LGBT News

NY1 reports: Carrying signs with messages such as “LGBT stands by our Muslim brothers and sisters,” thousands flooded Greenwich Village for a solidarity rally to show support for immigrants, refugees, and others impacted by Donald Trump’s travel ban on seven mostly-Muslim countries. “Were going to stand up and say all of the things that Trump has put forward,” one protester …

Back in December, I posted this quote from creationist nutjob Ken Ham: In recent times the rainbow (albeit with some different colors) has come to represent freedom, love, pride, a new era, and, specifically, the LGBTQ movement. But the rainbow itself wasn’t designed to be a symbol of freedom, love, pride, or the LGBTQ movement. God created this beautiful, colorful …

Politico reports: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump helped lead the charge to scuttle a draft executive order that would have overturned Obama-era enforcements of LGBT rights in the workplace, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told POLITICO. A draft executive order on LGBT rights that outlines how to roll back former President Barack Obama’s protections and expand legal exemptions …

Keen News Service reports: Asked whether the draft in circulation is one being considered by President Trump, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said at a White House briefing Thursday, “Right now, there are no executive orders we are able to read out.” He added, however, that there are a “lot of ideas being floated out,” and “input and ideas” being provided …

As longtime readers know, there are four or five JMG entries that I repost every year. This is one of them. My dear friend Daniel Johnson, who threw the most kickass Groundhog Day birthday parties for himself, would have been 60 years old today. His was a life that burned brightly and I am illuminated still. Daniel Johnson, 1957-1997. I …

The Nation reports: A leaked copy of a draft executive order titled “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom,” obtained by The Investigative Fund and The Nation, reveals sweeping plans by the Trump administration to legalize discrimination. The four-page draft order, a copy of which is currently circulating among federal staff and advocacy organizations, construes religious organizations so broadly …

The Guardian reports: Thousands of men convicted of offences that once criminalised homosexuality but are no longer on the statute book have been posthumously pardoned under a new law. A clause in the policing and crime bill, which received royal assent on Tuesday, extends to those who are dead the existing process of purging past criminal records. The general pardon …

A New York City man has filed a civil lawsuit against Grindr, claiming that over 700 men have appeared at his home and workplace after receiving invitations to have sex from someone impersonating him on the service. Wired reports: Last October, Matthew Herrick was smoking a cigarette in front of his West Harlem brownstone when the first visitor appeared. As …

CNBC reports: A prominent conservative Christian leader on Tuesday expressed confidence that President Donald Trump will still take executive action to uphold “religious liberty” despite a White House statement that the president will uphold existing protections against “anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination” by federal contractors. “I think this is going to be addressed,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. …

Perhaps obviously, this doesn’t rule out other actions reportedly under consideration. The New York Times reports: The White House said on Monday that President Trump would leave in place a 2014 Obama administration order that created new workplace protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. In a statement issued in response to growing questions about whether Mr. Trump would …

Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it would allow transgender boys to join the organization, based on their gender identity, shifting away from a policy that determined eligibility based on the sex listed on a child’s birth certificate. “Starting today, we will accept and register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs …

The Washington Post reports: The White House is embroiled in a debate over whether to reverse some key protections that the Obama administration extended to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers, according to several people briefed on the process. A draft of a potential executive order began circulating in Washington over the weekend that would overturn former president Barack Obama’s …

This afternoon White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer dodged a direct question about a rumored anti-LGBT executive order. An hour after his press briefing concluded, Washington Post reporter Josh Rogin tweeted that a “draft” version of such an order does exist and targets adoption rights among other issues. Trump supporters are responding to Rogin on Twitter, accusing him of “needlessly …

At today’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer dodged a question from Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson about reports of an impending anti-LGBT executive order. Johnson: “The LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign has issued a statement citing rumors that the president is about to sign a religious freedom executive order that would undermine LGBT rights. Is this …

LGBTQ Nation reports: An executive order from President Donald Trump opening up discrimination against the LGBTQ community on the basis of religious belief is expected sometime this week, possibly as soon as today. Several sources spoke with LGBTQ Nation on the condition of anonymity who have told us that the order will allow for discrimination in a number of areas, …

I don’t know how much longer we’ll get press releases like this one, which is from the Navy Office of Community Outreach. Here is their photo caption: Capt. Jeffrey Ward, commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), facilitates transgender training with chiefs and officers in the ship’s wardroom. The training was conducted to provide command leadership …

Matt Baume writes in the Huffington Post: If the ACA is repealed, as Republicans are trying to do, not only would 32 million people lose health care, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but LGBTs would be disproportionately affected. And “disproportionately affected” is a phrase which here means “get sick and die.” For example, HIV treatment can cost thousands of …

The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reports: A controversial bill titled the “Government Non-discrimination Act” was recalled from the Wyoming House of Representatives by its sponsors Thursday afternoon. The action was in order to “give Wyoming citizens time for more thorough consideration,” the bill’s sponsors said in a statement emailed to media members Thursday afternoon. Supporters of House Bill 135 said it would …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: Legislators won’t be moving quickly to change House Bill 2 this year, and an “outright repeal” doesn’t have enough support, N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger said this week. Berger spoke in detail about the controversial LGBT law in an interview with Tim Boyum of Time Warner Cable News that aired Thursday night. During a …

The Arkansas Times reports: Treasurer Dennis Milligan today announced he has accepted the resignation of Hunter Hatcher, an Outreach Coordinator for the Treasurer’s office. Hatcher publicly stated on social media that because Donald Trump was taking office, “Gay jokes are back on ya bunch of homos,” and also made derogatory comments (in the form of lame jokes) regarding the role …