LGBT News

“This one is personal to me. Because of my former boss. I have a 14-year-old son who is gay. Recently came out as gay. I have his permission to talk about this. He didn’t want to tell his friends where I worked. “He was ashamed of where I worked, rightfully so, but also the fact that there’s this ‘don’t say …

From Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Parents across the country are looking to national, state, and district leaders to support our nation’s students, help them recover from the pandemic, and provide them the academic and mental health supports they need. Instead, leaders in Florida are prioritizing hateful bills that hurt some of the students most in need. The Department of Education …

Via press release from Equality Florida: The Don’t Say Gay bill has passed the FL legislature and now goes to the governor’s desk. Let us be clear: should its vague language be interpreted in any way that causes harm to a single child, teacher, or family, we will lead legal action against the State of Florida to challenge this bigoted …

Florida Politics reports: A group of Florida students took to the Capitol steps in Tallahassee Monday morning in a last-ditch plea with state Senators to vote down a controversial measure dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its critics. Students chanted “we say gay” and planned sit-in protests throughout the day as the Senate prepares to take up the controversial …

The Associated Press reports: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that he plans to veto legislation passed Friday that would ban transgender student-athletes from competing in girls sports. Without his support, Utah is unlikely to join the 11 states, all Republican-led, that have recently enacted bans on transgender girls wanting to compete in school sports leagues. In vowing to veto the …

The Wrap reports: The Walt Disney Company on Friday responded to calls for action over the Florida House of Represenatives’ passage of a “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would limit what classrooms can teach about sexual orientation and gender. However, the media giant sidestepped the bill itself  and instead recommitted itself more broadly to LGBTQ+ rights. “We understand how important …

First Coast News reports: Students across Florida protested the ‘Don’t Say Gay bill’ Thursday by walking out of their classrooms, according to multiple sources. The walk-out protests happened across the state at noon. “With the internet access that children have today, there are children that age asking questions, trying to figure out what it is, even if they don’t know …

Politico reports: Civil rights groups, a clinical psychologist and the family of a Texas child protection worker sued Gov. Greg Abbott and the state on Tuesday, challenging the Republican governor’s order to investigate the use of gender-affirming procedures on children. According to a complaint filed in a state district court, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services launched an …

Gothamist reports: LGBTQ New Yorkers rallied outside City Hall Thursday afternoon calling again for Mayor Eric Adams rescind two appointees to his administration with a long history of homophobic and transphobic stances and statements. “Mayor Adams has given us the middle finger,” said Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, an LGBTQ political group, who proceeded to …

From the Justice Department: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Robert Fehring pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to mailing more than 20 letters threatening to assault, shoot, and bomb LGBTQ+ affiliated individuals, organizations and businesses. When sentenced, Fehring faces up to five years’ imprisonment. As set forth in the court filings and today’s proceeding, …

The New York Times reports: On Thursday afternoon, L.G.B.T.Q. groups are planning to gather on the steps of City Hall to protest Mr. Adams’s decision to name Mr. Cabrera and two other men who have voiced opposition to gay marriage to City Hall posts. To gay and lesbian leaders, the appointments feel like a betrayal. The appointments also highlight another …

The New York Daily News reports: Mayor Adams dismissed criticism Tuesday over his decision to tap two Christian pastors with histories of anti-gay views for senior roles in his administration, declaring that the controversial hires are “what’s best for the city.” Adams, who has come under fire from the LGBTQ community in recent days, made the sweeping defense of his …

Gothamist reports: On Monday, the mayor’s office issued a statement saying that Fernando Cabrera would become a senior advisor in the mayor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Partnerships. Cabrera, who is a pastor, infamously drew sharp backlash in 2014 after he traveled to Uganda and touted the country’s anti-gay and anti-abortion policies. Referring to an apology that Cabrera posted on …

Florida Politics reports: Democratic lawmakers and activists are decrying a proposed amendment they say would require schools to inform a parent of their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The amendment is among a slew lawmakers will consider Tuesday on a measure opponents are calling the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill (HB 1557) seeks to closely regulate LGBTQ instruction …

The Staten Island Advance reports: LGBTQ need not apply. That was the message Sunday from Larry Cummings, head of the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, when three community groups went to Willowbrook’s Holy Family Church to submit their applications. Carol Bullock — executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island, one of the LGBTQ groups that tried …

Politico reports: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the first openly gay man to be elected governor, criticized the push for anti-LGBTQ laws in Republican-led states. “Look, words matter. Laws matter. When a group of people, LGBTQ youth, feel targeted by the words and laws that some politicians espouse, of course, it can increase anxiety, depression,” he said during an interview with …

The Anchorage Daily News reports: Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant will run for U.S. House in this year’s statewide elections, he said Thursday. Constant is the first registered Democrat in this election to say that they will challenge Rep. Don Young, who has held Alaska’s lone House seat since 1973. He’s also the first openly gay candidate for statewide office …

The New York Daily News reports: Mayor Adams has named a controversial pastor with a history of anti-gay views to a top post handling immigrant affairs. The Rev. Erick Salgado, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor in 2013 on an anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage platform, will serve as an assistant commissioner in the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, a spokesman …

Gallup reports: The percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual has increased to a new high of 7.1%, which is double the percentage from 2012, when Gallup first measured it. Gallup asks Americans whether they personally identify as straight or heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender as part of the demographic …

Raw Story reports: Tyson James, a MAGA-loving rapper, has released a new video in which he celebrates being called a bigot while setting fire to LGBTQ rainbow flags. “I’m gonna serve God, I’m toxic,” he raps defiantly. “Ain’t with the LGBTQ, y’all ain’t gonna make it, believe me you, just face it.” As he raps these lines, he spray paints …