During the week of Feb. 19, four transgender African-American women were murdered, raising the total to seven killed since the start of 2017. The trend has been alarming to civil rights and anti-violence groups, the Southern Poverty Law Center shared.
info: splcenter.org.
The American Civil Liberties Union has demanded documents from four federal agencies concerning a potential executive order that would sanction religiously motivated discrimination against LGBTQ people, members of minority faiths, women and people seeking reproductive health care.
info: aclu.org.
Married clergy members Rev. Maria Swearingen and Rev. Sally Sarratt became co-pastors at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. This is a rarity in the Baptist Church, the Religion News Service reported. Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. has a married lesbian pastor, however she and her wife do not co-minister at the church.
info: religionnews.com.
Catholics for Fairness hosted its sixth annual Pilgrimage to the Cathedral of the Assumption on March 5. The group of clergy, elected officials, students, and more gathered at Volunteers of America Mid-States before embarking on its annual pilgrimage at the Cathedral of the Assumption.
info: fairness.org.
OutGames Miami have announced that liberal Jewish movement activist Surat-Shaan Knan and gay Tongan competitive swimmer and LGBTQ advocate Amini Fonua will be plenary speakers at the event. Also, registration is underway with sports enthusiasts from more than 40 countries ready to compete during the 10-day event that will bring to life 30 sports and 400 events across the areas of sport, culture and human rights.
info: outgames.org.
The Spartacus International Gay Guide has published its updated Gay Travel Index for 2017.
info: spartacusworld.com.
InterPride, the International Association of LGBTI Pride Organizers, has announced the opening of its 2017 grant cycle for its Solidarity Fund. Application deadline is March 30.
info: interpride.org.
Equality California announced that a poll conducted by Tulchin Research in January 2017 has found that 12 percent of California voters identify as being members of the LGBTQ community.
info: eqca.org.
In honor of what would have been Elizabeth Taylor’s 85th birthday on Feb. 27, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation released a short video to celebrate her legacy.
info: elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org.
Equality Illinois has responded to the current administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda with an aggressive Spring to Action agenda to build a strong and affirming voice among LGBTQ Illinoisans and allies throughout the state to keep Illinois as an island of equality while continuing to fight on a national lever to defend freedoms.
info: eqil.org.
On May 2, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of 25 Senators in sending a letter to the Trump Administration, urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make combating hate crimes a major focus at the Department of Justice and request full funding for the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service and Civil Rights Division.
info: baldwin.senate.gov.
A new study found that there was no difference in child outcomes among Dutch same-sex and different-sex parent families. Based upon a nationally representative sample from the Netherlands, the study compared same-sex and different-sex parent households on children’s psychological well-being, parenting stress, and the parents’ use of informal and formal support in child rearing.
info: williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu.
Seven Stories Press will hold a book launch party on March 14 at the New York Public Library for the historical novel “Jews Queers Germans.”
info: sevenstories.com.
Hornet, a gay social network, has joined forces with LGBTQ grassroots activists across the country to serve as a hub for resistance marches and protest information. It has also compiled information on how gay voters stood on their political representation with regard to upcoming elections in France.
info: love.hornetapp.com.
The 2022 Gay Games XI has narrowed down its short list of cities who are bidding to host the next event. They include Washington, D.C., Guadalajara, Mexico and Hong Kong, China.
info: gaygames.org.
On March 12, comic Kathy Griffin will be honored with the Vanguard Award by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at its 11th Annual Crescendo Gala.
info: sfgmc.org.
A new study has found that approximately 73,400 LGBTQ workers in Alabama are vulnerable to employment discrimination absent explicit statewide legal protections. Less than one percent of Alabama’s workforce is covered by local laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
info: williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu.
Equality California announced its initial 10 sponsored bills of its 2017 legislative package. Issues are directed to: modernizing discriminatory HIV criminalization laws; Gender Recognition Act of 2017; seniors long-term care bill of rights; transparency in higher education; tiered system for California sex offender registry; hate crimes hotline; updating local hate crimes policies; Name and Dignity Act; reducing LGBTQ disparities in education and employment; and insurance coverage for lipodystrophy.
info: eqca.org.
Judy Bradford, Ph.D., a pioneer in LGBTQ health research and advocacy has died.
info: glma.org.
Rev. Alba Onofrio and D.J. Hudson, Soulforce staff and members of the Keep Pulse Alive action in Orlando, Fla. were arrested at the National Religious Broadcasters Proclaim 2017 conference while marching to the conference to drums with social action decorated doves. Soulforce told hotel security that they would hold a vigil inside the conference or in a jail cell. The hotel and the conference chose the jail cell.
info: soulforce.org.
“A Very Sordid Wedding,” a sequel to “Sordid Lives” will premiere in Palm Springs, Calif. on March 10. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams will serve as one of the event’s sponsors.
info: bit.ly/2mycemN.
GLAD’s 36th Annual Summer Party will be held on July 29 in Provincetown, Mass.
info: glad.org.
Jewish LGBTQ organization Keshet’s OUTstanding! annual gala will be held on April 25 in Boston, Mass. This year, they are honoring three leaders who have modeled and advocated for LGBTQ inclusion and equality in the Jewish day school movement.
info: keshetonline.org.
GLAAD reported that celebrities and influencers donned an ampersand pin during the Academy Awards. This subtle, powerful symbol represents the power of unity and great accomplishments that occur when marginalized community groups — including women, Muslims, immigrants, and LGBTQ people — resist in solidarity. It also symbolizes the intersections of people’s identities — highlighting that nobody is any one thing. The symbol joins and unites at a time when many feel the administration is working to divide them.
info: glaad.org.
A call for artists has been issued for the 3rd Annual TransArt in Miami, Fla. by Unity Coalition. The event celebrates transgender talent, vision and possibilities.
info: unitycoalition.org.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation describes its mission as providing medical care for people affected by HIV or AIDS. Lately, though, its president Michael Weinstein has betrayed the foundation’s goals by diverting millions of dollars into unrelated political campaigns including one that would exacerbate the Los Angeles, Calif. housing shortage, the city’s Controller Ron Galperin and other LGBTQ leaders said.
info: ethics.lacity.org.
Eric Leonardos, Logo TV’s “Finding Prince Charming” cast member and MAC cosmetics artists gifted make-up and hair styling makeovers to formerly homeless clients of Alliance for Housing and Healing.
info: alliancecehh.org.
Keshet will hold its annual gala in Boston, Mass. on April 25 that supports its work for LGBTQ equality and inclusion in Jewish life, and to honor the recipients of its Hachmei Lev Award, Rebekah Farber, Dr. Marc Kramer and Dr. Susie Tanchel.
info: keshetonline.org.
Filipina actress Ivory Aquino, who played her first transgender role in ABC’s LGBTQ miniseries, “When We Rise,” told The Hollywood Reporter that writer Dustin Lance Black did not realize she was transgender during casting: “He was upset because he specifically wanted to see trans actresses,” she said.
info: hollywoodreporter.com.
Canada’s Pink Triangle Press named David Walberg as its executive director. He assumes duties on April 3.
info: pinktrianglepress.com.
The first African-American transgender model Tracey Norman, celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine, author James Earl Hardy, entrepreneur Malcolm Harris, executive producer Marcus Wilson-Smith, New York Life Greater Pasadena’s Mya Dobson and Emmy-winning actress Loretta Devine are the honorees at the third annual Truth Awards to be held on March 11 in Los Angeles, Calif.
info: betterbrothersla.com.
On March 23, The Economist Events will host its second-annual Pride and Prejudice Summit, a 24-hour event spanning three cities, Hong Kong, London and New York. The summit will serve as a catalyst for a fresh global discussion on LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, particularly by focusing on the economic and business costs of LGBT discrimination and the profitable opportunities that lie in overcoming it.
info: pride.economist.com.
Atlanta, Ga.’s The Gentlemen’s Foundation has launched its Circle of Trust couples group which meets on Wednesdays.
info: thegentlemensfoundation.org.
Transgender surgeon Dr. Sherman Leis has released his patients’ 10 most frequently asked questions that include how to get started, length of mental health stage, time requirement for being on hormone therapy, weight limits, hospital stay length after surgery, recovery timeline, payment, surgery staging schedule, voice feminization and timetable for those who wish to engage in sex after surgery.
info: thetransgendercenter.com.
ATIXA, the nation’s only membership association dedicated solely to compliance with Title IX and the support of its more than 3,000 administrator members who hold Title IX responsibilities in schools and colleges, has reissued a position statement on Title IX, gender equity and gender expression.
info: atixa.org.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues will hold “Funding Forward 2017” in Seattle, Wash. on March 31 for grant makers who are committed to LGBTQ issues.
info: lgbtfunders.org.