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.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes bill banning gender-affirming care. After Assembly Bill 465 passed the Wisconsin State Legislature and landed on Evers’ desk, Evers used his power to veto the bill. Evers released a statement saying he objected to restricting physicians and parents from making life-saving health care decisions. He also objected to the anti-LGBTQ+ nature of the bill. “Further, and especially important to me personally, I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the Legislature’s ongoing efforts to manufacture and perpetuate false, hateful, and discriminatory anti-LGBTQ policies and rhetoric in our state,” said Evers.
Provincetown artists release a holiday album. “Provincetown Follies: Holly Folly at The Crown” is a recently released collection of 13 “queerly-reimagined” holiday tunes by popular Provincetown, Massachusetts artists including Tina Burner, Jon Richardson and Zoë Lewis. Sponsored by The Crown & Anchor entertainment complex in P-town, album and cover art purchases support the Provincetown Performing Arts Fund.
Central Bucks School District reverses anti-LGBTQ+ policies under new leadership. Board president Karen Smith and the newly elected Democratic majority of the school board in a town in Pennsylvania made quick work of reversing the anti-LGBTQ+ policies set by the previous board, which drew national attention. This includes reversing a ban on books with LGBTQ+ material under the guise of “sexualized content,” allowing transgender students to participate in athletics and allowing the display of Pride flags on campuses.
Sundance Film Festival unveils 2024 slate including several LGBTQ+ selections. This is the 40th anniversary of Sundance, which opens Jan. 18. This year’s slate includes over a dozen LGBTQ+ focused projects, including the Kristen Stewart/Katy M. O’Brian queer wresting drama, “Love Lies Bleeding,” “Layla,” a story about an Arab drag queen falling in love for the first time and a documentary about artist Frida Kahlo.