In January 2023, La’Tasha Mayes, who is running unopposed for Pennsylvania’s 24th state house district, will join only a handful of openly LGBTQ elected officials in Harrisburg. She’ll also become the first out lesbian to serve in the General Assembly. Mayes grew up in West Philadelphia and went to college in Pittsburgh, where she has […]
Category: News
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Maggie Trevor for Cook County Board of Commissioners (9th District)
As part of News is Out’s Election 2022 coverage, we are looking at races all over the country and sharing campaigns of key LGBTQ+ candidates. Name: Maggie Trevor Office: Cook County Board of Commissioners (9th District) Bio: Trevor was born and raised in Rolling Meadows, where her parents were among the city’s original residents. In late 2014, […]
Posted inNews
The lessons of LGBTQ History Month
This article first appeared in Philadelphia Gay News and is republished with permission. Every year in October, we bring you stories from those who changed the trajectory of our community. From groups like Gay Liberation Front to people like Pauli Murray, it’s important to remember where we came from and to use the lessons of […]
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH Podcast sheds light on forgotten murders of gay men in Montreal
This article first appeared in Windy City Times and is republished with permission. When people ask about or Google the murders of gay men in Montreal in the ’90s, it all leads to the podcast “The Village: The Montreal Murders.” LGBTQ+-rights advocates encouraged me to listen to the podcast.
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Did “Bros” fail at the box office because it didn’t market to the LGTBQ+ community?
Believe it or not, you made it through another year. But wait, it’s not that time of year yet, right? There’s Halloween and Thanksgiving and, gee, something called the Midterm Elections to get through. If you don’t believe this columnist, turn on the Hallmark Channel. They’ve already started the holiday romantic comedy festival, and when […]
Posted inTop Stories
The Victory Fund is changing the game for LGBTQ+ candidates
Founded in 1991, Victory Fund and its non-profit arm, Victory Institute, have spent the last 30 years working to level the political playing field by supporting LGBTQ+ candidates for races all up and down the ballot. Currently, Victory Fund is supporting over 400 candidates, including key senate, mayoral and gubernatorial candidates. Annise Parker, the former […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Benefits for same-sex couples, Hayley Kiyoko pens a book 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 five things we’re excited about this week. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs changes policy for the […]
Posted inChangemakers
LGBTQ+ Changemakers: Alex Schmider
The LGBTQ+ Changemakers series features LGBTQ+ people all over the country who are making a difference through visibility and ingenuity. As director of transgender representation at GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), Alex Schmider is a force for good regarding trans stories on television and film. In addition to his pivotal work at GLAAD, […]
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ History Month is a celebration of community
As I write, it’s National Coming Out Day. Since 1988, this day in October has been a day of solidarity for those who have come out. It is also a hopeful, supportive, gentle opportunity for anyone in flux, transition or considering coming out. We all have coming out stories. It is important to voice them. […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: A Philly icon is honored, the Negroni sbagliato sensation 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 five things we’re excited about this week. State of Mexico legalizes same-sex marriage. With an overwhelming […]
Posted inNews
Asian Americans lead the fight against hate crimes in California
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two bills that address the unprecedented number of bias incidents and hate crimes in the state. Initially aimed to confront the rise of such cases against Asian American and Pacific Islanders, the laws will also aid in defense of LGBTQs, who have experienced a similar increase. It’s an example of the importance of allies and cooperation among victimized communities to provide the means to combat harassing comments and violent behavior spurred by racial/sexual slurs, conspiracy theories, and political rhetoric.
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Thousands take part in Chicago Marathon; non-binary participants noted
Thousands of individuals ran, walked, rode in wheelchairs and relied on other forms of movement as they took part in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon throughout the city on Oct. 9. And for the first
Posted inNews
Nat’l Coming Out Day presents unique challenges for communities of color
On the 34th anniversary of National Coming Out Day, LGBTQ people across the country honor the community and its fight for equality. But not everyone sees coming out as a celebration. “Coming out is not always the best option for persons of color who already — because of our pigment on top of our identity […]
Posted inNews
Combating misinformation and misconceptions about being intersex
“What does it mean to be intersex?” “What does intersex look like?” “How do intersex individuals fit into the larger LGBTQIA2S community?” These are some of the questions that the intersex advocacy organization interACT tackles on its website and outreach. Established in 2006, interACT uses “innovative legal and other strategies, to advocate for the human […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: A bisexual Nobel Prize winner, Velma comes out 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 five things we’re excited about this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQKHtdElMng Scooby-Doo’s Velma comes out in latest franchise release. […]
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Russian court sets Brittney Griner’s appeal date
Brittney Griner’s date in front of an appeals court has been set.
Posted inFrom Washington Blade
Slovenia legalizes marriage, adoption for same-sex couples
Slovenia has become the first country in Eastern Europe to legalize same-sex marriage and the adoption of minor children by same-sex couples. After considerable debate Tuesday in the Slovenian Parliament, 48 lawmakers passed legislation that guarantees the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Twenty-nine MPs opposed the legislation, while one abstained. This past July, the […]
Posted inOpinion
Support for LGBTQ+ journalism starts locally
Standing up in my highchair, peering over my dad’s shoulder, I was interested in what had his attention: the newspaper. I wanted his attention, but I was patient and curious. I wasn’t old enough to read yet, but I looked at the pictures and graphic images and reached for the comics. Back in the 1960s […]
Posted inFilm and Television
News is Good: Gay wrestling champ, “Bros” on the big screen 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 five things we’re excited about this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQIeBB9XMe8 Billy Eichner’s gay rom-com “Bros” hits theaters. The […]
Posted inFeatured
Why having LGBTQ+ people in office matters
Representation matters. It matters everywhere, from the actors people see in movies to the teachers who impart knowledge to the politicians who determine the laws that shape our lives. The results can be overwhelmingly beneficial, helping underrepresented people to connect with each other and reducing negative stereotypes. Few people can understand the aforementioned benefits better […]
