Studies have shown lesbian women make around 9% more than straight women. And in the U.S. the disparity is even larger at 20%. This phenomenon was broken down in a viral TikTok from creator Aria Velz who analyzed multiple studies to try and find the answer. Velz points out that lesbians are oftentimes more educated than straight women, but they are also less likely to “have children, live more predominantly in cities, and have more professional jobs.” However, Velz goes on to explain that even when those factors are controlled, lesbians are still earning more than straight women. Her explanation?…
Author: Lauren Mulvey
Studying at university can be time consuming and expensive, so it’s important to feel comfortable, accepted and supported at the school you select. There are Liberal Arts universities around the country known to be inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly, but a few of them consistently show up in the ranks of best LGBTQ+-friendly in the U.S. These schools are typically selected based on academic programing, student social support services, LGBTQ+ campus populations and more. Here are eight of the most-welcoming in the U.S.A. University of Washington Equipped with gender-neutral restrooms, LGBTQ+ student networks and organizations, and access to change your gender…
Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana told the BBC it’s time the country moves toward LGBTQ+ acceptance as Ghanaian Parliament begins discussing a bill imposing harsh penalties on the community. Turkson has spoken out in favor of accepting the LGBTQ community, a view which is in opposition to Roman Catholic bishops in Ghana who deem homosexuality “despicable,” according to BBC. Turkson is Ghana’s top Catholic priest and first-ever Ghanaian cardinal appointed by Pope John Paul II. And though he maintains his opposition toward same-sex marriage, he doesn’t think homosexuality itself should be criminalized. “It’s time to begin education, to help people…
A senior UN official has announced that anti-LGBTQ laws are impeding the fight against AIDS by preventing people from accessing lifesaving health services. According to The Guardian, currently 67 countries have laws that criminalize gay sex, nearly half of which are in Africa “the continent most affected by HIV” where prevalence rates for the virus are five times higher than in countries where same-sex relations are legal. Though much of the world is making slow progress in expanding LGBTQ+ rights, African countries are putting down harsh legislation in the opposite direction. This year Uganda made gay sex a crime punishable…
After taking strides toward including the LGBTQ+ community over the past few months, the Pope has officially approved the blessings of same-sex marriages in the Catholic church. The church began conversations to consider the approval of these blessings back in October when a document was released detailing the pope’s responses to questions posed by cardinals on same-sex marriage. Francis’ letter detailed that marriage is between a man a woman by Catholic definition, but addresses questions from the cardinals’ on gay unions saying “pastoral charity” requires patience and understanding that regardless, priests cannot become judges “who only deny, reject and exclude.” …
This year has been challenging for LGBTQ+ people around the world, but some countries have been making slow progress for their queer communities. We’re recapping some of the best LGBTQ wins around the globe for 2023. Though much of the western world has legalized same-sex marriage, there remain a great deal of hateful policies and rhetoric circulating in political and social spheres. Hundreds of laws have been put in place to limit the freedoms of LGBTQ+ people, making hypocrites of the countries which claim to embrace freedom and equality for all. Upward movement has been seen most prominently in the…
Thailand has taken another stride toward LGBTQ+ equality after the country’s Cabinet approved an amendment to its civil code to officially recognize same-sex marriage. Deputy government spokesperson, Karom Polpornklang, said the amendment with the Civial and Commercial Code will change the words “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and “marriage partners,” allowing same-sex couples to be able to receive the same rights as hetero couples, according to AP News. The draft for the amendment is expected to be submitted to the Thai Parliament next month. Thailand has been slowly moving toward becoming the first Southeast Asian country…
A Republican politician in Florida wants to expand the oppressive “Don’t Say Gay” law that currently pervades the Florida educational system into the workplace. In late November, state Rep. Ryan Chamberlin introduced the bill which would ban government employees from changing their pronouns and also ban their co-workers from being required to use their preferred pronouns. The bill, HB 599, would also ban the penalization of employees on the “basis of deeply held religious or biology-based beliefs.” And if that wasn’t enough, it would also prevent nonprofits or employers receiving state funds from requiring employees to undergo training on matters of…
Police in Russia began raiding gay bars on Friday night after the top court approved a ban on the worldwide LGBTQ+ movement. So what does it even mean to ban a movement? The Supreme Court in Russia has officially classified the LGBTQ+ movement as an “extremist organization,” according to Time, and has banned any activism or advocacy for the rights of queer individuals. The court ruling was decided in response to a lawsuit filed by Russia’s Justice Ministry. In a statement released before the final decision, the ministry accused the LGBTQ+ movement of indicating “various signs and manifestations of extremism,…
Thousands of people participated in a pride event in New Delhi, India on Sunday after the country’s Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage. According to AP, “dancing to drums and music, the participants walked for more than two hours to the Jantar Mantar area near India’s Parliament. They held banners reading “Equality For All,” “Pride Not Prejudice,” and “Queer And Proud,” and walked with a shroud of rainbow balloons arching over them. The Supreme Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage claiming that it was ultimately Parliament’s responsibility to make the law. Prior to the decision, the Supreme Court saw 21…
The Ministry of Justice in Russia recently filed a lawsuit with their Supreme Court to outlaw the international LGBTQ+ movement, labeling it as “extremist.” The move follows decades long hostility from the Russian government toward the LGBTQ+ community, and years of limitations on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia. According to Al Jazeera, President Vladimir Putin has “put ‘traditional family values’ at the cornerstone of his rule.” Putin continues to exercise a tyrannical rule with many conservative laws limiting the freedoms of many of that country’s people. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country has doubled down on left-leaning groups and…
The Church of England has agreed to bless same-sex marriages after a narrow vote by the organization’s ruling body, the General Synod. The plan will allow standalone services for same-sex couples to receive blessings for their marriages. However, the bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, claims the services would be voluntary and no member of the clergy would be forced to perform such services. In just a few short weeks, queer Christians will be able to have a special service held on Saturdays to bless their unions. According to The Guardian “The proposal for standalone services on a trial basis came in…
The American Community Survey from 2022 indicated same-sex couples are more likely to be interracial than their opposite-sex counterparts. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the American Community Survey each year to measure economic, social, housing, and demographic data from the American public. The survey, which assesses both married and unmarried couples, found that approximately 31% of same-sex couples in the U.S. are interracial while just 19% of opposite-sex couples belong to different races. Though there could be many reasons for this phenomenon, it’s easy to see that those who have been marginalized for their race and those who have been marginalized…
The Supreme Court has blocked a Florida bill that banned family-friendly drag performances. The bill, passed earlier this year, attempted to put limits on drag performance art by barring children from being present at drag shows and events. It was challenged by a popular restaurant chain, Hamburger Mary’s, in May when they sued the state claiming the law violated First Amendment rights. In June, a federal judge blocked the law calling it “dangerously susceptible to standardless, overbroad enforcement.” Many laws passed by Ron DeSantis have been blocked for their violation of constitutional rights. Perhaps the most infamous is the “Stop-WOKE”…
Vancouver has long been a hub for art, culture, and cuisine, attracting people from all around the world. Passport explored some of the city’s best eateries, LGBTQ+ owned and operated businesses, accommodations, and cultural activities to find out which spots you should add to your must-visit list when heading for Vancouver, Canada. Those who are looking for delectable delights will find plenty at Kouign Café helmed by gay celebrity pastry chef Andrew Han. Here Asian and European pastries fuse for sweet and savory texture-rich creations that you certainly can’t find anywhere else. A shift from day to night could take…
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has expressed concern for the increasingly prevalent anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the United States. The UNHRC is responsible for the review of human rights records of countries that signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), an international human rights treaty. Participating countries in the ICCPR opt to submit themselves for review of human rights policies and practices every four years. According to the ACLU, “The ICCPR obligates countries that have ratified the treaty to protect and preserve basic human rights, such as: the right to life and human dignity; equality before…
Recent news from the Vatican indicates that transgender people can now be baptized and become official godparents. According to the NYT, Pope Francis, who has advocated for LGBTQ+ tolerance throughout his papacy, has officially announced the practice of baptizing transgender people, a move which will likely anger conservative Catholics internationally. Not only can transgender people be baptized, but they can also serve as official godparents and be witnesses at church weddings. However, the Vatican stated transgender people can be baptized within the church so long as it doesn’t create “public scandal or confusion among the faithful.” This decision was revealed in…
A new report has found that the U.K. is one of the most transphobic countries in the world. The results come from advocacy group Transgender Europe’s (TGEU) 2023 edition of the Trans Rights Map, which analyzes the policies impacting trans people across 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia on a color coded map. According to Them, the rankings use 30 indicators across six categories including legal gender recognition, asylum, hate speech/crime, non-discrimination, health, and family. Out of thirty points, the U.K. received just 14.25. The highest ranking country, Iceland, received 26 points. Though the U.K. has a large population…
President Joe Biden dropped Uganda and three other African countries from a major trade pact on Monday due to “gross violations” of human rights. The exclusion from the trade pact follows anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed earlier this year in Uganda. In May, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni making gay sex a criminal offense. The bill was backed by 389 of 389 members of parliament. In addition, the law also makes “aggravated” homosexual acts punishable by death, while consensual relations can earn you life in prison. The bill has been called the “Kill the Gays” law…
All nine LGBTQ+ candidates backed by the Victory Fund won state legislature seats in Virginia according the organization. One victorious candidate, Danica Roem, will become the first transgender state senator in the South. Other notable wins include Joshua Cole of District 65, a spot which flips the House of Delegates back to pro-equality majority. In the Senate, Adam Ebbin was reelected. Candidates Laura Jane Cohen, Adele McClure and Rozia Henson all won seats in the House of Delegates alongside incumbents Marcia Price, Mark Sickles, Kelly Convirs-Fowler. These victories in Virginia are essential in checking the power of Republican Gov. Glenn…
Asexuality and aromanticism are two different identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. Though they have been found to be slightly less common than other identities, it’s important to understand the difference between them and the nuances of identifying as ace or aromantic. The LGBTQIA+ spectrum covers a wide range of sexualities and gender identities, and because everyone is different, everyone experiences their own sexuality or gender identity in a unique way. There is really no umbrella definition for these identities, learning the general concepts behind them can help us to have compassion and understanding for those with differing identities from our…
This year, trans rights have been rejected and questioned incessantly by conservative state legislatures. A major point of conflict has been gender-affirming care which spans various forms of health care that aid trans people in their physical transitions. These include puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender-affirming surgeries. It is important to note that these medical treatments have only been made illegal in the case that they are performed on or prescribed to those wishing to transition. In 2023, 22 states introduced bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors and adults, laws which create great suffering in the lives of trans…
A recent study from the Cultural Currents Institute found that Google searches for questions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity have surged over the past 20 years. Searches for questions like “Am I lesbian?” and “Am I gay?” have increased by up to 1300%. Other common searches include “Am I trans?” and “How to come out.” The Cultural Currents Institute, an organization studying trends in public opinion, collected Google Trends data between January 2004 and present day across all 50 states to render its findings. Data by state found that Utah ranks highest for the most number of questions like…
Thailand may become the first southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the government would submit a new bill for cabinet review on Oct. 31. The bill would officially legalize same-sex marriage throughout Thailand, according to Bloomberg. Currently in Thailand same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are granted the same rights, however, only heterosexual couples can get legal recognition for their marriages. Prime Minister Thavisin is hopeful that the new bill will spread equality in Thailand. According to eTurbo News Thavisin said “I see this (bill) as important in order for society to be more…
One of the most homophobic and transphobic practices that is still legal around the world today is conversion therapy, a dangerous intervention that attempts to curtail the exploration and implementation of sexual and gender identity in one’s life. The practices associated with conversion therapy, which are often harmful to physical and mental health, have been condemned by mental health and medical practitioners for years. The practice is used as an attempt to force heterosexuality on queer-identifying people, but primarily queer youth. According to a 2023 report from Statista, conversion therapy has thus far been outlawed in many countries around the…
A top court in Japan has ruled that mandatory sterilization of people seeking to change their gender is unconstitutional. The court decision follows reports from several international human rights organizations that the requirement was discriminatory and infringed upon human rights. These organizations included the United Nations and Association for Transgender Health. Prior to the court decision, Japanese law required that those seeking to transition must present a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and meet five core requirements, including: being at least 18 years of age, not being married, not having underage children, having genital organs that resemble those of the opposite…
New House Speaker Mike Johnson (R -LA) has been outspokenly anti-LGBTQ+ for years before he took the head honcho seat, but according to recent reports he claims he doesn’t remember his homophobic comments. Johnson has a deep history of homophobia, transphobia and hatefulness toward the LGBTQ+ community in general. He served as a senior attorney and national media spokesman for an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom. Under this role, Johnson filed lawsuits challenging same-sex marriage, adoption rights, and marital benefits. As an evangelical Christian, Johnson has directly spoken out against LGBTQ+ people on several occasions. According to the NYT,…
A mission to create the first LGBTQ+ museum in Massachusetts has begun after art curator, Jean Dolin, founded the Boston LGBTQ+ Museum of Art, History and Culture, a nonprofit organization which awaits funding to bring this vision to life. Dolin moved to Boston from Haiti 11 years ago and noticed a lack of LGBTQ+ representation in the Boston art world that motivated him to act. He curated an LGBTQ+ exhibition in Boston that received international attention for LGBTQ+ History month in October of 2022. The exhibition entitled “Portraits of Pride,” displayed in Boston Common, featured 8-foot portraits of local LGBTQ+ leaders.…
Though more than five states have posed a big threat to the LGBTQ+ community in recent years, some are more menacing than others. States like Florida and Texas are unrelenting as they pass laws targeting queer people. Conservative politicians seem to have undermining the rights of LGBTQ+ people at the top of their political agendas, ahead of any laws or programs that might actually benefit the populations of their states. Here’s why these five states are the biggest threat to the LGBTQ+ community. Florida A paradoxical state, Florida is likely one of the most unsafe states for LGBTQ+ in terms…
A recent court settlement in favor of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) will require Georgia to pay state employees’ gender-affirming care. According to Them, “the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) will now cover gender-affirming care for all state employees, their spouses, and any dependents, effective immediately.” Under this settlement, insurance companies like United and Anthem can no longer exclude “sex-change” or “sex transformation” surgeries from their covered care. The plaintiffs involved in the case also received a settlement of $365,000 along with partial coverage of their legal fees. Three transgender state employees, Micha Rich, Benjamin Johnson…