National

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An Alabama LGBTQ+ bar advertised a drag show. Then the city denied its liquor license

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The owner of an LGBTQ+ bar and grill in Alabama that was forced to close down after officials denied its liquor and entertainment licenses has filed a lawsuit against the town for discrimination.  Thomas Fuller, who owned Crossroads Bar and Grill, asserts that the Town of Rockford “effectively singled [him] out because of his sexual orientation, deprived him of equal protection under the law, and forced him to close his business,” according to the lawsuit filed in September in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama Northern Division. After obtaining a business and an ABC Board liquor license in 2023, Fuller […]

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Protesters Arrested During Removal Of TX Crosswalks

Houston’s CBS affiliate reports: Major changes are underway in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, where crews began removing the city’s rainbow crosswalks early Monday morning. The colorful crossings, long considered a symbol of Pride and unity, are being stripped away following a directive from Governor Greg Abbott. By sunrise, two of the four rainbow crosswalks at Westheimer and Taft had already been removed. The removal comes after days of tension, protests, and frustration within the community. The decision follows Abbott’s call to remove what he described as “political ideologies” from roadways — guidance that traces back to a federal directive from the Trump […]

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Federal judge orders Pentagon to restore LGBTQ+ books, gender & diversity lessons in military schools

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A federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, has ordered the Pentagon to restore nearly 600 books and reinstate lessons on race, gender, and identity in schoolsserving military families, ruling that the Trump administration’s restrictions on classroom content likely violated students’ First Amendment rights. In a 44-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles concluded that the Department of Defense Education Activity removed books and altered curricula in ways that suppressed certain viewpoints and deprived students of access to ideas about race and gender. She found that the department’s actions caused real harm and were likely motivated by viewpoint discrimination. The ruling requires the Pentagon to immediately return […]

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How Moms for Liberty Took Over One Florida County

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Mink Tyner says some people call her a “helicopter parent” because of how protective she is over her kids. Despite this, she wasn’t concerned about bringing her daughter, then 14, to the Indian River County, Florida, school board meeting in August 2023, where they were discussing changes to the state’s curriculum relating to race and slavery. That’s why she was shocked when she saw community members at the podium reading excerpts of sexual content from books. “I hate lights out now because my D has a mind of its own,” one woman read. Then a man came up and read, “When Doris […]

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In Authoritarianism, Dictators Come for LGBTQ People First. Here’s Why

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“Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” protestors chanted in the middle of Times Square, among a sea of signs that read “love reigns not kings,” “gays against faux-king Trump,” “we stand with … our trans family” and “the future is coming.” On Saturday, independent analysts estimated that the No Kings March drew between 5 and 8 million people, and organizers say over 7 million people attended 2,700 events across all 50 states. The event, which was organized to push against the rise of authoritarianism in the U.S., was the largest single-day protest in America since 1970. Among the crowd […]

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The kids aren’t alright: Depression and anxiety rates are skyrocketing among LGBTQ+ youth

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LGBTQ+ youth in the United States already had poor mental health — but it’s only gotten worse in the past two years. Mental health crises among LGBTQ+ youth have recently risen significantly, according to a new report from The Trevor Project, with anxiety symptoms climbing from 57 percent to 68 percent, depressive symptoms increasing from 48 percent to 54 percent, and suicidal ideation growing from 41 percent to 47 percent. While past-year suicide attempts declined from 11 percent to 7 percent, the rate remains higher than national estimates for cisgender heterosexual youth. “While many of the findings in this study are devastating, they […]

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This gay teacher was doxxed by MAGA for opposing fascism. He’s not backing down.

Anthony Nicodemo is no stranger to hate. When the high school basketball coach and social studies teacher came out in a groundbreaking 2013 interview, the threats got so bad that the school hired undercover cops to attend his games. But the influx of hate didn’t stop his advocacy. It didn’t stop him from becoming a regular contributor to Outsports or from posting videos celebrating Pride and inclusion. Hate didn’t stop him from speaking out as the MAGA movement gained traction and began to come for queer educators, and it didn’t stop him from loudly supporting trans kids. “I know how to handle it,” he told LGBTQ Nation. “I don’t get rattled.” […]

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NBC fires teams of journalists focused on marginalized communities, axing NBC Out & NBC BLK staff

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NBC News has laid off about 150 employees, roughly 7 percent of its newsroom, and dissolved its dedicated editorial teams covering Black, Latino, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ communities, according to The Wrap. The Advocateconfirmed the firings through a source who was affected by the cuts. The move is part of a reorganization that separates MSNBC from NBC News under a new entity called Versant. Executives described the decision as an efficiency measure to eliminate overlap and streamline operations across NBCUniversal’s news division. But it also dismantles the network’s identity-based teams: NBC BLK, NBC Latino, NBC Asian America, and NBC Out. NBC News confirmed that while some roles were […]

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Activists Offer Safety Precautions For No Kings Day

Axios reports: Attorneys and protest organizers advised demonstrators take these safety precautions. Study the protest route, and organize transportation to and from the event. Stick with a group and set a meet-up location if you get separated. Pack essential supplies for the day in a suitable bag. Water, snacks, ID, medications and cash should be readily available. Wear non-distinctive clothing to avoid being easily identified. Don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want on you if you were arrested. Consider surveillance precautions and how you want to safeguard your identity. Leaving your phone at home is the best way to protect privacy and […]

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Texas follows Florida’s lead in demanding end to rainbow crosswalks and street art

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Texas Gov Greg Abbott has joined the effort to blot out rainbow crosswalks on public streets. That means the Lone Star State will follow the lead of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and states including Florida, which has continued to erase all street art in the name of erasing “political ideologies” from the roadways. The Texas Department of Transportation sent a memo to local governments announcing it would adhere to Duffy’s direction to keep crosswalks “free from distractions.” That means Texas won’t allow any public art, political messaging, or any other nonstandard markings. “Pavement markings such as decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings conveying artwork or other messages […]

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