By Sophie Nieto-Munoz While other states pass bans on transgender health care, New Jersey will be a “safe haven” for those seeking gender-affirming care, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday. Murphy signed an executive order Tuesday directing all state departments and agencies to protect those providing or receiving gender-affirming health care services. Under the order, state officials will […]
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Election 2023: Johnson defeats Vallas and LGBTQ+ Council representation to increase
Cook County Commissioner and educator Brandon Johnson narrowly defeated former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas on April 4 in a close race to become Chicago’s 57th mayor, with Johnson capturing (as of publication) about 51.48
Record number of LGBTQ+ elected officials now serve in the U.S.
Washington, DC LGBTQ+ Victory Institute released "Leading Out Loud: Growing LGBTQ+ Political Representation," a new report tracking increases in LGBTQ+ representation in government over the past five years. The release of the report is part
India prepares for marriage equality ruling
The world’s largest democracy is at the crossroad of monumental change. India’s more than 2.5 million LGBTQ and intersex people are looking at the country’s Supreme Court with great hopes because it will hold another hearing on marriage equality on April 18. The five justices on March 13 heard the issue. The Supreme Court last […]
Conservatives look to BookLooks for help banning books
The Central Bucks School District has been a hotbed of controversy for the last couple of years, in part because conservative administrators, members of its board, and people from the community keep trying to ban an increasing number of books they find objectionable. Last year, administrators put forward five books to be reviewed for possible […]
Bill would prohibit discrimination in the military, protect trans service members
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced legislation today that would prohibit discrimination in the military and protect transgender service members. The Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act, commonly
Youth march for trans rights in SF
Young people took to the streets Saturday, March 25, for a Youth 4 Trans Liberation March, which started at Turk and Taylor streets in the Tenderloin and ended outside San Francisco City Hall.
D.C. Trans Pride: An Event By and For the Trans Community
Trans Pride is set to return to the Washington, D.C. area May 19 and 20, 2023. Planning for this year’s program is underway, led by community members who were once a part of a local Pride organization and are now looking to branch out on their own to create a stand-alone program for the trans, […]
LGBTQ Agenda: Half of trans youth may lose access to affirming care, HRC says
Just over half of trans American youth ages 13-17 have lost or could soon face barriers to gender-affirming care, according to a report from the national Human Rights Campaign.
Trans Day of Visibility events set for Philly, Harrisburg
In the continued fight for trans lives, trans equality and trans visibility, organizers in Philadelphia and around Pennsylvania are holding events for International Trans Day of Visibility on March 31. Philly Trans March (PTM) will host Rise for Trans Lives: a TDOV demonstration at City Hall on March 31 at 6 p.m. PTM and participants […]
Chicago Blackhawks mark Pride Night, with one change
The Chicago Blackhawks organization again hosted its annual Pride Night celebration, in partnership with BMO, on March 26, as the team took on the Vancouver Canucks. (The Canucks prevailed 4-2.) As media outlets previously reported, the
EXCLUSIVE: First Gen Z congressman demands action on LGBTQ rights, gun control
U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.) during an exclusive interview with the Washington Blade on March 24 called for President Joe Biden to “speak out about” the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country. The congressman said the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education “should be heavily involved in investigating what’s going on in Florida […]
ALA: 2022 saw record demand of censorship of library books
On March 22, the American Library Association (ALA) released new data documenting 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022 the highest number of attempted book bans since the ALA began compiling data about censorship
Transgender activists, allies in New Zealand shut down British TERF
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 […]
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
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.
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
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 […]
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 […]
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
