LGBT News

The Associated Press reports: Thousands of people attended a gay pride parade in Ukraine’s capital amid tight security Sunday. A counter-demonstration by a few hundred ultra-nationalists resulted in scuffles with police in which two officers were injured and six people arrested, Kiev police chief Andrei Krishchenko said. Much of downtown Kiev was cordoned off and about 5,000 police officers were …

A couple of the usual haters appeared at Knoxville Pride this afternoon to wave their anti-LGBT banners and shout abuse. Not having it was the touring Washington Gay Men’s Chorus, who encircled the haters to deliver a rousing rendition of We Shall Overcome. The chorus is in town as part of their Southern Equality Tour. Watch below. GMCW leads the …

Time Magazine reports: When Rhode Island’s teacher of the year posted a photo of his April meeting with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania at the White House Oval Office Thursday, it quickly went viral. The striking picture shows Nikos Giannopoulos holding a lacy fan and wearing a rainbow pin among other meaningful accessories. Giannopoulos says he picked strategic …

NBC News reports: The Columbus Police Department and Homeland Security are looking into a Facebook post that called for the killing of LGBTQ people, ahead of this weekend’s Pride Festival. The post was made to a page dedicated to the event; the poster wrote, “I hope this event turns out like the Boston Marathon a few year’s (sic) back.” The …

Sexy videos alert! Via press release: Class will be in session this summer at the only college campus where clothing is optional and bodacious burlesque is always in the curriculum. This year’s theme for Broadway Bares is Strip U, an unrivaled evening of seductive striptease production numbers with an academic twist, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway …

The Associated Press reports: Serbia’s president on Thursday nominated the highly conservative country’s first openly gay prime minister, a move likely to infuriate both the Christian Orthodox church and ultranationalists. President Aleksandar Vucic announced that Ana Brnabic, 41, was nominated as the prime minister-designate, which could also make her the first female head of government in the country’s history. Her …

The Washington Post reports: The Commerce Department has removed language from its annual equal opportunity statement barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, prompting a protest from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists. In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Commerce Department said the statement “was never intended to change the policy or exclude any protected categories.” “The Department …

Reuters reports: The Texas governor signed a law on Thursday to protect the religious rights of faith-based groups in state child welfare programs, but critics said it could be used to discriminate against LGBT and non-Christian families in adoptions. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3859 which allows faith-based groups working with the Texas child welfare system to deny …

The New York Daily News reports: Republican lawmakers who survived the rampage at an early morning baseball practice say it would have been a massacre if not for a pair of Capitol Hill police officers. Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey, at the practice because they’re on House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s (R-La.) security detail, returned fire when a …

Unlike his Obama administration predecessor, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has omitted sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in his 2017 employment anti-discrimination policy statement. Here’s what the pertinent section now says: The Department of Commerce does not tolerate behavior, harassment, discrimination or prejudice based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. We will also provide …

The Toronto Star reports: The Liberal government will introduce legislation later this year to erase past convictions for sexual activity with a same-sex partner, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday as multi-coloured flags were raised on Parliament’s west lawn. The legislation would add to reforms already in the works to atone for the damage caused to thousands of Canadians convicted …

The Miami Herald reports: A Florida Keys judge refused to give jail time to a North Carolina man who admitted to assaulting a couple with gay slurs, threats and knocking one off his bicycle by ramming his scooter into him. Brandon Ray Davis, 30, admitted calling Kevin Paul Taylor and Kevin Seymour “faggots,” and yelling, “You’re in Trump country now!” …

Politico reports: The LGBT legal advocacy group Lambda Legal is opening a new Washington office in an expansion aimed at ratcheting up a fight against the Trump administration for which they’re planning to raise an additional $25 million over the next four years, on top of their existing budget. The office will be run by Sharon McGowan, who was until …

Oh look, actual good news: Comedian, actor, and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver is set to emcee the 2017 TrevorLIVE New York gala on June 19 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. YouTube personality Randy Rainbow will serve as Voice of God. Additional guests will include Imagine Dragons, Edie Windsor, Shoshana Bean, Barrett Pall, BD Wong, Brandon Uranowitz, Brendan …

The Washington Blade reports: A transgender former journalist pulled off a surprise victory in a Virginia primary on Tuesday, winning the Democratic nomination to face off against anti-LGBT Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) in the general election. Danica Roem, who was seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the 13th District seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates, beat out Steve …

This afternoon on the one year anniversary of the Pulse massacre, Trump issued the above tweet memorializing the victims. One year ago today, however, after first tweeting that he was “praying” for the victims, Trump was full of self-praise an hour later, tweeting, “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness …

With clear skies and temperatures that pushed into in the mid-90s, today tens of thousands of LGBT activists marched past the White House, where it appeared that rooftop snipers were keeping a wary eye on the boisterous and often hilarious anti-Trump action, which included rousing chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” See some of my photos below and check out the …

The Washington Post reports: The D.C. Capital Pride Parade was disrupted by protesters Saturday who say the event is too corporate and marginalizes minorities and the very community the tradition was created to celebrate. Protesters from No Justice No Pride linked arms to block the parade route near 15th and P streets in Northwest Washington about 5:30 p.m. With a …

The Associated Press reports: Thousands of people from around the world are partying in Tel Aviv at the Gay Pride Parade, the region’s largest. The Municipality said over 200,000 people celebrated Friday. The theme of this year’s parade is “Bisexuality Visibility.” Jorge Medina from Mexico said the parade is “amazing.” Tel Aviv has emerged as one of the world’s most …

This will be a lifesaver for many people: The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced its approval of Teva’s abbreviated new drug application the first generic of Gilead’s Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil). The drug is indicated both as a treatment for HIV-1 in combination with other antiretroviral drugs and for pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent sexually acquired HIV infection …