Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By Tess Goldwasser What is your role in the GLBTRT? I’m in charge of the new monthly newsletter. At the end of each month, I put together some of the stories covered by the news committee blog, as well as book reviews posted by the review committee. This helps keep the membership informed on what […]
By Charlie McNabb Nonbinary Gender Identities in Media: An Annotated Bibliography is intended for nonbinary people and their allies as well as libraries wishing to expand transgender collections. Nonbinary gender identities are gaining visibility in popular culture and the news, and the community is growing rapidly. It is vital for marginalized communities to see positive […]
Via press release Editor’s note: If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time! We had only 295 ballots cast in the 2014 GLBTRT elections. This is a fantastic opportunity to have your voice heard. Did you know that you can vote in the 2015 ALA elections on your Smartphone and other mobile devices? You […]
By John Mack Freeman The city council of Jonesboro, Arkansas rejected a proposed ordinance that would have protected city workers from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. In more bad news, the city of Springfield, Missouri had its LGBT rights ordinance repealed after a 51-49 vote. In more positive news, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple issued […]
By John Mack Freeman In response to a petition on the We the People website, senior White House advisor Valerie Jarrett responded this week, saying in part: When assessing the validity of conversion therapy, or other practices that seek to change an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation, it is as imperative to seek guidance […]
By John Mack Freeman In one of the largest setbacks for GLBT rights in Latin America in recent months, Nicaragua has banned same sex marriages and adoption of minors by same sex couples or single gay or lesbian people. Via Gay Star News: The Family Code establishes that marriage is defined as ‘between a man […]
By John Mack Freeman The headquarters of LGBT group Labrys was attacked with explosives in Kyrgyzstan on April 10, 2015. The attack comes amid a climate that is rapidly becoming more hostile towards LGBT people. Kyrgyzstan is considering a “gay propaganda” law similar to the one on the books in Russia. The attacked organization has […]
By John Mack Freeman The state house of Florida is of two-minds about LGBT adoption in the state. Two weeks ago, it voted to allow same sex couples the right to adopt. However, this week it voted to allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same sex couples with no repercussions based on the agencies religious […]
By John Mack Freeman Vatican City has stalled on accepting the newest ambassador from France because he is an out gay man. Laurent Stefanini, a close advisor to French President Hollande and a chief of protocol for the French diplomatic corps, was named to the post in early January. However, Stefanini’s appointment has not been […]
By Ann K. Symons (Chair, GLBTRT) This morning, I was listening to an interesting NPR piece when I was struck by the opening remark made by host Linda Wertheimer. “Wal-Mart, Apple, Angie’s List, NASCAR — some of the biggest names in business this week pushed back against “religious freedom” laws in Indiana and Arkansas. They […]