Via press release Today American Library Association President Sari Feldman and Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) Chair Peter Coyl released a joint letter to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal urging him to veto House Bill 757. The bill is yet another example of a disturbing trend of state legislators working to adopt religious freedom laws […]
Author: GLBT News
World Psychiatric Association says “ex-gay” treatments don’t work
By John Mack Freeman The world’s biggest association of psychiatrists released a statement this week against so-called “ex-gay” therapies. Their statement is reproduced below in full: WPA Position Statement on Gender Identity and Same-Sex Orientation, Attraction, and Behaviours Background Recent controversies in many countries suggest a need for clarity on same-sex orientation, attraction, and behaviour […]
OIF posts blog on LGBT books for young adults
Georgia legislature passes religious freedom bill, business community urges veto
By John Mack Freeman A large number of high-profile companies have come out against Georgia’s HB 757. A large number of film and television companies and workers have come out against the law. Georgia has a growing film industry due to a sweetheart tax deal that makes it incredibly cheap to film in the state. […]
Kansas passes law to allow campus groups to discriminate via “sincere religious beliefs”
By John Mack Freeman A new law in Kansas would allow student groups on public college and university campuses to discriminate against other students as long as the discrimination was rooted in a “sincere religious belief.” Governor Sam Brownback signed the legislation in to law this week. Via Advocate.com: The legislation, officially titled the Campus […]
North Carolina bans cities and counties from passing anti-discrimination laws
By John Mack Freeman The North Carolina legislature passed a law in a special session this week that bars cities and counties from enacting their own anti-discrimination laws. Governor Pat McCrory signed the law the same day. Via Associated Press: The Republican-controlled General Assembly took action after Charlotte leaders last month approved a broad anti-discrimination measure. […]
GLBTRT mini-social at PLA!
We’ll be hosting a GLBTRT Mini-Social/Happy Hour at PLA 2016 in Denver. Thursday, April 7, 2016 from 6:30pm-8:30 at the Denver Wrangler (1700 Logan St, Denver, CO 80203). Appetizers will be provided; Cash bar with Thirsty Thursday drink specials! http://www.denverwrangler.com/ Facebook event page coming soon! If you’re attending PLA we hope you’ll join us! Invite […]
School Is In: Serving Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students
By Elizabeth Gartley When I speak to educators about LGBTQ issues, they typically have an easier time accepting different sexual orientations than gender diversity. Most of these educators are well-meaning, and they’re not unaccepting of transgender or gender nonconforming students, but rather a little perplexed at having to challenge their own notions of gender. In […]
“Xena” reboot to “fully explore” character’s lesbianism
By John Mack Freeman The writer of the reboot of the cult classic Xena: Warrior Princess has promised that he will “fully explore” the character’s lesbianism. Via Gay Star News: “Back in the 90s, the love between warrior princess Xena and her charge Gabrielle was all too obvious but was buried underneath glances, innuendo, subtext. But now, […]
White House appoints first trans person as primary LGBT liaison
By John Mack Freeman The White House announced this week that Raffi Freedman-Gurspan has been appointed as the White House’s primary LGBT liaison. Freedman-Gurspan is the first trans person to hold this role since it was created under President Clinton in 1993. Via Buzzfeed: Freedman-Gurspan became the first transgender staffer appointed to the White House in […]