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Victory Fund Endorses Ryan Hampton

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Victory Fund Endorses Ryan Hampton for Nevada State Assembly

The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed Ryan Hampton for Nevada State Assembly, District 4. The Victory Fund supports pro-equality, pro-choice, out LGBTQ+ candidates at all levels of government. They have endorsed 200 candidates for the 2024 election cycle.

Hampton is a national addiction recovery advocate and person in long-term recovery himself. He has worked with multiple non-profits nationwide to end overdose and served in leadership capacities for various community organizing initiatives.

The Victory Fund stated “Ryan Hampton believes in the power of people to change our community for the better. Whether we live in big cities or rural towns—no matter our social or economic status—we all need safe homes, quality education, good jobs, and affordable healthcare. By representing everyday people at the tables of power, Ryan has won cross-party solutions that serve working-class families in the ways that matter most.”

Ryan lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his husband, Sean, and their boxer dog, Quincy. Find out more at: www.ryanfornevada.com

Denver Gay Bars and Clubs

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Denver Gay Bars

Tracks Denver
Indisputably Denver’s largest and most important LGBTQ+ club, the current incarnation in the River North Art District has over the last 18 years made its name with national-quality drag performances, touring artists and raucous, themed parties. Besides nurturing Denver-based “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winners such as Yvie Oddly and recent Willow Pill, it’s got open mics and hip-hop nights (18 and up) and three of the best dance floors and DJ setups in the city. The gold standard. 3500 Walnut St., 303-863-7326 or tracksdenver.com

X Bar
Within walking distance of downtown as well as Capitol Hill’s numerous venues and bars, X Bar is a strong magnet with its huge patio parties and palpable camaraderie. The one-story space stays busy with karaoke, DJ nights and a wild weekend atmosphere, but Pride month will generate even bigger lines down the block. Get there early, or not, and be ready to sweat and dance. Look up #partyyoncolfax on Instagram for some of the costumed revelers and event flyers, from brunches, sing-along nights and queer proms. 629 E. Colfax Ave., 303-832-2687 or xbardenver.com

Boyztown
Long a late-night stop in the Baker neighborhood, Boyztown bills itself as Denver’s Hottest Male Revue (RIP the former Compound Basix nearby). And you know what? Most nights they’re not wrong, with limber, cut dancers, deft DJs, and a generally high-energy atmosphere that runs until last call. It’s the only solely-male strip club in that area (or the entire metro area, last I checked), so you’ll also find straight-girl bachelorette and birthday parties, even as the bar keeps it real with its loyal staff and clientele. 117 Broadway, 303-722-7373 or boyztowndenver.com

Tight End
Queer sports bars may seem niche but they’re most certainly not, which is why it’s strange that Denver only boasts the sports-focused Tight End. Still, the City Park West bar — which opened in 2022 in the gritty, former Streets Denver punk bar — offers excellent people-watching on its patio, playoff nights on big screens, trivia, drinking games, karaoke and more. It’s just across a busy stretch of East Colfax from Blush & Blu, a lesbian, queer and trans-centric space with programming galore (see below). 1501 E. Colfax Ave. 303-861-9103 or tightendbar.com

Blush & Blu
This busy space has helped fill the gap of Denver’s long-closed Detour, a former lesbian bar, and developed some of the city’s best drag queens, poets, singer-songwriters and stand-up comics on its small stage. It’s socially conscious and has a solid menu, with the aforementioned, and nationally rare, focus on lesbian, queer and transgender clientele. Yes, there are tourists and curious pedestrians, given its proximity to cannabis dispensaries and Denver’s first Voodoo Doughnut location, but they’re welcome, too. It’s also great for coffee and chai, as it formerly hosted the LGBTQ+ space tHERe, which had a similar menu. 1526 E. Colfax Ave., 303-484-8548 or blushbludenver.com

Charlies
Like Tracks Denver, Capitol Hill bar Charlie’s — part of a Country Western-themed chain with locations in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago — predates Denver’s population and construction boom by decades, proudly holding court with indoor and outdoor events ranging from beer busts to drag shows, line-dancing lessons and sexy go-go boy performances. Cowboy hats and leather chaps are always welcome, but certainly not necessary, and the falafel-and-gyros menu can be surprisingly welcome after a night of themed cocktails and dancing. 900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-839-8890 or charliesdenver.com

R&R Lounge
Classic in look and feel, with gorgeous vintage signage and a cozy interior, the R&R is tucked along a vibrant stretch of East Colfax. Its owners have claimed it’s the city’s oldest gay bar, having opened in the 1950s and gone openly gay in the 1970s, according to Westword, with its instantly recognizable, rainbow-painted door. Think happy hours, darts and Broncos games. 4958 E. Colfax Ave. #1208, 303-320-9337 or yelp.com/biz/r-and-r-lounge-denver-denver (the bar does not have its own website).

Denver Eagle
This leather bar says it’s in its Version 3.0 phase, having moved from LoDo to 5110 W. Colfax Ave. Beer busts, underwear parties, taco and pizza nights, live performances, music and more are on tap for the coming days. You can also find game nights and movies. instagram.com/denvereagle3.0

Trade
Trade is modern classic thanks to its semi-niche theme, which embraces fetish and kink. It’s also a favorite of the bearded, frequently muscle-bound class of gay men known as bears (particularly in the absence of the late Denver Wrangler). It hosts diverse programming that ranges from drag shows and DJ nights to leather nights and Sunday beer busts. 475 Santa Fe Drive, 720-627-5905 or facebook.com/tradedenver

Denver Sweet
Is Denver Sweet the equivalent of Minnesota Nice? In a way, maybe, but it’s also the city’s only overtly bear bar and one of the metro area’s best rooftop spots, LGBTQ+ or otherwise. Tasty bar food and brunch, honeyed clientele and DJs mix for sunny afternoons and breezy nights on a pair of party floors at the former Funky Buddha space. The owners — both former DJs at the Wrangler — told Out Front Magazine that their goal is to make it a welcoming example of the larger bear bar scene, which doesn’t exactly have a reputation of always being friendly toward women and trans people. Fortunately, they seem to be reaching that goal. 776 Lincoln St. 720-598-5648 or denversweet.com

Buddies
Taking over the Prohibition Bar space on the corner of East Colfax and Pennsylvania Street, Buddies opened last fall with the goal of being a “come as you are” bar, not a dance-music space. Buddies has a pool table, darts, 12 beer taps and plenty of “gay water,” as the owners call vodka sodas with a splash of cranberry juice. The owners kept Prohibition’s chef, Ryan Smith, who is serving up “never-frozen” bar food, like bacon and gouda mac-n-cheese bites, chicken tenders, burgers and wings. 504 E. Colfax Ave. 720-769-4485 or buddiesdenver.com

Hamburger Marys Denver
Long a food-and-drinks destination, the Denver outlet of this chain offers reliably colorful programming and a comfy atmosphere for casual stop-ins and parties, with lots of gender diversity (and cis-het allies) in addition to LGBTQ+ patrons. Having moved west on 17th Avenue awhile back to a smaller, more handsome space, it’s often packed with wild partiers on drag-queen and other show nights. 1336 E. 17th Ave., 303-993-5812 or milehighmarys.com

#Vybe
The social media-friendly hashtag in the name trumpets #Vybe’s diverse offerings, featuring drag queens of color and top touring names like Adore Delano swinging through regularly, in addition to stand-up comedy, game nights, Denver Broncos parties (the cheerleaders even stopped in for a show) and lots more. It’s arguably the only overtly LGBTQ+ spot in the ritzy, gallery-heavy Golden Triangle neighborhood, although it lines the same public-transportation corridor as Denver Sweet, Li’l Devils, Boyztown and others. 1027 N. Broadway, 720-573-8886 or 303vybe.com

Atlanta Regional Commission Strengthens Commitment to LGBTQ+ Older Adults

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SAGE Care

Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Aging & Independence Services Department, the Atlanta Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Strengthens Commitment to LGBTQ+ Older Adults through Continued Partnership with SAGECare

Atlanta, May 6, 2024 – The Atlanta Area Agency on Aging proudly announces its achievement of receiving a SAGECare Credential. This prestigious credential is a testament to the Atlanta AAA’s unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQ+ older adults.

SAGECare awarded ARC’s Aging & Independence Services Department with its SAGECare Credential after a rigorous assessment of policies, practices, and staff training to create an inclusive and welcoming space for all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Thanks to SAGECare for providing impactful education and consultation, enabling ARC to better serve our region’s diverse older populations,” said Becky Kurtz, Managing Director, “Our SAGECare Credential affirms our commitment to serve LGBTQ+ elders in metro Atlanta with sensitivity and respect.”

Don Terry, Client Services Liaison added, “To help those we serve with purpose is to better understand the very people we assist.  Obtaining SAGECare credential is our commitment to ensure we’re being intentional in bringing qualities of understanding and inclusivity to everyone.”

The SAGECare credential process evaluates aging services organizations based on various criteria, including non-discrimination policies, staff training on LGBTQ+ cultural competency, community engagement, and resident support services. By meeting and exceeding these standards, the Atlanta AA has demonstrated its commitment to promoting a diverse and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ seniors.

For more information about SAGECare Training, visit here.

About SAGECare: SAGECare is a fee-for-service training and consulting division of SAGE (1978), the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit that advocates and provides services for LGBTQ+ senior adults. SAGECare provides LGBTQ+ competency training and consulting to service providers, fostering a more inclusive and understanding approach to aging issues within the LGBTQ+ community.

Whitman-Walker Institute Condemns Nationwide Injunction Blocking Federal Nondiscrimination Protections for Transgender People

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Dr. Kellan Baker, Whitman Walker Institute

Today Whitman-Walker Institute condemned the politically motivated ruling from a federal district court judge that blocks vital nondiscrimination protections for transgender people across the country. Today, a U.S. district court judge in Mississippi issued a nationwide injunction in State of Tennessee v. Becerra, blocking enforcement of key parts of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. This ruling directly attacks a regulation issued in April 2024 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which strengthened nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQI+ people in health care and health coverage nationwide.

This ruling was the first of three rulings today in which judges prioritized politics over people and blocked key non-discrimination protections in healthcare for transgender people and for millions of other Americans.

The regulation that was blocked in these three cases demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring health care and health insurance access for all by securing nondiscrimination protections for some of our nation’s most marginalized communities, including transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, and people seeking reproductive health care.

Dr. Kellan Baker, Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Institute, says, “It’s shameful that a federal judge would side with bigots in seeking to dismantle these protections. The Biden-Harris administration correctly took action to help remove barriers to care and advance health equity for underserved communities, including LGBTQI+ people. Robust enforcement of this rule is critical to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ people across the country. This ruling is part of a dangerous trend in which politicians deny and disregard the clear evidence documenting the harms of widespread discrimination against LGBTQI+ people, particularly transgender people, in health care and health insurance.” 

Whitman-Walker Institute, which leverages research, policy, and education to advance health equity nationwide, is affiliated with Whitman-Walker Health, the lead plaintiff in a 2020 federal lawsuit brought to reverse the Trump administration’s weakening of Section 1557’s nondiscrimination protections for underserved communities, particularly LGBTQI+ people.

According to the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly 50% of respondents who saw a provider in the last year had at least one negative health care experience because of their gender identity.

Twenty-three percent of LGBTQI+ respondents, including 37% of transgender respondents, reported postponing or avoiding needed medical care in the past year due to disrespect or discrimination by providers.

About Whitman-Walker Institute

Whitman-Walker Institute is a Washington, D.C. based organization that leverages cutting-edge research, policy, and education to advance health equity at the federal level and in states across the country. We bring to this work expertise in rigorous research and health policy analysis, deep relationships with state and federal policymakers, longstanding partnerships across multiple justice movements, and the direct service experience of Whitman-Walker Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves thousands of diverse patients across the D.C. area and beyond. The Institute is home to nationally recognized experts in areas of policy such as LGBTQI+ health equity, care for transgender people, insurance reform, social determinants of health, HIV prevention and treatment, and sexual orientation and gender identity data collection. More info can be found at: https://www.whitman-walker.org/institute/

Molly Cook Wins Special Election; Will be First LGBTQ+ Texas State Senator

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Molly Cook Texas

Molly Cook has won the special election to represent District 15 in the Texas Senate and will serve out the remaining term of now-Houston Mayor John Whitmire. Cook makes history as the first out LGBTQ+ member of the upper chamber, which is especially hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.

Molly is an ER nurse, community organizer and advocate for a more sustainable Texas. She will be on the ballot again for the primary runoff election on May 28, where she’s competing for the full term that starts next year.

Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and former Houston mayor, released the following statement:

“For too long, the LGBTQ+ community has been the punching bag of bigots in the Texas Senate. Now, they’ll have an out LGBTQ+ peer as their colleague who will look them in the eye and make them see the Texans they’re hurting. We know Molly will not only be a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ Texans, she’ll do a wonderful job fighting for the needs of all her constituents in District 15, including myself. Between now and May 28, I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure another victory for Molly and the cause of equality.”

Las Vegas Sands Contributes $270,000 to The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada

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Atlantic Sands Sands Cares Foundation Las Vegas

New round of Sands Cares funding provides resources to assist in the nonprofit’s continued physical expansion and supports its organizational development work in the exclusive Sands Cares Accelerator.

LAS VEGAS, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) has contributed $270,000 to The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) through Sands Cares to help sustain The Center’s continued physical expansion, as well as empower its work in the company’s exclusive Sands Cares Accelerator, a three-year membership program aimed at advancing nonprofits to deliver greater community impact.

A portion of the Sands Cares donation is providing resources for office space as The Center continues its growth plans to accommodate expansion of the Arlene Cooper Community Health Center. In addition, The Center is focusing on building its marketing capabilities as part of its Sands Cares Accelerator work, and the balance of funding will enable services that help The Center build visibility through media and communications.

The Center has been a vital part of Las Vegas for 30 years, offering a safe, non-judgmental environment for life-enriching programs, services, events, education and support groups for people who identify as LGBTQ+ and allies of the community. The Center serves as the hub for an array of essential resources and care, including food and meal delivery, physical and mental health care services, and community advocacy.

“Our partnership with Sands has enabled us to execute on key strategies for advancing our strategic vision to build our organization’s future and increasing our services to the LGBTQ+ and Southern Nevada community,” John Waldron, CEO of The Center, said. “We appreciate that Sands understands the value of what we’re trying to accomplish with a demonstrated commitment to our long-term strategy for greater community service and impact.”

Physical Infrastructure Expansion: Since 2021, Sands has supported The Center’s expansion of the Arlene Cooper Community Health Center, as the organization works toward its goal of becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The 2024 Sands Cares funding for office space and related expenses is enabling The Center to locate its administrative functions off-site in a nearby building, so that the health center has the required space to operate until its new facility at 921 S. Las Vegas Blvd is fully operational.

At the start of June 2024, The Center launched a soft opening of the new facility and saw more than 100 patients in the first two weeks. The Center is working on plans to further develop the facility and will launch a grand opening of the facility’s first phase later in 2024.

The Sands Cares funding for physical infrastructure also is providing the resources for upgrades to The Center’s lobby area in the main building to create a refreshed and welcoming environment for community patrons and events.

Marketing Capacity Building: The Center is in its second year of the three-year Sands Cares Accelerator, a program that enables nonprofits to work on a strategic program or functional area over a longer term to increase the organization’s community impact. The Center is using its Sands Cares Accelerator membership to expand its marketing capability, and the 2024 Sands Cares Accelerator funding will continue to support strategic communications services, media production and other storytelling avenues to expand visibility and sustain a strong foundation for the organization’s future.

Inspired by the entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit of Sands’ founder Sheldon G. Adelson, the Sands Cares Accelerator carries on his legacy of building successful businesses and giving back to communities with greater corporate involvement to help advance the capabilities of nonprofit organizations and better address the needs of their communities. Members receive funding, strategic guidance and facilitation for their identified program goal, and mentorship, counsel and consulting from Sands’ staff in areas where they can support the nonprofit’s strategic focus.

“We invited The Center to join the Sands Cares Accelerator because it demonstrated the very essence of what we look to nurture in the program: a strategic vision that needs resources, dedicated time and focused development to materialize,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives. “The Center has a solid roadmap for expanding the health center to fill voids in medical care delivery for the LGBTQ+ community, leveraging its revenue model to sustain overall programming and increasing its visibility to ensure these offerings are embraced. While our contributions span different areas, our support has been carefully planned to help The Center realize its long-term vision.”

Sands’ support for The Center falls under the company’s priorities on nonprofit capacity building and diverse community advancement under the global Sands Cares community engagement program. To learn more about Sands Cares, visit sands.com/responsibility/communities/.

To learn more about The LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada, visit https://thecenterlv.org/.

Malcolm Kenyatta Could Become Pennsyania’s First Out LGBTQ+ Statewide Official

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Malcolm Kenyatta

Malcolm Kenyatta won the Democratic primary for state auditor in Pennsylvania, putting him on track to become the commonwealth’s first out LGBTQ+ statewide official.

Kenyatta has represented District 181 in the Pennsylvania House since 2019. He has received numerous endorsements including an endorsement from the Victory Fund as a Victory Fund Spotlight Candidate. Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, issued the following statement:

“Pennsylvanians trust Malcolm Kenyatta to be their watchdog as auditor general because that’s exactly what he’s been as a legislator. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is all in for Malcolm, because we know he has the experience to win this race and carry on his fight for students, seniors and workers as Pennsylvania’s auditor general. LGBTQ+ Americans are severely underrepresented in public office and the numbers are even worse for Black LGBTQ+ representation. I look forward to doing everything I can to mobilize LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians and our allies to get out and vote for Malcolm this November so we can make history.”

In addition to his experience as a State Representative for Philadelphia-based District 181, he was a past U.S. Senate candidate and an is a current active surrogate for the Biden Harris campaign.

Historic Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center Opens

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Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center

The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC) – the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center within the National Park Service – will officially open its doors on Friday, June 28, signifying a landmark achievement in American history. Marking the 55th anniversary of the groundbreaking Stonewall Rebellion, this day stands as a powerful testament to the unyielding spirit that helped ignite the worldwide LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

The Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center is a program of Pride Live in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), a bureau of the Department of the Interior. The Visitor Center encompasses 2,100 square feet at 51 Christopher Street, between Waverly Place and 7th Avenue South in New York City.

Designated by President Barack Obama on June 24, 2016, the Stonewall National Monument includes the 0.19-acre formerly known as Christopher Park and the surrounding streets including Christopher Street adjacent to the park. The Stonewall National Monument is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQIA+ rights and history.

Amidst the historic backdrop of Greenwich Village, the iconic Stonewall Inn occupied two adjoining storefronts at 51 and 53 Christopher Street and stood as a beacon of resilience on June 28, 1969, when the Stonewall Rebellion took place. Forever changing the course of the LGBTQIA+ movement, the events that transpired on this day became one of the most pivotal moments in the fight for full equality. In the years that followed, the physical space underwent transformations, including separating into two separate businesses with the current bar at 53 Christopher Street reopening its doors in 1990. Meanwhile, 51 Christopher Street housed a number of different businesses.

“The National Park Service eagerly anticipates the official opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in partnership with Pride Live on June 28,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “NPS staff are dedicated to sharing the history of the Stonewall Uprising and the ongoing struggle for LGBTQIA+ equality.

The historic project began six years ago and has been led by two Queer women of color: Pride Live Co-Founders Diana Rodriguez and Ann Marie Gothard, who embarked on a mission to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Stonewall.

“The journey to create the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center has been a truly remarkable and landmark moment,” said Ann Marie Gothard (she/her), Chair of the Board of Directors, Pride Live. “This required the tireless support of countless partners who are deeply committed to preserving history. With the opening of the Visitor Center, we pay homage to the brave individuals behind the historic Stonewall Rebellion. We hope it stands as an enduring and resilient symbol and serves as a beacon for generations to come, providing the unique opportunity to step foot on the site where history unfolded and where the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality was ignited.”

Serving as an educational resource, the Visitor Center will offer an immersive experience featuring a rich tapestry of LGBTQIA+ history and culture through a variety of engaging programs, including in-person and virtual tours, informative lecture series, captivating exhibitions, a dedicated theater space, and inspiring visual arts displays. Upon entering the center, visitors will be guided through a multifaceted learning experience that speaks to today’s generations, encouraging them to carry forward the Stonewall legacy and the ongoing fight for full equality.                                       

The SNMVC will also serve as home base for the dedicated Stonewall National Monument NPS park rangers, who are committed to welcoming all visitors to this site of national significance.

“The SNMVC will provide an enhanced visitor experience for those seeking to learn more about the historic movement for LGBTQIA+ equality that continues to this day. NPS looks forward to our continued partnership with Pride Live to celebrate and acknowledge the struggle for equality and accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ community,” said National Park Manhattan Sites Superintendent Shirley McKinney.

Pride Live received significant support from the Mellon Foundation, which is a Founding Partner of the Visitor Center. Championing the establishment of the SNMVC exemplifies the work of the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project, which seeks to recalibrate the public knowledge and vision of the history of all communities and the multiplicity of the Americans who fought for justice and rights.

Charter Founding Partners of the SNMVC include Google (the first corporate partner to sign onto the project), American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Adam Lambert, Amazon, Booking.com, Christina Aguilera, Comcast NBCUniversal, Donatella Versace, Elton John and David Furnish, Henry R. Muñoz III and Kaia Ferrari, Hudson Yards, JPMorgan Chase, Kors Le Pere Foundation, National Park Foundation, and Trans Tech Social.

Additional Founding Partners of the SNMVC include Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Conchita Wurst, EDG Architecture + Engineering, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Josephine Skriver (who made the very first donation to the SNMVC), Madonna, National Parks Conservation Association, New York Yankees, Orrick, Target, United Therapeutics, and Visit Philadelphia.

Founding Supporters include Advisory NYC, Alvese People Solutions, Ardea Partners, Betty, Chely Wright, Cynthia Erivo, Dan Monteavo, David Yurman, Fremont Blue Events, ID, Jamie Nicholas Design and Graphics, Lutron Electronics, Ketra Lighting, Major League Baseball (MLB), Martin Celis, National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Women’s Soccer League, New York Giants, Orsman Design, Parente Development, Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), SAP, Target, The New York Division of Tourism (ILNY), The Walt Disney Company, United States Tennis Association (USTA), WB Engineering, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and Wynn Resorts, as well as Dick Mosher, Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley, Alok Vaid-Menon, Ivan Bart, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Fern Mallis, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, Manoj Nair, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, Neil Giuliano, Rodney White and Michael P. Williams, Shoshanna Stone, and Tom Bagley.

Further support has been provided by a leading group of activists, trailblazers, community leaders and allies called the Stonewall Rebels who include Adam Lambert; Alok Vaid-Menon; Angelica Ross; Ashe McGovern, J.D., Head of Global LGBTQIA+ Affairs at Amazon; Betsy Bernard and Laurie Peter; Brad Baumoel, Global Head of LGBT+ Affairs, JPMorgan Chase; Charles John O’Byrne, Executive Vice President for Policy at Related Companies; Chelsea Clinton, DPhil, MPH, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation & Clinton Health Access Initiative; Christina Aguilera; Conchita Wurst; Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer; Doug Jensen, Senior Vice President, The Estee Lauder Companies; Fabrice Houdart, Executive Director, Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors; Geena Rocero, Author, Producer, Director; Hunter O’Hanian; John-Paul Hayworth, LGBTQ+ Audience Strategy Director, AARP; Kelly Bush Novak, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ID; Lina Bradford; Mandy Gutmann, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, Professional Women’s Hockey League; Martine Rothblatt, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, United Therapeutics; Rick Hendrix, Author; Schuyler Bailar, Educator, Author, Advocate; Shane Jordan, Author, Political Consultant; Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, Global Activist; and Torrence Boone, VP, Global Client Partnerships and NY Site Leader, Google.

Additional supporters and community partners include Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Brooklyn Pride Community Center, Brooklyn YAS, CAMBA, Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, Christopher Park Alliance, Equality Federation, GLSEN, GLAAD, God’s Love We Deliver, Lambda Legal, LGBT VC, Link NYC, Mentor NY, NOH8, NYC & Co, Queer Britain, Speak About It, Stonewall National Museum – Archives and Library, TransLatina Coalition, The Trevor Project, The Center, Ruth Ellis Center, Tenderloin Museum, Victory Institute, and Victory Fund.

The SNMVC will officially open its doors to the public on June 28. Admission is free for all visitors, and reservations can be made here. 

To learn more about the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, please visit https://stonewallvisitorcenter.org/ and nps.gov/ston and follow their social media channels.

Texas Attorney General Paxton Sues Biden (again)

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on June 11th that he is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over a recent update to federal regulations that would require fair treatment of transgender Medicaid recipients. This rule would require all state Medicaid programs to cover health care for transgender patients. In light of Texas HHSC’s recent codification of an ongoing denial of coverage for transgender health care, the new federal rule (set to go into effect July 5) would have an immediate impact on the wellbeing of tens of thousands of trans people in Texas. While the Texas HHSC policy was only recently codified, reports from across the state confirm that Texas Medicaid recipients have historically been denied coverage for care related to their gender dysphoria.

With the passage of SB14 after the 88th Legislative session, which banned health care for trans youth, we’ve seen a chilling effect across the state impacting access to care for trans adults. Health care for trans adults remains legal in Texas.

Statement from Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas:

“Health care for transgender adults remains legal in the state of Texas. And while Ken Paxton seems to have little regard for medical freedom, it’s essential that trans adults who use Medicaid have access to vital care. Texas Doctors know what they’re doing, and trans Texans need care. The new rule from HHS will be a lifeline to many Texans. I hope Paxton’s insurance pays for his medical needs, and one day I hope he’ll be generous enough to want the same for his fellow Texans.”

Philly Sets Guinness Worlds Record™ for the Largest Attendance at a Drag Queen Story Time

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Philadelphia Drag World Record

Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, today secured a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the “largest attendance at a drag queen story time reading.” To kick off Pride Month, the Philadelphia Gay News hosted the event, sponsored by Visit Philadelphia®, which brought together famed Philadelphia drag performers to read children’s stories to a record-setting audience of 263 people. Taking place at the National Constitution Center, the country’s leading place for constitutional education and debate, this achievement strengthens and reinforces Philadelphia’s reputation as a welcoming destination for all.

Brittany Lynn, drag performer, LGBTQIA+ activist, literacy advocate and head of the award-winning Philly Drag Mafia, served as emcee for the event, featuring the following books and performers:

  • Hello, Philadelphia!, written and illustrated by Martha Day Zschock and read by Brittany Lynn
    Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
  • ‘Twas the Night Before Pride, written by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Juana Medina and read by Aurora
    Publisher: Candlewick
  • Elmer, written and illustrated by David Mckee and read by Icon Ebony Fierce
    Publisher: HarperCollins
  • The Family Book, written and illustrated by Todd Parr and read by Athena Chanteuse Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  • Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows, written and illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner and read by Morgan Wells
    Publisher: Dial Books

“Philadelphia is where our country was founded, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed, and where some of the most significant LGBTQIA+ moments in U.S. history took place,” said Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. “Creating history-making moments like we’ve done today, hosted on land synonymous with our country’s fight for fundamental rights and freedom, serves as a powerful reminder of the resiliency, talent and culture that make up the fabric of our great American city.”

“To start Pride Month with the world’s largest drag story time in Philadelphia is extraordinarily fitting for the birthplace of freedom and modern democracy,” said Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia. “Last summer, Visit Philadelphia hosted a small drag story time in front of Independence Hall that we filmed and used as part of a national TV spot, so it was only fitting for us to support a bigger, bolder, record-setting version this year. The event aligned perfectly with our In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union series that highlights Philadelphia as an inclusive and welcoming place for all – and that’s exactly what Philadelphia Gay News demonstrated for the world today.”

For more details on how visitors can celebrate Pride Month in Philadelphia all month long, go to https://bit.ly/VisitPhiladelphiaPrideMonth.