LGBT History

Dems Celebrate 5th Anniversary Of DADT Repeal

Via press release from the Democratic National Committee: “In the five years since Congress repealed the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, we’ve made great strides in expanding and protecting the rights of the LGBT community in the United States, but we still have further to go. More than 13,000 service members were discharged under DADT, denying those men and …

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TEASER: Tom Of Finland [VIDEO]

Dark Horizons recaps: Protagonist and Helsinki Filmi have unveiled the first teaser trailer for Dome Karukoski’s anticipated biopic “Tom of Finland” about groundbreaking Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen who adopted the moniker ‘Tom of Finland’. The project is still being edited ahead of its release in February next year. A pioneering figure in late 20th century gay culture, Laaksonen (Pekka Strang) …

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Lesbian Miss America Candidate Fails To Advance

Via the Hollywood Reporter: Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to advance in the pageant during its nationally televised finale Sunday night. The first openly gay contestant in the Miss America pageant was eliminated Sunday night when the top 15 finalists were chosen. Miss Missouri Erin O’Flaherty was not among the top 15 picked to …

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Houston’s Oldest Gay Bar Closes After 36 Years

Houston resident and JMG reader Dwayne points us to this Facebook post: Effective immediately, Montrose Mining Company, located at 805 Pacific Street, is closed. We sincerely appreciate Houston’s support of The Montrose Mining Company for the past 36 years. The Montrose Mining Company was the first Houston Levi/Leather gay (GLBTQ) cruise bar on Pacific Street with an amazing sound system, …

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This Weekend Might See Our First Gay Miss America

Via the Associated Press: After competing in pageants for generations in the closet or working behind the scenes, gays and lesbians finally get to see one of their own take one of pageantry’s biggest stages. Miss Missouri, Erin O’ Flaherty, will compete for the Miss America crown this weekend as the first openly lesbian contestant. “Behind the scenes, we’ve been …

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Naming Ceremony Held For USNS Harvey Milk

The USNS Harvey Milk hasn’t been built yet, but today the Navy held a naming ceremony for the ship on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. This, despite an outraged campaign of complaints to Congress led by the American Family Association. Attending this afternoon were San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and Stuart …

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Ricky Loved Madonna

Gentle readers, today is Madonna’s 58th birthday. Below is a short story that first appeared on JMG on this day in 2006, a date which, as you’ll see, plays a role in the story. Ricky Loved Madonna Twenty years ago today, August 16th 1986, I was a few months into a new job with AMC Theatres, a position that I …

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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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Sarah McBride Becomes First Transgender Person To Speak At Major Political Convention [VIDEO]

Watch below. Here is the full text of McBride’s speech: My name is Sarah McBride, and I am a proud transgender American. Four years ago, I came out as transgender while serving as student body president in college. At the time, I was scared. I worried that my dreams and my identity were mutually exclusive. Since then though, I have …

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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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HISTORY: Openly Gay US Army Secretary Eric Fanning Rides As Grand Marshal In San Diego Pride Parade

From the San Diego Union-Tribune: When Eric Fanning started working at the Pentagon as an aide, the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy had just begun. The 24-year-old didn’t have gay role models in the building. A lot has changed in the United States military since then. In May, 24 years later, Fanning was appointed secretary of the Army — becoming …

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Clinton Campaign Slams “Anti-LGBT” Mike Pence: He’s The Most Extreme VP Pick In A Generation [VIDEO]

Via press release from Hillary For America: “By picking Mike Pence as his running mate, Donald Trump has doubled down on some of his most disturbing beliefs by choosing an incredibly divisive and unpopular running mate known for supporting discriminatory politics and failed economic policies that favor millionaires and corporations over working families,” said John Podesta, chair of Hillary for …

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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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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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SAN DIEGO: Secretary Of The Army Eric Fanning To Serve As Pride Parade Honorary Grand Marshal

Another first! Via press release: On the heels of his historic confirmation by the U.S. Senate as the 22nd Secretary of the U.S. Army, Eric Fanning will take the stage as keynote speaker at Friday’s rally and serve as one of San Diego Pride’s Hon. Grand Marshals for the parade on Saturday. San Diego Pride made history in 2011 with …

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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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