Black transgender social-media influencer Girlalala, 21, was shot to death in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, The Advocate noted. Boyfriend Shanoyd Whyte Jr., 25, was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held without bond. Whyte told Broward County sheriff’s officers that in the car, the two had a verbal argument that turned physical; after being shot, Girlalala was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Trans Flag was slated to be raised at the New York State Capitol—and more than a dozen landmarks across the state were to be lit in pink, white and light blue on the evening of Nov. 20 in commemoration of Transgender Day of Remembrance, per Gay City News. In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “New York has zero tolerance for gender-based violence, and as governor, I remain committed to protecting our transgender community, and investing in programs that provide critical services for transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary New Yorkers.”
GLAAD joined Advocates for Trans Equality, the Transgender Law Center, Equality Federation, the Human Rights Campaign and Keshet in hosting “Give Them Their Flowers”—a first-of-its kind national virtual vigil for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, according to a release. Poet and activist Ebo Parton (he/him) started the event by reading two original poems. Advocates for Trans Equality Public Education Specialist Tekla Taylor—who moderated the vigil—previewed the vigil in an interview with Tim Bruno of Catskills Radio; Taylor highlighted new data from the organization’s Trans Remembrance Report for 2025.
PFLAG National gathered about 100 supporters at the American Federation of Teachers headquarters in D.C. for its annual “Love Takes Justice” reception, The Advocate noted. Gay former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank made a rare public appearance to celebrate Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who received the PFLAG National Champion of Justice Award. Previous honorees include the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis; Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin; U.S. Rep.-turned-Colorado Gov. Jared Polis; and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Dazed ran a story about the history of NYC’s first queer Asian bar, The Web, which was open from 1990 to 2013, and an exhibition spotlighting it. The spot organized the first Asian contingent at NYC’s Pride Parade, winning best float for four consecutive years in the early 2000s. In addition, The Web offered services from free English lessons to same-sex wedding ceremonies—long before this was actually legal. Now, featuring photographs, archival materials and a new zine, The Web: The Birth and Legacy of New York’s First Asian Gay Bar is an exhibition at Gallery 456 running through Dec. 5 that preserves what curator Yukai Chen describes as “powerful, unexpected stories that deserve to be remembered.”
The Bay Area Reporter (B.A.R.) team, LGBTQ+ politicians, members of the San Francisco Imperial Court and others attended the unveiling ceremony for a Rainbow Honor Walk plaque honoring B.A.R. founding publisher Bob Ross, the media outlet noted. Ross, who died in 2003, started the B.A.R. in April 1971, and he served on the boards of AIDS organizations and other agencies that serve the queer community. Current owner/publisher Michael Yamashita said that Ross gave him his first job out of college at the paper, and later named him office manager.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning for the military to cut all ties with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to NPR. Documents state that Hegseth claims the organization is no longer merit-based and has become an organization designed to “attack boy-friendly spaces.” In a draft memo to Congress, he criticizes Scouting for being “genderless” and for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The military has supported the Scouts for more than a century, and formalized their relationship in 1937.
At the Equality Texas Annual Gala on Nov. 15, community leaders, advocates and allies gathered, OutSmart noted. The highlight of the night came when the board of directors announced that longtime advocate Brad Pritchett would become the CEO of Equality Texas—which was met with a standing ovation. The evening also honored champions of equality, including state Reps. Venton Jones and Nicole Collier, Ash Hall of ACLU Texas, Mandy Giles of Parents of Trans Youth, and creators Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs.
In Philadelphia, the William Way LGBT Community Center is officially moving from its current address at 1315 Spruce St.—a place that the organization and many queer residents have called home for almost 30 years, Philadelphia Gay News noted. To say goodbye, the center is hosting an event called “One Last Dance” on Dec. 5.
In San Diego, two transgender women were injured in attacks on two queer bars that involved someone shooting the bars from a car with a pellet gun before fleeing the scene, LGBTQ Nation noted. The incidents happened Nov. 15 at the SRO Lounge and Flicks. The shootings happened a year after several other pellet gun attacks against LGBTQ+ bars in the Hillcrest area; four 19-year-olds pled guilty in those attacks. One of the attacks—in which a victim was shot in the eye in May 2024—remains unsolved.
In NYC, gay tenant advocate Michael McKee passed away at age 85 following a fight with brain cancer, Gay City News reported. People can now succeed their late same-sex partners in stabilized apartments because of McKee winning a succession case when his then-partner, Louis Fulgoni, died of AIDS in 1989. Several prominent people—such as former New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and current Councilmember Erik Bottcher—remembered McKee fondly. McKee is survived by his husband, Eric Stenshoel; his life will be celebrated Dec. 3 at his home parish of Saint Peter’s Church.
New Ways Ministry is sponsoring an LGBTQ+-themed retreat weekend, “Walking Together, Walking With Christ,” on March 6-8, 2026, at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin, according to a release. The program—open to everyone—will be led by Brian Flanagan, PhD, the John Cardinal Cody Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola University Chicago, who is also a senior fellow at New Ways Ministry.
In Maryland, a woman who was charged with a hate crime after she spray-painted a transgender symbol near a Catholic elementary school pleaded guilty to charges of defacing the property of a religious institution and malicious destruction of property, which are both misdemeanors, LGBTQ Nation noted. Sian Radaskiewicz-King was accused of spray-painting the symbol near the Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School in Easton on Sept. 4; police said that she also spray-painted the symbol near some businesses in the area. According to court documents, Radaskiewicz-King, who is transgender, said she committed the crimes “because she wanted people to know what the symbol meant, and to create a sense of space for herself.”
In Arkansas, parents in the North Little Rock School District spoke out after seeing a letter sent by administration directing teachers to remove or “hide” queer-themed books on the reading platform Epic, KARK reported. One woman in North Little Rock said that although she doesn’t like the idea of censorship, she believed this was important enough to censor. However, parent Danielle White said the letter concerned her because “one of the beauties of public school is that kids are exposed to a lot of different ways of thinking.” Some of the suggested titles included Pride Puppy, The Mother of a Movement and Jacob’s Room to Choose. On Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. ET, Ft. Lauderdale’s Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library will feature an interview with author and advocate Brian McNaught, known for his memoir A Prince of a Boy: How One Gay Catholic Helped Change the World, a press release noted. According to the release, “What began as a devastating firing from his position as an altar boy for his sexuality became the catalyst for a life full of global compassion, saving lives, and rebuilding what it means to be a gay man of faith. McNaught’s work delves into his history of traveling to offices, churches, and universities across Mumbai, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and North America, all while sharing his story with kindness and showcasing how religion and LGBTQ+ identity can co-exist to support true change.”