A man was arrested in connection with the murder of a transgender woman in northwest Miami-Dade, Florida, NBC Miami reported. Anthony Quinn Peyton II, 25, was charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 23 killing of 26-year-old London Price. Family members said in a previous interview that Price was pistol-whipped in front of her grandmother before being shot to death. Price is one of more than 20 trans, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming people who have died by violence in the country this year; most of them have been women of color, per The Advocate.
In South Carolina, a man pled guilty to obstruction charges in a federal court for his role in the 2019 murder of 24-year-old Black transgender woman Pebbles LaDime "Dime" Doe, The Advocate reported. Xavier Pinckney pled guilty to a single count of obstruction of justice and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the offense, the Department of Justice stated. Prosecutors say Daqua Ritter fired the bullet that killed Doe. In February, he was charged with a hate crime for murdering a person because of their gender identity, using a firearm in connection with a hate crime and obstruction of justice.
Equality California announced endorsements for 36 incumbent members of Congress running for re-election in 2024, per a press release. Incumbent LGBTQ+ candidates Mark Takano and Robert Garcia were among those on the list; some of the others included Ted Lieu, Linda T. Sanchez, Ro Khanna, Maxine Waters, Judy Chu, Eric Swalwell and Nancy Pelosi.
On Oct. 28 in Newark, New Jersey, Academy Street was officially renamed Sakia Gunn Way in honor of Sakia Gunn—a 15-year-old Black lesbian who was murdered in an anti-gay attack on May 11, 2003, according to Gay City News. Gunn and four friends were traveling home from a night out in Greenwich Village. They were waiting for a bus when two men, Richard McCullough and Allen Pierce, approached them and made sexual advances. When the teens told them they were lesbian, the men attacked them—and Gunn was fatally stabbed. Almost 3,000 students attended Gunn's funeral on the first anniversary of her death, Gay City News reported at the time.
In a move to celebrate and preserve LGBTQ+ history in America, openly gay U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin), who chairs the Congressional Equality Caucus, put forward two bills aimed at creating a National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture, The Advocate noted. "As our community faces unprecedented attacks and attempts to erase our history, we must preserve and protect our stories for future generations," Pocan said on social media. "It is vital to remember our collective past—particularly when certain states, and even Members of Congress, seek to constrain and repeal existing rights by passing bills that harm LGBTQI+ youth and our community at large."
Orlando's onePULSE Foundation confirmed that it's abandoning plans to raise money for a museum at the Pulse nightclub shooting site, The Advocate noted. Foundation Board Chair Earl Crittenden said, "After careful consideration regarding the scope of our proposed projects, including conversations with victims' families, survivors, and the local community, as well as unforeseen challenges, the onePULSE Foundation Board of Trustees has decided it is no longer feasible to move forward with the plan to develop a museum." The decision came days after the city of Orlando decided to make a $2 million offer to buy the Pulse site from owner Barbara Poma, who founded the nonprofit after the 2016 mass shooting.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow's new book, Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, clinched the top spot on the New York Times best-seller list, The Advocate noted. This accolade comes amid Maddow's ongoing nationwide tour, which included a recent stop in Chicago. The book delves into the historical roots and modern implications of fascist movements in the U.S. Prequel emerged from research Maddow conducted for her podcast, Ultra.
The Queer Harlem Renaissance app is bringing hidden narratives to the forefront through the use of augmented reality, Columbia Neighbors noted. The platform encompasses an immersive and interactive map where users can virtually experience the Harlem spaces, histories and memories of the queer community during the 1920s. The app can be accessed at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TerryVallery.QueerHarlem&pli=1.
It was recently revealed that gay dads Michael Drennan and Matthew Kisner (and their daughter) were chased down the street and were physically and verbally attacked by a man during a Father's Day trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, PinkNews noted. The couple allege that they were attacked by homeless man Jordan Salazar, who followed the family from the train station, yelling after them and calling out homophobic slurs; Salazar then allegedly hit one of the fathers in the head with a metal broomstick. Drennan and Kisner's case is on hold after Salazar's defense attorney raised questions about his competency.
The American Academy of Pediatrics noted that teens and young adults are fairly open to the idea of talking with their doctors and nurses about their sexual orientation and gender identity and are okay being asked through various methods—like on paper, electronically or in person—according to research presented during the 2023 AAP National Conference & Exhibition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This is one of the first studies to establish how adolescents would prefer to broach this sensitive subject while visiting their healthcare providers. Gender-diverse and LGB youths are far more open to having these personal conversations with healthcare providers than their straight and cisgender peers, according to the research abstract.
Eddie Ashley—who is behind bars for his alleged involvement in a string of robberies at NYC gay bars last year—pled guilty to grand larceny, robbery and identity-theft charges, Gay City News noted, citing NBC News. Ashley, who had previously pled not guilty, was one of six suspects arrested in the alleged scheme that targeted gay bars in 2021 and 2022, leading to the deaths of John Umberger, 33 and Julio Ramirez, 25. The other five suspects in the case—Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio, Jacob Barroso, Andre Butts and Shane Hoskins—have pled not guilty and are in police custody awaiting trial.
Controversial gay Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos—who recently avoided expulsion from the U.S. House—appeared in federal court on Long Island on Oct. 27, pleading not guilty to 10 new felony charges, per The Advocate. He had already been charged with 13 offenses related to his financial dealings. A trial date has been set for Sept. 9, 2024.
Florida is among the latest conservative-leaning states to sever connections with the American Library Association after the nonprofit became embroiled in the ongoing culture war over banned books, Politico reported. The move by the DeSantis administration puts Florida in line with a cadre of Republican states and lawmakers leveling scrutiny on ALA, labeling the group as "toxic" and a "conduit" for exposing children to pornography—claims refuted by the organization and its supporters. Other states cutting ties include Alabama, Wyoming, Missouri and Texas.
The Human Rights Campaign criticized X (formerly Twitter) and its CEO, Elon Musk, for running sponsored "timeline takeover" content from PragerU that promotes what HRC called "its new 'so-called' documentary on transgender people," per a press release. X agreed to run this content despite PragerU admitting, via reporting from the Washington Times, that YouTube rejected the proposal "almost immediately upon submission," and that several film festivals have also refused to air it.
Two youths have filed suits against the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), alleging physical and verbal abuse from youth and staff at various facilities, The Advocate noted. Trevor Potter (who identifies as bisexual) and Makiah Mackey (who identifies as pansexual) each filed separate lawsuits, claiming harassment and physical abuse from other youths at various OYA facilities. They also say that staff not only allowed the abuse to continue without punishment for the alleged perpetrators but actively engaged in anti-LGBTQ+ harassment as well.
Three Republican Wisconsin state legislators attended a rally held by right-wing extremists Gays Against Groomers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, The Advocate noted. Reps. John Macco, Nate Gustafson and Joy Goeben were present at the event, which had about a dozen attendees. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled Gays Against Groomers "one of the most notable propagators of anti-trans rhetoric." Also, The Anti-Defamation League has designated it an extremist hate group, associating them with other organizations like Moms for Liberty and the Proud Boys.
In Missouri, Black Tie celebrated 20 years of helping LGBTQ+ organizations, the Springfield News-Leader noted. This year, more than 900 people purchased tickets to attend this year's Springfield Black Tie (taking place Nov. 11 at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center); the passes sold out in less than 12 hours of becoming available, according to Black Tie Board of Directors Treasurer Gregg Johnson. This year's keynote speaker is Anthony Rapp, best known as Mark Cohen in the Tony Award-winning rock opera Rent. Over the past 19 years, Black Tie has raised more than $1.5 million for area groups.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled limited-edition Barack and Michelle Obama Election Night Bobbleheads commemorating the historic evening when Barack Obama was elected president, per a press release. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the historic evening when Barack became the first Black person to be elected president. Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,008 to commemorate the year of the election. The museum produced the bobbleheads, and the dolls are $40 each (plus $8 shipping); visit store.bobbleheadhall.com/products/barackandmichelle.
Former Pennsylvania legislator Brian Sims got engaged to his boyfriend, Alex Drakos, The Advocate noted. "HE SAID YES! Tonight on the beach I asked Alex if he'd be my husband and he said yes! Our friends have been in on it awhile now and a few weeks ago I asked his parents before I flew out to Hong Kong if I had their permission," Sims wrote on Instagram. Ten years ago, Sims made history when he became the first out gay elected official in Pennsylvania history; in 2022, he ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania but lost to Austin Davis.
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence—a foe of the LGBTQ+ community—suspended his campaign for president amid lagging poll numbers and financial challenges. "After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today," Pence said at the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual conference in Las Vegas. Pence broke ranks with ex-boss then-President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, when the VP refused to reject electoral votes during Congress' certification of the 2020 election. Other GOP candidates who've ended their 2024 campaigns include Trump critic Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Robert Card—the suspect in the recent Maine mass shooting—seemed to have held extremist right-wing views, particularly against the transgender community, The Advocate noted. Card retweeted far-right figures and their transphobic views, according to Newsweek and Wired; also, following a separate mass shooting incident in Nashville in March, Carlson posted inflammatory remarks on X, formerly Twitter. The Oct. 26 massacre in Maine left 18 dead and 13 injured, according to a briefing from Maine Gov. Janet Mills. Card, 40, was found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, media outlets reported.
An anti-affirmative action group sued U.S. law firm Winston & Strawn in Houston's federal court after urging it to alter a fellowship program for law students designed to increase diversity at the firm, Reuters reported. A group founded by Edward Blum—the activist behind the successful U.S. Supreme Court challenge to race-conscious college admissions policies—said in the lawsuit that Winston's 1L LCLD Scholars Program discriminates against straight white men. Blum's American Alliance for Equal Rights had filed lawsuits against Perkins Coie and Morrison & Foerster because of their programs—only to drop them after those firms changed the application criteria to be race-neutral.
