Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
This year the AIDS Memorial Quilt is presenting a virtual exhibition to mark World AIDS Day, featuring thousands of panels from all fifty states. The exhibition is available to see now and will run through March 31. This year marks forty years since the first AIDS cases were reported in the United States. The Memorial […]
Jan Morris, celebrated writer and transgender pioneer has died at the age of 94. Morris was revered for her journalism, histories, travel writings and her groundbreaking 1974 transition memoir, Conundrum. She herself rejected the term “travel writer” saying her books were “about place, which [is] nothing to do with movement” and in writing about her […]
Apple has added a Transgender Pride flag emoji as well as the trans symbol to its latest update that also includes several other more inclusive images. https://www.them.us/story/trans-pride-flag-emoji https://www.out.com/tech/2020/11/06/apple-finally-has-trans-flag-and-trans-symbol-emojis
Transgender candidates have made history in the 2020 election results: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-representation-nearly-double-state-legislatures-n1246426 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a34567467/election-2020-trans-winners/
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
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
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
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
Stephanie Byers is running for the Kansas House of Representatives and could be the first transgender lawmaker to serve in the state. She is one of at least 547 LGBTQ candidates running this year. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/blazing-pathway-retired-teacher-could-become-kansas-first-transgender-lawmaker-n1243777
As an update on the untimely death of transgender activist Monica Roberts, according to Monica’s mother Mabel, Monica died of natural causes on October 5, 2020. Earlier reports of the activist being struck by a vehicle were false. You can read the New York Times obituary here.