The William Way Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the country’s leading LGBTQ+ centers. Established in 1976, the center has served the LGBTQ+ community of Philadelphia and beyond with events, peer counseling, recovery meetings, initiatives for LGBTQ+ elders and much more. On March 5, the WWC was targeted by Libs of TikTok, accusing the […]
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
8 LGBTQ+ archives and how you can experience them
Preserving LGBTQ+ history is vital and thankfully, there are collections around the country that capture both the monumental and everyday moments of our past. These archives offer a glimpse into our lives and lay out a path for the battles that lie ahead for our community. Dr. John P. De Cecco Archives and Special Collections […]
Posted inNews
Over 350 civil rights groups and public figures seek removal of Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters in open letter
A coalition of over 350 LGBTQ, civil rights groups, and prominent public figures has issued a call for action following the tragic death of Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old gender-nonconforming student from Owasso, Oklahoma. An open letter addressed to the Oklahoma State Legislature calls for removing State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and investigating the […]
Posted inNews
Updates in Nex Benedict’s tragic death: Hospital footage, vigils and Owasso Police’s latest statements
It has now been two weeks since news of the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict gripped the nation. The high school student died Feb. 8, a day after they were assaulted by three female students in the bathroom at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. Last week, News is Out wrote about the incident and […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
“All of Us Strangers” “Anatomy of a Fall” lead the 2024 LGBTQ+ Dorian Awards
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ announced the winners of the 15th Dorian Film Awards. The Dorian Awards recognize excellence in film and are voted on by the 500 member strong organization of LGBTQ+ entertainment writers and professionals. Along with standard categories for film of the year and director, the Dorians recognize the best […]
Posted inNews
Seeking justice for Nex Benedict: The battle against misinformation and silence
Nonbinary teen Nex Benedict died Feb. 8, the day after being involved in a fight with three fellow high school students in Owasso, Oklahoma. That’s what we know to be true. The rest of Nex’s story has been a back-and-forth of misinformation, lack of transparency and confusion. Nex’s funeral was held on Feb. 15, and […]
Posted inScience
New report finds injectable PrEP could prevent 87% more new HIV cases than oral pills
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute recently released an update on a 2022 report highlighting the potential impact of long-acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) on HIV prevention. According to the findings conducted by RTI International, an independent nonprofit research institute, incorporating long-acting injectable PrEP could lead to an 87% increase in the number of HIV cases averted compared […]
Posted inCommunity
Largest U.S. survey of transgender individuals shows overwhelmingly positive results from gender affirming care
While transgender rights have become a key social issue for many Republicans in the leadup to the 2024 election season, a new study debunks a talking point that transgender people often regret transitioning. Early insights from the 2022 US Trans Survey have just been released and the results show a more positive picture of transgender […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
LGBTQ+ gamers find voice and visibility in historic GLAAD gaming report
If you are an LGBTQ+ gamer, you are far from alone. According to GLAAD’s first-ever report on the state of LGBTQ+ gaming, one in five gamers identifies as LGBTQ+. GLAAD partnered with Nielsen Games to gather information from LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ gamers about representation, demographics, spending power and more. “We cannot move what we do […]
Posted inCommunity
Empowering LGBTQ+ students: $10,000 grants available for schools from It Gets Better initiative
It Gets Better Project has launched the third year of its “50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices.” initiative, offering grants of up to $10,000 each to middle and high schools across the United States. These grants aim to support “projects that uplift, empower and support the well-being of local LGBTQ+ students.” This effort is supported […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
LGBTQ+ streaming services: Where to watch your favorite queer television and films
While many streaming channels feature content with LGBTQ+ characters and stories, what about queer content made for and by queer people? The following streaming channels offer LGBTQ+ content, centering the narratives of queer and transgender people and are run by LGBTQ+ business owners. Some channels are free, while others charge a fee to access their […]
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ rights are vastly different depending on state, finds new HRC State Equality Index report
2023 proved to be a record year in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, with close to 600 bills targeting the rights of queer and trans people brought to state governments nationwide. The momentum from 2023 has already carried into 2024. Here are some of the recent legislative actions so far in 2024. Ohio’s Senate overode Gov. Mike DeWine’s […]
Posted inCommunity
American Cancer Society report dedicates special section to LGBTQ+ health for the first time
The American Cancer Society recently released its “2024 Cancer Facts and Figures” report which for the first time, includes a special section dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. The new section addresses risk factors, comorbidities and unique challenges faced in receiving preventative care and additional stresses experienced by the community. According to the report, one in […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Ali Krieger shines in SELF, queer representation in Davos and more
Recently retired soccer star Ali Krieger gets her time to shine with a profile in SELF. Krieger, a National Women’s Soccer League champion and World Cup winner, made headlines in 2023 for her very public split from former NWSL player Ashlyn Harris. In a new in-depth profile in SELF, Krieger gets to share her story, […]
Posted inPolitics
11 LGBTQ+ candidates to watch in 2024
2022 was a historic election year, with a record-breaking 678 LGBTQ+ candidates running for office and more than half winning their races. Now, the 2024 election cycle is in full swing. While we don’t have a total number of 2024 LGBTQ+ candidates yet, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a “national organization dedicated to electing out LGBTQ+ […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: An LGBTQ+ rural art show, queer opera at Kennedy Center and more
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. Art show featuring LGBTQ+ artists of rural America to open in Breckenridge, […]
Posted inCommunity
Climate crisis hits LGBTQ+ havens: Stories from Fire Island, Rehoboth Beach and more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report last week that showed 2023 was the hottest year on record in their 117 years of collecting this information. Scorching heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, unprecedented flooding in New England and freezing temperatures pushing the limits of Texas’ energy infrastructure to the breaking point – […]
Posted inTop Stories
Millions in grant money available through the 2024 AARP Community Challenge
Since 2017, AARP has awarded over $13 million in grant money to organizations, government entities and individuals through its AARP Community Challenge. Applications for this year’s grant challenge are now officially open, and welcome ideas that center on older adults from small, short-term projects to large-scale opportunities. According to AARP, there are three types of […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: France’s new gay prime minister, SAPPH-O-RAMA in NYC and more
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. Gabriel Attal is France’s first out gay prime minister. Attal, 34, who […]
Posted inUncategorized
Being queer in nature: 10 groups for LGBTQ+ outdoor enthusiasts
“Me imperturbe, standing at ease in nature.” – Walt Whitman With the new year upon us, many people have resolved to get out and be with nature in 2024. While hiking, skiing and camping are fine solitary activities, there’s something to be said about finding your community in the great outdoors. These 10 outdoorsy LGBTQ+ […]