LGBTQ News

Taiwan becomes first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage / The Washington Post
May 17, 2019
The law — which allows for same-sex couples to apply for “marriage registration” as part of “exclusive permanent unions” — came a week before Taiwan’s codes barring same-sex marriage would have been automatically dropped by court order.

White House hires first openly transgender staffer / Mashable
August 18, 2015
The White House hired its first openly transgender staff member, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, who will serve as outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel.

Same-sex marriage is the law of the land in America / Mashable
June 26, 2015
“The U.S. Supreme Court struck down gay marriage bans as unconstitutional in a decision issued Friday, making the right to same-sex marriage the law of the land in all 50 states.”

MoMA Acquires the Rainbow Flag as a Design Icon: A Conversation with the Artist Who Made It / Brainpickings
June 18, 2015
“Flags are soaring symbols of pride and community, as well as emotional, incendiary sparks for those on the other side of the barricade. They are among the most immediate, primal, and communicative forms of design.”

With Little Fanfare, Mexican Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage / New York Times
June 14, 2015
In ruling after ruling, the court has said that state laws restricting marriage to heterosexuals are discriminatory.

Bruce Jenner: ‘I am a woman’ / Mashable
April 25, 2015
Bruce Jenner opened up to Diane Sawyer about his gender identity on Friday night, in a moment he was able to choose for himself.

Sex Expert’s Secret Is Out, and China’s Open to It / New York Times
March 6, 2015
In December, Professor Li, 63, who recently retired from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, reluctantly moved the nation to the threshold of a new frontier: transgender love.

Chelsea Manning To Be Guardian Columnist / NPR
February 10, 2015
Ms. Manning, formerly known as Pfc. Bradley E. Manning, will write on war, gender and freedom of information, said Katharine Viner, the editor in chief of Guardian US, the newspaper’s American operation.

Alabama activists seek court leverage amid standoff over same-sex marriage / Washington Post
February 10, 2015
A federal judge on Tuesday said she will consider whether to require a local official to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, a day after dozens of counties refused to comply with a ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Alabama.

Alabama Judge Defies Gay Marriage Law / New York Times
February 8, 2015
In a dramatic show of defiance toward the federal judiciary, Chief Justice Roy S. Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court ordered the state’s probate judges not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples on Monday, the day same-sex marriages were expected to begin.

With Rainbow Neckerchiefs, Celebrating Pride and Progress at Parade / New York Times
June 29, 2014
Khaki shirts, olive pants and rainbow neckerchiefs: the Boy Scout uniform, pride-style — a uniform that had never been seen on a group of marchers in New York City’s pride parade before.

Controversial Georgian soprano is dropped from Otello after ‘homophobic’ statements / Limelight Magazine (AU)
June 23, 2014
Opera Australia today parted company with the controversial Georgian soprano at the centre of a worldwide furore over incendiary homophobic comments that appeared on her Facebook page last year. Tamar Iveri will no longer appear in the Sydney production of Otello next month.

Presbyterians Vote to Allow Same-Sex Marriages / New York Times
June 19, 2014
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted at its General Assembly on Thursday to change its constitution’s definition of marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two people,” and to allow its ministers to perform same-sex marriages where it is legal.

Rick Perry draws comparison between homosexuality and alcoholism / Dallas News
June 12, 2014
Texas Gov. Rick Perry drew a comparison between alcoholism and homosexuality during a California visit that also dealt with economic issues. “I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way,” he said.

Austria’s Schools To Re-Issue Grade Transcripts To Transgender Residents / HuffPost: Gay Voices
May 15, 2014
Austria’s education minister has instructed schools to re-issue grade transcripts to transgender persons who have requested that they be identified by another sex.

Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Player Drafted into NFL / The Guardian (U.K.)
May 10, 2014
Michael Sam, the college defensive end who made headlines earlier this year by coming out, is set to become the first openly gay player to play in the National Football League. Sam was picked in Saturday’s final round of the NFL Draft, by the St Louis Rams.

Why Africa’s Turning Anti-Gay / The Daily Beast
March 31, 2014
Western activism is causing more harm than good to a continent making LGBT people into scapegoats for colonialism.

12 Moments From England’s Legalization of Gay Marriage / Mashable
March 29, 2014
Gay marriage in England and Wales became legal at the stroke of midnight on Saturday. Several same-sex couples flocked to court houses to wed minutes after the gay-marriage ban was lifted.

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base / TheWeek.com
March 3, 2014
Just a few years ago, performances like these would have been grounds for a possible discharge. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has made it possible for events like this to occur.

Uganda’s Anti-Gay Christian Mafia / The Daily Beast
February 25, 2014
The evangelical organization that describes itself as a Christian mafia has been the hidden hand behind Uganda’s anti-gay bill, along with Rick Warren, the gay-bashing pastor who presided at Obama’s first inauguration.

Uganda Gays Face New Wave of Fear Under Anti-Gay Bill / The Daily Beast
February 24, 2014
As President Yoweri Museveni signs a draconian new anti-homosexuality bill, Kampala’s openly gay members report an uptick in harassment and violence.

America’s Ambassadors of Hate / The Daily Beast
February 4, 2014
While gay rights are expanding and public acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is growing rapidly in the United States, American activists and missionaries who’ve built their careers condemning homosexuality have taken their message overseas, and with horrifying success.

Why This Transgender Teen’s Big Victory Matters / Huffington Post
February 3, 2014
Maine’s Supreme Court rules in favor of transgender teenager under Maine’s Human Rights Act.

Lesbian Heiress Rejects Millions / BBC News
January 29, 2014
The daughter of a Hong Kong tycoon has urged her father in an open letter to accept she is a lesbian, after he offered millions to find her a husband.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni blocks anti-gay law / BBC News
January 17, 2014
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has refused to approve a controversial bill to toughen punishments for homosexuals. The bill provides for life imprisonment for homosexual acts and also makes it a crime not to report gay people.

Nigeria’s Gays Live in Fear Amid New Crackdown / The Daily Beast
January 14, 2014
The African country practically outlawed homosexuality last week and wasted no time in persecuting gays. Dozens were arrested Tuesday for being in same-sex relationships, a crime that carries a penalty of 14 years in jail. The Daily Beast’s Jonathan Krohn reports on the terror of LGBT activists, and their commitment to fight back.

The Curious Case of Countries Where Being Gay Is a Crime / The Daily Beast
January 1, 2014
It is too simple to say anti-gay laws in the developing world are merely vestiges of British colonialism. The problem is older, and more complex.

Australian Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage / New York Times
December 13, 2013
Australia’s High Court on Thursday, December 12, struck down a law passed in October in the Australian Capital Territory that allowed same-sex marriages in the nation’s capital, Canberra, and its surrounding area. Dozens of couples will have their marriage annulled weeks after their wedding.

India’s Supreme Court Declares Homosexual Sex Illegal / CNN
December 11, 2013
The Indian Supreme Court declared homosexual sex illegal, bringing back a law that had been on the books since the colonial era but had been overturned four years ago.

Edie Windsor is Time Magazine‘s ‘Person of the Year’ Runner Up / Huffington Post
December 11, 2013
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) plaintiff is capping off her many accomplishments by coming in third place in TIME magazine’s 2013 “Person of the Year” poll.

Illinois Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage / ABC News
November 20, 2013
Illinois governor Pat Quinn signed marriage equality into law today at University of Illinois-Chicago, making his state the 16th to legalize same-sex marriage.

Governor signs bill making gay marriage legal in Hawaii / Washington Post
November 12, 2013
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state that kicked off a national discussion of the issue more than two decades ago.

NBA player Jason Collins comes out / ESPN
April 29, 2013
“The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn’t wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?”

Processing the Murder of Eric Ohena Lembembe / The Daily Beast
July 17, 2013
An outspoken voice for gay rights was tortured and killed in Cameroon. Neela Ghoshal reports on her colleague Eric Lembembe’s legacy—and how the movement lives on.