INSIDER
A second high court rules that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
Read full article: A second high court rules that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutionalA second high court has ruled that the Japanese government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
LGBTQ soldiers in Ukraine hope their service is changing attitudes as they rally for legal rights
Read full article: LGBTQ soldiers in Ukraine hope their service is changing attitudes as they rally for legal rightsSeveral hundred LGBTQ Ukrainian servicemen and their supporters have marched in central Kyiv to demand more rights and highlight their service to their country in its war with Russia.
Bill would rename NYC subway stop after Stonewall, a landmark in LGBTQ+ rights movement
Read full article: Bill would rename NYC subway stop after Stonewall, a landmark in LGBTQ+ rights movementLawmakers have approved legislation that would rename a New York City subway station in honor of the Stonewall riots.
United Methodist delegates repeal their church’s ban on its clergy celebrating same-sex marriages
Read full article: United Methodist delegates repeal their church’s ban on its clergy celebrating same-sex marriagesUnited Methodist delegates have repealed their church’s longstanding ban on the celebrations of same-sex marriages or unions by its clergy.
United Methodists remove anti-gay language from their official teachings on societal issues
Read full article: United Methodists remove anti-gay language from their official teachings on societal issuesFor the past 52 years, the United Methodist Church had officially declared “the practice of homosexuality.
Mass arrests target LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria while abuses against them are ignored, activists say
Read full article: Mass arrests target LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria while abuses against them are ignored, activists sayRights groups and lawyers in Nigeria say the West African nation's law enforcement authorities are using the country’s same-sex prohibition law to target the LGBTQ+ community while ignoring abuses against them.
Gatherings combining Pride and Juneteenth give Black LGBTQ+ people a refuge where they can celebrate
Read full article: Gatherings combining Pride and Juneteenth give Black LGBTQ+ people a refuge where they can celebrateFrom a block party in New York City to a movie screening outside of Denver, groups across the U.S. have found ways to merge Pride month and Juneteenth celebrations.
Michigan LGBTQ+ resource guide: How to find support, healthcare and legal resources
Read full article: Michigan LGBTQ+ resource guide: How to find support, healthcare and legal resourcesThis list provides links and information to support, healthcare, legal resources, and more for LGBTQ+ people and allies.
Free movie nights returning to Detroit’s Campus Martius for the summer
Read full article: Free movie nights returning to Detroit’s Campus Martius for the summerMovie Nights in the D will return to Campus Martius Park next month for a summer of free movies under the stars, the Downtown Detroit Partnership announced Wednesday.
Uganda LGBTQ leader says gay bill threatens homelessness
Read full article: Uganda LGBTQ leader says gay bill threatens homelessnessA prominent leader of Uganda’s LGBTQ community says he is worried about becoming “homeless,” describing anguished calls by others like him who are concerned for their safety after the passing of a tough new anti-gay law.
‘Gender Queer’ book concerns discussed at Lapeer County public library board meeting
Read full article: ‘Gender Queer’ book concerns discussed at Lapeer County public library board meetingHundreds of people attended the Lapeer District Library board meeting Thursday after the county prosecutor raised concerns about a book in the public library’s collection.
Michigan adds LGBTQ protections to anti-discrimination law
Read full article: Michigan adds LGBTQ protections to anti-discrimination lawMichigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday that will permanently outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state.
Minnesota governor protects rights to gender affirming care
Read full article: Minnesota governor protects rights to gender affirming careGov. Tim Walz has signed an executive order protecting the rights of LGBTQ people from Minnesota and other states to seek and receive gender affirming health care.
NC power grid attack stokes fear in rural LGBTQ community
Read full article: NC power grid attack stokes fear in rural LGBTQ communityNorth Carolina drag performers and LGBTQ community members fear for their safety after an attack on the electrical grid in Moore County left tens of thousands without power for several days.
Site of Colorado gay bar shooting 'celebrated' LGBTQ people
Read full article: Site of Colorado gay bar shooting 'celebrated' LGBTQ peopleIn the mostly conservative city of Colorado Springs, Club Q has long been a go-to spot for members of the LGBTQ community — a safe space where many felt they could just be themselves.
U.S. Soccer is making a statement with Pride Crest during World Cup in Qatar
Read full article: U.S. Soccer is making a statement with Pride Crest during World Cup in QatarThere are many reasons to criticize FIFA for the way they’ve handled the Men’s World Cup that is about to begin in Qatar, and at the top of that list is that they chose to have it in a nation with egregious human rights violations.
Update: An ex-employee posted controversial tweets on St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office account
Read full article: Update: An ex-employee posted controversial tweets on St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office accountThe St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office says a former employee posted anti-LGBTQ comments on the department’s official Twitter account.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is investigating controversial comments made from Twitter account
Read full article: St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is investigating controversial comments made from Twitter accountThe St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department has a mystery on its hands as someone has hijacked the department’s official Twitter account and has decided to tweet anti-LGBTQ content to an actress.
Some stay, some go as Dearborn school district decided on book challenges; Parent’s file suit
Read full article: Some stay, some go as Dearborn school district decided on book challenges; Parent’s file suitIt has been a controversial issue in Dearborn, and Monday, the school district addressed what it plans to do with several books deemed inappropriate by some parents.
Rainbow wave’: How LGBTQ+ politicians broke barriers in midterm election
Read full article: Rainbow wave’: How LGBTQ+ politicians broke barriers in midterm electionAcross the country, LGBTQ+ candidates broke barriers Tuesday as part of a new generation of politicians elected to office. In a historic first, LGBTQ+ Americans were on the ballot in all 50 states, a record 678 candidates.
Western Michigan library targeted by anti-LGBTQ group loses most of its funding
Read full article: Western Michigan library targeted by anti-LGBTQ group loses most of its fundingAn embattled western Michigan library targeted by residents opposed to LGBTQ materials on its shelves has lost most of its funding with the latest failure of the renewal of a property tax millage.
Hundreds of people packed a meeting in Dearborn to discuss 6 books that are under review
Read full article: Hundreds of people packed a meeting in Dearborn to discuss 6 books that are under reviewHundreds of people packed a Dearborn school to passionately discuss banning six books some say are inappropriate for school-age children.
Dearborn school board meeting to resume Thursday after ending early due to disorderly crowd
Read full article: Dearborn school board meeting to resume Thursday after ending early due to disorderly crowdAfter an angry crowd shut down Monday’s Dearborn School Board meeting, the district is moving the continuation of the discussion to a larger venue for Thursday.
Montenegro holds pride march despite opposition from church
Read full article: Montenegro holds pride march despite opposition from churchSeveral hundred people have joined an LGBTQ pride march in Montenegro that was held amid strong opposition from the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in the small conservative Balkan country.
University of Michigan named a national ‘Best of the Best’ LGBTQ-friendly campus
Read full article: University of Michigan named a national ‘Best of the Best’ LGBTQ-friendly campusU-M in Ann Arbor has been named one of the top 40 schools in the country for having an inclusive and safe LGBTQ-friendly campus.
Committee formed to review library books in Dearborn schools
Read full article: Committee formed to review library books in Dearborn schoolsA committee was formed to review library books in Dearborn schools, which caused a battle over books in the city, specifically on what should and should not be on the shelves. It’s an issue in communities across the country and getting heated.
Royal Oak library fights back against calls for banning books with riff on Rock and Roll concert shirt
Read full article: Royal Oak library fights back against calls for banning books with riff on Rock and Roll concert shirtAccording to the American Library Association, 2022 is on track to see a record attempt at banning books at public libraries, universities, and schools which is why librarians in Royal Oak are bringing awareness to book bans with a riff on a Rock and Roll concert shirt.
Thousands protest planned Pride gathering in Serbia
Read full article: Thousands protest planned Pride gathering in SerbiaThousands of opponents of a pan-European LGBTQ event planned for this week in Belgrade marched through the Serbian capital on Sunday despite an announced ban of Europe’s largest annual gay gathering.
University of Michigan, Oakland University among most LGBTQ-friendly campuses in nation
Read full article: University of Michigan, Oakland University among most LGBTQ-friendly campuses in nationTwo Metro Detroit universities are being recognized for having some of the most LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs and practices in the state.
Michigan library’s millage fails after group campaigned to remove LGBTQ material
Read full article: Michigan library’s millage fails after group campaigned to remove LGBTQ materialA western Michigan library faces an uncertain future after a flap over LGBTQ material on its shelves led to the failure of the renewal of a property tax millage that funds most of its budget.
Michigan Supreme Court says anti-bias law bans discrimination on sexual orientation, protects LGBTQ+
Read full article: Michigan Supreme Court says anti-bias law bans discrimination on sexual orientation, protects LGBTQ+The Michigan Supreme Court said that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s sexual orientation.
Metro Detroit therapy camp helps kids talk about their mental health
Read full article: Metro Detroit therapy camp helps kids talk about their mental healthGetting our teenagers to talk about their feelings is difficult, especially if they’re struggling. But checking in on our children’s mental health is vital, and if they won’t talk to us, then where can they go where they might feel comfortable sharing?
Community members demand change after Berkley City Councilman opposes pride block party
Read full article: Community members demand change after Berkley City Councilman opposes pride block partyCommunity members are demanding action Monday night after a Berkley City Councilman opposes the city’s upcoming pride block party, saying he holds deep religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong.
City of Detroit raises Progress Pride flag to kick-off pride month
Read full article: City of Detroit raises Progress Pride flag to kick-off pride monthJune 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Michigan leaders push to protect LGBTQ+ community: ‘We are asking for equality’
Read full article: Michigan leaders push to protect LGBTQ+ community: ‘We are asking for equality’Michigan political leaders, police, and prosecutors are speaking out and pushing for change to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
Florida GOP 'Don't Say Gay' bill advances in House
Read full article: Florida GOP 'Don't Say Gay' bill advances in HouseFlorida House Republicans have advanced a bill to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people.
High court takes case involving refusal to serve gay couples
Read full article: High court takes case involving refusal to serve gay couplesThe Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a Colorado web designer who says her religious beliefs prevent her from offering wedding website designs to gay couples.
France bans gay 'conversion therapy' with new law
Read full article: France bans gay 'conversion therapy' with new lawFrance has a new law that bans so-called conversion therapies and authorizes jail time and fines for practitioners who use the scientifically discredited practice to attempt to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ people.
Michigan to expand support for LGBTQ+ families who want to foster or adopt children in need
Read full article: Michigan to expand support for LGBTQ+ families who want to foster or adopt children in needThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it is committed to ensuring LGBTQ+ families feel welcome and valued as foster and adoptive parents.
US judge in Michigan tosses gay corrections officers’ suit
Read full article: US judge in Michigan tosses gay corrections officers’ suitA federal judge in Michigan has tossed a lawsuit brought by two gay corrections officers, ruling some of their discrimination claims weren’t sufficiently proven and that statutes of limitation barred others.
Tunisia: LGBT activist's assault seen as a pattern by police
Read full article: Tunisia: LGBT activist's assault seen as a pattern by policePolice violence is among the myriad challenges that LGBTQ people experience in Tunisia, and observers say officers who can dispense beatings with impunity are becoming increasingly brazen.
If Roe falls, some fear ripple effect on civil rights cases
Read full article: If Roe falls, some fear ripple effect on civil rights casesIf the Supreme Court decides to overturn or gut the decision that legalized abortion, some fear that it could undermine other precedent-setting cases, including civil rights and LGBTQ protections.
Michigan LGBT rights ballot drive officially dead after appeal denied
Read full article: Michigan LGBT rights ballot drive officially dead after appeal deniedThe Michigan Supreme Court won't hear the appeal of an LGBTQ-rights ballot committee that contended officials wrongly disqualified tens thousands of signatures it submitted for an initiative to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sail away with Kesha and a bunch of drag queens on the Kesha Cruise in 2022
Read full article: Sail away with Kesha and a bunch of drag queens on the Kesha Cruise in 2022Just like Kesha said in her hit song “Tik Tok,” well, “the party don’t start till I walk in,” and that goes for her Kesha Cruise that is setting sail in 2022.
Hear from trans women of color who are working to help others in Metro Detroit
Read full article: Hear from trans women of color who are working to help others in Metro DetroitLiliana Reyes and Jeynce Poindexter work to help other women in Metro Detroit through the Ruth Ellis Center and at the Trans Sistas of Color Project.
‘Equal dignity for all people’: Michigan AG Dana Nessel fights to help others live their truth
Read full article: ‘Equal dignity for all people’: Michigan AG Dana Nessel fights to help others live their truthMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel made history as the first openly gay person elected to a Michigan statewide office.
Meet the Michigan woman who was the first openly gay person elected to political office in the US
Read full article: Meet the Michigan woman who was the first openly gay person elected to political office in the USA woman from Ann Arbor became the first openly gay person in the country to be elected to political office 47 years ago.
California bans state travel to Florida, 4 other states
Read full article: California bans state travel to Florida, 4 other statesCalifornia has added five more states including Florida to the list of places where state-funded travel is banned because of laws that discriminate against members of the LGBTQ community.
Why it’s so important for athletes like Carl Nassib to come out of the closet
Read full article: Why it’s so important for athletes like Carl Nassib to come out of the closetLas Vegas Raiders football player Carl Nassib made history Monday when he became the first active NFL player to come out of the closet.
Ruth Ellis Center pivots during COVID pandemic to continue offering support to LGBTQ+ youth
Read full article: Ruth Ellis Center pivots during COVID pandemic to continue offering support to LGBTQ+ youthThe COVID pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in death by suicide for young people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Local organizations team up to support LGBTQ community while finding pets forever homes
Read full article: Local organizations team up to support LGBTQ community while finding pets forever homesMichigan Human is partnering with the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit to support both the LGBTQ community, as well as animals that are in need of finding a forever home -- all at the same time.
Ann Arbor councilmember removed from committees after posting homophobic slur on social media
Read full article: Ann Arbor councilmember removed from committees after posting homophobic slur on social mediaAnn Arbor councilman Jeff Hayner (D-Ward 1) has been stripped of all Council committees through the end of the year.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor issues directive on gender identity, adopts Fair Michigan policy
Read full article: Washtenaw County Prosecutor issues directive on gender identity, adopts Fair Michigan policyOn Wednesday, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit issued a Prosecutor’s Office’s Directive on respecting the gender identity of transgender, intersex and gender-nonconforming community members.
Study: Pandemic eats into LGBTQ representation on network TV
Read full article: Study: Pandemic eats into LGBTQ representation on network TVThe percentage of regularly seen LGBTQ characters on streaming as well as prime-time broadcast TV and cable during the 2020-21 season fell. Prime-time broadcast fell to 9.1% after reaching an all-time high of 10.2% last season. GLAAD's report, “Where We Are on TV,” found that 70 out of 773 series regular characters on broadcast scripted prime-time TV were LGBTQ. The group found good news on the second request in the latest study — over half of LGBTQ characters on cable television were people of color, meeting GLAAD’s challenge. The advocacy group noted that nearly half of all LGBTQ representation in prime-time scripted cable is seen on just three networks — FX, Freeform and Showtime.
Jim Toy Community Center to close office, starts GoFundMe campaign
Read full article: Jim Toy Community Center to close office, starts GoFundMe campaignANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Jim Toy Community Center announced Tuesday that the doors of its physical office space, located at 319 Braun Court, would close at the end of January. Jim Toy Community Center has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with the expenses of the volunteer-run nonprofit. If you can, please help by contributing to the GoFundMe Campaign to ensure a vibrant and active countywide #LGBTQ resource center exists in the future. After the Jim Toy Community Center board of directors meeting in December, Joe Schoch was elected as board president in 2021. He is replacing Travis Radina, who was elected as an Ann Arbor City Council member representing Ward 3 in November.
Nasdaq stock exchange requests diversity upgrade
Read full article: Nasdaq stock exchange requests diversity upgradeDETROIT – The Nasdaq stock exchange is seeking U.S. authority to require more diversity in the boardrooms of Nasdaq-listed companies, or for those companies to explain why they can not. The proposal filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, if approved, would require all companies listed on the exchange to publicly disclose consistent, transparent diversity statistics about their board of directors. It would require most Nasdaq-listed companies to have, or explain why they don’t have, at least two diverse directors. This includes having one board member who self-identifies as female and one who self-identifies as either an underrepresented minority or LGBTQ. Foreign companies and smaller reporting companies would have additional flexibility.