Arizona Republicans’ New Law Would Fire Teachers Who Discuss ‘Controversial’ Things, Like Politics
Arizona Republicans have introduced a bill (House Bill 2002) that would fire teachers for discussing “controversial” political, racial and religious messages, but it doesn’t say who gets to decide what’s “controversial.” Specifically, the text of the bill says, “Education in a democracy is best served by teaching students how to think, not…
D.C. May Soon Have America’s Toughest Conversion Therapy Ban
The D.C. Council approved two pro-LGBTQ bills and one “Sense of the Council” resolution yesterday. The first bill – the Conversion Therapy for Consumers Under a Conservatorship or Guardianship Amendment Act of 2018 – bans licensed mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy for “a consumer for whom a conservator or guardian…
University Removes Chick-fil-A As Dining Option, Citing Chain’s LGBTQ Stance
Rider University said its decision was “based on the company’s record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community.” Leaders of a New Jersey university removed Chick-fil-A as an option for a new restaurant on campus, citing the chain’s perceived position on LGBTQ issues. Rider University President…
4 States Could Soon Ban Conversion Therapy, Thanks to Newly Elected Democrats
Currently, 14 U.S. states have legal bans against so-called ex-gay or conversion therapy, but the “blue wave” of Democratic wins during the mid-term elections could increase that number by four or more. According to Into More, Colorado, New York, Maine and Massachusetts could all enact bans within the next year, as Democrats will fully…
Thinking About Having A Gay Wedding? Challenges Of Planning For That Special Day In A Conservative State.
Planning our gay wedding in Arizona gave my fiancé, Nick and I a big dose of nervousness. It is not a shocker or a big surprise that the beautiful, 48th state leans more on the conservative side of politics. Much of our hesitation was focused on how we were going…
The Rainbow Wave Has Arrived
Tuesday’s midterms saw more than 100 LGBTQ candidates elected. Tuesday was a day of historic firsts for our country. The “rainbow wave” that so many had hoped for seems to be here, with more than 100 LGBTQ candidates winning their races at the midterm elections. One of the biggest…
Trans Politician Says Her Gender Was a ‘Non-Issue’ in Election
Kathy Ottersten won a seat to the Fairbanks city council. (Kathy Ottersten/Facebook) Some LGBT politicians in the US midterm elections have faced scathing attacks aimed at their sexual orientation. But one trans politician, Kathy Ottersten, appears to be the exception to the rule. In the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, two transgender candidates were…
The 0.1 Percent: State lawmaker Sam Park looks to build a diverse coalition in Georgia
Sam Park is the first openly gay and first Asian-American man elected to Georgia’s state legislature. There are less than 600 known lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer elected officials in the U.S. — just 0.1 percent of all elected officials across the country — according to a recent report by the Victory…
“There’s a Real Threat Right Now.” Meet The Gay Activist Fighting for Equality in The Navajo Nation
Amid the chaos of the current political process in the United States, a new call for marriage equality rises. Alray Nelson, 32, and his boyfriend Brennen Yonnie, 33, want to get married. The problem: the two live on an Indian Reservation governed by the Navajo Nation. Despite the Supreme…
Trump Administration Seeks to Erase Transgender Americans by Defining Gender as Either Male or Female
The Trump administration is weighing significantly narrowing the definition of gender that would require individuals to identify either as male or female based on their genitalia at birth, a move that could roll back protections for transgender Americans, according to a memo from the Department of Health and Human Services…
Minnesota to Issue Nonbinary, Gender-Neutral Driver’s Licenses
Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, and D.C. have made similar inclusive moves. As part of its newly instituted REAL ID system, Minnesota will now permit drivers to apply for licenses that mark them as male, female, or nonbinary. Among the first to apply for a nonbinary license in Minnesota is J. Zappa, a…
GOP Lawmaker Used Ex-Girlfriend’s Nude Photos To Lure Men: Report
Republican state Rep. Nick Sauer (Illinois) is reportedly under investigation for publishing nude photos of his ex-girlfriend on a fake Instagram account to lure men into “graphic” discussions about sex, according to Politico. Kate Kelly made the accusation in an official complaint filed with the Illinois’s Office of the Legislative…