“ The task force was founded in 1998 and the awards in 1999 as a way to put out positive stories about the queer community. ‘Sometimes it is difficult to relate to an issue if it doesn’t directly impact you. So the Queer Youth Leadership Awards help humanize an issue that can be very difficult for some people,’ Rosenstein said.” Read the full article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Congressman Mike Honda’s Transgender Granddaughter Makes Him Proud
“ When California Congressman Mike Honda tweeted a photo of himself on Twitter back in February, grinning next to his beautiful 8-year-old granddaughter Malisa, it went viral right away — and not just because it was cute. ‘As a proud grandpa of a transgender grandchild,’ the eight-term Democrat wrote. ‘I hope she can feel safe at school without fear of being bullied.’ With those words, Honda had chosen to make a private family matter very public.“ Read the full story at NBC news … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Celebrating the Trans 100’s Women of Color
“The Trans 100 — an annual list of 100 trans Americans accomplished in the fields of advocacy and art — is all about positive visibility.” See the full list and article in The Advocate … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Michael Sam and 107 Other Athletes and Sports Officials Came Out as Gay in 2014
“OutSports.com did the math and counted 108 individuals associated with sports, who came out in 2014 as gay, lesbian or bisexual. The list of 80 men and 28 women includes high school, college and professional athletes, as well as coaches, administrators, sports media members and more…” Read more in the Washington Post … [Read more...]
LGBT News: San Francisco Police Dept. Welcomes New Transgender Officer
“This Friday, Mikayla Connell became the first transgender person to enter and graduate from the San Francisco Police Academy, reports KTVU. Connell was the elected President of her class and took home two awards for academic achievement.” Watch and read more in The Advocate … [Read more...]
LGBT News: How Punk Music Empowered a Queer Youth (VIDEO)
“Rudy Garcia of East L.A. says that when he was young, he never quite felt like the "normal" kid. Although his migrant parents pressured the youngest of their eight children to be the embodiment of the American dream, Rudy was more interested in punk-rock music, feminism, and 'zine culture. “ Read more in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]
LGBT News: Washington School District Apologizes for Firing Gay Teacher in 1972
“Forty-two years after being fired for being gay, a Washington teacher finally received a formal apology from his former school district.” Read more in The HRC Blog … [Read more...]
LGBT News: High school principal comes out at school-wide Pride Day event
“A Washington D.C. high school principal surprised and inspired his students when he came out as gay at the school's Pride Day event. Pete Cahall, principal of Wilson High School, hid his sexuality for many years. During the school-wide Pride event, with more than twenty community organizations and government agencies that support LGBT youth in attendance, Cahall decided it was the right time to come out.” Visit GLAAD to view the full video and article … [Read more...]
LGBT Local News: Inside Out
“The arrest of gay men entrapped by undercover Capitola police officers in 1980, and the subsequent publishing of the names and home addresses of those arrested in local newspapers, led to over 200 people protesting the actions at a Capitola City Council meeting. Santa Cruz County was the first in the nation to adopt a gay non-discrimination policy for its own employees in 1975, and the City of Santa Cruz and Metropolitan Transit District’s domestic partners benefits programs were among the first in the nation in the mid-1980s. In 1983, I had … [Read more...]
LGBT Local News: Santa Cruz Pride Celebrates 40 Years of Advocacy
“As socially progressive as Santa Cruz may seem now, it wasn't always the case, the couple said. ‘In those early years, people were yelling at us on Pacific Avenue, 'Fags, go home,’’ Friedman said. ‘It was not very welcoming’ and ‘to come from that where we are today’ is a major leap.” Read more in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]