The National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference has kicked off in Las Vegas at the newly renovated Rio Hotel and Casino. The conference, which has been in existence in some form since 1988, brings over 3000 attendees together to build skills and organize for LGBTQ+ rights and issues. Task Force President Kierra Johnson […]
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 inTop Stories
Queer creators grapple with TikTok ban and Meta policy changes
Update: As of Jan. 15, it has been reported that the Biden administration is looking into ways to keep TikTok from shutting down in the United States. TikTok is currently scheduled to be banned in the U.S. as of Sunday, Jan. 19. Also as of reporting, the Supreme Court has not intervened or overturned the […]
Posted inNews
H.R. 28: House votes to ban trans women and girls from athletics
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 218-206 in favor of H.R.28 – Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025. The bill would ban transgender girls and women from participating in athletics at schools and institutions that receive federal funding, stating that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s […]
Posted inNews
What does Meta’s rollback on moderation and fact checking mean for the LGBTQ+ community?
LGBTQ+ leaders have criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to end third-party fact checking and content moderation on Facebook and Instagram posts. In the video released on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said the platform would move to a community notes form of content moderation, similar to Elon Musk’s X, which Meta claims will be “less prone to […]
Posted inTop Stories
Finding LGBTQ+ joy in challenging times: 5 reasons to cheer
It’s important not to lose sight of LGBTQ+ joy, especially when times get tough. Here are five queer reasons to cheer. Rep. Sarah McBride sworn in: Congratulations to McBride, who is officially the first out transgender member of the U.S. House of Representatives. McBride, who was formerly the first out trans Delaware state senator, was […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Queer and trans podcasts you may not know about yet – but should put in your listening roster
According to Statista, 59% of people aged 12-34 and 55% of people aged 35-55 listen to podcasts on a monthly basis. In fact, there’s a good chance that as you’re reading this, you’re listening to a podcast in the background. While there are several popular LGBTQ+-focused podcasts out there, like Getting Curious with Jonathan Van […]
Posted inNews
Lawmakers approve defense bill restricting gender-affirming care for military families
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the latest National Defense Authorization Act. The defense spending bill for 2025, which included a provision that would ban gender-affirming care for children of military service members, passed by a margin of 281 to 140, including support from 81 Democrats. Section 708 of […]
Posted inSports
LPGA and USGA new gender policies would exclude a majority of trans women players
This Thursday, Dec. 5, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) released updated gender guidelines for player eligibility. According to the new rules, only transgender women who “have not experienced any part of male puberty either beyond Tanner Stage 2 or after age 12 (whichever comes first)” are eligible to compete. Additionally, they must meet standards […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
10 more LGBTQ+ holiday films and where to find them
Last year we put out a list of 15 LGBTQ+ films and where to find them, and it’s been one of our most popular posts ever. That’s why we’re bringing you 10 more holiday films featuring LGBTQ+ characters and storylines and where you can watch them right now. The Holiday Club Written, directed, and starring […]
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Famm Connect is redefining networking for LGBTQ+ professionals
Famm Connect is turning the idea of professional networking on its head. Founded by queer married couple, Cat Perez (she/they) and Marianna Di Regolo (she/her) and designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community, this innovative platform prioritizes safety, intentionality, and meaningful connections over mass adoption. With its referral-only model and thoughtful features, Famm Connect is creating […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
The Holiday Club: A heartfelt friends-to-lovers film perfect for the season
The latest film by writer, director, and actor Alexandra Swarens offers a slow-burn, “will they or won’t they,” friends-to-lovers romance with The Holiday Club. Starring Swarens and Mak Shealy, the film takes viewers to small-town Ohio, where two women bond over disastrous holidays. Bailey (Swarens) is a kind bakery owner whose girlfriend shows little interest […]
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Speaker Mike Johnson bans trans people from using bathrooms matching their gender identity on Capitol Hill
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has officially banned elected transgender Congresswomen Sarah McBride and any trans staff from using a bathroom that doesn’t correspond with their assigned gender at birth. The ban comes just one day after the speaker told reporters, “I believe it’s a command we treat all persons with dignity and respect.” […]
Posted inNews
Rep. Nancy Mace introduces Capitol Hill bathroom bill days after first trans Congress member elected
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) proposed a resolution on Monday that would bar transgender people from using a bathroom that does not correspond with their gender assigned at birth. This would include Mace’s future colleague, the recently elected Sarah McBride of Delaware. McBride made history as the first openly transgender person to be elected to the […]
Posted inNews
How do Trump’s cabinet picks fare on LGBTQ+ issues?
In recent days, President-elect Donald Trump has been announcing his choices for U.S. Cabinet positions. Here’s a look at their track records on LGBTQ+ rights. Director Of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard Gabbard served as U.S. representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021 as a Democrat and was vice chair of the Democratic […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Chappell Roan, queer artists dominate Grammy nominations
The 2025 Grammy Award nominations have been announced, with queer artists front and center in categories like record of the year, album of the year, and song of the year. Chappell Roan, who recently performed a lesbian country song on “Saturday Night Live,” picked up six nominations: record of the year, album of the year, […]
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ candidates win key elections across the country, from federal to local races
While the nation reckons with the results of the 2024 presidential election, there were some positive gains for the LGBTQ+ community in the Senate, Congressional, statehouse and local races. Here are a few key wins. In one of the biggest LGBTQ+ wins of the election, Sarah McBride won her race to represent Delaware in the […]
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ voters share their voting experiences and candidates of choice
On this Election Day, we asked LGBTQ+ voters to share their experiences in voting, whether at the ballot box or through the mail, and why they chose the candidates who received their vote. We reached out to LGBTQ+ voters of all political affiliations. Robin C., 35, lives in a small town south of Oklahoma City […]
Posted inNews
VP Harris mentions Stonewall in her closing argument speech for President
Last night, a record-breaking 75,000 people gathered at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., to hear Vice President Kamala Harris’s closing remarks, with a week to go until Election Day. The Ellipse is the same spot where Donald Trump delivered his speech on Jan. 6, 2021. Harris, who spoke for nearly 30 minutes, once again shared […]
Posted inTop Stories
LGBTQ+ horror movies to watch this spooky season and beyond
While horror was never dead (or undead), it has certainly been making a comeback in recent years. Films like Longlegs, Terrifier, and The Substance have been cashing in at the box office. But what about queer horror? There are dozens of horror films where LGBTQ+ people aren’t just nameless victims to slashers or monsters. The […]
Posted inCommunity
HRC releases latest Congressional scorecards: Who scored the highest…and lowest?
This week, the Human Rights Campaign released its annual Congressional Scorecard. The scorecard is a tool used to assess the voting records of members of Congress on issues related to LGBTQ+ rights. It tracks how senators and representatives vote on key legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community, such as anti-discrimination protections and transgender rights. According to […]
