Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, featuring 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.
A “Rainbow Wave” for the midterms. In a positive turn of events, the midterms were a huge success for LGBTQ+ candidates. According to Victory Fund, a PAC that supports and trains LGBTQ+ candidates, over 340 queer and transgender candidates won their elections, including huge gubernatorial wins for Maura Healey (Massachusetts) and Tina Kotek (Oregon).
Rebel Wilson welcomes a baby girl. The actor/comedian announced the birth of her daughter via surrogate this week. Royce Lillian is Wilson’s first child. This summer, Wilson came out about her relationship with fashion designer Ramona Agruma after a request for comment by The Sydney Morning Herald. The situation was followed by a discourse on outings and a public apology by columnist Andrew Hornery.
Portland Queer Film Festival is back! After a two year hiatus, Portland’s Queer Film Festival returns Nov. 15 – 20. The fest, celebrating its 24th anniversary, will screen nearly a dozen documentaries and narrative entries, including “You Can Live Forever” and “The Inspection.” Passes and individual tickets are available now.
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau visits “Canada’s Drag Race.” Start your engines because Trudeau will be the first head of state or world leader to be a guest on the popular RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise. “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. The World” also features familiar faces from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and its international spinoffs, including Ra’Jah O’Hara, Silky Nutmeg Ganache and Vanity Milan. The new season kicks off Nov. 18 on WOW Presents Plus.
First transgender woman crowned a Miss America local titleholder. College student Brían Nguyen is the first transgender woman to win a local Miss America competition, taking first place in Miss Greater Derry. Nguyen will go on to compete for the title of Miss New Hampshire in the spring.
Do you have good news you want to share with us? Email our team at newsisout@localmedia.org.