Christopher Wiggins

Military veterans from the LGBTQ+ community have sued the Department of Defense for denying them honorable discharges and listing their sexual orientation on their service records. Plaintiffs are seeking honorable discharges in a class action lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which would give them access to benefits such as healthcare services, academic tuition aid, and loan resources reserved for veterans who are in good standing when they leave the military, NBC News reports.  Moreover, the plaintiffs are requesting that their discharge documents be amended to remove references to their sexuality. They claim the government […]

A federal judge in Arkansas temporarily stopped a new law in the state that would have authorized criminal prosecution of librarians and bookstores who provide juveniles with “harmful” materials, the Associated Press reports. Judge Timothy L. Brooks enjoined the law, which would have constructed a new process for contesting library materials for relocation to locations not accessible by children. Former TrumpWhite House Press Secretary and current Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the measure earlier this year, with an August 1 effective date. Libraries and booksellers would be chilled from carrying titles that could be challenged if they fear prosecution under the law, according […]

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the Texas Attorney General and other defendants on Wednesday to prevent Senate Bill 12 from taking effect on September 1. It would ban drag performances in most public venues if permitted to move forward. In the ACLU’s lawsuit, the group asserts that SB 12, which includes a ban on drag performances, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and threatens Texans’ livelihoods and free expression. For artists and those who support them, the ban targets any performance that could be construed as “sexual” and imposes criminal penalties, including a year in jail.  Many constitutionally protected performances could be censored by […]

Increased representation and awareness of LGBTQ+ communities in entertainment, politics, and business seems to have increased anti-LGBTQ+ activism, according to a new report from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. As a result, right-wing extremists stepped up their attacks on LGBTQ+ people during Pride Month celebrations nationwide. Researchers found a spike in anti-LGBTQ+ protests during Pride celebrations, including in historically liberal states like California. One in five demonstrations took place there last month, according to the group. Aside from anti-Pride protests, ACLED also notes that many of these protests targeted drag shows and gender-affirming care. Most anti-LGBTQ+ events were reported in Texas, New York, and California, with 26 […]

Governors across the country have taken part in GLSEN’s Rise Up campaign, releasing proclamations affirming the safety of LGBTQ+ youth in their communities. Governors from Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Washington State vowed to protect LGBTQ+ youth. Local elected officials in California, Nevada, Washington State, North Carolina, and Florida also provided support for the campaign. GLSEN is a nonprofit organization that works to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students in schools.  At least 15 mayors also joined the call in pledging to rise up for LGBTQ+ youth in their communities, a press release said. “Attacks against LGBTQ+ youth have become more frequent and more vicious, and we can’t wait to take action,” […]