This article originally appeared in the Washington Blade. Trumps win requires us to organize, focus on protecting trans communityThese are frightening times for those of us on the target list of Project 2025, the blueprint for Donald Trumps second term that he secured in landslide fashion on Tuesday.Many of us are wondering how this could happen again. Kamala Harris is one of the most qualified presidential candidates to run in our lifetime. She ran against a 34-times convicted felon who staged an insurrection against the government and who faces a sentencing hearing in just three weeks for his crimes. A man who was twice impeached, who courts Vladimir Putins attention and approval, and who was found liable for sexual assault. Despite that last fact and Trumps bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade 44 percent of women voters supported him, far more than the polls and pundits predicted.Those polls turned out to be pretty accurate and Harris was brought down by lingering concerns over the economy and the toll inflation has taken on lower and middle class Americans. Sure, sexism, and racism played a role in this, but too many of us live in a bubble, insulated from the everyday concerns of disaffected blue collar Americans. While many of us crowed about last weeks Wall Street Journal lead story on the booming U.S. economy being the envy of the world, voters in the former Blue Wall states were struggling to put food on the table. When you cant feed your family, youre not going to vote for the incumbent vice president.So whats next? Weve seen this movie before. Trump will appoint a series of sycophants to run the government; he will undermine the federal workforce and try to fire as many longtime civil servants as he can. He will have a compliant GOP-majority Senate to rubberstamp his Cabinet and judicial appointees. He will probably ban transgender service members from the military on day one. The list goes on.The next conservative President must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors, Project 2025 begins. This starts with deleting the terms sexual orientation and gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion, gender, gender equality, gender awareness, gender-sensitive out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contracts, grant regulation, and piece of legislation that exists.Indeed, Project 2025 seeks to send us all back to the closet. But, as Harris rightly intoned throughout her short campaign: We are not going back.The good news and there is some is that voters for the first time elected two Black women to the U.S. Senate to serve at the same time, Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware. Sarah McBride becomes our nations first out transgender member of Congress. Shes a formidable figure and will be an important voice for trans equality in the face of Trumps inevitable attacks. At this writing, control of the House hasnt been decided. If the Democrats can manage to flip it, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a capable strategist, becomes the face of our resistance.We need our LGBTQ+ allies and advocacy groups more than ever. If you have the resources, donate to Lambda Legal and other legal groups gearing up for the many battles ahead, including over marriage equality. (Some more good news on that front, as California voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 3, which will enshrine marriage rights in the constitution of our largest state.) Volunteer your time with your local equality group, especially if you live in a state like Florida with draconian anti-LGBTQ+ laws on the books.No one said being part of a social justice movement would be easy. Sometimes pioneers in these fights dont live to see the end of the road. Nows the time to double down on hard work, determination, and compassion, especially for the trans community, which sadly will take the brunt of the incoming attacks. Those of us who are a bit older need to reassure younger voters and activists that their efforts this time are not in vain. Harriss meteoric ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket and the incredible campaign she ran will make it easier for the next woman to run. That final, ultimate glass ceiling will fall in our lifetime.So for now, take a breath. Hug the dog. Take a walk in the woods, whatever you need to refocus. Four years is a blip and will fly by. The Democratic bench is deep. And the march toward full equality for our community is unstoppable. Setbacks are inevitable but we learned a long time ago that love wins. So fight on.The post Whats next for the LGBTQ+ movement? appeared first on News Is Out.

On this Election Day, we asked LGBTQ+ voters to share their experiences in voting, whether at the ballot box or through the mail, and why they chose the candidates who received their vote. We reached out to LGBTQ+ voters of all political affiliations.Robin C., 35, lives in a small town south of Oklahoma City and tells News is Out their experience at the ballot box was low-key, with only about 25 people in line. Everything was quiet and civil, Robin said.Robin shared that they voted for Kamala Harris for president because she has a demonstrated history of supporting the LGBTQ community dating back to long before she became VP, and I also believe shell surround herself with an intelligent administration that will make sound economic policy, as opposed to the absurd ideas Ive heard come from the Trump camp.I also voted for a Democratic state House representative candidate named Mitchell Jacob, Robin said. They had a chance to speak to Jacob directly during his campaign, where he explained his position on improving education and his support for protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Robins district. The personal interaction was helpful, Robin said.Deb K., 65, is a voter in Michigan who has marched twice on Washington and cast her ballot for Harris, saying, I will not go back, echoing Harris own message on the campaign.Erik S., 45, of Flint, Michigan, tells News is Out that he proudly cast his ballot for Harris. As a gay man, I obviously voted in my own self-interest, as I have no doubt that Trump, Vance, and the theo-bros in Congress and on the SCOTUS will come for us next, Erik said. But I had tears in my eyes as I scanned my ballot this morning because I knew it wasnt for me. My vote for Kamala was for my sister, my nieces, my friends, and all of the incredible women and girls in my life who deserve a better tomorrow.Yovonne B., 35, is a registered Republican in Maryland. In 2016, she voted for Donald Trump, and again, in 2020. In 2020 I voted for Trump, unfortunately, Yovonne said. I didnt want to have to lie to my family. I did struggle with the decision.This election, Yovonne , who comes from a long line of Republicans as well, cast her vote for Harris. I dont want any part of what the Republican Party is doing, said Yovonne. I cant do it anymore. Ill have to lie if someone asks me.Shelley K., 58, of New Jersey, voted by mail, sent postcards to North Carolina, and helped canvass in Pennsylvania. Voting for Harris, Shelley describes herself as an old cis white lesbian from way back, with a beloved trans nephew and a bi niece.Leonard S., 45, is a registered Democratic voter in Michigan. Voting is something my family had to fight for over generations, Leonard said. Its the most important act in democracy, and I dont take it lightly.Lizelle V., 42, of Colorado is voting for the second time as a U.S. citizen. She cast her vote for the Harris/Walz ticket. I voted for Harris and Walz because Im a self-respecting woman and want to see this country thrive, Lizelle said.She tells News is Out that she doesnt take voting for granted. A lot of people fought like hell to give me the right to vote, and I vote for all my fellow citizens in hopes of a strong economy, health care for women and everyone, a climate reality check, and for democracy.Brandy H., 35, recently moved to Rhode Island from Tennessee. She and her wife went to the polls wearing Pride gear, and nobody treated us any differently or othered us in any capacity, Brandy said. You can imagine how refreshing that was coming from what we were accustomed to in the Southern states. I will say the women voting outnumbered the men substantially, and we all sort of just nodded to one another in passing. It felt like a movement.Want to share your voting experience with News is Out? Drop us an email at newsisout@localmedia.org.The post LGBTQ+ voters share their voting experiences and candidates of choice appeared first on News Is Out.

Two U.S. House Democrats have made public statements opposing transgender female athletes playing on girls and womens sports teams. During the election, Republicans spent at least $215 million on anti-trans attack ads, including accusing Democrats of supporting boys competing against girls, a crude reference to the issue.The Democrats have to stop pandering to the far left, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) said according to The New York Times. I dont want to discriminate against anybody, but I dont think biological boys should be playing in girls sports. Democrats arent saying that, and they should be. Related How did the trans sports debate become such a hot topic this election season? Nonbinary ESPN journalist Katie Barnes discusses what the trans sports debate reveals about gender bias in the U.S.. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) told the same publication, Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face. I have two little girls, I dont want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat Im supposed to be afraid to say that. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Moulton and Suozzi, who both won their re-election campaigns on Tuesday, were endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the national LGBTQ+ advocacy group that supports trans-inclusion in sports. Both men have supported legislation to protect trans rights, including the Equality Act a federal law that would ban anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and have opposed anti-trans legislation.Moulton is also a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus which supports LGBTQ+ equality and cosponsored House Democrats Transgender Bill of Rights, which would enshrine trans rights, including the right for trans athletes to play on sports teams matching ones gender identity.In a statement given to The Hill about the legislators comments, HRC Press Secretary Brandon Wolf, said, We will spend years analyzing the results of this election and building a winning coalition for the cycles to come, but we know this: blaming those who have long been in the MAGA crosshairs wont help us build the path forward.Wolf noted that, in exit polling, only 4% of voters said that they considered trans issues as the most important in the election.Moulton and Suozzi are just the latest Democratic politicians to speak out against trans athletes amid the election. In mid-October, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) released an ad in which he said, I dont want boys playing girls sports. In doing so, Allred became the first national Democratic candidate ever to release a TV ad responding to Republican transphobic attacks.His Republican opponent for the U.S. Senate, anti-LGBTQ+ Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), attacked Allred for supporting the Equality Act and opposing a national Republican ban on trans athletes in sports. Allred, who lost his Senate race, wasnt the only Democratic candidate to lose his race after facing such ads.In Ohio, a Senate Republican super PAC aired ads accusing Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) of allowing transgender biological males in girls sports. In Montana, Republicans aired five ads accusing Sen. Jon Tester (D-NV) of wanting trans women in sports and bathrooms, painting him as too liberal for the state. Brown and Tester both narrowly lost their races. After President-elect Donald Trumps Election Night victory, some Democratic politicians and pundits have blamed progressives for dragging the party too far to the left, The Hill reported. Some have voiced concerns that Democratic pandering to progressive identity groups have opened politicians to criticism of being out of touch with voters actual concerns.Donald Trump has no greater friend than the far left, which has managed to alienate historic numbers of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Jews from the Democratic Party with absurdities like Defund the Police or From the River to the Sea or Latinx,Out gay Rep.Ritchie Torres (D-NY) tweeted.Republicans in 26 states have passed laws forbidding trans athletes from playing on sports teams matching their gender identities. Majorities of Americans oppose trans participation in sports, and the sides of that debate dont break down cleanly along ideological lines, nonbinary ESPN journalist Katie Barnes told LGBTQ Nation. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While the nation faces the implications of a second Donald Trump administration, there are meaningful victories to celebrate down the ballot, including groundbreaking LGBTQ+ firsts. The 2024 election cycle marked a significant moment for LGBTQ+ political representation in the United States. On election night, numerous queer and transgender candidates achieved historic victories, setting new standards for diversity and inclusivity in political offices nationwide. Political Representation Across the SpectrumKeturah Herron: First out LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Kentucky State Senate, and a former ACLU policy strategist who championed Breonnas Law.Rashaun Kemp: Georgias first out gay Black legislator, bringing his rich background in education to the state level.Sarah McBride: The first out transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress, known for her history-making advocacy as a Delaware State Senator.Gabby Salinas: First out LGBTQ+ woman and Latinx elected to the Tennessee legislature, championing healthcare, education, and public safety.Molly Cook: First out LGBTQ+ Texas Senator, committed to LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, and environmental justice.Julie Johnson: Texass first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress, known for her work forming the states LGBTQ+ caucus.Aime Wichtendahl: First out transgender person in the Iowa legislature, advocating against culture war politics.Emily Randall: First out LGBTQ+ Latina in Congress, set to represent Washington state and bring a unique perspective to federal policy.More Stories: Historic Achievements of LGBTQ+ Candidates in the 2024 ElectionDonald Trump Secures 2024 Victory: What Lies Ahead for the NationJonathan Bailey Learns About the Word Zaddy With Jeff GoldblumDisney Festival of Holidays 2024: Your Foodie Guide to Disneylands Seasonal TreatsDavid Henrie Blocks Former Wizards Co-Star Turned OnlyFans CreatorThe post Historic Achievements of LGBTQ+ Candidates in the 2024 Election appeared first on Gayety.

Across countries, socioeconomic classes, sexualities, and races, pop music has long been the sound of the masses. No matter where you go or who you talk to, people find commonality in the music of pop superstars. Icons like The Beatles and Michael Jackson are just as likely to be played at a Japanese bar as they are at an American barbeque.Surprisingly, the endless success of pop stars hasnt traditionally led to a ton of diversity in the industry. Pop stars are engineered to have commercial appeal, and though they are consistently popular within the LGBTQ+ community, they havent traditionally been a part of it. Luckily, that seems to be changing.In the last decade, LGBTQ+ pop stars have begun to share their identities with fans and mediaopenly and unapologetically. Where older generations typically waited until theyd reached success to explicitly address their sexuality (Elton John, Madonna, George Michael), newer pop stars are happy to discuss it from day one.Wizards of Waverly Place and Scooby-Doo actress Hayley Kiyoko was one of the first in her generation of pop stars to openly embrace her lesbian identity. In her early 20s, Kiyoko came out via her 2015 single, Girls Like Girls. Her decision to clearly embrace her truth as a former Disney kid, proved that transparency could work for child stars ready to share their full selves with fans. Fellow child actors Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus have followed similar paths, discussing their sexuality without reservations throughout their adult music careers.When Gen Z phenomenon, Chappell Roan (lovingly dubbed the next queer pop superstar) began to gain popularity, she loudly addressed her lesbian identity from stage. From the moment she burst onto the scene, shes left little doubt about her queerness. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, takes listeners along for a sapphic tryst in Red Wine Supernova. Newer singles, released after the album, are even more blatantly sapphicGood Luck, Babe! tackles the emotional devastation caused by compulsory heterosexuality, and The Giver, is a bawdy track about topping other women.Roans success paves the way for others like her, unwilling to hide who they are at any point in their careers. Her sexuality hasnt slowed her rise to fame, in fact her authenticity has only helped her rise. In 2024, she broke the attendance record at Lollapalooza Chicago, drawing a breathtaking crowd of 110,000 fans yearning to see her in person.A still from Chappell Roans hit song, Hot To Go. Photo: Chappell Roan YoutubeSimilarly, Sam Smith has refused to hide their gender and sexuality journey throughout their career. Smith first publicly addressed their sexuality just two days after their debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, dropped. Upon winning a 2015 Grammy Award for the single, Stay With Me, Smith thanked the man who broke their heart, claiming that the heartbreak provided the raw material for Smiths critical success. Smith was equally clear in expressing their gender identity, taking to Instagram to announce that they are nonbinary and use they/them pronouns.Smith went on to make LGBTQ+ pop music history with Kim Petras when the duo released their single, Unholy, in 2023. The track earned them a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance later that year, making Smith the first openly nonbinary musical artist to have a number one song on the Billboard Hot 100, and the first openly nonbinary artist to win a Grammy. At the same time, Petras became the first openly transgender solo artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the first openly transgender artist to win in her category.Petras public fight to receive gender-affirming healthcare before the age of 18 in Germany, her home country, made international news. Her gender identity and advocacy were well known before her career ever took off.In their decisions to be so visible, Petras and Smith have ignited conversations across the world about queer and trans identities. They also provide representation that has been sorely lacking in pop music. And they arent the only onesTroye Sivan, Demi Lovato, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and Janelle Monae all provide LGBTQ+ representation on a global scale.However, as we celebrate this moment in time, its important to recognize that there is space for more diversity in our pop stars. While we have lesbian and gay pop stars, Black and white pop stars, nonbinary and genderqueer pop stars, there are voices we havent yet heard from. LGBTQ+ pop stars can be trans men, they can be Indigenous, they can be asexual, they can be hijabis, they can occupy any plethora of intersectional identities. The representation we have now is beautiful, and hopefully, its only the start.The post LGBTQ+ pop stars usher in a new era appeared first on News Is Out.

As we approach the upcoming election, digital advocacy is more crucial than ever. For LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, who often face unique challenges in the political landscape, ensuring privacy and safety while advocating online is paramount. Due to the heightened risk of harassment and discrimination advocates face, cybersecurity is vital.Why is cybersecurity important?Robust cybersecurity measures protect personal information and communications from exploitation by those looking to harm or silence advocates. Privacy is a significant concern for many advocates, especially when dealing with sensitive topics. Online harassment can escalate quickly, and strong cybersecurity helps safeguard the identities of advocates, as well as their personal data, ensuring they can advocate without risking exposure or backlash. By implementing security practices, individuals can engage freely in discussions and activism without the constant fear of online threats. Moreover, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC advocates who feel secure in digital engagements are more likely to share their stories and perspectives, contributing to broader representation and understanding.Prioritizing cybersecurity also fosters trust within these communities. When advocates take steps to protect their digital presence, it encourages more individuals to participate in advocacy efforts. This trust is vital for effective collaboration and collective action. In a rapidly evolving landscape of digital rights and privacy laws, understanding cybersecurity empowers individuals to advocate for better protections and ensures their voices are heard in the democratic process.Here are some essential cybersecurity tips to help protect your digital presence while making your voice heard.Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Your first line of defense against cyber threats is a strong password. Create complex passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessed information, like birthdays or common words. Additionally, enabletwo-factor authentication (2FA)on all your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security, requiring you to verify your identity with a second method, such as a text message or authentication app.Be cautious with public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi networks can be a hotspot for cybercriminals. When accessing sensitive information or engaging in advocacy, avoid using public Wi-Fi. If necessary, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data.Limit personal information shared online. While sharing your story and experiences is vital for advocacy, be mindful of the personal information you disclose. Avoid posting identifiable details such as your address, phone number, or specific locations that could compromise your safety. Always think twice before sharing content that could be used against you.Review privacy settings on social media. Take the time to review and adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms. Limit who can see your posts, friend requests, and personal information. Consider creating separate accounts for advocacy and personal use to maintain a level of separation and control over your visibility.Stay informed about digital threats. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and its essential to stay informed about potential threats, especially during election season. Follow reputable sources and organizations that provide updates on cybersecurity best practices and emerging threats to BIPOC and LGBTQ+ advocates.Use secure communication channels. When organizing or discussing sensitive topics related to advocacy, opt for secure messaging apps that offer end-to-end encryption, such as Signal or WhatsApp. This ensures that your conversations remain private and protected from prying eyes.Know your rights and resources. Familiarize yourself with your rights regarding online privacy and security. Many organizations, such as theElectronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)and theACLU, provide resources and support for individuals facing digital harassment or discrimination.Report harassment and threats. If you experience online harassment or threats, dont hesitate to report them. Most social media platforms have reporting mechanisms for abusive behavior. Document the harassment and seek support from organizations that specialize in helping individuals in the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.Engaging in digital advocacy during this election season is crucial, especially for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals whose voices need to be amplified. By following these cybersecurity tips, you can protect your privacy and safety while making a meaningful impact in the political landscape. Stay informed, stay safe and keep advocating for the change you wish to see!The post Speak freely online: 8 cybersecurity tips for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC activists appeared first on News Is Out.

Need some good news? Well, um, good news: Gay love is alive! Today, Minnesota Lynx star Courtney Williams, let the world in on her big moment sharing on Instagram that she has gotten engaged to her partner, real estate agent Shya. We are screaming! See on InstagramWowwwww its a forever thing now, wrote Williams in the caption, My fianc yaaa hearrr meeee.Not only is this couple incredibly hot but the proposal itself was romantic fire, too!As seen in the photos Williams brought a blindfolded Shya to a grassy area with a massive light up sign, popping the question. Also, seen: A sax player in the background set the mood. In the photos you can see Williams drop to one knee in front of a very surprised, very happy Shya who, of course, said YES!The couple have been dating since 2022 and share their sweet moments on social media.See on InstagramThis team is definitely MVP status! But oh my god, Courtney, please drop the video! For one thing, we need to know what that sax player was playin!But seriously we could NOT be happier for this couple!

With the election days away, its essential to make sure your vote is counted. LGBTQ+ voters in swing states could even have a significant impact. Heres a simple guide to help you confirm your registration, locate your polling place and know your rights as a voter.1. Check your registration status before heading to the pollsBefore heading to the polls, verify your registration status to avoid surprises on Election Day. You can do this in a few easy steps:Visit your states election website: Most states have a portal where you can confirm your registration status with your name and birth date.Visit the National Associations of Secretaries of State (NASS) Can I Vote page. There you can find your voter registration status, find your polling place and more. Or check out VoteRiders for an easy guide.2. Know your optionsYou have several ways to cast your ballot, depending on your location:In-person voting: Locate your designated polling place and note the hours of operation. If youre voting in person, consider voting early to avoid long lines.Mail-in or absentee voting: Many states allow voters to cast a ballot by mail. Check the deadlines for requesting and returning mail-in ballots, and follow the instructions carefully to ensure your ballot is counted.There are several ways that polling places collect votes, learn about the different types of voting equipment here.3. What to bring to the pollsSome states have specific ID requirements for voters. Heres how to be prepared:Check ID requirements: Verify what form of identification, if any, you need to bring with you. Acceptable forms often include a drivers license, state-issued ID or passport.Bring registration: Its a good idea to bring a copy of your voter registration card or digital confirmation if youve registered online or through the mail.4. Know your rights at the pollsAs a voter, you have rights that protect your ability to vote safely and securely. Here are a few key rights to keep in mind:Right to vote: If youre in line when the polls close, you have the right to cast your ballot. Once you are in line, stay in line.Right to assistance: If you need help due to a disability or language barrier, you are entitled to assistance in casting your vote.Provisional ballots: If theres an issue with your registration, you can request a provisional ballot. This ensures that your vote will be counted once your eligibility is confirmed.Candidate paraphernalia is not allowed at many polling places. While you might be tempted to wear buttons, hats or t-shirts supporting your candidate, this is prohibited in the following states: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont.5. Report any issuesIf you encounter problems at your polling place, there are resources to help:Voter protection hotlines: Many organizations provide hotlines for reporting issues at the polls, such as long wait times, lack of access, or voter intimidation. 1-866-OUR-VOTE is a non-partisan option to report issues at your polling place.Election protection volunteers: Some polling places may have election protection volunteers available to help with any questions or concerns.In this story we used AI to help assist in researching. When using AI we also had a human check for accuracy.The post What to know (and bring) as you head to the polls appeared first on News Is Out.

Last night, a record-breaking 75,000 people gathered at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., to hear Vice President Kamala Harriss closing remarks, with a week to go until Election Day. The Ellipse is the same spot where Donald Trump delivered his speech on Jan. 6, 2021.Harris, who spoke for nearly 30 minutes, once again shared her vision for the country. At one point in her speech, Harris honored Americans who have fought for freedom over the past two and a half centuries, including those at Stonewall.Nearly 250 years ago, America was born when we wrested freedom from a petty tyrant, said Harris. Across the generations, Americans have preserved that freedom, expanded it, and in so doing, proved to the world that a government of by and for the people is strong and can endure. And those who came before us, the patriots at Normandy and Selma, Seneca Falls and Stonewall, on farmland and factory floors. They did not struggle, sacrifice and lay down their lives only to see us cede our fundamental freedoms. They didnt do that only to see us submit to the will of another petty tyrant.In recent weeks, Harris has spoken about the LGBTQ+ community and our rights with Howard Stern, defended access to gender affirming care on NBC, and has been working to engage the LGBTQ+ community for months. In contrast, the Trump campaign has spent nearly $20 million on anti-transgender ads airing during professional and college football games in the month of October. You can watch Harris speech in its entirety, here. The post VP Harris mentions Stonewall in her closing argument speech for President appeared first on News Is Out.

While horror was never dead (or undead), it has certainly been making a comeback in recent years. Films like Longlegs, Terrifier, and The Substance have been cashing in at the box office. But what about queer horror? There are dozens of horror films where LGBTQ+ people arent just nameless victims to slashers or monsters. The following horror films will give you a good scare and also put the stories of LGBTQ+ people front and center.I Saw the TV GlowThis critically acclaimed film by writer/director Jane Schoenbrun stars queer actors Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Taking place in 1996 and paying homage to the 90s horror films and TV shows of Schoenbruns youth like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smith and Lundy-Paine start off as two teens both obsessed with a show called The Pink Opaque. The film then delves into a twisty, fascinating narrative of love, loss, self-discovery, gender identity, and of course, fighting against a big bad named Mr. Melancholy.I Saw the TV Glow is available now on Max.Fear Street TrilogyContinuing the 90s nostalgia-fest is Fear Street Part One: 1994. After centuries of bad luck, the teens of Shadyside find themselves facing murderous undead, a lesbian breakup, and a fearsome witch named Sarah Fier. The same cast is featured in Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666, which explores the origins of Sarah Fier. At the heart of the trilogy is a young lesbian couple, finding countless obstacles and searching for a way to end the curse plaguing their town.The Fear Street Trilogy is available now on Netflix.Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm StreetWhile technically a documentary, this film is full of horrors and scenes for Freddy Krueger fans. Directed by Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen, Scream, Queen! explores the life of gay actor Mark Patton, the star of Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddys Revenge. The film, which includes homoerotic imagery and tons of queer subtext, ended up putting unwanted attention on the then-closeted Patton after its release in 1985. In recent years, the film has become a queer cult classic, and Patton has embraced his role as Jesse Walsh and the fans who adore him.Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street is available now on Tubi.SpiralWhen a gay couple, Malik and Aaron (played by Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Ari Cohen), moves to a small town to raise their teen daughter, they find that something doesnt feel quite right. Once Malik discovers that a lesbian couple was murdered ten years prior in town, the town and its residents start to take on a more sinister tone. Could these overly friendly neighbors be hiding a dark and dangerous secret?Spiral is available now on Shudder.What Keeps You AliveBy the same team that brought you Spiral, What Keeps You Alive is an edge-of-your-seat thriller set in a secluded cabin. Lesbian couple, Jackie and Jules (Hannah Emily Anderson and Brittany Allen), rent a cabin to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary. Things start to take a turn when people in the area recognize Jackie as a former resident of the nearby town, who was thought to be involved in the mysterious drowning death of her friend. Now Jules must face that she may not know who she married after all.What Keeps You Alive is available now on IFC Films Unlimited.SlayFour drag queens (Trinity the Tuck, Heidi N Closet, Crystal Methyd, and Cara Melle) show up at a remote dive bar for a gig and find themselves face to face with a gang of vicious vampires. They will have to use their wits and wigs to fight off the undead and mend their fractured friendships at the same time. A film for camp and vamp lovers.Slay is available now on Tubi.HellbentHellbent is an early entry in the queer horror genre, with classic slasher elements. Premiering in 2006, Hellbent follows a young gay man named Eddie on Halloween as he tries to connect with a man named Jake, all the while a vicious killer is on the loose. As his friends are taken out one by one, will Eddie be the last man standing?Hellbent is available now on YouTube Premium and Prime Video.ThelmaThis 2017 film out of Norway has become a top-rated queer horror film. After growing up in a strict, religious home, Thelma (Eili Harboe) goes away for college and experiences freedom for the first time. When she unexpectedly falls for another female student, Anja (Kaya Wilkins), Thelma develops psychokinetic powers and unexplained seizures. Both awakenings bring up traumatic issues from Thelmas past that she must face if she is ever able to move on.Thelma is available now on Crackle.BitTrans actress and advocate Nicole Maines stars as teenage Laurel, who unwittingly becomes a vampire after moving to Los Angeles for a fresh start. After meeting an alluring woman at a club, Laurel is bitten and is pulled into a gang of women vampires led by the stern and powerful Duke (Dianna Hopper). While life as a vampire initially has some benefits for Laurel, she soon finds herself conflicted.Bit is now available on Tubi.The post LGBTQ+ horror movies to watch this spooky season and beyond appeared first on News Is Out.

Polling data shows that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are running in a near-dead heat in four states Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And as a scholar of LGBTQ+ politics, I suspect that LGBTQ+ voters could play an outsize role in these states and the race.So, how might LGBTQ+ voters swing these states?LGBTQ+ voting behavior, explainedIn the most comprehensive political survey of LGBTQ+ Americans ever conducted, the Pew Research Center found in 2013 that the vast majority of respondents 85% always or nearly always voted, compared with roughly a third of the general population. Turnout in the most recent presidential election validated that finding. A 2020 post-election survey by the advocacy group GLAAD found that 81% of LGBTQ+ voters cast a ballot.For context, 64% of all eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, which was unusually high voter participation. Historically, turnout hovers around 55% for presidential elections and 35% for midterm elections.The National Center for Transgender Equality, an advocacy organization, finds that voter turnout is particularly high among transgender people.Even in the historically low-turnout 2014 midterm election, the groups data indicated that roughly half of transgender respondents had voted, compared with only one-third of the general population. In the 2022 midterm election, transgender voter turnout increased to nearly 75%, according to the 2024 U.S. Trans Survey.LGBTQ+ voters and partisanshipLGBTQ+ voters strongly lean Democratic. Pews 2013 survey found that nearly 60% of all LGBTQ+ respondents were Democrats, and less than 10% were Republicans. Transgender voters are even more partisan, and nearly 80% identified as Democratic or Democratic-leaning in the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey.Exit poll data from the 2016 presidential election supports this conclusion. Nearly 80% of LGBTQ+ voters told researchers outside polling stations that theyd cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton. Just 14% reported that theyd backed Trump.Initial exit poll data from the 2020 presidential election indicated that Trump had doubled his share of LGBTQ+ voters to 28%. Later analyses contradicted that finding, however, showing that LGBTQ+ voters were actually essential to Joe Bidens victory.The surprising miscalculation was likely due to COVID-19-related polling errors. Exit poll data from the 2022 midterm election put LGBTQ+ support for Republican congressional candidates back at 14%.LGBTQ+ voters in tipping-point statesTaken together, past polling data indicates that the LGBTQ+ community will likely back Harris over Trump by strong margins in four of the most likely tipping-point states that is, the swing states with enough electoral votes to tip the entire election for one candidate.Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania all have populations of LGBTQ+ adults that are significantly larger than the margin of victory by which the winning candidate took the state in 2020.For instance, Biden won Georgia and its 15 electoral votes by 11,779 votes in 2020, and there are over 400,000 LGBTQ+ adults in the state. Trumps apparent current lead in Georgia is within the margin of error, and even a slight increase in Democratic-leaning LGBTQ+ voters, compared with 2020, could hand Harris the state.Georgia now has 16 electoral votes following a population increase.Forecast is as of Oct. 19, 2024.Table: The Conversation, CC-BY-NDSource: Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, Cook Political Report, FiveThirtyEightGet the data. Created with DatawrapperThe gap between the two candidates in all four tipping-point states is similarly narrow 2% or less. Thats well within state polls margin of error. Together, these states have a combined 66 electoral votes. Thats nearly double Bidens Electoral College margin of victory in 2020 and Trumps margin in 2016.If higher turnout among LGBTQ+ voters in these four likely tipping-point states could deliver the 2024 race for Harris, then lower LGBTQ+ turnout could pave Trumps path to victory.Trump is well within striking distance in the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania and Michigan, where polling puts him in a statistical dead heat with Harris. With those slim margins that are well within the margin of error, even a moderate decrease in turnout among the states many thousands of LGBTQ+ voters could cause serious problems for Harris.For context, Biden won Pennsylvania and Michigan by 80,555 and 154,188 votes, respectively, in 2020.Possible X factorsOf course, the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections are not carbon copies of each other.The LGBTQ+ electorate grows each year, and by 2030 1 in 7 voters are expected to identify as LGBTQ+.Republicans have also ramped up legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights since 2020, and GOP campaign ads with anti-transgender messages dominate this election cycle. Both of these factors will play a role in 2024, as will a shake-up in the North Carolina governors race.In September, CNN reported that the Republican nominee for governor of North Carolina, Mark Robinson, had posted controversial comments on a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012. In addition to referring to himself as a black Nazi, Robinson said that he enjoyed watching transgender pornography.For a candidate whose anti-trans rhetoric includes saying transgender women should be arrested for using womens restrooms, this was shocking news. Robinson has denied the allegation, which has severely damaged his campaign. Two weeks ahead of the election, polling gave Robinsons Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, a clear lead over Robinson.Robinsons troubled past and embattled campaign could mobilize multiple pockets of progressive North Carolinians, including LGBTQ+ voters, against him. Boosted turnout would almost certainly eat into Trumps vote share in North Carolina a state he won by 1.3% in 2020.What to expect on election nightHistorical trends, demographic data and current affairs all point toward LGBTQ+ voters playing an important and potentially decisive role in tipping swing states to Harris.Yet, there are also signs that Harris may underperform with LGBTQ+ voters.A September 2024 survey by the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, reported that about 20% of LGBTQ+ respondents were undecided, planning to stay home or backing a third party. Less than 8% of LGBTQ+ respondents were leaning toward Trump, but disaffected LGBTQ+ Democrats could cause problems for Harris.Ultimately, theres no way to know what LGBTQ+ voters will actually do at the ballot box. This race is in flux, and plenty can happen before election day. Other voting blocs have grown or changed since 2024, too.The answers will come on election night or in a race with such narrow margins of victory in the days and weeks of counting and recounting to follow.Dorian Rhea Debussy, Lecturer of Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State UniversityThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.The post LGBTQ+ voters in these four states could swing the 2024 presidential election appeared first on News Is Out.

Special to News is Out from the LGBT History Project.There is perhaps no more critical election in U.S. history than the one in which Americans vote Nov. 5. Vice President Kamala Harris has said repeatedly as she campaigns that former president Donald Trump poses a threat to democracy as well as to a myriad of aspects of Americans daily lives. The specter of Jan. 6, 2021 remains vivid for most Americans, so its not a hyperbolic statement or mere electioneering.In addition, Harris has cited the Heritage FoundationsProject 2025, which is a plan to remake the American government. It will also deeply threaten historically marginalized communities, notably immigrants and LGBTQ+ people.While Trump claims to know nothing about Project 2025, members of his former administration were among its authors and architects. Harris has it upon her website, so voters can see what Project 2025 would do, and she referenced it in theSept. 10 debate.Yet since the debate, Americans have also witnessed first hand the impact rumor and innuendoan important element in the Project 2025 playbookcan have on whole communities afterTrump assertedthat Haitian immigrants in Ohio are kidnapping pets and eating them. That false claim, debunked in real-time in the debate by ABC moderator David Muir and many times since by various Ohio officials including law enforcement and even the Republican governor, has shown the nation how a fast-moving rumor can impact both a small community like Springfield, Ohio and take over an entire country.HUAC hearings, the Red Scare and homosexualsThats what happened when theRed Scarethe threat of Communists infiltrating American society at every level in the 1940s and 1950sgave birth to the Lavender Scare: a belief that homosexual (a term that was used to describe the community at the time) men and women were seen as sexual perverts, deviants and a national security threat. As Trump and his running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance, have made false accusations against Haitian immigrants, most Republicans in both the House and Senate have supported these rumors. This is similar to how Wisconsin Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy spread rumors about Communists in the U.S. government decades ago.Many of McCarthys fellow Republicans at that timeincluding President Dwight D. Eisenhowersupported McCarthys dogged work to weed out Communists in American society, but it was also a bipartisan effort with some Democrats supporting McCarthy as well. Democrats were also actively engaged in the homosexual purges that led to the Lavender Scare in which McCarthy claimed that homosexuals were more vulnerable to blackmail from the Soviets, and were therefore a national security risk and posed a significant threat to the country as the Cold War ratcheted up.In 1947, the U.S. Park Police started their Sex Perversion Elimination Program, which targeted gay men for arrest and intimidation. In 1948, Congresspassed an actfor the treatment of sexual psychopaths in the nations capital. That law facilitated the arrest and punishment of people who acted on same-sex desire and also labeled them mentally ill.The subversive aspects of both homosexuality and Communism began to be linked. In 1950, even the Communist Party had issued a warning about the threat of homosexuality.McCarthys efforts to eradicate Communists and his focus on homosexuals in particular brought a significant number of closeted writers, actors and even politicians before his House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings. Ironically, his main support for his work was his assistant, 26-year-old Roy Cohn, a closeted gay man who would later become Donald Trumps attorney.Executive Order 10450 fuels Lavender ScareThe direct connection between McCarthy and HUAC to Eisenhowers Executive Order 10450, issued on April 27, 1953, which led to the expulsion of homosexuals from all levels of American government, remains unclear, but a link certainly existed. The policy was succinct and unforgiving: Anyone suspected of being a lesbian or gay man was summarily dismissed from their positions, no matter what the placement. There were no protections for these men and women from the reveal about their sexual orientation, either.The devastating impact of that policy reverberated for years and touched thousands of gay menand lesbians. Executive Order 10450 was not rescinded until 1995 and continued to bar gays from entering the military until the establishment ofDont Ask, Dont Tell,which in turn was not repealed until 2011.Eisenhower precedes Project 2025Eisenhowers acceptance of McCarthys actions and McCarthyism itself has been minimized, yet it was only two months after issuing that Executive Order that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed by the federal government on June 19, 1953 at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York.The Rosenbergswere the first American civilians to be executed for espionage and the first to be executed during peacetime and Eisenhower did not stop their execution.Eisenhower is often called the last good Republican president and a serious conservative who put country first over party. Yet Eisenhowers history is quite different and he succumbed to the worst aspects of bigotry and propagated two of the worst policies in modern U.S. history: his Executive Order 10450 and Operation Wetbackeven referencing the latter by name can get you a timeout on Twitter/X for using an ethnic slur.Executive Order 10450 removed homosexuals from every arena of American government from 1953 until well into the 1970s. The HUAC and Lavender Scare impact was extraordinaryand largely hidden.In his 2020 book, The Deviants War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America, Eric Cervini reports the prosecution of around one million gay or lesbian individuals in the U.S. from 1945 to 1960 and that by the end of the 1940s, Washington officials announced the Sex Perversion Elimination Program.Eisenhowers Operation Wetback removed Mexican immigrants, including American citizens, from the U.S. Millions of Mexicans had legally entered the country through joint immigration programs in the first half of the 20th century. Many of these immigrants were then naturalized citizens. Operation Wetback sent them back to Mexicoin much the way Trump asserts he will do with immigrants if he is re-elected. It is also a foundational tenet of Project 2025.The purge of homosexuals was ongoingBut this assault on homosexuals was not just about McCarthy,nor was it solely the purview of Republicans. The Subcommittee on Investigations was chaired by Democratic Senator Clyde R. Hoey from 1949 to 1952 and investigated the employment of homosexuals in the Federal workforce. McCarthy embraced this theme in the HUAC hearings as The Hoey Report stated that all of the governments intelligence agencies are in complete agreement that sex perverts in Government constitute security risks.The head of the Washington D.C Metropolitan Police Department vice squad, Lieutenant Roy Blick had testified that 5,000 homosexuals lived in Washington, D.C., and that around 3,700 were federal employees. This lit a fuse to weed out these men and women from the government.Examining the Lavender ScareEisenhowers association with McCarthy highlights how he was far from a benign leader and was in fact one of the most dangerous for lesbians and gay men both at the time and historically. As renowned activist Harry Hay would later bequoted in the New York Times, We lived in terror almost every day of our lives. The breadth of impact of the Lavender Scare has not been widely reported, but the 2017 documentaryThe Lavender Scareshows how even after men and women were purged from their government jobs, they were pursued by the policy.One example is Madeleine Tress, 24, who worked as an economist for the U.S. Department of Commerce when two investigators who called her in worked for the U.S. Civil Service Commission. They told her they had evidence of her lesbianism. She was asked to swear an oath. She asked for an attorney and was told she could not have one. Tress lost her job. Later, as the film details, she also lost her Fulbright award.NPR posted an interviewwith her in 2023 and the transcript is chilling.The incidental aspects of Executive Order 10450one young lesbian economists life being upended and virtually ruinedexemplifies what the confluence of McCarthy and Eisenhower did to gay men and lesbians with the Lavender Scare. But the impact went far beyond job losses. Some people died by suicide after being outed, as the repercussions were so devastating on multiple levels that they couldnt bear the fallout. They were labeled as deviants and ostracized in their respective professions.Activist response to the Lavender ScareFrank Kameny was working for the United States Army Map Service as an astronomer when he was fired in 1957 for being homosexual. Kameny tried repeatedly but was unable to find another job in the federal government after that firing due to the Lavender Scare.The impact that had on Kameny propelled him into becoming one of the most pivotal LGBTQ+ civil rights leaders, devoting his life to the gay-rights movement. Kameny was instrumental in creatingthe Mattachine Societyof Washington in 1960. In 1965, four years before the Stonewall Riots, Kameny picketed the White House on the grounds of gay rights. That same year, Kameny led a picket line for gay rights at Independence Hall on July 4, which included veteran Philadelphia lesbian activistBarbara Gittings.As the election approaches, this history of what a seemingly benign president and an ideologue of a senator can do to threaten, terrorize and even lead to the deaths of whole groups of marginalized people. Its a lesson worth reviewing and a history that continues to impact LGBTQ+ historypast and present.The post The Lavender Scare: The case against homosexuals appeared first on News Is Out.

The New York Times trans coverage has been the subject of strong controversy for the last few years, with the newspaper itself making headlines for how its stories platformed anti-trans groups instead of real trans individuals. Author and trans activist Riki Wilchins set out to chronicle that phenomenon.In Wilchinss new book,Bad Ink: How The New York Times Sold Out Transgender Teens, they dive into the articles which have garnered criticism from rights organizations, medical professionals and writers in and out of the Times newsroom. Wilchins and others argue that the Times changed its public image from that of a newspaper of record to one fueling fires of the anti-trans rights movement.Wilchins didnt initially start out as a writer or activist, but they knew those were paths calling to them from a young age.Born and raised in Ohio, they moved to New York City, where they lived for 17 years, soon after their transition. Wilchins soon got sucked up into the world of computers and worked as a programmer for major banks on Wall Street.But one of their main turning points, and an instigator for their switch to activism, was hearing about the 1993 murder of transgender man Brandon Teena. Two years later, Wilchins founded GenderPAC and focused their work more on helping youth.Before working as an activist and author, Riki Wilchins started their adult life in computer programming. Photo courtesy of Riki WilchinsI ran from it for years because I knew I had my name on it, they said. Finally, a couple friends who were active talked me into protesting the gay pride parades in 1993-94 [for] refusing to add T on the LGBT and now its taken up 30 years of my life.One of Wilchinss books,Queer Theory, Gender Theory: An Instant Primer(2004) is now one of the standard books for teaching queer theory in higher education. Wichins, who is married with an 18-year-old daughter and lives in South Beach, has multiple books in the works.I dont really believe in the phrase trans issues, they said. I mean, I write about it, but I really think that trans issues are human issues. Most of the things that have affected me happen to affect cisgender people, as well These are universal problems, the gender system hurts a lot of people. Its just that trans people get tagged as being exemplars.Wilchins decided they needed to write about the Times coverage of trans issues soon after finishing their previous book. They had grown outraged with each passing article the Times published about trans people. They began by researching Times articles about trans people dating back to 1952.Part of their catalyst, Wilchins said, was how the articles were immediately being weaponized and becoming the leading media voice for attacking transgender kids. The publisher who took the reins in 2016, A.G. Sulzberger, is regarded as a key piece of the puzzle in Wilchins book.And Wilchins isnt the only one critical of the Times trans coverage. GLAAD published a study in March 2024 reporting 66% of Times coverage on anti-trans legislation in the past year failed to quote even one trans person. In February 2023, a group of 150 organizations and leaders published an open letter to the Times criticizing its trans coverage and platforming of the voices of anti-LGBT extremists.Around 200 Times writers signed on to a similar letter directed at associate managing editor Philip B. Corbett in February 2023, and one towards Sulzberger in April 2023.[The stories] were being weaponized immediately. Theres no way the New York Times was unaware I dont think thats a bug, I think thats a feature.Riki WilchinsThe papers focus on youth in their work is part of the reason Wilchins was drawn to criticize the Times inBad Ink. One of the prominent stories referenced in the book is the November 2022 story on hormone blockers from the Times, They Paused Puberty, But Is There A Cost? The article garnered a multiple-page response from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and its U.S. subsection, criticizing the Times for the spread of misinformation and citing misleading sources and data for the article.What they dont tell you is only about 1% of kids who actually say theyre trans or come out as trans ever detransition, Wilchins said. And theyre building all these articles around the harms of transitioning.Studies around detransitioning do not often provide further context into the reasons for detransitioning, either. While some report 2.5% to even 7-8% of trans people detransition, they dont often ask further questions such as if the individuals were affected by high prices of care, lack of available gender-affirming care or societal pressure to present as cisgender.Another driving force for Wilchins book was the way Times coverage was affecting legislation around the country. For example, in early 2024, a Times op-ed about youth detransitioning was cited in a legal brief in an attempt to ban gender-affirming care in Idaho. In 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey cited another Times article when ordering a restriction on gender-affirming care.[The stories] were being weaponized immediately, Wilchins said. Theres no way the New York Times was unaware I dont think thats a bug, I think thats a feature.Despite the Times coverage, Wilchins said they think many other major outlets around the country are successfully filtering out right-wing pseudoscience when writing stories about trans issues today. Organizations like the ADF and others promoting white Christian nationalist ideals are diligently pushing their agenda, so news outlets must be careful when presented with these groups beliefs, they said. That means not using these groups as subject matter experts on trans experiences.Thats what pseudoscience is designed to do. It looks like real science, but it isnt, Wilchins said. Everybody covered it for a while, and then everybody stoppedexcept the New York Times, which continues to print their stuff.Wilchinss book was released to the public July 9 and is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other major physical and online booksellers.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post Activist Riki Wilchins tackles New York Timess controversial coverage of trans issues appeared first on News Is Out.

This week, News is Out hosted a live virtual panel event, Project 2025: The Impact on the LGBTQ+ community. The event was moderated by Dana Piccoli from News Is Out and Christopher Kane, senior politics reporter at Washington Blade, provided a comprehensive overview of Project 2025. They were joined by special guests Chasten Buttigieg, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (PA), Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, Charlotte Clymer, Kevin Jennings (Lambda Legal), Janelle Perez (LPAC), Rep. Julie Johnson (TX) Allen Morris (National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund) and Leah Israel.The Project 2025 policy document, authored by the Heritage Foundation, lays out a conservative blueprint for a potential next Republican administration, including restrictions that would significantly affect the LGBTQ+ community.The 900-page playbook targets abortion access, immigrant rights, the Department of Education, transgender health care and various climate change initiatives. Piccoli highlighted that the document mentions Donald Trump over 300 times, despite his efforts to distance himself from it. However, the policies echo many of the core conservative values that align with his administrations past actions. As Kane noted, Project 2025 is a 900-plus page policy playbook authored by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and is the blueprint for the next Republican administration.Watch Project 2025 panel video Chasten Buttigieg, an educator, best-selling author, and husband of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, spoke passionately about the threat to healthcare. He warned that Project 2025 would dismantle ACA protections, forcing families to make life-threatening choices. This is really a campaign of the heart, Buttigieg said. He shared, My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was in high school pre-ACA. My parents struggled, with one, getting kicked off insurance companies because they would discover that my mom had cancer. She had a pre-existing condition. And two, just affording chemotherapy drugs and treatments that she relied on.The panel also discussed how Project 2025 would specifically impact LGBTQ+ rights. The proposal aims to dismantle LGBTQ+ protections, roll back marriage equality, and undermine workplace protections established by the Supreme Courts Bostock v. Clayton County decision. It also seeks to narrow anti-discrimination laws, with Kane emphasizing that the document targets non-discrimination policies and removes inclusive language across federal agencies.Buttigieg reflected on the dangers the plan poses to public education, particularly for marginalized students. He warned about the potential rollback of federal protections for LGBTQ+ students, arguing, I think it reminds us of how deeply unserious Donald Trump is about educating our kids and taking education seriously. You saw that in his first term with picking someone like Betsy DeVos.These changes, Buttigieg argued, would leave millions of students, particularly those with disabilities or from marginalized communities, without the essential protections they need.Charlotte Clymer, another panelist and prominent LGBTQ+ activist, further emphasized the real-world consequences. She warned that the project lays the groundwork for a more extreme future, noting that the permission structure of Project 2025 would allow far-right groups to push for even harsher policies against the LGBTQ+ community. She added, The cruelty and suffering that can be inflicted is only limited by the imagination.Precious Brady-Davis, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, added that Project 2025 would dehumanize the LGBTQ+ community, and in particular, the transgender community, even further.I think it would allow for the continuation of dangerous practices like conversion therapy, the banning of LGBTQ+ books in schools, LGBTQ+ curriculum, said Brady Davis. I think it would encourage harassment to an already vulnerable population. Weve already seen in Trumps book that trans people are disposable.Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal, highlighted the judicial consequences of Project 2025. He explained that the removal of federal protections would empower discriminatory actions under the guise of religious freedom.Instead of calling it a religious exemption, we prefer to call it what it is at Lambda Legal: a license to discriminate, said Jennings.He further stressed the importance of taking this threat seriously, warning, Believe them when they say they plan to make us second-class citizens. They have a plan to do it and they will execute if given the opportunity.Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta added an empowering message about the importance of fighting back and staying positive in the face of adversity. It is just our turn, Kenyatta said. We do what weve always done. We pull our shoulders back, we put our heads up, we look straight in the eye of all of the challenges, all of the bigots, and we say, its our turn and we are ready to beat you, to resist and to win as our community always has. He also emphasized the importance of unity and collective effort: Were going to win in 12 days, hear me. We are going to win.Throughout the event, panelists stressed the urgency of stopping Project 2025 and encouraged the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to mobilize.In this story we used AI to help us transcribe and summarize the panel. When using AI we also had a human check for accuracy. The post Panel of LGBTQ+ experts highlights concerns over Project 2025 appeared first on News Is Out.

This week, the Human Rights Campaign released its annual Congressional Scorecard. The scorecard is a tool used to assess the voting records of members of Congress on issues related to LGBTQ+ rights. It tracks how senators and representatives vote on key legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community, such as anti-discrimination protections and transgender rights.According to a press release from HRC, 217 members received a perfect score of 100, even as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric have been growing.The American people deserve leaders who rise above divide-and-conquer politics and keep the country moving forward, said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. However, even in the face of government shutdowns, House Republican leadership served up an unprecedented onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation as they attempt to turn back the progress our country has made toward full equality for LGBTQ+ people.Among those receiving a perfect score from HRC are Rep. Becca Balint (Vt.), Sen. Laphonza Butler (Calif.), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Rep. Glenn Ivey (Md.), Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.), Rep. Shri Thanedar (Mich.) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (N.Y.).On the opposite side, 47 senators received a score of zero, including Ohio Sen. and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance. Seventy-eight representatives also scored a zero, including Rep. Jack Bergman (Mich.) and Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.), who have earned zeroes for the last three sessions of Congress.To check out the full report, visit HRC.com.The post HRC releases latest Congressional scorecards: Who scored the highestand lowest? appeared first on News Is Out.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutesTable of contentsWhat Is Project 2025? How This Conservative Blueprint Could Shape Trumps Second TermWhat Is Project 2025?The Origins of Project 2025Key Elements of Project 2025Federal Agency OverhaulImmigration and Border SecurityTargeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)What Project 2025 Means for LGBTQ+ AmericansReversing Workplace ProtectionsRestricting Transgender Military ServiceEliminating the Gender Policy CouncilRolling Back LGBTQ+ Health ProtectionsSocial Issues: Abortion and Family PoliciesA New Era of American Foreign PolicyThe Political Divide: Responses to Project 2025Why Project 2025 Matters for LGBTQ+ RightsWhat Is Project 2025? How This Conservative Blueprint Could Shape Trumps Second TermWith Donald Trumps projected victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Project 2025 has garnered renewed attention. This initiative, led by the Heritage Foundation, presents a sweeping vision for reshaping the federal government under conservative control. Project 2025 includes policy proposals aimed at transforming key federal agencies, restricting certain civil liberties, and implementing conservative ideals across government sectors. Heres everything you need to know about Project 2025 and what it could mean for the U.S. especially for LGBTQ+ Americans.What Is Project 2025?Project 2025 is a strategic plan developed by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups to guide the next Republican administration. Comprising four key pillars, the project offers a roadmap for implementing conservative policies swiftly:Policy Guide: A nearly 900-page document, Mandate for Leadership 2025, outlines recommendations for restructuring federal departments, altering policies, and enforcing a conservative agenda.Personnel Database: A comprehensive LinkedIn-style registry, vetting potential appointees who align with conservative values, to ensure ideological loyalty within the administration.Presidential Administration Academy: Training for approved personnel to prepare them for roles within federal agencies under the next administration.First 180 Days Playbook: A guide for actions to be taken in the first six months, aiming to implement key changes before opposition builds.The Origins of Project 2025Project 2025 builds on the Heritage Foundations previous policy frameworks. Heritage crafted a similar guide before Trumps first term, with over 60% of those recommendations eventually implemented by his administration. Mandate for Leadership 2025 includes contributions from former Trump administration officials, such as Paul Dans and Spencer Chretien, who served key roles in Trumps first term. Notably, figures like Roger Severino, known for his anti-LGBTQ+ positions, contributed to the project.Though Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025 publicly, Democrats argue that the initiative aligns closely with Trumps campaign platform and would likely shape his agenda if he fully adopts it in office.Key Elements of Project 2025Project 2025 aims to make extensive changes across the federal government, including many controversial proposals that reflect long-standing conservative goals.Federal Agency OverhaulThe blueprint suggests major restructuring within federal agencies, reducing the power of federal employees, and replacing many career civil servants with conservative appointees. The Department of Homeland Security, for example, could be restructured to focus primarily on immigration and border control.Other agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), may face significant downsizing. The project argues that NOAA has fueled climate change alarmism and that its budget should be reduced.Immigration and Border SecurityProject 2025 proposes to escalate immigration enforcement dramatically. The recommendations include completing Trumps border wall, increasing deportations, and using military resources to address drug cartels at the U.S.-Mexico border. Immigration policies could also remove protections for sensitive locations like schools and churches, allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct operations in these spaces.Targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)The project strongly opposes DEI initiatives, labeling them as ideological agitation. It recommends eliminating DEI-related positions, funding, and programs within the federal government. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staff promoting DEI would face termination under this policy.What Project 2025 Means for LGBTQ+ AmericansThe Mandate for Leadership 2025 includes multiple policy proposals that could have severe consequences for LGBTQ+ Americans. Key recommendations reflect a direct rollback of civil rights protections and a shift towards traditional family structures.Reversing Workplace ProtectionsOne of the most impactful elements is Project 2025s call to disregard the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which extended workplace protections to LGBTQ+ individuals. This could lead to widespread discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees in both public and private sectors.Restricting Transgender Military ServiceProject 2025 advocates reinstating Trumps previous ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The policy describes transgender rights as part of a toxic normalization, reflecting a desire to eliminate trans representation in federal roles.Eliminating the Gender Policy CouncilThe project proposes dismantling the Gender Policy Council, which was established to advance gender equality. By removing this council, Project 2025 aims to curtail federal support for gender equity, including initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ rights.Rolling Back LGBTQ+ Health ProtectionsIn the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Project 2025 encourages rolling back policies promoting LGBTQ+ equity. It promotes a pro-life task force and advocates for traditional family structures, which could limit federal support for LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare.Social Issues: Abortion and Family PoliciesProject 2025 also seeks to reshape family policies, aiming to restrict abortion access and promote conservative views on marriage and gender. Key recommendations include:Limiting Access to Abortion Pills: the blueprint suggests reversing the FDAs approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, limiting its use to seven weeks of pregnancy and requiring in-person distribution.Enforcing the Comstock Act: This 1873 law would prohibit abortion medications from being mailed, adding further obstacles to abortion access.Promoting Traditional Family Structures: Project 2025 encourages defining families as biologically-based, promoting married heterosexual parents as the ideal. This stance opposes diverse family structures, which could impact policies supporting single-parent and LGBTQ+ families.A New Era of American Foreign PolicyProject 2025 extends its conservative values to U.S. foreign policy by recommending that USAID cut funding for DEI and LGBTQ+ initiatives abroad. This could undermine efforts to support human rights and inclusivity worldwide, as the U.S. shifts its stance on global equality.The Political Divide: Responses to Project 2025Project 2025 has generated significant debate across the political spectrum. While Trump has publicly distanced himself from the initiative, Democrats argue that his administration would likely implement many of its recommendations. Democrats like Kamala Harris warn that Project 2025 is a blueprint to push America backward, undoing years of progress on civil rights and equality.Republicans, on the other hand, describe Project 2025 as a think tank initiative rather than a campaign directive. Trumps running mate, JD Vance, has stated that Trump alone will set his administrations agenda, although many of Project 2025s contributors are Trump allies.Why Project 2025 Matters for LGBTQ+ RightsProject 2025 represents a coordinated conservative effort to influence U.S. policy across multiple sectors. If implemented, these policies could strip essential protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. Project 2025 would reduce support for diverse family structures, and promote a singular, conservative view of traditional values.For advocates of LGBTQ+ rights, understanding Project 2025 is essential. With its far-reaching proposals, this blueprint could dismantle hard-won protections and threaten the progress of LGBTQ+ equality in the United States. By staying informed, LGBTQ+ communities and allies can better prepare to counteract policies that may endanger their rights and freedoms.More StoriesYasmin Benoit is the Blueprint For Asexual Activism OnlineStonewall UK and Asexual Activist Launch First Asexual Rights InitiativeJewish Couple Claims Discrimination By Anti-LGBTQ LawWhy I joined the 500 Queer Scientists InitiativeSupreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade. Whats Next?The post What Is Project 2025? A Closer Look at Its Potential Impact on LGBTQ+ Rights appeared first on Gayety.

The WNBA finals were in full swing, and the lesbians were playing to win. In a stunning upset, the Minnesota Lynx team beat the New York Liberty 95-93 in overtime in game one of the WNBA finals on Oct. 10. It was a nail-biter as the Lynx flipped a 15-point deficit into an amazing turnaround in the literal last five minutes of play.The win the biggest turnaround in WNBA history prompted Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve to voice her excitement. The crowd went wild. Shooting guard Courtney Williams who had 23 points, including a four-point play with 5.5 seconds left in regulation, and thus led Minnesota to the historic win told ESPN, The basketball gods were on our side tonight.Or maybe the goddesses. Williams, like about a third or more of the WNBA, is an out lesbian. She and her partner NShya appeared on season two of the limited-series Pride is Love, andNShya posted on Instagramfor Williams 30th birthday in May, Happy 30th birthday to my person!! My best friend, my lover, my protector and diary. The last two years with you have been amazing and Im so honored to experience you. 30 is CRAZY and so fitting. Ive seen you grow so much in the last two years.Crystal Willams celebrating a play. Photo: WNBACouples like Williams and NShya are not rare in the WNBA rather they have become a comfortable norm, with Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington among WNBA couples.In astudy by Interbasket in 2022of out players, the numbers calculated to 38% of the league. And while those numbers have fluctuated year to year, the 2024 season currently features 42 out players across 12 teams, with only the Chicago team lacking an out player.Homophobia from the rightClay Travis, founder of OutKick, and a controversial right-wing sports commentator, stirred outrage in July whenhe told Fox Newsthat then-rookie Caitlin Clark is a white heterosexual woman in a Black lesbian league and they resent and are jealous of all of the attention and the shoe deal that she got.Is the league largely Black, like the NBA? Yes. Are lesbians a backbone of the WNBA? Also yes. Is there anti-Clark sentiment from lesbian players or fans? No thats a false narrative spun by the right to breed homophobia about a sport and league that has garnered tremendous excitement in recent months due in part to Clarks stunning performances in her final college season.Coming out in the WNBAThe New York Libertys Sue Wicks was the first WNBA player to come out publicly in 2002. When Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner came out in 2013, she opened the door to other current players coming out, notably Williams, Sue Bird, Layshia Clarendon, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Dewanna Bonner and Elena Delle Donne.Last summer, New York Libertys Breanna Stewart announced that she and Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who is straight, are forming a new professional womens league called Unrivaled. The league aims to give WNBA players an alternative to playing overseas during the off-season, addressing the significant pay disparitywhere WNBA athletes earn just a tenth of what their male counterparts make. The arrest and prosecution of Olympic gold medalist and WNBA all-starGriner as a political prisonerin Russia where she led a team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, for a half dozen seasons made all WNBA players wary of their commitments abroad.The Unrivaled league plans to start in 2025. The initial season will be run from January through March and will be played in Miami. In July, both Stewart and Collier were formally announced to appear and play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled.The Unrivaled alliance underscores how in real life, rather than right-wing outrage politics, theres no conflict between lesbian and straight players in the WNBA. But that took work and a decision from the league management itself. In May 2014, in advance of Pride Month, theWNBA launched a Pride campaign, becoming the first professional sports league in the U.S. to openly reach out to LGBTQ+ fans and potential players.In 2011, WNBA president Laurel J. Richie told then NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver that outreach to the LGBTQ+ community was a good marketing strategy. Then came Richies Pride initiative for the league in 2014.In 2022, Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas, who was drafted into the WNBA in 2011, told ESPN, There are players around the league who have identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community but have not always felt accepted or that the workplace was an inviting place to be able to share that.Thomas added, It felt at one time like they were afraid to share that part of our experiences. Now theyre embracing it.Thomas, who is outand who retired from the league in January, now works as an ambassador for Athletes Ally. Thegroups missionis to end homophobia and transphobia in sports and to activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQI+ equality.Why is the WNBA so gay?Many arguments can be made for whywomens sports are more openly gaythan mens sports. Do lesbians and queer women and teens gravitate toward sports? Possibly. Theres a long history of lesbians in womens professional sports with notables like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova becoming household names as both tennis icons and out lesbians in a time when there were few of those.But team sports especially have been welcoming for young queer women a refuge from enforced femininity and a more relaxed concept of gender identity and also sexual orientation. Did it take outreach from the WNBA to draw in out women? No. But it certainly made it more comfortable for those already in the league to come out.There are no out players in the NBA and only a few have ever come out. So whatever the WNBA is doing, its working for the sport and the league, which has won more Olympic medals than the men and continues to breed more and more excitement suggesting the audiences are embracing the players, not thefalse narrativesof homophobia and racism.The post Exploring LGBTQ+ visibility in the WNBA: Players, partners and Pride appeared first on News Is Out.

A 2023 report from Northwestern Universityfound that local news deserts are occurring at an alarming rate. There are 204 counties in the United States without a local media outlet, and 228 U.S. counties are currently on a watch list for losing theirs out of 1,562 counties with only one local news source. This includes newspapers, digital websites, public radio news and minority-ran publications. There are less than 1,000 minority-run local news outlets today. This includes LGBTQ+, BIPOC and women-owned outlets. Since 2005, almost 2,900 news organizations have disappeared.This issue is exacerbated by its effects on the local communities that are left without a reliable news source. This issue is predominant in lower-income communities,which often include people who are LGBTQ+, and residents who have less financial stability, and cant afford access to more nationwide reliable news sources.As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, minority owned-media outlets, such as those run by journalists of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC backgrounds, have gone from950 outletsin 2020 to 723 in 2023. Because minority media outlets are designed to service specific communities in a local setting, they are often reliant on other local businesses of that community.Small queer businesses are overlooked and often denied proper financing. A2022 study from the Movement Advancement Projectfound that while small LGBTQ-owned businesses were just as likely to apply for loans as non-LGBTQ ones, they were less likely to receive it. The LGBTQ+ businesses were also more often owned by women and immigrants, compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.While we can find information regarding LGBTQ+ businesses as a whole, there is a severe lack of data for local news organizations that are LGBTQ-run. The best available statistics and research regarding LGBTQ+ local media have them lumped into the category of minority, which encompasses a range of different identities, and lacks an intersectional approach for where marginalized identities meet.Local LGBTQ+ media have the uphill battle of fighting against misinformation and bias.A recent 2024 study by PNAS Nexusfound that those who are exposed to misinformation and are receptive to it tend to have more extreme ideology. Additionally, most social media interventions are not effective enough to stop the rate of exposure to misinformation.Misinformation against people who are LGBTQ+ and BIPOC has been rampant this election season. Evidenced by 2024 conservative presidential candidate Donald Trumps comments ontransgender operations on illegal aliensand Haitian immigrants eating dogs in Ohio.Extremists and the misinformation they feed are affecting legislation.In Texas, there has been an onslaught of anti-transgender lawsthat put communities of underrepresented people at risk, and the local media that represents them.A rising local entity committed to equity for marginalized voices isThe Pivot Fund. Founded in 2021 by Tracie Powell, The Pivot Fund is an organization that aims to invest in local news outlets run by journalists of marginalized backgrounds, such as those from BIPOC and BIPOC-LGBTQ+ communities. Powell spoke on how The Pivot Fund aims to help news organizations resist the onslaught of misinformation.This is a presidential election, so there is plenty of disinformation out there, and theres a lot of demagoguing of communities of color and LGBTQ folks, Powell said. And so its really important now more than ever that we uplift the voices and amplify the voices of those most impacted by disinformation and by hate. Supporting those who are producing content thats not just about, but for and along with these communities that were talking about. Thats the power of challenging disinformation. It reflects who actually holds the power which is the people. And thats really why we do what we do.We are taking the fight directly to the platforms where the disinformation exists. Were countering disinformation with credible information thats trusted by the communities that these outlets serve. Its very important that we be where people are at. Its just as important that were in the places where disinformation flourishes, so we can be the counterweight to that. It is a huge driver of why we do what we do.You can find disinformation in newspapers, but its most prevalent in digital spaces, Powell said. And so thats why were looking for trusted voices in the digital landscape. This is how people access news and information now. So we have to be in that space.We are taking the fight directly to the platforms where the disinformation exists. Tracie PowellMany local queer businesses are often owned by women, Black individuals, immigrants, or a combination of these identities. These types of local intersectional outlets are and have historically been vulnerable.BLK Magazinewas a Black-owned and gay-owned local news magazine in L.A., started by Alan Bell, which sought to provide education and resources on the AIDs epidemic, as well as orientate content toward Black and LGBTQ+ issues and community interests as a whole. This news outlet ran from 1988 until its cancellation in 1994. It is rare to find information on, or resources for existing local media outlets today that function essentially as BLK magazine did in the 1990s, with a focus on a community of multiple identities.While the future seems bleak for marginalized local media, there is hope through various philanthropic efforts and organizations to aid in the survival of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and intersecting local journalism. In 2023, philanthropists raised$500 million to support local news. Collaborative efforts such as theLocal Media AssociationandNLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalistshave been created for journalistic entities to exist in support of one another, and fight misinformation by providing news organizations with appropriate terminology and information about bias as they affect the LGBTQ+ community.We provide direct financial support and services to hyperlocal community news organizations, Powell said. We prioritize organizations serving communities of color. We invest in the intersection of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and class. We recently invested in Baltimore Beat. Baltimore is like a 60 something percent Black city, and the Beat is Black-led, and so they have a lot of trust from that majority population and community. Its an organization that struggled with raising additional funds, whereas another digital outlet launched with 50 million dollars and Baltimore Beat only launched with a million. Powell said its critical that we invest in those voices, because those communities need it most.We were looking in Texas, and theres so much going on in terms of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Powell added. The challenge is, how do we support in a way that is going to really help and address the community. Its a bit of a challenge, but I think that it can be done.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post How local LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-ran media organizations are at risk, and what is being done to help appeared first on News Is Out.

Im lucky enough to live in a city with multiple gay bars. From thePride Stairs of Woodysto thedrag shows of Missy Bs, Kansas City has a bar for every type of queer person out there.Or, so Ive heard.The truth is, Ive never been to any of them.Admitting this can be a little awkward, because it often feels like Im snubbingsacred queer spaces. Theres along historyof bars being at the center of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and theyve long served as a staple within different communities.Heres the thing, though. As a neurodivergent, ace gal who doesnt really care for alcohol, bars just really arent my scene. Theyre loud, dark, crowdedbasically everything I hate in a public spaceand to top it all off, everyone expects me to buy expensive drinks that I dont actually want.For a while, I worried that my reluctance to enter these spaces meant I wasnt queer enough. Like, if I showed up, theyd realize I was an imposter and take away my gay card. I thought that Id never make queer friends if I didnt venture into the places where the gays roamed.The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized how silly that really was. After all, whats the point in meeting someone who loves bars if I hate them? What are we supposed to do together? My cousin who goes out every weekend to their local gay bar isnt going to be hanging with the same people that my introverted, homebody self does, and that doesnt make either of us less queerit just makes us different.The first time I entered a queer space that wasnt a bar, it was to get my hair dyed purple athim. her. them. Hair Studio. From the second I walked in, I felt safe, supported, and happy. As a person who is annoyed by most public spacesespecially one like this where its sensory overloadthis was quite a surprise. The atmosphere of the studio was so calm and so casually queer that it felt like home.It was there that I met my favorite hair stylist and had my first super frank discussion about gay bars. She gave me advice as a fellow neurodivergent girlie about which bars were her favorites, but she also told me something that I havent stopped thinking about since. My stylist had just moved to the city recently, and she was trying to find fun ways to meet others in our community that didnt involve alcohol, but all of the local options involved drinking. (Given thatthe LGBTQ+ community has ahistory of higher rates of alcohol dependency, shes certainly not alone in feeling this way.)My stylist and I spent a long time chatting about the dire need our community has for alcohol-free gay spaces, and how this salon was filling that gap in a much-needed way. Unfortunately, him. her. them. Hair Studio closed in 2023, leaving a rather large hole in the community (and my own heart) in the process.After it closed, I went looking for other alcohol-free queer spaces. What I learned was that when you really start looking, there are so many cool ways to meet and hang out with our community without a drop of alcohol involved.I pulled the list below as examples of the types of places that I found, but know that these are not in any way exhaustive. Think of them more as idea starters for searchingor startingin your own community.Places to GoPhoto: Mizzu Cho/PexelsThough I found it easier to group these by the type of business just to give a sense of what to search for in your own area, its worth noting that much like our identities, many queer spaces dont fit into a single box. For instance,Squirrel Chopsin Washington acts as both a coffee shop and salon, whileMOC BODin Missouri provides space for haircuts, tattoos, massages, and shopping. If youre wanting to find LGBTQ+-owned businesses, you can always check outEverywhere is Queerand search to see which are nearest to you.Coffee & Tea ShopsWhat I love aboutcoffeeand tea shops is that theyre like the introvert version of bars. They tend to be pretty quiet, chill, and involve delicious warm beverages. While I wish there were about a thousand more of these (ideally, closer to me), there are nonetheless some awesome shops to check out. For example, ArizonasBrick Road Coffeeis an LGBTQA-owned coffee shop that advertises itself as sober-community friendly and leans into their tagline that no matter the journey, some needs remain constant: acceptance, community, and of course, great coffee! Similarly,Sis Got Tea, a Black-, queer-, woman-owned business in Kentucky prides itself on being an LGBTQ and Black-affirming sober safe space.BookstoresWith the recent surge of book banning targeting LGBTQ+ authors, its never been more important to support your local bookstore. Luckily, you have a whole lot of places to choose from. Bookstores have always been a space of resistance and revolution, and theyre ideal for those who need a quieter space. While the average person may not want you to try to befriend them while theyre reading, pretty much all bookstores have events where you can bond with those who share your interests. Some of the ones at the top of my list to visit someday are Black-, queer-, woman-ownedLoudmouth Booksin Indiana; queer-, agender-ownedUnder the Umbrella: A Queer Little Bookstorein Utah; and queer-, neurodivergent- and woman-ownedThe Irreverent Bookwormin Minnesota.Little District Booksin Washington D.C. is another great one and hostsLavender Con, a book festival celebrating LGBTQIA+ authors and stories.Community Centers and Community SpacesMany cities have their own version of an LGBTQ+ community space, which hosts events, resources, and provides a safe space to meet others.The Lesbian, Gay, Bixexual & Transgender Community Center (also called The Center)in New York is one such example, while Black and queer-ownedCutiesin California is another. There are even some community spaces out there specifically designed to combat the heavy focus on alcohol within queer spheres, such as theCastro Country Club: a Sober Community Centerwhich acts as a refuge for the queer recovery community. If youre wondering what community space might be closest to you,CenterLinkis a great place to start, as it connects over 400 LGBTQ+ spaces around the world.Hair Salons and BarbershopsThough I remain devastated to have lost my own favorite hair place, there are still some great ones out there.Acute Salonin Texas breaks out of traditionally gendered hair spaces, focusing on gender-free pricing to let everyone feel comfortable in their chairs. CaliforniasProject Qfills an important community gap as a non-profit that provides safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth by using hair and self-empowerment as a form of social justice. Queer- and woman-ownedLove Salon Pdxin Oregon is a collective of independent hair artists who work to create a safe, inclusive space with genderless pricing. (For those who are looking for transgender-friendly hair places in their own area,Strands for Transis also a great resource. The businesses wont all be LGBTQ+-specific spaces, but they are all places that are safe and welcoming to everyone.)Activities to SharePhoto: Stephen HardyWhile the obvious alternative to bars is other physical locations, those arent the only option out there. Community spaces can be found far beyond the confines of four wallsyou just have to know where to look. Here are a few ideas to get you started.SportsSports like roller derby and softball have long been queer-friendly spaces, and they remain popular within the community. (Skatingin general, in fact, is a very popular community pastime.) Team sports provide an easy way to meet new people and form bonds, and community sports often have different options available from the ultra-competitive to the more casual. If youre looking for an LGBTQ+ team to join, try searching theUnited States Gay Sports Network.Game NightsGames like dungeons and dragons (D&D) have brought groups together for decades. Many of my own queer friendships actually started over a game of D&D and have continued ever since. There are a ton of games out there to choose from these days, including delightful queer-focused systems likeThirsty Sword Lesbians. If role playing games arent your thing, joining a board game night or hosting one of your own can also be great ways to meet and bond with friends.OnlineNot everyone is physically close to a thriving queer scene, and that doesnt make community any less important. Facebook groups, Discord servers, and other virtual spaces are just as valuable for making and strengthening connections. These spaces are often also vital for those who are not fully out within their community, as it gives you a space to be yourself without having to announce it to the world until youre ready. There are groups out there for every type of LGBTQ+ person. For instance, looking to make neurodivergent queer connections? TryFeral Neurodivergent Raging Queer Posting. Hoping to find your fellow nerds? Try theGay Geeksgroup. Wanting to make friends with fellow nonbinary and transgender people? TryTranspeak.The post Why LGBTQ+ spaces beyond bars matter: Connecting without the crowds appeared first on News Is Out.

A new report by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and CenterLink reveals that LGBTQ+ community centers across the U.S. are facing increasing threats and harassment, much of it driven by anti-LGBTQ+ political rhetoric. According to the 2024 LGBTQ Community Center Survey Report, 73% of the LGBTQ centers surveyed reported experiencing anti-LGBTQ threats or harassment in the past two years, underscoring the challenging environment in which these vital organizations operate.The report surveyed 199 LGBTQ community centers across 42 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, highlighting the role these centers play in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. Since its inception in 2008, the biennial survey has been an important tooll for understanding the evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ services and advocacy.As attacks on LGBTQ people escalate year after year, we applaud these centers ongoing dedication to serving on the front line meeting both the immediate and long-term needs of LGBTQ people, their families, and their communities across the country, said Tessa Juste, LGBTQ Movement Building and Policy Researcher from MAP. This report illustrates the vital difference these centers make in peoples everyday lives, while also highlighting the urgent need for continued funding and support of these centers and the lifelines they provide.The 199 surveyed centers serve over 58,700 people weekly, or more than 3 million annually and are a lifeline for underserved populations.This report is a crucial guidepost for us to see the positive impact of LGBTQ centers across the U.S. as well as what areas need additional resources, said Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, this report makes clear the importance of LGBTQ centers in our communities.Key findingsThe report offers a detailed breakdown of the services LGBTQ+ centers provide and the challenges they face. A significant portion of these centers (66%) directly offer essential services such as physical health, mental health and anti-violence programs. When factoring in centers that provide referrals to LGBTQ+-friendly health providers, this number jumps to 95%.Additionally, half of the centers offer computer resources for job searching, career development, and social services. Advocacy and public policy work is also a priority, with 92% of centers engaging in these areas. Over half of the centers reported participating in voter registration efforts, and many are focused on opposing anti-transgender legislation.However, the report also highlights growing safety concerns. 73% of centers have reported a sharp increase in threats, directly tied to anti-LGBTQ+ political climates, adding a layer of stress to already overburdened organizations. That number is up 2% from 2022. 63% of centers reported receiving offline harassment or threats.Financial realitiesWhile LGBTQ+ community centers collectively reported a 2024 budget exceeding $366 million, 98% of that collective budget belongs to big centers. These larger centers report an average operating budget of $2.7 million.Over a third of the centers operate with budgets under $250,000, while nearly all (98%) of the budgeted resources belong to larger centers. Government grants are a vital funding source for many larger centers, with 41% reporting them as their primary revenue source in 2023. For smaller centers, individual contributions are the main funding stream.Government grants provided over $117 million in funding in 2023, supporting essential services such as healthcare and housing for LGBTQ+ individuals.Despite these resources, many centers remain thinly staffed, with only 84% employing paid staff. In 2023, nearly 11,600 volunteers donated over 421,000 hours, helping these centers extend their reach and impact.31% of centers currently have five or fewer paid staff, and 17% have no paid staff whatsoever, relying exclusively on volunteers, states the report. This is especially true for small budget centers, 95% of whom have five or fewer paid staff (44%) or no paid staff (51%).The 2024 LGBTQ Community Center Survey Report highlights the role these centers play, particularly in an era marked by heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and threats. While they continue to provide critical services and support, the report underscores the need for sustainable funding and resources.The post New report reveals 73% of LGBTQ+ centers face rising threats amid anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric appeared first on News Is Out.

When it comes to a wealth of experience, subject matter expertise, and an interest in solving a complex problem, entrepreneur Amanda Mandy Ralston fits the bill. Her work offers a unique solution with the potential to improve peoples lives.I dont take myself that seriously, but I do take my ideas very seriously, and most of the work that I do every day is in service of getting those ideas out into the world, said Ralston during an in-person interview with the Bay Area Reporter.Ralston, queer and neurodivergent, is the founder and CEO of NonBinary Solutions, a technology and consulting firm, and shes on a mission to improve the quality and efficiency of autism diagnoses.Some of the work that I do may look different than how other people do it, but you cant get something different unless you behave differently. The outcome cant be different if youre doing the same thing everybody else is doing, she explained.Cue a discernible problem in the field of applied behavior analysis how to provide mentorship to less experienced autism service providers while also creating a standardized approach to treatment planning for autistic individuals and follow it with a (sensory considerate) drum roll for Ralstons clinical decision support systems-based solution, NBS, founded in May 2022.Now that theres mandated insurance coverage in all 50 states, and weve got more [autism service] providers, people are willing to give that autism diagnosis in order to access care, she said. It doesnt mean that thats necessarily the care that they need, but thats whats available. So the whole thing is really a big mess, which in the entrepreneurial world, is an opportunity. You see a problem, you try to go solve it, and thats what Im trying to do.The serial entrepreneurRalston, 47, is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) based in Kentucky with over 25 years of experience in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Shes also the founder and former CEO of two ABA clinics, Verbal Behavior Consulting Inc. and Behavioral Intervention for Autistic Children (BIFAC) Inc., and was the director of clinical intelligence and design at the Cedar Group.She calls herself a serial entrepreneur.Other workplaces the rules and the structure didnt make sense to me, Ralston said. And so I think Ive been in the habit of making my own spaces because I dont understand how other people arrive at some of the decisions that they come to.In creating her own spaces, shes also demonstrated certain leadership qualities to which people respond well.Im very authentic and transparent in how I operate, and I think that comes through, she said. The greatest reinforcer and compliment of my career is that people that I have had work for me repeatedly want to come back and work for me again, and that people that barely know me want to come work for me.David Beatty, whom Ralston described as a friend and adviser, referred to Ralston as a true mission driven entrepreneur and championed her founding of NBS.She identified a strong need in a market she knows deeply and went about finding a solution that not only promises to be highly profitable, it greatly improves the lives of an entire community, wrote Beatty, a gay man, in an email to the B.A.R.Beatty is the founder and CEO of New York City-based funder Gaingels, an LGBTQ+ angel investor group that supports the diversity, inclusivity, and equity of the LGBTQ+ community and allies in the venture capital space.I am delighted and honored to have been asked to be her adviser. It is people like Mandy who continue to inspire me every day, he commented.Steven Lamont, MBA, who lives in the Bay Area, also praised Ralstons entrepreneurial skills.She has a vision, has transferred her experience into an impressive first release of the product, and has great ideas for moving forward. She surrounds herself with supportive people and advisers who believe in her vision and her ability to succeed, wrote Lamont, an ally, in an email to the B.A.R.Lamont is an entrepreneur and angel investor who primarily invests through the Sand Hill Angels. The investor group supports DEI initiatives and is allied with Gaingels, Techstars Rising Stars, and others.Not binaryRalstons been touring throughout the United States these past many months, giving audiences insight into the relevant statistics and findings that prompted the development of NonBinary Solutions, as well as details about its CDSS software, Knowetic.ai, which uses artificial intelligence.She talks about the current 60,000+ autism service providers, the majority of whom have only a few years of experience in the field; their varied treatment plans; and the nonbinary nature of neurodivergences, i.e. neurological differences related to thinking and behavior.One such speaking gig was the 20th annual Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management (TCOM) conference, held October 2-4 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. In her presentation, The Role of NonBinary Thinking and Neurodiversity in Life and Work, she emphasized the limitations of black-and-white thinking when it comes to autism and other neurodivergences.People are not binary. Theyre not black and white; there are shades of gray. People are not just one thing. Theyre a mix of a whole bunch of things at the same time, and so not pigeonholing people is really, really important. [For instance], youre neurodivergent and Im neurodivergent, and our experiences may have lots in common, but theyre completely different, she said.The name of her firm, NonBinary Solutions, stems from her pursuit in getting that across to people that they exist in a world ripe with nuances, complexities, overlaps, and intersectionalities.Her Instagram posts often feature the hashtag #ItsNotBinary, in line with that perspective.The firms name is also a means to talk about the connection between nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and transgender individuals and neurodivergences, which scholars and news outlets such as NPR have reported on in recent years.I get to tell people, Did you know that individuals on the neurodivergence spectrum are six times more likely to not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth? So if you care about people with autism or neurodivergence, you also now have to care about people that are genderfluid or trans, because theres an overlap there, Ralston said.I like pointing out those types of nonlinear, nonbinary things for folks to help create empathy in a world that is increasingly binary in its thinking, she added.A nonbinary solutionRalstons early findings about autism were eye-opening in terms of what a diagnosis did and mostly did not entail.Back when I got started with this, in 1999, there was no insurance coverage, said Ralston. Certification for behavior analysis had only just started in 1998. The CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] data for the rate of diagnosis of autism was one in every 1,000 at that point, and its because there were no services. There were no providers. There was no funding for any of it.Fast-forward 20-some years after Ralstons entrance into the field as a BCBA and initial autism research, when now one in 36 people are diagnosed as autistic the equivalent to a 250% increase in the prevalence of autism since 2000, according to the NonBinary Solutions website.In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association, the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (i.e. code F84.0) includes persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.The DSM continues to use the one code F84.0 for a very wide range of people, though no two autistic people are the same.Non-Binary Solutions CEO Amanda Ralston wants to help autism service providers. Photo: Chet WhiteTheres the very articulate, exceptional individuals with autism on one end of the spectrum, or whatever you want to say about the [autism] infinity symbol, and then theres the profoundly autistic individuals that cant speak for themselves, that will need lifelong support, 24/7. And so the folks that are able to advocate for themselves should advocate for themselves, but not necessarily advocate for the whole group just because they share a diagnosis, Ralston said.According to Ralston, the increased number of autism diagnoses has coincided with a 500% increase in ABA therapy providers in the last 10 years. Over half of those individuals are new to the field.Those are the folks that are out there making these treatment decisions. And it takes a lot of mistakes to have good experience, and Im trying to prevent a lot of mistakes from being made in order to get that experience, she said.This is where NonBinary Solutions Knowetic.ai comes into play, as it acts as a mentor to these new-to-the-ABA-field professionals.The software is sort of like a digital bumper rail for people to narrow the amount of information they need to focus on in order to make these treatment pathways for people, she said.The software, launched in July 2024, is also in line with the adage, If youve met one autistic person, then youve met one autistic person, as it provides comprehensive data about autistic traits, symptoms, and behaviors, she noted.It creates a data set of all these very, very different people with autism to try to get a more granular understanding of what the different behavioral phenotypes of all those people with autism are, said Ralston.Knowetic.ais care navigation module not only helps the softwares users bring people into care but also obtain a holistic understanding of them.Its not just, Oh, you have autism, but [also] Do you have other medical diagnoses on top of that? Who did you get your autistic diagnosis from? Was it a primary care physician, or did you get a multidisciplinary evaluation from a group of professionals? Because thats a very different thing, Ralston said.To get NBS off the ground and its software into the hands of clients, Ralston and the NBS team Tim Guthrie, CFO and co-founder; Robert Beer, chief technology officer and co-founder; Jeff Ochall, chief data officer, business development; and Volo Dudas, programmer partner used existing capital and raised $800,000 for pre-seed funding. Their anticipated gross profit for 2025 is near $5,000,000, with a projected increase to over $10,000,000 in 2026 and over $20,000,000 in 2027.Lamont stated that Ralstons company is making a difference.NBS is addressing a real and growing problem, he stated. I see it everywhere around me. I know some research points to a higher incidence of autism among LGBTQ+ individuals, which makes it all the more important to address. NBS brings objective analysis to assess and track progress in autism treatment. That makes it an essential tool for therapists trying to do their best to support their patients, and it will be more reassuring to the family members who want more information.NBS currently has a contract with a multi-state managed care organization; partnerships with Arizona State University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Georgia, The Center for Autism and Behavioral Education Research; and multiple active customers, such as independently owned clinics, Ralston said.Meg Solomon, M.S.Ed., BCBA, who Ralston described as vital to our [i.e. NBSs] success and understanding of user-needs for the Knowetic.ai software, is one of them.Solomon, an ally, is the owner and CEO of ABA Across Environments, a private practice based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that provides ABA services to children and young adults and centers on acceptance and commitment therapy.NonBinary Solutions and Knowetic have enabled us to focus on therapeutic relationships by saving us time during onboarding. That time has not only helped the learners by allowing us to provide a more trusting foundation as a trauma-informed provider, but it has also saved the company money during the onboarding process. What we see happening with Goal Development and Knowyeti [i.e. components of the software] have been exciting, and we can trust that those services will provide time to our clinical team while continuing to pass cost savings onto the company, wrote Solomon in an email to the B.A.R.The nonlinear path forwardPost-TCOM conference, Ralston shared news via Instagram of her two-and-a-half hour talk having gone well so well, in fact, that she was invited on the spot to speak at a Bancroft Autism Services center in Philadelphia in the coming weeks.Ralston will also be the keynote speaker at the 2024 Colorado ABA conference, which will be held November 7-9 in Denver.Shell be continuing to get the word out about NBS and the message of its not binary.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post Queer tech firm CEO takes a nonlinear approach to autism diagnoses appeared first on News Is Out.

LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream gaming is fairly new, but games with queer themes have always existed. Throughout the last decade, dozens of games have been released that include gay, lesbian, and trans characters, among other identities.Today were bringing you a compilation of the most impactful queer stories you can experience in video games, complete with an explanation about each LGBTQ+ character and how their identity impacts the plot. If youd like to play a diverse tale that truly represents who you are, then youre in the right place.The Last Of Us Part 1 A heartbreaking gay romanceThe Last Of Us Part 1 is a post-apocalyptic action game that doesnt shy away from diversity. The main character, Ellie, is a young girl attracted to other women, but her sexuality is explored primarily in DLC and The Last Of Us Part 2. More central to the plot of Part 1, Bill is a gay character who Joel and Ellie work alongside to survive.Although Bills sexuality isnt directly mentioned, you can find hints about his previous relationship with a man named Frank. During the plot, you find Franks dead body while working with Bill, in addition to a note stating that he was angry at Bill for their previous fight, which the couple never had the chance to reconcile.Bill and Frank may be one of the saddest tales of a gay couple in gaming, but their storys subtle impact helps players to understand that LGBTQ+ characters can exist in all genres of media, even where you least expect them. The relationship is further explored in the TV adaptation of The Last Of Us, which shows the progression between the two characters meeting and falling in love.The Last Of Us webpage offers options for buying both games in the series.The Last Of Us Part 2 An action-packed tale of trans youthThe Last Of Us Part 1 features deep representation for the gay and lesbian communities. However, Part 2 also introduces a young trans boy who shaves his head and changes his name from Lily to Lev. Since Lev is part of a religious cult, he initially tries to ignore his gender dysphoria. However, once hes assigned to become an elders wife, he explains his identity to his people, which results in Lev being forced to flee.Eventually, Lev meets protagonist Abby, and they form an ironclad bond. Throughout The Last Of Us Part 2, the narrative delves into Levs identity by exploring his familys perspective and allowing him to live his truth even if it costs Lev his life. The best thing about Lev is that his actor, Ian Alexander, is also a trans person, and he uses his own experiences to add a touch of realism to the fictional characters story.In addition to Lev, The Last Of Us Part 2 includes a diverse cast of characters and relationships. Ellie and Dina are two female characters who are involved with each other romantically, and the writers werent shy in creating scenes that cover queer topics. Both The Last Of Us games were released as PlayStation exclusives; however, Part 1 is now available on PC as well.The Last Of Us Part 2 has its own webpage where you can explore key details about the second iteration in the story.Celeste A trans feminine battle against depressionIf youre looking for an indie game about a trans girl fighting her inner demons, then youre in the right place. Following Madelines path, you must scale a mountain fraught with challenges to eventually make it to the top and overcome her fears.Celeste is a platformer developed by Madeline Thorson, a trans woman. Throughout the plot, Madeline battles negative thoughts from within herself, comparable to what trans people experience in the struggle to accept their identity and transition. Shes chased by a seemingly evil version of herself, only to reconcile with this part to eventually reach the mountains peak and truly gain control of her anxiety and depression.Although Madelines gender identity isnt heavily explored during the plot, its easy to see how the themes in Celeste mirror the experiences of many trans people, which helps spread awareness about the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.If youre itching to play this beautiful platformer, you can direct yourself to the Celeste webpage.Life Is Strange A supernatural coming of age story about two queer womenThe first Life Is Strange game is a love letter to youth questioning their sexuality. You play as Max Caulfield as she discovers her new time control powers and potentially her sexuality too. Throughout the story, you meet her male and female love interests but only you have the power to choose which direction Max will take in her romantic life.The narrative primarily revolves around Max and Chloe, her best friend and female love interest. Max and Chloe are both three-dimensional bisexual characters who are in the process of exploring their sexualities. The first Life Is Strange game is renowned for its queer characters and supernatural plot direction, but you can also try Life Is Strange 2 to play a bisexual male character named Sean with a similar diversity of romantic choices.If youre looking for the best lesbian romance in video games, then Life Is Strange is for you. Life Is Strange also has a prequel called Before The Storm, which further explores Chloes relationship with the now-deceased Rachel Amber, whose death is a pivotal plot line in LiS. If youre already a fan of Life Is Strange, what you may not know is that theres a comic book that continues the relationship between Max and Chloe. You can find more information about the comic on the Square Enix website.Visit the Life Is Strange webpage to buy the first game and all other entries in the series. You can also browse the website to find more information about Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, the newest chapter in Maxs story, which is releasing on October 29th, 2024.Tell Me Why A choice-based tale of trans masculinityTell Me Why is similar in narrative to the Life Is Strange franchise. Composed of three chapters, you play as siblings Tyler and Alyson Ronan. Tyler is a trans man who is still in the process of transitioning. The story is set in their small hometown, where you investigate details surrounding their mothers death years after the tragic event took place.Tyler Ronan is one of the first trans male protagonists in a video game to date, and the narrative also makes an effort to explore his sexuality by introducing other characters with a diverse range of attractions.Tell Me Whys narrative is that of a strong trans persons journey into adulthood, which is why its such a fantastic example of queer representation with a gripping story to boot.If youre ready to start a new journey in a virtual world, you can explore the Tell Me Why webpage for purchase options.Undertale A unique story complete with gender nonconformityUndertale was a smash success upon its release in 2015. The story revolves around a gender nonconforming character in their journey to reach the surface. Youll encounter a plethora of LGBTQ+ characters throughout the Underground, such as Alphys or Mad Mew Mew, who acts as an allegory for trans identities.Frisk is perhaps the most notable queer character since theyre the protagonist. Gender-ambiguous and referred to by they/them pronouns throughout the story, Frisk is a quiet child who explores the idea that just like sexuality, gender doesnt have to be pre-set for a main character.There are very few games that offer the ability to play as gender non-conforming characters, so Undertale should be in your backlog if youre looking for a chance to explore a world full of gender diversity and queer themes.Undertales creator, Toby Fox, has also created another game with LGBTQ+ characters called Deltarune. The protagonist is named Kris and also uses they/them pronouns.Visit the Undertale website if you want to start your fantastical adventure today.The Outer Worlds A race through space with queer representation across the boardIf youre itching to play an action-packed adventure with diverse representation then try The Outer Worlds. In this space-themed RPG, you play as whoever you want to, with choices in every dialogue encounter that shape your character into their own person. Although you cant romance other characters, there are an array of interesting individuals youll meet across the Halcyon System that represent sections of the LGBTQ+ community rarely explored in video games.One such example is Parvati, an asexual mechanic and one of the first companions you can recruit. Parvatis asexuality is explored during her companion storyline, but The Outer Worlds does a fantastic job of explaining to players that while shes asexual, shes still romantically attracted to other people. You can even help Parvati with her romantic struggles during a companion quest.The reason that Parvatis sexuality is so extensively explored is because she was partially designed by Kate Dollarhyde, an asexual woman who shared her experiences with the character to help build the best possible representation for the asexual community. Not only does The Outer Worlds contain unique representation, but the characters identities are explored to the fullest extent possible and designed with lived experiences in mind.If youre ready to take on the Halcyon System, you can purchase The Outer Worlds on the Obsidian website.The Elder Scrolls Online A surprising bastion of LGBTQ+ diversityPrevious The Elder Scrolls games allow you to marry the same sex, like Skyrim. However, The Elder Scrolls Online is a giant game with hundreds of quests to complete, so it has its fair share of set queer characters scattered throughout Tamriel. For example, Lord Vivec is a mortal god you meet on Vvardenfell, and if you dive into Elder Scrolls lore, youll find that Vivec is intersex.Perhaps the most in-depth LGBTQ+ character in The Elder Scrolls Online, Alchemy is a trans woman whos a member of the House of Reveries in the Summerset Chapter. During your interactions with Alchemy, youll hear the story of her identity, an explanation of how others in The Elder Scrolls world transition between genders, and even help her share news of the transition with her sister.The inclusion of diverse NPCs in video games is great, but telling thought-provoking stories like that of Alchemys transition is what queer people truly need to feel represented in gaming. Plus, its interesting to hear about how gender transitioning might exist in a fantasy world where technology is replaced by magic, and The Elder Scrolls Online offers a fitting explanation.Unlike many MMOs, you can play this one without a subscription, and you can buy a copy today on The Elder Scrolls Online website.The post Video games with powerful LGBTQ+ representation you should try appeared first on News Is Out.

The Maryland delivery driver who shot and killed 57-year-old transgender advocate Meghan Riley Lewis late last year has been convicted of second-degree assault.Brian Delen, 48, shot Lewis in late December 2023 after reportedly making a delivery to her Baltimore apartment complex. Police previously said that Delen was delivering a food order to Lewis when the two got into a physical altercation. Related Trans woman shot & killed by food delivery driver She was a very open, loving and sparkly individual, one friend said. Her catchphrase for everything was stay sparkly.' But according to local CBS affiliate WJZ, court records indicate Delen was delivering to another resident. Lewis reportedly exited her apartment to look for a guest she was expecting and approached Delens car in the complexs parking lot, telling him to stop. A witness said Delen leaned out of his car and shot her in the torso. Delen then called 911 and claimed that Lewis had physically attacked him. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Delen reportedly also told a 911 dispatcher that he was attempting to aid the injured Lewis, but court documents say police found an undisturbed medical kit on the drivers seat of his car.Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore told WJZ last December that Delen had remained on the scene when they arrived and pretty much surrendered to us. Moore also said police found a loaded firearm on his person.Lewis was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.Delen was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and firearms charges.On Wednesday, November 6, however, Delean was found guilty of second-degree assault and use of a firearm in commission of a crime of violence.In a statement, States Attorney Alison Healey said the prosecution stands by their argument that the incident that took the life of Meghan Riley Lewis was undoubtedly a First Degree Murder. While we are disappointed and saddened by the outcome, we respect the jurys decision in this case and their role in the judicial process, Healey said, adding that the state intends to seek the maximum penalty of 30 years. Friends told WJZ last December that Lewis was a very open, loving and sparkly individual. A parent of two, whose motto was stay sparkly, also reportedly founded a patient support group for Baltimore-bound trans people seeking gender-affirming care and surgery.She opened her doors, her heart, everything for LGBT individuals and was one of the strongest advocates in supporting them, one friend said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While many eyes were on the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, quite a few other races were occurring throughout the country for congressional, state, and local offices where trans and nonbinary people won.According to data from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the proportion of transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming candidates for political office increased by nearly half since 2020, up to 15.2%. This election saw not only the election of new transgender candidates but the reelection of ones currently in office as well. Related These 20 modern LGBTQ+ activists will inspire you to change the world Lets celebrate these amazing LGBTQ+ activists who are making the world a better place. The following is a list of candidates, as well as a trans-inclusive ballot measure, that won on Election Night. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Sarah McBride U.S. House of Representatives (Delaware) | Gerri Hernandez/McBride for Delaware Sarah McBride is set to make history as the first out transgender person to get elected to Congress. She ran virtually unopposed in her Delaware race after winning the Democratic primary and received a slew of support from the Democratic Party and national LGBTQ+ rights organizations. A major part of her platform was protecting transgender rights in the United States.Leslie Blackburn Lodi Township, Michigan TrusteeLeslie Blackburn successfully ran for the Lodi Township, Michigan Trustee. Blackburn ran on a platform to protect the local environment and push for transparency in the local government. Precious Brady-Davis Greater Chicago, Illinois Metropolitan Water Reclamation DistrictBrady-Davis made history as the first Black trans woman to be elected to office in Cook County, Illinois. Her goal is to fight against flooding in the city, providing sustainable drinking water for all residents while aiming to increase the energy efficiency of Chicagos water systems. Brian Cina Vermont House of RepresentativesBrian Cina was re-elected to the Vermont House of Representatives during election night. A genderqueer/non-binary candidate, he has previously worked in human services, providing outreach to marginalized families while also protecting youth within the state.Mari Cordes Vermont House of RepresentativesMari Codes is a genderqueer member of the Vermont House who successfully ran for re-election on November 5. Shes worked on disaster relief for Haiti, ran policy initiatives for the state, and helped found her nurses union before getting elected to office. Brion Curran Minnesota House of RepresentativesMinnesota State Rep. Brion Curran | Brion for HouseBrion Curran was an incumbent member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party who successfully won re-election in her district. Theyre a genderqueer/non-binary candidate who aims to advocate for disabled people, reproductive rights, environmental justice, and many more areas of civil justice. Emma Curtis Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky Urban County CouncilCurtis, an out trans woman, successfully ran for the council of Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky. She said of her victory in a statement to local radio, I think that is significant because there are a lot of young trans kids in Lexington and a lot of young trans kids in Kentucky and quite frankly a lot of young trans kids in the United States who need to see people like them getting a seat at the table. Amber Fellows Ypsilanti, Michigan City CouncilAmber Fellows is a non-binary/genderqueer city council candidate for Ypsilanti, Michigan. Shes described on On Your Ballot as a first-generation Japanese-American, lgbtqia+, 3-year homeowner, three-time city official, director of a regional volunteer program, musician, gardener, and political organizer. She ran on a platform of housing justice, Palestinian liberation, and reparations for Black and Indigenous People of Color.Leigh Finke Minnesota House of RepresentativesRep. Leigh Finke | Provided Leigh Finke successfully ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in this years election. She ran on a platform of LGBTQ+ rights, promising to represent her queer constituents in northern St. Paul, Minnesota. She played an instrumental role in getting the Minnesotan trans refugee bill passed into law and has passed numerous important bills for LGBTQ+ rights.Xavier Johnson Berkeley, California Rent Stabilization BoardXavier Johnson, alongside Alfred Twu, was elected to the Rent Stabilization Board in Berkeley, California. A genderqueer/non-binary politician, Johnson aims to provide fair, affordable, and safe housing for all residents of Berkeley, especially those who are marginalized in some way. Alicia Liish Kozlowski Minnesota House of RepresentativesAlicia Liish Kozlowski was just re-elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing the area of Duluth. Theyre a nonbinary, Indigenous candidate that helped create the Queer Caucus in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Minnesota affiliate of the Democratic Party. Jo Miller Woodbury, New Jersey City CouncilIncumbent Jo Miller successfully ran for re-election to the Woodbury, New Jersey City Council. Theyre the first elected transgender and non-binary Democratic candidate in Southern New Jersey. What can you do for other people while youre here? My intent was always to do something to make the world a little better, they said to Philadelphia Gay News.DeShanna Neal Delaware House of RepresentativesDelaware State Rep. DeShanna Neal | DeShanna Neal for District 13 DeShanna Neal is an incumbent member of the Delaware House who successfully won re-election to their district. The first nonbinary member of the Delaware House of Representatives, they previously increased the pay of educators in the state, provided free lunches for students, and fought to implement rent control policies.Ambureen Rana Maine House of RepresentativesRana is a genderqueer/non-binary Representative from Maine who won re-election in her district. Muslim as well as LGBTQ+, she focuses on economic justice for marginalized people, addressing needs like economic instability and housing insecurity. Evelyn Rios Stafford Washington County, Arkansas Justice of PeaceEvelyn Rios Stafford is a trans woman who ran for Washington County Justice of Peace in Arkansas. She ran on a platform of COVID-19 relief, providing safe and affordable housing for marginalized people and criminal justice and wisely spending the countys money to better provide for its residents. Abigail Salisbury Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesAbigail Salisbury ran unopposed for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from a district in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Shes Jewish, autistic, and bisexual. Salisbury ran on a progressive platform of LGBTQ+ rights, the legalization of cannabis and psilocybin, and abortion rights.Brianna Titone Colorado House of RepresentativesBrianna Titone | Brianna Titone for Colorado House District 27 Brianna Titone won re-election to the Colorado House of Representatives. Shes a trans woman who made history as the first out trans legislator in Colorados history. She previously worked as a geologist and as a software developer and aims to provide a voice for constituents who dont feel heard in their states legislature.Alfred Twu Berkeley, California Rent Stabilization BoardAlfred Twu successfully got the last open position on the Berkeley, California Rent Stabilization Board. Twu ran on a platform of tenants rights, advocating for those in at-risk housing while planning to make it more affordable and safe. Aime Wichtendahl Iowa House of RepresentativesAime Wichtendahl | Campaign WebsiteAime Wichtendahl made history as the first trans legislator in Iowas history. Shes a transgender woman who ran on a platform of civil rights, union support, abortion rights, and cannabis legalization. She said of her victory in a quote to The Gazette, I am honored to make history tonight. It shows that Iowans and Americans at large are tired of the culture war politics and anti-trans legislation and will vote for leaders who prioritize their well-being and work for them to get ahead. Zooey Zephyr Montana House of RepresentativesMontana Rep. Zooey Zephyr | Montana LegislatureZooey Zephyr was re-elected to the Montana House of Representatives in a sweeping victory. Shes the first trans woman to be elected to public office in Montana and has worked tirelessly to advocate not only for transgender rights within the state but across the entire country as well. She is the fiancee of trans journalist and activist Erin Reed. Bonus: Proposition 1 New YorkProposition 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, codified the protection of transgender people into the state Constitution by adding an amendment that detailed specific marginalized groups that are guaranteed rights and representation within the state. This will protect trans people in the state for decades to come, and it overcame tremendous odds with Republicans trying to take down the amendment.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Lesbian transphobe Bari Weiss is getting roasted online for saying that Democrats lost the presidential and congressional races because they ran on niche issues like gender fluidity and defund the police.' In reality, numerous factors contributed to the partys losses and Democratic candidates barely mentioned transgender issues during the campaign.How can progressives win again? By looking at what went wrong here, Weiss said during a recent FOX News appearance. It turns out that running on these extraordinarily niche issues like gender fluidity or defunding the police feel profoundly out of touch to ordinary Americans. So if [a] progressive [campaign] is about, you know, these niche issues that you find in on college campuses and gender studies department, and you want to keep doubling down on that, youre going to continue to lose. Related What do we do if Donald Trump wins? What a fascist in the White House could mean for LGBTQ+ rights, and the resistance it could inspire. Numerous commenters on X pointed out that Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris didnt run on those issues. The Democratic National Convention didnt have a transgender speaker and only mentioned trans issues once during a speech by Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Kelley Robinson. Exit polls showed that only 4% of voters ranked trans issues as their most important concern. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Also, Democratic candidates werent campaigning on defunding local police forces, a common refrain from racial justice activists during the Black Lives Matter protests of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. And while Weiss also claimed that Democrats shouldnt interpret the election results to mean that voters wanted a fascist regime, a majority of voters did, in fact, choose a presidential candidate who expressly promised to be a dictator,praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and repeatedly used racism and misogyny during his campaign.Weiss advice marks a troubling trend in the elections post-mortem in which Democrats blame progressives for their losses. Recently, three Democrats have said that their party should take stronger stands against transgender athletes after Republicans spent $215 million in transphobic attack ads. Weiss is an opponent of transgender rights. She is the founder of the conservative outletThe Free Press and was given $500,000 bybillionaire Republican donor Harlan Crowto help launch an anti-woke non-profit organization.The deceptively named organization, The Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR), claims to be nonpartisan, but its initial board included transphobic former Fox News hostMegyn Kelly, transphobic gay writerAndrew Sullivan, and anti-LGBTQ+ activistChristopher Rufo,The New Yorkerreported.In 2021, FAIR started focusing on so-called gender ideology, a right-wing term for acknowledging the existence of transgender people. It hosted a webinar entitled Gender Ideology: Problems and Pro-Human Solutions, which featured Abigail Shrier, an anti-trans author who regularly equates trans people with misogynists, child sex predators, and mentally ill people who have succumbed to peer pressure. While FAIR took stands against issues of compelled speech and gender stereotypes namely, schools requiring students to state theirpronouns, for example, or teaching that boys who gravitate toward dolls and princesses could be girls. it wasnt willing to touch other questions, such as whether kids who identify as trans should be allowed to medically transition,The New Yorkernoted.Though Weiss helped fundraise and attract talent to FAIR, even she eventually distanced herself from the group, saying in June 2021 that she considers the organization not straightforward and not muscular enough, particularly on issues like trans women in sports.Last, numerous issues contributed to the Democrats losses this election season: Working-class voters, who have increasingly voted for conservatives worldwide, were outraged over post-pandemic inflation, even after that inflation was brought down. Joe Biden is an unpopular incumbent who makes frequent verbal gaffes. Harris, who had never run a successful presidential campaign, was thrust into the nominee role with only 107 days to do so and failed to differentiate herself from Bidens policies. It turns out, running on these extraordinarily niche issues like gender fluidity or defunding the police don't actually matteror frankly, feel profoundly out of touchto ordinary Americans.@BariWeiss on why Democrats lost so badly. pic.twitter.com/Q7vIggB7sZ The Free Press (@TheFP) November 7, 2024 who the fuck ran on 'gender fluidity' & 'defund the police'. your making shit up Rhodes (@solonebiu) November 7, 2024Bari has built a business off of offering bad faith characterizations of the left to right-leaning audiences https://t.co/5yxOZUPOiO jonathan friedman (@jonfriedman) November 8, 2024 I agree with the Bari here, except for the fact that Kamala didn't run on those issues.Bari claims that 50% of the country doesn't want a fascist regime. Yet they voted for the only candidate who was offering one. It's hard to refute that. (@GriFdotpy) November 8, 2024Please cite one example or video/audio of Harris stating defund the police. You cant Youre spewing blatant lies. Ralph, (@musicloverohio) November 7, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Trevor Projects classic crisis services experienced significantly increased volume related to the election over the last few days (pre-election, post-election). A third of those crisis contacts identified as BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people.The viral NBC News exit polls indicate that a majority (85%) of Black people voted for VP Harris, which includes a larger majority of Black women (91%).Recognizing that the vast majority of Black voters voted for VP Harris, it makes sense that Black LGBTQ+ young people might be experiencing negative mental health outcomes following the election results. For LGBTQ+ young people, including BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people, we know that they can experience marginalization, and are at higher risk for discrimination, seriously considering suicide, and suicide attempts. -Jaymes Black, CEO for The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects research shows that Black LGBTQ youth often report mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People14% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 10% of white LGBTQ+ young people11% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year36% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have felt discriminated against in the past yearResearch Report: Mental Health of Black LGBTQ Youth44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, including 59% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth55% of Black LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the past two weeks, including 70% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth63% of Black LGBTQ youth report symptoms of major depressive disorder including 71% of Black transgender and nonbinary youthSelf-harm was reported in 44% of Black LGBTQ youth, including 61% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth49% of Black LGBTQ youth reported wanting psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional in the past 12 months, but not being able to get itThe post A Third of The Trevor Projects Drastic Increase in Crisis Contacts Identify as BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth appeared first on The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Projects classic crisis services experienced significantly increased volume related to the election over the last few days (pre-election, post-election). A third of those crisis contacts identified as BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people.The viral NBC News exit polls indicate that a majority (85%) of Black people voted for VP Harris, which includes a larger majority of Black women (91%).Recognizing that the vast majority of Black voters voted for VP Harris, it makes sense that Black LGBTQ+ young people might be experiencing negative mental health outcomes following the election results. For LGBTQ+ young people, including BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people, we know that they can experience marginalization, and are at higher risk for discrimination, seriously considering suicide, and suicide attempts. -Jaymes Black, CEO for The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects research shows that Black LGBTQ youth often report mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People14% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 10% of white LGBTQ+ young people11% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year36% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have felt discriminated against in the past yearResearch Report: Mental Health of Black LGBTQ Youth44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, including 59% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth55% of Black LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the past two weeks, including 70% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth63% of Black LGBTQ youth report symptoms of major depressive disorder including 71% of Black transgender and nonbinary youthSelf-harm was reported in 44% of Black LGBTQ youth, including 61% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth49% of Black LGBTQ youth reported wanting psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional in the past 12 months, but not being able to get itThe post A Third of The Trevor Projects Drastic Increase in Crisis Contacts Identify as BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is bragging that her views, which she says were once considered radical extremist views, are now part of the GOPs mainstream.Tucker Carlson called her the most reviled person in the world on his podcast when asking about her political trajectory, from someone who was excluded from committee assignments two years ago due to her violent social media postings to someone who now believes she has a chance at a Cabinet appointment in the coming administration. Related Rep. Sam Park on Marjorie Taylor Greene: Bless her heart The trailblazing gay lawmaker from Georgia talked to LGBTQ Nation about Republican gerrymandering and being raised Christian. I get to listen to all these Republicans that voted to denounce me and kick me out of committees and talked bad about me and slandered me and distanced themselves from me I get to listen to them and they very much sound like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene told Carlson. As a matter of fact, they say the same things that I say. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today She then claimed that she had gotten private apologies from Republican colleagues who once doubted her, saying that their constituents pushed them to be more like her.MTGs radical extremist views are now the mainstream Republican Party, she wrote, sharing the video on X. Mission accomplished. She then included the sunglasses emoji. MTGs radical extremist views are now the mainstream Republican Party.Mission accomplished pic.twitter.com/J288B2yqvP Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) November 6, 2024 Also this week, GOP strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon told Greene that he believes she should head the Department of Homeland Security. Youre such a fighter, Bannon said Wednesday. Now, is there truth to the rumor that youre going to take over at DHS?She didnt say no.I dont know whats going to happen, Steve, she replied. Were just thrilled to have President Trump back in the White House because everyone knows what that means.Were going to dismantle the deep state. Were going to end the weaponized government. Were going to pardon the J6ers. Thats extremely important, she added. And we are going to restore peace and prosperity back for the American people. And were going to end those foreign wars, and were going to end the climate change scam. Everythings going to be restored. Were so excited. Greene has spent years attacking the current secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, introducing a resolution to impeach him and accusing him of being behind an invasion of immigrants into the country.If she were named the secretary of Homeland Security, Greene would also be in charge of the federal response to natural disasters. She believes that Democrats can control the weather and create hurricanes. Moreover, she would be in charge of FEMA. She has complained about that agency helping transgender people.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

It's a battle of the pop girls!The 2025 Grammy Awards are only a few months away and the stan wars are in full effect as the nominations just dropped.2024 has undeniably been an iconic year in music, especially for women. From Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift's emotional albums to the explosion of three pop girlies Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx and Chappell Roan this year hasn't been like any other.With the nominations officially announced by the Recording Academy today, here's who we're hoping will take home the gold in February.Record of the YearSee on InstagramNominations:Now and Then The BeatlesTEXAS HOLD EM Beyonc Espresso Sabrina Carpenter 360 Charli xcx BIRDS OF A FEATHER Billie Eilish Not Like Us Kendrick Lamar Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan Fortnight Taylor Swift Featuring Post MaloneOur Pick:Espresso Sabrina CarpenterAlbum of the YearSee on InstagramNominations:New Blue Sun Andr 3000 COWBOY CARTER BeyoncShort n Sweet Sabrina CarpenterBRAT Charli xcx Djesse Vol. 4 Jacob Collier HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Billie Eilish Chappell Roan the Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Chappell Roan THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT Taylor SwiftOur Pick:BRAT Charli xcxSong of the YearSee on InstagramNominations:A Bar Song (Tipsy) Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Chibueze Collins Obinna, Nevin Sastry & Mark Williams, songwriters (Shaboozey)BIRDS OF A FEATHER Billie Eilish OConnell & Finneas OConnell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) Die With A Smile Dernst DMile Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars) Fortnight Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone) Good Luck, Babe! Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Daniel Nigro & Justin Tranter, songwriters (Chappell Roan)Not Like Us Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar) Please Please Please Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters (Sabrina Carpenter)TEXAS HOLD EM Brian Bates, Beyonc, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Blow, Nate Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Beyonc)Our Pick:BIRDS OF A FEATHER Billie Eilish OConnell & Finneas OConnell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)Best New ArtistSee on InstagramNominations:Benson BooneSabrina Carpenter Doechii Khruangbin RAYEChappell RoanShaboozeyTeddy SwimsOur Pick:Chappell RoanBest Pop Vocal AlbumSee on InstagramNominations:Short n Sweet Sabrina CarpenterHIT ME HARD AND SOFT Billie Eilish eternal sunshine Ariana Grande The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Chappell Roan THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT Taylor SwiftOur Pick:The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Chappell RoanBest Pop Solo PerformanceSee on InstagramNominations:"BODYGUARD" Beyonc"Espresso" Sabrina Carpenter"Apple" Charli xcx"BIRDS OF A FEATHER" Billie Eilish"Good Luck, Babe!" Chappell RoanOur Pick:"Espresso" Sabrina CarpenterBest Pop Duo/Group PerformanceSee on InstagramNominations:"us." Gracie Abrams Featuring Taylor Swift"LEVII'S JEANS" Beyonc Featuring Post Malone"Guess" Charli xcx & Billie Eilish"the boy is mine" Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica"Die With A Smile" Lady Gaga & Bruno MarsOur Pick:"Guess" Charli xcx & Billie Eilish or "Die With A Smile" Lady Gaga & Bruno MarsBest Dance PopRecordingSee on InstagramNominations:Make You Mine Madison Beer Von dutch Charli xcx LAMOUR DE MA VIE [OVER NOW EXTENDED EDIT] Billie Eilish yes, and? Ariana Grande Got Me Started Troye SivanOur Pick:yes, and? Ariana Grande

The Trevor Projects classic crisis services experienced significantly increased volume related to the election over the last few days (pre-election, post-election). A third of those crisis contacts identified as BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people.The viral NBC News exit polls indicate that a majority (85%) of Black people voted for VP Harris, which includes a larger majority of Black women (91%).Recognizing that the vast majority of Black voters voted for VP Harris, it makes sense that Black LGBTQ+ young people might be experiencing negative mental health outcomes following the election results. For LGBTQ+ young people, including BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people, we know that they can experience marginalization, and are at higher risk for discrimination, seriously considering suicide, and suicide attempts. -Jaymes Black, CEO for The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects research shows that Black LGBTQ+ youth often report mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People14% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 10% of white LGBTQ+ young people11% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year36% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have felt discriminated against in the past yearResearch Report: Mental Health of Black LGBTQ Youth44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, including 59% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth55% of Black LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the past two weeks, including 70% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth63% of Black LGBTQ youth report symptoms of major depressive disorder including 71% of Black transgender and nonbinary youthSelf-harm was reported in 44% of Black LGBTQ youth, including 61% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth49% of Black LGBTQ youth reported wanting psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional in the past 12 months, but not being able to get itResources to Include in Your Coverage:Finding Support & Building Community After the 2024 ElectionsHow to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile EnvironmentLetter from The Trevor Projects CEO to LGBTQ+ youthHow to Reach Out to The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects Self-Care FlowchartThe Trevor Projects Visual Breathing Exercise for Stress & AnxietyThe post A Third of The Trevor Projects Increase in Post-Election Crisis Contacts Identify as BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth appeared first on The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Projects classic crisis services experienced significantly increased volume related to the election over the last few days (pre-election, post-election). A third of those crisis contacts identified as BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people.The viral NBC News exit polls indicate that a majority (85%) of Black people voted for VP Harris, which includes a larger majority of Black women (91%).Recognizing that the vast majority of Black voters voted for VP Harris, it makes sense that Black LGBTQ+ young people might be experiencing negative mental health outcomes following the election results. For LGBTQ+ young people, including BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people, we know that they can experience marginalization, and are at higher risk for discrimination, seriously considering suicide, and suicide attempts. -Jaymes Black, CEO for The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects research shows that Black LGBTQ+ youth often report mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People14% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide in the past year, compared to 10% of white LGBTQ+ young people11% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year36% of Black/African American LGBTQ+ young people have felt discriminated against in the past yearResearch Report: Mental Health of Black LGBTQ Youth44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, including 59% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth55% of Black LGBTQ youth reported symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the past two weeks, including 70% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth63% of Black LGBTQ youth report symptoms of major depressive disorder including 71% of Black transgender and nonbinary youthSelf-harm was reported in 44% of Black LGBTQ youth, including 61% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth49% of Black LGBTQ youth reported wanting psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional in the past 12 months, but not being able to get itResources to Include in Your Coverage:Finding Support & Building Community After the 2024 ElectionsHow to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile EnvironmentLetter from The Trevor Projects CEO to LGBTQ+ youthHow to Reach Out to The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects Self-Care FlowchartThe Trevor Projects Visual Breathing Exercise for Stress & AnxietyThe post A Third of The Trevor Projects Increase in Post-Election Crisis Contacts Identify as BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth appeared first on The Trevor Project.

The clandestine California desert has long provided a refuge for urban escapees and creative types drawn to its unique convergence of modern and vintage aesthetics, shimmering horizons and vibrant sunrises, and musical tradition new and old. This November, Palm Springs continues this legacy with the return of Desert Air, a journey into the future of []The post Desert Air Returns to Palm Springs appeared first on GEDmagazine.

While an unpopular incumbent president and the specter of inflation helped Donald Trump win the election, his use of anti-transgender advertisements helped him paint his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, as dangerously liberal and out of touch with everyday voters, according to a report from The New York Times.During their only debate, Trump deployed a racist and transphobic attack line, accusing Harris of supporting transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison a crude restatement of her 2019 ACLU questionnaire answer that all federal prisoners, including trans immigrants detained by border agents, deserve medically necessary care. Related What the most anti-LGBTQ election in decades means for trans people After a flood of transphobic legislation, the stakes are even higher than you think. Afterward, Trump invested millions into airing anti-trans TV ads that repeated his debate line; showed pictures of Harris next to a drag queen, a trans woman, and a nonbinary person; and ended with the tagline, Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Trumps co-campaign manager Chris LaCivitatoldNBC News that the ads successfully held Harris accountable for her position. Its the last thing on Earth they want to talk about, he said. So well talk about it for them.Trump aired the ads repeatedly during televised sporting events, mostly aiming to reach male voters (including Black and Latino men) 54% of men ended up voting for Trump, according to preliminary exit polling. His campaign also hoped the ad would connect with suburban white women fearful about trans athletes in girls sports.Former President Bill Clinton reportedly told a Harris campaign aide that she needed to respond to the attacks, and the campaign even created a response ad. But ultimately, the campaign felt that Trumps ads werent having any effect, so the campaign never aired its response. In interviews, Harris just pointed out that the U.S. is legally required to provide life-saving care (including gender-affirming care) to inmates and that Trump had abided by the same policy during his presidency. The Human Rights Campaign has repeatedly said that such ads are a waste of money that dont connect with voters, citing that only 4% of voters listed trans issues among their primary concerns. But after the ads aired, the race shifted 2.7 percentage points in Trumps favor, according to an analysis by Harriss leading super PAC Future Forward.The ads were also part of larger anti-trans attacks against Harris. Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH),liedabout Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz(D),allowing his states government to kidnap children from unsupportive parents to change their gender. Walz never signed any such law or order, nor are state officials legally authorized to take trans kids away from unsupportive parents.Trump has claimed that schools are conducting surgery on trans youth without parental consent another lie.No schools provide such (or any) surgeries, minors almost never get such surgeries at all, and the standards of care for trans youth stress parental involvement. Moreover, the Trump-Vance campaign was unable to name an example of this ever happening. The Republican platform pledgedtoend Left-wing gender insanity, ban Taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries, keep men out of womens sports and cut federal funding for any schools pushing radical gender ideology or promoting gender transition.The Trump campaigns other attack ads showed Harris laughing and dancing in a colorful blouse and pink pants. Altogether, the ads sought to portray her as an unserious, foolish lightweight who was outside the political mainstream, the Times reported.While Trump won the election, it doesnt necessarily mean that anti-trans ads were the deciding factor or that they particularly resonated with voters nationwide. Polls consistently showed that voters cared more about numerous other issues, and voters ended up electing numerous trans and nonbinary candidates nationwide. But experts say that the anti-trans stigma created by such political attacks linger long after elections end and harm the mental wellbeing of trans people (particularly young ones). The attacks have also gotten some Democratic politicians and pundits to argue that Democrats should start opposing trans rights to appeal to more voters.The countervailing view holds that Democratic candidates should stand up for the dignity and inclusion of all people, tell Republicans to stop trying to regulate peoples personal medical decisions, and hammer the poor records of their political opponents while acknowledging voters economic concerns. This, trans journalist Erin Reed says, can help rebuff transphobic political attacks and win elections without abandoning the trans community.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Were Americans, and in 2016 when Donald Trump was elected, the two of us decided to leave the country.Its true, wed always planned to travel the world eventually. But we were also horrified that the country we thought we knew had elected someone who was so obviously unfit and corrupt. So Trumps election was the catalyst that caused us to finallymake the big leap. Related LGBTQ+ people are talking about fleeing America. Heres where they should move. Which countries share your progressive values? We have suggestions on where LGBTQ+ Americans should move if they want to leave. And frankly, we now both think it was the best decision either of us has ever made. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today I, Brent, can be a bit of a control freak, and leaving America gave me a sense of control at a time when the entire world seemed decidedlyoutof control.Traveling the world for eight years has also turned out to be amongthe best times in both our lives. Sometimes we wonder: If it hadnt been for that election, would we have ever left? It would have been so easy to go on living our old lives of comfort and routine.Leaving the country has also given us a new perspective about America and the rest of the world. Things arent necessarilybetteroutside of America (although in some places, they absolutely are). Mostly, things are just different.As for America, well, we now see that its big, crazy, and complicated, with plenty to hateandlove.Near Fethiye, Turkey. We think the second election of Donald Trump will be an absolute disaster for America and the world far worse than the first time around. We believe Trump is much angrier and darker than before, and his current movement is fueled by even more obvious bigotry.Trump will try to censor his critics, punish his enemies, unravel the post-war world order, and embark on unprecedented corruption.We dont understand how so many conservatives can continue to insist that he wont do all the things he has repeatedly said hes going to do.And unlike before, we wont see any checks on him or on the coterie of grifters, yes-men, and truly scary ideologues that now surround him.Whatever problems America has, we dont think Trump will solve any of them, exactly like he failed to do before. And also like before, hell make other things much worse.Maybe you think were being hysterical and ridiculous or that were just plain wrong. Thats fine. America has been having this argument for eight years now, and your side won. We haveno interest in hashing it out all over again. But what will the two of us do now?Ironically, because we were fairly confident Kamala Harris would win the election, we were in the process of writing two articles pro and con exploring the idea of eventually moving back to our old hometown of Seattle.But the election didnt go as expected, so we wont be publishing those articles. We also wont be returning permanently to America any time soon, and probably not ever.We havent given up The Fight although well be doing our part from outside the country.That said, as before, our work here will remain mostly non-political and devoted primarily to travel. In fact, we may never discuss political issues on social media again.I, Michael, weighed in on social media in the weeks before the election, and the vile blowback has left me reeling.Some of the dozens of disgusting messages Michael received. It truly feels like social media has fried everyones brains. So often, its nothing but tribalism, ugliness, and bottomless outrage. Its very hard not to see that hatred eventually spilling out into the physical world.If youre an American considering leaving the country now, do we think you should do it?That depends.One on hand, yes, traveling the world has been an incredible experience for us and, interestingly, its made us feel much more connected to our planet and its inhabitants. For a time, it even gave us real hope for the future.But remember that perspective we mentioned earlier what weve gleaned from our travels? Leaving America can only do so much. For one thing, what happens in the United States dramatically affects the entire rest of the world so much more than we realized before we left. America is so rich and powerful that it literally holds the worlds fate in its hands.Also, whatever is happening in America and the way we see it, its an undoing of classic liberalism and a reshaping of the world order is not confinedtoAmerica.Maybe this isnt Germany in 1933 or the fall of the Roman Empire, but the worlds geopolitical fault lines are shifting, and part of whats scary about all this is that no one knows what will replace what currently exists.In Mexico City This is the point in an essay where we would typically say something hopeful, but neither of us is feeling particularly optimistic right now.That said, we continue to cherish our family and friends, including the new friends weve made all over the world.Were also going to keep exploring this amazing planet, and we continue to be touched and humbled that you, our readers, have chosen to join us on our journey. We will go on sharing the stories and insights of our travels for as long as youre interested.And if any Americans do decide to make the same choice we did, drop us a line well help you any way we can.Stay safe,Brent and MichaelMichael Jensen is an author, editor, and one-half of Brent and Michael Are Going Places, a couple of traveling gay digital nomads.Subscribe to their free travel newsletter here.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Millions of Americans across the country are reeling from the results of the presidential election, but the LGBTQ+ community which has been ruthlessly targeted by conservatives across the country and is likely to only get worse under a second Donald Trump administration has been particularly affected by the outcome, especially among young people.In the days leading up to the election, the suicide prevention network The Trevor Project reported a 200 percent increase in the number of crisis conversations with election-based keywords like election and rights. The Rainbow Youth Projects crisis hotline saw a 125 percent increase in calls, texts, and chat messages on Election Day and the following day when compared with a regular day. Trans people have been targeted by the vitriolic rhetoric from Trump and his allies. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this year alone, said Nathan Grant Smith, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ people living with or affected by HIV. Trans and queer people in the US are understandably worried about how the transphobic and homophobic rhetoric of the coming administration may impact their lives through even more upcoming legislation that limits their access to health care, engagement in everyday lifesuch as sports and using the restroom, and recognition of their relationships.Were experiencing unprecedented times, so it makes sense that people, especially young people who will have to live with the consequences of what happened in the voting booth for longer than anyone else, are struggling with feelings of hopelessness and even considering suicide but there are people out there who can help.So, what do you do if you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts? PRIDE reached out to experts Jillian Amodio, a licensed social worker and psychology professor, and clinical mental health counselor Thomas Banta, who used to for a crisis text line and did crisis assessments for emergency rooms, to find out how you can take care of yourself, your loved ones, and the queer teens in your life during this stressful time.What should you do if someone you know is considering suicide?If someone you know is suffering from thoughts of suicide, the first thing you need to do is try to ascertain how severe their depression is and then get them the appropriate help. Theres a spectrum of severity with crises, Banta tells PRIDE. First and foremost, if someone is a danger to themselves or others, they need to be connected with emergency services. Safety in crisis has to be the priority. Amodio echoed this but also explains that making the person in crisis feel heard is very important. Validate their feelings, assess for their safety, and get help, she tells PRIDE. Honor their emotions and do not shy away from them out of discomfort or fear, let them know you are here for them. If their safety is a concern call your local crisis response.Resources:Call the US Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988Text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741Contact The Trevor Project (trevorproject.org)Message the Rainbow Youth Project (rainbowyouthproject.org)Contact PFLAG (pflag.org)If you are suicidal or struggling with your mental health, what steps should you take right now?The feelings you are experiencing are normal, but they can also be distressing, which is why its so important to reach out for help, either from someone you know and trust or one of the suicide prevention services. Some people try to ignore the warning signs that they are headed for trouble, but Banta says that, if possible, you should try to get help before things reach a crisis point. Listen to the whispers before they become screams, he says. Get connected with mental health services and use the tools available. Therapy and medication management can reliably reduce these symptoms.There is often so much stigma around mental health struggles, but Amodio says there is nothing to be ashamed of. It is ok to have these feelings, but you do not have to give in to them, she cautions. There are people and resources who can help. Reach out to a friend or family member who you trust. Call 988 or text 741-741. Go to your local mental health walk in clinic or urgent care facility. Remember that you are worthy and deserve to get the help and support you need to feel better.What advice would you give young LGBTQ+ people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts?Validating the very real fears the young person in your life is dealing with will help them feel less alone, but finding a connection will provide long-term benefits. Amodio says to tell queer teens that their concerns, fears, and worries are valid and your existence and your experiences matter. She also recommended having them reach out to The Trevor Project and PFLAG for support and guidance. Find people you can talk to who love you, accept you, and support you, she says. You are not alone and you deserve to feel safe and supported. While you cant erase their valid fears about their rights being stripped away by conservatives in power, you can tell your teen that they dont have to suffer alone. No one phrase can make the horror of fundamental human rights being taken away better, Banta says. But we dont have to suffer alone. There are hoards of people out there who want connection and want to help. Work to find them."How can you help if a young LGBTQ+ teen in your life has been in crisis since the election?If you have a young queer person in your life who is feeling hopeless or filled with rage since the election, dont patronize them and tell them everything is going to be ok. Instead, try to get them help and be the person they can lean on. Be the safe person in their life they can come to and talk about, Banta explains. Theres no silver bullet, but just being listened to and having someone share to share their pain with can be enormously helpful.Amodio says that being there for them and connecting them with resources are the best ways to help. Do not discount their concerns or minimize their worry, she warns. Continue to show up for them, validate their feelings, and continue to show them love and support. Get them help from a therapist and make sure they have the resources they need to feel safe and supported.What can people do to feel less helpless?In the wake of the election, many of us are frozen in fear and feeling helpless to do anything to change our circumstances. But helping other people and getting involved in your community are often the keys to moving past those feelings. Volunteer, talk through feelings with supportive friends and family. Join a support group, engage in acts of kindness, Amodio recommends.Find a way to get engaged with your community on a local level, Banta says. Showing up for people will give you an action step to work against that helplessness. We also know that if we take these challenges as a call to action to help others tangibly in our daily lives, we can regain some of that power. On the macro level, there may be nothing we can do. But we can scale down to actions that matter to those around us.The experts:Jillian Amodio, Licensed Social Worker LMSW at Waypoint Wellness CenterThomas Banta, clinical mental health counselor and owner at Thomas Banta Trauma Specialist

If you havent been, or if you have been and already love it, now is the time to visit Boozehounds in Palm Springs. Although established in 2020, Boozehounds has a new feel, a new energy, and a new menu to treat all your senses, thanks to owners Bryan and Jenni-Kate Rogers. GED Magazine was lucky []The post The New and Improved Boozehounds Palm Springs appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Witch. We hear women called this all the time. Sometimes its meant as a substitute for the misogynist b word. But witch is not a benign slur to fling at women. The history of women being called witches is grim. Demonizing, torture and killing of women particularly lesbians or women thought to be lesbians is inextricably tied to being targeted as a witch. Witchcraft and lesbianism are often linked and have been since the days of burning witches at the stake centuries ago.For centuries, women have been accused of being witches an accusation that usually accompanied being unmarried and/or having too many cats. Ohio senator JD Vanceschildless cat ladiesclaim during the election was all about his attempt to target Democrats as anti-family and too gay friendly. Vance included Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg with the ladies, even though Buttigieg is married with two children.Vance stopped short of calling childless cat ladies unnatural, but the implication was clear. And this charge of childlessness has always been one attached to lesbians.Back in 1992, Republican presidential candidate Rev. Pat Robertson famously linked feminism with lesbianism and witchcraft. Robertson, who was a spiritual advisor to Donald Trump when he was president,wrote, The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist and anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.While Robertsons comments seem extreme, they arent that different from Vances. This thread has run through conservative politics for decades and there has been a direct targeting of LGBTQ+ people in the election. Kamala Harris herself has been called awitch.Lesbian witches have found their way into popular culture, with iconic lesbian witches in TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Agatha All Along, but the history is far darker.The Church and WitchcraftWitchcraft was deemed heretical in the 15th century when the Church and the State were inextricable. Over several centuries, women were burned at the stake, pressed to death, drowned and hanged as witches. Most were unmarried and either targeted as lesbians or were in fact lesbians.This demonizing of women particularly single women who were outside social norms or mores is as ancient as witchcraft itself. In 1486, Heinrich Kramer, a German priest who tested women for witchcraft, wrote the Malleus Maleficarum or Hammer of Witches. Two years earlier, Pope Innocent VIII issued a papal bull citing witches and witchcraft as a sin against God and the Church.The Malleus Maleficarum would be used as the primer to torture and kill tens and possibly hundreds of thousands of women throughout Europe during the height of the witch craze between the 16th and 17th centuries.Feminist theorist Andrea Dworkin wrote about Gynocide: The Witches in her groundbreaking bookWoman Hatingin 1974. Dworkin estimated the number of witches killed during what is referred to as the burning times at nine million over 300 years. That number has beenscaled downin the years since Dworkin wrote that treatise to at most, several hundred thousand.Dworkin wrote, Witchcraft was a womans crime. The reality that women were the targets of annihilation for their difference or for their lesbianism was historical fact. Dworkin and other feminist theorists and historians have always maintained that woman-hating/misogyny was at the core of branding women as witches. Being labeled a witch meant a woman could be tortured and killed, usually because she didnt ascribe to her mandated role of heterosexual normativity or because she disobeyed the patriarchal systems of the time, notably the Church and the Crown.While some men were also tortured and killed, male and female historians agree that women outnumbered the victims of the European witch craze 100 to 1. Men were killed predominantly for consorting with witches rather than for being witches themselves.This was true in theSalem Witch Trialsin the American colonies. These trials took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693 when a group of girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused local women of witchcraft.Modern HistoryFour Latina lesbians Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh and Anna Vasquez were accused in 1994 of sexually assaulting Ramirezs young nieces in a Satanic witchcraft ritual.Convicted in 1998, they spent 15 years in prison for a crime they did not commit before finally being released in 2013 and exonerated in December 2016 with a documentary,Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four,about the literal witch hunt against them.Throughout Africa, India and South America, lesbians have been targeted as lesbians. Lesbian witches have beenchained, raped and even murderedby families in Cameroon.Just months ago, Rose Tagnesi,a lesbian teacherin California who was named Administrator of the Year in Special Education in 2022 by the Association of California School Administrators was accused of being a witch. Tagnesi, who was put on leave last year pending an investigation, has filed a lawsuit in which she alleges that board member Jim Kelly referred to Tagnesi and another female staffer as witches who were part of an LGBTQ+ coven.The Killing ContinuesWith women still targeted as witches and still being killed all over the world, some historians argue that pardoning past victims couldend the killings.The 2023 Annual Report of the United Nations Human Rights Council asserts that each year, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people mostly single women are hurt or killed in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Papua New Guinea because of witchcraft beliefs.One 2020 UN report states at least 20,000 witches were killed across 60 countries between 2009 and 2019. Theactual numberis likely much higher as incidents are severely under-reported.Its still dangerous to be a lesbian in much of the world. And its still possible to be killed for being a witch, because witch hunts were and are all aboutpersecuting the powerless.The post The dark history of Witch as a weapon against LGBTQ+ women appeared first on News Is Out.

Earlier this week, we at LGBTQ Nation asked our readers if they anticipated facing or had faced any barriers to voting. Most didnt, and even more ended up voting either way.87% of readers chose the option that said that voting was a breeze and didnt face any barriers. Another 6% said that they did face some kind of barrier but that they were able to cast a ballot anyway.Only 3% said that they faced a barrier that prevented them from casting a ballot, and the remaining 4% didnt or couldnt vote for another reason. | LGBTQ NationLGBTQ+ people face unique barriers to voting, and, as community media, many of our readers likely had their IDs challenged by poorly trained poll workers, IDs that may not have matched their gender presentation. Voter restrictions like purges of voter rolls and restrictive voter ID laws can also prevent people from casting ballots that they are legally entitled to cast.Check back on Monday for next weeks poll.

It's a boy!Brooke Eden, an out and proud lesbian and country music artist, posted to Instagram yesterday morning announcing that she and her wife, Hilary Eden Hoover, had welcomed a baby boy into the world. Their son, Beckham Gene Eden Hoover, was born on November 2nd, and is shown with both his moms in a beautiful black and white photoshoot, sporting a bespoke "BECKHAM" hat.See on InstagramThe two have been very open about their pregnancy journey. Brooke announced back in May, also via Instagram, that the couple was expecting, with a picture of her on her knees kissing Hilary's baby bump with a caption reads, "Oh how loved you already are, little one #wlw #twomoms #ivf'. As the couple are stood on a dock near a gorgeous waterfront, the sun sets behind them. It seriously looks straight out of a romcom.See on InstagramBrooke, who was told when she came out that it would cost her her career, has found nothing but success the more she has shared her queerness with the world. Since coming out in 2021, she's made queer love and joy front and center in her music. Her 2023 EP Outlaw Love's title track is all about her and Hilary.She told Taste of Country why she felt compelled to speak out in this way. "My wife and I have this incredible love story, yet it doesn't matter to some people, [who think that] it should be outlawed," Brooke said. "I just felt it was time to speak up and speak out about it, tell the real story and what it's actually like to live in a world where, you know, love at all has to be looked at as a crime."It's an incredibly hard time to be a queer person, and now a queer parent. We're sending all our love and support to Brooke, Hilary, and baby Beckham. Congratulations!See on Instagram

CAGE LA AUX FOLLES: If youre reading this column, I refuse to believe that you havent seen La Cage Aux Folles at least once. When it opened on Broadway in 1983, it was the first musical centered around a gay couple and it had a happy ending. With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman []The post Crazy Queens in St. Tropez appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Broadway and Bravo TV personality Craig Ramsay has returned to Palm Springs, this time with his best friend Catherine Wreford who, against all odds, remains a constant inspiration. In addition to bringing his bestie, he comes back to town with an Amazing Race win and a new cabaret show. On November 11th, Craig and Catherine []The post Craig Ramsay: Canadas Team Broadway Returns to Palm Springs appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Alongside the presidential race and major races in U.S. Congress and state legislatures, Americans showed up this election to enact groundbreaking ballot measures that will improve LGBTQ lives and allow them to better care for themselves and their families. Voters in Colorado, California and Hawaii passed ballot measures enshrining freedom to marry protections into their [...]The post Election 2024: How LGBTQ Voters and Allies Affirmed Equality at the Ballot first appeared on GLAAD.

The 2025 Grammy Award nominations have been announced, with queer artists front and center in categories like record of the year, album of the year, and song of the year.Chappell Roan, who recently performed a lesbian country song on Saturday Night Live, picked up six nominations: record of the year, album of the year, song of the year, best new artist, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album.Billie Eilish, who came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community earlier this year, received seven nominations, including album of the year for Hit Me Hard and Soft, song of the year for her hit single Birds of a Feather, and a duet with fellow nominee Charli XCX.Troye Sivan received his third Grammy nomination in two years. His song Get Me Started is nominated for best dance/electronic recording.Out lead singer Rob Halford and metal group Judas Priest earned a nomination for best metal performance for Crown of Thorns.Annie Clark, also known by her stage name St. Vincent, was nominated for best rock song for Broken Man, best alternative music performance for Flea, and best alternative music album.Green Day, whose lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong is openly bisexual, received nominations for best rock song and best rock album.Kehlani, previously nominated in 2016 and 2018, returns this year with three nominations: best progressive R&B album for Crash, a songwriting nomination for After Hours, and best melodic rap performance for Kehlani.Cardi B earned a nomination for best rap performance for Enough (Miami).The Queen Sheba was nominated for best spoken word album for CIVIL WRITES: The South Got Something To Say.The Brothers Osborne, a straight and gay brother duo, scored a nomination for best country duo/group performance for Break Mine, as did Miley Cyrus for her duet with Beyonc, II Most Wanted.For a full list of nominees, click here. The post Chappell Roan, queer artists dominate Grammy nominations appeared first on News Is Out.

We deserve something nice and something naughty and wouldn't you know, OUTtv is ready to serve us up plenty of both, by exclusively revealing the season three cast of our very favorite gay dating show, For the Love of DILFs!Thats right: The steamy, romantic, and frequently moving reality dating experiment that sees Daddies and Himbos is returning to Dr. DILFs mansion to create intergenerational love connections returns November 26 on OUTtv. Also making her triumphant return as host, house mother, and sometimes therapist to the cast is none other than the one and only Stormy Daniels. Im thrilled to be back for a third season of For the Love of DILFs! says Daniels. It really feels like since the shows become so popular, the cast was more invested in building real relationships. I even got emotional a few timeswhich you know I HATE!This time around, a fresh new set of Daddies and Himbos are heading to a brand new mansion in a quest to their one, where they will once again live together, participate in steamy challenges (can they beat the phone sex challenge from last year? We cant wait to find out.), and go on incredible, romantic dates. From steamy first kisses to heartbreaking breakups, season three promises to give you everything youve loved about the series, but takes it to brand new dramatic and romantic heights. And for one lucky couple, it means an opportunity to launch their relationship outside of the house with the help of a $10,000 cash prize (courtesy of Scruff). So, who are these lucky Himbos and Daddies? Lets meet them now! MEET THE HIMBOS DaniIG: @mixedkidvibesTikTok: @mixedkidvibesFor Dani, a search for real love led him to apply for the show. I felt like For The Love of DILFs was the only queer dating show focusing on finding a connection besides just your raunchy circuit hookup like your Fire Island, etc., he tells PRIDE. I felt like going on a show based on true gay compatibility was what I needed to succeed in a relationship.And yes, this romantic is looking for the real deal with someone, which is something hes struggled to find with folks his own age. Dating other Gen Zs is tough since we literally are so used to instant gratification and having such a fast paced mindset, especially when it comes to dating! he explains. Coming on the show, I was really hoping that dating older would allow me to find someone who was a lot more emotionally stable and wouldn't just quit at the first sign of hardship! Thats not to say he isn't looking to keep it SPICY. The most important part of a connection would definitely be sexual because at the end of the day my best girl friend could check off all of my emotional and intellectual boxes but I definitely don't want to fuck my best girl friend! I need to know that my partner is going to keep my juices flowing! he says.JayIG: @jayseabrook_X: @JaySeabrookTikTok: jayseabrookFor Jay, the reason to join For the Love of DILFs was a romantic one. I loved to see the raw honesty of deep human connection that you saw with the other contestants. Its hard to be able to connect with people nowadays and the show provides many opportunities for those feelings to develop naturally, he tells PRIDE. And he was looking for someone older who could connect with on a mental and emotional level. I cant deal with immaturity, lack of emotional intelligence, and all in all lack of perspective or life experience that I feel I need in a partner to fully connect with them, he shares. Aside from emotional maturity, theres one feature he always notices first. Their smile, and the way the communicate. I love being able to be silly and flirty from the get go with a clear interest. I cant deal with people that are not determined with their answers or direct with their intentions, Jay tells us. And he's not afraid to go, um, deep. I can connect with people easily when its sexual but to be able to hold me down you gotta be able to understand the depths of my personality and what I represent as a human being so were able to have the ideal relationship for me. JustinFor Justin, the hunt for love required calling in the experts! So he put his trust in the process of For the Love of DILFs, Stormy, and Dr. DILF himself. I mean, these are the professionals, people! Im always happy to let the pros work their magic, he tells PRIDE.Right now, Justin is looking for stability in his life, which is a big part of what drew him to dating a sexy older man. With an older guy, theres a sense of consistency and stability that I find incredibly appealing as a young, dumb, twenty-something. A good DILF knows himself, what he wants, and most importantly when hes free to grab a drink or something. Theres nothing hotter than a man with a well-managed schedule, he states for the record. But he also needs someone who can match his level of passion. The first thing I notice about a guy is his energy. Not in the spiritual sense but, like, physically how much energy a guy has. Maybe I mean passion I like an enthusiast. If youre passionate about something, that passion always makes itself apparent! Wait, did I just describe aura? he asks.But most of all, Justin needs a good laugh. Im always looking for a sense of humor. If we can make each other laugh, thats a sure sign that were on the same wavelength. Commitment to the bit is always sexy, he shares I hate when it feels like a guy has something to prove to me or other people a fools errand, for sure.SamuelIG: @gaddydaddy_X: @DaddyGadyTwitch: @DaddyGadySamuel knew For the Love of DILFs was right for him because hes ready for a real connection. I went through years of self discovery and I am finally at a place where Im confident and proud of who I am. I wanted to share myself with another individual and therefore I figured I would try a nonconventional method of dating to meet a mature and established individual. For the Love of DILFs brings together individuals from various backgrounds and different walks of life, he tells PRIDE. And dating older men is nothing new to this Himbo. I have always been relatively mature for my age and noticed that I tend to date guys that are older than me. Im very direct, communicate well, and enjoy the idea of being taken care of by someone that is older than me. I wanted a partner who mimics the same qualities that I bring to a relationship, he says.Hes also looking for someone who is confident and can turn a look. My biggest turn on in a man is someone who exudes confidence and has a good sense of fashion. A man who can dress well and communicate effectively can steal my heart, he shares. Although my biggest turn off is a partner who is insecure and does not allow me to maintain my individuality within a relationship.How to woo him? Show him love. Acts of Service is the key to my heart. The simple thought of my partner going out of his way to make my life better or easier means the world to me, Samuel reveals. TimmyIG: @timmyyhiltonTikTok: @timmyhiltonTimmy started his journey with For the Love of DILFs as a fan and eventually he realized it might be exactly what he needed in his life, too. I was finally at a point in my life where I was ready to turn the page and enter a new era/chapter of my life, which included possibly finding love, and that prompted me to apply for season three and take my chances he tells PRIDE. Like many of the Himbos, Timmy tends to be drawn to men who are older. I have always gravitated toward older partners. Whether that be 25 years older, or three years older, he reveals. I feel that I have experienced many things in my life so far and it has made me more mature than others my age, and I ideally need my partner to have that life experience, maturity, and overall common sense, which is surprisingly hard to find nowadays.While Timmy may be young, his eyes are set firmly on the future when it comes to finding his one.My turn-ons are financial stability, a sense of maturity, height, and good hygiene. I find it extremely attractive when someone can match my energy in all aspects of a relationship whether that be emotional, intellectual, or sensual, he says. it doesnt take much to snatch his heart, Timmy jokes. The bare minimum...Just kidding. I mean its the little things for me. I love when someone takes the time to get to know me, my interests, and uses that knowledge to bond with me and surprise me with cute gestures and such, he shares.MEET THE DADDIESDavidIG: @davidmsmithjr David was ready to step out of his comfort zone in his search for love, and what better place to do that than DILF Mansion? Dating someone younger can appeal for various reasons! They often have a fresh perspective on life, vigorous energy and enthusiasm, and there is the the opportunity to share new experiences with them that might be new to both of us. No matter what age you are, you can always learn a lot from those both younger and older than you! he tells PRIDE.While hes initially drawn to butts and smiles, Davids ultimately looking for a partner with drive and maturity. Affection, good communication, ambition, and compassion, are his biggest turn-ons, he reveals. Hes looking for someone who understands the little things matter most. The way to win over my heart is through little acts of kindness. Whether that be an endearing look, a surprise kiss, or a little note to make the day better, those small actions make me melt way more than grand gestures, he says.FoxxIG: @HeSoFoXxyTikTok: @HeSoFoXxyFacebook: @HeSoFoXxyFoxx has no shortage of confidence and he was excited to show that with the world on For the Love of DILFs. Seeing mature men like myself who felt confident and comfortable with their bodies [is great] because Im that guy. I love everything about me so Im conformant showing it off. Also seeing the HIMBOS fighting for their Daddys attention, he tells PRIDE. Catching his eye in return will take a very special person. For me, its the youthful spirit, something about it is engaging. The energy flows to me and keeps me on my toes, and I like a challenge, he shares.Compatibility for Foxx begins with the heart. Emotional compatibility is very important, emotions are something we will exchange between us daily. Intellectually we can be on different levels and learn from each other in the process, he explains. Sexually I can adjust to either a high or a low sex drive, but the level of passion I bring will encourage my partner to match my sexual energy. NicholasIG: @famouzboyzTikTok: @nikkorodFor Nicholas, joining For the Love of DILFs felt a bit like fate. I was leaving my gym in Jan of this year, and said, I wonder what this year has in store for me? About two hours later Im on a call with producers! he tells PRIDE. I had just decided that I was ready to start dating, and downloaded Scruff, so when this opportunity came, I was like this is the universe speaking to me! So I cleared my schedule and headed down to DILF Mansion! As for dating younger men, it just feels right to Nicholas. I think dating someone younger makes me feel younger at heart, I have a young spirit and I dont feel my age, so younger def makes me feel more my mental mindset, he explains.But hes also looking for someone who shares his maturity. My biggest turn-on in a man is an established man, who knows what he wants in life, walks with confidence in every room, and shows love and kindness. Throw in some tattoos and a beard, with a killer smile, I might just propose! he admits. Nicholas continues, I have had a very healthy sex life when i was younger, finding someone sexy is great, but finding someone I can mentally connect with is way more sexier than seeing someones weenie or ass pics. Once the mental connection is there, the emotional connection will form, and the sexual connection, and then, its game on!RobertIG: @Nocommando1X: @NocommandojockRoberts path to DILF Mansion was an unconventional one. I was very recently divorced from a woman and thought the show would offer me an opportunity to meet and engage with multiple younger men in an interesting dating experience. Almost like speed dating accelerated by 10 times. [I] certainly felt like this would be a unique experience to find love! he tells PRIDE. Hes looking for someone who can match his energy and passion, which is why hes drawn to younger men. Even though I am older I dont really identify myself as older. I find the energy, both sexual and non-sexual, with young men intoxicating, Robert shares. As an older divorced successful man I feel like I have much to offer a partner. I also feel that I have much to learn. It really makes for a very interesting relationship if it is the right scenario with mutual respect. Not to mention how fucking hot the right younger dude can be!But ultimately, Roberts looking for a real emotional connection. At the beginning of the relationship, the sexual compatibility is paramount. Having come from a marriage that lacked that, I need it now for sure. Emotional and Intellectual compatibility are clearly important as well, he explains. I dont think I could enter into any sort of serious partnership with someone sexually if the other two are not present and forefront as having the correct vibe from the onset. Its all part of the puzzle for something to work well for both people!VictorIG: @writervicyatesX: @writervicyatesTikTok: @writervicyatesYouTube: @writervicyatesVictor was looking to shake up his life when he answered the call to be on For the Love of DILFs. I sit behind a computer or stand in a classroom every day and rarely go out. Therefore, I thought being on the show would help me to find love with someone who is like minded, he shares with PRIDE.Clearly the experience has sparked a sense of adventure in Victor, who is looking for a partner ready to soak up all the world has to offer. Men my age tend to be less adventurous. I like to travel, hike in new destinations and visit book shops around the world. None of my boyfriends ever wanted to adventure with me, he reveals, sadly. Time to fix that!Victor wants to find a Himbo who can stimulate him intellectually as well. My biggest turn-on is if a guy reads poetry or has just finished reading a book and he wants to tell me all about it, he shares, adding, If someone wants to snatch my heart they can curate a date for me starting at a museum, going to a tea shop, then going to a park to eat.

Alaska is unique offering incredible beauty and variety all in one state! And you can easily get a sampling of the Last Frontier with Celebrity Cruises itineraries. When to travel? Summer! So, when my birthday rolled around and my husband asked what Id like to do this year, I said a cruise to Alaska. []The post Alaska IS the Last Frontier appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Shes regal, yet down to earth. Shes sassy, but kind. She can freeze you with one look but unfreeze you with her heart. She is Glitteress, a vibrant drag queen making her presence known in the Southern California scene. Her looks range from eleganza and thrift store chic to punk rock and Halloween glitz. Shes []The post Glitteress: Shes not in Kansas Anymore! appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1.) Amazon MGM Studios Sundance crowd-pleaser My Old Ass is now available on Prime Video! In this fresh coming-of-age story, free-spirited teenager Elliot (Maisy Stella) comes face-to-face with [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: My Old Ass Streaming, Trailers for Sabbath Queen and Black Doves, New Music by Gregory Dillon, ROREY, and More! first appeared on GLAAD.

In the new Hallmark+ reality competitionFinding Mr. Christmas, host and co-creator Jonathan Bennett leads the charge to find Hallmarks next leading man and be crowned Mr. Christmas. The series debuted on October 31st where we were introduced to the 10 aspiring actors who compete in a variety of entertaining challenges. Bennett, alongside lead judge Melissa [...]The post WATCH: Jonathan Bennett and Finding Mr. Christmas Cast Talk LGBTQ Representation in New Hallmark+ Reality Competition first appeared on GLAAD.

A 16-year-old transgender boy in Bellingham, Washington was beaten by a group of fellow students who were shouting transphobic slurs.It took me a few days to realize the gravity that my child was beat because they are transgender, said Alyssa Ruben, the victims mother, to Komo News. The children who attacked my kid should have been expelled immediately. Related Delivery driver shot trans woman to death in parking lot. He was just found guilty. Prosecutors believe she told him to stop in the parking lot and then he shot her. The student reported the incident to the school on October 22. Shortly after, Ruben went to the school to demand that they contact the police. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Nobody says anything, nobody knows about it so they just keep doing what theyre doing with no accountability and thats going to stop with me, she said.Police spokeswoman Megan Peters told The Bellingham Herald, The juvenile victim reported that the group shouted anti-trans phrases at them while they were shoved and hit. The victim was able to run away and seek refuge at (Bellingham High School) and report the assault. Investigation is ongoing,Her child is being sent to Seattle Childrens Hospital due to severe concussion symptoms.Its not over, and if they have a traumatic brain injury, the effects could be lifelong, she said.Police and medical aid were only called after the childs mother arrived.If I had not insisted that (school officials call 911) multiple times, they wouldnt have done it. I shouldnt have had to ask. I felt that the fact that they didnt call 911 is an absolute dereliction of their duty, she said to Bellingham Herald. She reports that the school district has repeatedly been problematic in their handling of queer children. The incident gained traction online after Ruben posted about it on her TikTok. A video was additionally revealed to the public after one of the attackers filmed them attacking the student.We actually have about 45 seconds of one of the videos that was recorded by one of the assailants, said Lance Preston, the executive director of the Rainbow Youth Project, to Komo News. Just in the short few seconds that we have, it was horrendous, it was horrific.We are very impressed with the Bellingham police department, the detective there is doing everything he can to hold these people accountable, he continued. If we let those incidents slide, were basically making a statement to these young people that its ok or its acceptable. It really leaves victims feeling worthless and like theyre not important and their life does not matter. Bellingham High School Principal Mark Atkins said in a letter to parents:We want to assure you that we take any allegations of violence and hate-motivated behavior very seriously. Incidents of hate speech and behavior are not only unacceptable but also have lasting and harmful impacts on our community. We are committed to healing and educating to strengthen and diversify our next generation of leaders. Our policies reflect this commitment, and we will continue to implement measures that promote respect, understanding, and safety for all students.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.