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- THE ROME LGBTQ+ PRIDE PARADE CELEBRATED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN BRIGHTLY COLORED OUTFITS MARCHED THROUGH THE ITALIAN CAPITAL WAVING BANNERS, DANCING AND SINGING AS THEY MARKED GAY RIGHTS AND POKED FUN AT POPE FRANCIS. - THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED THE STREETS OF HOLLYWOOD ON SUNDAY FOR THE LA PRIDE PARADE. THE PARADE’S COMMUNITY GRAND MARSHAL WAS LA FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF KRISTIN CROWLEY. THE DEPARTMENT’S FIRST OPENLY GAY CHIEF SAID SHE WAS “OVERJOYED” BY THE HONOR. - A NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY STATION STOP WILL BE RENAMED TO COMMEMORATE THE STONEWALL RIOTS. THE CHRISTOPHER STREET-SHERIDAN SQUARE SUBWAY STATION IN GREENWICH VILLAGE IS BEING CHANGED TO THE CHRISTOPHER STREET-STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT STATION. - A SAN FRANCISCO PROGRAM SUPPORTS TRANSGENDER, GENDER NON-CONFORMING ENTREPRENEURS BY GIVING THEM FOUR MONTHS OF BUSINESS COACHING, MENTORSHIP, AND A $10,000 GRANT. IT'S CALLED THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR PROGRAM OR E.A.P, IT'S RUN BY THE SAN FRANCISCO TRANSGENDER DISTRICT, AND THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (OEWD) FUNDS IT. - HOMOPHOBIC SIGNS IN THE SILVER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WERE REMOVED AFTER 27 YEARS. THE LAST REMNANTS OF STREET SIGNS ERECTED TO STOP GAY MEN FROM CRUISING THE AREA WERE TAKEN DOWN IN A CEREMONY ON MONDAY ATTENDED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS, ACTIVISTS, AND NEIGHBORS. - REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA (DEMOCRAT, CALIFORNIA), THE NATION’S FIRST OUT-GAY IMMIGRANT CONGRESSMAN, RECENTLY BLASTED HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND ANTI-LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (REPUBLICAN, GEORGIA) OVER THE PARTY’S PROPOSED AMENDMENT BANNING DRAG PERFORMANCES ON MILITARY BASES. GARCIA MADE AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH AGAINST IT, NOTING THAT DRAG PERFORMANCES HAVE OCCURRED ON MILITARY BASES DURING WARTIME WITHOUT ISSUE AND THAT AT LEAST TWO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT DRAG CAN BE FUN. - 12 YEAR OLD LIAM MORRISON SUED JOHN T. NICHOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS AFTER HE WAS BARRED FROM CLASS FOR WEARING A T-SHIRT ON CAMPUS BEARING THE PHRASE “THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS,” AN EXPRESSION OFTEN USED BY ANTI-LGBTQ+ ACTIVISTS TO MEAN THAT TRANS IDENTITIES ARE NOT VALID. LIAM WAS REPRESENTED BY THE CRUSADING ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM (ADF), WHICH HAS MADE A COTTAGE INDUSTRY OUT OF CASES CHALLENGING THE RIGHTS OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN COURT. ADF ATTORNEYS ARGUED LIAM WAS OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINT TO THE MIDDLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT’S CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH. THE FEDERAL APPEALS COURT DISAGREED THAT OTHER STUDENTS SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO HATE SPEECH. - TREY SAMUEL FETZER, A 20-YEAR-OLD OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ETHNIC INTIMIDATION, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, AND CRIMINAL TRESPASS AFTER BEING CAUGHT ON VIDEO URINATING ON THE PRIDE FLAG LOCATED ON A QUEER FAMILY’S FRONT PORCH. THE CHARGES COULD RESULT IN HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES, PROBATION, AND EVEN JAIL. - PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA MAN ROBERT DAVIS PLEAD GUILTY FOR MURDERING GAY JOURNALIST JOSH KRUGER VIA A SHOOTING. HE WAS SENTENCED TO 15-30 YEARS IN PRISON. - DELAWARE’S SUSSEX PRIDE LAUNCHES FREE STATEWIDE HIV, STI TESTING. THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH STDCHECK TO OFFER FREE HIV AND SYPHILIS TESTING EVERYWHERE IN DELAWARE. THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, MAKING IT SIMPLE TO FIND A TESTING CENTER. ; - THE NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY LEAGUE (NSWRL) HAS CONFIRMED A JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE HAS THREATENED A BAN FOR A PLAYER WHO HAS A HOMOPHOBIC SLUR THIGH TATTOO. TEXT ACROSS ONE OF HIS THIGHS READS “EAT SH*T F****T”. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE PLAYER HAS BEEN TOLD TO COVER HIS THIGH TATTOO OR RISK BEING BANNED. A NSWRL SPOKESPERSON SAID “WE HAVE A ZERO-TOLERANCE TO ANY FORM OF BULLYING, HARASSMENT OR VILIFICATION TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE SEXUALITIES AND GENDERS. - THE METHODIST CHURCH IN IRELAND HAS APOLOGISED "UNRESERVEDLY FOR FAILURES IN PASTORAL SUPPORT AND CARE" TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CHURCH ALSO SAID IT STRONGLY CONDEMNED ALL FORMS OF HOMOPHOBIA BOTH WITHIN THE CHURCH AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY. - ST ANDREW'S CHURCH IN SHIFNAL, ENGLAND, ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL HOLD A SERVICE IN CELEBRATION OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PEOPLE ON JUNE 23RD. IT WILL BE THE TOWN’S FIRST-EVER PRIDE EVENT. - MERSEYSIDE, UK, POLICE HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR HISTORICAL ILL-TREATMENT" OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. CHIEF CONSTABLE SERENA KENNEDY OFFERED A SINCERE APOLOGY AND DEEPEST REGRET" FOR "HISTORICAL PREJUDICE" TO OLDER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. - ANTI-“WOKE” DAD, DAMON GETTIER, AFTER HAVING MADE FACEBOOK POSTS ANGRY ABOUT GAY PEOPLE EXISTING AT THE SCHOOL, WENT ON A LONG RANT WHERE HE CALLED LGBTQ+ MATERIALS AT SCHOOLS INDOCTRINATION AND GROOMING. HE COMPLAINED ABOUT A MUSIC TEACHER PUTTING UP RAINBOW DECORATIONS ACROSS HER CLASSROOM, A PSYCHOLOGIST THAT HAD AN “LGBTQ LANYARD” AND THAT STUDENTS DREW ART INVOLVING PRIDE FLAGS. HE WAS ALSO ANGRY THAT TEACHERS WITH “WOKE, PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGIES” WERE BRINGING UP TOPICS HE DIDN’T WANT KIDS TO HEAR ABOUT LIKE TRANS PEOPLE EXISTING. THEN HE ACCUSED TEACHERS OF GROOMING AND ABUSING KIDS AND BEING SEXUAL PREDATORS DISGUISED AS TEACHERS. HIS POSTS RESULTED IN THE SCHOOL BOARD BANNED RAINBOW DECORATIONS AFTER GETTIER’S OUTBURST AND IMPLEMENTED GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN’S (R) POLICIES FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN SCHOOLS, WHICH INCLUDE THE FORCED MISGENDERING OR DEADNAMING OF KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE PARENTS’ PERMISSION, ALLOWING YOUTH TO “OPT-OUT” OF BEING NEAR TRANS KIDS IN GENDERED SPACES, AND FORCED OUTING OF TRANS KIDS TO THEIR PARENTS. HOWEVER IT ALSO RESULTED IN HIM GETTING HIT WITH A $20 MILLION DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FROM GLEN COVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA (THE REASON ITS IN THE GOOD SECTION). THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TOBIE MCPHAIL, WHO FILED THE LAWSUIT, REFERRED TO GETTIER’S CLAIMS AS FALSE AND HARMFUL, HAVING CAUSED HER EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND DAMAGED HER CAREER. - HOUSTON, TEXAS SURGEON EITHAN HAIM HAS BEEN INDICTED ON 4 FELONY COUNTS AFTER HE SHARED PUBLIC DOCUMENTS REVEALING THE PRIVATE INFORMATION OF TRANSGENDER PATIENTS IN VIOLATION OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA), A FEDERAL LAW THAT PROTECTS PATIENTS’ MEDICAL PRIVACY. HE LEAKED INTERNAL DOCUMENTS FROM TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN 2023 TO CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHRISTOPHER RUFO, ALLEGING THAT THE HOSPITAL HAD VIOLATED TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON’S (R) OPINION, WHICH CALLED GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE “CHILD ABUSE.”; THE BAD:; - POPE FRANCIS USES ANTI-GAY F-SLUR WHILE REFUSING TO LET GAY MEN JOIN THE PRIESTHOOD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A FEW WEEKS HE HAS USED THE ANTI-GAY SLUR. - FOR THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW PRIDE FLAGS WERE VANDALIZED AT THE STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT IN NEW YORK CITY. OVER 150 PRIDE FLAGS WERE SNAPPED IN HALF AND LEFT ON THE STREET. - THE ALI FORNEY CENTER IN NEW YORK BOASTS THAT IT IS THE LARGEST SHELTER FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN US. THE CENTER REPORTEDLY HOUSES MORE THAN 2,200 QUEER YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN UNHOUSED BECAUSE OF THEIR IDENTITIES. IT IS GOOD THEY ARE GETTING HELP, BUT IT IS BAD THERE IS THAT MANY LGBTQ YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS. - ACCUSED DRUG DEALER CHARGED WITH FENTANYL DISTRIBUTION WHICH LED TO THE DEATHS OF TWO GAY DC MEN, BRANDON ROMAN (38) AND ROBERT “ROBBIE” BARLETTA (28). THE PRESS RELEASE SAYS JEVAUGHN MARK IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND ON CHARGES THAT INCLUDE EIGHT COUNTS OF UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF FENTANYL, COCAINE, AND HEROIN AND DISTRIBUTING 40 GRAMS OR MORE OF FENTANYL. THE CHARGES WERE BASED ON SIX ILLEGAL DRUG PURCHASES FROM JEVAUGHN MARK BY UNDERCOVER U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AND UNDERCOVER D.C. POLICE OFFICERS. - ANTI-LGBTQ+ SENTIMENT HAS BEEN GROWING AROUND THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS RESEARCH GROUP INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE, AS POLITICAL MOVEMENTS RALLYING AGAINST GENDER AND SEXUAL MINORITIES GAIN TRACTION. AS A RESULT, LGBTQ+ ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE SEARCHING FOR SAFETY IN US. - ON TUESDAY, SHALVA PAPUASHVILI, A LEADER OF GEORGIA (THE COUNTRY, NOT THE US STATE)’S REVANCHIST DREAM PARTY AND THE SPEAKER OF GEORGIA’S PARLIAMENT, INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TARGETING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS “LGBT PROPAGANDA.” SAME-SEX MARRIAGES WOULD NOT BE REGISTERED, ADOPTION WOULD BE LIMITED TO “HETEROSEXUALS,” AND GENDER TRANSITION WOULD BE OUTLAWED ALONG WITH ANY “MEDICAL MANIPULATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF GENDER REASSIGNMENT,”; PAPUASHVILI SAID. THE LEGISLATION ERASES LGBTQ+ PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC SPACES BY ORDERING BROADCASTERS, ADVERTISERS, AND MOVIE THEATERS TO REDACT ALL CONTENT FEATURING SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS AND POSITIVE PORTRAYALS OF HOMOSEXUALITY FOR ALL AGES. - A PAKISTANI MAN WHO TRIED TO OPEN THE COUNTRY’S FIRST GAY CLUB HAS BEEN SENT TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL. HIS FRIENDS SAY THAT THEY ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT HIS SAFETY BUT HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED FROM VISITING HIM OR LEARNING MORE INFORMATION. - UK TRANS AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY ARE CONCERNED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH AWARENESS OF HOW LGBTQ COMMUNITIES CAN ACCESS FREE VOTER IDS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION. SINCE MAY 2023 VOTERS HAVE HAD TO PRESENT PHOTO IDS AT THE POLLING STATION WHICH ISA CHANGE THE UK GOVERNMENT MADE TO HELP AVOID ELECTION FRAUD. - A PRIDE FLAG HAS BEEN TORN DOWN AND BURNED IN WESTON-SUPER-MARE, ENGLAND. AN AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE SPOKESPERSON SAID: "THE INCIDENT IS BEING TREATED AS A HATE CRIME AND ENQUIRIES TO IDENTIFY THOSE RESPONSIBLE ARE ONGOING."; - QUEER NIGERIANS STRUGGLE WITH HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND HOMELESSNESS. - PROTESTERS VANDALIZE ZIMBABWEAN LGBTQ RIGHTS GROUP’S OFFICES. THE PROTESTERS GATHERED AT THE GATE AND SANG HOMOPHOBIC SONGS. AND ALSO LEFT ANTI-GAY GRAFFITI ON THE GATE AND WALLS.
