Our weekly column, News is Good, features 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.
“Bottoms” opens this weekend at a theater near you. After becoming the darling of the festival circuit, “Bottoms” makes its nationwide debut. In the critically acclaimed comedy, lesbian high schoolers PJ and Josie start a fight club to get closer to their cheerleader crushes. It works, but not exactly the way they expected.
LGBTQ+ sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson wins gold at the world championships. Richardson took home the top prize Aug. 21 in Budapest, Hungary, and broke a world championship record. Richardson, who could not compete in the 2022 Olympic Games, is a favorite to compete in 2026. Richardson told NBC Sports, “I’m not worried about the world anymore. I’ve seen the world be my friend; I’ve seen the world turn on me. But at the end of the day, I’ve always been with me.”
India is looking into helping police become better equipped to work with the LGBTQ+ community. As LGBTQ+ Indians await a decision from the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage, the Bombay High Court is asking for suggestions on how to make their police force more approachable and sensitive to LGBTQ+ citizens. This follows last year’s Madras High Court ruling ordering police to cease harassment of LGBTQ+ activists.
Hallmark Channel’s “Notes of Autumn” features a gay romance. The network known for their holiday movies and romances is once again bring a queer love story to the screen. “Notes of Autumn” features best friends Ellie and Leo, who do a “The Holiday” type swap and fall for love interests in their new surroundings. The film stars gay actors Luke Macfarlane (“Bros”) as Leo and Peter Porte (“Days of Our Lives”) as his love interest, Matt. “Notes of Autumn” debuts Sept. 16 on Hallmark Channel.