of a transgender woman in northwest Miami-Dade, Florida, NBC Miami reported. Anthony Quinn Peyton II, 25, was charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 23 killing of ...
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Report: More than 500 LGBTQ+ candidates ran for office in 2023
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ leaders to public office, released its 2023 Out on the Trail report, the only annual report on the number and diversity ...
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George Santos survives U.S. House expulsion vote
Despite facing multiple charges, George Santos—the embattled gay Republican who admitted to lying about his background—easily survived a bipartisan effort to expel him from the House of Representatives on Nov. ...
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Republican governors ask NCAA to ban trans women from women's sports
Nine Republican governors have signed a letter to the NCAA asking the organization to ban trans women from competing in college women's sports, LGBTQ Nation reported. Among those signing the letter were Govs. Kristi Noem of ...
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Billy Masters: Britney spills the tea
"Brad Pitt, I think, in 'Troy'. That's a beautiful man. There's no denying it."—Jacob Elordi tells Jimmy Fallon his first celebrity crush. (If you can't place Jacob, you'll soon see him playing Elvis Presley in Sofia ...
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FILM Derek Magyar dishes on 'Boy Culture' revival, fetishes and co-star's friendship
In 2006, the film Boy Culture (based on Matthew Rettenmund's 1995 novel of the same name) generated a cult following, thanks in large part to lead actors Derek Magyar and Darryl Stephens. In that movie, Magyar ...
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PASSAGES: Longtime social justice activist, filmmaker, writer Amber Hollibaugh
Longtime social justice and HIV/AIDS activist, filmmaker, public speaker and writer Amber Hollibaugh died Oct. 20 due to complications from type one diabetes in her Brooklyn, New York home. She was 77. A self-described "lesbian sex ...
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NATIONAL Queer senator, HRC dinner, LGBTQIA+ deaths, vandalism, Florida
Laphonza Butler—the first Black LGBTQ+ U.S. senator, who was appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom—won't run for election next year, The Advocate reported. "Butler said that she intended to be 'the loudest, proudest champion of Calif ...
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Suspect arrested in gay Philadelphia journalist's death
Police arrested 19-year-old Robert Davis, who they say shot and killed gay journalist/LGBTQ+-rights activist Josh Kruger in his home earlier this month, The Advocate reported, citing The Philadelphia Inquirer and other sources. On Oct. 26, Davis ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Queer Eye,' queer films, 'Gen V,' Christian musicians, soap actor
Video below
The original cast of the groundbreaking TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy will reunite after 20 years, per a press release. Carson Kressley, Thom Filicia, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas and Jai Rodriguez are coming ...
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Ninth Circuit temporarily blocks Idaho restroom ban as court challenge proceeds
--From a press release
(Boise, ID, October 26, 2023) — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today temporarily blocked enforcement of an Idaho school facilities law that singles out transgender students for discriminatory treatment. The law was ...
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Former NBA player denies assault of another man, said sex was consensual
Former NBA player Dwight Howard has denied sexually assaulting another man—but said they had consensual sex, The Advocate reported. In court documents, Howard said the encounter consisted of "consensual sexual activity" and that he caused no ...
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HRC: New U.S. House speaker is extremely anti-LGBTQ+
On Oct. 25, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the U.S. House—a choice that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) decried. In a press release, HRC "condemned his selection by the anti-equality majority and pointed ...
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In a first, NBA referee comes out as transgender, nonbinary
NBA referee Che Flores (they/them) came out as transgender and nonbinary in an interview with GQ, The Advocate noted. Flores is the first out trans or nonbinary referee in the NBA, and potentially the other major ...
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Harlem unveils supportive housing for LGBTQ+ youths, young adults
On Oct. 24, NYC government officials and nonprofit organization leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a housing development in Harlem with services for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and young adults between the ages ...
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HRC and Dylan Mulvaney to partner for 2024 SXSW Featured Session
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced a key Featured Session at the South By Southwest (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals curated to discuss poignant LGBTQ+ issues. The panel, titled "When Beer Goes Viral: The Role ...
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NHL reverses decision to ban Pride Tape, allowing players to show support for LGBTQ+s
--From a press release
(New York, NY - October 24, 2023) Today the National Hockey League (NHL) reversed its decision to ban Pride Tape and other displays of support for LGBTQ people on the ice, stating: "After consultation with the ...
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USA Cycling unveils updated trans policy
USA Cycling (USAC), the governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States, unveiled its revised Transgender Athlete Participation Policy, Cycling Weekly reported. In doing so, USAC is aligning itself with the standards set ...
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Former 'Bachelorette' contestant Josh Seiter talks bisexuality, mental health
t's safe to say that 2023 is probably one of the most pivotal years in Josh Seiter's life. During the summer, Seiter—a former Bachelorette contestant who's also a Chicago resident, Chicago-Kent College of Law grad, mental-health ...
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Billy Masters: Madonna sets her watch to Diva Time
"It is truly obscene what they're charging for tickets to 'Merrily We Roll Along' on Broadway. $500 to $800. PLUS—$40 a ticket 'handling charge.'"—Kevin Chamberlin voices his outrage at the price of Broadway tickets. Imag ...
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GAY HISTORY MONTH The evolution of LGBTQ+ online dating
Special to Windy City Times. To mark Gay History Month, the following article appears courtesy of LGBT History Project and Philadelphia Gay News. From casual hook-ups to friendships to meeting the love of your life, LGBTQ+ ...
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UPDATE: Suspect arrested for arson at San Diego queer women's bar
San Diego resident Ryan Habrel has been arrested for committing arson at Gossip Grill, a queer women's bar in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood, according to LGBTQ San Diego County News. ...
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'Creepcast' creators discuss their spooky new season
Longtime theater buddies Sylas Dean and the monomynous Stew have hit gold with CreepTime the Podcast, their very fun, very informative look at often unacknowledged stories involving true crime. Loyal fans, known as Creepers, tune in ...
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Lambda Legal holds nationwide 50th anniversary celebration
Lambda Legal—the nation's oldest and largest legal nonprofit focused on the rights of LGBTQ+ people, as well as those individiuals living with HIV—celebrated its 50th anniversary Oct. 18 with an in-person event in New York City ...
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Georgia to cover gender-affirming healthcare for state employees
As part of a settlement, Georgia's health-insurance plan will now cover state employees after the state agreed to a $365,000 court settlement with three employees, according to several media outlets, including The Georgia Reporter. Co-plaintiff Benjam ...
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NATIONAL Trans prison reform, DeSantis, Wisconsin items, late OUT100 honorees
The Washington State Department of Corrections (DoC) started steps to refine the treatment of transgender inmates across its facilities, The Advocate noted, citing KIRO. The move followed a complaint and a settlement agreement submitted in federal ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Shucked,' Melissa Etheridge, 'Elite,' composer dies, Orville Peck
The Broadway production Shucked has set a closing date of Jan. 14, 2024 at the Nederlander Theatre, Playbill noted. At closing, the Tony-nominated musical will have played 28 previews and 327 regular performances. A North American ...
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Report from National LGBTQ+ Women's Community Survey includes high rates of disability, intimate partner violence
--From a press release
LOS ANGELES, October 12—Today, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, in partnership with Justice Work and 120 partner organizations, released the first full report from the largest and most comprehensive survey on LGBTQ+ women who partner with ...
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First Lady Jill Biden to open PFLAG National Convention
--From a press release
WASHINGTON—This Friday, First Lady Jill Biden will address hundreds of LGBTQ+ people, parents, families, and allies attending Learning with Love: The 2023 PFLAG National Convention on the opening day. A stalwart advocate for education, Dr. Biden' ...
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DePaul women's basketball game against Iowa attracts 55K
A DePaul University exhibition women's basketball game against the University of Iowa set a record. The Iowa Hawkeyes' 94-72 win over DePaul in the "Crossover at Kinnick" on Oct. 15 drew 55,646 fans, according to ESPN. ...
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BOOKS Rachel Maddow talks 'Prequel,' fascism and gay vampire fiction
In Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, New York Times best-selling author and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow traces the fight to preserve U.S. democracy to the early days of World War II, when a clandestine network ...
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Billy Porter to release 'Black Mona Lisa' on Nov. 17
Billy Porter will release his long-awaited new album, Black Mona Lisa, via Island UK/Republic Records on Nov. 17. Justin Tranter, also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, is the album's executive producer. Black Mona Lisa contains ...
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SHOWBIZ Holiday TV movies, GLAAD concert, Janet Jackson, muscle-fem singer
Hallmark has revealed its full slate of holiday movies—and there are more than 40 films, Entertainment Weekly noted. Among the movie's stars are Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, Luke Macfarlane, Phylicia Rashad, Nikki DeLoach, Andrew Walker and ...
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NATIONAL White House, school news, LGBTQ+ deaths, Navy petty officer honored
The White House condemned conservative social-media activist Chaya Raichik for ridiculing openly gay Interior Department official Tyler Cherry on the site X (formerly Twitter), describing her posts as "cruel and unacceptable" ...
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Statement from President Joe Biden on 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death
--From a press release
BRIEFING ROOM STATEMENTS AND RELEASES Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked our nation and the world. The week prior, Matthew had been viciously ...
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NHL bans Pride Tape from hockey games and practices
The National Hockey League (NHL) has designated that athletes will no longer be able to show support to the LGBTQ+ community while playing, according to Out, which cited Outsports. The league has issued a ban of ...
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U.S. Rep. George Santos faces more allegations
It has not been a good week for embattled gay Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos. Santos—who has refused calls to step down, even from fellow GOP members in his home district in New York—was hit with ...
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New research: Eight in ten LGBTQ+ employees feel comfortable being out at work
--From a press release
NEW YORK CITY, NY — As our nation prepares to commemorate National Coming Out Day, Out Leadership's "Out to Succeed 2.0," [ https://outleadership.com/ ] a global workplace survey of LGBTQ+ employees finds historic progress for LGBTQ+ ...
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LGBTQ+ advocacy groups endorse Biden, Harris for reelection
--From a press release
The following is a statement from Biden-Harris Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez on today's announcement of the historic joint endorsement by Human Rights Campaign PAC (HRC PAC), Equality PAC, and the National Center for Transgender Equa ...
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BILLY MASTERS: Vegas, Cher and Kathy Griffin
"It's been a challenge just because, honestly, my son being gay.…it was unknown for me. I think a lot of people are afraid of the unknown, whereas I'm not. To me, it's intriguing. And I want ...
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MUSIC Sufjan Stevens dedicates new album to late partner
The usually private singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens posted an Instagram message dedicating his new album Javelin, out Oct. 6, to his late partner Evans Richardson, Deadline noted. Richardson was the chief of staff of the Studio Museum ...
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Advocates to appeal ruling denying request to temporarily block Oklahoma ban on gender-affirming care
--From a press release
OKLAHOMA — The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma has rejected a request from families and a medical provider to temporarily block an Oklahoma law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth ...
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NATIONAL Montana court, gay bishop, EEOC, Equality Forum, banned operas
A Montana court blocked enforcement of the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth—leading trans state Rep. Zooey Zephyr to express her gratitude, The Advocate reported. Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Marks issued a ...
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