Aruba, one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the Caribbean, is taking extra steps to provide a sense of security for anyone looking to get married or have a honeymoon on their beautiful Island. With Aruba’s new Happily Ever After Guarantee, anyone who books a destination wedding or honeymoon for 2021, can postpone and reschedule for any coronavirus-related reason for up to a year. The program has a very liberal policy on what counts, as long as it is related to COVID-19. Whether that means a sick family member or a future outbreak that shuts down travel. As long…
Author: Keith Langston
The winners of the 2020 Pulitzer Prizes include two queer men of color. The first is Michael R. Jackson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his off-broadway play, A Strange Loop, which centers around a gay black man, Usher, trying to navigate life in New York City. By day, Usher works as an usher for the Broadway production of The Lion King. By night, he dreams of being a writer and creating his own plays. The show focuses on politics, religion, race, and sexuality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4hWaHg6b98 Upon its release at Playwrights Horizon in Midtown, New York, the show received…
The Human Rights Campaign has reported that there have been 10 murders against LGBTQ people in just 15 months in Puerto Rico. Five of those murders happened within the last two months. The HRC confirms that most of the murders have been against trans and non-binary women. In a statement, Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesperson for the Broad Committee for the Search for Equity, says that radical right-wing politicians are to blame. “The violence we are experiencing is rooted in rhetoric and hateful actions on the part of religious fundamentalist politicians who incite their followers to persecute, demonize, and attack LGBTTIQ…
Quibi has announced that on Monday, May 4th, Adam Rippon’s new series Useless Celebrity History will premiere. The show is hosted by figure skater and Olympic medalist, Adam Rippon, and explores the most random events in pop culture history. From Rhianna to Lindsay Lohan and Snooki, Rippon will be digging up everything from the biggest celebrity scandals to the fiercest red carpet moments. The series will combine interviews, reenactments, and skits. https://twitter.com/Adaripp/status/1256327225571282944 Rippon teased the premiere of the show on his Twitter account by taking part in the #MetGalaChallenge which encourages people to try and make their own homemade Met…
Previously, we reported that cities and regions around Poland are declaring themselves as “LGBT-Fee” zones, and trying to “rid themselves of LGBTQ people and ideology.” Over 80 regions in Poland have declared themselves to “LGBT-Free.” This hateful movement now includes more than 1/3 of the entire country. These regions claim that LGBTQ people go against “traditional values” and lead to the downfall of society. Many activists are calling on the European Union to take action against the blatant human rights violations that are underway in Poland and other countries in Europe, including Hungary and Croatia. And while it’s understandable that…
The Salt Lake Tribune reports some (basically) good news today. According to a study from the University of Utah that was published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers believe that the coronavirus is NOT spread through bodily fluids like semen, so, therefore, isn’t considered “sexually transmitted.” The article went on to say that the new novel coronavirus (which can lead to the COVID-19 disease) is spread through tiny droplets of moisture, similar to the cold or flu, that spread from coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking. However, you can also become infected from touching a surface that has these…
Since mid-March, much of the world has been forced to endure a grueling lockdown that has been mentally draining and has had a massive impact on the global economy. In times like these, when many people have lost their jobs and are forced to deal with it in solitude, comedy is as important as ever. It’s a way to help relieve stress and make us feel like life is somewhat normal again. Drag queens have always been leading figures in the LGBTQ community. They hold a larger-than-life presence and are seemingly afraid of nothing. That tradition continues throughout the coronavirus…
During Obama’s administration, the section 1557 provision was instituted, which provided protection to the LGBTQ community and women from discrimination in healthcare.The provision stated that services couldn’t be denied to patients, nor could they be intimidated by a medical professional, based on their gender or sexual orientation. The rule was put into place due to America’s history of discrimination against the LGBTQ community in the medical field. Today, Politico reports that the health department is finalizing its “rewrite” of the provision, which many advocates and healthcare professionals say will surely roll back anti-discrimination policies. Spearheading the campaign is Roger Severino,…
The other week we featured five streaming services with LGBTQ collections, but seeing as binge-watching is at an all-time high due to the lockdown, we thought we’d bring you five more great places to watch all the queer content you want! From Sasha Velour to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, here are five more great streaming platforms with LGBTQ+ content! PLUTO TV Pluto TV is determined to change the future of streaming. They want to provide live television as well as on-demand movies and TV shows, all for free. Their current library is astonishingly large, and their LGBTQ section…
DIVA media group, along with The Advocate, and Kantar, have released the findings from a new survey of LGBTQ+ women. The answers were received prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, so they give a good indication of what women were feeling during relative “normal” times. In all, they managed to get over 1,400 responses to the survey, proving to be the largest piece of research of LGBTQ+ women to date. Now, as Lesbian Visibility Week begins, DIVA has released the survey results, and some might surprise you. The results from the survey revealed that 43% suffer from stress and anxiety and…
Lambda Literary, the premiere LGBTQ nonprofit for literature, needs your help. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization was forced to cancel many of their high-profile events, such as the Lambda Literary Awards ceremony, their program that brings LGBTQ authors to schools, and numerous public events. In a statement, the organization said, “For over thirty years, Lambda Literary has centered and celebrated LGBTQ writers because books affirm, validate, and save lives. And we must continue to champion LGBTQ voices and stories.” However, with the cancellation of many of their biggest events, the nonprofit is now in need of funding. Lambda…
With everyone stuck at home, streaming movies and TV shows have become the national pastime. Over the last five years, more and more streaming services have entered the market, offering everything from Oscar-winning classics to anime. Some streaming platforms have even included LGBTQ+ collections to their online libraries, giving everyone access to queer cinema, a genre they may not have known otherwise. Below are five awesome streaming services that have LGBTQ+ collections. NETFLIX Netflix was one of the first streaming platforms to include an LGBTQ section. But then again, Netflix was also one of the first streaming services, period.…
The New York Post has reported that Housing Works, an NYC nonprofit that that works to end the HIV epidemic and homelessness, has created temporary shelters for homeless people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The nonprofit has worked together with volunteers, local organizations, and city government to create temporary shelters for homeless people battling the coronavirus. These temporary isolation shelters have been built into vacant hotels around the city. In the shelters, patients can receive 24/7 food, medical care, laundry, and social services. The goal is to not only keep the homeless population protected from unnecessary death, but to…
This is a tough time for everyone, but especially for the LGBTQ+ community. Many people traveled home to be with family during the pandemic, but for a lot of LGBTQ+ people home isn’t a place where they feel comfortable. Also, large portions of the LGBTQ+ community live in major cities, which have been the hardest hit by the outbreak. LGBTQ+ people also have disproportionate amounts of financial and housing disenfranchisement. For all of these reasons, among many others, it’s easy to see how life in lockdown can make you feel anxious, scared, and frustrated. But you don’t have to go…
According to NBC News, a man who had recovered from the COVID-19 infection was in the perfect position to donate antibodies for a new experimental immunotherapy treatment. However, since the man was gay, he was turned away from donating, despite a doctor saying he had a “robust” number of antibodies in his system. This all goes back to the AIDS epidemic when many feared that by receiving blood from a gay man, they’d be at risk of contracting HIV. However, in 2015, that rule was slightly modified by saying gay men could donate blood as long as they had been…
Due to the hundreds of cancellations of pride celebrations around the world, a new online pride event will be taking place on June 27, 2020, called Global Pride. The event will live-stream performances, speeches, and keynote addresses from famous figures around the planet. The massive event is being put on by pride groups from every continent, including InterPride and the European Pride Organisers Association. They will be spearheading the campaign and getting organizers from all over the globe to help make the event a reality. In a statement, J. Andrew Baker, Co-President of InterPride, said, “We need community and connection…
The temporary field hospital being built in Central Park to help people affected by the Coronavrus in New York City is going to be staffed by volunteers of Samaritan’s Purse, a religious organization whose President and CEO is evangelical fanatic Franklin Graham. Graham has, to date: Thought the world was coming to an end in 2011. Claimed Obama was a Muslim and part of the Muslin Brotherhood. Thinks God helped Trump get elected. Is in favor of gay conversion therapy. Opposed gay marriage. Called Pete Buttigieg a sinner. Praised Putin’s anti-gay positions. And now, Graham’s organization, Samaritan’s Purse, will be…
Idaho Governor Brad Little signed two anti-transgender bills into law yesterday, despite the global pandemic. The first, House Bill 500, bans transgender women from playing on girls and women’s sports teams at public schools and colleges. The law deems that to qualify as a woman you’d have to be examined for “reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously 19 produced testosterone levels.” The Idaho Attorney General, however, cautioned forcing genetic testing on athletes likely violates the constitution. The second, House Bill 509, bans people from changing their gender on Idaho birth certificates. Back in 2018, Idaho tried passing a similar…
Today, the High Court of Singapore upheld the controversial article 377A of the constitution, which states that same-sex relationships (pertaining mostly to men) are illegal, and can be punished with up to two years in prison. Three separate cases were challenging the law, stating that it was archaic and unnecessary. The law is rarely used and is largely a leftover from Britain’s colonial rule of the small city-state. Unfortunately, Justice See Kee Oon dismissed all three cases, saying the law was constitutional because it was “safeguarding public morality.” Jessica Stern, Director of OutRight International, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting for…
LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA is bringing entertainment to everyone during the coronavirus outbreak. Starting March 28, at 8pm ET, VACAYA will begin their Saturday Night Spotlight. Each weekend, the spotlight will feature a different performer, live from their own home. VACAYA knows that entertainers have suddenly stopped being able to generate any income, so in response, the company decided to create a way where their talent could still perform. Hence, Saturday Night Spotlight was born. VACAYA will be paying their performers per show, and a Venmo tip jar will also be available. To watch, all you need to do is…
As everyone knows, the coronavirus is disrupting numerous high profile events, including many of the year’s largest LGBTQ prides and social gatherings. Below is a status update for some of the major events scheduled for the spring and summer of 2020. If your event has been cancelled or postponed, please let us know and we will share it with our readers. APRIL Pride of the Americas The event has been rescheduled for sometime in the fall, and the organizers have said that all tickets purchased for April will be honored in the fall. However, if you’re unable to attend,…
East River State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is about to make history. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the park will be renamed in honor of LGBTQ activist and icon Marsha P. Johnson. Johnson was an integral figure in the New York LGBTQ scene for decades. She was one of the leaders of the Stonewall uprisings and was one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front. Besides her activism, she was a prominent performer, artist, and even modeled for Andy Warhol. She was so beloved by the community that she even earned herself the reputation of being the “Mayor of…
According to the South China Morning Post, a Judge in Hong Kong just deemed it unconstitutional for the government to deny public housing to same-sex couples. Previously, the government had barred same-sex couples from getting public housing because it wanted to “protect traditional family formations.” The government used the excuse that the parameters for public housing units larger than single-person dwellings are for “husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild.” The government also claimed that by allowing same-sex couples to apply for public housing would hurt the chances of “traditional families” from receiving housing by adding more names…
UPDATE (March 4, 2020) This just in from the Wahington Blade! U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday released from its custody a Washington Blade contributor from Cuba who won asylum in the U.S. The Board of Immigration Appeals, which is overseen by the Department of Justice, on Feb. 28 dismissed an appeal of Judge Timothy Cole’s ruling that granted Yariel Valdés González asylum last September. Thanks to everyone who worked to secure the release of Yariel Valdés González! ——————————————— Background report published in February 2020. The Washington Blade is renowned as one of America’s leading sources for LGBTQ news.…
On Sunday night, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the presidential race. After winning the Iowa Primary, and coming in a close second in New Hampshire, Buttigieg’s numbers quickly dropped when primaries in more diverse states took place. In Nevada, he picked up only 14.3% of the vote, and in South Carolina, he only picked up 8.2% of the vote. His lacking numbers are believed to be the cause of his dropping out, as well as a campaign that was understaffed. With Super Tuesday around the corner, it was becoming more and more apparent to Buttigieg and his campaign that there…
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruled yesterday that Jamaica’s colonial-era ban on same-sex relations, known as the “anti-buggery” law, is incompatible with the American Convention on Human Rights. The Commission recommended that the law be repealed, and instructed the country to pay reparations to the plaintiffs in the case. Same-sex relations have been criminalized in Jamaica since colonial times under the Offences Against the Person Act, which prescribes a prison or hard labor sentence of up to 10 years. While the law has rarely been enforced in recent years, its continued existence has perpetuated pervasively negative societal attitudes…
Starbucks is in a bit of a predicament at the moment. The company just released an ad in the UK that depicts Starbucks as being welcoming and accepting of everyone. The main character in the commercial is a young trans man who feels safe using his name at a Starbucks store. Soon after the ad was released, the trans community raised their issues with the recent allegations that the company is transphobic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcSP1r9eCWw The company has a history of high-profile instances of discrimination, while also having a history of high-profile efforts for inclusion. Their most recent brush with controversy has…
According to the Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s government has just drafted a bill demanding “family resilience.” The bill claims that homosexuality is a threat to family values and mankind as a whole. The law, sounding disturbingly similar to Nazi Germany, will also force LGBTQ people to turn themselves in to the government for “rehabilitation.” The bill also says that families of LGBTQ people should turn in their loved ones to the government. To handle the wave of LGBTQ people being surrendered to the government, the bill insists that the government will have to create a new agency that will deal with…
A new wave of controversy has arrived as the town of Saint-Jean-de-Braye in France suspends its Sister City status with Tuchow, Poland over their anti-LGBT sentiments. But to truly understand this story, we have to look at the anti-gay policies that are over-taking Poland and endangering its LGBTQ citizens and visitors. By Keith Langston Poland Becomes More Conservative Poland, along with numerous other countries around the world, has actually regressed in recent years, becoming more and more conservative and nationalistic. One of the main political figures in Poland hyping anti-LGBTQ sentiment is politician Jarosław Kaczyński. He’s said things such as…
Back in 2017, California enacted a law, known as Assembly Bill 1887, that bars state-sponsored travel for state employees to any state that discriminates on the basis of sexuality and gender identity. One of the eleven states on that list is Texas, who has decided that it’s wrong and illegal to discriminate against states that discriminate against citizens. According to The Hill, Texas is claiming that California isn’t respecting their “religious beliefs” and (almost hilariously) claiming that California “demonstrates a disregard for the safety and well-being of Texas children.” The irony here is almost too much to handle. Conservatives regularly…