For generations, LGBTQ+ bars have been more than nightlife: they’ve been sanctuaries. Over vodka sodas and jukebox tunes, they offered connection, safety, and visibility during times where simply existing as a queer or transgender person could be dangerous. Yet, like so much of queer history, the stories of these bars often fade when the lights […]
Category: Top Stories
Posted inCommunity
The need to preserve LGBTQ+ histories of rural America
Special to News is Out from Philadelphia Gay News “People think of big cities when they think about the LGBTQ community because it’s just more visible there,” said Barry Loveland, co-founder of the LGBT Center of Central PA History Project, explaining that it’s often easier to find and document the stories of queer urban pasts. “The more rural […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
Nashville artist Sydnee Conley steps into her own story with “Heather”
At 27, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sydnee Conley is stepping into the spotlight on her own terms. The queer artist, who uses she/her pronouns, has been writing for others in Music City for years. Now, she’s channeling her talent and perspective into her own music, starting with her newest single, “Heather.” The song’s promotion instantly caught attention […]
Posted inTop Stories
From silence to action: Day of Silence co-founder vows ‘We’re not going anywhere’
Special to News is Out from Philadelphia Gay News Maria Pulzetti said many folks will tell her that their first exposure to LGBTQ+ activism was in middle school or high school, through the national youth movement known as Day of Silence. However, these same folks do not realize a key detail about the annual event […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
24 modern queer and trans horror films you can watch this spooky season
Queer horror has given us bloodsuckers, ghosts, killers, and plenty of twists over the last 15 years. These films center LGBTQ+ characters in stories of survival, desire, and of course, fear. These films have also stepped away from negative tropes that once dominated horror films, highlighting queer “final girls” (of all genders) and not punishing […]
Posted inTop Stories
U.S. monuments that tell LGBTQ+ history
Public memory matters, and for LGBTQ+ communities, monuments have long lagged behind. But in recent decades, visible landmarks have begun to claim space in cities across the country. These sites do more than decorate: they insist our stories belong in public record and place. Below is a tour of notable LGBTQ+ monuments and memorials in […]
Posted inTop Stories
AI-driven therapy apps bring relief, concerns in addressing queer mental health
How bots are changing the therapeutic scene, for better and worse.
Posted inTop Stories
Report warns restrictive laws are putting LGBTQ+ youth health and safety at risk
An independent think tank, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), released a report on the state of LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. and the impact of policy on their lives. In partnership with Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE), Advocates for Youth, Equality Federation, GLSEN, PFLAG National, and The Trevor Project, the report examines the rise of […]
Posted inTop Stories
Undead Voice founder Nicole Gress is rewriting the rules of trans voice training
When Nicole Gress left traditional medical settings, she wasn’t walking away from her profession: she was walking toward a new model of care. A trained speech-language pathologist, Gress, who uses she/they pronouns, saw too many transgender people hit a wall with conventional voice therapy. That frustration, combined with inspiration from the DIY innovations happening in […]
Posted inTop Stories
New report: We are everywhere — Our LGBTQ+ media are not
A popular 1980s slogan in the LGBTQ+ community was “We are everywhere.” We truly are part of every profession, every race, gender, class, religion, and more. Just as other communities have media outlets that take a “by us, for us” approach to news and information, there has been a gay press in fits and starts […]
Posted inTop Stories
Global roundup: Countries that recently legalized same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage continues to expand around the world, with several countries passing laws or court rulings in the last two years. These changes reflect steady progress, particularly in Europe and, more recently, Asia. Here’s a look at the most recent nations to join the list, with dates when the laws took effect. Marriage equality newcomers […]
Posted inTop Stories
LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project finds increasing challenges for local outlets
Link to report and map online here September 8, 2025 — The LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project today released a groundbreaking look at local LGBTQ+ media, with in-depth analysis of all aspects of their reach, size, impact and increasing need in a hostile and threatening political and cultural climate for LGBTQ+ people. The LGBTQ+ Media Mapping […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
The rainbow emoji’s path from weather icon to LGBTQ+ shorthand
You see it in text messages, bios, and Pride posts: 🌈 The rainbow emoji has become one of the most recognizable digital symbols of LGBTQ+ identity. What started as a simple weather icon has evolved into a global sign of Pride and community. The rainbow beginnings Emoji first appeared in Japan in the late 1990s […]
Posted inTop Stories
Lesbian bars in the U.S. you may not know about – but should
Over the last few decades, the number of lesbian bars dropped significantly, from roughly 200 in the 1980s, to a low of 21 in 2021. Since then, we’ve seen a resurgence of lesbian and sapphic-focused spaces: according to The Lesbian Bar Project, we’re now up to 38. You may know the classics like Cubbyhole, Gossip […]
Posted inTop Stories
Orlando community restores Pulse rainbow crosswalk with chalk
In July 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued a “Safe Roads” memo to all 50 states. It directed the removal of non-standard markings, including rainbow designs, claiming roads must be free of political messages and distractions. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) issued a memo citing its authority under the FDOT Design Manual. It […]
Posted inTop Stories
Local Media Association and Comcast launch Economic Opportunity Lab to spotlight local stories of mobility and change
Support expands for local journalism in five major cities through funding for 48 outlets, including four News is Out publishers and affiliates. PHILADELPHIA (August 20, 2025) – Today, the Local Media Association (LMA) and Comcast NBCUniversal announced the launch of the 2025–2026 Economic Opportunity Lab, a groundbreaking initiative supporting local journalism covering stories of economic mobility and opportunity in cities […]
Posted inHealth
GLP-1s can help address LGBTQ+ healthcare barriers: experts
Dana Piccoli tried everything to lose weight. She frequented the gym, went on and off diets and hired a personal trainer. When Piccoli decided to get on a GLP-1, it wasn’t a “short cut” to drop weight – it was a way for her to live her life comfortably. “When I told someone I was […]
Posted inTop Stories
The OutLook: August 15, 2025
The OutLook is our weekly roundup of political issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community Former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis has filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage. Her legal team argues that the ruling conflicts with religious freedom, but most observers […]
Posted inTop Stories
Queer-friendly destinations to visit this fall and winter
Cooler weather doesn’t have to mean staying home. In fact, fall and winter are the perfect times for a getaway. LGBTQ+ travelers can choose from destinations that pair beautiful settings, from sunny beaches to snowy mountains, with a strong sense of community. Whether you’re looking for a warm-weather break, a wine country weekend, or a […]
Posted inNews
After 46 years, Portland’s Scandals gay bar to shutter Harvey Milk Street space
Portland, Oregon, is about to lose one of its most famous LGBTQ+ third spaces. The owners of Scandals, which has been open since 1978 in downtown Portland, took to social media on Sunday to announce that its iconic Harvey Milk Street location will close Sept. 21. The social post informed customers of the shuttering of […]