Good News for the LGBTQ+ Community

Throughout the pandemic, local neighborhoods — especially gay neighborhoods — have played a critical and well-documented role providing the health and social services necessary for American communities and businesses to survive and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beth Robinson, a Vermont Supreme Court judge, was confirmed by a 51-45 Senate vote on Monday as President Joe Biden’s nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.

Indigenous activists have always been at the frontlines of global issues to preserve the sacredness of Earth and stand for human rights. Here are seven activists to follow from North America, South America, and Australia.

Puberty blockers help offset the stress of gender dysphoria, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a global body of doctors specialized in trans people.

Transgender people are at higher risk of experiencing violence, homelessness, and abuse, attributable to transmisogyny and transphobia in their communities. These risks increase exponentially at the intersection of race and gender.

While many marchers were joyous to be dancing in the streets after nearly two years of coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns, several performers on the main stage said it was important to remember those in countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

Alana Smith’s teenage years were not the stuff of Olympic dreams, growing up with a backdrop of family issues and struggles with mental health. Yet the 20-year-old skateboarder overcame it all to become one of the most talked-about stars of the Tokyo 2020 Games, despite not winning a medal.

Over the past two weeks, more than 180 openly LGBTQ+ athletes have taken to the tracks, pools and fields in Japan's capital, triple that of Rio in 2016, illustrating a surge in confidence among LGBTQ+ sportspeople.

More restrictions are being placed on transgender girls and women from playing on high school and college levels, which professional trans athletes are calling an infringement on trans rights.

On June 21st, active NFL player Carl Nassib came out as gay by posting a video on his Instagram page with a heartfelt letter. In it, he talks about the “agonizing” decision to publicly come out and how in spite of that, he was received with love and support by his community.