7 things you should know about the history of LGBTQ+ activism

Spice Girls singer Victoria Beckham has opened up about the group’s LGBTQ+ fans in a new interview.

A local Fox affiliate reported on the "unexpected alliance" between conservatives and Arab Americans in standing up to public school boards in Michigan that are stocking "explicit" LGBTQ books in school libraries.  The report detailed the attendance of concerned conservative and Arab American parents at a Dearborn, Michigan public school board meeting Thursday night to protest "having LGBTQ+ books on the library’s rolls saying they’re sexually explicit." Fox 2 said, "Their presence was a nod to the unexpected alliance of sorts between conservatives and many in the Arab American community as their interests overlap on this issue."  Michigan parents protest school board over explicit books in school library. (Fox News) Republican Michigan attorney general candidate Matthew Deperno, in attendance that evening, commented on this united front.

Historians throughout time have erased LGBTQ people from the history books, including from stories of the Wild West. But one historian has revealed that this era of settlers, cowboys, outlaws, and Native Americans also contained “hundreds” of people who lived as the opposite gender.Peter Boag, author of Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past, said he discovered “hundreds of individuals living their lives as the opposite gender” from the early 1800s to the early 1900s.Boag said that many of these people were individuals who were assigned a female gender at birth, but dressed and lived as men in order to either escape criminal charges they had gotten as women or to have the same social rights as men.At the time, women were treated like the property of their husbands or birth families.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture held “A Speakeasy Evening: Welcome Home” on Friday, Oct. 14 highlighting the ballroom scene. Famed comic Sampson McCormick performed and served as the emcee, music was provided by DJ MIM and a panel discussion on “Ballroom and Beyond” featured Tracey Africa Norman, Rayceen Pendarvis, Kevin Aviance, and Twiggy Pucci Garçon.

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A 22- year-old aspiring gay medical student was tortured and killed by Taliban fighters two months ago after being stopped at a checkpoint in the Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul.

CitizenGO Africa, a Catholic activist organization, has launched a boycott campaign against Netflix over its pro-LGBTQ content.

Democratic representatives seeking re-election this fall in Virginia remain silent after cozying up with a delegate in the state legislature whose new bill would make it a punishable crime for parents not to affirm their LGBT children. On Thursday, Delegate Elizabeth Guzman told WJLA that at the start of the new legislative session, she will introduce a bill that would penalize, with a misdemeanor or felony charge, parents who do not affirm their LGBT children.The bill would expand the state's definition of child abuse and neglect to include parents who do not affirm their LGBT children's gender identity or sexual orientation. "Well, we first have to complete an investigation," Guzman told WJLA about the new bill.

The saddest chapter and the most empowering our community experienced was in the wake of the California ballot initiative, Proposition 8, that took away marriage rights same-sex couples had gained only months previously.  It was Prop 22, which we’d lost years earlier and that made its way through the courts and resulted in a court ruling that codified our right to marriage yielding the “Summer of Love.”  However, with a very hurtful and divisive campaign led in Los Angeles mostly by the Catholic church, voters approved the removal of our rights at the ballot box. Among these voters were Latinos who heard from the local Cardinal to vote against us.  In L.A., representing the majority vote in California, the Latino vote matters – as the mainstream LGBTQ+ community learned the hard way.When HONOR PAC opened the first openly gay campaign office in East L.A.

(CNN) — It might be the most famous kiss ever caught on camera — the US sailor wrapping his arms around a woman in a white medical uniform in Times Square, her body folded dramatically into his. Taken amid the jubilation of V-J Day, which effectively brought World War II to an end, Alfred Eisenstaedt's black-and-white image was first published in Life magazine in 1945 and has since become a fixture in popular culture.It eventually made its way into artist Amy Sherald's studio, where the celebrated painter draws upon different visual touchstones in American history to inform her portraits of everyday Black life — representation that has been largely excluded from art history.In her new painting "For love, and for country," Sherald co-opts Eisenstaedt's image to make a bold statement of love: two Black male sailors sharing a deeply passionate kiss, their eyes closed as they become lost in the moment.

#houseofthedragoni have never been more attracted to another person in my entire life oh my GODthe lgbtq community on their way to the closest bar so they can order a negroni sbagliato with prosecco in itPour some prosecco out for the bartenders having to make negroni sbagliatos for 1000 bisexuals this weekoh you’re bi? spell negroni sbagliato right nowMy sexuality is Emma D'Arcy saying anythingIn the end, both Olivia and Emma joked that Emma should be doing Campari's next campaign.

pic.twitter.com/BxbI7QePy6"We don't see the educational merit in these books," some parents reportedly said, according to Firstpost, a news site based in India.The disputed books are in media centers across Dearborn Public Schools, Michigan's third-largest district, and they include This Book Is Gay, a nonfiction bestseller on sexuality and gender. Census data shows that about 47 percent of Dearborn's population consists of Arab Americans, many of whom are Muslim, according to Firstpost.At the school board's resumed meeting on Thursday, the room was packed with mostly Muslim parents, some holding signs calling for the books to be banned.

Ted Cruz (R-TX) waded in with what he believed was a cat-call from left-leaning commentators.The ClaimA tweet posted by Ted Cruz, on October 14, 2022, included a screengrab of what appeared to be an article from The Atlantic with the headline "The Evolution of White Supremacy" alongside a photo of the protest.The alleged article, accredited to journalist Abby Ohlheiser, included the subhead "In Dearborn Michigan, Muslim parents who oppose teaching pornography to children became the new face of the far right."Cruz tweeted "The Left is beyond parody."Other prominent accounts on the right have also shared the purported screengrab from the magazine.Wait, now Muslim intolerance of Western academic curriculums is... "the Evolution of White Supremacy?!"This is so utterly cretinous, it's hard to know even where to begin.

Almost 200 members of Congress, including zero Republicans, received a perfect score on Human Rights Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard.

I have seen more than a few emails come to my inbox with the words “price drop” and “price improvement” in the past few weeks. It seems that the days of a listing getting multiple offers are maybe not over, but less frequent. And while yes, the interest rates are higher right now, buyers are finding more opportunities to put an offer on a house with contingencies, at a lower than asking sales price, to ask for closing cost help, or help with buying down the interest rate.  Some homes are even being marketed with these types of credits already being offered.  

Looking back at the nearly 15 years I’ve worked at the Washington Blade, I find it difficult to summarize my time here in a single essay because the state of play has changed so dramatically for LGBTQ people within that period for the better.

El Senado de México el martes con 59 votos a favor, dos en contra y 16 abstenciones se aprobó agregar los “Delitos contra la orientación o la identidad de género de las personas” al Código Penal Federal mexicano y también reformar la Ley General de la Salud.

Urvashi Vaid (Photo by Rex Wockner)

Have an event coming up? Email your information to Managing Editor Tammye Nash at nash@dallasvoice.com or Senior Staff Writer David Taffet at taffet@dallasvoice.com by Wednesday at 5 p.m. for that week’s issue.

Leo Cusimano reading the paper with his dad

Two people have died after a shooting outside an LGBTQ+ bar in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia.

So, how many of you have already watched Hocus Pocus 2 and let Bette, Kathy and Sarah Jessica cast spells on you through your TV screen? Well, if you haven’t had the chance — or if you just prefer to have spells cast on you in person — head over to the Rose Room inside S4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road, on Saturday, Oct. 15, for Hocus Pocus GayBingo. Who knows — you might even scare up a win! Tickets are $35-$60, available in advance online at MyResourceCenter.org/GayBingo and at the door the night of the event. Proceeds benefit the programs of Resource Center.

There’s an expression that has forever haunted me when it comes to traveling: “gay friendly.” I always hated that. “Gay friendly” — what does that even mean? “Friendly” like you’ll say hi to me? Or “friendly” like you won’t spit at me or worse? Am I welcome, or am I tole

Three people are dead, including the gunman, in a shooting in front of a popular LGBTQ bar in the old town neighborhood of the Slovakian capital of Bratislava on Wednesday evening.

An online exhibit that details Montgomery County’s LGBTQ heritage launched on Thursday on the Montgomery History website.

There are "clearly partisan" divides over the inclusion of content addressing LGBTQ+ issues, race, and other supposedly controversial subjects in schools, says a new study from the University of Southern California."While Republican state leaders are backing public schools away from directly addressing race, gender, and sexual identity — as well as their historical injustices — in the U.S., Democratic state leaders are pushing in the opposite direction, mandating curricula and coursework discussing America’s racist origins and legacies and highlighting the contributions throughout history of women and people of color," says the study, titled "A House Divided? What Americans Really Think About Controversial Topics in Schools."Among the general population, both Republicans and Democrats surveyed by USC said it's good to teach high school students about certain subjects, including sex education, voting rights, and racism, but there was a great divide when it came to discussion of LGBTQ+ matters.

Grindr users have called out the dating app’s new CEO for his past conservative tweets. 

‘Yours Forever, Lincoln’October 21 – 29Quarry Theatre@ The Voxel 9 W. 25th St.Baltimore, MD 21218$15-$30Quarrtytheatre.com

Elliot Page has his next project lined up.

Clear your schedules — Washington’s International LGBTQ Film Festival, Reel Affirmations, is returning for its 29th year of screenings on Oct. 20. 

Mateo parece ser un chico adolescente promedio, al menos en su apariencia externa y amor por el fútbol, como es conocido el “soccer” aquí. Pero, él mantiene una profunda parte personal de sí mismo. “mi verdadero yo”, lejos incluso de sus amigos más cercanos y familia, solamente despojándose de su capa protectora en sus incursiones de fin de semana a La Zona Rosa de la Ciudad de México, un vecindario que es el centro de la vida LGBTQ en la capital mexicana, a una hora y media de distancia de Tizayuca.

We all know the LGBTQ community loves horror – that’s why we sometimes call Halloween “Gay Christmas.”

President Joe Biden “has no intention” of meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month, until and unless Russia engages in negotiations for the release of American WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner. 

The post ‘UK government is failing LGBTQ+ men,’ says former monkeypox patient appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Some families manage bakeries, nurseries, or vineyards.

Republican Maryland gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox on Wednesday said there is “transgender indoctrination” in the state’s kindergartens.

The owners of a gay bar in Connecticut were beaten outside their venue by a man who is also said to have assaulted them with homophobic slurs.

We’d love to be a fly on the wall in the Nebraska Governor’s Mansion right now.Susanne Shore, wife of Nebraska’s Republican governor Pete Ricketts, just endorsed the pro-LGBTQ Democrat seeking to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District over the pro-Trump, anti-LGBTQ Republican her husband endorsed earlier this year.Shore just released a video throwing her “wholehearted support” behind Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks for U.S. House, citing Brooks’ passion for serving others, especially children, as her main reason for doing so.“During my time as your first lady,” she says, “one legislator has proven that she will always use her voice to fight for not only those kids and their families, but all Nebraskans–that’s Patty Pansing Brooks.”A special message from Susanne Shore, First Lady of Nebraska: "During my time as your First Lady, one legislator has proven that she will always use her voice to fight for not only those kids and their families, but for all Nebraskans — that’s Patty Pansing Brooks." pic.twitter.com/3yrl5m5IYW— Patty Pansing Brooks (@Patty4Nebraska) October 11, 2022Pansing Brooks’ opponent, incumbent Mike Flood, was elected to the U.S.

The DC Public Library, Little District Books, and the Rainbow History Project are joining forces to host “Secret City – An evening with Jamie Kirchick” on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Southwest Neighborhood Library. Paul Smith of Georgetown University will moderate.

Free State Justice will host its annual Jazz Brunch on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at Guilford Hall Brewery in Baltimore, Md. The event is the first for the organization since its former executive director resigned after accusing the board of racism. 

At an Arkansas school board meeting Tuesday, where members passed several anti-LGBTQ+ policies, a man was caught on camera saying LGBTQ+ people “deserve death.”Hundreds of residents expressed their opinion before a vote on anti-LGBTQ+ policies, which drew a solid but mixed response.During the Conway school board meeting, Cal Paulson, a local preacher, urged support for the policies, explaining that God loves everyone, but disapproves of the practices and moral standards of LGBTQ+ people, the Log Cabin Democrat, a local newspaper, reports.A clip of Paulson’s comments has gone viral on TikTok, having racked up thousands of views.“I would like to say that the LGBT community has suppressed the truth about God. They seek to bring their judgment against everyone who does not agree with their gender values.

Giorgia Meloni, who is set to become the next Prime Minister, could adopt anti-queer and anti-abortion policies.She gained prominence with a 2019 speech declaring "I am a Giorgia, I am a mother, I am Christian, and you cannot take that away from me."Her party's program states it is against marriage equality, gay parents adopting children, and surrogate motherhood.Alessia Crocini is President of Italy's Rainbow Families, an association with 5,000 members.She had to go outside Italy with her former partner to get artificial insemination treatment so they could have a child together.But back in Italy, only her partner, who gave birth to her son, is recognized as his parent. Crocini has no legal rights as the parent of her son under Italian law."It is terrible news that we were expecting," she said about the victory of Giorgia Meloni and the Brothers of Italy party."The polls were clear. But when something like this materializes, becomes real, it is pretty shocking."Crocini said following the victory she began receiving messages from members of her association.

CAMP Rehoboth will host its 2022 Block Party on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. on the second block of Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The event has suffered cancellations in recent years due to COVID and bad weather, but this weekend’s weather looks perfect.

The RDS Visual Art Awards Exhibition 2022 will be held at the RDS Concert Hall from October 21-29. The awards are the major platform for visual art graduates to showcase their creations in Ireland, with each shortlisted artist having a chance of winning one of five prizes, with an accumulative prize fund of over €30,000. […]

After many establishments survived closure during lockdown in 2020, the reopening of LGBTQ+ venues was met with joy and relief from business owners and customers alike. This impact was particularly significant for queer spaces which provide an essential sense of belonging, stability, and safety that was deeply missed during the height of the pandemic.  The […]

Imagine being 17 years old without a parent or guardian or a permanent place to call home when housing costs are soaring, and high inflation is driving up the cost of food and other necessities. When well-educated, financially stable Washingtonians are tightening their financial belts because of the uncertainty, it is a frightening time to be trying to figure things out on the District’s streets. 

Contrary to what a Democratic Socialist says, Ward 3 D.C. Council member Mary Cheh is not racist because she questioned part of the bill allowing non-citizens in D.C. to vote. Neither am I because I also question the bill. 

Center Aging Friday Tea Time will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email supportdesk@thedccenter.org.  Women in their Twenties and Thir