LGBTQ+ Good News

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.

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.

According to the UNHCR, at the end of 2020, there were nearly 26.4 million refugees around the world forced to flee their homes because of war, violence, conflict or persecution.

While we’re hopeful for a day when “coming out” isn’t even a thing that happens — until then we want to be as supportive as we can be to those who do. These are a few ways you can support a friend, family member, or anyone who comes out to you...

Some religious leaders are taking a stand to say that LGBTQ+ people have a place in their house of worship. Last December, more than 370 religious leaders from around the world called for a ban on conversion therapy.

And other questions for a few of our favorite LGBTQ+ activists, influencers, and educators

In countries where same-sex intimacy is illegal, the LGTBQ+ community faces violence and discrimination from their families, communities, and governments. Rainbow Railroad is helping LGBTQ+ people escape.

Better representation among our elected officials matters because it means the makeup of those key decision-makers more closely resembles the varying and diverse perspectives of the people they represent.

To ensure equality for all, researchers have been looking into how different factors contribute to the happiness and life satisfaction of people with minority sexual identities.