Florida state house approves discrimination against LGBT in adoption

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 […]

Vatican ‘rejects’ French diplomat over sexual orientation

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 […]

June is GLBT Book Month!

Via press release CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has designated June 2015 as GLBT Book Month™, a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. GLBT Book Month™ is an initiative of the American Library Association and is coordinated through its Office for Diversity, Literacy, […]

Oklahoma university sued by Justice Department for trans discrimination

By John Mack Freeman A federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice this week alleges that a TA professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant was denied promotion because she was transgender. Via LGBTQ Nation: Rachel Tudor, an assistant professor of English at the university, didn’t receive a promotion despite a recommendation from […]

South Korean educators banned from discussing GLBT issues in sex education

By John Mack Freeman A new set of sex education standards put forth by the South Korean government forbids teachers from discussing GLBT people or issues at all. It also bans several words from being used in sex education and removes all references to homosexuality or a teacher’s personal views about sexual matters. Via PinkNews: […]

Ireland legislature approves same-sex adoption

By John Mack Freeman The Seanad Eireann (Ireland’s upper legislative body) approved the Children and Family Relationship Bill this week by a margin of 20-2. The bill had been the subject of day’s of discussion and over 120 amendments. This bill allows for adoption of children by same-sex couples. Via PinkNews: The bill – which […]

Legal Teams Announce Advocates Who Will Argue in Supreme Court Marriage Equality Cases

Via press release WASHINGTON – Counsel for plaintiffs from the Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee marriage lawsuits today announced that Mary L. Bonauto and Doug Hallward-Driemeier will represent the plaintiffs at the cases’ scheduled April 28 arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. Bonauto will present arguments for question 1: “Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a […]

Baseball player’s girlfriend steps to the plate for LGBT Pride Night

By John Mack Freeman The Oakland Athletic’s have planned their first LGBT Pride Night on June 17. This led to a small firestorm among some season ticket holders who threatened to sell their tickets for that night’s game. Eireann Dolan (girlfriend of A’s pitcher Sean Doolittle) has called their bluff. In an open letter on […]

RFRA: Revisions in Arkansas, Indiana; failure in Georgia

By John Mack Freeman Probably the biggest legislative news in GLBT issues this week has been the firestorm surrounding RFRAs (or state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts). These bills would ostensibly allow workers to deny service to others based on the worker’s religious beliefs. There are numerous problems with these laws: what constitutes a burden or […]