Sites in Chicago, New York gain landmark status for LGBT history importance

By John Mack Freeman Two places of importance in LGBT history have received new landmark statuses in the past two weeks. The Henry Gerber House in Chicago has become a national landmark per the Department of the Interior, and the Stonewall Inn in New York City has been made a city landmark. From the Department […]

‘Cisgender’ added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Photo credit: TexasT's (via Flickr)

By John Mack Freeman The word ‘cisgender” is one of 500 new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year. It has been defined as ” someone whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth.” A word has to be in common use for ten years before it is included in […]

Kyrgyzstan poised to enact Russia-style anti-gay propaganda bill

By John Mack Freeman The legislature of Kyrgyzstan approved an anti-gay propaganda bill modeled off of Russia’s infamous law in a second reading of the law this week. 90 legislators voted in favor of the bill with only two opposing. The bill must be voted on at a third reading, projected for October, but it […]

New Jersey jury declares conversion therapy to be fraud

By John Mack Freeman A jury in New Jersey has found that conversion therapy is fraud. After only three hours of deliberation, the jury returned $72,400 judgment against Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) for deceptive marketing practices related to conversion therapy. Via Advocate.com: The lawsuit was filed by the SPLC on behalf of […]

Venice moves to ban “And Tango Makes Three,” gay parenting books

By John Mack Freeman The city of Venice, Italy has moved to ban books related to single-sex partnerships and gay adoption as part of a move to the right by the city’s new conservative mayor, Luigi Brugnaro. Via the Telegraph: “We don’t want to discriminate against anyone and at home parents can call themselves daddy […]

ALA releases press release celebrating Obergefell marriage equality decision

Via press release If you missed the press release from ALA after the same-sex marriage Supreme Court decision last week, here it is: American Library Association applauds marriage equality U.S. Supreme Court ruling For Immediate Release Fri, 06/26/2015 Contact: Macey Morales Manager, media relations Public Information Office mmorales@ala.org CHICAGO – Today the U.S. Supreme Court […]

Turkish police attack Pride with rubber bullets, water cannons

By John Mack Freeman With such good news on the same-sex marriage front in the United States in the last week, it can be easy to lose sight of the struggles LGBT people are facing throughout the world. A Pride celebration in Turkey turned violent last weekend when the police attacked the celebrators with water […]

New iPhone app will enable largest LGBT health study ever

By John Mack Freeman A new app has been released by the University of California, San Francisco that will enable researchers to enroll individuals in the largest LGBT health study ever. Entitled PRIDE Study, the app is available in the app store for all Apple devices. Via Advocate.com: This ambitious study of LGBT health will […]

Girl Scouts return $100,00 when donation was tagged as anti-trans

By John Mack Freeman The Girl Scouts of Western Washington received a $100,000 grant last week that would have enabled 500 girls to attend camp and would have greatly helped the mission of the organization. However, the donation came with stipulations: it could only be used on non-trans Girl Scouts. The Girl Scouts have accepted […]

Meet Rob Ridinger! An RT Member Profile

By Tess Goldwasser (Ed. Note: I interviewed Rob… about a year ago? And then forgot to write up a profile! Not because he’s forgettable; he’s certainly not. But because I am a flake. An apologetic flake. Please forgive me Rob!) Rob is the GLBTRT Liaison to the Leather Archives and Museum, and a member of the […]