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LGBTQIA+ Rights and Representation

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Can Congress Stop Trump’s Transgender Military Ban? Lawmakers Face An Uphill Battle

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump's transgender troop ban can go into effect while lower courts continue to hear arguments on the ban's legality. Following this order, you might be wondering whether Congress can stop Trump's transgender military ban. As it turns out, bills reversing the ban have already been introduced in Congress, but getting them signed into law will likely be an uphill battle.

As the Washington Post reported on Feb. 7, several members of Congress introduced
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Trump’s Transgender Military Ban Is Actually Still On Hold, A Judge Says

President Donald Trump's ban on transgender individuals serving in the military may not go into effect after all. On Tuesday, a federal judge announced that Trump's transgender troop ban can't be implemented, saying that a court injunction from 2017 prohibits the administration from moving forward with the ban. The judge's notice stands in contrast to the Pentagon's recent communication on the policy, with the agency announcing in a March memo that it would be enforcing the ban beginning in Apri
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The NYPD Says Its Stonewall Actions Were "Discriminatory" In A Pride Month Apology

As the LGBTQ community celebrates pride this month, New York's police department is expressing regret for raiding a popular gay bar in 1969 — a move that ultimately resulted in activists launching the modern gay rights movement to fight discrimination. The NYPD apologized for the Stonewall Inn events, stressing that the raid should have never occurred.

New York’s police commissioner, James O’Neill, issued the apology during a Pride Month safety briefing on Thursday. In his remarks, per The New
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New York's Gay Conversion Therapy Ban Will Make It The 15th State To Outlaw The Cruel Practice

On Tuesday, New York's state legislature moved to add it to a growing list of states banning a highly controversial practice. New York's gay conversion therapy ban will mean that mental health practitioners can no longer employ the damaging technique on minors. Governor Andrew Cuomo applauded the passage of the legislation in a statement released on his website, and is expected to sign it.

Gay conversion therapy is a discredited technique that attempts to alter someone's sexual orientation from
Bustle •

Quotes From The Nashville Statement That Are Flat-Out Homophobic

On Tuesday, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released the Nashville Statement, a proclamation of 14 affirmations regarding gender and sexuality that many have deemed highly problematic. Consisting of a preamble and 14 articles, the document has been roundly criticized by many, but these quotes from the Nashville Statement prove the anti-LGBTQ sentiment is rife among evangelical leaders.

The Nashville Statement was developed by the CBMW at the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics an
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Who Was Ally Lee Steinfeld? The Transgender Teen Was Allegedly Brutally Murdered

Earlier this month in Cabool, Missouri, Ally Lee Steinfeld, a 17-year-old transgender girl, was reported missing by her family. Tragically, Steinfeld's remains were found last week and four people were arrested for alleged involvement in her murder. In the wake of her reportedly brutal death, many are speculating whether her murder was a hate crime, even though police have reportedly thus far dismissed that possibility.

Steinfeld was reportedly living in the small town of Cabool, located in the
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Who Is Paul F. Zukunft? The Coast Guard Commandant Is Standing By Transgender Members

The current Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Paul F. Zukunft, made headlines on Tuesday after he revealed that the Coast Guard had reached out to all of its openly transgender members following President Trump's announcement of a ban on transgender service members in the U.S. military, sent via Twitter last week. In light of this news, many people likely want to know a little bit more about who Zukunft is and how he actively demonstrated support for transgender Coast Guard members.
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Who Is Andrew McDonald? Connecticut Is About To Confirm The First Openly Gay Chief Justice In The U.S.

On Monday, the governor of Connecticut, Dannel P. Malloy, named Justice Andrew McDonald as the state Supreme Court's chief justice. McDonald's nomination renders him the first-ever openly gay Supreme Court chief justice in any state — a historic moment for both Connecticut and the nation.

As the CT Mirror reported, Governor Malloy released a statement on Monday announcing McDonald as his pick to replace outgoing chief justice Chase T. Rogers. In his statement, Malloy extolled McDonald's profess
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Washington Votes To Ban Gay Conversion Therapy For Minors Because Of Its "Serious Harm"

On Saturday, the state legislature in Washington passed a bill banning gay conversion therapy for minors. The bill will now be passed to Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature. If the governor signs the bill as expected, the highly controversial therapy will be outlawed statewide.

The bill, known as Senate Bill 5722, bans licensed therapists from performing "conversion therapy" on individuals under 18 years of age. The document defines conversion therapy as follows:

The bill further note
Bustle •

Transgender Students' Civil Rights Complaints Are Being Dismissed By The Trump Administration

On Tuesday, the HuffPost reported that transgender students' civil rights are complaints are being dismissed by the Trump administration, with the Department of Education claiming that the issue does not fall under its jurisdiction anymore.

Back in February of 2017, the Trump administration rescinded Obama administration-initiated protections for transgender students that allowed them to use the school bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The Obama administration had argued tha
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This GoFundMe Is Helping A Transgender Student In Oklahoma Move After Getting Violent Threats

Last week, a 12-year-old transgender student faced extensive online threats and mockery from parents after she used the girls' bathroom in her middle school's building. Now, a GoFundMe is helping this Oklahoma transgender student move away from the town of Achille and the school system in which she experienced harassment. So far, the fundraiser has skyrocketed past its original goal of $15,000, as it currently sits at around $31,000 and counting.

According to the GoFundMe page, which was starte
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Brazil's Textbook References To LGBTQ & Feminist Movements Might Get Scrapped Completely

In January of this year, Jair Bolsonaro became Brazil's newest president and, since then, his administration has proposed some sweeping policy changes. Namely, the president has suggested that Brazil's textbook references to LGBTQ and feminist movements might get scrapped completely. These potential changes could profoundly impact what Brazilian schoolchildren learn about in their classrooms.

As The Independent reported, Bolsonaro's administration made moves to change the country's school curri
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The School Where Karen Pence Is Working Doesn't Welcome LGBTQ Students Or Teachers

The second lady of the United States has a new job — one that comes with some pretty controversial requirements. Notably, the school where Karen Pence is working doesn't welcome LGBTQ students or teachers. In fact, in applying to work at the school, potential employees must certify that they won't take part in homosexual activity or violate the “unique roles of male and female," the school's articles of employment revealed.

The Washington Post noted that Pence will work part-time as an art teac
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How To Support LGBTQ Politicians On "Out To Win" Day & Beyond

When it comes to politics, LGBTQ Americans are vastly underrepresented. While they make up nearly five percent of the United States' population, LGBTQ individuals only hold a tenth of a percent of all of its elected offices, according to the LGBTQ Victory Institute. To help address this representation gap, advocates created National Out to Win Day to encourage LGBTQ Americans to run for office. If you want to know more about how to support LGBTQ politicians on Out to Win Day and beyond, the list
Bustle •

Thailand's First Transgender MP Says They Want To "Change The Discriminatory Laws"

History was made during Thailand's general election in March, after the country's first-ever transgender Member of Parliament (MP) was elected to office. The newly-minted politician is already outlining their vision for their tenure in office, as Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, Thailand's first transgender MP hopes to change the way that LGBTQ people are treated in the Southeast Asian country.

Tanwarin, who identifies as non-binary, was elected as an MP on March 24, The Guardian reported. Prior to their
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Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera Will Get A Monument For Their LGBTQ Activism In NYC

History will soon be made in the Big Apple following the city's decision to commemorate the legacy of two legendary trailblazers. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera will get a monument for their LGBTQ activism in New York City. The statue will be one of the first in the world dedicated to transgender individuals, the New York Times reported.

Forbes noted that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans for the statue on May 28. The monument will commemorate the lives and activism of Joh
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The Largest Rainbow Pride Flag In New York City Will Be Unveiled In Grand Fashion

A state park in New York is taking big steps to show its support for the LGBTQ community during pride month. Four Freedoms State Park will unveil New York City's largest LGBTQ pride flag on June 15 during a celebratory event called "Ascend With Pride." The park will create the 12-foot-by-100-foot pride flag by placing rainbow stripes onto its iconic grand staircase overlooking New York's skyline.

Four Freedoms State Park is located on New York City's Roosevelt Island and was established to hono
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Transgender Students' Civil Rights Complaints Are Being Dismissed By The Trump Administration

On Tuesday, the HuffPost reported that transgender students' civil rights are complaints are being dismissed by the Trump administration, with the Department of Education claiming that the issue does not fall under its jurisdiction anymore.

Back in February of 2017, the Trump administration rescinded Obama administration-initiated protections for transgender students that allowed them to use the school bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The Obama administration had argued tha
Bustle •

6 LGBTQ Landmarks Join The Stonewall Inn As Historic Sites In NYC

New York City is celebrating this year's pride month in a big way. The city is home to both World Pride festivities and Stonewall 50, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall uprising. Now, the Big Apple has taken another step to honor its LGBTQ history. There are now six new historic LGBTQ landmarks in New York City, and they are an important part of the city's past and its future.

As Curbed reported, New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to give the
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Trump Administration Officially Withdraws Transgender Bathroom Access Protections

In an anticipated move Wednesday evening, the Trump administration withdrew transgender bathroom protections developed under the Obama administration, providing guidance on making bathrooms available to transgender students.

The guidelines that the Trump administration is rescinding were established by the Obama administration last May. They instructed schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, citing Title IX, the federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in
The Daily Beast •

Examining the Past, Present, and Future of Chicago's First Gay Neighborhood

Pride month is one full of both celebration and commemoration for the LGBT+ community. Every June, cities around the world hold pride festivals and parades to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising – the 1969 protests that are often considered the launching point of the modern gay rights movement. Many pride activities are held in LGBT+ neighborhoods, including in Chicago’s Boystown – first-ever gay neighborhood that was officially recognized by a large city. Following the conclusion of

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