News is Good is a weekly column 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.
WNBA star Brittney Griner is released from Russian prison. After a long nine months, Griner is finally home. In February, Griner was arrested for cannabis oil possession by Russian authorities and was later sentenced to nine years in prison and ultimately sent to Russian penal colony. The Biden administration worked on a prisoner exchange to get Griner released, which finally happened this week. Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, has been a steadfast advocate for her release and celebrated with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden in a press conference held at the White House on Thursday. Welcome home, Brittney.
Respect for Marriage Act passes the House. With bipartisan support, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which will now go to President Biden for final approval. The RFMA will require that valid marriages be recognized regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.” Read more about the RFMA here.
Elliot Page shares the cover to his memoir, “Pageboy.” Actor Elliot Page’s memoir will be published by Flatiron Press/Macmillan June 6 and will detail his career and life, including coming out as queer and then as trans. The book’s cover was taken by famed photographer Catherine Opie, known for her images and collections of LGBTQ+ subjects.
Hallmark Channel’s first same-sex lead romance “The Holiday Sitter” debuts on Sunday. Starring actors Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa, “The Holiday Sitter” follows a gay bachelor Sam (Bennett) who is tasked with babysitting his niece and nephew at the holidays and calls on neighbor Jason (Krissa) to help when he gets in over his head. The film also has a mostly queer crew, including director Ali Liebert who has starred in several Hallmark Channel movies herself. You can catch “The Holiday Sitter” on Hallmark Channel, Sunday, Dec. 11.
Queer-owned auto garage ends up raising $870,000 for Club Q Victims and survivors. Good Judy Garage in Denver set up a fundraiser on Giving Tuesday with the goal of raising $5,000 to support Club Q victims families and survivors. They ended up raising nearly $900,000 instead. 100% of money raised will go to the Club Q Victims and Survivors Compassion Fund a subsidiary of The National Compassion Fund.
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