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Rapinoe, Biles among Medal of Freedom honorees
Out lesbian soccer player Megan Rapinoe and famed gymnast Simone Biles are among 17 people who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, media outlets noted. Some of the other honorees include ...
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New MAP analysis: How states rank on voting & democracy compared to LGBTQ equality
-- From a press release
As we wrap up Pride Month, we at the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) are sharing new analyses utilizing our LGBTQ Equality Maps, which track 50+ LGBTQ state laws and policies, and our new Democracy Maps, which ...
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Chicago LGBTQ+ leaders, activists reflect on Pride Month at event state Sen. Simmons hosts
On June 29, Illinois first out gay state senator, Mike Simmons, hosted a press conference featuring Chicago LGBTQ+ leaders and activists at Gerber/Hart Library and Archives. Speakers included Simmons; Gerber/Hart ...
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LPAC endorses Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for re-election
-- From a press release
LPWashington, DC — LPAC, the national political organization dedicated to electing more LGBTQ women to public office, announced today it has endorsed Lori Lightfoot as she seeks re-election as Mayor of Chicago. LPAC is committed to ...
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Lightfoot's Women's Advisory Council releases report on economic impacts of COVID on Chicago women
-- From a press release
CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot's Women's Advisory Council (WAC), in partnership with World Business Chicago, Women Employed, and Civic Consulting Alliance, published Creating a More Equitable Recovery: Addressing ...
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Wisconsin governor challenges abortion ban
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the state's 173-year-old ban on abortions, asking a state court to declare the law unenforceable, ABC 7 Chicago reported. In ...
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ELECTIONS LGBTQ+ primary candidates experience varied results
LGBTQ+ candidates running for office in the 2022 primary contests throughout Illinois got mixed results, according to results as of June 29. In the 13th District, state Rep. and House Majority Leader Greg Harris is stepping ...
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Survey: Americans hold complex views on gender identity and trans+ Issues
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28, 2022) — As the United States addresses issues of transgender rights and the broader landscape around gender identity continues to shift, the American public holds a complex set of views around these ...
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2022 PRIMARY ELECTIONS Pritzker, Jackson, Bailey among winners
The Illinois primary elections took place June 28—and there was a mix of the expected and the surprising. In the governor's race, incumbent JB Pritzker easily won the Democratic primary over Beverly Miles (93% ...
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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adds X gender marker to charge intake process
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today full implementation of the opportunity to select a nonbinary "X" gender marker during the intake process for filing a charge of discrimination. "By adding a ...
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ELECTIONS Giannoulias speaks about secretary of state contest
Former State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has been mounting a primary run to be Illinois secretary of state. Giannoulias, who held the office from 2007-2011 and ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 (he lost to former ...
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Politicians attend Equality Illinois' pre-Parade reception
Before Chicago's 2022 Pride Parade, Equality Illinois held a reception for elected officials, candidates and community leaders at Fat Cat Bar. Among those who were slated to attend were Gov. JB Pritzker and First Lady MK ...
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U.S. House passes resolution urging Griner's release
The U.S. House passed a bipartisan resolution calling on the Russian government to immediately release WNBA star Brittney Griner, CNN reported. "Not a day goes by that we aren't thinking of Brittney and working to get ...
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ELECTIONS Ald. Pat Dowell talks congressional run, Brittney Griner, LGBTQs
At the beginning of this year, Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush (D-1st District) announced that he was retiring from federal office. Almost immediately, several people announced their intentions to succeed him. (The total number is now at ...
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NATIONAL Biden's proposal, VP Harris, Elizabeth Taylor, outbreak, candidates
Lambda Legal issued a press release lauding the Biden administration for issuing proposed regulations that will help protect LGBTQI+ youth against unlawful discrimination. The proposed rules, issued by the U.S. ...
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ELECTIONS Judicial candidate Brad Trowbridge on a repeat run, objectivity, Kyle Rittenhouse
If Brad Trowbridge's face looks familiar from Windy City Times' election-related articles, that would make sense. The openly gay attorney has run in local judicial races three times, narrowly losing in 2020. Trowbridge recently talked with ...
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Maggie Trevor among latest group of Victory Fund-endorsed candidates
Cook County Board of Commissioners candidate Maggie Trevor is included in the most recent group of political incumbents and candidates with the backing of LGBTQ Victory Fund. LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed 23 more out LGBTQ candidates, ...
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Preckwinkle unveils preliminary budget forecast for fiscal year 2023
-- From a press release
(COOK COUNTY, IL) — Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the preliminary forecast for the County's Fiscal Year 2023 showing a projected gap of $18.2 million. This represents the County's smallest budget gap sinc ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 Activist Rick Garcia talks about MWRD race
Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist Rick Garcia is among those who entered the June 28 primary to win a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's (MWRD) board of commissioners. Longtime Commissioner Debra Shore, who is a lesbian, ...
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Gov. Pritzker expands state license plate options to include Chicago Sky, Red Stars and Fire
-- From a press release
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker signed HB4434 into law today, expanding the options of professional sports team license plates Illinoisans can choose from at the Secretary of State. The change, which adds the Chicago Fire, the ...
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Illinois' Kwame Raoul joins VP Harris, other attorneys general to discuss reproductive rights
-- From a press release
Washington — Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined Vice President Kamala Harris as well as Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and California Chief Deputy Attorney General Venus Johnson for a roundtable discussion ...
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Controversial pastor Rev. James Meeks announces retirement
Salem Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. James Meeks announced he is retiring next January. The church has more than 9,000 members, according to its website. The vision statement is that Salem is "a multi-generational church focused ...
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ELECTIONS Guide to the LGBTQ+s
This year's primary elections—taking place Tuesday, June 28, although people can vote now—will feature many openly LGBTQ+ candidates throughout Illinois. (However, one notable name will be missing as longtime state ...
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NATIONAL Sec. of state; Palm Center; judicial nominees; Detroit bar
Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a roundtable with six LGBTQI reporters at the State Department, according to The Washington Blade. It was the first time a secretary of state sat down with a group of ...
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IML mentioned in CDPH monkeypox release
On June 13, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) stated that it continues to investigate reports of monkeypox cases in Chicago residents and is asking people to take proper precautions when in spaces or situations ...
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Biden signs executive order advancing equality for LGBTQI+ Americans
On June 15 (and during Pride Month), President Joe Biden signed an executive order advancing equality for LGBTQI+ U.S. residents. In part, Biden's order reads, "It is … the policy of my Administration to combat unlawful ...
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Russia extends Brittney Griner's detention again
On June 14, prosecutors in Russia were granted another extension in the case of U.S. women's basketball player Brittney Griner, ESPN reported. The extension is a procedural move that was expected and should have little effect ...
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Cook County selects new flag as area approaches 200th anniversary
The Cook County Board of Commissioners met June 14—Flag Day—as the county approaches its 200th-anniversary year, in the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee to vote for "I Will" as the new flag for Cook County. This ...
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Activist Ja'Mal Green is latest candidate for Chicago mayor
On June 14, Chicago activist Ja'Mal Green will run to unseat Mayor Lori Lightfoot, The Chicago Tribune reported. "On every side, I feel that I understand the issues more than a lot of the other candidates, ...
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Lightfoot, CDPH announce expansion of citywide mental health network
-- From a press release
CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that the City of Chicago is awarding $3.1 million in new grants to expand City-funded outpatient mental health services across ...
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PASSAGES Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan dies at 76
Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan has passed away "peacefully at home" after several lengthy illnesses at age 76, The Chicago Tribune reported. Ryan was the state's attorney general from 1995 to 2003, and was the ...
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WORLD Pride events, Darren Hayes, Virgin Mary poster, LGBTQ+ Scotland
A celebratory march made its way through the Thailand capital of Bangkok—the first of its kind in almost 16 years, DW.com reported. The "Naruemit Pride 2022" event, using the Thai word for "creation," was the result ...
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NATIONAL Marriage poll, Family Equality event, podcast, NYC Pride
GLAAD responded to a Gallup poll showing 71% of Americans support marriage equality—another record high for the poll conducted each year since the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage for LGBTQ people nationwide. In a ...
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Gay Cook County candidate endorsed by now-former rival
Jaylin D. McClinton (he/him/el) announced that Kierra Williams, a 5th District Cook County Board Candidate, is dropping out of the race and endorsing his campaign. "After careful consideration and a very demanding schedule that will not ...
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Chicago abortion-rights advocate warns of emboldened right-wing
The only aspect of the recent leak of Justice Samuel Alito's leaked opinion attacking Roe v. Wade that surprised longtime abortion-rights activist Terry Cosgrove is that anyone else was surprised by it. "Donald Trump said he ...
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Lightfoot officially announces re-election bid
On June 7, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot confirmed rumors and officially announced her re-election bid. In an open announcement, she said, "Since I was sworn into office three years ago, I've led our city through a ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 13th IL House District: Hoan Huynh talks about the issues and his immigrant background
Hoan Huynh is running in the 13th Illinois House District primary against four other Democratic candidates to replace the long-time out gay state Rep. Greg Harris, who is retiring at the end of this current term. ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 13th IL House District: Andy Peters on the issues, cafe ownership, reasons for running
Andy Peters is running in the 13th Illinois House District primary against four other Democratic candidates to replace the long-time out gay state Rep. Greg Harris, who is retiring at the end of this current term. ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 13th IL House District: Eileen Dordek speaks on the issues
Eileen Dordek is running in the 13th Illinois House District primary against four other Democratic candidates to replace the long-time out gay state Rep. Greg Harris, who is retiring at the end of this current term. ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 13th IL House District: Fernando 'Sergio' Mojica on issues, educator background, why running
Fernando "Sergio" Mojica is running in the 13th Illinois House District primary against four other Democratic candidates to replace the long-time out gay state Rep. Greg Harris, who is retiring at the end of this current ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 13th IL House District: Joseph Struck on issues, activist work, why running
Joseph Struck is running in the 13th Illinois House district primary against four other Democratic candidates to succeed the long-time out gay state Rep. Greg Harris, who is retiring at the end of this current term. ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 Beverly Miles eyes defeating Pritzker in Democratic primary
Beverly Miles is running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary against incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker. She lives on the West Side of Chicago and has spent almost 30 years in the nursing field. She is also a ...
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ELECTIONS 2022 Democratic Gubernatorial race: Gov. JB Pritzker talks record, future plans if re-elected
Gov. JB Pritzker is running for re-election in the Democratic primary against challenger Beverly Miles. Prior to becoming governor, Pritzker spearheaded the creation of the non-profit business incubator 1871 and was the co-founder and managing partner ...
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NATIONAL Mysterious death, Tennesee law, lesbians of color, Guam
Gay bilingual mental-health counselor Julio Ramirez died in April after he fell unconscious in a taxi following a night out at gay bars in Hell's Kitchen—and then his bank accounts were allegedly drained days later, leaving ...
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WORLD Grindr ads, British mayor, Billie Jean King, Australian awards
In Australia, a retail worker-turned-Greens politician credited catchy ads on gay hookup app Grindr for his stunning victory in Brisbane, The Daily Mail noted. Stephen Bates defeated Liberal-National Party incumbent Trevor Evans in the inner-city seat ...
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Equality Illinois honors Greg Harris at annual Pride Kickoff Brunch
To kick off Pride month, Equality Illinois hosted its fourth annual brunch at Venue West on June 4. The event honored Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris, and featured speeches from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and ...
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Pritzker, Stratton visit queer-owned businesses in Andersonville
-- From a press release
Chicago, IL — Following visits to several queer-owned small businesses in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton reaffirmed their commitment to Illinois' LGBTQ+ community ...
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SF mayor makes about-face, will march in city's Pride Parade
San Francisco Mayor London Breed will march in this year's Pride Parade, SFPD Chief Bill Scott announced on Twitter, KRON4 reported. Breed stated last week that she would not take part in this year's parade unless ...
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Community and politicians gather to open the AIDS Memorial Garden
Chicagoans gathered at the lakefront the morning of June 2 for the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the city's long-awaited AIDS Memorial Garden. "There are so many ones who have passed who have come to witness ...
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LETTER Homophobia on The Maze Jackson show
NOTE: Maze Jackson—who hosts"The Most Dangerous Social-Radio Show in Chicago" on weekday mornings at WBGX 1570AM—is the husband of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President and Cook County assessor candidate Kari ...
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President Biden issues LGBTQI+ proclamation
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation for the LGBTQI+ community. In "A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2022," Biden said, in part, "I often say that America can be defined ...
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Paul Vallas enters Chicago mayoral race
Declaring Chicago a "city in crisis," former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas will reportedly enter the race for mayor to unseat incumbent Lori Lightfoot, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. Vallas, 69, becomes the sixth candidate to ...
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Aurora mayor won't march in city's Pride Parade
Republican Aurora mayor and Illinois gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin will not participate in the city's Pride Parade next month—and the city will withdraw its float, NBC Chicago reported. The developments ...
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GLAAD: True LGBTQ allyship extends to all aspects of business, including political giving
-- From a press release
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 (New York, NY)—GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announces GLAAD's Recommendations for Corporate Allies to educate corpo ...
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WNBPA renews calls for Brittney Griner's release
The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) marked the 100th day of Brittney Griner's detention in Russia by renewing calls for her release, CNN reported. "Brittney Griner is our teammate, our friend, and our sister. She ...
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NATIONAL Trans survey, Gays Against Guns, TIME 100, candidates, crimes
Transgender women experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, poor health services and low pay are less likely to receive necessary HIV prevention support or treatment, according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study based on responses from ...
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WORLD Canadian law, GLAAD, Pride Flag situation, German story hour
Members of Canada's LGBTQ community, Indigenous people and minority groups fear a proposed law tackling online harm could disproportionately curtail their online freedoms and even make them police targets, The Toronto Sun reported. Plans for an ...
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Equality Illinois to host Pride Kickoff Brunch on June 4
Equality Illinois will host its Pride Kickoff Brunch on Saturday, June 4, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina Ave. This year, the organization's honoree will be Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris—the first ...
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State Farm drops GenderCool Project; Illinois General Assembly LGBTQ Caucus, Equality Illinois respond
This week in response to an outcry from a hateful few, Illinois-based insurer State Farm dropped their support for The GenderCool Project, which provides LGBTQ-affirming books to schools across the country on a voluntary basis. We ...
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LGBTQ Victory Fund endorses 20 more LGBTQ candidates
-- From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 20 more out LGBTQ candidates. Victory Fund has now endorsed 292 candidates running in the 2022 ...
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Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton comment on Texas tragedy
-- From a press release
Chicago — In the wake of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that killed at least 19 students and two adults, Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton released the following ...
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Indiana institutes anti-trans sports ban, overrides Holcomb's veto
The Indiana General Assembly overturned Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's veto of House Bill 1041, which prohibits transgender girls from playing girls school sports, according to the IndyStar. The House voted to override the veto 67-28; the ...
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Pritzker signs measure protecting Illinoisans with disabilities in housing, state government
-- From a press release
Chicago— Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB2775 and SB180 into law today, expanding protections for Illinoisans with disabilities in state government and housing. HB2775 amends the Illinois Human Rights Act ...
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Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith named to Time100 List
-- From a press release
St. Petersburg, FL — TIME named Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith to the 2022 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The full list and related tributes appear in ...
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NATIONAL Idaho groups, Clay Aiken, Radio Milwaukee, Louisville school
In northern Idaho, two groups with different agendas plan to hold events on the same day (June 11) at Coeur d'Alene City Park—and both organizations have issued statements, according to the Bonner County Daily Bee. The ...
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WORLD Nigeria protest, 'Flag in the Map,' Belgium, McDonald's
Dressed in rainbow-colored vests, members of the LGBTQ+ community marched in a dangerous demonstration in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to protest a bill introduced by lawmakers in Nigeria's lower house of parliament last month seeking to ban ...
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Penn. LGBTQ+ candidates mostly suffer losses on primary night
LGBTQ+ candidates running for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor and a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in Philadelphia's "gayborhood" each lost their races in the Keystone State's May 17 Democratic primary, The ...
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POLITICS GOP candidate Irvin called Trump an 'idiot,' backed LGBTQ+s
GOP gubernatorial candidate and current Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin has dodged talking about former U.S. President Donald Trump (and many other topics)—but recently revealed records show how Irvin reportedly felt ...
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Police officer enters Chicago mayoral race
Longtime Chicago police officer Frederick Collins has jumped into the Chicago mayoral race—and it's not his first. Collins also ran for mayor eight years ago. His 2014 interview with Windy ...
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WORLD Eswatini ruling, Toronto deaths, Greece, blood donations
The High Court in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) rejected an appeal for legal recognition by the local LGBTQ+-rights group Eswatini Sexual & Gender Minorities, citing "laws … prevailing in the kingdom" ...
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NATIONAL New York synod, Danica Roem, legal action, Pride news, PFLAG
The Metropolitan New York Synod (MNYS), the regional body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, announced Christopher Vergara as its newly elected vice president, according to a press release. Vergara is the first openly gay ...
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PASSAGES Urvashi Vaid dies, The National LGBTQ Task Force releases statement
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC……Legendary attorney, LGBTQ activist, and author Urvashi Vaid, known for her extensive career an advocate for LGBTQ rights, women's rights, anti-war efforts, immigration justice and many other social causes ...
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Pro-choice coalition to rally May 14 in Chicago's Union Park
-- From a press release
'Rally for Abortion Justice,' part of a nationwide 'Bans Off Our Bodies' day of action will takes place in Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. on Saturday, May 14 at 9:30 a.m. The crowd may be 25,000 strong according to organizers. ...
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Gov. Pritzker signs legislation addressing rise in organized retail thefts
-- From a press release
CHICAGO — On May 13, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker joined Attorney General Kwame Raoul, lawmakers, advocates and law-enforcement officials to sign legislation designed to combat a nationwide rise in coordinated retail thefts. "This new law represents ...
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State rep joins Chicago mayoral race
On May 12, Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner announced his candidacy for Chicago mayor, stating, "We cannot wait a day longer for a safe and just Chicago for all of us," The Chicago Tribune reported. Buckner ...
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