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 statement, the organization said, "Seven years after Obergefell, it's ever more apparent that LGBTQ couples are worthy of love and recognition and that our families are welcome and valued. Obergefell and Roe are landmark decisions for a reason: because they ensure freedoms and protections and are fully supported by a wide majority of Americans. If anything, Congress and the Supreme Court should move to reflect the will of the people by codifying protections against discrimination."
More than 500 guests gathered recently at Pier Sixty in New York to celebrate Family Equality's Night at the Pier, a press release noted. Attendees enjoyed a program produced by Oscar winner Bruce Cohen that included performances by 2022 Tony nominees Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), the cast of SIX, Shoshana Bean (Mr. Saturday Night) and three-time Tony winner Jason Robert Brown; updates on Family Equality's critical work; and inspiring stories of LGBTQ+ families. The event honored Jordan Roth and Richie Jackson, husbands who have been instrumental in the movement for marriage and family equality; Jonathan Capehart presented their award. Attendees included Joseph Altuzzara, Alina Cho (CBS Sunday Morning), Broadway performer LaChanze, Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls and many others.
Lambda Legal launched the first episode of its new podcast, a press release announced. Making the Case' is a short-form interview series featuring Lambda Legal attorneys discussing impactful cases and policy work with host Alex Berg. Listeners will have the opportunity to learn more about the strategies, challenges and passion that helped win some of the most significant cases for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV in recent memory. Episode one is at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fly-over-equality-fighting-for-marriage-in-iowa/id1627063351?i=1000565729958.
NYC Pride announced the fully in-person return of Youth Pride with Taylor Bennett as the headliner along with co-hosts Ezra Michel and Ruba Wilson, per a media release. In 2017, Bennett (the brother of fellow Chicago musician Chance the Rapper) came out as bisexual to publicly voice his continued support for the LGBTQ+ community. Other featured performances and appearances include Keiynan Lonsdale, keiyaA, Ashlee Keating, Grag Queen, Marquise Vilson and more. Youth Pride will take place at Rumsey Playfield at Central Park on Saturday, June 25, at noon CT.
A federal judge ruled in favor of plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by counsel Lambda Legal and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) challenging North Carolina's exclusion of gender-affirming healthcare for transgender state employee health-plan participants, per a Lambda Legal press release. Lambda Legal and TLDEF filed the lawsuit, Kadel v. Folwell, in 2019 on behalf of several current and former state employees and their dependents after the North Carolina State Health Plan denied coverage for their medically necessary gender-affirming care. Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Tara Borelli said, "North Carolina was on the wrong side of history, and we hope it closes this unfortunate chapter."
Ohio lawmakers have advanced an extreme anti-transgender sports bill that would require genital checks of athletes suspected of being trans females, The Advocate reported. The legislation, officially titled the Save Women's Sports Act, was tacked onto House Bill 151, which deals with residency requirements for Ohio teachers. It states that no "individuals of the male sex" will be allowed to participate on school sports teams designated for females.
Also, versions of The Ohio Fairness Act (Senate Bill 119 and its companion, House Bill 208) are currently sitting, stalled in committee, News 5 Cleveland reported. The Senate version was introduced by Antonio and state Sen. Michael Rulli, a Republican from Salem; the House version by state Reps. Michael Skindell, a Democrat from Lakewood, and Brett Hillyer, a Republican from Uhrichsville. Ohio is one of the nearly 30 states with no LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections, according to data collected by Freedom for All Americans.
Delaware Gov. John Carney and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long signed a proclamation officially recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month at the State Capitol, per The Washington Blade. "June is recognized as Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate and remember the history of the LGBTQ+ community and show support and appreciation," said Carney at the public signing, reading the proclamation aloud. First signed by Carney in 2017, the proclamation was introduced by the state Senate to promote Pride on a state level after then-President Trump made no official proclamation declaring Pride Month that year—a trend that, repeated throughout his presidency, broke from an eight-year tradition President Obama established.
The largest Mennonite denomination in the country took a step toward accepting the LGBTQ+ community, fox43.com reported. Recently, delegates of Mennonite Church USA voted to officially allow pastors to perform same-sex marriages, as well as apologize for the harm caused by past policies. The church has a membership of about 62,000 people, according to Executive Director Glen Guyton.
Tesla head Elon Musk recently touted his company's perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index (tweeting "for the 7th year in a row")—but courted controversy by saying Tesla respects "personal choices" in reference to the LGBTQ+ community, Fortune noted. In 2020, Musk tweeted a cartoon mocking people for putting gender pronouns in their bios, which some people viewed as transphobic. In response, Musk said that he "support[s] trans [rights], but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare."
LGBTQ Victory Fund-endorsed candidate Will Rollins won the primary election for California's 41st Congressional District, an organizational press release noted. He will now face one of the most anti-LGBTQ members of Congress, Ken Calvert, in the November general election. According to LGBTQ Victory Institute's Out for America Map which tracks out LGBTQ elected officials nationally, there are currently just 11 out LGBTQ people serving in Congress.
In Maryland, the Carroll County Board of Education adopted a policy that prohibits Pride flags from being displayed in schools under its jurisdiction, The Washington Blade reported. Under the new policy, which the board adopted by a 4-1 vote margin, flags that are not specifically included in its language cannot be "flown, posted or affixed" to school buildings and facilities. Former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, who is running for governor, sharply criticized the policy.
In connection with Pride Month, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team held a so-called "Pride Night" where various players wore special-edition jerseys containing a rainbow-colored version of the team's logo, Out noted. However, several players took issue with the move and refused to wear the jerseys and hats that contained the rainbow-colored logo. Tampa Bay Rays players who refused to wear the rainbow-themed clothing in support of the LGBTQ+ community included Jason Adam, Brooks Raley, Jalen Beeks, Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Thompson.
