Tag Archives: LGBT History

CANADA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau To Apologize For Government’s History Of Anti-Gay Persecution

The Globe & Mail reports: As early as this autumn, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will apologize on behalf of all Canadians to those who were imprisoned, fired from their jobs or otherwise persecuted in the past because of their sexuality. That apology is a key element in a broad range of reforms that will collectively represent one of the greatest …

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Coming Soon: Paradise Garage, The Movie

New York City’s legendary gay nightclub, the Paradise Garage, will be the focus of upcoming film. Electronic Beats reports: Though it closed in 1987, New York’s Paradise Garage night club has left a lasting impression on dance music that can still be felt today. Along with the Warehouse in Chicago and Zanzibar in New Jersey, the Garage was a place …

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Pulse To Reopen As Memorial… UPDATE: Or Not?

IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW. Earlier….. Entertainment Weekly reports: Orlando’s Pulse nightclub will reopen as a memorial for the 49 people killed at the venue in the June 12 mass shooting, its owners announced via Facebook Sunday night. The news was shared on the onePULSE foundation page, a nonprofit established in the aftermath of the attack to “provide financial assistance to the …

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US Navy To Name Ship For Harvey Milk

Oh yes, the sadz will be deafening. USNI News reports: The Navy is set to name a ship after the gay rights icon and San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, according to a Congressional notification obtained by USNI News. The July 14, 2016 notification, signed by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, indicated he intended to name a planned Military Sealift …

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ORLANDO: Local Boy Scouts Hold Moving Flag Removal Ceremony At Site Of Pulse Massacre Memorial

From the Orlando Sentinel: Michelangelo Dominguez’s mother watched with pride Monday morning as the 13-year-old and other Boy Scouts picked hundreds of weathered American flags from the lawn outside the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. He helped collect mini-flagpoles stuck in the dirt around wet teddy bears and melted candles left for the 49 victims killed more than a month …

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CANADA: Justin Trudeau Becomes First Sitting Prime Minister To March In LGBT Pride Parade [VIDEO]

The Toronto Pride Parade just kicked off with Justin Trudeau making Canadian history as the first sitting Prime Minister to march in such an event. From the Ottawa Citizen: Other notable politicians marching include Ontario’s premier, Kathleen Wynne, and the mayor of Toronto, John Tory. Before the parade, Trudeau attended an outdoor church service in the heart of the city’s …

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Today In Headlines You Never Thought You’d See: Navy Celebrates LGBT Pride On The USS Ronald Reagan

The US Navy Office of Community Outreach sent us two emails today noting the recent celebration of LGBT Pride Month aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which upon its launch in 2001 was the first-ever ship named for a then-still living former US president. The photo above is captioned: PHILIPPINE SEA (June 25, 2016) Yeoman 2nd Class (SW/AW) …

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UNITED NATIONS: Human Rights Council Votes 23-18 To Approve LGBT Rights Watchdog Position

Buzzfeed reports: The United Nations Human Rights Council voted Thursday to create the institution’s first LGBT rights watchdog. The resolution passed in a vote of 23 to 18, with 6 abstentions. The person appointed to this role will be known as an “independent expert” and the position is charged with monitoring “violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender …

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BREAKING: Defense Secretary Ash Carter Announces US Military’s End To Transgender Service Ban

Via press release from OutServe-SLDN: Today Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the recommendations from the working group formed last summer on the lifting of the ban on open transgender service. This announcement includes recommendations, plans and timeline to when transgender service members will fully be able to serve openly and authentically. OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn issued the following …

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NEW YORK CITY: Edie Windsor Joins Feds & Pols For Dedication Of Stonewall National Monument [VIDEO]

This afternoon Edith Windsor joined Stonewall riots veteran Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt and a raft of federal officials in dedicating the Stonewall National Monument in New York City’s West Village. From the speech delivered by White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett: Today in Christopher Park in New York City we celebrated the designation of the Stonewall National Monument, the first national monument …

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Hillary Celebrates Obergefell Anniversary With Warning That Donald Trump Imperils LGBT Progress [VIDEO]

“One year ago today, we celebrated a watershed moment for equality in America. Thanks to the bravery of LGBT Americans like Jim Obergefell and Edie Windsor, and the determination and tireless organizing of the LGBT community and their allies, marriage equality became the law of the land in all 50 states. “Over the last year, more barriers to equality have …

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Obama Celebrates Stonewall Monument [VIDEO]

Today President Obama celebrated the designation of the Stonewall National Monument in his weekly video address to the nation, comparing the Stonewall Inn to other historic sites like Independence Hall and Kitty Hawk. Watch below. The president went on to recap LGBT progress during his administration. An excerpt: Over the past seven years, we’ve seen achievements that would have been …

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What Other Movements Learned From Obergefell

From USA Today: Gun control advocates lobbying Congress in the wake of the Orlando shootings learned a long time ago: build momentum first in the states. Abortion rights proponents hoping to overturn restrictions on clinics and doctors at the Supreme Court learned the value of telling personal stories. Immigration rights activists still fighting to get undocumented parents the protections already …

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Democrats Celebrate LGBT Progress [VIDEO]

“LGBT Americans have seen tremendous progress under President Obama, and we can’t afford to go backwards. There is more work to be done to achieve full equality. We need to enact the Equality Act to prevent discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. We need to prevent and reverse anti-gay and anti-trans legislative efforts like HB2 and so-called religious freedom …

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AMERICAN HISTORY: President Obama Announces Stonewall National Monument [VIDEO]

Via press release from the White House: Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have made historic strides in expanding opportunities and advancing equality and justice for all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. From major legislative achievements to historic court victories to important policy changes, the President has fought to promote the equal rights of …

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AMERICAN HISTORY: Lawmakers Renew Push To Designate June 26th As LGBT Equality Day

Via press release: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced a resolution to designate June 26, as “LGBT Equality Day,” honoring the anniversary of three significant victories won at the U.S. Supreme Court for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. “America should celebrate the progress we have made to pass on to the next generation …

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American Express To Celebrate Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Anniversary With Full-Page Newspaper Ads

Via Advertising Week: If you pick up this Sunday’s print edition of The New York Times and thumb through it, you’ll find that it features a couple full-page print ads from American Express that show the brand’s support for gay marriage. It’s no coincidence that the brand is rolling the ads out on Sunday, June 26, since that’s the one …

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TORONTO: Cops To Apologize For 1981 Bathhouse Raids

From the Toronto Star: When police stormed four gay bathhouses in Toronto on Feb. 5, 1981, patrons were mocked, humiliated — and arrested by the hundreds. The raids outed men who considered the private clubs a sanctuary, free from the hostility of a populace who disapproved of, or didn’t understand, intimacy between men. On Wednesday, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders …

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TRAILER: The Freedom To Marry

Just in from Evan Wolfson, former president of the gone-out-of-business Freedom To Marry: On June 26, it will be one year since the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the freedom to marry nationwide. Love won – and the path to our triumphant victory stretched back years and miles. It was paved by the efforts, talents, and engagement of millions of people. …

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Rachel Maddow On History Of Attacks At Gay Bars: A Community That Been Forged In Literal Fire [VIDEO]

Last night Rachel Maddow put the Pulse massacre in historical context, recounting some of the more infamous attacks on gay bars since Stonewall. Mentioned are the Upstairs Lounge fire in New Orleans, the Atlanta bombing of a lesbian bar, and others that may not be as well known to you. This is an important and sobering LGBT history lesson. Watch …

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