LGBT History

From the Lexington Herald Leader: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will face Tuesday’s Democratic primary winner, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, in the November general election. Both won easily Tuesday. Paul, a first-term senator and former presidential hopeful, beat two little-known challengers in the Republican primary in a landslide victory. Gray, a two-term mayor, was able to turn back six challengers in …

Finally. Via the Associated Press: In another historical moment for the Obama administration, the Senate on Tuesday evening confirmed the long-stalled nomination of Eric Fanning to be Army secretary. Fanning thus becomes the first openly gay leader of any U.S. military service. The voice vote came after Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., dropped his opposition in a dispute over Obama administration …

President Obama today issued a statement marking the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, which was launched in 2004 on the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s 1990 declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Obama’s message declares that “LGBT rights are human rights” and that the United States honors the work of activists and will continue to “support their …

Ben Winslow reports for Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: Mayor Jackie Biskupski put up the first street sign that renames a part of 900 South as “Harvey Milk Boulevard.” The Salt Lake City Council recently voted unanimously to rename 900 South after Milk, who was one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials until his assassination in 1978. “I …

Earlier this week the Obama administration signaled its intention to declare the Stonewall Inn a national monument to LGBT rights. Franklin Graham is ever so pissed: A monument to sin? That’s unbelievable. War heroes deserve a monument, our nation’s founding fathers deserve a monument, people who have helped to make America strong deserve a monument — but a monument to …

From the Washington Post: President Obama is poised to declare the first-ever national monument recognizing the struggle for gay rights, singling out a sliver of green space and part of the surrounding Greenwich Village neighborhood as the birthplace of America’s modern gay liberation movement. While most national monuments have highlighted iconic wild landscapes or historic sites from centuries ago, this …

Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate reports: In a unanimous vote, the city council voted to rename 900 South as “Harvey Milk Boulevard” after the murdered gay rights leader. The vote came after about an hour of public comment on Tuesday night, with members of the community split over the idea. Some who testified against the measure said they would support …

UPDATE: False alarm. Despite tons of media interest, the announcement has to do with an appointment to a state law enforcement group. From Raleigh’s CBS affiliate: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory will make a special announcement Wednesday morning, a day after he issued an executive order on House Bill 2. The announcement will take place Wednesday at 9 a.m. at …

Watch Van Zandt’s thoughtful interview below. Rolling Stone reports: Hours after Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band canceled their Greensboro, North Carolina concert Sunday to protest the state’s controversial, discriminatory “bathroom bill,” guitarist Steven “Little Stevie” Van Zandt defended Springsteen’s decision while backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday. “We just felt the issue …

In a ruling that was widely anticipated, today the Colombian Constitution Court issued a landmark 6-3 ruling which legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide. Today’s ruling follows a 2011 decision which declared that unions between same-sex couples fall under the government’s definition of families. You can find Spanish-language reporting on today’s ruling here and here. I’ll update this post shortly when we …

Late last night Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff posted the below gorgeous clip in thanks for the veto of Georgia’s anti-LGBT bill. The video features audio from Harvey Milk’s legendary “you gotta give ’em hope” speech as scenes of gay pride parades, the San Francisco skyline, and a diverse collection of people go by. JMG reader Cuberly tells us that the …

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Minutes after Gov. Nathan Deal said he would veto the ‘religious liberty’ bill that reached his desk less than two weeks ago, state Sen. Mike Crane [photo] called on his fellow lawmakers to overturn the governor’s decision. Crane, a Newnan Republican running for Congress, said Deal’s announcement Monday “is another example of how the political class …

Via press release from New York Sen. Brad Hoylman: “LGBT history is American history. An important part of that history is Julius’ Bar, one of the oldest gay bars in the city. By including Julius’ on the state and national historic registries, we’ll help ensure that future generations can be inspired by the events that occurred at Julius’ Bar and …

DOMA champion Edith Windsor and Irish activist Brendan Fay were among the LGBT luminaries marching today behind the own banner for the first time in the 255 year history of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. NBC New York reports: Security was tight as 200,000 marchers strode up Fifth Avenue beginning at about 11 a.m., bagpipes and horns blaring. …

Minutes ago Hillary Clinton issued the above apology for her earlier claim that Nancy Reagan’s “low-key advocacy” had spurred action on AIDS during the Reagan administration. Kudos to the Clinton camp for acting so quickly. Now let’s see if this story continues to have legs. I’ll update this post with reactions as they arrive.

The internet is in a furor this afternoon due to Hillary Clinton’s words about Nancy Reagan and AIDS. Via New Republic: Hillary Clinton is dead wrong about Nancy Reagan and AIDS. In an appearance on MSBC, Clinton praised the Reagans’ efforts to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. “Because of both President and Mrs. Reagan, in particular Mrs. Reagan, we started a …

JMG reader Ken Schwencke has compiled a listing of current and demised Eagle bars around the world. He writes: In at least nine countries and 15 U.S. states, you can find the Eagle. In Montreal, it’s called L’Aigle Noir; in Minneapolis, it’s the Eagle Bolt Bar; in New Orleans, it’s a room above another bird bar. But all of these …

From People Magazine: For years, transgender voices have been pushed to the background. But for Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two transgender women who participated in the Stonewall Riots in 1969, keeping quiet was not an option. From the director of Emmy-nominated Transparent, Rhys Ernst, and Focus Features, the film company behind Oscar-nominated The Danish Girl, comes a new …

From the Sydney Morning Herald: After a wait of nearly 40 years, “78er” Julie McCrossin​ says she was thrilled and emotional to learn that the NSW [New South Wales] government is to apologise for the discrimination and mistreatment that she and other gay rights activists suffered in 1978. The commentator and broadcaster said she understood that she and a group …

Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: President Obama and lesbian comedian Ellen DeGeneres exchanged praise with each other for advancing gay rights — DeGeneres saying Obama changed laws, Obama saying DeGeneres changed hearts and minds — in an interview on her TV show set to air Friday. During an appearance by Obama on her show, DeGeneres initiated the exchange …