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Survey: Americans hold complex views on gender identity and trans+ Issues
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28, 2022) — As the United States addresses issues of transgender rights and the broader landscape around gender identity continues to shift, the American public holds a complex set of views around these ...
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CTA launches celebration to mark 75 years of service to Chicago
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) turns 75 this year. In the coming months, as the CTA moves closer to its historic destinationa Diamond Jubilee Celebration in Daley Plaza, on Oct. 1the public can participate in various ...
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HRC on how the end of Roe v. Wade impacts the LGBTQ+ community
-- From a press release. Video below.
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, in light of the dangerous Supreme Court decision in Dobbs ...
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SHOWBIZ Elliot Page, NPH, Madonna, Chita Rivera, Jennifer Lopez
Elliot Page talked with talk-show host Seth Meyers about how her Netflix show The Umbrella Academy incorporated the actor's own personal transition into season three of the series, Deadline noted. "With Steve Blackman, the showrunner of ...
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Rugby league bans trans women from international competition
Rugby has banned transgender players from women's international competition until further notice, following global swimming's decision to restrict trans athletes' participation at the elite level, Reuters reported. The International Rugby ...
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North Carolina to issue accurate birth certificates for transgender people without requiring surgery
-- From a press release
(Greensboro, NC — June 23, 2022) Transgender people born in North Carolina will now be able to correct the gender marker on their birth certificates without the need for surgery under a consent judgment issued ...
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Human Rights Campaign celebrates 50-year Anniversary of Title IX
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a press release recognizing the 50-year anniversary of Title IX. HRC Interim President Joni Madison said in a statement: "Title IX has had a transformative impact on our ...
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HRC report: Wage for LGBTQ+ women is 79 cents to the average man's dollar
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released new data outlining ...
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Gloria Allen screening/gathering to take place June 23
A film screening/community gathering to honor the late trans icon Gloria Allen (also known as Mama Gloria) will take place Thursday, June 23, 6-8 p.m., at the South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave. ...
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Clela Rorex, first County Clerk to issue same-sex marriage licences, has died
-- From a press release
BOULDER, CO - Out Boulder County and the family of Clela Rorex are saddened to announce the death of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer pioneering ally, Clela Rorex. On March 27,1975 Clela issued the first ...
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Governing body restricts trans swimmers; HRC responds
On June 19, swimming's world governing body, FINA, voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in women's events and will look into creating an "open competition" category, Yahoo! News reported. FINA members voted 71.5% in ...
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TELEVISION 'Rutherford Falls' returns for season two with double the diversity
Peacock's hit comedy Rutherford Falls is back with season two. (It started June 16.) The story follows two lifelong friendsNathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding)as they navigate ...
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WORLD Pride disruption, trans journalists, Tunisian play, marriage bills
Turkish police officers carrying clear-plastic riot shields, wielding batons and deploying pepper powder balls as well as tear gas violently broke up a Pride parade that Middle East Technical University students organized in the capital of ...
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Autopsy shows manner of death in Elise Malary's death is undetermined
The Cook County medical examiner's officer revealed that trans activist Elise Malary died from drowning but that the manner of death could not be determined, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. Malary's body was found in Lake Michigan ...
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Northwestern University Libraries and Center for Applied Transgender Studies launch trans studies journal
Northwestern University Libraries (NUL) and the Center for Applied Transgender Studies (CATS) are now publishing the Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies. The Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies (BATS)the first journal ...
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New report looks at LGBTQ+ restaurant workers and job risks they face
-- From a press release
Today, One Fair Wage, a national nonprofit representing tipped subminimum wage restaurant workers, released a new report on the harsh realities of being a LGBTQ+ restaurant worker. The report shows that the subminimum wage encourages rampant ...
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PASSAGES Legendary Chicago transgender activist, icon, mentor Mama Gloria Allen
Legendary Chicago Black transgender activist, icon and mentor "Mama" Gloria Allen died June 13 in her residence at Chicago's LGBTQ senior living facility Townhall Apartments in Lake View. The cause of death is unknown at this ...
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PASSAGES Transgender icon Mama Gloria dies at 76
-- From a press release
Chicago transgender icon and activist Gloria Allen, who founded and ran a charm school for homeless trans youth and was the subject of the award-winning documentary "Mama Gloria" and the critically acclaimed play "Charm," has died ...
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Marchers aim to 'reclaim pride,' shed light on issues facing LGBTQ+ community
About a hundred people marched through streets in Lake View on June 12 to call attention to social-justice issues affecting LGBTQ+ people while centering the Black trans community. "Some people don't understand. They're, like, 'Why such ...
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SHOWBIZ Jodie Comer, 'Queer As Folk,' trans film, Tom of Finland photos
Jodie Comerthe Emmy- and BAFTA-winning actress perhaps best known for playing LGBTQ+ assassin Villanelle on BBC America's Killing Evewill make her Broadway debut next spring in Prima Facie, a new play by Suzie Miller, Deadline noted. ...
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Local trans icon June LaTrobe dies
June M. LaTrobe—a Chicago trans icon known for her activism—has passed away. She turned 81 on June 1. Being an advocate for the trans community, LaTrobe participated in many events (such as protests) and often took ...
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Texas court issues emergency stop to Gov. Abbott's anti-trans youth directive
-- From a press release
AUSTIN, Texas The Travis County District Court granted a temporary restraining order on Friday to block the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) from investigating PFLAG families ...
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300K youth in the U.S. identify as transgender
-- From a press release
New estimates show 300,000 youth ages 13-17 identify as transgender in the US About 1.3 million adults—0.5% of the adult US population—identify as transgender Approximately 1.6 million people ages 13 ...
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PFLAG National, ACLU, Lambda Legal file pro-trans youth lawsuit against Texas governor
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Texas, along with Texas-based law firm Baker Botts LLP, filed a new lawsuit in Texas state court on behalf of PFLAG National and three Texas families on June 8, per a press release. ...
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Rolling into Texas
by Joey Amato
Palestinejust a hop, skip and a jump from Dallasoffers a blue dot of small-town charm I had a trip to Texas planned prior to the introduction of the anti-transgender bills in state Congress. I considered cancelling ...
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SHOWBIZ Variety list, Billy Porter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janelle Monae
In honor of Pride Month, Variety published "55 Queer Artists and Decision-Makers to Know in 2022." A few of those on the list include Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey; actor Sara Ramirez (And Just Like That…; Grey's ...
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WORLD Grindr ads, British mayor, Billie Jean King, Australian awards
In Australia, a retail worker-turned-Greens politician credited catchy ads on gay hookup app Grindr for his stunning victory in Brisbane, The Daily Mail noted. Stephen Bates defeated Liberal-National Party incumbent Trevor Evans in the inner-city seat ...
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HRC, Showtime launch third year of QUEER TO STAY, an LGBTQ+ small business initiative
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SHOWTIME announced the third consecutive year of "QUEER ...
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MUSIC Transgender 'RuPaul Drag Race' alum Peppermint composes 'Letter' to past lovers
Miss Peppermint is a drag artist who made a name for herself while slaying on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Eventually coming in second place, Peppermint made herstory by being the first out trans ...
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Scores of LGBTQI+ groups call on policymakers to protect abortion rights
-- From a NCLR press release
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights released an open letter signed by 91 organizations representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community voicing ...
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President Biden issues LGBTQI+ proclamation
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation for the LGBTQI+ community. In "A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2022," Biden said, in part, "I often say that America can be defined ...
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GLAAD: True LGBTQ allyship extends to all aspects of business, including political giving
-- From a press release
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 (New York, NY)—GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announces GLAAD's Recommendations for Corporate Allies to educate corpo ...
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Trans swimmer Lia Thomas answers critics in interview
Two months after becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship, transgender former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas responded to some of the criticism she has received for competing in ...
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NATIONAL Trans survey, Gays Against Guns, TIME 100, candidates, crimes
Transgender women experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, poor health services and low pay are less likely to receive necessary HIV prevention support or treatment, according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study based on responses from ...
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SHOWBIZ Laverne Cox, PBS special, Ricky Martin, queer books/authors
Nouveau Productions and PBS announced a new collaboration for Pride Month, per a press release. The special True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs will offer a unique look at the history of the LGBTQ+ community ...
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Okla. governor signs anti-trans, strict abortion measures
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has recently signed a couple controversial measures into law. According to ABC News, Stitt has signed a bill requiring public school students to use only the bathroom of the sex listed on ...
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State Farm drops GenderCool Project; Illinois General Assembly LGBTQ Caucus, Equality Illinois respond
This week in response to an outcry from a hateful few, Illinois-based insurer State Farm dropped their support for The GenderCool Project, which provides LGBTQ-affirming books to schools across the country on a voluntary basis. We ...
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Brave Space Alliance purchases South Side building in expansion move
In its ongoing efforts to provide safe spaces for transgender and gender non-confirming BIPOC, Brave Space Alliance (BSA) closed on a 7,000-square-foot building on 71st Street and Jeffrey Avenue, in the South Shore community, to expand ...
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Artist Rick Sindt explores queer desire and pornography in 'Skin Remembers'
Rick Sindt, a Chicago-based artist who recently moved to St. Louis, explores the discovery and development of queer attraction in his exhibit "Skin Remembers." Sindt transforms pornographic stills, repurposing them into images of intimacy. Sindt recently ...
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Indiana institutes anti-trans sports ban, overrides Holcomb's veto
The Indiana General Assembly overturned Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's veto of House Bill 1041, which prohibits transgender girls from playing girls school sports, according to the IndyStar. The House voted to override the veto 67-28; the ...
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Ricky Gervais courts controversy with graphic anti-trans jokes
(WARNING: There is graphic language in this article.) Yet another Netflix special is courting controversy because of a comedian making anti-trans jokes. Ricky Gervais' Netflix comedy special SuperNature has drawn criticism for a string of grap ...
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WORLD Nigeria protest, 'Flag in the Map,' Belgium, McDonald's
Dressed in rainbow-colored vests, members of the LGBTQ+ community marched in a dangerous demonstration in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to protest a bill introduced by lawmakers in Nigeria's lower house of parliament last month seeking to ban ...
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Comedian criticized for letting Chappelle open and tell anti-trans jokes [UPDATE]
Comedian John Mulaney surprised his audience—and drew criticism from some fans—when Dave Chappelle appeared as the opener and reportedly told "transphobic jokes," per Variety. Chappelle's opening set occurred during a ...
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For International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia HRC highlights grants
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, is commemorating International Day Against ...
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Judge blocks part of Alabama law criminalizing care for trans youth
On May 13, U.S. District Judge Liles Burke blocked part of an Alabama law that made it a felony to prescribe gender-affirming puberty blockers and hormones to transgender minors, USA Today reported. ...
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Texas court okays child-abuse inquries into families of trans kids
On May 13, the Texas Supreme Court unanimously cleared the way for the state child-welfare agency to resume investigating parents and doctors who provide gender-affirming care for trans youthactions Gov. Greg Abbott has equated to child ...
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Judge: Dallas hospital must start gender-affirming treatment for trans youth
In Texas, Dallas County Judge Melissa Bellan temporarily removed all barriers for transgender youth seeking medical treatments from Children's Medical Center Dallasproviding a major win for doctors fighting to restore ...
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HRC calls for passage of the Women's Health Protection Act
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON - Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, joined a growing number of organizations calling for the ...
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NATIONAL Rainbow flagpole, Washington Blade, Don Lemon, Black leaders
Four years after the Trump Administration abruptly nixed plans to bring a rainbow flag to federal land adjacent to NYC's Christopher Park, the Biden Administration is planning to install a permanent flagpole at the park, Gay ...
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33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York honor Judith Light, Wilson Cruz and more
-- From a press release
New York - Friday, May 6 — GLAAD announced recipients for 16 of this year's 30 categories for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards on May 6. Additional categories were announced in Los Angeles on April ...
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Virginia trans teen killed at party
The life of Black transgender girl Ariyanna Mitchell, 17, ended violently at a party in Hampton, Virginia, on April 2and the accused killer asked her if she was a boy or a girl before shooting her, ...
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NBJC celebrates and remembers trans journalist/activist Monica Roberts on her birthday
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC Today, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) celebrates the life and accomplishments of Monica Roberts, a revered transgender journalist, activist, and founder of the award-winning publication TransGriot. ...
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LGBTQ+ lawmakers in 16 states have or will introduce laws to protect trans kids
Equality California, California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), LGBTQ Victory Institute and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California announced the national, queer-led rollout of trans refuge state legislation in 16 ...
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DoJ files suit challenging Alabama's trans youth law
The U.S. Justice Department (DoJ) filed a complaint alleging that Alabama's controversial law banning gender-affirming care for youth is unconstitutional, according to AL.com. In the complaint filed in federal court ...
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NATIONAL Campus Pride, HIV and the military, IVF suit, Billie Jean King
Campus Pridealong with 36 other national/regional organizations such as GLSEN, PFLAG National and TransAthlete.comrequested that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) incorporate non-binary students into ...
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WORLD Conversion therapy, Russian ruling, concert pianist, trans politician
A trans woman opened up about her horrific experiences of conversion therapy in the wake of the UK government's reviled U-turn that will see LGB conversion therapy banned but trans conversion therapy remain legal, PinkNews reported. ...
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Okla. governor bans non-binary gender identities on birth certificates
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill explicitly barring the use of non-binary gender markers on state birth certificatesa ban experts say is the first of its kind in the nation, according to an NPR item. ...
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Georgia guv signs anti-LGBTQ+ measures; Kansas has pro-LGBTQ+ result
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law legislation curbing talk of so-called "divisive concepts" (including discussions about race) in the state's classrooms and barring transgender athletes from participating on school ...
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More than half of transgender students in higher education report poor mental health
-- From a press release
A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law conducted in collaboration with the Point Foundation, the nation's largest LGBTQ scholarship fund, finds there are an estimated 218,000 known transgender students ages 18 ...
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Biden-Harris administration reports on efforts to support global LGBTQ+ rights, HRC applauds result
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, has commended the release of a report from the Biden-Harris ...
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Equality Illinois endorses 95 pro-equality candidates for June 28 primaries
-- From a press release
"Equality Illinois is excited to announce our primary election endorsements today as we continue to make our state fairer and more just for LGBTQ+ people," said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. "In recent years, ...
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LGBTQ+ and allied organizations rally against bigotry and hate
A statewide coalition of LGBTQ+ and allied organizations held a press conference and rally April 27 in Chicago's Federal Plaza in response to the wave of nationwide bigotry and hate against the queer and trans community, ...
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Kansas lawmaker makes anti-trans comment; Victory Fund responds
A Kansas state lawmaker has complained publicly about having to share women's restrooms with a "huge" transgender colleague who she described as a potential threat to young children who visit the Statehouse, CBS News reported. Republican ...
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Reader owner steps down; paper can now go nonprofit route
Chicago Reader co-owner Len Goodman and three board members stepped down April 26 amid protests from employees, freeing the embattled alternative newspaper to transition to a nonprofit organization, The Chicago Tribune reported. The Reader has been ...
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Petition started for trans inmate Strawberry Hampton; IDOC responds [UPDATE]
A petition on change.org has been started for Strawberry Hampton, a transgender woman who's currently in Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, about 30 miles north of Springfield. According to WBEZ, Hampton sued the Illinois Department of ...
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NATIONAL Missouri lawmaker, Michigan controversy, gymnasts, Julius' Bar
A lawmaker in Missouri delivered an intense condemnation of one of his Republican colleagues over an effort to keep transgender athletes out of youth sports, HuffPost reported. State Rep. Ian Mackey (D), who is gay, issued ...
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WORLD Soldiers, Everywhere Is Queer, soccer items
Video below
The South Korean Supreme Court ruled that soldiers of the same sex who have consensual sex in a private space cannot be charged with assault under the Military Criminal Act, The Hankyoreh reported. Previously, the court ...
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Pro-LGBTQ+ rally rescheduled for April 27 at Federal Plaza
Weeks after a pro-LGBTQ+ rally in the Loop was disrupted, the event has been rescheduled for Wed., April 27, at Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St., at 5:30 p.m. The past few months have been extremely ...
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HRC condemns Florida Gov. DeSantis for signing 'Stop WOKE' Act
-- From a press release
Washington, D.C. Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization condemned Governor Ron DeSantis for signing ...
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HRC: Real threat to women's sports not trans athletes but underfunding, lack of resources
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC—As states across the country continue to debate and pass anti-transgender sports bans — bills that would prevent transgender girls from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity — a new Human ...
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Florida advises against gender-affirming care for minors; LGBTQ+ groups respond
On April 20, Florida's department of health said children younger than 18 years old should not be permitted to receive any form of gender-affirming care, including medications like puberty blockers and hormones and "social gender transition" ...
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COVID Masks now optional on Illinois and Chicago public transit
On April 19, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has changed face-mask requirements on public transit. According to a press release Windy City Times received, "To align with the ending of the enforcement of the federal mask mandate ...
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Chicago Fashion Week taking place April 24-May 1
FashionBar, LLC announced Chicago Fashion Week will take place April 24-May 1 on the third floor of Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave. Some of the shows will include "Emerging Students" (April 26), "Trans, Media ...
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Travel confusion reigns as judge overturns mask mandate
On April 18, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle—a Donald Trump appointee—struck down the Biden Administration's COVID mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods. A Biden Administration official ...
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National Black Justice Coalition honors National Transgender HIV Testing Day
-- From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC Today, April 18th, is National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD). On this day, local, state, federal, and national organizations unite to recognize the importance of routine HIV ...
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