LGBT News

Yahoo News reports: Sesame Street is celebrating Pride Month by going where it’s never gone before. This week, the iconic children’s show dropped a very special episode called “Family Day,” introducing two gay dads, Frank (Alex Weisman) and Dave (the brother of Nina, played by Chris Costa, who works as a bike store owner on the street), and their daughter, …

Axios reports: FIFA on Friday ordered Mexico to play two official home matches without spectators as a punishment for its fans’ repeated use of a homophobic slur this year. Fans have chanted the slur at Mexican matches for years. Mexican officials stepped up efforts to halt the behavior this spring after growing criticism, but social media campaigns and stadium announcements …

NBC News reports: LGBTQ civil servants and service members were systematically fired or forced to resign due to their sexual orientation or gender identity over the past seven decades, and a proposed bill is seeking to have the federal government issue an official apology acknowledging its past discriminatory policies. The bill, introduced Thursday by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., says the …

Law & Crime reports: The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday filed court documents to support two separate lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which argue that recently passed anti-transgender laws in West Virginia and Arkansas violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The filing aligned with a memo put out by the DOJ’s Division …

Euronews reports: Hungary is being investigated by the European Commission over a new law that bans the sharing of content that portrays homosexuality or sex reassignment with people under the age of 18. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed on Wednesday that the bill would be investigated by the European Union. It is the latest …

From the National Center for Lesbian Rights: “Properly understood, today’s decision is a significant victory for LGBTQ people,” said Shannon Minter, NCLR Legal Director. “The Court ruled in favor of Catholic Social Services, but on the narrowest possible ground, based on language in the City of Philadelphia’s contract that authorized individualized exemptions for any provider. “The Court did not change …

The Huffington Post reports: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of faith-based foster agency Catholic Social Services in a case that has significant implications for LGBTQ foster parents as well as taxpayer-funded groups’ ability to discriminate against queer people or other faiths based on “religious freedom.” The case centers around two local foster agencies that the city of Philadelphia found …

Tampa’s Fox News affiliate reports: Another Democrat is tossing their hat in the ring for the District 13 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Civil rights attorney and state lawmaker Michele Rayner announced her candidacy Monday morning in Largo with little fanfare, surrounded by a small group of family and supporters at her family’s church. Rayner was elected to …

Via press release from Speaker Pelosi’s office: House Republicans are using Pride Month to attack LGBTQ-owned small businesses. Republicans lined up on Tuesday to prevent Congressman Richie Torres’ LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act from passing on suspension. The bill would help ensure that financial institutions are providing LGBTQ-owned small businesses equal access to credit. 177 Republicans voted …

The Associated Press reports: Lawmakers in Hungary approved legislation Tuesday that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment, something supporters said would help fight pedophilia but which human rights groups denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination. Fidesz, the conservative ruling party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, introduced the legislation, which is the latest effort to curtail the …

The Christian Post reports: Days before he was found dead in Alabama of an apparent suicide, Steve Austin, a former youth pastor, suicide survivor and mental health advocate, sought financial help from subscribers to his newsletter as his wife, Lindsey, battled a mental health crisis a week after he publicly came out as queer. Days later, the author, podcaster and …

Politico reports: Democrat Matt Putorti is launching a campaign against Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), aiming to knock out one of the Republican Party’s rising stars and a newly minted member of House leadership. Putorti is a 37-year-old attorney from Upstate New York focused on LGBTQ+ equality, reducing gun violence, and immigration. “Elise Stefanik is a threat to spaghetti dinner towns,” …

Former Rep. Barney Frank writes in an op-ed today: Having gotten used to Pride parades being occasions when the broad community can come together in an atmosphere of complete mutual respect, I was very disappointed at the injection of bigotry that has marred this season. I am referring to the decision of the organizers of the New York march to …

Washington DC’s NBC News affiliate reports: Vice President Kamala Harris put her pride for the LBGTQ+ community on display Saturday in Washington, D.C. Harris surprised marchers by joining the Capital Pride Walk and Rally. She wore a pink blazer and a “love is love” shirt and walked with the procession for about a block. “Happy Pride,” Harris told members of …

From Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: In the years since the tragedy, we have worked to increase the visibility of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and celebrate our city’s diversity during annual events like Come Out With Pride and on murals throughout the city. We proudly fly the Pride flag at City Hall and at soccer games. Businesses now display stickers provided by …

Boing Boing reports: While two Tennessee teens were painting a mural to celebrate Pride Month, a homophobic – and racist (of course) – Marjorie Taylor Greene clone marched over with paint cans in her arms. “I’m comin’ over here to paint over your shit,” she said. “I’m sick of hearing all of you. I’m sick of hearing all of you.” …

The Associated Press reports: Family members of Walmart founder Sam Walton on Thursday launched a $1 million fund for groups assisting LGBT people in the retail giant’s home state of Arkansas, which has enacted measures restricting transgender people’s rights. The new fund is being established with support from the Alice L. Walton Foundation and from Olivia and Tom Walton through …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Days before the fifth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, U.S. Senators passed a bill designating the site of the former nightclub as a national memorial. The legislation passed unanimously Wednesday afternoon after its sponsor, Sen. Rick Scott, asked that it and its companion bills be approved by unanimous consent in observance of the five years …

The Associated Press reports: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other top department officials took part in the Pentagon’s 10th annual LGBT Pride Month celebration on Wednesday morning. In his comments, Austin commemorated the progress the military had come in standing up for LGBTQ+ rights but recognized that there was still work to come. Austin also commemorated the work of …

The Washington Post reports: The Justice Department in a court filing Tuesday said it can “vigorously” defend a religious exemption from federal civil rights law that allows federally funded religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students, a move that surprised some LGBTQ advocates who said the wording went further than just an obligation to defend an existing law. In the …