News

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Hundreds of women once flocked to an Oregon city & created a lesbian mecca. They’ve got stories.

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In their poignant new documentary, Outliers and Outlaws, director Courtney Hermann and producer Judith Raiskin tell the (mostly) untold story of the hundreds of women who migrated to Eugene, Oregon in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, making the small town home to the greatest number of lesbians per capita in the United States. At the dawn of Eugene’s identity as a lesbian refuge, America was defined by college protests, opposition to the Vietnam War, collectives and communes, a new back-to-the-land ethos, and the nascent women’s and “gay rights” movements. At the center of it all for many women was Eugene. About […]

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Florida Senate pushes ahead with ‘don’t say gay at work’ bill after seemingly brushing it aside

The Florida Senate revived legislation that would restrict the use of preferred pronouns for public employees. A committee on Tuesday took up a “don’t say gay or trans at work” bill that would require public employees to be identified in form as either male or female, and which would bar employers from directing workers to use pronouns besides he or she. That action took place just a week after Equality Florida activists showed up en masse at the Florida Capitol and celebrated the seeming death of the legislation. But the Florida Senate’s Government Oversight took up the measure again at the discretion of Florida […]

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Trinidad & Tobago bans homosexuality… again

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Trinidad and Tobago has reinstated its ban on homosexuality, which was lifted by the Caribbean nation’s High Court in 2018. That year, the High Court in the Christian-majority nation ruled in a lawsuit brought by LGBTQ+ activist Jason Jones that Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offenses Act are “irrational and illegal” because they violate the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. “What I think the judge pointed out was ‘here every creed and race find an equal place,’ and I think we must all come together now and embrace each other in true love and respect,” Jones […]

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Utah becomes first state to ban LGBTQ+ pride flags in government buildings and schools

Utah became the first state to prohibit flying LGBTQ+ pride flags at schools and all government buildings after the Republican governor announced he was allowing a ban on unsanctioned flag displays to become law without his signature. Gov. Spencer Cox, who made the announcement late Thursday night, said he continues to have serious concerns with the policy but chose not to reject it because his veto would likely be overridden by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Starting May 7, state or local government buildings will be fined $500 a day for flying any flag other than the United States flag, the Utah state flag, […]

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Report: Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Relation to Forced Displacement

Each year, Rainbow Railroad receives more than ten thousand requests for help from LGBTQI+ individuals facing violence and persecution worldwide. These firsthand accounts provide unparalleled insight into the urgent realities of forced displacement and the systemic barriers preventing LGBTQI+ persons from accessing safety. Our unique data not only informs direct interventions but also strengthens global advocacy. By analyzing trends in displacement, resettlement, and protection gaps, we advance policy solutions that challenge discriminatory asylum systems, push for inclusive refugee protections, and hold governments accountable. At a time when anti-LGBTQI+ laws are intensifying and asylum pathways are shrinking, our work underscores a […]

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Tax and Legal Help at Sonoma County Library

No matter what life throws your way, your library is here to help you meet the moment.  Need legal help? Don’t know where to start with filing taxes? Looking for guidance with technology? We’re here to help!Law, Finance & Technology Lawyers in the LibraryLocal volunteer attorneys offer free legal information and referral for general law matters. Sign-ups are first come, first served in person and begin 30 minutes before the program begins. AARP Tax-AideVolunteer tax preparers from the AARP Foundation will help you with your taxes as part of their free Tax-Aide program. The library also provides tax forms and information here.  One-on-One Tech […]

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California’s San Mateo County celebrates trans people, fights bullying

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At a time of attacks on transgender people and immigrants, San Mateo County in Northern California is standing up for them. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Tuesday OK’d a resolution confirming the county’s commitment to fight bullying of young people, Local News Matters reports. The county is located just south of San Francisco. “[Donald] Trump’s bullying tactics have swept across our schools, causing immigrant children to fear being deported and LGBTQ+ children to fear having their long-fought for rights to be trampled upon,” Board President David Canepa, the resolution’s sponsor, said in a statement released Monday night, according to the site. The resolution “directs each county department and employee to […]

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Education Dept. opens investigation into California schools’ gender identity law

The Department of Education started an investigation Thursday into a new California law that bars public schools from disclosing to parents the sexual orientation of their children. If the three-month-old law were to be found in violation of federal rules and the Trump administration acted on threats to withhold funding, the state could lose up to $7.9 billion, California Department of Education officials said. The investigation is the latest move by the Trump administration to address gender identity and sexual orientation in schools and beyond. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order saying the U.S. would recognize only two sexes, […]

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Heroes of the Resistance: Lawmakers, Activists and Others Accelerating Acceptance for LGBTQ Rights

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Welcome to the latest edition of Heroes of the Resistance — GLAAD’s ongoing series highlighting positive changemakers for the LGBTQ community at a time of challenge and uncertainty. In a significant recent victory, Senate Democrats came together unanimously to halt legislation at the federal level that would have banned federally-funded schools from allowing transgender girls to participate in sports, calling it a distraction intended to harm a small group of people. The bill, pushed forward by Republicans, had mirrored a dangerous executive order issued by President Trump that perpetuates myths and disinformation about transgender Americans. GLAAD’s fact sheet on transgender people in sports […]

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How a shelter hit by Trump’s aid cuts protects LGBTQ migrants in Mexico

Ana Esquivel no longer feels like her heart stops every time she sees a police officer. “We’ve been told that they won’t harass or mistreat us here, but back home, if a male name is spotted on your ID, you could spend the night detained,” said the 50-year-old transgender woman. She fled Cuba fearing for her safety and arrived in Mexico earlier this year. Esquivel settled in the southern city of Tapachula, hoping to dodge the Trump’s administration crackdown on migration and reach the United States. But unlike many who turned back after their Border Patrol appointments got canceled, returning home is not […]

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