LGBT News

Axios reports: The military will begin reviewing cases involving LGBTQ+ veterans who may have been forced out of the service under its “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy. Thousands of veterans could receive retroactive honorable discharges, giving them access to the full amount of benefits for their service. The Defense Department announced the initiative Wednesday on the 12th anniversary of …

PBS NewsHour reports: The U.S. Census Bureau asked the Biden administration Tuesday for permission to test questions about sexual orientation and gender identity for people age 15 and above on its most comprehensive annual survey of life in the country. The statistical agency wants to test the wording, response categories and placement of gender identity and sexual orientation questions on …

The Tennessean reports: Olivia Hill is the first openly transgender person ever elected to Nashville’s Metro Council. According to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Hill is the first transgender woman elected in Tennessee history. Hill secured one of the Council’s five at-large seats in Thursday’s runoff election with 12.9% of the vote, as of 10 p.m. Thursday night. She joins a historic …

CBS News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the NAACP is pulling a “stunt” by calling Florida hostile to Black Americans, other minorities and LGBTQ+ people. In an interview with DeSantis, CBS asked if he would represent the entire country, and whether everyone could feel welcome in DeSantis’ America. “A hundred percent,” DeSantis responded. “And that is politics. That’s a …

Orlando’s Fox affiliate reports: An arrest has been made in the defacing of two LGBTQ+ murals in Orlando that occurred in August, police said. Matthew Michael Robinson, 34, was arrested on Sept. 13 and charged with three counts of criminal mischief. Two murals, one belonging to The Center Orlando and the other to Zebra Youth, were vandalized on the evening …

Gothamist reports: The NYPD arrested two more men this week in connection to the vandalization of a Pride flag display at the Stonewall National Monument in the West Village, for a total of three arrests. The first arrest came on Aug. 28, when 25-year-old Colorado resident Patrick Murphy turned himself in, police said. But video from the June 10 incident, …

The Objective reports: The head of the Government of Andorra, Xavier Espot, has made his homosexuality public: “I am gay and I have never hidden myself.” The statements took place during an interview on the country’s public radio, in which the Andorran leader assured that he had never spoken about his sexual orientation because he had not been asked, but …

Variety reports: The world premiere of Lil Nas X’s documentary “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday night was delayed after a bomb threat was called in targeting the artist. The gala screening was scheduled for a 10 p.m. start at Roy Thomson Hall, one of TIFF’s premier venues. The documentary’s co-directors Carlos López …

West Palm Beach’s NBC affiliate reports: The city of Lake Worth Beach has become a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ community and their families, the first of its kind in the Sunshine State. On Tuesday, Sept. 5, commissioners voted unanimously for the declaration. “I think it’s time to take a stand that we affirmatively accept the people as they are,” …

The Montgomery Advertiser reports: The Prattville City Council sided against a resolution Tuesday that could have changed rules for how books are handled at the Autauga-Prattville Public Library, or threatened its funding. The vote came after Gov. Kay Ivey earlier in the day released a letter expressing concern about children’s access to LGBTQ-themed books at the Autauga-Prattville Public Library and …

Reuters reports: Hong Kong’s top court partially approved on Tuesday a landmark appeal by an LGBTQ activist for recognition of same-sex marriages, calling for new regulations for gay couples to protect their basic social needs. The ruling by Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal followed a five-year legal battle fought by jailed democracy and LGBTQ rights activist Jimmy Sham. It …

The Associated Press reports: A local LGBTQ pride group was excluded from a southwest Iowa town’s Labor Day parade, apparently by the city’s mayor, who cited safety concerns. Shenandoah Pride planned to have a small group walking with a banner and a drag performer riding in a convertible, with candy, popsicles and stickers to hand out in the parade in …

“Today we stand here and declare in his almighty name that it’s only a matter of time before we take your seats and we become a God-fearing example to the nation of how God is using California to lead the way. We already know who has won this battle. You will be removed in Jesus’s name! You, Satan, are losing. …

The Associated Press reports: Some central Florida lawmakers said they were considering “all legislative, legal and executive options available” to stop business owners in a small town from voluntarily displaying rainbow decals in their windows indicating that they are “safe place” for LGBTQ+ people who feel threatened. Four Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to officials in Mount Dora two weeks …

Miami’s NBC affiliate reports: Declaring an LGBTQ history month used to be routine at the Miami-Dade County School Board. Not anymore. “We have to uphold state law, and it’s very clear what that law is,” said board member Monica Colucci [photo] at Wednesday night’s committee meeting. “Matters of gender identity and sexual orientation are family issues and are parental rights, …

Knoxville’s NBC affiliate reports: U.S. District Court Judge J. Ronnie Greer issued a ruling blocking Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond from enforcing Tennessee’s “Adult Entertainment Act,” at a festival celebrating the Blount County LGBTQ+ community on Saturday. Greer’s order said Desmond cannot enforce, detain, arrest or seek warrants to enforce the act and cannot interfere with Blount Pride’s …

The Texas Tribune reports: A federal judge said Thursday he will stop a new Texas law aimed at keeping sexually explicit materials off of school library shelves on the eve of the law going into effect, according to state attorneys and lawyers for a group who sued over the proposal. District Judge Alan D. Albright indicated during a hearing that …

The Texas Tribune reports: U.S. District Judge David Hittner temporarily blocked a new state law Thursday from going into effect that would have criminalized sexually-oriented performances in front of children or effectively banned some public drag shows. LGBTQ+ groups sued the Texas attorney general’s office, hoping to stop authorities from enforcing Senate Bill 12, which was signed by Gov. Greg …

The Omaha World-Herald reports: In the latest chapter of Nebraska’s debate over transgender rights, Gov. Jim Pillen has signed an executive order narrowing the definition of male and female to be based solely on biological sex. Pillen signed the executive order Wednesday, which he titled the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” dictating that males and females are defined specifically by their …

Knoxville’s CBS affiliate reports: Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond warned Blount Pride that the group could face prosecution for a pride event set to be held on Maryville College’s campus Saturday. In a letter sent to Blount Pride, law enforcement, Maryville College and city officials, Desmond said that he plans to enforce the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act (AEA), …