Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By John Mack Freeman Two weeks ago, we reported that the president of Portugal had vetoed a bill in that country that would have allowed same-sex couples to adopt children. We are happy to report that the legislature has overruled that veto by a vote of 137 of 230 seats. The overturn was supported by the […]
By John Mack Freeman The government in Indonesia has begun to urge Facebook and Whatsapp to remove same-sex-themed emojis that the social media companies have released in recent years. Via PinkNews: Pro-government newspaper Republika, reports that Line removed the emojis following complaints from users. The government’s information ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu said: “No social media […]
By John Mack Freeman The government of Malawi is reliant on western governments and NGOs for aid money, and as such, agreed in 2012 to stop arresting and prosecuting people who have participated in same-sex activities. However, a December 2015 arrest of two men then led to Malawi’s Justice Minister to proclaim a moratorium and all […]
By John Mack Freeman The Governor of Puerto Rico has nominated Associate Justice Maite Oronoz Rodríguez to become the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Rodriguez has been serving as an associate justice since 2014. If she were to be approved by the Puerto Rico Senate, she would be the first out […]
By Ashley R. Lierman Hallmark’s #CareEnough ad campaign for Valentine’s Day has featured two new sets of videos on YouTube: two featuring a gay couple with a young daughter, and two featuring a couple who are both women of color. The first video for each simply shows the couple tenderly exchanging a greeting card, while […]
By Ashley R. Lierman Play School, Australia’s longest-running children’s show, plans to include a family with two fathers in a multitude of different family structures in its “My Family, Your Family” segments, according to The Guardian. The segment will focus on children from different types of Australian families, also including “an adopted family, an extended […]
Via press release The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) family, along with all of ALA, are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Romans, director at large of the GLBTRT on Thursday. His service to the Library community was vast; Larry served on the GLBTRT Executive Board for six years and had been a member of GLBTRT since 1984, […]
By John Mack Freeman Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva vetoed adoption rights for same-sex couples this week. Although same-sex marriage is legal in the European country, the law allowing the unions specifically prohibits adoption. Supporters are seeking to overturn his veto with a 2/3 vote of the Parliament, but it is unclear whether or not […]
By John Mack Freeman The International Olympics Committee (IOC) announced last week that they were putting in place new guidelines for trans athletes. The new guidelines will allow athletes to compete in competitions that match their gender identity without gender confirmation surgery. Trans women will also have to prove that their testosterone levels have been […]
By John Mack Freeman Via a unanimous decision of the Mexican Supreme Court, same-sex marriage was approved in the state of Jalisco. Jalisco contains Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city, and the city of Puerto Vallarta. Via Joe. My. God.: Same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in all of Mexico’s 31 states, but Jalisco becomes only […]