People born in New York City who don't identify as male or female will have the option of changing their birth certificates to "X'' under legislation the City Council passed, a U.S. News & World Report item noted. The bill, approved 41-6, will also allow parents to choose the "X'' designation for their newborns, and it will allow adults to change the gender on their birth certificates without an affidavit from a doctor or mental-health professional.
A Virginia federal court ruled a case filed by Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN, along with pro bono counsel from Winston & Strawn LLP, challenging the military's policies governing the enlistment, deployment and promotion of servicemembers living with HIV will continue by denying the government's motion to dismiss, a Lambda Legal press release stated. The plaintiffs' motion to halt implementation of a new Department of Defense policy that likely would have resulted in the discharge of servicemembers living with HIV was also denied because the Pentagon modified the policy after the plaintiffs file the motion.
Lambda Legal, interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth and Proskauer Rose LLP have released the nation's first intersex-affirming hospital policy guide, offering concrete steps for medical providers to provide sensitive, non-discriminatory care to intersex patients, a press release stated. "Intersex" describes up to 1.7 percent of the population born with natural variations in chromosomes, hormones, or genitalia that transcend an outdated understanding of biological sex as a male/female binary. The guide is at https://www.lambdalegal.org/sites/default/files/publications/downloads/resource_20180731_hospital-policies-intersex.pdf.
West Hollywood, California, is set to host what is believed to be the first citywide bisexual Pride in the country, NewNowNext.com noted. The Los Angeles chapter of community group amBi is organizing the event, to be held Sept. 22—the day before Bisexual Visibility Day—alongside the City of West Hollywood and HRC L.A. September is also Bisexual Awareness Month. Nearly half of the LGBTQ community identifies as bisexual.
A federal judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit filed by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) and the ACLU of Michigan challenging religious discrimination against same-sex couples in the state's public child-welfare system, The Detroit News reported. The suit asks U.S. District Judge Paul Borman to bar Michigan from entering into contracts with or providing taxpayer funding to private child placing agencies that exclude same-sex couples from consideration as foster or adoptive parents. The plaintiffs—Kristy and Dana Dumont and Erin and Rebecca Busk-Sutton, who seek to provide forever families to children in the foster-care system—were turned away by two state-contracted agencies because they are same-sex couples, an ACLU press release added.
The federal district court for the Middle District of Florida has approved a settlement agreement in a lawsuit the National Center for Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) brought on behalf of John Doe against the Volusia County School Board ( VCSB ) for excluding John from the shared boys' restrooms and locker rooms because he is transgender, an NCLR press relase noted. The suit alleged that the school's policies violated federal sex discrimination laws and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The settlement ensures that John can use the boys' bathrooms and locker rooms at schools in Volusia County.
In Pennsylvania, a Christian college has stopped a man from returning to finish his degree because he's gay, according to Gay Star News. Gary Campbell hoped to resume his classes at Clarks Summit University in order to receive the final six credits for a bachelor's degree; then, he planned to start a job working with recovering addicts. The college prohibits students from engaging in same-sex relationships and "reserves the right to dismiss or deny the enrollment of those whose behavior or influence upon our community should prove to be contrary to the best interests of our students, the Clarks Summity University Community Commitment and to our Lord Jesus Christ," according to the school handbook.
Authorities in St. Petersburg, Florida, charged a man with attempted murder when he allegedly stabbed another man in the neck after they had sex, Gay Star News noted. Mark Kimball, 54, went to friend Michael Drake's house; the two engaged in consenual sex and afterward, Drake, 38, grabbed a knife and cut Kimball's neck multiple times. Authorities charged Drake with one count of second-degree attempted murder after Drake admitted to cutting Kimball.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo cruised to a win Sept. 13 in the Democratic primary for New York governor, easily warding off a challenge from actor/activist Cynthia Nixon, USA Today noted. Cuomo's big victory allows him to continue his bid for a third term and sets up a November battle with Marc Molinaro, the Republican nominee for governor. Also, Cuomo's running mate, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, also won in her primary fight against New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, as did Letitia James, Cuomo's choice for attorney general.
Point Foundation—the country's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit—is honoring Pose co-creator, writer and co-executive producer Steven Canals, NewNowNext.com . Canals will receive the Point Horizon Award Oct. 13 at the Point Honors Los Angeles 2018 Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The award recognizes a trailblazer who has taken a leadership role as an advocate of the LGBTQ community.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that Courtney R. Snowden—her deputy mayor for greater economic opportunity since April 2015—will be leaving her job as of Sept. 21 "to pursue a new career opportunity outside of District government," The Washington Blade noted. Snowden, a lesbian who has worked on LGBT rights issues in previous private sector jobs, has served in her current job as Bowser's highest-ranking openly LGBT appointee.
Curtis Ingraham, the gay brother of ultra-conservative Fox News host Laura Ingraham, called his sister "a monster" when he spoke with The Daily Beast, according to LGBTQ Nation. Earlier this year, Laura's show came under attack after her comments about Parkland, Florida, survivor David Hogg, where she accused him of whining. "My sister's repeated mean spirited, flip and insensitive remarks makes me, her brother, question her very humanity. Your continued sponsorship is disturbing to say the least," Curtis tweeted.
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels announced during her appearance on The View that she will be releasing a tell-all book titled Full Disclosure on Oct. 2, TheWrap.com noted. Daniels also says that the book will reveal further details about her alleged affair with Donald Trump in 2006. Daniels told The View's panel that the book will also focus on her life and how she balanced her career as an adult film star with her personal life.
Speaking of President Trump, Bob Woodward's book Fear: Trump in the White House has said that the chief executive referred to transgender reassignment surgery as "getting clipped" and failed to loop in top government officials before issuing a ban on transgender troops last year, Newsweek.com noted. A 2016 study by the Rand Corporation, that the Pentagon commissioned, found that only roughly 6,600 transgender troops served in the military, and that the cost was $8 million annually.
LGBT Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow as "shameful" a New York Magazine piece in which his half-sister, Soon-Yi Previn, accuses their mother, Mia Farrow, of abuse, TheWrap.com noted. In the New York Magazine piece, Previn said Mia Farrow abused her, and said she had no positive memories of her childhood with Mia Farrow.
On a related note, Jon Lovett—Ronan Farrow's partner—has rejected an invitation to appear at the New York Magazine's festival after Soon-Yi Previn's piece was published, Page Six revealed. "I'd love to join but [New York] published a hit piece by a Woody Allen superfan to discredit Dylan Farrow and smear Mia Farrow. So unless I can lead a chant about how [its editor] Adam Moss should be ashamed of himself, I'm going to pass," Lovett tweeted.
Anita Hill urged the federal government to implement a "fair and neutral" way to investigate sexual misconduct complaints after allegations surfaced against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, CNN.com noted. Hill—who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of workplace sexual harassment during his confirmation hearing back in 1991—said she has seen "firsthand what happens when such a process is weaponized against an accuser and no one should have to endure that again."
Attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of historian Heather Thompson, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning book Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy was censored by Illinois prison officials, an Uptown People's Law Center, press release noted. The book provides a history and analysis of the Attica prison uprising, detailing events beforehand, the week-long uprising, ensuing legal battles and the event's role in perpetuating mass incarceration in the United States.
