LGBT News

Via press release from Freedom For All Americans: In a legislative victory two years in the making, the New Hampshire Senate, by a bipartisan vote of 14-10, voted in favor of a bill, HB 1319, that adds transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination protections to the state’s existing civil rights law. The bill now heads to the desk of Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who …

The CBC reports: This year’s Pride celebrations are going to pay tribute to some of the LGBT community’s harsh realities, including the eight people police believe are the victims of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur. One of the most visible signs of mourning will be the sea of black that is expected to close the Pride Parade, which has always …

Just in from PRRI Polling: Recent dramatic shifts in support for same-sex marriage are also evident at the state level. Today, majorities in 44 states believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to legally marry, compared to only 30 states in 2014. In only six states does the issue of same-sex marriage garner less than majority support: Alabama (41%), …

The Guardian reports: A bakery run by evangelical Christians is to launch a fresh attempt to overturn a £500 award made against it for refusing to bake a cake promoting same-sex marriage. Ashers bakery, which has branches in Northern Ireland and is financially supported by the Christian Institute, is taking its claim to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, which is …

Billboard Magazine reports: Adam Rippon made his Dancing With the Stars debut on Monday (April 30) night, and the Olympic bronze medal skater made an enormous splash by trotting out a classic dance track from LBGTQ icon RuPaul to the world of DWTS. Rippon and partner Jenna Johnson, both in sheer black material, danced the cha cha to RuPaul’s “Sissy …

Hawaii News Now reports: State lawmakers on Friday approved a ban on so-called ‘gay conversion therapy’ treatments conducted on minors. Gay rights advocates say the practice, which is largely discredited by healthcare professionals, does more harm than good to those who are subjected to it. “This has been a priority of the caucus for years,” said Michael Golojuch, chair of …

Vox reports: Joy-Ann Reid on Saturday apologized to the LGBTQ community for her past “hurtful” comments, following the resurfacing of homophobic blog posts from the mid-to-late 2000s. The host of MSNBC’s weekend show AM Joy has been under fire for newly uncovered blog posts published on Reid’s now-defunct blog, the Reid Report, in the mid-to late 2000s that repeatedly mocked …

San Diego’s KUSI-TV reports: Assemblyman Todd Gloria, Councilman Chris Ward and others Friday celebrated the opening of North Park Seniors, which is being called San Diego’s first LGBT-affirming senior housing community.  Studies suggest the need for LGBT-friendly housing continues to outpace demand amid rental discrimination cases. The building will have 76 affordable apartments for qualified people 55 and older; seniors …

ABC News reports: Three men who were tossed out of a Newport Beach restaurant claim they were victims of gay bashing. Cellphone video shows the end of the April 13 encounter when a man is seen physically grabbing and wrestling one of the alleged victims out the door of the bar and throwing him to the ground. “You’ve been warned,” …

The Hill reports: Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon skipped the Team USA visit to the White House on Friday, following through on a vow he made earlier this year. Rippon said in January that he did not think he would be “welcome” at the Trump White House because he is gay. Rippon said that in lieu of the visit, he …

The New Zealand Herald reports: The All Blacks and the Black Ferns have made a very public statement on where they stand on diversity and inclusiveness as they launched their “diversity is strength” campaign. Pairing up with AIG, the two teams released a two-minute video outlining their values. The next “battle” and “enemy” was devious and truly formidable, the video …

Variety reports: In the past, Janelle Monáe had been coy or quiet about her sexuality. But she certainly isn’t when talking about the issue in a new Rolling Stone cover story, in which she says she’s had relationships with both men and women and currently identifies as pansexual. “Being a queer black woman in America — someone who has been …

The Hill reports: The Daily Beast is “going to hit pause” on Joy Reid’s columns while its reporters investigate the MSNBC host’s claims around hacking of her old blog, which included homophobic comments that she says were “fabricated.” “Reid claims that she was hacked, that new blog posts aren’t really hers,” said Noah Shachtman, the publication’s executive editor, in a …

The South Bend Tribune reports: Memories Pizza, the shop that became embroiled in the national debate over religious and civil rights and touched off a national media firestorm in 2015, has closed. A sign in the front window of the pizza shop says it was shuttered last month. Owners Kevin and Crystal O’Connor were the focus of intense criticism and …

The Associated Press reports: In Louisiana, a proposal to strengthen the law against bestiality is facing unexpected opposition from conservative lawmakers who see it as an underhanded move to strike the state’s unconstitutional ban on sodomy. Creating a new, wide-ranging anti-bestiality law would untangle the offense from the ban on sodomy in Louisiana’s “crime against nature ” statute, prompting some …

Via press release: PFLAG National—the nation’s first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, their families, and allies—today has rescinded its Straight for Equality in Media award to political analyst Joy Reid. Said PFLAG National president Jean Hodges, “When we extended our invitation to Ms. Reid to honor her at our 45th anniversary celebration, we …

Gay Times Magazine reports: Part of the experience of visiting any Disney theme park is wearing your favourite pair of Disney ears, whether that’s a classic Mickey Mouse, a cute Minnie Mouse with a bow, or one of the many limited edition variations that pop up through the year. But we think the latest Mickey ear release might be our …

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports: Parkland shooting survivors Cameron Kasky and David Hogg are reportedly going to prom together. On Monday, Kasky shared a Tweet of himself smiling and embracing Hogg with the caption “Prom 2018.” The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High students have been among the most visible survivors of the Feb. 14 mass school shooting. Hogg, a senior, and …

The Boston Herald reports: Bay State schools will be able to try a new curriculum with LGBTQ-themed history, English and health this fall that proponents say is an effort to help all students see themselves reflected in classrooms. The curriculum, developed by a team of teachers with Massachusetts Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students and the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ …

The New York Times reports: The Trump administration says it plans to roll back a rule issued by President Barack Obama that prevents doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies from discriminating against transgender people. Advocates said the change could jeopardize the significant gains that transgender people have seen in access to medical care, including gender reassignment procedures — treatments for …