Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By John Mack Freeman Brisbane parents Yolanda Bogert and Guy Kershaw put a retraction in the December 2nd The Courier Mail to correct the mistake in their child’s original birth announcement. The retraction can be seen above. Via The Daily Mail: ‘I needed to show my son I support him 100 per cent and wanted to let […]
By John Mack Freeman This week, the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners voted 8-3 to ban discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodation. The move came at the end of a long and contentious meeting that had over 130 people sign up to testify. Both supporters and opponents were vocal about their […]
By John Mack Freeman Florida-The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the state of Florida’s request for a stay on a ruling that approved same sex marriages in that state. Provided that the Supreme Court does not issue a ban at the state’s request, same sex marriages will begin in the Sunshine State on January […]
By John Mack Freeman This week, a Republican-led committee in the House of Representatives rejected a proposed amendment that would have added the Employment Nondiscrimination Act to a defense bill that was under consideration. With this rejection, it is unlikely that the bill will pass this term. Further, Congressional watchers doubt that the bill will […]
Via press release The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), selected five books as finalists for the 2015 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, which honors the best nonfiction books written for young adults between Nov. 1, 2013 and Oct. 31, 2014. YALSA will name the […]
By John Mack Freeman When I can, I try to build bridges instead of burn them. I think that reacting in a hostile fashion often leads to everyone becoming defensive and blocks any progress towards real conversation and growth. And while there are some things that are so repugnant that they need to be countered […]
Via press release Underfunded libraries, schools and non-traditional organizations that provide educational services to children are invited to apply to receive one of three Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grants. Awarded by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee, the grant program provides books submitted for consideration for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards to […]
Via press release The ALA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) has selected John “Mack” Freeman, marketing and programming coordinator at West Georgia Regional Library, as its representative in the 2015 Emerging Leader program. In his position at WGRL, he is considered “a ‘Mack’ of all trades,” focusing on project management, outreach, and marketing. […]
By John Mack Freeman As the holiday season swings into full gear, you may want to make sure that your purchases are coming from companies that have a record of support for their LGBT employees or the LGBT community at-large. To this end, GLBT News just wanted to remind everyone that HRC’s 2015 Corporate Equality Index is […]
By John Mack Freeman Even on a holiday week, courts and governments are taking steps towards full marriage equality. In Arkansas, US District Judge Kristine Baker ruled in favor of two same sex couples who challenged a 2004 amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that outlawed same sex marriage. The State Supreme Court in Arkansas is […]