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BOOKS Precious Brady-Davis has arrived
Recently honored by Mayor Lightfoot and the LGBTQ Advisory Council as a community leader who has "helped build the foundation for a more welcoming, equitable and inclusive Chicago," Precious Brady-Davis wants to do it all. She ...
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AMA reinforces opposition to restrictions on transgender medical care
--From a press release
CHICAGO - The American Medical Association (AMA) today strengthened its established position opposing the governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine that is detrimental to the health of transgender and ...
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Dept. of Education: Title IX also protects LGBTQ students
The Department of Education will interpret Title IX—a federal law that protects students from sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools—to protect LGBTQ students from discrimination, according to a federal notice ...
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476,000 transgender adults in the U.S. have no IDs with the correct gender marker
--From a press release
An estimated 476,000 transgender adults in the U.S. are without any form of identification with the correct gender marker, according to a new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Michigan has the ...
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Billy Masters
"Now, therefore, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America … do hereby proclaim June 2021 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. I call upon the people of the ...
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WORLD India court, trans death, Guatemalan LGBTQs, Gay Games
A court in India ordered state and federal officials to draw up plans for sweeping reforms to respect LGBTQ rights, in a ruling that went far beyond the terms of a case brought by a lesbian couple who said they had ...
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Wade to receive Field Foundation leadership grant
Activist LaSaia Wade, who founded the LGBTQ-centered advocacy Brave Space Alliance (BSA), and is currently its executive director, has been named one of Chicago-based Field Foundation's 2021 Leaders for a New Chicago cohort. The distinction, f ...
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Pritzker Military Museum to hold panel on Department of Defense and transgender employees
--From a press release
CHICAGO, June 8, 2021 — The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is proud to present a panel discussion, "Exploring the Intersection of the U.S. Military and the LGBTQ Community," on Wednesday, June 23rd at Noon CDT ...
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HAVE A NICE THEY: Nevo Zisin is taking the mystery out of terminology so you don't have to
While a simple "they/them" seems to mystify some and has been used as a cudgel by others, for those who want to better understand the importance of pronouns when it comes to gender expression, or for ...
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HIV at 40: Erie Family Health Center, focused on helping at-risk communities
HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Black communities—with Black gay and bisexual Black men and Black trans women being the most affected population than any other group in the country. More specifically, one in two Black MSM (men who ...
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Pritzker Military Museum hosting June 23 Pride panel
Chicago's Pritzker Military Museum & Library is presenting a panel discussion, "Exploring the Intersection of the U.S. Military and the LGBTQ Community," on Wed., June 23, at noon CT in celebration of Pride Month. The virtual ...
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TransTech Social and Linux Foundation offering tech-training scholarships
TransTech Social Enterprises—the co-working, co-learning community dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ people and allies with practical, career-ready skills founded by actress/activist Angelica Ross—is teaming with Linux Foundation ...
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NATIONAL Election news, AsylumConnect, Pride business items, 'Bears'
In Pennsylvania, in a race between contenders in the Democratic primary for Erie County executive, Tyler Titus—a trans person who currently serves as Erie School Board president—was declared the winner, according to The Washington Blade. Titus ...
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NBC Out releases annual #Pride30 list
--From a press release
NBC Out, part of NBCNews.com, has released its annual #Pride30 list, recognizing members of the LGBTQ community around the world who are making a difference. This year's list honors 30 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ...
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Trans-affirming election legislation passed by Illinois General Assembly, Equality Illinois responds
--From a press release
Statement from Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, on passage of Senate Bill 825, the trans-affirming election omnibus legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly on Monday, May 31, 2021: "During Pride Month and at ...
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DeSantis signs bill barring trans females from
competing on girls' sports teams
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans transgender girls and women from playing on girls' public-school teams, WESH.com reported. "[Florida sports provide] our young girls with opportunities that last a lifetime," DeSantis said. "We ...
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Brave Space Alliance announces major research project
--From press releases
CHICAGO, IL — On the first day of Pride in 2021, South Side LGBTQ Center Brave Space Alliance announced the beginning of a groundbreaking, community-centered research project, slated for mid-2022, and done in collaboration with Northwestern ...
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Wisconsin Governor blocks use of federal money for conversion therapy for minors
--From a press release
MADISON, WI — Today, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Department of ...
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GLAAD at Pride: Protect the most vulnerable among us
--From a press release
New York, NY - Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today released a statement to honor the start of Pride Month, highlighting the ...
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Becoming Johanna to air on WTTW
--From a press release
Chicago, IL: Becoming Johanna, a compelling story that follows the struggles transgender teens face every day, airs Friday, June 25th at 8:30pm on WTTW (11.1 channel). The film follows Johanna, a 16-year-old transgender Latina, as she ...
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WORLD Twitch, AIDS activist dies, Europe and LGBTQ laws, India hearing
COMPILED BY WCT STAFF The world's largest game streaming service, Twitch, said that players will be able to add a transgender label to their videos—a move the company said would aid inclusion among its 30 million ...
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Thompson Coburn LLP hosts virtual tea with history-making Judge Jill Rose Quinn
Thompson Coburn LLP hosted a Citywide Pride virtual tea event May 26 that featured Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jill Rose Quinn. Quinn made history last November when she became Illinois' first transgender elected official. She ...
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Villa Park police fatally shoot transgender man
On May 24, Villa Park police shot and killed Haven A. Bailey, a 25-year-old Lombard resident, after calling 911 to report that someone was walking around outside with a gun, The Daily Herald noted. According to ...
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ACLU sues Arkansas over ban on health care for transgender youth
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit on behalf of four transgender youth and their families as well as two doctors challenging an Arkansas law that prohibits health care professionals ...
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HRC, leading policy, health organizations call for LGBTQ-inclusive sexual education
--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, in partnership with leading ...
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WORLD Myanmar activist, Cyprus official, brutal crimes, UK youth
In Myanmar, Equality Myanmar Executive Director Aung Myo Min broke another barrier, becoming the first LGBTQ person to become sworn in as a member of cabinet after being appointed by the National Unity Government as its ...
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PASSAGES Social-justice activist, dominatrix Mistress Velvet dies
PASSAGES Social-justice activist, dominatrix Mistress Velvet dies By Carrie Maxwell Social-justice activist and dominatrix Mistress Velvet (who used they/them pronouns) died by suicide May 9 in Chicago. They were 33. ...
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Trans candidate Tyler Titus wins PA primary, would be first trans County Exec in U.S.
--From a press release
Washington, DC — Erie School Board President Tyler Titus (they/them) has won the Democratic primary for county executive in Erie County, Pennsylvania — declaring victory today at 4pm ET after a close election with three opponents. ...
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International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia observed May 17
--From May17.org
LGBTQI+ networks, individuals and allies from around the world took part in the 2021 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia again this year on May 17. The theme for this year's events was "Together: Resisting, ...
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Trevor Project releases 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, DC — May 19, 2021 — The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people ...
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President Biden releases statement on Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia
--From a press release
Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, May 17, 2021: Jill and I are proud to recognize the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia — the anniversary ...
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WORLD: Toronto schools, shocking death, trans women sentenced, Elton John
The Toronto Catholic District School Board plans to celebrate Pride Month every June, starting this year, CBC.ca reported. The board's trustees voted in favor of flying rainbow flags outside its office and all of its schools ...
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Tennessee governor signs anti-trans 'bathroom bill'
On May 14, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed House Bill 1233 (Senate Bill 1367)—an anti-transgender "bathroom bill"—into law, The Advocate reported. The statute will deny trans students and staff in ...
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Quigley advocates for trans immigrants during ICE hearing
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and a founding member of the Transgender Equality Task Force, questioned Acting Director of Immigration ...
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Federal judge hears incarcerated trans woman's motion
On May 12, a federal judge heard an emergency motion in a case charging the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) with violating the constitutional rights of Ashley Diamond—a Black transgender woman currently incarcerated in a men's ...
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International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia to take place May 17
--From a press release
LGBTQI+ networks, individuals and allies from around the world will be celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia again this year on Monday, May 17. The theme for this year's events, known also as ...
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Gov. Pritzker announces $1B in Rebuild Illinois grants for Local infrastructure projects
--From a press release
CHAMPAIGN — As summer construction season ramps up, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today announced the fourth round of $250 million in Rebuild Illinois funded grants is available to advance municipal, ...
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Stephanie Battaglino, New York Life's first transgender officer, releases memoir
--From a press release
May 11, 2021… Educator and motivational speaker Stephanie Battaglino today officially released her memoir, Reflections from Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My True Self in Corporate America, from L'Oste Vineyard Press. After many years ...
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TELEVISION Jasmine Davis returns to 'The Chi'
Actress Jasmine Davis has a past history with Chicago, Illinois that continues into the future. Growing up in the Windy City has certainly paid off for the transgender performer throughout her career. After attending Kenwood High ...
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Evangelical Lutherans select first transgender bishop
The Evangelical Lutheran Church elected its first openly transgender bishop on May 8, The Hill reported. The Rev. Megan Rohrer, who uses the pronouns they/them, was elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Sierra ...
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GLAAD issues inaugural Social Media Safety Index
--From a press release
New York, NY - May 10, 2021 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced the findings of its inaugural Social Media Safety Index (SMSI), a 50-page ...
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WORLD Parenting news, Tonga activist, pension fight, drag personality
A Croatian court has ruled that same-sex partners can now adopt children, backing a same-sex couple in their five-year fight for the right to family life, Openly News reported. On April 21, Zagreb's Administrative Court ruled ...
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NATIONAL Military bill, LGBTQ teen, trans deaths, Pride items, children's book
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that directs the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs in the Garden State to assist former Armed Forces service members who were denied an honorable discharge due to ...
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Refugee Coalition of East Africa calls for attention to anti-queer violence
--From a press release
On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia will be observed worldwide, followed by many celebrations of Pride in the month of June. We at the Refugee Coalition of East Africa will raise ...
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Utah Supreme Court upholds transgender rights
--From a press release
Salt Lake City — On Thursday, May 6, the Utah Supreme Court ruled today In Re Gray and Rice (20170046) 2021 UT 13, and confirmed the right of transgender Utahns to change the name and gender ...
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National Black Justice Coalition honors the life of Monica Roberts
--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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WORLD Caribbean group, hate crime, 'Queen of the Pacific,' volcano wedding
A Caribbean advocacy group launched a fund to help LGBTQ people who have been impacted by the eruption of a volcano on the island of St. Vincent, The Washington Blade reported. The Eastern Caribbean Alliance for ...
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NATIONAL Black trans candidate, travel case, trans death, CEO fired
RuPaul's Drag Race alum Honey Mahogany—who currently holds a vice-chair seat in her local County Central Committee—announced that she will be seeking the role of chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party when current Party Chair ...
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New report examines bans on medical care for trans youth
The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new policy spotlight report, "Efforts to Ban Health Care for Transgender Youth." In 2021 alone, legislatures in 22 states have introduced bills to ban best practice medical care for ...
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Study: Gender-affirming surgery improves mental health outcomes among transgender people
--From a press release
BOSTON, April 28, 2021—A new study published today in JAMA Surgery (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2779429) found that gender-affirming surgery is associated with improved mental health ...
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Yet another governor signs anti-trans bill
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing in female sports in middle and high schools and colleges, The Seattle Times noted. Bills seeking to ban transgender girls from competing ...
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Queer health sciences art: U of Michigan students translate research through art
ANN ARBOR—Tanaka Chavanduka was inspired to reconsider his communication methods after a trip to a national conference on HIV in Washington, D.C. While there, he also visited the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of ...
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New Center for Applied Transgender Studies responds to trans misinformation
Combatting bad information and promoting accurate education on transgender issues are the focuses at the Center for Applied Transgender Studies, which officially opened March 31. The independent, nonprofit, research organization ...
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AMA to states: Stop interfering in health care of transgender children
--From a press release
CHICAGO — On April 26, the American Medical Association (AMA) urged governors to oppose state legislation that would prohibit medically necessary gender transition-related care minor patients, calling such efforts "a ...
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NATIONAL 'Trans in the South,' N.C. ordinance, HIV lawsuits, Andrew Yang
The Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) released the 2021 edition of Trans in the South: A Directory of Trans-Affirming Health & Legal Service Providers, a press release noted. Nearly 400 ...
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WORLD Namibia ruling, U.S. embassies, Kenya refugee camp, trans teen
Namibia's High Court ruled against a gay couple battling to obtain travel documents for their twin daughters, born to a surrogate in South Africa, after authorities refused to do so on the basis the infants were ...
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Body of 19-year-old Chicago Black trans woman found in June 2020, identified April 2021
On June 6, 2020, the body of an unidentified young Black trans person was found in an abandoned building at 7908 S Laflin in Chicago. https://twitter.com/KaylaraOwl/status/1292173435750277123 . Koko Nia Labeija was born 29 May 2001 in ...
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Alabama governor signs anti-trans measure
Continuing the thread of anti-transgender measures that almost two dozen states have considered or are considering, Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill into law April 23 that requires all Alabama athletes in K-12 public ...
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Caitlyn Jenner declares gubernatorial run
Former Olympic champion, reality-TV star and transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner is running to be governor of California, as a recall of the sitting Democratic Gov. Gavin Newson moves forward. In a press release posted to Twitter, ...
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Trump-era LGBTQ housing discrimination reversed, Quigley praises HUD action
--From a press release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) , a Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and ...
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HUD removes anti-trans Trump-era policy
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is withdrawing a Trump-era policy that would have allowed taxpayer-funded homeless shelters to deny access to transgender people, a Minneapolis Star-Tribune ...
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Cook County State's Attorney to present panel on transgender women of color, safety
The Cook County State's Attorney office will present a Transgender Women of Color Panel, a discussion about safety issues for transgender women of color, on April 27, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. central time. Panel members will ...
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Kansas, North Dakota governors veto anti-trans measures [UPDATE]
Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, each vetoed anti-trans measures.
...
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Jennifer Pritzker threatens to leave Tennessee over anti-trans legislation
Jennifer Pritzker—the world's first out and only known transgender billionaire, as well as a cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker—threatened to pull her fortune from Tennessee if lawmakers pass transphobic ...
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Gay, trans panic defenses continue in court cases in many US states
--From a press release
Gay and trans panic defenses first appeared in court cases in the 1960s and continue to be raised in criminal trials today. ...
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PASSAGES Donald Duane Slater
Donald Duane Slater, age 73, of Kalamazoo Michigan made his transition on April 8, 2021 in his home, of natural causes. Don worked in several bars in the 1970's and 80's. Among them the Glory Hole ...
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GLAAD responds to increase in suicide attempts among trans youth in Arkansas
--From a press release
(New York, NY - April 19, 2021) — GLAAD is responding to reports of an increase in suicide attempts among transgender youth in Arkansas, which on April 6 became the first U.S. state to outlaw gender-affirming ...
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NATIONAL More trans deaths, bullied teen, Manhunt, trans writer, Biden
A Black transgender woman in Missouri was shot to death—and investigators swiftly tracked down a suspect they believe shot her after meeting on an online dating website, LGBTQ Nation reported. Dominique Lucious was found dead April ...
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Poll: Most Americans oppose anti-trans laws
A new PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll showed that two-thirds of U.S. residents oppose laws that would limit transgender rights, PBS reported. About one half of one percent of U.S. adults are transgender, according to a recent Gallup ...
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Equality Florida, HRC condemn Florida House passage of trans sports ban
--From a press release
Tallahassee, FL - The Florida House has voted 77-40 to ban transgender girls from playing sports alongside their peers. The vote comes just hours after transgender students and advocates held a press conference in the Florida ...
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International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia theme announced
--From a collective press release
LGBTQI+ networks from around the world have announced the theme for this year's International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia: "Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing!" We are inspired by this very ...
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More than 45,000 trans youth put at risk of losing access to gender-affirming care
--From a Williams Institute press release
An estimated 45,100 transgender youth ages 13 and older in the U.S. are at risk of being denied gender-affirming medical care due to proposed and enacted state bans, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School ...
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NCAA issues statement hitting back at anti-trans discrimination
The NCAA, which regulates college athletics in the United States, supported transgender athletes April 12, saying it won't hold championship events in locations that aren't "free of discrimination," NBC News reported. As Republicans in more than ...
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Trans, non-binary youth influencers launch book collection with "A Kids Book About"
--From a press release
Chicago, IL - April 12, 2021 - While many teens took e-learning as an opportunity to level-up their gaming skills, a group of young people chose instead to write a collection of books about their lives. ...
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WORLD Trans women arrested, death threats, Russian film, leader apologizes
Two transgender women facing charges of "attempted homosexuality" (as well as public indecency and not carrying identification) in a high-profile case in Cameroon will spend more than two months behind bars without a trial after a ...
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