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SHOWBIZ 'The World to Come' film, Dan Reynolds, Broadway, Green Lantern
The lesbian-themed film The World to Come is available to buy or rent, a press release noted. In this 19th-century romance (from Bleeker Street) that's set in the Northeast, Abigail (played by Katherine Waterston), a farmer's ...
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NATIONAL Lesbian bar closes, COVID survey, trans lawsuit, Andy Towle
The Toasted Walnuta lesbian bar in Philadelphia's Gayborhood that was refuge to queer women for the past five yearswill close for good, according to an Eater Philly item that cited Billy Penn. The bar had been ...
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TELEVISION
'Pose' to end after season three
The FX show Pose—the groundbreaking series focused on New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ drag ball culture scene in the 1980s and ‘90s—will end after its third season, Deadline reported. ...
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Applications for asylum based on LGBT status top 11,000 between 2012, 2017
--From a press release
A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimates that 11,400 applications for asylum on the basis of LGBT status were filed in the U.S. between 2012 and 2017. Three out of ...
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PrEP options likely to change following Truvada patent expiration
Among the myriad challenges facing HIV/AIDS advocates and healthcare providers has been increasing use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, among persons at risk for HIV transmission. A PrEP intervention, which usually consists of taking the oral ...
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TANIA UNZUETA: Fighting for justice, one cause at a time
LGBTQ, immigration and political activist Tania Unzueta has spent the last three years living in Georgia involved in political and electoral organizing. She returned to Chicago in January with her partner. Unzueta came to Chicago from ...
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HIV at 40: Long-term AIDS survivor Sean Strub on diagnosis, being mayor, Larry Kramer
To say Sean Strub is a fighter is almost the supreme understatement. He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the mid-1980swhen having the disease was almost certainly a death sentence. (Even the doctor who diagnosed him passed ...
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Most states are considering anti-transgender bills
Legislators in more than half the states are debating bills to limit access to sports or medical care for transgender people, according to an article by The Hill. Across the nation, at least 35 bills have ...
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Reggie Greer to be White House Senior Advisor on LGBTQ Issues, Victory Institute applauds
--From a press release
Washington, DC — LGBTQ Victory Institute praised the appointment of Reggie Greer to be President Joe Biden's Director of Priority Placement at PPO and Senior Advisor on LGBTQ Issues at the White House. Greer served as ...
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Organizations campaign for stamps honoring LGBTQ icons
The International Imperial Court System (IICS) of the United States, Canada, and Mexico and the National LGBTQ Task Force have launched a national campaign asking the U.S. Post Office Department to issue stamps honoring LGBTQ icons ...
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APA adopts resolution opposing efforts to change people's gender identity
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association has adopted a resolution opposing efforts to change people's gender identity, citing scientific research showing that such actions may be harmful. The resolution, adopted ...
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Awards season kicks off with 2021 Golden Globes
The 78th Annual Golden Globes Awards were distributed Feb. 28 in a quasi-virtual event hosted by performers Tina Fey at the Rainbow Room in New York City and Amy Poehler at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly ...
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Billy Masters
"Bridgerton is like a guilty pleasure, but it's like if The CW decided to go the route of Masterpiece Theatre."Nathan Lane during a recent appearance on "Virtual Halston" with the divine Julie Halston. When does "no ...
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MOVIES Director Ali LeRoi on his LGBT time-loop film
'The Obituary of Tunde Johnson'
The Obituary of Tunde Johnson is a movie with some familiar elements—but they're used to make a novel film. The movie uses the time-loop element that's probably most popular in the film Groundhog Day. However, director ...
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SHOWBIZ Leslie Jordan, Zendaya, 'Handmaid's Tale,' Hulu, Chaka Khan
Emmy winner and viral sensation Leslie Jordan announced his debut album. Company's Comin', will drop April 2 via Platoon, a press release noted. Inspired by his weekly "Sunday Mornin' Hymn Singin'" live stream, the album has ...
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NATIONAL Nebraska measure, Williams Institute, Audre Lorde, journalist dies
In Nebraska, the Lincoln City Council passed an ordinance that bans licensed mental-health professionals from subjecting LGBTQ youth to the discredited practice of conversion therapy, according to a Trevor Project ...
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U.S. House passes COVID stimulus bill
A $1.9-trillion coronavirus stimulus billthe first major legislation of President Joe Biden's termpassed the U.S. House mostly along party lines early on Feb. 27. The legislation includes stimulus checks of $1,400 for individuals making up ...
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Equality Act would provide federal civil rights protections to 13M LGBTs
--From a press release
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, federal legislation that would expressly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity under existing civil rights laws. LGBT ...
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Spots revealed for Chicago Restaurant Week 2021
The venues participating in Chicago Restaurant Week (March 19-April 4) have been revealed. This year's participants include a range of restaurants throughout Chicagoland offering specially priced, prix fixe menus for ...
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House passes Equality Act, LGBTQ Victory Institute demands Senate vote
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Institute — the only national organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ elected officials — applauded the U.S. House for passing the Equality Act and called on U.S. senators not to filibuster ...
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Dr. Rachel Levine confirmation hearing today, to be first trans Senate-confirmed appointee
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today Dr. Rachel Levine will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about her experience and qualifications to be the next U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health. If moved ...
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One-third of gay, bisexual men who take PrEP discontinue within three years
--From a press release
Familiarity and favorable attitudes towards PrEP have increased over time, though use remains low A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds a significant increase in familiarity with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) ...
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Victory Institute condemns Rand Paul attack on
Dr. Rachel Levine, trans youth
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Institute condemned Senator Rand Paul's transphobic attack on Dr. Rachel Levine during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He attacked trans you ...
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Newman, Taylor Greene clash over Equality Act
Illinois U.S. Rep. Marie Newman's push to pass the Equality Act—a law that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ Americans—has put her at odds with controversial Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to The Chicago Tribun ...
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Team USA defends women's soccer title with 6-0 win
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won its fourth SheBelieves Cup on Feb. 24 after a commanding 6-0 victory over Argentina, the Olympic Channel reported. The victory makes the team the first to win back-to-back titles; ...
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LGBTs rise to 5.6% of U.S. population
Gallup's latest update on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identification finds 5.6% of U.S. adults identifying as LGBT, according to the organization. The current estimate is up from 4.5% in Gallup's previous update based on 2017 ...
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1.3 million adult immigrants in the US identify as LGBT
--From a press release
LGBT immigrants are more often male and younger compared to all immigrants in the country An estimated 1,274,500 LGBT foreign-born adults live in the U.S., including 289,700 who are undocumented and 984,800 who are documented, according ...
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Author and educator Sarah Chadwick talks new book on female sexuality
Sarah Chadwick's debut book, The Sweetness of Venus: A History of the Clitoris, was the result of her desire to understand the status of female sexuality in the West from an historical perspective. During Chadwick's research, ...
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NATIONAL Virginia items, Marriott CEO, Black LGBTQ+ icons, trans kids' book
Virginia lawmakers are about to roll back a state law that allows faith-based adoption and foster-care agencies to refuse service to LGBTQ families, VirginiaMercury.com reported. The legislation has spurred heated ...
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Showbiz: Black gay director, Oscars, soccer couple, Demi Lovato
Paris Barclay, the Emmy-winning TV director and former president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), will receive the guild's Honorary Life Member Award at the 73rd Annual DGA Awards on April 10, TheWrap reported. Barclay ...
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Equality Act introduced Feb. 18
The Equality Act was formally reintroduced to Congress on Feb. 18 by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and openly gay U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, Gay City News reported. The legislation, which most recently passed the lower chamber ...
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Equality Act reintroduced in House of Representatives, NCLR responds
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, NCLR lauded the reintroduction of the Equality Act (H.R. 5), a bipartisan comprehensive federal civil rights bill that would create permanent protections for LGBTQ individuals, women ...
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National Trust advocates to protect legacy of LGBTQ+ pioneers
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Trust for Historic Preservation will testify tomorrow before the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission in an attempt to secure a local landmark designation for the San Francisco home of pioneering LGBTQ+ ...
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MOVIES Dutch journalist talks about making 'My Friend, the Mayor'
In the Amazon Prime Video documentary My Friend, the Mayor: Small-town Democracy in the Age of Trump, Dutch journalist Max Westerman profiles friend Sean Strub, an openly gay activist, activist, long-term AIDS survivor and POZ magazine ...
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Billy Masters
"It was the worst 90 seconds of my life, for sure."Stormy Daniels, while on Michael Cohen's podcast. She also revealed that she first met El Presidente in 2006 at a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe where ...
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Showbiz: Jodie Foster, 'Aretha,' gospel singer, Cody Newman, gay actors
While promoting her new film The Mauritanian, Jodie Foster said she "was a little scared of" acting alongside Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, Yahoo! Entertainment noted. Of Silence (which has its 30th anniversary this ...
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NATIONAL: Missing gay man, paramedic's suit, Equality Act, Bayard Rustin
San Francisco police are seeking the public's help finding a gay man who went missing, seemingly without a trace, The Bay Area Reporter noted. The mother of Christopher J. Woitel, 50, last heard from him Jan. ...
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Queer musician Ari Gold dies at 47
New York City-based dance artist Ari Gold has died at age 47 after a long battle with cancer, according to out.com. Gold—who was also known as Sir Ari and GoldNation— released seven albums as a part ...
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Trump acquitted again on Feb. 13
On Feb. 13, the U.S. Senate acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, concluding a historic impeachment trial, The Chicago Tribune reported. The Senate convened for a rare weekend ...
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The Amazon Trail Covid 19 Pioneer
Now that President Biden and Vice President Harris are in office, I've been able to have my first Covid 19 vaccine shot. It was no big deal. I went to our county fairgrounds expecting to be injected through my car window, ...
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CDC establishes school-reopening guidelines
On Feb. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that teachers and students should return to the classroom and can do so safelyeven in areas with high rates of viral transmissionif certain mitigation ...
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HUD to enforce the Fair Housing Act, leaders respond
--Press release from U.S. Dept. Housing and Urban Development
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will administer and enforce the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The HUD directive begins ...
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LGBTQ+ film critics group unveils nominations
The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA) revealed the nominations for the 2021 Dorian Film Awards on Feb. 11. Minari leads the way with six nominations, including best film and best foreign-language film; Nomadland scored five ...
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HUD to enforce act prohibiting discrimination on sexual orientation, gender identity
--From a press release
WASHINGTONThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it will administer and enforce the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. HUD's Office ...
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MOVIES 'Wonder Woman 1984' coming to PVOD, Digital, Blu-Ray
The movie Wonder Woman 1984the sequel starring Gal Gadot, with Patty Jenkins as directoris arriving on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD), 4K, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, according to a press release from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. ...
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Biden administration postponing discriminatory Trump-era HHS change, HRC responds
--From a press release
WASHINGTON — Today, in response to a legal challenge, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed to a court order that will temporarily halt a Trump-era discriminatory rule change that would have permitted discrimination ...
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GLAAD: Senators vote against response to riot but introduce anti-trans bill
--From a press release
Five of the eight senators objecting to Electoral College votes and voting against the second Trump impeachment trial have cosponsored a new bill targeting transgender youth, adding to history of anti-LGBTQ votes and views GLAAD: "More ...
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U.S. senators vote to proceed with Trump impeachment trial
On Feb. 9, U.S. senators in former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial agreed to consider the case, rejecting an attempt by the former president's defense team and some Republican allies to halt the trial ...
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Report: LGBTs of color 2X as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as straight white people
--From a press release
Data collected in fall 2020 finds that LGBT peoplein particular LGBT people of colorhave disproportionately experienced the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, according to a new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of ...
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Modern Military Association of America names executive director
--From a press release
MMAA is pleased to announce that the board of directors has selected Jennifer Dane as executive director. Jennifer is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has served as the organization's interim executive director since February 2020. ...
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National LGBTQ Task Force launches third year of sex ed leadership project
--From a press release
Washington, D.C., February 9, 2021 — The National LGBTQ Task Force will launch the Sex Ed Leadership Project on March 3, 2021, following the success of two mini-conferences that offered training and programming on LGBTQ+ inclusive ...
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Original Supreme Mary Wilson dies at 76
Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, died Feb. 8 at her home in Las Vegas at age 76, media outlets reported. Wilson was an original member of the iconic Motown group known for hits ...
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Leading groups submit amicus briefs against discrimination against LGBT surviving spouses
--From a press release
WASHINGTON D.C.—AARP, AARP Foundation, SAGE and the American Society on Aging (ASA) filed amicus briefs today in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit arguing that the ...
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Billy Masters
"Go back on the elephant you came on."Priyanka Chopra Jonas reveals an example of the bullying she received in school. Ironically, when she married Nick Jonas, she rode into her wedding on the back of...you guessed ...
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NATIONAL Black History Month, anti-trans bills, Penn. politician, HIV measure
In honor of Black History Month, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) announced its acquisition of the Ubuntu Biography Project, a press release noted. The Ubuntu Biography Project, created by Stephen A. Maglott, celebrates the legacies ...
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SHOWBIZ Tian Richards, August Wilson, $88M celebrity home, sports items
Tian Richards has been cast in the title role of the Nancy Drew spinoff, Tom Swift, at The CW, Variety reported. Richards will make his first appearance as the character in an upcoming episode of Nancy ...
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Wyoming GOP censures Liz Cheney over impeachment vote
On Feb. 6, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to censure U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and asked her to resign for her vote last month to impeach then-President Donald Trump after the insurrection at the Capitol on ...
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LETTER Federal anti-discrimination protection? Inevitable
=The astute can predict the future—with more than a modicum of confidence—by examining history. Nate Silver did this last year at fivethirtyeight.com, as did Vegas oddsmakers, in predicting the victory of President Joe Biden over der ...
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Gay Black man presides over U.S. House
On Feb. 4, U.S. Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-New York) released a statement after he became the first openly gay, Black member of Congress to preside over floor proceedings in the House of Representatives, according to the ...
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NBJC releases toolkit ahead of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Ahead of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) on Feb. 7, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) released a toolkit that includes information about testing, treatment and tips for reducing ...
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National AIDS Memorial observes Black History Month
During Black History Month, the National AIDS Memorial is honoring Black lives lost to AIDS with a specially curated selection of 56 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt), a press release announced. "This virtual ...
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SAG nominations announced; Boseman gets four nods
Nominations for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards were announced Feb. 4. On the film side, Deadline noted that the late Chadwick Boseman made SAG Awards nomination history by receiving four nominations: for his lead role ...
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Donald Trump resigns from SAG-AFTRA; group tersely responds
Former U.S. President Donald Trump resigned from SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) after the organization's national board recently voted overwhelmingly to find probable cause of ...
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Among California Latinx, older LGBs more likely than straight peers to have stress
--From a Williams Institute press release
In both LGB and straight populations, Latinx people had poorer physical health outcomes New research from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that Latinx older adults in California are similar to their non-LGB ...
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Black LGBTQ Community Survey released
The Center for Black Equity (CBE) and Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) have released the Black LGBTQ Community Survey results, in recognition of Black History Month. The methodology review is as follows: 1,815 Black LGBTQ adults ...
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Florida to protect LGBTQ civil rights, embraces Bostock ruling
--From a press release
St. Petersburg, FL - In a victory for LGBTQ Floridians, the agency that enforces state civil rights law has affirmed that discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity is ...
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HRC responds to Rand Paul's questions about trans children
On Feb. 3, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the confirmation of Connecticut Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona to be Secretary of Education. During the event, U.S. Sen. Rand ...
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Golden Globe nods announced; LGBTQ shows, characters and actors included
Nominations for the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards—which honor the best in television and film—were announced Feb. 3. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return as hosts of the event for a fourth time. The Golden ...
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Pete Buttigieg is first LGBTQ Senate-confirmed cabinet member
--From a Victory Institute press release
Washington, DC — Today the United States Senate confirmed Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, making him the first out LGBTQ person ever confirmed for a cabinet position. Buttigieg is one of dozens of high-profile LGBTQ ...
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MMAA condemns Cong. Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Hate American Flags' statement
--From a Modern Military Association of America press release
WASHINGTON Tonight, the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) the nation's largest LGBTQ military and veteran non-profit organization condemns Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's statement on 'hate Ameri ...
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Billy Masters
"I am happy to report that today, I took my dear friend Jo Anne Worley to get her first COVID-19 vaccination! Not only that, several nurses and doctors recognized her and came over to the car ...
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'Draw With Me' follows trans teen who's Jennifer Lopez's nibling; director reflects
Draw With Me—an official Oscar entry for Documentary Short Subject—is the story of talented teen artist Brendon Scholl, who identifies as trans non-binary and whose art has been a vital outlet for self expression. The movie—created ...
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NATIONAL Puerto Rico action, firefighter, HIV drug, trans candidate, Janelle Monae
Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi declared a state of emergency to combat violence committed against the transgender community, out.com reported. Pierluisi signed an executive order in response to the surge in violent killings of transgender ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Tunde Johnson,' John Waters, Jane Lynch, Billie Eilish
Wolfe Releasing has slated the film The Obituary of Tunde Johnson for a theatrical and digital release on Feb. 26, a press release noted. The film—written by Stanley Kalu; directed by Ali LeRoi; and starring Steven ...
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Chicago trans trailblazer Gloria Allen to receive SAGE award in memory of Carmen Vazquez
--From a SAGE press release
[NEW YORK, N.Y.] SAGE, the world's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT elders, will present Gloria Allen, known as "Mama Gloria," with the Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in ...
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