Author: Jim Collins

Douglas Stuart’s “Shuggie Bain” wins the Booker prize

Posted on by Jim Collins

Douglas Stuart’s debut novel Shuggie Bain, about a queer boy growing up in 1980’s Glasgow, Scotland, won the Booker Prize last week. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54976523 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/douglas-stuart-wins-booker-prize-for-debut-shuggie-bain Recently Stuart talked to NPR and to Vulture: https://www.npr.org/2020/11/14/934548946/shuggie-bain-will-lift-you-up-and-tear-you-up https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/shuggie-bain-douglas-stuart.html

Nevada becomes first state to protect same-sex marriage as part of state constitution

Posted on by Jim Collins

Nevada voters approved an amendment to the state constitution which will protect the right for same-sex couples to marry. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/05/nevada-first-state-constitutionally-protect-same-sex-marriage/6183655002/ https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/nevada-becomes-first-state-recognize-gay-marriage-state-constitution-n1246607

A “rainbow wave” of LGBTQ candidates in 2020 election results

Posted on by Jim Collins

In what some are already calling a “rainbow wave” in the 2020 election results, there have been many victories by LGBTQ candidates this year. Here are some stories and analysis: https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/11/03/meet-2020-rainbow-wave-lgbtq-election-victories https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2020-election-brought-notable-firsts-lgbtq-candidates/story?id=74019639 https://theconversation.com/rainbow-wave-of-lgbtq-candidates-run-and-win-in-2020-election-149066 https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-candidates-milestone-election-f33555c8fd1a8d2c31417cc60bf0022c

Carnegie Medals longlist announced; “Shuggie Bain”, “Memorial” & “My Autobiography of Carson McCullers” make the list

Posted on by Jim Collins

The 2021 longlist for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction has been announced. Two novels with LGBTQ themes, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart and Memorial by Bryan Washington, are on the fiction list while My Autobiography of Carson McCullers by Jenn Shapland, described as an “exploration of one of America’s most […]

LGBTQ representation in U.S. House could double

Posted on by Jim Collins

LGBTQ representation could double this year in the U.S. House of Representatives after Election Day. There are currently seven LGBTQ members of the House and at least 24 running this year. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-representation-house-could-double-election-day-n1245467

Profiles of “Memorial” author Bryan Washington

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Vanity Fair and GQ have published conversations with Bryan Washington, author of the new novel Memorial. His story collection Lot was a Stonewall Honor Book this past year and “Good Morning America” just announced Memorial as its book club pick for November. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/10/bryan-washington-is-writing-the-next-generation-of-queer-love-story https://www.gq.com/story/bryan-washington-memorial-interview

Record number of LGBTQ candidates on ballots this year

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A new report from the LGBTQ Victory Fund reports that a record number of LGBTQ candidates will be on ballots across the country this year. The complete “Out on the Trail” report can be read here. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/over-500-lgbtq-candidates-appear-november-ballots-shattering-records-n1242961

LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH: New HBO series “Equal” examines LGBTQ rights movement

Posted on by Jim Collins

The new HBO Max docuseries Equal (premiering October 22) combines documentary footage with live action narrative to bring the story of the early LGBTQ rights movement to life. You can read about the series and see a trailer here and also read about who plays who here.