LGBT News

Via longtime JMG pal Carl Siciliano: It was 20 years ago today that the Ali Forney Center opened its doors. I’ll never forget that evening. It was a hot, humid June night. My husband, Raymond, had joined us to cook the first meal for our young people, which only upped the heat within our space in the lower floor of …

The Dallas Morning News reports: The state of Texas cannot intervene in a lawsuit between Children’s Medical Center Dallas and one of its doctors over gender-affirming care for trans patients, a Dallas judge decided Friday. After a contentious hearing that lasted more than two hours, Dallas County Judge Melissa Bellan said Attorney General Ken Paxton had not convinced her that …

Australia’s ABC News outlet reports: Thai politicians have passed four different bills on same-sex unions, in what appears to be a step towards Thailand becoming the second territory in Asia to legalise same-gender marriages. Thailand has one of Asia’s most open and visible LGBTQ+ communities, adding to its image of tolerance and attraction as a liberal holiday destination for foreign …

From the Department of Labor: June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. It was in June 1969 that the Stonewall Uprising occurred, considered by many to have sparked the modern LGBTQIA+ civil-rights movement. Here at the Department of Labor, we rang in Pride Month by doing something that has never been done before in the history of the department — raising the …

The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports: Horry County Council members on Tuesday did something highly unusual. They voted to nix a not-legally-binding resolution after having voted to approve it last month. That resolution? To declare June as Pride Month. It’s a decision that’s highlighted the long-simmering tensions between conservative Christians and the LGBTQ community. The local LGBTQ advocacy group Grand …

The Guardian reports: The actor Chris Evans, who voices the main character in the new Pixar animated movie Lightyear, has applauded its depiction of a gay couple, saying those who react negatively should be disregarded. “The real truth is those people are idiots,” Evans said. “Every time there’s been social advancement as we wake up, the American story, the human …

USA Today reports: In an effort to address some of the anti-LGBT bills, the president’s order will call on the Department of Health and Human Services to release new sample policies for states on how to expand access to comprehensive health care for LGBT+ patients. He is also calling on the Department of Education to release a sample school policy …

Agence France-Presse reports: Saudi officials are seizing rainbow-colored toys and articles of clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, state media reported. Targeted items include rainbow-colored bows, skirts, hats and pencil cases, most of them apparently manufactured for young children, according to a report broadcast Tuesday evening by the state-run Al-Ekhbariya news channel. “We …

Ad Age reports: Last week, Burger King Austria caused a stir on social media with its “Pride Whopper” campaign that didn’t quite land as intended with the LGBTQ+ community. The agency behind it, Jung von Matt Donau, has apologized. “The intended message of the ‘Pride Whopper’ was to spread equal love and equal rights,” the Austrian outpost of Germany-based Jung …

ABC News reports: The United Arab Emirates has banned the upcoming Pixar animated film Lightyear from showing in cinemas amid reports that the film includes a kiss between two female characters. The Emirates, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, announced through its Media Regulatory Office of the country’s Ministry of Youth and Culture that the film would not be opening …

The Hill reports: Vice President Harris criticized Republican-led states that have passed dozens of laws targeting LGBTQ youth during a speech at a Capital Pride Festival in D.C. on Sunday. “No one should fear going to a nightclub for fear that a terrorist might try to take them down,” Harris said on Sunday. “No one should fear loving who they …

The New Arab reports: Turkish police violently attacked students during a LGBT Pride march at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University (METU) on Friday, according to reports. Multiple videos have surfaced on Twitter showing dozens of police armed with shields and batons entering the university and detaining some of the students. Some tweets said that the police also used tear gas. …

From a June 3rd report by the New Republic: In the last month, two very different videos, both threatening to confront Pride celebrations with armed protest or “hunting” LGBTQ people and allies, have raised fears of how Republicans in state legislatures have enabled an environment for anti-LGBTQ violence and emboldened far-right extremists. At the end of April, GOP Idaho state …

Harrisburg’s ABC News affiliate reports: Two Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to introduce a bill “to address discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in Pennsylvania schools.” State Senators Scott Martin [photo] and Ryan Aument, both Republicans representing Lancaster County, say the bill would pertain to age-inappropriate conversations in elementary schools. According to the senators, the proposal would prohibit classroom instruction on …

The Associated Press reports: Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s Pride Parade in Tel Aviv on Friday, celebrating the LGBTQ community and calling for equality in the largest annual gathering of its kind in the Middle East. The sprawling event in Israel’s seaside metropolis, which resembles a festive block party, returned last year after pandemic restrictions were mostly …

The Washington Blade reports: Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday hosted a Pride Month reception that took place in the Capitol Rotunda in Richmond. The governor’s office invited more than 100 people to the reception, but Virginia Pride and other LGBTQ rights groups boycotted it. The reception, which Youngkin’s public schedule noted, was closed to the press. “Equality Virginia …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: An appeal by organizers of the 2022 Aurora Pride Parade was denied following a special hearing, after their permit was revoked over police staffing issues . The judge found the event is short about 20 police officers and that organizers were offered the opportunity to “close the gap” using sworn officers from other jurisdictions but …

The Texas Tribune reports: A new lawsuit filed Wednesday is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal on behalf of three families, including the Briggle family, who have long been advocates for trans rights, including hosting Republican Attorney …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: The City of Aurora has revoked a special permit for the 2022 Aurora Pride Parade due to security staffing concerns. The city claims organizers failed to retain the number of law enforcement officers for the parade. Since it’s a private event, the city said officers have to volunteer their time to work security. Last month, …

West Palm Beach’s ABC News affiliate reports: A 17-year-old is in Canadian custody for threatening a mass shooting in West Palm Beach after an international investigation. The suspect made an online threat to shoot people at the “Pride on the Block” event downtown Sunday. “I can say through his statement that there’s no remorse,” Deputy Chief Rick Morris said during …