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ELECTIONS 2020
Jill Rose Quinn heads toward being state's first openly transgender judge
Among those notching victories on March 14, during Illinois' primary, was Democratic judicial candidate Jill Rose Quinn. Her win was significant in many ways—including the fact that she will apparently be the first openly transgender judge ...
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Advocates: LGBTQs face additional complications in pandemic
Members of the LGBT community face additional healthcare challenges as they contend with the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, according to national LGBTQ-health advocates and officials speaking in a March 25 webinar. Those challenges are especially pronounced for ...
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Idaho governor signs two anti-trans bills
On March 30, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed two bills into law that restrict the rights of transgender people. According to CNN, one item ( House Bill 500, also called the Fairness in Women's Sports Act ...
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Brave Space Alliance, Trans Liberation Collective begin COVID-19 Trans Relief Fund
CHICAGO — On the International Trans Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to the celebration and liberation of the trans community worldwide, two of Chicago's leading trans organizations have collaborated to announce a Trans Relief Fund ...
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NCLR condemns Idaho law barring transgender girls from sports
BOISE, ID — The National Center for Lesbian Rights strongly condemns Idaho Governor Brad Little's decision to sign HB 500, a law that bars transgender girls from participating in sports. As a result of the Governor's ...
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Chicagoan alleges anti-trans bias against Orangetheory location
Following two years of repeated requests to address alleged anti-trans discrimination at Orangetheory Fitness Chicago-Edgewater, non-binary Chicagoan Jes Scheinpflug posted about their experiences on their blog to raise awareness about the issue. However, the company has ...
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PFLAG to launch TransKids, SoFierce social media campaign on March 31
WASHINGTON, DC—Beginning Tuesday, March 31, PFLAG invites allies, family, and friends of transgender kids ( trans kids ) to join a an uplifting social media campaign called #TransKids #SoFierce ( pflag.org/transkidssofierce/ ). #TransKids #SoFierce is a ...
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WORLD Non-binary ruling, Qantas grounded, trans actor, conversion therapy
A British court ruled out adding a third option on passports for people who define themselves as neither male nor female, following a lengthy legal battle, Openly News reported. The Court of Appeal ruled in favour ...
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NATIONAL Curriculum law, N.Y. trans rule, Andrew Gillum, LGBT Health Week, COVID-19
The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina entered a consent decree that declares South Carolina's 1988 discriminatory anti-LGBTQ curriculum law unconstitutional and bars its enforcement, according to a joint statement from Campaign for ...
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Judge releases Chelsea Manning from jail
On March 12, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga ordered the release of former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning—ending about a year of incarceration that she had served for refusing to testify to a grand jury, a ...
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NATIONAL Puerto Rico trans death, APA revisions, conversion therapy, LGBTQ gym
Puerto Rico's governor condemned the killing of a transgender woman—whose death ignited a dialogue about transphobia on the island—as a hate crime, HuffPost reported. The body of Alexa Negron Luciano, who was also known as Neulisa ...
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South Side LGBTQ Center Brave Space Alliance expands staff, office
CHICAGO — Brave Space Alliance has doubled its staff by hiring Zahara Bassett as Director of Development and External Relations, and Brittney Thomas as Director of Programs. The two new hires bring further vibrancy, skills, and ...
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BOOK REVIEW The Trans Generation
By Ann Travers $25; New York University Press; 261 pages Boy or girl? That's a common enough question, if you're an expectant parent. You might've even wondered it yourself: will you need pink things or blue, ...
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Non-binary author Jacob Tobia holds reading in A'ville
To celebrate the paperback release of their debut book, Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story, non-binary author, actor and producer Jacob Tobia held a reading and book-signing event March 5 at Women & Children First in Andersonville. Tobia ...
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ELECTIONS 2020 Report: 378K trans citizens could encounter voting hurdles
A new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law says that an estimated 965,350 transgender adults will be eligible to vote in the 2020 general election—but that approximately 378,000 of them could have ...
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Majority of active duty servicemembers oppose trans military ban
WASHINGTON — Today, the Modern Military Association of America ( MMAA ) — the nation's largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community — responded to new survey ...
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ELECTIONS 2020 JUDICIAL Transgender attorney Jill Rose Quinn on judicial race, making history
Since 1997, Jill Rose Quinn has had her own private law practice working on family and criminal law, LGBTQ issues, financial matters and trusts and estates among other legal services. She is the first ever out ...
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Trans scientist kicks off TGNC-affirming symposium
Transgender climate scientist, humanist and activist Dr. Mika Tosca's keynote kicked off the day-long "Being a Stronger Ally: A Trans/GNC Affirming Symposium" Feb. 22 at the Chicago Waldorf School in Andersonville. Andersonville Chamber of Commerce's Trans/GNC ...
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Suburban district settles anti-trans lawsuit
After more than four years, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 settled a lawsuit brought by transgender former student Nova Maday, who alleged discrimination. The Daily Herald reported that the district decided to pay Maday and her ...
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Starbucks pro-trans ad airs, but employees criticize company
Starbucks UK released an ad showing a young trans man getting to use his chosen name while getting a coffee—but the ad has been criticized as well, BuzzFeed reported. While many have lauded the ad, transgender ...
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'Being a Stronger Ally'
symposium Feb. 22
Registration is open for "Being A Stronger Ally: Trans/GNC Affirming Symposium"—which the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce ( ACC ) is hosting in partnership with Chicago Therapy Collective—on Saturday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Chicago Waldorf ...
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Bloomberg under fire for anti-trans comments; campaign responds [UPDATE]
Days after unveiling a five-part, multi-pronged LGBT platform, Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is being criticized for anti-trans comments he made in 2016. That year, he referred to transgender women ...
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Virginia passes laws that protect LGBTQs
On Feb. 6, Virginia legislators passed comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation ( the Virginia Values Act ) that activists said makes the state the first in the South to have such protections for LGBTQ people, ABC News reported. ...
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OPINION 'Trans-formal' education
"The year started well, but substitute teachers were not told about Dave's name," my friend Pat told me. "My son was called a distinctly feminine name in a time and at a place where no one ...
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WORLD Glenn Greenwald, Swiss chocolatier, Chick-fil-A, South Korean trans soldier
A coalition of approximately 40 human-rights and free-speech NGOs signed an open letter—organized by Freedom of the Press Foundation and Reporters Without Borders—addressed to Brazilian authorities ( including President Jair Bolsonaro ) condemning the charges that ...
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ELECTIONS 2020 Lightfoot backs trans candidate Quinn
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has endorsed transgender candidate Jill Rose Quinn for Cook County judge ( the K. Sheehan vacancy ). "I'm proud to endorse the historic candidacy of Jill Rose Quinn," Lightfoot said in a ...
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Lightfoot criticizes aldermen over LGBT study
On Jan. 15, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot criticized aldermen for objecting to a plan to determine if the LGBT community faces obstacles in obtaining city contracts, CBS Chicago reported. "I feel compelled to speak to this ...
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NATIONAL Scammer jailed, fertility study, queer billboard, panic-defense bill
After scamming gay men for over half a decade, Tyler Buchanan, 28, now faces up to 10 years in prison, Queerty noted. Buchanan pled guilty to using Craigslist and other websites to place ads offering gay ...
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WORLD Trans activist killed, Israeli center, Brazilian priest, Netflix film
In South Africa, Limpopo police are investigating the death of transgender activist Nare Mphela, 28, whose decomposing body was found in a rented room, News24 reported. "The deceased was found with multiple stab wounds and was ...
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Quigley part of call for end of trans migrant detention
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley ( D-Illinois )—vice chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a founding member of the Transgender Equality Task Force—led more than 40 members of Congress in calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement ...
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COMEDY 'The Haggard Unicorn:' Queer trans comic talks representation, hurdles
KJ Whitehead wants to see unrepresented voices take over the comedy world and her latest project, The Haggard Unicorn, is a reflection of that ambition. "Something strange. Something different. Something radical," she said when asked to ...
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LGBTQ critics name film, TV honorees
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics—composed of 260 mainly U.S. journalists covering film and television—named its final-round choices for 2019's finest movies, performances and more across a host of mainstream and LGBTQ-focused categories. South Korean ...
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National roundup 2019, highlights and lowlights
In the last Windy City Times print issue, the publication covered 10 of the most important LGBTQ events that happened nationally in 2019. However, media outlets reported a lot more that occurred, from the sublime to ...
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Trans, undocumented students can now access college aid
Undocumented and some transgender students can now access state college aid, now that a loophole preventing them from doing so has closed, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. The new statute—called the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity ...
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Boston IVF announces Landmark Transgender Male Fertility Research Study
WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Boston IVF, a worldwide leader in fertility care and a pioneer in LGBTQ+ family building, today announced the results of its landmark transgender fertility clinical study — which shows ...
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Advocates laud final Medicaid rule for gender-affirming surgery
Advocates across Illinois celebrated the final rule that regulates Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery. The final rule prioritizes the patient-provider relationship, allowing Medicaid to cover life-saving, medically necessary procedures for trans and gender non-conforming people. A ...
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WORLD Gay Muslim MP, LGBTQ mayor weds, pro-trans ruling, ambassadors
In Britain, the world's first openly gay Muslim MP has been elected as part of Boris Johnson's new government, PinkNews reported. Imran Ahmad-Khan made history when he was elected as MP for Wakefield in Yorkshire, having ...
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2019: The year in local LGBTQ news
A new year in Chicago meant new developments, ranging from pro-LGBTQ measures to anti-trans vandalism to a history-making mayor. —Breaking ground: Lamont J. Robinson Jr. became the first out Black LGBTQ Illinois General Assembly member following ...
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Looking back at 2019: National LGBTQ headlines
One might argue that 2019 was a pretty good year for LGBT people. An openly gay man rose to the top tier of a large field of Democratic presidential candidates. A second openly LGBTQ person was ...
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Judge orders IDOC transgender healthcare overhaul
A federal judge ordered Dec. 19 that the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) fix practices by which a "transgender committee"—composed of individuals with no experience in transgender-specific healthcare delivery—is tasked with meting out gender-dysphoria related medical ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans model search, Noah Galvin, Beyonce, Fortune Feimster
Slay Model Management—the world's first exclusively transgender model agency—will host its first Model Search Feb. 15 at One Culver, in Los Angeles, a press release noted. Slay's models have appeared in campaigns for such companies as ...
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Lambda to Illinois: Issue birth certificates affirming gender identities of trans parents
( Chicago, IL, December 17, 2019 ) — Yesterday, Myles Brady Davis and Precious Brady-Davis announced the arrival of their child, who was born earlier this month. Myles, who carried and gave birth to their baby ...
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Complaint: ICE officers treated inhumanely trans migrant in failing health
Today Transgender Law Center ( TLC ) and the Law Office of R. Andrew Free announced they filed a Federal Tort Claim Act ( FTCA ) complaint against the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ), ...
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LGBTQ groups say Defense Authorization Bill Should Have Ended Trans Ban
WASHINGTON — Last night, a coalition of organizations, including the Modern Military Association of America, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Transgender Equality, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders ( GLAD ), National Center for Lesbian Rights, ...
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Lambda Legal to 11th Circuit: Schools Must Provide Trans Students Equal Restroom Access
( ATLANTA - Dec. 5, 2019 ) — Today, Lambda Legal asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to affirm a lower court ruling holding that a suburban Jacksonville, Florida, school district must ...
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Panel faces legal challenges for trans and HIV-positive service members
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley ( D-5 ) was joined by legal experts at the Pritzker Military Museum the afternoon of Dec. 2 for a discussion of the ongoing challenges facing U.S. military personnel who are transgender ...
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School official dismisses trans-related suicides
In Evansville, Indiana, a school board member seemingly dismissed activists' concerns about safety for LGBTQ kids and trans-related suicides, Advocate.com reported. Members of the Tri-State Alliance—a social service and educational organization serving LGBTQ communities in southeastern ...
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Raoul among attorneys general to argue trans students should use restrooms of gender identities
Chicago — Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general to file an amicus brief in the Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in support of transgender rights in an antidiscrimination lawsuit, ...
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Trans/HIV+ military ban panel Dec. 2 with U.S. Rep. Quigley
U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley ( D-Illinois ) is hosting a panel discussing the transgender/HIV-positive military ban Monday, Dec. 2, at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 104 S. Michigan Ave., 1:30-3 p.m. In addition to Quigley, ...
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NATIONAL Subway attack, Matthew Shepard, OUT100, Indiana hospital
In Manhattan, a man was hit with a hammer and pushed onto the subway tracks in what police believe may be a hate crime, LGBTQ Nation reported. The alleged attacker then approached the 21-year-old victim waving ...
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Chicagoans mark Transgender Day of Remembrance
Members of Chicago's transgender community, as well as their allies, gathered at West Point Missionary Baptist Church on the city's South Side the evening of Nov. 20 to observe the Transgender Day of Remembrance. This particular ...
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Trans Day of Resilience Art, Poetry Uplift Black Trans Power and Liberation
November 20, 2019 — Ten trans and non-binary visual artists and poets of color from across the country, including Chicagoan Benji Hart, have collaborated to honor Trans Day of Resilience ( TDOR ) by creating original ...
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New report out on lives of trans people in rural America
( November 19, 2019 ) Des Moines, IA—Stereotypes and pop culture portrayals often overlook the diversity of rural America, framing rural regions as made up predominantly of white, politically conservative people who are hostile to LGBT ...
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HRC Foundation releases report on anti-trans violence
On Nov. 18, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) Foundation released "A National Epidemic: Fatal Anti-Transgender Violence in the United States in 2019." The report notes the at least 22 transgender people and gender non-conforming ...
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ELECTIONS 2020 Kina Collins fundraiser highlights Transgender Awareness Week
Nov, 14, LGBTQ leaders and allies joined Kina Collins at the "LGBTQ+ All in for Kina!" party held at Cantina Laredo in downtown Chicago. The event was a part of Collins' campaign for the 7th District ...
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Palatine school district to back trans access to restrooms, lockers
On Nov. 14, Palatine School District 211 voted to relax bathroom and locker room restrictions for transgender students, media outlets reported. At the public meeting, held at Fremd High School, parents and students spoke out on ...
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National Center for Transgender Equality dissolving staff
The National Center for Transgender Equality ( NCTE ) started 2019 with 23 staffers—but will close the month with just seven, NewNowNext.com reported. Leadership recently offered employees the option to take a 10-week buyout. Nearly everyone ...
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LGBTQ veterans observe Veterans Day with 27th annual dinner
Tatyana Moaton, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, was keynote speaker at the The American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) Chicago Chapter's 27th annual LGBTQ Veterans Day Dinner held at Ann Sathers on Belmont. ...
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10 QUESTIONS with Laverne Cox
With various "firsts" in her already impressive career, the Emmy-nominated actress, documentary film producer and prominent equal -rights advocate Laverne Cox, continues to make history in her career and significant strides in her activism. Debuting on ...
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NATIONAL Manhattan sculpture, Pulse memorial, TrevorLIVE LA, unsolved murder
A 10-foot tall sculpture dedicated to the transgender and gender nonconforming community ( TGNC ) was unveiled at Tribeca Park in Manhattan, ABC7NY.com reported. Internationally known visual artist Rubem Robierb is the creator of the sculpture ...
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Sheridan speaks on trans military members
Center on Halsted Director of Gender Equity and Inclusion Vanessa Sheridan led the Center's 2019 salute to transgender service members, veterans and their families on Nov. 6. The salute has been an annual event at the ...
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Groups ask Pritzker, IDOC to save life of transgender prisoner
A coalition of advocacy organizations sent a letter urging Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to step in and help save the life of Janiah Monroe—a Black transgender woman currently forced into solitary confinement at Logan Correctional Center ...
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Local LGBTQ activism topic of panel at library discussion
Chicago Public Library's Pride Heritage Committee and Brave Space Alliance hosted a panel discussion, "LGBTQ Activism's Past, Present and Future in Chicago," Oct. 12 at the library's Woodson Regional location. Pride Action Tank Executive Director Kim ...
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Opponent Targets Danica Roem With Anti-Trans Attack Ad, Victory Fund responds
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund condemned an anti-transgender online ad targeting Virginia Delegate Danica Roem — the first openly trans person to win and serve in a state legislature — and is demanding an ...
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LGBT HISTORY MONTH Diaries reveal hidden worlds for museums
by Matthew S. Bajko
"Damn I'm going to be a gorgeous man," Lou Sullivan wrote 40 years ago in one of his personal diaries. Sullivan, who died in 1991 at age 39 due to complications from AIDS, was a pioneering ...
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Illinois candidates among latest Victory Fund endorsements
Circuit Court of Cook County judicial candidates Jill Rose Quinn and Michael Weaver are among the 25 openly LGBTQ individuals who the LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed in its latest round of supported candidates for political races ...
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152,000 transgender adults are enrolled in Medicaid
More than half lack guaranteed access to coverage for gender-affirming care under state law. An estimated 152,000 transgender adults are enrolled in Medicaid in the U.S., according to a new analysis by the Williams Institute at ...
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Day of Outrage to honor life of Atatiana Jefferson Oct. 28 in major cities
( Chicago, IL ) — UNTIL FREEDOM, founded by Tamika D. Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Mysonne Linen, and Angelo Pinto will lead a national day of action next Monday, Oct. 28 in more than sixteen cities across ...
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Planned Parenthood of Illinois offers gender affirming hormone therapy
CHICAGO - Planned Parenthood of Illinois ( PPIL ) proudly offers gender affirming hormone therapy ( GAHT ) at all 17 locations across the state. PPIL GAHT services include comprehensive and ongoing medical care, psycho-social and ...
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Trans bodybuilding film out Nov. 7
The award-winning, trans-bodybuilding documentary Man Made releases worldwide on VOD platforms on Thursday, Nov. 7, via Journeyman Pictures. The movie follows the lives of four transgender men as they prepare to compete at TransFitCon—the only all ...
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NATIONAL Hillary and Chelsea disagree, coming-out study, Julian Castro
Hillary and Chelsea Clinton seemingly had a recent disagreement about transgender identity, The New York Post noted. In an interview with the Sunday Times of London, the mother-daughter duo were asked if someone with a beard ...
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NATIONAL Marriage advocate divorcing, Black gay couple, trans death
A Utah state lawmaker who filed a lawsuit that successfully overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage is separating from his husband, U.S. News & World Report noted. State Sen. Derek Kitchen announced in an Instagram ...
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New York State veterans' services trained in LGBTQ cultural competency
WASHINGTON — Today, the Modern Military Association of America ( MMAA ) — the nation's largest non-profit organization for the LGBTQ military and veteran community — announced that it will provide LGBTQ and HIV+ competency training ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans actor, 'Judy,' 'Concert for America,' Dolly Parton
Trans actor Brian Michael Smith was one of three casting announcements made ahead of Fox's 9-1-1 spinoff, Lone Star, which debuts in January, Out.com noted. This next installment in Ryan Murphy's burgeoning franchise will take place ...
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NATIONAL Hospital lawsuit, LGBTs in Root 100, censure postponed
A California appeals court approved a lawsuit filed by a transgender man who claims staff at a Catholic hospital violated his civil rights by refusing to allow him to undergo a medical procedure as part of ...
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