In honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, we’re celebrating trans individuals who have had an impact on making the world a better place for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. From the worlds of science and technology to art and activism, these 15 trans people have changed the way we view the world. Lorena Borjas […]
Category: News
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
Chicago video game developer seeks to increase Black queer representation
Dani LaLonders (she/they) vividly remembers when “Lizzie McGuire: On the Go” first came out on the Gameboy Advance in 2004, joking that she was “probably one of five people” who played the game. The Chicago-based creator holds fond memories of various video games that inspired her throughout her childhood. “I played a lot of girly […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Asha Santee is creating queer healing through art
Asha Santee has always had a creative spirit, but becoming a full-time artist was never her plan. She landed here by accident. After growing up in California and then Houston, she came to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University on a basketball scholarship. Her goal was to play professional basketball and she even tried out […]
Posted inCommentary
Democrats, including the LGBTQ+ community, must stick together to win
As we watch with revulsion what Republicans are doing, both in Congress and in state legislatures, it is clear the diverse members of the Democratic Party must stick together if we are to have any chance of winning in 2024. To do that will require us to understand, and accept, that in 2024 it will […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Outfest Fusion kicks off, Utah bans conversion therapy and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff publishes new book […]
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
Roadwork reflects on its herstory to plan its future
In 1978, amid the second wave of feminism in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade, Roadwork – a multiracial coalition – put women’s art, particularly that of women of color, on the road. Building the roads where they didn’t already exist, Roadwork created an intersection of opportunity and social change, wherein artists from diverse backgrounds […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
GLAAD’s 2022-2023 “Where We Are On TV” report shows some troubling trends
This morning, GLAAD released its annual “Where We Are On TV” report, which takes a deep dive into LGBTQ+ representation on primetime, cable and streaming networks. This year marks the 18th annual report GLAAD has conducted. The report is available to download in its entirety, but here are some highlights and areas of concern from […]
Posted inTop Stories
A call for activists
When I moved to Dallas in 1992, I volunteered for several nonprofit organizations: I stacked food on the AIDS Resource Center food pantry shelves. I was an HIV counselor at the Nelson Teredo Community Clinic. I created four monthly newsletters. I sat on the boards of the Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance, Couples Metro Dallas […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: The Lammys announce finalists, celebrating the Queer Prairies and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Theme of the 2023 Capital Pride celebration revealed. […]
Posted inNews
Valley Youth House works to mitigate homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth of color
The Pennsylvania housing and youth resource organization Valley Youth House provides multiple programs that mitigate youth homelessness, including for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color. Valley Youth House began in 1973 by offering one youth shelter in the Lehigh Valley. Now, 50 years later, the organization offers a wealth of programs across 14 counties in […]
Posted inNews
Drag under attack: A roundup of the latest news
Drag performances, in particular drag story hours, are being targeted around the country. News is Out member publications have been have been covering this issue in depth. Here’s a roundup of the latest news, from protests to legislation. Note that not all of the pushback against drag is coming from traditionally conservative areas. Mayoral candidates […]
Posted inTop Stories
Spectacular Sydney WorldPride: LGBTQ+ event attracts visitors from around the world
Imagine a place where rainbow flags fly from every corner. Everything from the local dentist to the world-renowned art museum rolls out the rainbow carpet. A place where even the sharks donned their finest gay apparel. (More on that later.) This was the reality of Sydney WorldPride, which offered 17 days of celebrating the LGBTQ+ […]
Posted inTop Stories
Robert Moses Kin: Bootstraps Initiative connects choreography and community
For more than 25 years, Robert Moses has been a powerful force in the Bay Area arts community. His choreographic work for his own San Francisco-based troupe, Robert Moses Kin (RMK), and companies worldwide has attracted both praise and controversy, as it often deals with subjects such as race, identity, social justice and power. Beyond […]
Posted inTop Stories
Gay creative Dwight Allen O’Neal is making big things happen on social media and beyond
What does it mean for someone to make a difference in their community? While the first thought may be community service and fundraising, in the age of social media, the phrase means so much more. It means using their influence and voice. Dwight Allen O’Neal is the first person that comes to mind as I […]
Posted inTop Stories
In praise of Drag Story Hour
Drag Story Hours have really come to the fore in our political consciousness in the last few years, as the radical right has strategically targeted events raising the visibility of individuals who are gender-nonconforming, transgender or nonbinary. I’m glad to say I’ve been to a Drag Story Hour (DSH). It was a joyous, but innocuous-seeming […]
Posted inTop Stories
News is Good: MN Gov. Tim Walz signs protection bill, “Yellowjackets” twists and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Those seeking gender affirming care are now protected […]
Posted inBIPOC LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight
Elijah McKinnon: A Chicago creative talks about Open Television and intersectionality
Elijah McKinnon (they/them/their) is definitely marching to the beat of their own drummer—and many people are benefiting from this individual’s vision.
Posted inTop Stories
Acknowledging queer women during Women’s History Month
They say history is told by the victors, and history in the United States is told from the perspective of white, cisgender, straight men. Our schools teach this narrative but then take the opportunity during certain months to tell the history of “the other,” showing that we are not the ones whose history is the […]
Posted inTop Stories
News is Good: MI Dems work to protect LGBTQ+ rights, “The Honeys” to become a film and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Michigan senate votes to expand LGBTQ protections. The Democrat-led […]
Posted inTop Stories
Camille Ora-Nicole is revolutionizing the queer media industry one day at a time
Changing the world is a lofty goal, but for Camille Ora-Nicole, change is a necessity. The California-based designer, producer and artist has their eye set on building a queer media empire that empowers creatives to thrive in a way that’s almost unheard of today. The vehicle for this change? The Queer 26, a media non-profit […]
