#anti-lgbtq-legislation

#anti-lgbtq-legislation

The bill, modeled on Russia's ban on LGBTQ+ speech, included fines and jail time for people found to have spread pro-LGBTQ+ messages in the media (including education and advertising materials) or on social media. The bill bans "the use of media, literature, entertainment, and other events that promote non-traditional sexual relations and pedophilia," linking LGBTQ+ identities with child sex abuse, an old negative stereotype used to drum up support for homophobia.

The bill's passage came despite urgent calls from international rights groups - including Access Now, Civil Rights Defenders, Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, International Partnership for Human Rights, and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee - for lawmakers to reject the legislation, saying it would "blatantly violate" Kazakhstan's human rights commitments.

It's time to break out the glitter and grab your favorite picture book - Dec. 12 is now officially Drag Story Hour Day in San Francisco. Earlier this week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to recognize the literacy program, which started 10 years ago at the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL). Founded by author Michelle Tea and Radar Productions, with support from fellow writers Julián Delgado Lopera and Virgie Tovar, Drag Story Hour invites drag performers to read to children at libraries, bookstores and schools around the world.

Not content with holding title to one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world, Uganda's parliament is considering a bill that would outlaw identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. The country's Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed in 2023, already provides a sentence of life in prison for gay men who have sexual relations, and in extenuating circumstances, even death. The new measure would criminalize Ugandans for simply saying they're anything but straight.

Backed by creators including Under The Desk News, Rose Montoya, Pattie Gonia, Isaias Hernandez, Blair Imani, Jesse Sullivan, and Chella Man, All Rise blends grassroots donor outreach with emotional storytelling. It marks Lambda Legal's largest digital awareness push to date and a call for unity and urgency from a group describing itself as the LGBTQ+ community's "last line of defense."

"I'm just incredibly humbled and honored for this opportunity," Faria told The Advocate in an interview following her appointment. "I've been here at SAGE, working in close partnership with Michael Adams and other members of leadership for the last 10 years, which is about half of his tenure. Before that, I had been in the movement, working at the Empire State Pride Agenda during the marriage fight and the marriage win. I've admired SAGE for a long time, and I'm just so blown away by what Michael has built."