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.
Former Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico announce they are married. Congratulations to Mariana Varela and Fabiola Valentín, who shared the happy news with fans and followers on Instagram. The joint post says that after keeping their relationship private, they decided to share it publicly on their wedding day. The couple once competed against each other in Miss Grand International 2020.
Greenville, South Carolina LGBTQ+ community and allies speak out against censorship in the library system. A large crowd gathered at the Greenville County Council to speak out against a proposal brought by councilperson Joe Dill which would have banned all LGBTQ+ books from children’s sections of the county’s libraries. The proposal, which called for banning any books “promoting sexuality” and included books with LGBTQ+ themes, was ultimately voted down by the council, 9-3.
Doylestown, Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ youth center to expand. The Rainbow Room, which offers an “LGBTQIA youth program that provides a supportive and empowering environment for youth ages 14-21,” has received $630,000 in state funds. These funds will allow the center to expand operations in its current location and open a second location.
Megan Rapinoe to join California Hall of Fame. Soccer star Rapino is being honored with induction into the state’s Hall of Fame alongside fellow Olympian Peggy Fleming and LGBTQ+ ally and Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter. Rapinoe, captain of the National Women’s Soccer League team OL Reign in Seattle, was born and raised in Redding, CA.
A new queer romantic holiday film is coming in December. “Merry and Gay” is the fourth holiday film by director Christin Baker and stars Dia Frampton (“I Hate New Years) as a Broadway actress who returns to her small hometown to direct the annual Christmas pageant. The film also stars Andi René Christensen, who is the first nonbinary romantic lead in a holiday film, and Stella Parton. “Merry and Gay” will premiere Dec. 1 on the new streaming platform DIVABoxOffice.TV..
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