Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By John Mack Freeman Russia’s bid to block same sex benefits at the United Nations failed this week. Secretary General Ban had previously extended benefits to all same sex partners that worked for the United Nations. Previously, the benefits had been at the discretion of the employing country. When Russia called for a vote of […]
By John Mack Freeman The official dictionary of Sweden has been updated to include a gender-neutral pronoun for the first time. Though the pronoun “hen” has been in use for decades, this is the first time it has been included in the language’s official dictionary. Via Pink News: The Swedish trans community began using it, […]
By John Mack Freeman Although all sorts of anti-GLBT legislation comes up every year, 2015’s special flavor so far has been the so-called “religious freedom” bills. These bills seek to give business owners and government employees the right to refuse services to GLBT people based on the service providers religious beliefs. Numerous states are pursuing […]
By John Mack Freeman This week, Governor Mike Pence (R) of Indiana signed into law a religious freedom bill. Opponents of the law claim that it will allow businesses throughout the state the ability to refuse service to GLBT people based on religious grounds. The backlash against the law has been swift and vocal. Cloud […]
As many of you know, GLBTRT has many liaisons to other parts of ALA and other organizations. In an effort to help share their knowledge of what is going on in these other organizations, the News is now offering a space for these reports, tentatively planned for every 2-3 months. We would like to extend […]
By Tess Goldwasser What is your role in the GLBTRT? I am currently the Chair of the Membership Committee. What does the GLBTRT mean to you? GLBTRT has given me the opportunity to meet some great people who are truly passionate about the library profession and providing outstanding library service to all people. It has […]
Via Peter Coyl If you are interested in serving an a GLBTRT standing committee, we are still accepting applicants for the following committees: Advocacy Committee [Newly formed, no webpage yet] Bylaws Committee Fund Raising Committee Membership Promotion Committee News Committee Program Planning Committee Resources Committee Reviews Committee Web Committee These committees meet virtually and do a lot […]
By John Mack Freeman Two new pamphlets are available from the GLBTRT Resources Committee. Here are two blurbs from the pamphlets by Jane Sandberg: Some library practices result in the exclusion of transgender patrons. However, librarians often a lack of literature and guidance in implementing more inclusive practices. The GLBT Round Table’s Resource Committee recently […]
By John Mack Freeman A largely ignored portion of the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as “Obamacare”) allows for patients to address civil rights concerns related to healthcare to the Department of Health and Human Services. This week, a federal judge ruled in a case that these protections extend to trans patients, saying that patients […]
By John Mack Freeman Classic children’s book Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman has been updated with new illustrations to make the book more contemporary and accessible to a new generation of young readers. Via the Associated Press: A playful picture book about a little girl named Heather and her two happy mommies was a cultural […]