Official News Outlet for the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association
By John Mack Freeman The US House Committee on Veterans Affairs has rejected a proposal that would have allowed same sex couples equal access to veterans benefits regardless of whether they lived in marriage equality state or not. The amendment was suggested by Dina Titus (D-NV), and it was rejected in a vote of 13-12. Jon […]
By John Mack Freeman Three activist groups in China have sent letters to 112 Chinese universities asking them to meet basic demands related to the portrayal and acceptance of LGBT students. The groups were China Same Sex Love, LGBT Rights Advocacy China, and Justice for All. The letter read: We appeal and encourage principals at […]
By John Mack Freeman Mpumalanga’s Gert Sibande district made South African history this week when it hosted that country’s first ever pride parade. The event drew about 100 participants, and it sought to highlight that no one is above the law in South Africa as it sought to combat the violence that LGBT people often face in […]
By John Mack Freeman MSNBC recently got a behind the scenes look at the new additions to the Smithsonian’s LGBT Collection. Watch the clip here.
By John Mack Freeman After a long string of successes, marriage equality advocates have suffered setbacks in two states in recent weeks. In both Tennessee and Louisiana, judges found against marriage equality, allowing same sex marriage bans to remain in effect in those states. However, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, by a unanimous three-vote […]
By John Mack Freeman Misspellings. Grammatical errors. The term “transgendered.” Usually, you’d expect to find these errors on the less thoughtful side of Internet debate. But, they have been ensconced in the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. The plaques were meant to commemorate deceased LGBT icons. And it was a great idea. […]
By John Mack Freeman. Thanks to Peter Coyl for the tip! A long ban on LGBT group participation in the annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has finally ended. On Wednesday, the organizing committee announced that openly gay groups would be allowed to march under their own banners at next years parade. This […]
Via Basicrights.org The Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC)—which is charged with overseeing the prioritized list of services in Oregon’s Medicaid program—the Oregon Health Plan, voted today to approve the coverage of medically necessary healthcare for Transgender people. “This is an historic step forward toward fairness and equality for transgender Oregonians,” said Danielle Askini, Basic Rights Oregon’s […]
By John Mack Freeman By the decree of Queen Elizabeth II, Alan Turing was pardoned for the crime of homosexuality this week. Turing, known as the father of the modern computer, chose to be chemically castrated rather than serve a prison sentence after he was convicted in 1952. Turing is best known for cracking the […]
By John Mack Freeman Over the summer, it was announced that GaymerX was no more. The gaming convention that focused on providing a safe space for LGBT, minority, and female gamers had hit a rough financial patch during the planning of their second convention. Due to a lack of sponsor support, rising costs, and an explosion […]