Pete Buttigieg makes history as first gay cabinet nominee Nearly a year ago in Des Moines, Pete Buttigieg hugged his husband onstage after his win in the Iowa caucuses made him the first openly LGBTQ candidate to earn delegates toward a major political party’s presidential nomination. Last month, reported USA Today, he made history again…
WEST HOLLYWOOD SEPI SHYNE FIRST LGBTQ IRANIAN WOMAN ELECTED TO OFFICE Sepi Shyne and John M. Erickson were sworn in to the city council of West Hollywood during a teleconference council meeting last month, in adherence to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Councilmember Sepi Shyne made history when she was elected to the West Hollywood…
Rainbow Railroad Support LGBTQI individuals living in fear and isolation due to government and police supported persecution and violence. Can you imagine living in fear of persecution, torture or murder? Can you imagine going to jail for who you are or who you love? That is a reality for so many LGBTQI individuals around the…
A staunch family values Hungarian member of the European Parliament was caught “fleeing along the gutter” to escape Brussels police during the raid of a gay orgy [which violated Belgium’s strict lockdown rules]. RAYS OF HOPE FROM SCOTUS? Last month, I spared you the recap of a lawsuit that pitted Indiana against two married women…
SAN DIEGO TODD GLORIA BECOMES FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR OF COLOR Todd Gloria is now the first openly LGBTQ+ person and first person of color elected mayor of San Diego. The new mayor is Native American, Filipino, Puerto Rican and Dutch. He vows to create opportunity for people of color like himself when he takes…
QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT PRESIDENT I just reread my last column, written in the wee hours of November 4, and relived the intoxicated stress of election night. All I can say is I’m glad that’s over. Yes, we now face nearly two more months of dodging bullets from Trump and the crazies he has…
BACK TO SCHOOL Educator of the Year trans teacher Tray Robinson on his expectations for the coming administration Transgender San Jose, California high school teacher and GLSEN’s 2020 Educator of the Year Tray Robinson spoke to LGBTQ Nation last month about his expectations for the coming administration. “Besides taking away Betsy Devos and everything she’s…
WEST HOLLYWOOD TRANSGENDER AWARENESS MONTH TO BE COMMEMORATED WITH ONLINE EVENTS The City of West Hollywood and its Transgender Advisory Board recognize November as Transgender Awareness Month. Kicking-off events this year, the City presented the Transgender Awareness Month Awards via Zoom. This year’s honorees included Nick Adams, GLAAD’s Director of Transgender Media & Representation. Awards…
Unfortunately, “winning” seems to include living in a country where half our fellow citizens are becoming a cult and would rather see a neo-fascist strongman in charge than a capable executive. JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL Readers, I’m writing on election night at about midnight East Coast time. Why? Because I wanted my column to reflect…
TRANS ELECTION VICTORIES Sarah McBride has become the highest ranking trans legislator in the country Trans candidate Taylor Small of Vermont, has made history as the new representative-to-be for two districts in the state legislator, reports LGBTQ Nation. In the Midwest, Stephanie Byers becomes the first transgender person of color in a state legislature by…
As SCOTUS threatens an extreme rightward tilt, HRC President calls out Thomas, Alito for renewed war on marriage equality BY LUCAS ACOSTA As confirmation hearings near for Amy Coney Barrett, a far-right social conservative who has publicly opposed SCOTUS marriage equality decisions, the Human Rights Campaign sharply called out Justices Thomas and Alito for paving…
LA LGBT Center and others respond to Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett In response to President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the United States Supreme Court, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement: “The Center calls on all U.S. Senators to reject the radicalism exemplified by President…
One man’s quest to document unknown and untold stories about LGBTQ liberation and civil rights BY MARK ARIEL The QueerCore Podcast, hosted by August Bernadicou, elucidates radical, LGBTQ activists’ histories. It is a spotlight on the catalysts who fought in the front-lines, in the back-lines and in the trenches of civil rights. The QueerCore Podcast is an opportunity for…
Getting the vote out. My 12 Step Store’s owner and founder, RJ Holguin on the importance of civic duty BY PAULO MURILLO My 12 Step Store, the recovery gift and bookstore that specializes in 12-step literature, meeting Pride chips and medallions, racy clothing, 12-step jewelry including the Surrender collection, along with prayer bookmarks, and other self-improvement gift…
Pope Francis reportedly told a group of parents of gay kids that “God loves your children as they are. The Pope loves your children as they are, because they are children of God.” That’s nice. I wonder if His Holiness might have a word with Catholic Social Services down in Philly. STAND UP AND STAND…
“Four more years of an administration that openly embraces racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and transphobic appointees and policies is ntenable.” BY VICTOR MELAMED Over 300 LGBTQ+ community leaders have signed their name to an op-ed in support of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, reports Matt Baume at them.us. It urged voters to support the 2020 Democratic…
Commemorating Los Angeles’ All Black Lives Matter March Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive was closed to traffic last month as the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services worked to install a permanent street mural commemorating the June 14, 2020 All Black Lives Matter March, reported Brody Levesque with the Los Angeles Blade.…
“Kansas is an example of a state that is taking proactive steps to enforce [the] Bostock [ruling], announcing that gay and trans citizens will be covered by all state non-discrimination laws that ban sex discrimination.” ENFORCING OUR RIGHTS Last June, as you recall, the High Court handed our community an extraordinary 6-3 victory, ruling that…
“So we’re down to our last three months, everyone. I know that Biden has a good lead and I’m happy about it of course. But at this stage, Biden could be ahead by twenty points and I’d still be nervous…” SAME OLD, SAME OLD I just read my last column to make sure I don’t…
Los Angeles LGBT Center celebrates Supreme Court landmark decision to protect LGBT employees BY ORLY LYONNE In response to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision last month in three employment discrimination cases that employees cannot be fired because of sexual orientation and gender identity, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following…
