Rafaella Gunz

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Med Students Push for More LGBTI Health Training

Sarah Spiegel, a third-year med student at New York Medical College, is pushing for more comprehensive LGBTI health training. After being disappointed in the brief information about LGBTI health given to her in her first year of med school, Spiegel decided to make a change. By her second year, she became president of the school’s LGBT Advocacy in Medicine Club. Spiegel and a group of peers approached the administration about the lack of LGBTI content in the curriculum. According to Spiegel, the administration was ‘amazingly receptive’ to the idea. Thus, the school went from an hour and half of LGBTI-focused […]

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500 People Show up to Drag Queen Story Hour, Following Protests

Drag queen Bella Aldama reads to a large group of kids and parents during Drag Queen Story Hour16 February 2019    17:44 GMTRafaella Gunz An estimated 500 people showed up to attend a San Francisco-based Drag Queen Story Hour on Monday, 11 February. This huge gathering at the Brentwood Community Center showed support for the event after a small group of anti-LGBTI protesters deemed the event ‘inappropriate’ for children. Contra Costa County Libraries, who hosted this event, was not expecting such a huge turnout. At the event, drag queen Bella Aldama read children’s stories to the youngest guests. ‘The Contra Costa County […]

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Planned Parenthood Introduces New Programs for Gay Men and Trans People

Planned Parenthood, the 102-year-old organization providing sexual health care, is expanding their mission. The organization is introducing programs specifically for gay men and trans people. Tell me more For gay men, Planned Parenthood (PP) is now offering PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). This is a type of regimented medication to prevent HIV infection. ‘We’ve just started doing PrEP fairly recently,’ Phebe Brandt, a Philadelphia-based Planned Parenthood clinician, told Philadelphia Gay News. ‘We do all the counseling around it,’ Brandt continues. ‘We do all the testing that’s necessary, we actually provide prescriptions. And if people don’t have insurance and need to go through the program […]

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This Art Exhibit Explores the LGBTI Roots of the Punk Movement

Punk Lust: Raw Provocation 1971-1985 is an exhibit at NYC’s Museum of Sex. It explores the intersection between sexuality and the punk movement. When people think of punk, images of skinny white boys (Joey Ramone, Sid Vicious) might come to mind. However, this exhibit will feature lesser-known punk icons, including LGBTI punks. The Exhibit Curated by cultural critic Carlo McCormick, writer/musician Vivien Goldman, and artist/Museum of Sex curator Lissa Rivera, the large exhibit includes over 300 objects. These items include rare photographs and personal objects, such as Johnny Thunders’ leather jacket, owned by Manic Panic founders Tish and Snooky. It […]

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Amazon Removes LGBTI Documentary, Claims it Didn’t Meet Prime’s ‘Quality Standard’

Amazon Prime has removed the LGBTI documentary Words, by trans filmmaker AJ Mattioli. The documentary explores the question if identity, especially as it relates to LGBTI people living in New York City. It includes interviews from various LGBTI figures, including Carmen Carrera, Bob The Drag Queen, Miss Fame, and more. Words initially went up on Amazon Prime over a year ago. However, the company decided to remove it on 17 January. GSN spoke directly to AJ Mattioli about the issue. Mattioli explains his production company received a message stating that Words would be pulled from their streaming service. ‘We are […]

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Gay Jewish Owner of San Francisco Civic Engagement Space Faces Weekly Protests

Manny’s Cafe, a civic engagement space in San Francisco’s Mission District, has been facing an onslaught of protest. Manny Yekutiel, the space’s owner, is the gay son of an Afghan refugee. He opened the doorsto the community space in November 2016. Since then, it’s been a hub for cultural and intellectual discourse. It has been a host to speakers from many social justice causes, including Black Lives Matter. Visitors are also welcome to peruse the space’s bookstore for titles from authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Howard Zinn. The food at the space is prepared daily by Farming Hope, a non-profit […]

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Condoms Are Now Free in Washington State to Those with Insurance

Over-the-counter contraceptives, such as condoms, are now free to Washington State residents with health insurance. Following six years of Republican obstruction, the Reproductive Parity Act was finally passedlast year. Starting on 1 January 2019, Washingtonians with state-regulated health insurance (including Medicaid) can pick up over-the-counter contraceptives at their in-network pharmacies for no cost. According to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner of Washington State, these contraceptives include ‘condoms, spermicides, emergency contraceptives, and sponges.’ Additionally, this new policy also covers sterilizations and vasectomies, as well as free abortions to those whose health plans cover maternity services.

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Transgender person shot dead in Detroit, Michigan

A 35-year-old transgender person was fatally shot on the East Side of Detroit. According to the Detroit Free Press, the unidentified person was found around 6 AM on Friday, 7 December. No other details about the victim have been released at this time. The body was found on E. McNichols Road, between Brush and Omira. The street remains closed for the investigation. Police are currently investigating the incident, but do not consider it a hate crime. Authorities are looking into a claim by a man who was allegedly robbed in the area and fired a self-protection shot. He was unsure […]

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This Two-Spirited Cherokee is Bringing Awareness to Indigenous Women’s #MeToos

Jen Deerinwater: a bisexual, two-spirit, and disabled Citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma 24 November 2018    16:17 GMT Content Note: This article contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence Jen Deerinwater is a bisexual, two-spirit, and disabled Citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Recently, they took to Twitter to share their #MeToo story. For Deerinwater, bringing awareness to the treatment of indigenous women and girls is a necessary goal in the #MeToo era. ‘For me, it’s all about sharing our stories and realities,’ says Deerinwater. ‘We can’t change the system if our existence isn’t even acknowledged.’ On […]

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New Owners of 2 Major LGBTI Publications Allegedly Donated to Anti-gay Politicians

The new owners of OUT Magazine and The Advocate, two major LGBTI publications, allegedly donated money to anti-gay politicians. Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) reports that step brothers Adam Levin and Maxx Abramowitz bought the two publications, under the umbrella of PRIDE Media, back in September. The brothers are the founders of Oreva Capital, a private equity firm, as well. In addition to PRIDE Media, Levin and Abramowitz are also, respectively, the CEO and lead investor of the High Times Magazine parent company, High Times Holdings. WWD found that Levin has donated money to numerous Republican politicians with anti-LGBTI agendas. For […]

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