LGBT News

Agence France-Presse reports: Tanzania has threatened to arrest and deport those campaigning for gay rights and de-register organisations protecting homosexual interests, local media reported Monday. “I would like to remind and warn all organisations and institutions that campaign and pretend to protect homosexual interests … we are going to arrest whoever is involved and charge them in courts of law,” …

The Associated Press reports: The German Parliament plans to vote Friday on whether to legalize same-sex marriage — only days after Chancellor Angela Merkel backed off her conservative party’s long-standing refusal to budge on the issue. The German news agency dpa reported Wednesday the Parliament’s legal committee had given its OK for the vote to take place Friday. Her comment …

Via press release: The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus commended the House of Representatives for passing H.Res.351, a bipartisan resolution condemning the detention, torture, and murders of gay and bisexual men in Chechnya. H.Res.351 was introduced by LGBT Caucus founding member and former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) on May 23rd and passed in the House Foreign …

Via press release: Dear Truth Wins Out Supporters: On our 11th anniversary, it is with a mixture of great sadness and overwhelming pride that I reluctantly announce that Truth Wins Out is closing down. All good things must come to an end – and it is time to say goodbye. Truth Wins Out is closing because we accomplished our major …

CNN reports: German lawmakers will decide Friday whether to legalize same-sex marriage, according to CNN affiliate NTV. The snap vote comes after Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she would like to see parliament move towards a “vote of conscience” on the issue. Following Merkel’s comments, German politicians writing on Twitter called for a vote to be held as soon …

A New York City cop who chronicles his weight loss and bodybuilding efforts on social media under the moniker “Huge Fat Loser” has earned thousands of shares for a touching post he made this weekend on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. His real name doesn’t seem to appear on any of the accounts, but he identifies himself as working out of …

The Guardian reports: Angela Merkel has signaled a change in her party’s opposition to gay marriage after stating MPs should be allowed a free vote in the German parliament. Speaking at an event organised by women’s magazine Brigitte, the German chancellor said she felt aggrieved that the gay marriage debate was mainly carried out along party lines and that she …

The Washington Examiner reports: Support for gay marriage among U.S. adults hit 62 percent in June, the highest level ever recorded, according to a Pew Research poll released Monday. The June 8-18 survey found just under one-third of Americans do not support same-sex marriage, further increasing the gap between advocates and opponents. Pew, who has been tracking Americans’ opinions on …

The Associated Press reports: The Supreme Court has ruled for same-sex couples who complained an Arkansas birth certificate law discriminated against them. The justices on Monday issued an unsigned opinion reversing an Arkansas high court ruling that upheld the law. Under the law, married lesbian couples had to get a court order to have both spouses listed as parents on …

NBC News reports: Activists gathered for gay Pride in Istanbul Sunday in defiance of a ban by authorities, and despite riot police who used tear gas to disperse crowds. Dozens turned up to wave rainbow flags and LGBT banners, watched by much larger numbers of Turkish riot officers as well as far-right protesters. There were more than two dozen arrests, …

Resistance groups turned out in large numbers at today’s New York City Pride parade, where they were greeted with whistles and roars when they turned the corner onto Christopher Street. Notable among the groups were Gays Against Guns, who chanted “Fuck The NRA!” and ACT UP, which carried black cardboard coffins adorned with signs warning of the death of Medicare …

The Minneapolis Fox affiliate reports: Earlier this week, Twin Cities Pride announced they would have only one, unmarked police car – as required by law – to clear the way for the parade, as opposed to the several marked squad cars that typically roll down Hennepin Avenue at the start. Organizers said they wanted to “respect the pain the community …

From New York City’s ABC affiliate: Thousands are expected to take part in the 48th NYC LGBT Pride March on Sunday. The march in Manhattan, which starts on Fifth Avenue, ends in the West Village. WABC-TV will be its official television partner and broadcast the march. The NYC Pride March started in 1970 as a civil rights demonstration on the …

Yesterday the Sesame Street team tweeted out the above image to their nearly two million followers, many of whom responded with utter joy. As you may know, last month Trump budget director Mick Mulvaney cited Big Bird in defense of his proposal to cut the entire budget for the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. And of course, he had it all …

Reuters reports: Istanbul’s governor has banned a gay and transgender pride march which was due to take place in the city on Sunday, citing security concerns after threats from an ultra-nationalist group. It will be the second year running that Istanbul’s LGBT march, described in the past as the biggest in the Muslim world, has been blocked by city authorities. …

The Associated Press reports: Military chiefs will seek a six-month delay before letting transgender people enlist in their services, officials said Friday. After meetings this week, the service leaders hammered out an agreement that rejected Army and Air Force requests for a two-year wait and reflected broader concerns that a longer delay would trigger criticism on Capitol Hill, officials familiar …

Via press release: San Francisco “Dykes on Bikes” is celebrating Monday’s unanimous 8-0 United States Supreme Court Trademark decision, in which the Court found it unconstitutional to prohibit registration of a trademark by the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) based on what some may consider “disparaging language.” The organization was able to trademark its name after a 4-year battle all …

I believe this is a first. Via press release: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the spire of One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit this weekend in honor of LGBT pride. The iconic landmarks will be lit the colors of the transgender flag for Trans Day of Action today, June 23rd and the colors of …

Mic reports: June 22 is now officially Laverne Cox Day in New York City. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, made the surprise announcement on Thursday when the actress made an appearance at his official residence, Gracie Mansion. “Can you believe that a black transgender woman from Mobile, Alabama, raised by a single mother has a day in New …

Back in March, I reported that a coalition of grassroots activists had reached an agreement with New York City Pride for front-of-parade placement. Today we have details about those groups. Via press release: Inspired by the defiant spirit from which NYC Pride was born, 18 diverse LGBT community organizations will march together at the front of this year’s NYC Pride …