Spain approves draft bill to legalise gender self-identification

 

The Spanish government approved the draft of a bill to allow anyone over the age of 14 to change gender legally without a medical diagnosis or hormone therapy.

The draft bill, which will go to a public hearing before another reading in the cabinet and a vote in the lower house of parliament, removes the requirement for two years of hormone therapy and a psychological assessment to switch gender in official records.

If approved, trans people will be able to declare their gender by filling in a form at a registry office and then confirming the decision three months later.

This legal reform puts Spain at the centre of Europe's debate about the rights of LGBT people, but activists and families of transgender children say the draft bill does not go far enough, while some feminist associations oppose it.

With the draft bill, which also bans LGBT conversion therapies, Spain is set to join two dozen countries aiming to decouple gender choice from medical procedures and would become the largest European country to introduce self-identification. Same-sex marriage is legal in Spain since 2005.

Transgender student wins as U.S. Supreme Court rebuffs bathroom ban appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal to a circuit court ruling that required a Virginia school to let a transgender student use the bathroom corresponding with his gender identity. Gavin Grimm was born female but identified as male after his freshman year in high school, legally changing his name and beginning hormone therapy.

The decision delivers a major win for Grimm as well as LGBT advocates that have decried bathroom bans and other anti-trans policies that have sprung up across the U.S. this year, many of which target trans youth.

The principal of Virgina school at first gave him permission to use the boys' bathroom, but the school board later adopted a policy saying restrooms were limited to the corresponding biological genders.

Grimm originally went to court in 2015, arguing that the school board's policy made him feel ashamed and isolated, and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, ruled in his favor. The ruling cited an Obama-era Education Department letter that said a school generally must treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity and refusing to let students use bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity would violate the federal law.

Lawyers representing Grimm, told Suprem Court that treating him differently by requiring him to use separate single-stall bathrooms singled him out and stigmatized him as unfit to use the same restroom as his peers. Its order denying review in the case means Grimm's victory in the appeals court remains intact.

Now, courts across the country will take note of Gavin Grimm’s decision, and decisions in appellate and district courts around the country that have consistently ruled in favor of transgender students.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in 2015, and it has upheld the right for LGBT people to live and work without fear of harassment, exclusion, and discrimination, and LGBT students have the same rights and deserve the same protections.

28th June International LGBT Pride Day

 

On the 28th of June, the International LGBT Pride Day will once again be celebrated as it is every year.

Considered to be the most important event in the promotion of this group. The struggle for equality has not been easy nor has it come recently. 

The police raid that took place in the early hours of June 28, 1969, at the pub, Stonewall Inn, an atmospheric pub located in the New York neighborhood of Greenwich Village, marked the beginning of a series of demonstrations against police and social persecution.

A year later, on June 28, 1970, the first marches took place. of gay pride in the cities of New York and Los Angeles, commemorating the anniversary of the riots.

Little by little more North American cities joined to commemorate what happened at Stonewall. Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit, Washington D.C., Miami and Philadelphia already had their own marches.

Europe began to take to the streets, to ask for rights, this year,London, Paris, West Berlin and Stockholm, were among the first cities participants.

Today, Pride events (festivals, marches and parades) are celebrated by many walks of life, gay and straight, in communities all over the world by millions. This shows the overwhelming acceptance of the LGBT community.  

Happy Pride Day!!!

Istanbul Pride parade marches despite Turkish authorities ban

Thousands of people, many waving rainbow flags, marched in the Istanbul’s historical Beyoglu district for the Pride parade, playing cat-and-mouse in back alleys with battalions of police officers who tried to prevent them from congregating on Istiklal Avenue, a hub for shopping and tourism.

“Rainbow is not a crime, discrimination is,” the marchers chanted.

Finally, Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd that gathered in central city, detaining some of those seeking to take part in an event banned by local authorities. Some 20 people, including a photo journalist, were detained, according to media reports.

Turkish authorities have repeatedly banned Pride events in recent years. Before then, thousands of people used to take part in the parade on the Istanbul streets. Anti-LGBT speeches and social media posts by top government officials have become common. 

Canada House passes historic bill banning conversion therapy

In a massive win for LGBT rights, Canada’s House of Commons passed a historic bill criminalizing conversion therapy.

The barbaric practice, which has been discredited by the APA and the World Psychiatric Association, refers to any attempt at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and often involves techniques such as electroshock therapy or prayer.

The bill, which now goes to Senate, passed the House in a 263-63 split, with only conservative MPs voting against. Canada’s ruling Liberal party originally vowed to ban the harmful practice in 2019 when its election manifesto was unveiled.

Minister of Justice David Lametti tweeted that “if passed, #BillC6 will make Canada’s criminal laws on conversion therapy the most progressive and comprehensive in the world”.

The new bill would effectively prohibit minors being subjected to the practice, and an adult would not be permitted to undergo conversion therapy against their own will. Also, no one will be allowed to profit from the practice or advertise it.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, also tweeted: “Conversion therapy has no place in Canada. And even though more than half of the Conservative caucus voted against it, the House of Commons has passed our legislation to criminalize this harmful and degrading practice. We’ll always stand up for LGBTQ2 Canadians and their rights.”

Bravo Mr. Trudeau, bravo Canada!!!

 

Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay

Las Vegas Raiders footballer Carl Nassib has become the first active NFL player in the US to come out as gay.

In a historic first for the game and sport in the US, Nassib opened up to his 140,000+ fans on Instagram with a simple message, “I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay.”

Nassib, 28, is entering his sixth NFL season, his second with the Raiders after stints with the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he played in college for Penn State. In March 2020, Nassib signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

No openly active gay or bi player has ever played a down in an NFL regular-season game. There have been 15 players who came out after playing, or in the case of Michael Sam in 2014, was out after being drafted but never made a roster.

The response across the board has been swift and positive with his club the Raiders tweeting a heart emoji, showing the team supports Nassib and that his announcement was not a shock. They also tweeted out, “Proud of you, Carl” from the team’s official account.

Sixteen EU countries denounce Hungary's new anti-LGBT law

 

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (known as the Benelux) led the charge against Hungary's anti-LGBT law as European affairs ministers from the 27 European Union (EU) countries met to discuss the rule of law. 

Last week, the Hungarian parliament passed a new law tabled by the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that bans the portrayal of homosexuality and sex reassignment in school education material and TV programmes addressed to people under 18 years of age.

The bill, approved during Pride month, was met with immediate condemnation from high-ranking officials of several EU countries and groups in the European Parliament.

The outrage over the Hungarian law was discussed by the EU Council, with the Benelux ministers gathering linked-minded countries in a critical statement against the legislation. In total, 16 member states out of 27 voiced their disapproval of the Hungarian law.

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden and Latvia endorsed the Benelux text. Italy waited until the end of the meeting to add its name to the list, while Austria and Greece did so the following day.

"The law represents a flagrant form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and hence deserves to be condemned. Inclusion, human dignity and equality are core values of our European Union, and we cannot compromise on these principles," the countries said.

“This Hungarian bill is a shame,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “This bill clearly discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation. It goes against the fundamental values of the European Union: human dignity, equality and respect for human rights.”

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers that she think’s “this law is wrong, and it’s incompatible with my idea of politics, if you allow homosexual, same-sex partnerships but restrict information about them elsewhere, that also has to do with freedom of education and the like.”

EU authorities have to act urgently against countries like Hungary if they flout democratic standards and commit flagrant violations of European citizens rights.

New Alan Turing £50 note enters circulation

 

The new £50 note featuring LGBT icon Alan Turing officially enters circulation today, on what would've been his 99th birthday.

Turing worked to crack the German Enigma codes from Nazis, and is credited by many for playing a large part in ending the Second World War. Turing is also considered the father of modern mathematics and computers.

In 1952, Turing was convicted of gross indecency because of his homosexuality, pleading guilty and opting for a course of hormone treatments that effectively amounted to chemical castration rather than being imprisoned.

Turing died just two years later, at the age of 41, as a result of cyanide poisoning which ruled to be suicide. Over 60 years after, Queen Elizabeth II has granted him a posthumous pardon for "a judgment that is now considered unfair and discriminatory".

Watch 'Unveil of the Alan Turing £50 polymer banknote' by Bank of England:

German stadiums to display rainbow colours during Hungary match in defiance of UEFA ban

 

German stadiums will display rainbow colours during the country's match against Hungary at the European Championship after UEFA rejected host city Munich's plan to do the same.

Clubs in Berlin, Wolfsburg, Augsburg, Frankfurt and Cologne said they would light up their venues during the final group game.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter also said he would raise rainbow flags over the city hall and have a wind turbine near the stadium and the city's Olympic Tower illuminated in rainbow colour.

"We in Munich certainly won't let ourselves be discouraged from sending a clear signal to Hungary and the world,'' Reiter said, after describing UEFA's decision as "shameful."

Reiter’s application on behalf of the council made clear the request was to show solidarity with the LGBT community in Hungary after the country passed a new law denounced as homophobic by human rights groups. 

The new legislation prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment, taking all mention of gay and trans issues off the school curriculum, like the 2013 Russian law banning "gay propaganda.”

Rainbow flags raised at Munich city hall 

6 figures of French sport come out in a TV documentary

 

The names of the six figures of French sport who had the courage to reveal their homosexuality in front of the camera, here they are: the basketball player Celine Dumerc, the fencer Astrid Guyart, the skater Kevin Aymoz, the judoka Amandine Buchard, the swimmer Jeremy Stravius and the rugby player Jeremy Clamy-Edroux.

“I am completely normal, completely banal… ", are the words and notes on the piano of singer Eddy de Pretto resonate, at the opening of the documentary "We need to talk", where six big names in active French sport find the words to reveal themselves.

“I have a feeling I had to do it. Not necessarily for me, but maybe for other athletes who might have questions“, explained Astrid Guyart, world team vice-champion.

”I know I’m doing something right trying to free the floor no matter the criticism“, for his part entrusted Kévin Aymoz, quadruple champion of France. 

Jérémy Stravius, world champion in 100m backstroke, wondered whether his coming-out would change his relations with his teammates: "If tomorrow I admit it, will relations within the France team be good?“. 

Amandine Buchard, European champion, former captain of the French basketball team, who has just been crowned French champion in the Women’s Basketball League with her club, Basket Landes, confessed to having often lied to confuse the tracks : “I preferred to lie. All the time. I said I had a boyfriend.” 

“There are plenty of people who say to themselves 'Are you gay and do you play rugby?'. "We have to stop these clichés in the sense that, because I’m gay, I have to behave like this. I’m gay, ok, but who cares, that’s what happens in my privacy“, for his part declared Jérémy Clamy-Edroux, right pillar of Rouen Normandie Rugby.

However, there is still no professional soccer player who has openly declared himself gay, neither in France nor in all of Europe.

Watch the trailer of documentary below:

Kevin Aymoz is one of 6 French sport guys who recently came out

Warsaw gay pride parade returns

The largest gay pride parade in central Europe took place again in Warsaw for the first time in two years after a pandemic-induced break and amid a backlash in Poland and Hungary against LGBT rights.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski walked at the head of the Equality Parade, a sign of support for LGBT rights by the liberal politician. Thousands of people joined the march and were cheered on by others waving rainbow flags from their apartment balconies.

The joyful and colorful celebration was tinged with fear of what the future holds for the rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people after setbacks first in Russia and now in Hungary.

This weekend’s Equality Parade comes 20 years since the event was first held in the Polish capital. It was banned twice in its early years by a conservative mayor, Lech Kaczynski, who feared it would promote homosexuality, and last year it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, in Hungary Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government, which is allied with Poland’s governing Law and Justice (PiS) party, has introduced a law banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” among under-18s.

A year ago it was the Polish LGBT community that faced a backlash from ruling conservative politicians, local communities and the church. Dozens of local communities were passing resolutions against "LGBT ideology” and declaring "LGBT free zones" in what was described as an attempt to protect the traditional family. These were strongly denounced by EU officials and a handful have since been rescinded.

Warsaw Mayor walked at the head of the Parade

European Local and Regional Authorities condemn the rising anti-LGBT hate speech in Poland

The council’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities gathered to adopt a resolution condemning the rising anti-LGBT hate speech and discrimination sweeping across Poland. It included a recommendation that central governments develop national action plans reinforcing anti-discriminatory and human rights measures, with a particular focus on LGBT people.

Rapporteur Andrew Boff said: “Across Europe, the rights and recognition of LGBT people are under pressure. Rising hate speech is creating divisions between the citizens of our towns and regions. Against this, local and regional authorities must strengthen the social rights and well-being of their LGBT citizens and promote dialogue. We have a duty to all our fellow citizens to create inclusive societies.”

Since 2019, more than 90 Polish towns and regions had passed resolutions declaring themselves free from so-called “LGBT-ideology”. These “LGBT-free zones” now cover more than a third of the country, their homophobic rhetoric reinforced by the governing Law and Justice party, which has repeatedly positioned LGBT people as a corrosive threat to so-called traditional values.

Rising conservative and fundamentalist voices in Europe are increasingly politicising the issue of LGBT identity and designating LGBT people as scapegoats, questioning diversity in general, and LGBT people’s human rights and the legitimacy of their identity, in particular.

The EU has also moved to condemn Poland’s growing anti-LGBT sentiment. In December 2019 the European Parliament passed a resolution against public discrimination and hate speech, and encouraged funding to be withdrawn from nations that infringe this.

Map of LGBT-free zones in Poland

Gay and bisexual men can now donate blood in England, Scotland and Wales

 

Gay and bisexual men in England, Scotland, and Wales can now donate blood, plasma and platelets under certain circumstances, the National Health Service announced this week in a momentous shift in policy for most of the U.K.

From now on, gay and bisexual men in sexually active, monogamous relationships for at least three months can donate for the first time. The move reverses a policy that limited donor eligibility on perceived risks of contracting HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections.

Donor eligibility will now be based on each person's individual circumstances surrounding health, travel and sexual behaviors regardless of gender, according to the NHS. Potential donors will no longer be asked if they are a man who has had sex with another man, but they will be asked about recent sexual activity.

Therefore, anyone who has had the same sexual partner for the last three months can now donate blood in England, Scotland and Wales. This authorization is very exceptional, as in Europe it is only possible in Spain, Italy and Latvia, at present.

Gay couple Oscar and Xavier donate blood in the UK for the first time

Protest in Hungary to reject anti-LGBT proposed bill

Thousands of LGBT activists and others demonstrated in front of the Parliament in Budapest in the evening, chanting “we are here!” as they urged lawmakers to reject legislation banning any content portraying or promoting homosexuality or sex reassignment to anyone under 18. 

Hungary's ruling Fidesz party has proposed banning the "promotion" of sexuality of young people under a new law. The legal amendments were proposed by the conservative party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The bill would also outlaw promoting sex change among minors, including in schools, films or books.

The legal amendments in Hungary seem to be the latest anti-LGBT move by Orban, who has defended traditional Christian values. In December 2020, Hungary's Parliament adopted a legislative package enshrining the traditional notion of family and "gender" in the Constitution and effectively banned the adoption rights for same-sex couples.

The proposed legislation is discriminatory like the 2013 Russian law banning gay “propaganda,” which is a tool of discrimination and harassment. Such legislations only reinforces prejudice and homophobia, which is incompatible with the values ​​of democratic societies. We all urge Hungarian lawmakers to reject this anti-LGBT legislation.

Orban is following Putin's advices on LGBT rights

Indian judge's ruling demands respect to LGBT people and bans conversion therapy

Tamil Nadu in India is set to become the first region in the country to outlaw conversion therapy after a High Court issued a sweeping ruling on LGBT rights. The momentous decision came in the case of a lesbian couple who faced harassing questions from police after their parents reported them missing.

The women, aged 22 and 20, fled their homes in Madurai and moved to Chennai when their parents refused to accept their relationship. They subsequently filed a cases with the Madras High Court asking that the missing persons investigation be dropped.

In his ruling, justice N Anand Venkatesh said the couple’s case had brought to light an important issue requiring de-stigmatisation and acceptance in the eyes of society. Justice Venkatesh ruled in the couple’s favour and went on to recommend numerous reforms that will make the lives of LGBT people in Tamil Nadu easier.

Under a section titled “Physical and Mental Health Professionals”, justice Venkatesh said healthcare professionals should offer support to LGBT people who are facing stigma and discrimination from society. However, he also prohibited any attempt to medically ‘cure’ or change the sexual orientation of LGBT people to heterosexual or the gender identity of transgender people to cisgender.

Justice Venkatesh also ordered the National Medical Commission, the Indian Psychiatric Society and the Rehabilitation Council of India to revoke the licence of any professionals who involve themselves in any form or method of conversion ‘therapy'.

Elsewhere in his extensive ruling, Venkatesh instructed schools and universities to educate students on understanding the LGBT community and said educational bodies should allow trans youth to change their official name and gender marker on academic records.

Furthermore, he called for the Indian government to introduce awareness programmes about LGBT people for staff.

Closing the document, Justice Venkatesh said he will monitor and regularly follow up with various government departments and bodies to ensure his rulings are being implemented.

The High Court decision comes less than three years after India overturned its colonial-era ban on gay sex, setting in motion vital changes for the country’s embattled LGBT community.

Thousands protest in Basauri for the last homophobic attack in Spain

Thousands of people have demonstrated this afternoon in the streets of Basauri (Basque Country, Spain) to show their complete rejection of the homophobic aggression suffered by a 23-year-old young man last Sunday in a park in this Basque town.

His name is Ekain, and he is still recovering from the injuries caused by this homophobic aggression, a beating that 13 people gave him shouting “fucking fag”, which left him unconscious and for which ended up in the hospital.

The events, as reported by his partner Kevin, took place at dawn on June 6. They were in the Bizkotzalde Park with other colleagues when Ekain left the group and found his attackers, who began to mess with him because he is homosexual. The young man replied if that bothered them, they should leave the park, and this led one of the gang members to attack him from behind and the rest of homophobes started hitting him.

The massive protest, headed by a banner with the text "Homofobiarik ez. Ninguna agresión sin respuesta" (No aggression without response) and in which numerous rainbow flags waved, has had the participation of the victim, who has been moved by the samples of support and affection received. "I am grateful to everyone who has come to support me and the cause, and we are all in this together," he said.

The Plenary of the Bausauri City Council and the Basque Parliament have approved different statements condemning and rejecting the attack, and asking the Prosecutor's Office to act immediately for the attack on Ekain, considering that it is a clear hate crime based on sexual orientation and it cannot go unpunished.

Homofobiarik ez! Ninguna agresión sin respuesta! No aggression without response!

Ekain and Kevin participated in the protest

Pulse nightclub will be a U.S. national memorial

Three days before the fifth anniversary of the attack on Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation designating the site of the gay club a national memorial.

The House passed its version of the bill May 12. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden, who has supported a number of pro-LGBT proposals and is expected to sign it into law.

Sen. Rick Scott introduced the Senate bill. Scott was governor at the time of the massacre, which saw 49 clubgoers killed and dozens more wounded before the shooter, Omar Mateen, was killed in a shootout with law enforcement.

While introducing the measure, Scott said “It was an evil act of terrorism designed to divide us as a nation and strike fear in our hearts and minds. But instead, we came together, and supported each other through heartbreak and darkness, to preserve and rebuild.” 

A message from the Pulse nightclub also expressed gratitude for the bill’s passage: “The unanimous consent is such welcome news as we are set to mark the five-year remembrance of the Pulse tragedy. This recognition from both the House and Senate means so much to the LGBT community." 

Record high support for same-sex marriage in U.S.

U.S. support for legal same-sex marriage continues to trend upward, now at 70%, a new high in Gallup's trend since 1996. This latest figure marks an increase of 10 percentage points since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all states must recognize same-sex marriages.

Today's 70% support for same-sex marriage marks a new milestone in a trend that has pointed upward for a quarter of a century. A small minority of Americans (27%) supported legal recognition of gay and lesbian marriages in 1996, when Gallup first asked the question. But support rose steadily over time, eventually reaching the majority level for the first time in 2011.

Republicans, who have consistently been the party group least in favor of same-sex marriage, show majority support in 2021 for the first time (55%). The latest increase in support among all Americans is driven largely by changes in Republicans' views.

Democrats have consistently been among the biggest supporters of legal same-sex marriage. The current 83% among Democrats is on par with the level of support Gallup has recorded over the past few years.

As would be expected at a high-water mark in national support for same-sex marriage, all age groups are the most supportive they have been to date. Still, age differences remain, with 84% of young adults, 72% of middle-aged adults, and 60% of older adults saying they favor same-sex marriage.

Male teachers wear skirts for supporting gender equality in Spain

Male teachers in Spain wore skirts to work in solidarity with a student who was pulled out of school and sent to a psychologist for wearing a skirt.

Fifteen-year-old Mikel Gómez said in a video that went viral that he was taken to a psychologist by school officials when he decided to wear a skirt to his school in Euskadi, Spain. He said he wore the skirt to express solidarity with women’s liberation.

When he said he’s not trans, the psychologist asked him to wear pants instead and Gomez said that his parents later punished him for wearing a skirt.

His viral video sparked a nationwide protest a week later and other boys in Spain recorded videos wearing skirts to class. The protests continued in some towns, where students decided to repeat the protest for gender equality.

The #laropanotienegenero (clothes don’t have gender) movement picked up steam when several male teachers wore skirts to school.

One of the teachers said  they are role models for students, and they want to show kids that they don’t have to follow gender roles. The school has to teach respect, diversity, gender equality, and tolerance.

#laropanotienegenero movement in Spain

Changing the game: a trully documentary about three trans high school athletes

 

Emmy award-winning filmmaker Michael Barnett’s urgent and subsuming sports documentary illuminates what many have called the civil rights issue of our time: transgender inclusion in sports. 

Changing the game takes us into the lives of three high school athletes, all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths as transgender teens. 

Their stories span across the U.S., from Sarah, a skier and teen policymaker in New Hampshire, to Andraya, a track star in Connecticut openly competing on the girls track team. The film centers on Mack Beggs, who made headlines when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling, as a boy, and all he wanted to do was wrestle on the boys team.

By following their passion while living their truth, they are quite literally changing the game. The film cuts a wide cross-section of the country, taking place in small towns in Texas, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, to explore different policies and the myriad challenges young trans athletes must face.

This is a Moving Hulu Documentary, and you can check the trailer below: 

Pride Month started after the Stonewall Riots

 

This month, June, marks the 51st celebration of Pride Month, a time when millions of people come together in support of the LGBT community by walking in parades and attending festivals.

So why does Pride Month take place in June? It goes back to June 28, 1969, when police raided a gay club called the Stonewall Inn in New York. Though the police claimed the bar was operating with an improper liquor license, the raid was about nothing more than violently harassing and arresting LGBT people in one of the few places where they felt safe. 

Similar raids on gay-friendly businesses had been occurring for decades, but Stonewall was one of the first times when the patrons fought back. A diverse crowd of lesbians, gay men and transgender women, many of whom were people of color, clashed with the police, threw bottles and refused to be intimidated. The six-day period of protests and demonstrations is now known as the Stonewall Riots. A New York rally held the next year to commemorate the first anniversary of the riots started the now-regular tradition of Pride Month.

There are plenty of ways to show your support from home:

• Hang a Pride flag outside your home.
• Place a Pride sticker on your car.
• Wear some Pride clothing.
• Join virtual events.
• Be an ally to your LGBT colleagues, friends and family members. 
• Support LGBT organizations in schools.
• Support businesses that support the LGBT community.

If there's not a Pride event happening near you, don't fret. There are plenty of ways to celebrate virtually, and even watch Pride parades and events happening around the world. You can also participate in events virtually.

Look up events you're interested in watching or being a part of, even if it's in another country, because there will likely be a link for viewing. Here's a calendar of Pride events happening around the world.

Happy Pride Month!!!

Happy Pride Month!!!