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Aetna Settles California Fertility Suit

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has preliminarily approved a settlement between Aetna & the plaintiffs in Berton v. Aetna ensuring that Aetna's policy of guaranteeing equitable access to fertility treatments for LGBTQ policyholders is legally enforceable nationwide. The class action lawsuit was filed in April 2023 by plaintiff Mara Berton who was represented by the National Women's Law Center & law firms Katz Banks Kumin LLP & Altshuler Berzon LLP. Alison Tanner, senior litigation counsel for reproductive rights & health at the National Women’s Law Center stated “This settlement is a triumph for LGBTQ+ families, many of whom have faced significant obstacles when seeking access to fertility health benefits. Any affected class members should file their claim & receive the compensation they deserve.” Rebecca Peterson-Fisher, co-lead counsel from Katz Banks Kumin LLP added, “This is an excellent result for the class & for the LGBTQ+ community nationwide. The settlement provides virtually full compensation for LGBTQ+ couples who had to pay out of pocket for fertility treatment that should have been covered.” Connie Chan, co-lead counsel from Altshuler Berzon LLP concluded, “This landmark settlement ensures that LGBTQ+ couples nationwide will have equal access to fertility treatment under their Aetna health plans, setting a benchmark that we hope others in the health care coverage industry will follow.” Eligible LGBTQ California residents who were or would have been denied coverage for artificial insemination under Aetna's California commercial & student insurance plan can now file for compensation. If you believe you are in the class of individuals covered by this settlement please file a claim. 
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Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation Event

The Richmond / Ermet AID Foundation presents “If This Is Love A Musical Celebration of the Month of Love” for a one-night-only cabaret evening exploring the many shades of love on Monday February 23rd at Marines’ Memorial Theatre in San Francisco, CA. From romantic to joyful to deeply human this event will be headlined by cast members from the National Broadway Touring Company of The Notebook with special guests Dan Ashley, Jason Brock & Leanne Borghesi. There will be a blending of theatrical storytelling & intimate vocal performance offering the evening audience a chance to see celebrated touring artists perform material of their own choosing in a cabaret setting. (Note: Music from The Notebook will not be performed.) Kenneth Henderson, Executive Director of the Richmond/Ermet AID Foundation stated, “We’re very excited about “If This Is Love A Musical Celebration” a concert that will feature so many amazing voices from the Broadway touring cast of “The Notebook” in addition to Dan Ashley, Jason Brock & Leanne Borghesi for a labor of love as all our performers give their time & talent to support our cause.” For over 30 years REAF has partnered with national touring productions to present its signature “One Night Only” benefit cabaret series for an ongoing collaboration between visiting theatre artists & the local community. The initiative raises critical funds for AIDS services, hunger relief & programs serving homeless youth, distributing over $4.5 million to date while celebrating the creative spirit at the heart of live performance. VIP tickets include the VIP after party with the cast following the show & a limited silent auction will proceed the show starting at 6:30P in the theater lobby. 
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Massachusetts Faith Leaders Speak Out

More than 175 clergy & lay faith leaders from across Massachusetts gathered at the State House for a public action combining prayer, moral witness & civic engagement in response to growing federal threats to immigrant communities & other protected residents in the Commonwealth. The gathering organized by Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN) in collaboration with other partners including Massachusetts Board of Rabbis & Prayers for Liberty came in solidarity with fellow faith leaders of the Faith in Action network in Minnesota & other states which have stepped forward with public prayer & leadership amid escalating federal enforcement actions. MCAN faith leaders stress this moment of witnessing Minneapolis calls for preparation, not panic & for leadership. Mark A. Nilson, Pastor of Salem Covenant Church in Worcester stated, "Each (of us) has been given the gift of life. Thus, when hate is unleashed, each (of us) has a moral imperative to honor, protect & safeguard any life that is threatened, terrorized or taken. There is no other option; there are no bystanders. Humanity is in it together, or we perish together." Participating in solidarity with Minneapolis clergy were Rev. Rebecca Bryan, First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist in Newburyport, MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Merrimack Valley Project (MVP), Pastor Emmanuel (Manny) Daphnis, Restoration Community Church & MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC), Rabbi David Jaffe, KIRVA, MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC), Rev. Aaron Payson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Worcester Interfaith (WI), Sister Melinda Pellerin, Sisters of St. Joseph, MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Pioneer Valley Project (PVP - Springfield) & others. 
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Federal Court Blocks DOJ Subpoena

In a significant ruling protecting the privacy rights of patients & families U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin granted a motion to quash a Department of Justice subpoena demanding the medical records of families whose children received trans health care at Children's National Hospital. In her opinion Judge Rubin found that the DOJ subpoena "lacks a proper investigative purpose" & "appears to have no purpose other than to intimidate & harass" the hospital & families seeking established essential medical care for their children. The court determined the subpoena was "a pretext to fulfill the Executive's well-publicized policy objective to terminate & block” trans health care. The subpoena issued in June 2025 demanded highly sensitive information including patient names, dates of birth, social security numbers, diagnoses, clinical assessments & parental authorization forms. The court found this sweeping demand bore "no credible connection to an investigation of any statutory violation" & was "utterly unclear" in its purported purpose. Judge Rubin stated, "The Government has made improper use of a §3486 administrative subpoena to out [families] for receiving & their Hospital for providing, healthcare." The ruling emphasizes that patients have a constitutionally protected right to privacy in their sensitive medical records, particularly when the government cannot demonstrate a legitimate investigative basis for demanding them. Jennifer Levi, Senior Director at GLAD Law concluded, “When families fear their private health information could be exposed or used against them, they may delay or avoid seeking necessary medical care – putting children's health & wellbeing at risk. The court's decision protects not only the families who brought the case, but reinforces fundamental principles of medical privacy & limitations on government power that benefit all Americans.” 
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Kelley Robinson Joins Kettering Board

Kelley Robinson, HRC president has joined the Kettering Foundation board of directors. Robinson previously served as a Kettering Foundation senior fellow from 2024–25. Founded in 1927 by the American inventor Charles F. Kettering the foundation is committed to advancing inclusive democracies by fostering citizen engagement, promoting government accountability & countering authoritarianism. Sharon L. Davies, president & CEO of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation stated, "Few Americans are as eloquent or inspiring in their advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community as is Kelley Robinson. Defending the rights of others is her life's work & we look forward to her contributions & continued leadership as she steps into a new role on the foundation board." Kelley Robinson concluded, "I'm proud to join the Kettering Foundation board at a critical moment for our democracy & the movement for equality. Kettering's commitment to inclusive democracy & civic power is exactly what this moment demands & I'm ready to help advance the bold, people-centered leadership our country needs." Before taking the helm at HRC Robinson served as the executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund where she fought tirelessly for reproductive rights & defended the rights of all individuals. Her dedication to fighting injustice for society's most underserved populations has been a driving force throughout her career. As HRC president Kelley is the first Black lesbian woman to lead the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the United States & as a mark of her influence she was named to the 2024 TIME100.  
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Stonewall National Museum (AUDIO)

This week I talked to Robert Kesten, President & CEO of Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded in 1973 the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library has grown into the largest lending library of its kind in America with more than 34,000 books & audio-visual materials. The archives also contain more than 6 million pages of documents & more than 2,000 objects of critical importance to our LGBTQ history. Rotating exhibitions, talks, lectures & films have attracted thousands to the Stonewall National Museum each year enriching the lives of countless others. Some of the upcoming events include their 4th annual Gala fundraiser where they will ceremoniously & historically induct architect, philanthropist & president of the Arcus Foundation Jon Stryker, retired Congressman Barney Frank & Grammy winning singer-songwriter Janis Ian into its nationally traveling “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” exhibition on February 21st. This fabulous fundraising event takes place at The VENUE in Wilton Manors, FL from 6P to 9P for a fabulous night of celebration with cocktails, dinner, conversation & community. Other events include Amazon Rising: The Legacy of Wonder Woman that runs now through February 17th & Sahara: NYC’s Lesbian Legacy that will be on display February 28th to April 5th. Also the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library in partnership with the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate the 2026 class of inductees recognizing the achievements & contributions of LGBTQ athletes, coaches, advocates & sports enthusiasts. I talked to Kesten about what he would like to accomplish at the Stonewall National Museum & his spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  
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Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

Since 1986 we’ve celebrated Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday. Now in 2026 it’s a bit bittersweet as America becomes more unrecognizable with each passing day.  With the unrest in our cities as the midterm elections approach we still haven’t been able to pass the Freedom to Vote Act & the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. How this will all play out will be written in the history books which is all so fragile as truth seems to be under the scrutiny of misguided interpreters. On this day let’s also remember pioneer civil rights activist Bayard Rustin who taught Martin Luther King Jr. strategies of nonviolence during the Montgomery Bus Boycott & reached international notoriety in 1963 as the organizer of the March on Washington. As the racial unrest continues in this country & it feels like everything we have worked for keeps sliding in reverse let’s keep the memory strong of Martin Luther King Jr. & Bayard Rustin. In 2013 President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously to Bayard Rustin. Walter Naegle who was Rustin's partner for the last decade of who died in 1987 stated, “Being black, being homosexual, being a political radical, that’s a combination that’s pretty volatile & it comes along like Halley’s Comet. Bayard’s life was complex, but at the same time I think it makes it a lot more interesting." I talked to Naegle in 2015 about what Bayard was really like, how they met & the importance of Rustin’s work especially in these challenging times. LISTEN    
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Save HIV Funding Campaign Update

BREAKING UPDATE: Reversal of SAMHSA Cuts, Potential Progress on Florida HIV Care & ADAP Crisis... With the unfolding public health crisis in Florida brought on by changes announced by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) & across America the Save HIV Funding Campaign has provided statements from its organizers & partner orgs addressing this crisis. Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Director, PrEP4All & Co-Founder, Save HIV Funding Campaign stated, “Visibility on these interrelated & simultaneous attacks will be critical to preventing a catastrophic return to the darkest days of the AIDS crisis. Those working to undermine HIV funding are not only showing inhuman cruelty toward people living with or vulnerable to HIV, but they are also being fiscally reckless. For every dollar invested in HIV prevention, three to seven dollars are saved.” Maxx Boykin, Manager, Save HIV Funding Campaign added, “We spent all of 2025 fighting massive proposed funding cuts from the House majority & now, as 2026 begins, the cancer is spreading. After the White House’s unprecedented decision not to honor World AIDS Day last month, we’re seeing a major federal agency scrap critical preventive services that disproportionately benefit red states, alongside a direct attack on people living with HIV from Governor DeSantis’ Department of Health. We are also closely investigating reports of other major funding disruptions across the United States.” Paul Samuels, Director and President, Legal Action Center concluded, “The cancellation of $2 billion in SAMHSA grants will directly impact the ability of organizations all across the country to provide critical substance use prevention, treatment, HIV & hepatitis, harm reduction, education & support services to people who need it most. It is a bizarre & extraordinarily harmful move from an Administration that has claimed to want to end the HIV epidemic & support rural communities that have been hit hardest by the opioid crisis.” 
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“Red Light Diaries” Announce Casting

The new scripted drama series “Red Light Diaries” created & directed by Micheal Ighodaro has announced that Dashaun Wesley (“Legendary”), Toni Bryce (“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”) & breakout artist Billy The GOAT have joined the cast. “Red Light Diaries” is a bold intimate drama about LGBTQ people of color living, loving & surviving in the shadows of stigma, HIV, faith & desire where secrets are currency, intimacy is dangerous & being seen can save or destroy you. The project was filmed on location across 6 global cities Lagos, New York, Atlanta, London, Lyon & Bangkok bringing together an international cast & crew to reflect the regional specificity of each story. Each episode functions as a stand-alone character-driven narrative grounded in the cultural, social & emotional realities of its setting. Director Micheal Ighodaro stated, “HIV has a way of flattening people into categories & outcomes. With “Red Light Diaries”, I wanted to pull back that veil — to see queer people of color, migrants & sex workers not through the lens of the virus, but through their intimacy, contradictions & resilience. The story begins with the human, not the condition.” Red Light Diaries is produced by Global Black Gay Men Connect & supported by an international creative team that includes award-winning screenwriters Noni Salma & Collins Akon & cinematographers Daniel Oshodin & Nouridine Zerhoun. Additional producers on the series include Joseph Adesunloye, Pamela Adie & Sebastien Rossi. Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC) centers on lived experience to address structural inequities across HIV, human rights, migration & access to care. GBGMC operates at the intersection of culture & policy supporting local leaders & amplifying narratives that affirm the humanity & complexity of Black LGBTQ lives across regions. 
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US Withdraws From International Orgs


The current administration has decided to withdraw from international organizations, conventions & treaties it claims are “contrary to the interests of the United States” including United Nations bodies advancing racial justice, reparations, climate justice, democracy & gender equality. Desirée Cormier Smith, Co-President of The Alliance for Diplomacy & Justice & former U.S. Special Representative for Racial Equity & Justice, stated, “Explicitly including the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in this memo was a racist dog whistle. The U.S. already withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in 2025 & the Permanent Forum is a subsidiary of that body. The U.S. had not participated in the Permanent Forum since the beginning of the Trump administration & there had never been a dedicated line of funding for this body. Naming the Permanent Forum in this memo served no other purpose beyond playing to the MAGA base & showing that this administration’s attack on Black people is not limited to the borders of the United States. Furthermore, Marco Rubio’s statement calling out ‘DEI mandates’ as a justification for the U.S. to leave these entities is laughable since the world is by definition diverse. This administration’s obsession with imposing their white Christian nationalist agenda on the world is a dangerous & unconstructive way to conduct foreign policy.“ Let’s call on Congress to reject this reckless retreat & defend the United States’ engagement in global institutions that advance reparative justice, human rights, climate justice, gender equity & democracy. The path forward is not denial or isolation but leadership rooted in truth, repair & collective responsibility. 

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New Zombie Movie Queens Of The Dead

Tina Romero’s camp horror film "Queens Of The Dead" follows a group of drag queens who come together with their community to survive a night of a zombie apocalypse is now available on streaming platform Shudder. The film stars Dominique Jackson, Katy O’Brian, Nina West, Jaquel Spivey, Tomas Matos, Margaret Cho & more. Filmmaker Tina Romero the daughter of horror icon George A. Romero takes the audience on a fabulous feature debut in this horror comedy loaded with fun & meaningful ideas by combining a familiar genre with a LGBTQ twist. Romero stated, “The idea of taking drag & queer nightlife & mashing it up with zombies, I was like, that’s delicious. What a delicious, yummy way to do a zombie film & also how special to be my dad’s kid & carry his torch & the monster forward into 2025. But to make it queer, it feels so right. Especially now in 2025, I’m so grateful that IFC & Shudder are putting this film out this year, specifically. If you make an indie film, you take it to a festival & it can take years to get it into the world. But, with the year that we’ve had & with the shit that’s going on in the queer community, specifically in the ways that we’re feeling erased & under attack & afraid, I’m so happy that this film, the vibe of it, isn’t bleak. It’s hopeful, it’s joyful, it’s fun. I just feel really happy that this can be out in the world right now.” Queens of the Dead was directed by Tina Romero & written by Romero & Erin Judge. WATCH TRAILER
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NEA Funding For 2026 Advances

The U.S. Senate & the House of Representatives released final funding levels for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior, Environment & Related Agencies Appropriations bill including $207 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Creative Coalition commends Congress for maintaining FY 2025 funding levels for the NEA & calls on lawmakers in both chambers to approve this funding level when it comes for a vote in each chamber. Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition stated, “Maintaining stable funding for the National Endowment for the Arts is a vital step toward nurturing creativity, boosting local economies & ensuring access to the arts for all Americans. This funding supports jobs, education & community vitality across the country. It’s a smart investment in our nation’s cultural & economic strength.” Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition concluded, “The Creative Coalition applauds this bipartisan agreement to preserve NEA funding at current levels, but our work isn’t done until it becomes law. We’ll keep pushing to protect & grow support for the arts, which drive innovation, heal communities & contribute billions to our economy every year.” The House of Representatives is expected to vote on NEA funding as part of a larger spending package as soon as this week. If the bill passes the House the Senate must also approve the measure before it is sent to the President for signature. The Creative Coalition will continue to engage with lawmakers as new funding for the NEA moves toward finalization. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. 
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Andrea Jenkins Announces Retirement

Andrea Jenkins President of the Minneapolis City Council has announced her retirement. I remember how amazing she was during the George Floyd murder back in 2020 in Minnesota when she was Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council. Dr. David J. Johns CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) stated, “As my dear fraternity sister Andrea Jenkins prepares to retire from the Minneapolis City Council, I want to celebrate her extraordinary legacy of groundbreaking leadership and unwavering commitment to justice. Andrea made history in 2017 as the first openly transgender African American elected to public office in the United States & she continued to break barriers by becoming the first out trans person to serve as a city council president… Andrea's leadership through the aftermath of George Floyd's murder demonstrated her courage & vision, guiding the city through profound grief & upheaval, championing meaningful police reform & investing in community safety while never losing sight of the humanity at the center of these debates. Her commitment to restoring communities, supporting violence prevention initiatives & creating the Office of Community Safety reflects her dedication to building a Minneapolis where all residents can thrive. Beyond her political achievements, Andrea is a gifted poet, writer & historian whose cultural contributions have enriched our understanding of transgender history & Black LGBTQ+/SGL experiences. As a member of NBJC's Good Trouble Network, she has been an invaluable ally & advocate & I am deeply grateful for her support of my own leadership & of our organization's mission.” NBJC is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ people including people living with HIV. 
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Stronger Than Ever Moving Forward

A year ago I was in a wait & see mode like so many others in America. Now a year later as we enter 2026 I’m much wiser, focused & stronger as so many others in this country have become. When I reflect on the 2025 I have to agree with Bette Midler who stated, “In my entire life, I have never lived through a more horrible year…It was hideous & left us a smaller nation in the eyes of the world; we may never shine the way we once did. Every day was full of cruelty, viciousness, sadism, stupidity, corruption, even towards our friends. Every day, decimation of every value & institution we as Americans hold dear. It has been a heartbreaker, we got through it, but barely.” So to everyone who  survived 2025 celebrate yourself for persisting in the human experience to depths we have all experienced this pass year & though it still feels like an uphill battle, we are more rooted than ever to take on 2026. Two of my major mantras for this year are first from Duke Ellington who stated, "Life has two rules: #1 – Never quit. #2 – Always remember rule #1.". The other mantra that has saved me from despair is from my Aunt Ruby who told me “Nothing is so bad it can’t get worse & we spend our lives worrying about things that never happen.” 2025 as shocking as it was is over & what everyone in America does now counts. So dust off 2025 as effectively as you can & be true to your authentic self because as Eleanor Roosevelt stated, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
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Aetna Settles California Fertility Suit

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has preliminarily approved a settlement between Aetna & the plaintiffs i...

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