Transphobic British gender-critical activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull hastily abandoned her “Let Women Speak” event-rally in Auckland after thousands gathered to noisily protest her presence on Friday (local time.) Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, quickly departed from the planned Speak Up For Women NZ event at Albert Park in Auckland without addressing those gathered after being […]
Author Archives: Dana Piccoli
Dana Piccoli is an award winning writer, critic and the managing director of News is Out, a queer media collaborative.
Dana was named one of The Advocate Magazine’s 2019 Champions of Pride. She was also one of Curve Magazine’s 2017 Pridelist for her work in LGBTQ media. Dana is an inaugural recipient of the Curve Award for Excellence in Lesbian Coverage.
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Illinois House passes legislation allowing gender-neutral multiple-occupancy restrooms
CHICAGO Advocates celebrated passage by the Illinois House of legislation that will reduce barriers for businesses serving their communities and customers by allowing for the adoption of gender-neutral multiple-occupancy
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Outfest Fusion kicks off, Utah bans conversion therapy and more
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 a few things we’re excited about this week. Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff publishes new book […]
Posted inFrom Bay Area Reporter
Political Notes: Ahead of US Supreme Court ruling, study finds majority of Americans oppose LGBTQ discrimination
With legal pundits widely expecting the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a ruling this year allowing businesses to refuse to serve LGBTQ customers, a nationwide survey continues to find that a vast majority of Americans oppose such discrimination.
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Utah bans conversion therapy
On March 22, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill that bans licensed professionals from practicing conversion therapy the discredited practice that attempts to turn LGBTQ+ people heterosexual on minors, Q
Posted inFrom Philadelphia Gay News
Mayoral candidates stand in support of drag community
Eight Philadelphia mayoral candidates let their city know that they are not participating in the national war on drag performers. Drag queens Brittany Lynn and VinChelle brought drag performers from around the city together for a PGN photo op with the mayoral candidates at City Hall. Other performers in the March 21 photoshoot included Dominique […]
Posted inFrom Washington Blade
State Department releases 2022 human rights report
The State Department’s annual human rights report that was released on Monday details the prevalence of so-called conversion therapy and the treatment of intersex people around the world. The report notes LGBTQ and intersex rights groups in Kenya have “reported an increase in so-called conversion therapy and ‘corrective rape’ practices, including forced marriages, exorcisms, physical […]
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Uganda bans people from identifying as LGBTQ+
On March 21, Uganda’s parliament passed a law making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ+, Reuters reported. The development hands authorities broad powers to target LGBTQ+ Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence. In
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
UpRising Bakery and Cafe could soon close due to revenue losses, ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment
Award-winning UpRising Bakery and Café (UpRising) in Lake in the Hills faces possible closure March 31 after many months of revenue losses and ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment. This stems from the harassment owner Corinna Sac received when
Posted inFrom Philadelphia Gay News
City issues trans-affirming guidelines for employees
Celena Morrison called it “affirming” to have the City of Philadelphia put forth guidelines to support transgender city employees. Morrison, who has served as executive director for the Office of LGBT Affairs since 2020, is the first openly trans person to lead a government office. “I always say it is great when you have the […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
GLAAD’s 2022-2023 “Where We Are On TV” report shows some troubling trends
This morning, GLAAD released its annual “Where We Are On TV” report, which takes a deep dive into LGBTQ+ representation on primetime, cable and streaming networks. This year marks the 18th annual report GLAAD has conducted. The report is available to download in its entirety, but here are some highlights and areas of concern from […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: The Lammys announce finalists, celebrating the Queer Prairies and more
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 a few things we’re excited about this week. Theme of the 2023 Capital Pride celebration revealed. […]
Posted inFrom Washington Blade
Md. House of Delegates approves transgender rights bill
The Maryland House of Delegates on Saturday approved a bill that would require the state’s Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming treatment for transgender people. House Bill 283, or the Trans Health Equity Act, passed by a 93-37 vote margin. The measure now goes before the Maryland Senate. “Proud that the MD House of Delegates passed the […]
Posted inFrom Tagg Magazine
Stacey Stevenson is using her past for a brighter future for lll LGBTQ+ families
After experiencing discrimination from her parents, school, adoption agencies, and too many others, Stacey Stevenson has formed a happy family and found a home working for acceptance for all LGBTQ+ families like hers. Stevenson had what she calls “COVID clarity” in 2020, taking stock of what she really wanted out of life and ditching her […]
Posted inFrom Bay Area Reporter
Wiener bill would protect LGBTQ foster youth from non-affirming homes
A California lawmaker announced a bill Friday would limit the ability of prospective foster parents who aren’t affirming of LGBTQ youth identity to become resource families.
Posted inNews
Drag under attack: A roundup of the latest news
Drag performances, in particular drag story hours, are being targeted around the country. News is Out member publications have been have been covering this issue in depth. Here’s a roundup of the latest news, from protests to legislation. Note that not all of the pushback against drag is coming from traditionally conservative areas. Mayoral candidates […]
Posted inTop Stories
Spectacular Sydney WorldPride: LGBTQ+ event attracts visitors from around the world
Imagine a place where rainbow flags fly from every corner. Everything from the local dentist to the world-renowned art museum rolls out the rainbow carpet. A place where even the sharks donned their finest gay apparel. (More on that later.) This was the reality of Sydney WorldPride, which offered 17 days of celebrating the LGBTQ+ […]
Posted inFrom Tagg Magazine
Whitman-Walker Health’s Enterprising Women
Every year, Tagg Magazine‘s Enterprising Women spring issue features LGBTQ+ women making a difference in their communities and industries. We’ve profiled over 65 queer women from across the country. This year’s issue focuses on the enterprising women of Whitman-Walker Health, a non-profit organization offering affirming community-based health and wellness services to all with a special […]
Posted inFrom Windy City Times
Arkansas governor signs anti-trans medical malpractice bill
Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law a measure that makes it easier to sue providers of gender-affirming care for children, ABC News reported. This move, involving a law that will take effect this
Posted inFrom Washington Blade
Vt. school banned from state sports events for anti-transgender policies
A Christian school that chose to forfeit a girls’ basketball tournament game rather than play against a team with a transgender player has been banned from Vermont school sporting events, VTDigger reports. The Vermont Principals’ Association, which oversees school athletics in the state, said the Mid Vermont Christian School in Quechee will no longer be […]