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NH Supreme Court Supports Trans Kids

The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling upholding a Manchester school district policy in support of transgender students including referring to students by their requested names & pronouns & maintaining student privacy when appropriate. Nico Romeri, a New Hampshire transgender high school student stated, “It was important for me to have the support of other people I could trust to help me feel ready to talk to my parents, especially people who could help make it easier for me to talk to my mom. Transgender students want the same opportunity to learn & be ourselves, just like any kid, without having to worry that adults at school will violate our trust. If someone had decided to tell my mom what they thought about my gender, it would have made things so much harder for me at school & at home.” Henry Klementowicz, Deputy Legal Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire concluded, “We are pleased with the court’s decision to affirm what we already know, that students deserve to be treated with dignity & respect & have a right to freely express who they are without the fear of being forcibly outed. Removing the Manchester School District’s existing, affirming policy would have created an environment where LGBTQ+ students don’t feel safe being who they are & in school, they should feel safe, cared for & able to learn to the best of their ability.” The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire (ACLU-NH) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights & the Constitution. 
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Ford Ends Inclusive Employee Policies


Ford Motor Company announced they are abandoning their commitments to employee inclusion. Kelley Robinson HRC President stated, “Today, Ford Motor Company abandoned its commitment to hundreds of thousands of employees by cowering to internet troll Robby Starbuck & signaling that inclusion & other core values are no longer a priority in the workplace. After decades of commitment to inclusion & top ratings on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Disability Equality Index as well as their longstanding philanthropic record funding scholarships for Hispanic students, the Human Rights Campaign could not be more disappointed to see Ford Motor Company shirking its responsibility to its employees, consumers & shareholders. By failing to support women leaders, employees of color & LGBTQ+ employees, Ford Motor Company is abandoning its financial duty to recruit & keep top talent from across the full talent pool. In making their purchasing decisions, consumers should take note that Ford Motor Company has abandoned its commitment to our communities…Ford Motor Company’s shortsighted decisions will have long-term consequences. Hastily abandoning efforts that ensure fair, safe & inclusive work environments is bad for business & leaves Ford’s employees & millions of LGBTQ+-allied consumers behind. With nearly 30% of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+ & the community wielding $1.4 trillion in spending power, retreating from these principles undermines both consumer trust & employee success.” This backward move by the Ford Company isn’t that surprising since the company founder Henry Ford received an award from the Nazi regime called the "Grand Cross of the German Eagle" in 1938. 

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US Open Celebrating LGBTQ Open Pride

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has expanded its lineup for its social responsibility campaign “Be Open” leveraging the global stage of the 2024 US Open to promote & amplify important messages of progress, positivity & equality. A focal point of the tournament, the 2024 “Be Open” campaign offers fans the opportunity to participate in curated cultural experiences & celebrate diverse communities throughout Fan Week & the Main Draw. Marisa Grimes, USTA Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer stated, “Tennis is more than a sport—it has the unique ability to forge human connections & improve the physical & mental health of everyone who plays it. We are excited for fans to experience our ‘Be Open’ campaign, which reflects the inclusiveness of tennis & reinforces our commitment to amplifying diverse voices & their impact on sports & society.” The 2024 “Be Open” lineup includes an increased number of cultural performances, signature events & other activations designed to inspire everyone to have a more “open” mind toward all things & all people. Tennis is open to everyone regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or national origin & the USTA & US Open remain committed to the pursuit of equity & inclusion on and off the court. Some of the events include Progress Pride flags raised at NTC entrances & AA Stadium & fountains in South Plaza will be lit in rainbow colors with appearances by special guests including Gotham Cheer & an interactive LED light show during evening matches in Ashe stadium. 
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Florida Trans Health Ban To Take Effect

A divided panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 2-1 ruling allows the state to enforce the discriminatory anti-trans laws while the Court hears Florida’s appeal of the June 11th decision finding that SB 254 & the Boards of Medicine rules unlawfully targeted transgender people. Judge Wilson writing in dissent found that the district court had “identified sufficient record evidence to support concluding that the act’s passage was based on invidious discrimination against transgender adults & minors” & that “withholding access to gender-affirming care would cause needless suffering.” The organizations representing the plaintiffs in Doe v. Ladapo, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) & Lowenstein Sandler LLP, issued the following statement in response to the ruling: “We are deeply disappointed by this decision & the panel’s disregard for the district court’s careful findings & adherence to the Eleventh Circuit’s recent precedent. Allowing these discriminatory restrictions to go back into effect will deny transgender adults & adolescents lifesaving care & prevent Florida parents from making medical decisions that are right for their children. As the district court found based on voluminous evidence, the record shows that these extraordinary restrictions were based on disapproval of transgender people & serve no purpose other than to harm transgender Floridians. The plaintiffs in this case are considering their options & will take every step possible to protect their right to equal treatment under Florida’s laws, which these restrictions egregiously violate. We will continue fighting for transgender Floridians & their families & for everyone’s right to make healthcare decisions without government interference.” 
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Oakland 14th Annual LGBTQ Pride Event

Oakland Pride's 14th Annual LGBTQ Parade & Festival “Rooted In Pride” takes place Sunday September 8th from 11A to 6P in Oakland, CA. The Parade starts at 11A & is free for all to attend. The festival performances include Da Brat the platinum artist & American rap legend, artist, profound writer, television & radio personality & the Latin stage headliner is Wendy Guevara an international trans singer, TV personality & businesswoman starts at 12P. This event will be held at the heart of Oakland at 20th Street & Broadway. Expect an unforgettable day filled with music, dance & exciting performances. Whether you identify as LGBTQ or simply want to support & celebrate everyone is welcome. Since 2010 Oakland Pride has been an influential coalition dedicated to educating the greater Bay Area & promoting equality, social justice, civic involvement & responsibility within Oakland & neighboring communities. This organization has a shared vision of providing an equitable platform, safe spaces & events for the entire Oakland community. Their events celebrate Oakland’s rich & diverse queer community, support Oakland’s BIPOC businesses & non-profits & highlights the resources available to the community through a series of events throughout the year that leads up to Oakland Pride’s 14th Annual LGBTQ Parade & Festival. Their mission is to celebrate & support the cultures & diversity of the LGBTQ community in Oakland & to educate the greater Bay Area promoting equality, social justice, civic involvement & responsibility with Oakland & neighboring communities providing unified support for the LGBTQ community & Oakland at-large so that every marginalized voice can be heard. Tickets for the festival are adults $20, seniors 65+ $15, ages 13-20 $10 & ages 12 & under free.
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Provincetown Sondheim Performance

Stephen Sondheim’s spirit lives on with Great Music on Sundays @5 a fabulous concert August 25th at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House located at 236 Commercial Street in Provincetown, MA. Stephen Sondheim an LGBTQ icon remains alive in the hearts of every lover of Broadway musicals & is considered the greatest composer of all time in this genre. Great Music on Sundays @5 homage to Mr. Sondheim is one of the concert series’ most popular events & the most requested concert by their audiences. The concert event will include music from Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Evening Primrose, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, The Mad Show, Merrily We Roll Along, Saturday Night, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street & more. Performing will be Great Music on Sundays @5 Broadway Ensemble including Jo Brisbane, ArianCarlos, Marcy Feller, Paul Goddu, Beau Jackett, Zack Johnson, Trish LaRose, Alison Mahoney, Madison Mayer, Kevin McMahon, Mark Meehan, Pamela Murray, Phoebe Otis, Jeffry Pike, Carolyn Rogers, Fermin Rojas, Alex Sesenton, John Strumwasser, Jeff Tagen, Peter Toto & John Thomas music director & pianist. Thomas produces the concert series with the gracious help of many volunteers, an Advisory Council of enthusiastic & talented community leaders with the support of the Meeting House Instrument Trust. Since 1999 more than 360 concerts have been presented by more than 150 performers providing music for thousands of concertgoers. The concerts are a potpourri of music from across the centuries & around the world. Great Music on Sundays @5 is Provincetown’s longest-running concert series. Broadway Sondheim tickets run $30 for general admission & $50 for limited priority seating plus a low service charge. 
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The Dinah Celebrating 33 Years (AUDIO)

This week I talked with Mariah Hanson, founder & producer of The Dinah the most renowned annual music festival for LGBTQ women that’s celebrating its 33rd year & takes place September 25th through September 29th in Palm Springs, CA. The Dinah continues its legend with a show-stopping entertainment line-up at one of Palm Springs’ most historic hotels the Margaritaville formerly The Riviera. This glamorous venue will host The Black & White Ball in the Grand Ballroom Friday night September 27th with award-winning artist Lauren Jauregui, the multi-platinum Cuban American singer-songwriter & former member of girl group Fifth Harmony. Then on Saturday night September 28th performing at The Hollywood Party is multi-talented Brooklyn native Iniko who will take center stage as a proud non-binary artist. Iniko proudly uses their music on behalf of the queer community after rising to fame in 2018 & amassing a huge following on TikTok crossing the 4 million follower mark. Iniko’s songs “The King’s Affirmation” & “Jericho” achieved viral success by reaching over 25 million Spotify streams & a Billboard chart debut. Also bringing glitz & glamour to the Hollywood Party is Lauren Sanderson. Of course during the daytime there will be The Dinah’s legendary pool parties showcasing a string of galvanizing queer emerging performers. Whitney Peyton, the multi-Billboard-charting, Grammy Award Winning contributing rapper, songwriter & performer will kick off the pool party weekend series Friday afternoon September 27th. The Dinah will also present world-famous DJs, go-go dancers, red carpet events with celebrity guests, dance parties, meet & greets & so much more. I talked to Mariah about what she hopes to accomplish with The Dinah this year & her spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN 


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Florida Voters Reject DeSantis Agenda

Finally in Florida primary voters delivered a resounding message to right-wing extremism & Governor DeSantis as LGBTQ & pro-equality candidates secured critical victories. This is hopefully a sign of the times that weird obsessions, culture wars, extremism & hate are not a winning game plan. Stratton Pollitzer, Chair of Equality Florida Action PAC stated, "The results are clear: Floridians are tired of the politics of rage & division. Voters across the state—Democrats, Independents & moderate Republicans—stood up to reject the extreme candidates backed by DeSantis & his allies. This election was a rejection, a repudiation & a rebuke of an agenda that has sought to divide us rather than unite us. Floridians have had enough of DeSantis & his cronies ignoring real issues while doubling down on censorship & government control to pander to extremists. They want representatives who will stand up for the rights of every parent & restore access to healthcare & quality education.” In school board races across Florida DeSantis-endorsed candidates suffered significant losses. Two-thirds of DeSantis-backed candidates failed to win Tuesday night signaling a rejection of extremists hoping to escalate a far-right takeover of Florida schools. Also 3 of the Florida legislature’s most vocal critics of DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ slate of hate all secured decisive victories proving that voters reward leaders who fight for inclusion. Not only is this another blow to DeSantis’ failed agenda of censorship, book-banning & anti-LGBTQ attacks on which he’s built his entire political reputation but a ray of light as we head toward November’s presidential election. 
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SAGE App Empowering LGBTQ Elders

SAGE the fabulous org dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ older people is celebrating the 4th year of its app dedicated to addressing the financial needs of LGBTQ seniors. SAGECents offers a wealth of tools, information & resources to help users build financial stability & reduce economic stress. Heather Seggel, a 54-year-old SAGECents user from Ukiah, California stated, “Aging while poor is often scary & no joke. A program like SAGECents can help take the fear out of getting your finances in order. They use a light touch but do some real heavy lifting.” Gabriel S., a 67-year-old from Brooklyn, New York concluded, “The main value has been as a regular gentle reminder about managing my finances sensibly. Reading SAGECents topics & questions has helped me get more focused on reducing my debt & avoiding taking on new debt.” A new stady from HRC reveals that LGBTQ adults in the USA particularly transgender & non-binary individuals are significantly more likely to experience financial insecurity. Nearly half (48.1%) of LGBTQ adults report financial struggles compared to just 26.9% of the general public. SAGECents aims to help LGBTQ elders navigate financial challenges such as lack of familial financial support, limited access to financial literacy tools & more by providing practical resources & a supportive community SAGECents empowers users to take control of their financial futures. SAGE founded in 1978 is headquartered in NYC & is a national organization that offers supportive services & consumer resources to LGBTQ older people & their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ elders, provides education & technical assistance for aging providers. 
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Phil Donahue LGBTQ Ally Dies (AUDIO)

I was sad to hear about the passing of talk show legend Phil Donahue. I had the privilege of interviewing Phil on the Red Carpet at the 20th GLAAD Media Awards in NYC back in 2009. Donahue was receiving GLAAD's Special Recognition Award that is awarded to outstanding media representation of our LGBTQ community. Donahue’s was never afraid to tackled LGBTQ issues earning him praise from advocates who recognized the importance of his show’s platform. He was a pioneer in creating a safe space for open conversations about our LGBTQ identity, love, relationships & our fight for equal rights for over 30 years setting the president for positive representation of our community. Last May Donahue was rightfully presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden & part of the reason was because of Donahue’s groundbreaking voice for our LGBTQ community & AIDS recognition & empathy. Interesting enough 2 other key LGBTQ allies were also awarded the prestigious medal on that day. The mother of Matthew Shepard Judy Shepard & former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who both championed LGBTQ rights. I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to talk to Phil about our LGBTQ equality. In this 2009 sound byte Donahue talked about how he would like to see a world without closets where love is love. Unfortunately here we are now 15 years later & there are still over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills in states across the country trying to take away our freedoms & push us back in the closet. Rest In Power Phil Donahue. LISTEN
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Gay Chilean Flamingo Couple Hatch Egg

In Chile Curtis & Arthur a same-gender flamingo couple at the Paignton Zoo have hatched a new chick marking the zoo’s first successful hatching of the species since 2018. Though Paignton’s bird curator Pete Smallbones was not entirely sure how the same-gender flamingo couple acquired the chick he stated, “The most likely scenario is that the egg was abandoned by another couple, so this pair have adopted it. We have had several all-male pairings over the years, but this is the first season that an egg has been successfully hatched by a same-sex pair. The bird department aren’t surprised that the same-sex pair have successfully hatched an egg & are now rearing a chick, but for other departments it has been a bit of a surprise. We are pleased at the success of this year’s breeding program so far. It’s a testament to the skill & hard work put in by the bird team & we are hopeful that we may see more eggs hatch over the coming days & weeks. The whole zoo is pleased to have flamingo chicks back on the lagoon. They can’t fail to brighten up your day when you catch a glimpse of them.” The curator added that Curtis & Arthur are a new couple at the lagoon & are raising the chick together. Chilean flamingos are native to South America & can be found in shallow lakes in various countries including Chile & Argentina. According to Smallbones the species are declining in number due to factors including tourism, habitat loss & egg-harvesting. Flamingo eggs hatch after about 28 days when they are incubated on mud pile nests by both parents. The chicks initially appear covered in grey & downy feathers but will mature into a fabulous pink flamingo.
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Students Challenge New Hampshire Law

The families of 2 New Hampshire public high school students have filed a lawsuit Tirrell & Turmelle v. Edelblut challenging a new state law HB 1205 that categorically bans all transgender girls in grades 5-12 from participating in school sports. Parker Tirrell is a tenth grader & Iris Turmelle is entering her first year of high school. Parker Tirrell stated, “Playing soccer with my teammates is where I feel the most free & happy. We’re there for each other, win or lose. Not being allowed to play on my team with the other girls would disconnect me from so many of my friends & make school so much harder. I just want to be myself & to learn, play & support my teammates like I did last year.” Iris Turmelle concluded, “Starting high school is exciting & new. I played intramural tennis in middle school. I’ve been looking forward to trying out for the tennis & track teams because it will be a way to make more friends in my new school & I know I’ll learn a lot from it. I’m a transgender girl, I’ve known that my whole life & everyone knows I’m a girl. I don’t understand why I shouldn’t get to have the same opportunities as other girls at school.” Under HB 1205, Parker & Iris’s schools are commanded to bar them from their teams. The law denies them the many educational, social & physical & mental health benefits that come with playing sports isolating them from friends & teammates while singling them out for discrimination solely because they are transgender girls. 
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LGBTQ Veterans USA Pardons Fall Short

Last June President Biden used his clemency authority to pardon many former LGBTQ service members wrongly convicted under the former Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 125. This article criminalized sodomy between consenting adults between 1951-2013 & until rewritten by Congress resulted in convictions of an estimated 2,000 individuals. This is a significant move recognizing & righting the wrongs inflicted upon our LGBTQ service members who faced discrimination & unjust convictions under policies such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) but unfortunately it falls a bit short. There are still many of the 100,000 vets pushed out for their sexuality still waiting for justice. To ensure that justice is served swiftly & effectively Modern Military Association of America the LGBTQ+ Military & Veteran org called upon the individual departments of the armed services to exercise their capacity to approve these pardons & subsequently approve their discharge upgrades en masse. What’s confusing in this action is that Biden’s clemency action was bestowed upon a group of unnamed people. Such mass pardons are rare but not unheard of. For instance President Jimmy Carter in 1977 pardoned hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War draft dodgers. Another catch is that only those convicted in a military court of non-forcible sodomy qualify for a pardon & neither the White House nor the Defense Department could define how many veterans that includes or why it excludes so many others. With veteran’s benefits on the line it is crucial that this is resolved ahead of the upcoming presidential election. 
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Red Sox Jarren Duran LGBTQ Hate Slur

During Sunday night’s horrendous Red Sox 10-2 loss to the Houston Astros, Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran launched the ultimate LGBTQ slur at a fan. This ugly slur comes just a week after the death of Billy Bean who was an executive in the MLB front office & dedicated his life to ensuring MLB is a welcoming space for LGBTQ athletes. We believe that not only should Duran go through an educational program about his usage of this awful language but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred should suspend him for at least 20 games. In 2017 Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce was suspended by MLB for two games after directing a similar epithet toward a fan & the same year the Toronto Blue Jays suspended former Red Sox & outfielder Kevin Pillar for 2 games without pay after directing a homophobic slur toward an opposing pitcher. Though Duran apologized for his behavior stating, “During today's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended & disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself & my teammates & to grow as a person.” This is a horrendous incident needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. This is Massachusetts where marriage equality began 20 years ago & we need to send a powerful message that any hate language or action will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Coloradans Support Transgender Victory

In Colorado a coalition of more than 100 advocacy groups, religious & business leaders & philanthropies are celebrating the failure of 30 ballot measures that would have put the lives of transgender Coloradans in danger. These measures failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the 2024 Colorado General Election ballot in November. The measures in question would have required school officials to “out” any student questioning their gender identity & stopped transgender youth from participating in sports. Mardi Moore, Executive Director Rocky Mountain Equality stated, “These measures are out of step with the values of Coloradans. They were put forward by right-wing extremists & would have threatened our collective freedom. The fact that they could not get enough signatures to be placed on the ballot shows they lack support from everyday Coloradans.” Nadine Bridges, Executive Director One Colorado’s Executive Director added, “We are under no illusions that extremists will stop their assaults on the transgender community. While today is a significant win, our work continues. We are committed to upholding Colorado values to ensure our communities are protected & will thrive. We have established the Freedom for All Coloradans coalition & are ready & united to defend against any threat.” Susy Bates, Freedom for All Coloradans Campaign Director concluded, "While we have successfully prevented these measures from moving forward, there is still work to be done to fully protect LGBTQ+ people in our state. This November, Coloradans will have the opportunity to vote to remove the ban on marriage for same-sex couples from our state constitution. We urge all Coloradans who value equality & inclusion to vote ‘yes’ on this important measure." 
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Provincetown Family Week 30th Year

Family Equality welcomed around 600 LGBTQ families & more than 1,500 individuals to Provincetown, MA for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Family Week. Since 1994 it’s grown to include LGBTQ families from 33 states & Washington D.C. & 8 countries outside of the U.S including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico & Sweden. This year’s festivities featured family-friendly programming that celebrated, supported & connected LGBTQ families at a time when many are facing threats from the school board to the state house. Dejon Campbell, Senior Manager of Program Events stated, “Family Week 2024 was an unforgettable week of joy, community & connection. Looking out onto a field of hundreds of families who are unafraid to live & love freely, donning their brightest rainbow gear & making friends that will last a lifetime is the definition of what we’re working towards every day, all year-round at Family Equality: A world where everyone can experience the unconditional joy & belonging of family. I am so grateful for all the staff, volunteers, board members, sponsors & families who made this event possible. Now, our team walks into the second half of this year feeling renewed & ready to continue advancing equality for this special community.” Family Equality is creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety & belonging of family. As the leading national organization for current & future LGBTQ families they work to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form & sustain their families by advancing LGBTQ equality through advocacy, support, storytelling & education. 
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LGBTQ Catholics Outreach Conference

The LGBTQ Catholic Ministry Outreach Conference took place at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. August 2nd to 4th bringing together more than 400 LGBTQ Catholic laypeople, clergy, scholars, artists, educators, students & family members from all over the U.S. & abroad for more than 10 panels, moments of prayer, spirituality & social hours. Outreach 2024 LGBTQ Catholic Ministry Conference featured 3 keynote addresses, several timely & compelling panels & multiple opportunities for worship as well as time for community building. Speakers, panelists & worship leaders include Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, Mark Bosco, S.J., Ph.D., Vice President for Mission & Ministry, Georgetown University, Amy-Jill Levine, Ph.D., Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament & Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion & Peace, Rev. William Hart McNichols, renowned iconographer & artist & James Martin, SJ, founder of Outreach & editor-at-large of America. For the first time since the Outreach conferences began in 2022 a cardinal celebrated a Mass for the attendees. Fr. James Martin wrote to the Pope Francis asking if he would like to send his greetings to the conference. Pope Francis sent a brief response saying he was pleased by the fact that Cardinal Gregory would be celebrating Mass for them. The Pope also stated he is “united in prayer” with those participating in the conference: “May Jesus bless you & the Holy Virgin care for you.” I talked with Father James Martin, SJ the founder of Outreach & editor-at-large of America a few years ago in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN  
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Stonewall National Museum Topeka Visit

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library executive director Robert Kesten visited Topeka, Kansas to see the Rainbow House & meet with the house owner Planting Peace Founder Aaron Jackson. The famous Rainbow House also known as the Equality House located in Topeka is an incredible monument to love, acceptance & LGBTQ rights in the state. The colorful house resides across the street from the infamous Westboro Baptist Church known for their cruel protests against LGBTQ Americans, Veterans & Jewish citizens among others. Robert Kesten stated, “I’ve known of the Rainbow House, but nothing fully prepares you for seeing it & seeing how close it is to the church across the street. The Equality House is now partnered with a house next-door that is painted the colors of the Trans Flag, promoting even greater tolerance in our nation's heartland. No matter what threats he has received, Jackson has continued to persevere, keeping in mind just how important this work is. I look forward to working with Aaron & his organization to bring Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library resources to the state of Kansas!” Robert & Aaron discussed ideas to reach out to the greater Midwest & help others learn about the invaluable contributions our LGBTQ community has made to American history & culture. The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is one of the largest LGBTQ libraries & archives in the world. Last June I talked to filmmaker Kristen Lovell about the historic Stonewall Riots Reenactment where she plays Marsha P. Johnson that took place at the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library. LISTEN
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Title IX New LGBTQ Student Protections

Just in time for the new school year the U.S. Department of Education has updated Title IX with new regulations which have officially gone into effect marking a significant milestone in the fight for safe & inclusive learning environments for our LGBTQ students. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN stated, "Today's implementation of the updated Title IX regulations is a crucial step toward ensuring that every LGBTQ+ student feels safe, supported & respected in their schools. These protections are not just about policy—they are about the real lives of students who deserve to learn in environments free from bullying & harassment. If a child does not feel safe in school, they simply will not learn. These urgently needed updates to Title IX remain the minimum legal obligation for schools in supporting their student populations. Despite the legal battles & resistance, we must continue to advocate for inclusive education that goes above & beyond what is legally require to truly honor and protect all students." The need for these protections is underscored by data from GLSEN's 2021 National School Climate Survey which revealed that 83% of LGBTQ students reported being victimized in school yet 62% never reported these incidents to school staff. Further FBI data from early 2024 indicates a significant increase in hate crimes on K-12 campuses in states with anti-trans policies. Enumerating sexual orientation & gender identity within Title IX’s scope can help bridge the trust gap & ensure more effective reporting & handling of harassment cases. GLSEN is the nation’s largest advocate for LGBTQ issues in K-12 education & has been dedicated to establishing inclusive schools & learning environments for over 34 years. 
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Senate Judiciary Hate Crime Committee

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