Russian police stop unsanctioned Pride event

By John Mack Freeman A gay rights rally in central Moscow was broken up on Saturday, May 30th by the Russian police. The police detained over 20 people, including some anti-gay protesters that had attacked the gay rights rally. The rally was held after Moscow denied the group the right to hold a rally within […]

Oneida Nation legalizes same-sex marriage

By John Mack Freeman The Oneida Nation has officially legalized same-sex marriage by a unanimous vote of the Oneida Business Committee. The change will officially come into effect on June 10. All tribal documents referring to “husband and wife” will have that replaced with the term “spouses.” This decision follows after same-sex marriage became legal […]

Greenland legalizes same-sex marriage

By John Mack Freeman The legislature of the semi-autonomous state of Greenland within Denmark voted unanimously this week to extend full marriage recognition to same-sex couples. The 27-0 vote is a culmination of a campaign to bring same-sex marriage to the island nation that began in 2010. Via the Washington Blade:  “It was a massive day […]

Mozambique to officially decriminalize homosexuality on Monday

By John Mack Freeman A new penal code will take effect in Mozambique on Monday, June 1st that will no longer list homosexuality as a crime. The old penal code was originally approved in 1887 when Mozambique was still a colony of Portugal. Although homosexuality was never specifically mentioned, it was often charged as a […]

White Houses releases proclamation in recognition of June being LGBT Pride Month

By John Mack Freeman The White House released a proclamation on Friday declaring June to be a national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pride month. The full proclamation reads as follows: LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2015 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION From the moment our Nation first […]

Meet Ann Symons! An RT Member Profile by Tess Goldwasser

By Tess Goldwasser. Photo credit American Libraries 1994. What is your role in the GLBTRT? I proudly serve as the Chair of GLBTRT, my first active role in the RT. I lead a board of committed officers, colleagues, and friends. My role is to try to articulate a vision for the RT and, with the board […]

Study shows LGB teens more likely to become pregnant

By John Mack Freeman In what looks at first like a counter-intuitive study, Lisa Lindley of George Mason University and Katrina Walsemann of the University of South Carolina have found that teenage girls who identify as lesbian or bisexual are significantly more likely to become pregnant. According to the study which analyzed three years of CDC data, […]

Texas University bans athletes from same-sex dating or support

By John Mack Freeman LeTourneau University in Texas is an interdenominational Christian and NCAA Division III school. As originally reported by OutSports this week, it has banned its student athletes from same sex dating and public support of same sex marriage in the new student athlete handbook which is available on the school’s website. Via OutSports: The […]

Ireland approves same-sex marriage in national referendum

By John Mack Freeman Jubilant crowds cheered throughout Ireland on Saturday as the results began to pour in from that country’s referendum on same-sex marriage. More than 61 percent of those voting in the referendum approved the country legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time. The “Yes” campaign as the efforts of those in favor […]

“Carol” wins Queer Palm at Caanes Film Festival

By John Mack Freeman The Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara-helmed Carol has won the 2015 Queer Palm at the Caanes Film Festival. Via Gay Star News: Directed by Todd Haynes, ‘Carol’ is adapted from a Patricia Highsmith novel (‘The Price of Salt’) that tells the story of two women who fall in love in 1950s New York […]