News :: National

State Department to issue gender-neutral passports

State Department to issue gender-neutral passports

  • by Michael K. Lavers, Washington Blade
  • Jun 30, 2021

The State Department has announced it will begin to issue gender-neutral passports and documents for American citizens who were born overseas.

LGBTQ Agenda: Giving circles draw attention to Give OUT Day as Pride Month ends

LGBTQ Agenda: Giving circles draw attention to Give OUT Day as Pride Month ends

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 29, 2021

As Pride Month comes to a close June 30, LGBTQ giving circles are among those groups drawing attention to Give OUT Day, a time for charitable giving to queer causes.

US Supreme Court declines to hear trans bathroom case

US Supreme Court declines to hear trans bathroom case

  • by Lisa Keen
  • Jun 28, 2021

In a limited but important victory for transgender access, the U.S. Supreme Court announced June 28 that it would not review a lower court decision that favored a transgender student's restroom access at a public high school.

Biden names OutRight's Stern as US special envoy for LGBTQI rights

Biden names OutRight's Stern as US special envoy for LGBTQI rights

  • by Cynthia Laird
  • Jun 25, 2021

President Joe Biden on Friday announced that he will appoint Jessica Stern, the longtime executive director of OutRight Action International, as the U.S. special envoy for international LGBTQ rights.

Queer Reading: Book makes the case for LGBTQ reparations

Queer Reading: Book makes the case for LGBTQ reparations

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jun 23, 2021

For Omar G. Encarnación, Ph.D., it started with a New York Times op-ed he wrote two years ago, making the case for a "robust embrace of gay reparations in the United States, along the lines of Spain, Britain, and Germany."

US Supreme Court sides with teen in free speech case

US Supreme Court sides with teen in free speech case

  • by Lisa Keen
  • Jun 23, 2021

In an 8-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23 that a public high school violated a student's First Amendment right to free speech when it suspended the student for posting an angry post on social media after school and off campus.

LGBTQ Agenda: New names will be added to Stonewall's LGBTQ Wall of Honor this week

LGBTQ Agenda: New names will be added to Stonewall's LGBTQ Wall of Honor this week

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 22, 2021

Ten names of late queer heroes will be added June 24 to the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, kicking off Pride weekend celebrations.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Nassib comes out as gay

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Nassib comes out as gay

  • by Roger Brigham
  • Jun 21, 2021

The moment David Kopay waited 46 years for finally came this week, when Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib announced Monday, June 21, that he was gay, becoming the first NFL player to come out of the closet while still active on a team roster.

Analysis: Understanding Fulton: The decision dodged a bullet

Analysis: Understanding Fulton: The decision dodged a bullet

  • by Lisa Keen
  • Jun 21, 2021

Some legal observers viewed the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia as a "significant" victory for LGBTQs while others saw it as another sign of "death by a thousand cuts" for queer equal rights.

Political Notes: Campaign seeks to add plethora of Pride flag emoji

Political Notes: Campaign seeks to add plethora of Pride flag emoji

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Jun 18, 2021

A new campaign aims to bring a plethora of Pride flag emoji to the keyboards of smartphones and other devices.

US Supreme Court rules Philly violated 1st Amendment in Fulton case

US Supreme Court rules Philly violated 1st Amendment in Fulton case

  • by Lisa Keen
  • Jun 17, 2021

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a city cannot discriminate against a contractor when they claim a religious belief.

Advocates applaud US education department's application of Title IX to LGBTQ community

Advocates applaud US education department's application of Title IX to LGBTQ community

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 16, 2021

LGBTQ groups are applauding the U.S. Department of Education's decision to interpret the Civil Rights Act's Title IX to protect students from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBTQ Agenda: Montana anti-trans legislation fueled by ignorance, activist says

LGBTQ Agenda: Montana anti-trans legislation fueled by ignorance, activist says

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 15, 2021

With 2021 proving to be a record year for anti-transgender legislation in statehouses across the country, activists in Montana are trying to change perceptions on the ground in the wake of three of those bills becoming law.

Centers to study COVID-19's impact on queer Americans

Centers to study COVID-19's impact on queer Americans

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 9, 2021

Six organizations are launching a national study on how COVID-19 impacted the LGBTQ community.