Alex Cooper

/

L.A. Dodgers Apologize, Reinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to Pride Night

,

The Los Angeles Dodgers have apologized to the L.A. order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence about a week after announcing the group was uninvited to the team’s annual Pride Night on June 16, following conservative backlash at their inclusion. “After much thoughtful feedback from our diverse communities, honest conversations within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and generous discussions with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Los Angeles Dodgers would like to offer our sincerest apologies to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, members of the LGBTQ_ community and their friends and family,” the team said in a statement posted to […]

/

L.A. Pride Organizers Announce Trio of Grand Marshals for Its 2023 Parade

,

The Christopher Street West Association announced its trio of grand marshals for its L.A. Pride Parade on June 11. Legendary queer comedian Margaret Cho will be honored as the Icon Grand Marshal, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California has been named the Community Grand Mashal, and the late gay actor Leslie Jordan will be honored posthumously as the parade’s Legacy Grand Marshal. “Christopher Street West is honored and humbled by this year’s three grand marshals,” said Gerald Garth, president of CSW, in a press release. “Each have contributed to the LGBTQ+ community in their own unique ways, furthering our […]

/ /

This North Carolina Drag Brunch Has Raised Over $60k for Good

A restaurant, bar, and art gallery in Charlotte, N.C., has been hosting drag brunches since the early days of the pandemic. What first started out as a way to make some cash and help keep some drag performers employees now has become a community event collecting tens of thousands of dollars for local charities. The Artisan’s Palate hosts a drag brunch once a month. “It’s always been our mission to be more than just a restaurant and bar. We wanted to find a way to give back to the community, and these drag brunches are just such a fun, positive way to […]

/ /

18 Attorneys General Challenge ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law in Amicus Brief

,

Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced a coalition of 18 attorneys general that are opposing Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act — also known as the “don’t say gay” law. Racine’s office said in a press release late last week that the law posed a threat to LGBTQ+ students, emphasizing that they are at particular risk and harm to discrimination. “My office has a strong track record of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the District and across the country to make sure that everyone can simply be who they are and love who they love,” Racine said. “Florida’s law offers no benefit to anyone […]

/ /

Homosexuality Voted to Be Struck from Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code

Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives unanimously voted to strike the word “homosexuality” from the state’s criminal code where it had been listed in the definition of prohibited sex acts. Supporters say said the word doesn’t belong since being gay isn’t a crime, according to The Associated Press. “This bill provides a long-overdue update to our crimes code to ensure nobody is prosecuted because of who they love,” state Rep. Todd Stephens, a Republican who also introduced the bill, said. “Eliminating this archaic language will also help promote a culture of acceptance and inclusion for our LGBTQ community across Pennsylvania.” Stephens had first […]

/ /

TikTok Suspends Human Rights Campaign For 2 Days Over ‘Gay’ Comment

,

The Human Rights Campaign’s TikTok account was suspended for two days after it posted in support of another TikTok user’s pro-LGBTQ+ video. On Monday, the LGBTQ+ rights group wrote on Twitter explaining it had been suspended for a couple of days last week after it commented on a video protesting Florida’s “don’t say gay” law. The video in question showed a teenager driving past a sign welcoming people to the state while they yelled “gay!” On Monday, the LGBTQ+ rights group wrote on Twitter explaining it had been suspended for a couple of days last week after it commented on a video protesting Florida’s “don’t say […]

/ /

Palestinian Police Vow Crackdown on LGBTQ Events in West Bank

Palestinian police have banned events organized by the LGBTQ rights organization alQaws because they go against “traditional Palestinian values,” the rights group said in a statement Sunday. The organization condemned the ban and recent attacks on LGBTQ Palestinians, including the reported stabbing of a 16-year-old outside an LGBTQ youth shelter in Tel Aviv. “AlQaws condemns the use of prosecution, intimidation and threats of arrest, be it by the police or members of society,” the group wrote on Facebook. “We have always been public and accessible about our work, through maintaining an active website, social media presence and engagement in civil society. However, we […]

/ /

UK Sees 81% Rise in Transphobic Hate Crimes

Hate crimes against transgender people in England, Scotland and Wales have risen 81 percent, the BBC reported last week.  The news service obtained the data from 36 out of 44 police departments throughout Great Britain. The data showed an increase to 1,944 reported hate crimes based on gender identity compared to 1,073 in 2016-2017.  The U.K.’s Home Office told the BBC the uptick in the numbers of hate crimes is due to an increase in victims reporting them.  Two police forces — Suffolk Constabulary and Merseyside Police — saw a decrease in hate crimes, while both the West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire […]

/ /

Organizers of Georgia’s First Pride Defiant amid Threats of Violence

The first Pride to be held in the Eurasian country of Georgia is taking place in its capital, Tbilisi, this week. Recent violence and threats against the organizers of Tbilisi Pride and their supporters have put the almost week-long series of events from June 18-23 at risk of being canceled. On Monday, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) met with Tbilisi Pride organizers and the country’s ombudswoman and asked that the event be canceled, an organizer told the Washington Blade. This meeting follows a weekend when organizers were threatened by hooligans and a Georgian millionaire began calling for groups to form against […]

1 2