President Biden parties with Elton John and Katy Perry in Stonewall National Monument

President Joe Biden courted LGBTQ+ voters with two New York events and warned about Donald Trump returning to the White House, as he looked to shake off a widely panned debate performance.

President Biden inaugurated a visitor center at the Stonewall National Monument with pop legend Elton John and Katy Perry, and later headlined a Pride Month fundraiser. 

"You marked a turning point in civil rights in America," President Biden told the crowd at the Stonewall monument, a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride for decades. And he added, that "we remain in a battle for the soul of America" but "I look around at the pride, hope and life that all of you, all of you, bring, and I know it's a battle that we're going to win."

President Biden used the evening fundraiser at the Manhattan Center as a chance to emphasize his differences with former Trump, who he said posed a threat to the rights achieved by the LGBTQ+ community. "Let there be no doubt: I will continue to defend your freedoms," President Biden said. "Trump is committed to roll back all the progress".

LGBTQ Americans are highly motivated to vote in November, with a majority preferring President Joe Biden (68%) to Donald Trump (15%) according to polling result released by GLAAD.

This is not over!

Happy Pride Month!!!! 🌈

 

Pride Month started after the Stonewall Riots

President Biden pardons all veterans convicted under old military ban on gay sex

President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of gay veterans convicted and discharged under a now-repealed military law that banned gay sex. The announcement comes during the midst of Pride Month

President Biden said in a statement: “Our nation’s service members stand on the front lines of freedom, and risk their lives in order to defend our country."

“Today, I am righting an historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves.”

“Despite their courage and great sacrifice, thousands of LGBTQ+ service members were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity." 

"Some of these patriotic Americans were subject to court-martial, and have carried the burden of this great injustice for decades.”

“This is about dignity, decency, and ensuring the culture of our Armed Forces reflect the values that make us an exceptional nation,” he added.

This act of clemency means that thousands of military personnel who were convicted over six decades for engaging in consensual sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex would be able to apply for a certificate of pardon that would help them gain access to benefits that were previously withheld.

These benefits include healthcare, pensions, and more, significantly impacting the lives of those who were unjustly discharged. The administration is considering ways to connect veterans with pro bono attorneys who can assist in navigating the application process for discharge upgrades and other legal matters related to the pardon.

LGBTQ Americans are highly motivated to vote in November, with a majority preferring President Joe Biden to Donald Trump according to polling result released by GLAAD.

A historic move!!!

Lewis Hamilton wears a rainbow helmet at Spanish Grand Prix

During the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton wore a rainbow helmet with the words “Love is Love” to celebrate Pride. 

This is not the first time Hamilton has shown support for the LGBTQ+ community, previously wearing various Pride-related designs, including at the Qatar Grand Prix, where his helmet featured a Progress Pride flag design and the words “We Stand Together”.

Hamilton kept the same helmet for races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, making a statement in places not known for their tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Hamilton also vowed to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. “It’s not good at all,” he said of Florida lawmakers expanding the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, which prohibits discussion of LGBTQ+ lives across all school grades. “I stand by those within the community here. I hope they continue to stand firm and push back,” he added.

Many thanks Lewis!!!

Hamilton ended third in Spanish GP

Thousands march at Budapest Pride 2024

 

Over 30,000 people marched at Budapest Pride to protest Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

All of them proved that the spirit of Pride is still alive in Hungary as they turned out to march at Budapest’s 29th annual Pride event.

The participants came together to celebrate Budapest Pride against the backdrop of an increasingly hostile legislative environment for LGBTQ citizens in Hungary, under Orban regime.

44 embassies signed a statement supporting the Budapest Pride, stating their support for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their rights to equality and non-discrimination, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and freedom from violence.

The European Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the EU over a Hungarian law which discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

We stand with Hungary!!!

The American Library Association creates a task force to protect LGBTQ+ books

 

The American Library Association (ALA) is on a mission to protect LGBTQ+ librarians in the U.S. It recently created a task force to address the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ library workers.

Amid record-high book bans and numerous attempts to defund or shut down libraries across the country, it has been fighting to enhance access to books and information. 

In 2023, more than 4,200 books were targeted for censorship in schools and libraries in the U.S., with over 1,200 challenges to books and resources in public libraries. 

The fight to protect access to books comes amid a book banning boom, with an alarming increase in attempts to censor books in K-12 schools, universities and public libraries. 

Many of these efforts seek to pull books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes and are part of a broader, Republican-led movement to chisel away at the rights and status of LGBTQ+ Americans.

Each attempt to ban a book represents a direct attack on every person’s right to freely choose what books to read and what ideas to explore, and to suppress the voices of LGBTQ+ community. 

Happy Pride Month Folks!!!

 

Thailand legalizes marriage equality

Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill legalizing marriage equality, putting Thailand on the path to become the second country in Asia and the first in Southeastern Asia to legalize the practice.

The Thai Senate voted to pass this bill overwhelmingly, with 130 members voting for it, 4 voting against it, and 18 abstaining. The Thai House, which the bill passed through in April, voted similarly, with 400 members voting for it, 10 voting against it, and 5 abstaining.

The bill will also allow LGBTQ+ couples to adopt children together, though it does not use gender-neutral language for that provision. 

The bill still requires endorsement from the king before marriage equality can become reality in Thailand, but this process is considered a formality. The law will then come into effect 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette.

Thailand is projected to join Taiwan in legalizing marriage equality. 

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin celebrated the victory on X, writing, “I am proud of the collective effort of all stakeholders which reiterates the power of ‘unity in diversity’ of the Thai society.”

Congratulations!!!

20,000 Species of Bees, a lovely trans kid Spanish movie

Set in the rural Spanish countryside, Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren’s 20,000 Species of Bees centers on a transgender eight-year-old girl who happens to be visiting family over a weekend for the occasion of a christening. 

But while all others find themselves caught up in their own problems, this young girl is trying to find a way to articulate to them that she isn’t the boy they all think she is, but rather a girl named Lucía (Sofía Otero) who wants to be understood as the person she knows herself to be.

It’s uncommon indeed to see a trans coming-of-age story so acutely in-tune to the subtle realities of growing with an understanding of your differences but not being able to put such variance into words. Lucía is often sullen, bristling at the use of her deadname or the more gender-neutral nickname “Coco” often employed by her family. 

She longs to be seen as Lucía, and while she may not know what the word transgender means, she knows that she’s a girl. Spending time among multiple generations of women in her family over the course of a few days helps her put this profound and essential femininity into focus.

Young Sofía Otero won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for her work. Check all the movie awards and nominations here.

Watch the trailer below:

NYC subway station is renamed in honor of Stonewall Riots

A bill to rename a New York City subway station in honor of the Stonewall Riots unanimously passed the state legislature  and now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s review and expected signature. 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposed to rename the Christopher Street-Sheridan Square subway station as the Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument station.

The proposal was co-sponsored by State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick (D-Manhattan) and State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan). 

“This change will memorialize the history of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement and inspire NY to demand justice and equality for all,” Hoylman-Sigal posted. 

Happy Pride Month!!!

The Stonewall Inn was declared National Monument by President Obama

Transgender community members invited to Modi's oath ceremony in India

 

About 50 people from the transgender community have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and the new cabinet of ministers to them give blessings, in IndiaIndia.

Before the ceremony, BJP MP and former Social Justice and Empowerment minister Virendra Kumar felicitated the community members at his residence.

“This is a part of Prime Minister Modi’s call of ‘sabka saath sabka vishwas and sabha prayas’. Including people from transgenders in the ceremony is to enhance the inclusivity message of the PM,” Kumar told.

This is the first time in IndiaIndia that people from the transgender community are formally invited for the swearing-in ceremony, he said. These participants have made contribution in the empowerment of the transgender community, Kumar added.

PM Modi won the reelection in India

The Boyfriend, the first Japanese same-sex dating reality show

Netflix will next month upload its first Japanese same-sex dating reality TV series: The Boyfriend.

The show takes nine men to a beach house in order to find love. For a month, they live together and take turns working shifts at a coffee truck, forging deep friendships and learning about themselves along the way.

The show will also be hosted by an eclectic mix of personalities including Megumi, Horan Chiaki, Thelma Aoyama, drag queen Durian Lollobrigida and Yoshimi Tokui.

Japan has a complicated relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, with same-sex marriage currently not legal in the country. In the law fast years alone, multiple courts have issued rulings on whether its exclusion is unconstitutional or not.

Watch the short trailer below:

Florida deserves a better Governor than DeSantis

 

As Pride Month begins June 1, Floridians will notice a vivid difference: instead of casting rainbows, bridges around the state will only light up in red, white and blue. The DeSantis administration, which issued this year's ban on rainbow lights, is calling it "Freedom Summer."

Ever since the known "Don't Say Gay" law was passed, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has turned Florida into a test kitchen for anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions that have since spread to other states.

For example, books about LGBTQ+ characters have been pulled from school libraries. Minors are barred from receiving gender-affirming healthcare, despite such treatment having support from every major medical group. And adults face more hurdles to accessing and getting insurance coverage for transition-related medical care.

In addition, Florida bans transgender women and girls from participating in sports for female students. Trans people can't use bathrooms at schools and government buildings that match their gender identity. And earlier this year, state agencies barred trans people from changing their driver's license to match their gender identity. 

President Joe Biden denounced Florida legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights. "What's going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, 'close to sinful,'" President Biden said. “It’s just terrible what they’re doing."

“It’s not like a kid wakes up one morning and says, ‘You know, I decided I want to become a man' or 'I want to become a woman,'" he said. "I mean, what are they thinking about here? They’re human beings. They love, they have feelings, they have inclinations. It’s cruel," he added.

A poll commissioned by GLAAD revealed broad concerns of LGBTQ+ and ally voters in Florida about legislation stripping away their rights. LGBTQ+ and ally voters have to mark the difference in the future of their state. 

It's time to change, Florida!!!

Over 150,000 celebrate Pride in South Korea despite prohibition

 

More than 150,000 South Koreans gathered in central Seoul for annual Pride celebrations, despite the event’s traditional venue being banned by authorities for the second consecutive yearfor the second consecutive year.

This year’s Pride Parade, marking its 25th anniversary and one of the largest in Asia, was denied permission to gather at the Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, where the main festivities have traditionally been held.

Seoul’s conservative mayor Oh Se-hoon has said he “personally can’t agree with homosexuality,” and municipal authorities blamed a scheduling conflict and said the venue had already been reserved for an outdoor event themed around books.

Pride festivities instead took place in the streets in central Seoul, and areas surrounding city's major thoroughfares were packed with excited participants wearing rainbow-themed costumes and make-up, some blowing bubbles and many waving orange balloons.

In addition to the festival facing difficulties in securing venues, attempts to pass laws banning discrimination on the basis of sexuality have languished since around 2007, with lawmakers coming under pressure from conservative and religious organisations.

It's time South Korea!!!

Watch some Seoul Parade's scenes below:

Happy Pride Month!!!! 🌈

Pride Month started after the Stonewall Riots