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. Rebecca Blankenship makes history as Kentucky’s first out transgender […]
Author Archives: Dana Piccoli
Editor of News is Out
Out in the World: Kenyan police arrest four suspects in killing of gay activist
Police in Kenya have arrested four people in connection to the gruesome January 2 killing of gay fashion designer, model, and activist Edwin Chiloba.
Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame calls for nominations
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame has announced a call for nominations for the 2023 Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Those wishing to may nominate individuals, organizations, businesses, or “Friends of the Community,” up until April
Alameda County supervisors seek recount in flawed Oakland school contest, other ranked races
Alameda County supervisors voted Tuesday to seek a recount of the votes cast in an Oakland school board election where the certified winner, a transgender married dad, it turns out did not receive the most votes.
A Black, queer woman’s story of healing told through dance
We have all at some point questioned our identity. For some, particularly those at the intersection of multiple marganalized identities, the exploration of who you are or want to be can send you into a tailspin of exploration. Local playwright, choreographer, and producer, Sisi Reid is choosing to use dance to tell a story of Read More
Campaign finance complaint filed against George Santos
A complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission Monday by the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center alleges a wide scope of campaign finance law violations by openly gay freshman Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.) and his 2022 campaign committee, Devolder-Santos for Congress. Santos has been under fire for weeks after a series of exposés revealed the congressman Read More
Brittney Griner named 2022 Outsports Person of the Year
The LGBTQ+ sports website Outsports named WNBA star Brittney Griner as its 2022 Person of the Year. Some of the previous honorees include figure skater Adam Rippon, former NFL player Michael Sam, soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe
Exciting LGBTQ+ vacation ideas for group trips
The best-laid plans often involve the best of friends. Vacationing with friends and chosen family can be a welcome respite or a weeklong party – it’s up to you! Whether you are looking for a destination close to home or traveling to a far-away city, there are LGBTQ+-friendly options if you know where to look. […]
Gay GenZer wants to be youngest Va. state delegate
Zach Coltrain lives in two worlds. In one, he traverses the serene landscapes of Appalachian State University in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains — studying the use of music as a therapeutic intervention. In the other, he navigates the thorny world of politics in the neighboring state of Virginia, which saw a conservative shift after Read More
7 queer novels to read in 2023
With a fresh start of the year, comes the time to refresh your to-be-read list. Whether you love fantasy, contemporary, or horror, we’ve gathered the perfect list of LGBTQ+ books across a range of genres to add to your library. Primal Animals by Julia Lynn Rubin The sapphic YA novel sends readers to the Read More
Buttigieg faces selective outrage by Fox News after overseas trip
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed back on negative reporting this week by Fox News during an interview Thursday with Bret Baier, the network’s chief political anchor. Buttigieg was targeted for having traveled to The Hague in the Netherlands with his husband Chasten last spring aboard on a military aircraft to attend the Invictus Games; an Read More
Political Notes: For 1st time trio of gay men sworn in as San Francisco supervisors
With the swearing in Saturday of District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, there are now three gay men for the first time serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Upcoming podcast on multiracial identities to include LGBTQ voices
Many queer people are, unfortunately, familiar with the idea of having to hide part of their identity in certain spaces. This may be especially true for people with intersecting marginalized identities, like Black, Brown and mixed race queer people. LGBTQ+ people are often forced to conform to a world that is based on revealing part Read More
News is Good: Lesbian lumberjack, Miley and Dolly duet 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 five things we’re excited about this week. “Lesbian Lumberjack” is chopping up discarded Christmas trees for […]
Irish government to seek conversion therapy ban in 2023
The Irish government has committed to banning so-called conversion therapy in the country this year. The Irish Mirror newspaper reported Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Minister Roderic O’Gorman, who is openly gay, last month described conversion therapy as a”cruel process rooted in the promotion of shame.” O’Gorman also stressed “a process that seeks for somebody to change Read More
Sharply divided 11th Circuit upholds Fla. school district bathroom policy
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week ruled, in a 7-4 vote, that a Florida school district did not violate the U.S. Constitution nor federal civil rights laws by requiring students to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex as listed on their birth records. All seven judges in the majority were appointed Read More
Attacking queer culture
The right’s attack on drag is an attack on the whole LGBTQ community The Republican Party — and the Texas Legislature in particular — are waging an all-out attack on what is arguably one of the pillars of queer culture: Drag queens. Many anti-transgender bills have been introduced, most with the intent to stir up Read More
Meet Gisele Fetterman, bisexual wife of Pennsylvania’s incoming freshman senator
When the Washington Blade caught up with Gisele Barreto Fetterman this month, she was looking forward to some upcoming travel plans. First up is a trip to Washington in January to witness the swearing-in ceremony for her husband, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who was just elected to represent the Keystone State in the U.S. Read More
Gay man to lead SF immigrant affairs office
A gay man who is the son of Mexican immigrants has been hired to lead San Francisco’s office that oversees services and initiatives for immigrants and newcomers.
Stedfast Baptist kicked out again by landlord
Stedfast Baptist pastor Jonathan Shelley Homophobic church Stedfast Baptist is once again being forced to vacate leased premises, pastor Jonathan Shelley said in a video posted to YouTube on Sunday, Dec. 18. The church, known for its pastors’ hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ people, must get out of facilities at 6900 Denton Highway in Watauga by Read More