Since the election, I haven’t been sleeping much, and I know I’m not alone. When it became clear that Donald Trump—convicted felon, opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, and found liable of sexual abuse—had won the election, many queer people feared the worst. The Trevor Project reported a 700% increase in use of their crisis services by […]
Category: News
Posted inNews
LGBTQ+ rights: Where Trump and Vance stand
Following Donald Trump’s landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election, many people may be looking to his campaign speeches to understand his position on major issues such as LGBTQ rights. The Republican Party’s electoral promises in this area include cutting existing federal funding for gender-affirming care and restricting transgender students’ participation in sports. Yet as […]
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 inHistory
The dark history of ‘Witch’ as a weapon against LGBTQ+ women
Witch. We hear women called this all the time. Sometimes it’s meant as a substitute for the misogynist b word. But “witch” is not a benign slur to fling at women. The history of women being called witches is grim. Demonizing, torture and killing of women — particularly lesbians or women thought to be lesbians […]
Posted inTop Stories
Over 150 LGBTQ+ organizations release post-election shared solidarity statement
Following the results of the 2024 election, over 150 LGBTQ+ organizations released a shared statement about the future of LGBTQ+ rights and support. The organizations, including the National LGBTQ Task Force, PFLAG and GLAAD among dozens of regional organizations, state their commitment to continuing the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and freedom in the face of […]
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 inCommentary
What’s next for the LGBTQ+ movement?
This article originally appeared in the Washington Blade. Trump’s win requires us to organize, focus on protecting trans community These are frightening times for those of us on the target list of Project 2025, the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term that he secured in landslide fashion on Tuesday. Many of us are wondering how […]
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 inArts and Entertainment
LGBTQ+ pop stars usher in a new era
Across countries, socioeconomic classes, sexualities, and races, pop music has long been the sound of the masses. No matter where you go or who you talk to, people find commonality in the music of pop superstars. Icons like The Beatles and Michael Jackson are just as likely to be played at a Japanese bar as […]
Posted inTop Stories
Speak freely online: 8 cybersecurity tips for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC activists
As we approach the upcoming election, digital advocacy is more crucial than ever. For LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, who often face unique challenges in the political landscape, ensuring privacy and safety while advocating online is paramount. Due to the heightened risk of harassment and discrimination advocates face, cybersecurity is vital. Why is cybersecurity important? Robust […]
Posted inNews
What to know (and bring) as you head to the polls
With the election days away, it’s essential to make sure your vote is counted. LGBTQ+ voters in swing states could even have a significant impact. Here’s a simple guide to help you confirm your registration, locate your polling place and know your rights as a voter. 1. Check your registration status before heading to the […]
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 inTop Stories
LGBTQ+ voters in these four states could swing the 2024 presidential election
Polling data shows that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are running in a near-dead heat in four states – Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And as a scholar of LGBTQ+ politics, I suspect that LGBTQ+ voters could play an outsize role in these states and the race. So, how might LGBTQ+ voters swing these […]
Posted inHistory
The Lavender Scare: The case against homosexuals
Special to News is Out from the LGBT History Project. There is perhaps no more critical election in U.S. history than the one in which Americans vote Nov. 5. Vice President Kamala Harris has said repeatedly as she campaigns that former president Donald Trump poses a threat to democracy as well as to a myriad […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Activist Riki Wilchins tackles New York Times’s controversial coverage of trans issues
The New York Times’ trans coverage has been the subject of strong controversy for the last few years, with the newspaper itself making headlines for how its stories platformed anti-trans groups instead of real trans individuals. Author and trans activist Riki Wilchins set out to chronicle that phenomenon. In Wilchins’s new book, Bad Ink: How The […]
Posted inCommunity
Panel of LGBTQ+ experts highlights concerns over Project 2025
This week, News is Out hosted a live virtual panel event, “Project 2025: The Impact on the LGBTQ+ community. The event was moderated by Dana Piccoli from News Is Out and Christopher Kane, senior politics reporter at Washington Blade, provided a comprehensive overview of Project 2025. They were joined by special guests Chasten Buttigieg, Rep. […]
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 […]
Posted inSports
Exploring LGBTQ+ visibility in the WNBA: Players, partners and Pride
The WNBA finals were in full swing, and the lesbians were playing to win. In a stunning upset, the Minnesota Lynx team beat the New York Liberty 95-93 in overtime in game one of the WNBA finals on Oct. 10. It was a nail-biter as the Lynx flipped a 15-point deficit into an amazing turnaround […]
Posted inDigital Equity Lab
How local LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-ran media organizations are at risk, and what is being done to help
A 2023 report from Northwestern University found that local news deserts are occurring at an alarming rate. There are 204 counties in the United States without a local media outlet, and 228 U.S. counties are currently on a watch list for losing theirs out of 1,562 counties with only one local news source. This includes newspapers, […]
