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Tag: pride

  • Some Starbucks workers say Pride Month decorations banned at stores, but the company says that’s not true

    Some Starbucks workers say Pride Month decorations banned at stores, but the company says that’s not true

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    As Starbucks continues to battle unionization efforts by baristas, the company has been accused by some U.S. employees of banning LGBTQ Pride decorations. The company says this isn’t true and that their policy around Pride Month has not changed. 

    Starbucks Workers United, the labor group leading unionization, claimed in a series of Tweets that during Pride Month, the company has for the first time disallowed Pride decorations, which “have become an annual tradition in stores.”

    “In union stores, where Starbucks claims they are unable to make ‘unilateral changes’ without bargaining, the company took down Pride decorations and flags anyway — ignoring their own anti-union talking point,” the group claimed in a tweet. 

    But Starbucks says there has been “no change” to its policies, and that the company “unwaveringly” supports the LGBTQ community. 

    “There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for U.S. Pride Month in June,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the company is “deeply concerned by false information that is being spread especially as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture, and the benefits we offer our partners.”

    “Starbucks has a history that includes more than four decades of recognizing and celebrating our diverse partners and customers – including year-round support for the LGBTQIA2+ community,” the statement reads. The company said it empowers employees to show support for several heritage months.

    On its website, Starbucks has a timeline of its history of inclusion of the LGBTQ community, starting in 1988 when the company began offering full health benefits to employees including coverage for same-sex domestic partnerships.

    Starbucks Workers United claims several employees have reported the alleged ban on Pride decor. The group is calling on the company to stand up for the LGBTQ community and to negotiate union contracts “that legally locks-in our benefits, our freedom of expression, and ways to hold management accountable.”

    Starbucks and the labor union don’t see eye to eye on a number of issues. Since October 2022, Starbucks has filed more than 100 Unfair Labor Practice charges against the union, saying they have failed to appoint representatives for several bargaining sessions and have failed to bargain in good faith. Meanwhile, the National Labor Relations Board accused the company of using an “array of illegal tactics” against the union, and a judge ruled the company violated labor laws “hundreds of times” during a unionization drive in Buffalo, New York.

    Companies’ support for Pride Month and the LGBTQ community has become a target of protests, with Target deciding to remove some Pride merchandise from their stores, saying employees had received threats. Bud Light also received backlash this year after partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which resulted in a drop in sales of the beer.

    Starbucks recently launched a collaboration with artist Tim Singleton, who designed bright, reusable cups as part of the company’s Artist Collaboration Series. In an Instagram post, he referred to the six rainbow-themed cups as “this year’s Pride Collection,” and Starbucks describes it as “a mish-mash of pop culture, queer culture and nostalgia with bold visuals and rainbow-bright colors.”

    While June is a month designated for celebrating LGBTQ pride, the community has been facing an increase in threats and political backlash from the right. This year, more than 520 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced at the state level — a record — and 74 such laws have been enacted, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

    Caitlin O’Kane


    caitlin-okane.jpg

    Caitlin O’Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.

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  • The 28 Best LGBTQ+ TV Shows to Stream Right Now

    The 28 Best LGBTQ+ TV Shows to Stream Right Now

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    It seems ludicrous that there was a time, not too long ago, when LGBTQ+ TV shows weren’t standard fare. Perhaps one would come out every couple of years, run for a few seasons, make history, and then fizzle out. Thankfully, the television landscape has changed tremendously in the past decade. There are shows that have queer characters, shows that are inherently queer, and shows that lampoon major corporations trying to pass off amorphous goo as queer representation. What more could you ask for?

    If you’ve found yourself looking to watch something that falls into one of those categories (or somewhere in between), we’ve compiled the best LGBTQ+ TV shows that are streaming now. From RuPaul’s Drag Race to Harley Quinn, you can find them all below.

    28. Queer as Folk (2022)

    For better or worse, the short-lived reboot of Russell T Davies’s groundbreaking series seemed determined to atone for the original’s soapy depiction of queer life. Starring Devin Way, Fin Argus, and Ryan O’Connell, Queer as Folk follows a diverse New Orleans community in the aftermath of a tragedy that recalls the 2016 Pulse shooting. If you don’t mind such trauma underscoring this entertainingly messy web of characters, it’s a drama worth dipping into.

    27. Sex Education (2019)

    The relationship between Sex Education’s Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) and Adam (Connor Swindells) has its issues, but Gatwa is such a standout in the acclaimed series that most are worth overlooking. He’s just that magnetic. The show otherwise follows Otis (Asa Butterfield), a high school student who sets up an underground sex therapy clinic with another one of his classmates (Emma Mackey). Mixing frank discussions with impossible-to-hate characters, Sex Education has been a boon for Netflix since its debut—and it’s never too late to hop on the bandwagon.

    26. Drag Me to Dinner (2023)

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    Tyler Breitfeller

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  • Avoid Rainbow Washing Your Support of the LGBTQ+ Community | Entrepreneur

    Avoid Rainbow Washing Your Support of the LGBTQ+ Community | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In a world striving for inclusivity and acceptance, becoming an ally to the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and more) community is an essential step toward fostering equality and creating a more inclusive society. Allies play a crucial role in promoting acceptance, advocating for equal rights and challenging discriminatory attitudes and behaviors during Pride Month and beyond.

    Yet recent actions from Bud Light and Target brands have created more polarization and fear in engaging in this important conversation. Now more than ever we need our allies to support the LGBTQ+ community. True allyship is not “rainbow washing” with support only in June — it is consistent, intentional actions year-round.

    For individuals, effective allyship requires supporting the LGBTQ+ community with empathy, educating yourself and taking meaningful action. For organizations, allyship means standing with the LGBTQ+ community on issues affecting them, having an inclusive environment where people can share their identities freely and measuring progress on their DEI initiatives.

    Related: 4 Commitments All Truly Inclusive Leaders Must Follow

    Individual action #1: Empathy

    Approach conversations with an open mind and be ready to listen and learn from the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. Be respectful, ask questions when appropriate and strive to understand the perspectives of others different from yourself. Avoid making assumptions or relying on stereotypes. Recognize that each person’s experiences are unique, and their individual stories and identities deserve to be heard and respected.

    Individual action #2: Education

    One of the first steps to becoming an effective ally is educating yourself about LGBTQ+ issues, terminology and history. Read books, articles and research to gain a better understanding of different sexual orientations, gender identities and the challenges faced by the community. Educate yourself on the struggles and victories of LGBTQ+ activists throughout history, as well as current social and legal issues affecting the community.

    Individual action #3: Sustained action

    One of the most impactful actions we can take is with our words. Language has a powerful impact on how we perceive and treat others. Familiarize yourself with inclusive language and pronouns, including using “they/them” when referring to someone whose gender identity you are unsure of. Respect the chosen names and pronouns of individuals, and avoid using slurs or derogatory language. By using inclusive language, you create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

    As an ally, it is essential to actively challenge discrimination and prejudice whenever you encounter it. This includes addressing offensive jokes or derogatory comments, whether they are made in person or online. Speak up in support of LGBTQ+ rights and equality, and use your voice to amplify their voices. Engage in constructive conversations to help educate others and debunk common misconceptions.

    Supporting LGBTQ+ organizations is a tangible way to make a difference. Volunteer your time, donate funds or participate in events that promote equality and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. This support can help provide resources, counseling and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals who may be facing challenges or discrimination. There are a number of organizations to support year-round:

    • GLAAD: A media monitoring organization that works to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and representations in the media while combating defamation and discrimination.
    • Trevor Project: A leading organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth through a 24/7 helpline, online chat and text messaging.
    • National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): Dedicated to advancing transgender equality and advocating for policy change at local, state, and federal levels.
    • PFLAG: An organization that provides support, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families and allies.
    • GLSEN: Focused on creating safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ students, GLSEN works to combat bullying, discrimination and harassment.

    Related: Brands Want to Tell Stories of Inclusion. Marketing Leaders Should Listen Instead.

    Organization action #1: Community building

    Leaders need to use their privilege and influence to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and equality. Leaders go first and provide resources and education to their teams throughout the year so that they can facilitate an inclusive environment. The LGBTQ+ community is a substantial part of your workforce, especially for younger generations, and 40% of employees hide their LGBTQ+ identity at work.

    Organization action #2: Inclusive environment

    People are looking to business leaders to drive social change. Leaders that create an inclusive environment where people can bring their best selves benefit from higher rates of productivity, innovation and business results. Inclusive leadership is about psychological safety and ensuring people feel comfortable confronting microaggressions or non-inclusive behaviors. Organizations need to hold their leaders accountable for inclusion through representation and inclusion perception data.

    Organization action #3: Measure progress

    The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has a Corporate Equality Index (CEI): The HRC annually publishes the CEI, which rates major companies and law firms on their LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices. The index examines non-discrimination policies, benefits and protections for LGBTQ+ employees, diversity and inclusion initiatives and public engagement on LGBTQ+ issues. Organizations that want to be inclusive year-round participate in the index and strive to improve their scores year over year.

    Standing with the LGBTQ+ community is an ongoing journey of growth and self-reflection. Organizations will make mistakes along the way and need to be open to learning from them. Be receptive to feedback from the LGBTQ+ community and adjust your actions accordingly. Understand that allyship is not about receiving recognition but about supporting and uplifting marginalized voices.

    Becoming an ally to the LGBTQ+ community requires supporting the LGBTQ+ community with empathy, educating yourself and taking meaningful action. For organizations, allyship means standing with the LGBTQ+ community on issues affecting them, having an inclusive environment where people can share their identities freely and measuring progress on their DEI initiatives.

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    Julie Kratz

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  • I Was A Queer Pastor For 15 Years. Then The Death Threats Began.

    I Was A Queer Pastor For 15 Years. Then The Death Threats Began.

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    I ducked as an offering plate whizzed past my head. Clad in a stodgy clergy robe, a rainbow stole draped over my narrow shoulders, I stood in a sanctuary that seated 2,500. I was pastor of an “open and affirming” church, which is essentially religious jargon claiming they welcome and affirm queer people, something most churches prohibit. I mean, they had hired me, a queer clergywoman, as pastor.

    And I’d suffered the consequences. A thick hate mail folder bulged in my filing cabinet. Sometimes the letters described in detail the way my flesh would smell when I burned in hell; a couple included death threats. But that didn’t do me in. We, activists, wear such threats as some kind of twisted badge of honor. It wasn’t the external discrimination — levied by preachers and politicians — that caused me to resign. Nope. It was the internal, underhanded, invalidating sexist and heterosexist microaggressions from within a community that claimed to honor and support queer people.

    For my own mental, spiritual, and now physical health — those offering plates are heavy, people — I decided to leave.

    I felt like such a failure. Creative, queer ministry was what I’d dedicated my life to. It was my calling. It was what I studied for eleven years of higher education. An undergraduate degree in religion led to seminary, which paved the way for a Ph.D., where I studied the role of feminist and queer bodies in world religions.

    Even more, I felt the church had failed me. I knew that most churches didn’t affirm queer people. In fact, they were antagonistic, hateful and exclusive. But I had hope in so-called “reconciling” ministries aimed at welcoming the LGBTQIA+ community. Though many amazing queer ministries exist within myriad wisdom traditions, my experience was that religion still had to be translated through the lens of heteronormativity. I didn’t want to reconcile myself to those institutions but to reimagine spirituality altogether.

    “Stay and fight,” some queer congregants begged me.

    But I’d fought valiantly for 15 years, and those stained-glass walls were caging me in, contorting me into a version of myself that was depressed, anxious and sick. I didn’t want to live like that. And I certainly didn’t want to raise my child in that world.

    After nearly 15 years as a pastor, I realized institutional religion was toxic for queer women like me. So, I left to traverse the American landscape with my wife and toddler, researching the lives, legends and legacies of revolutionary queer women. My travelation was this: In order for religion — any religion — to be truly affirming of all people, we must queer spirituality.

    For the next decade, I pondered, created programs, researched, painted, published books and even taught courses about queer spirituality. But it wasn’t until my home state of Florida’s anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation that it dawned on me what exactly it means to queer your spirituality. In light of “Don’t Say Gay,” legally prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, legislating that hospitals and doctors can refuse treatment to queer people on “religious grounds,” and banning books about us, I feel called to double down on queer spirituality. For myself. And for my community.

    Intentionally transgressive and subversive, queer spirituality means recovering, restoring, and reimagining spirituality.

    We begin with recovery. Queer people have been damned, banned, and excluded by so many institutional religions. These institutions have done real harm, causing unfathomable trauma. Whether it’s calling us abominations bound for hell, funding our beheadings abroad or hurling that offering plate toward my head, religion’s primary function in most queer people’s lives is one of hurt. To queer spirituality means we not only have to acknowledge this hurt, but we must galvanize ourselves to recover from it. And religions must repent and ask our forgiveness. The first step toward a queer spirituality is recovering from the ways religion has hurt us, individually and collectively.

    The author, here “40-something,” holds her Pride Goddess painting. “I’m embracing a queer spirituality,” she writes.

    Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber

    After recovery comes restoration. Queer people must restore the forgotten and erased voices of queer saints hidden in the crevices of our cannons. This was what I did as I researched throughout the country, recovering from pastoral trauma. In peeling back the layers of history — history told through the lens of straight supremacy — we find countless inspiring, bold, faithful stories of queer saints from every major wisdom tradition. In order to queer our spirituality, we must uncover their stories and proclaim them with the fervor of a preacher.

    Whether it’s the woman-loving, status-quo-overturning Judith in Judaism or the Episcopal saint Pauli Murray, queer people have led rituals, surrendered to Allah, prayed to Yahweh, preached of Jesus, meditated with Buddha, danced alongside Shiva, and guided our spirituality for millennia.

    Once we recover from religious trauma, we can restore the forgotten stories of queer spiritual leaders.

    Finally, restoration leads to re-imagination. The uncovered stories of queer saints empower us to reimagine what spirituality looks like. I think of the radical imagination of Buddhist trans folx who have envisioned Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion and mercy, as a trans icon because of her gender fluidity.

    Or how queer Catholics have reimagined the saints Perpetua and Felicity as the Patron Saints for same-sex marriage because of the records of their love found in their diaries and how they held one another and kissed while being stoned to death. Not simply martyrs for the faith but martyrs for “forbidden love.”

    This re-imagination is key. Because the restoration of queer saints is rooted in the “reconciling” model I spoke of earlier, it lifts up the stories of queer people within the world’s religions. But that is not enough.

    For many queer people, there is no amount of restoration or reconciliation that can heal the trauma they’ve endured. Whether it’s the fact that “homosexuality” is a crime in 67 different countries, and in several, it’s a capital offense that can quite literally lead to the death penalty due to either Christian or Muslim extremism, or it’s Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) using his Catholicism as a bludgeon to bully the Los Angeles Dodgers to rescind their invitation to celebrate the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the deep and everlasting harm religion has done to queer people sometimes cannot be forgiven or reconciled.

    But queer spirituality reimagines something altogether different than queer religion. The innate spirituality of queer folx creates alternative rituals where the club is our chapel, the rainbow flag and the virtues it represents, our sacred symbol, renaming ceremonies of our trans kindred, our baptism or mikveh, Pride, our holiest of days, and our chosen families, our faith community. Our meditation is liberation. Our prayer authenticity. If the early church father Irenaeus is correct in asserting that “The glory of God is humanity fully alive,” then whether or not there is a god, queer people show us what it truly means to live fully and authentically as ourselves.

    As we celebrate Pride, I’ll tell you what my experience as a lapsed queer clergywoman has taught me to be proud of. I’m proud of the radical imagination of the queer community. Whether it’s our faithfulness to one another when the world is unfaithful to us, the spiritual authenticity of trans kindred living into the fullness of themselves, or Karamo reminding us all of our innate worth on “Queer Eye,” the queer community reimagines what it means to be spiritually human. That’s queer spirituality. And that’s something no politician or preacher can take away.

    Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber is the award-winning author of five books listed on QSpirit’s Top LGBTQ Religion Books, including Queering the American Dream. She co-facilitates a Queer Spirituality Membership Program, leads Queer Spirituality Retreats, and is hosting a free virtual Queer Spirituality Summit on June 4, 2023.

    Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch.

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  • Early Hollywood’s “Joyous Bisexual” and Her Most Daring Onscreen Roles

    Early Hollywood’s “Joyous Bisexual” and Her Most Daring Onscreen Roles

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    The moment Marlene Dietrich arrived in Hollywood, she was crossing lines virtually no one else dared to. In her debut American feature, Morocco, released in 1930, she dressed in a tuxedo to perform the torch song “Give Me the Man Who Does Things,” pausing to kiss a woman in the nightclub crowd. Having come up in Berlin’s cabaret scene in the 1920s, Dietrich was a wife and a mother by the time she became a movie star—but also a “joyous bisexual with an appetite for many loves,” as Kenneth Anger described her in Hollywood Babylon.

    Dietrich’s bisexuality was a key element of her explosive stardom in the early 1930s, even if it was not quite explicitly part of the text. The kiss in Morocco is more of a provocation than an expression of lust, the ’30s equivalent of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” But in the years just before the Production Code took hold of Hollywood—banishing even hints of non-hetero sexuality—Dietrich was a powerhouse, making several films with director Josef von Sternberg that established her as a uniquely alluring, rule-breaking, and even dangerous kind of star.

    That persona was already firmly in place by 1932’s Shanghai Express, Dietrich and von Sternberg’s third Hollywood film together, in which Dietrich plays the mysterious but unapologetic courtesan Shanghai Lily. Set on a train from Peking to Shanghai in the midst of China’s civil war, the film starts by introducing a range of colorful characters as they board the train, including Dietrich in a dramatic veil, jet-black boa trailing behind her.

    Watch Shanghai Express

    But Shanghai Lily truly comes to life when we meet her in her compartment with her traveling companion, Hui Fei (Anna May Wong), a fellow courtesan—or, as a fellow passenger denigrates them, another “fallen woman.” A trailblazing Chinese American actress in the golden age of Hollywood, Wong was already a global star by the time of Shanghai Express. A famous photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt at a Berlin gala in 1928 finds Wong and Dietrich posing side by side with none other than Leni Riefenstahl.

    Like so many of Dietrich’s costars, Wong is rumored to have had an affair with her—the excellent novel Delayed Rays of a Star, inspired by that Eisenstaedt photograph, imagines what might have been. But what we know for sure is what we can see between them in Shanghai Express, a dynamic so charged that they don’t have to say a word to send a would-be interloper scurrying away from their compartment. Later, the nosy landlady of a boardinghouse for only “respectable people” tries to recruit them before realizing “I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

    The romantic plot of Shanghai Express is between Shanghai Lily and her old flame Doc Harvey, played by Clive Brook; the queer themes, as they would be in Hollywood for decades more, remain expressly subtext. But Dietrich’s gender-bending confidence gets a moment to shine when she playfully wears Doc’s military hat while the pair revisit their lost love. And both Lily, who sacrifices herself so that Doc can be freed from the film’s villain, and Hui Fei, who eventually kills the bad guy, are women capable of taking action far more effectively than the men around them.

    Shanghai Express, nominated for three Oscars including best picture, was a high-water mark for both Dietrich and Wong’s Hollywood careers. Dietrich’s performing career continued for more than four more decades, but Shanghai Express was the peak of her box-office powers. Wong, after lobbying hard for and losing the lead role in 1937’s The Good Earth, remained stuck with the kind of stereotypical roles she had spoken out against throughout her career. “Why is it that the screen Chinese is nearly always the villain of the piece, and so cruel a villain—murderous, treacherous, a snake in the grass?” she told Film Weekly in 1933. “We are not like that.”

    But Dietrich and Wong remain inextricably linked to this day. In last year’s Babylon, Li Jun Li plays Lady Fay Zhu, a character modeled closely on Anna May Wong—but who performs a provocative song in unmistakably Dietrich-ian style, tuxedo included.

    This week’s Little Gold Men podcast, which you can listen to above, includes an in-depth conversation about Shanghai Express to kick off our monthlong Pride series of Oscar flashbacks. Next week we’ll tackle 1985’s Kiss of the Spider-Woman, for which William Hurt won the best-actor Oscar.

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    Katey Rich

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  • Target removes some LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise over threats to employees

    Target removes some LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise over threats to employees

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    Target has removed some Pride merchandise from its stores after facing backlash and threats, the company said Tuesday. 

    A company spokesperson did not specify which items were being removed, but Target has faced criticism online over swimsuits being sold in its Pride collection.

    “For more than a decade, Target has offered an assortment of products aimed at celebrating Pride Month. Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and wellbeing while at work,” a company spokesperson said. “Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior. Our focus now is on moving forward with our continuing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community and standing with them as we celebrate Pride Month and throughout the year.”

    Some claimed on social media that swimsuits that were labeled as “tuck-friendly” with “extra crotch coverage” were designed for children. The swimsuits with these labels, however, were only available in adult sizes.

    A spokesperson for Target told The Associated Press that the children’s swimsuits in the Pride collection have a different design and label, as well. 

    Some also complained about the swimsuits in the Pride collection in the product reviews on Target’s website, while others in the reviews praised the company for selling inclusive options. 

    Target is the latest company to face backlash over support for the LGBTQ+ community. Maybelline and Bud Light have faced boycotts over promotions featuring transgender social-media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light sales have dwindled in recent weeks.

    Aliza Chasan

    Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.

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  • Another Florida Pride Event Canceled As Other Organizers Dig Their Heels In

    Another Florida Pride Event Canceled As Other Organizers Dig Their Heels In

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    Organizers in St. Cloud, Florida, announced this week they would be canceling an LGBTQ+ Pride festival next month, joining at least two other events as casualties of Florida’s extreme new anti-LGBTQ+ laws while other event organizers double down.

    The St. Cloud organizers wrote on social media that their decision to cancel the event in June — which is Pride Month — was “difficult” and “not made lightly.”

    Florida’s hard-right Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an array of legislation dubbed “discriminatory” by the Human Rights Campaign on Wednesday. Among the measures is a ban on gender-affirming care for minors of any kind, a ban on using a bathroom aligning with one’s gender identity, an expansion of the education law nicknamed “Don’t Say Gay,” and restrictions on performances by drag queens who are a quintessential part of Pride.

    The legislation prompted Equality Florida, an LGBTQ+ civil rights group, to issue a travel advisory for the entire state.

    “These laws have created a climate of fear and hostility for LGBTQIA+ people in Florida. We believe that holding an LGBTQIA+ event in this environment would put our community at risk,” the St. Cloud organizers said.

    They added: “We hope that you understand our decision.”

    The event, held south of Orlando, was set to include food, drink and entertainers, including drag queens. An event in Tampa called Pride on the River, set for September, was similarly canceled this week, with an organizer pointing to the public riverfront venue and spotlight on drag performers.

    “In the end, we didn’t want to take any chances,” Carrie West, president of Tampa Pride, told the Tampa Bay Times.

    Port St. Lucie, Florida, announced in April that its Pride parade would not go forward as planned in anticipation of the anti-drag law. The city, located north of Miami, also restricted what was formerly an all-ages Pride festival to people aged 21 and up, upsetting some parents.

    DeSantis claims the anti-drag bill “protects children from sexually explicit content.” It uses vague phrasing such as “adult live performances” and “sexual excitement” to target drag shows, which are now banned in public areas and relegated in private areas to adult-only settings.

    Drag, however, is like any other form of artistic expression — such as acting — that can be changed to fit the time and place appropriately.

    Other organizers have come out to reassure their communities their events would go on as planned.

    “Lake County Pride will never back down,” organizers of the Orlando-area county wrote on Facebook.

    “No unconstitutional law will keep us from celebrating our PRIDE event, Lake County Pride Celebration 2023!”

    St. Petersburg Pride is also a go.

    The event bills itself as Florida’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride festival, expected to include a month of parties, concerts and family-friendly events culminating in a parade and street fair.

    Organizer Dr. Byron Green told HuffPost that St. Pete Pride is in “constant communication” with city officials with the assistance of lawyers.

    “We know it’d be a difficult call,” Green said when asked about canceling Pride in light of the Florida political climate.

    “The first Pride was a riot that was started by drag queens and trans women of color,” Green said, referencing the Stonewall riot, “So for us, it would be disingenuous to not lean into that and support our drag artists and trans community in any way possible.”

    “We absolutely will be leaning into supporting these artists,” Green added, “in ways that will allow us to stay within the bounds of local ordinances.”

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  • Visited Releases the Top 10 Most Popular LGBTQ+ Destinations

    Visited Releases the Top 10 Most Popular LGBTQ+ Destinations

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    Users of the travel app, Visited, can access the full list of LGBTQ+ destinations and see what percentage of them they have been to.

    Press Release
    –

    Jun 21, 2022


    TORONTO, June 21, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Traveling for the LGBTQ+ community can be a challenging experience, so the team at Arriving In High Heels has decided to put together a list of destinations where Pride Parades have taken place. Travelers can select from the list to see what percentage of destinations they have been to and get inspired to travel to those missed on the list. As a result, they have published the top 10 most visited LGBTQ+ destinations as per their international travelers. 

    1. London, United Kingdom – is the most visited destination by the LGBTQ+ community. 
    2.  Paris, France – Often referred to as the city of love, it is truly welcoming and also one of the most popular cities in the world to visit.
    3. Rome, Italy – Rome, one of the most visited cities in the world, offers much to be explored. For a popular hangout, check out Via San Giovanni.
    4.  Amsterdam, Netherlands – Amsterdam is the birthplace of LGBT rights, where homosexuality was decriminalized in 1811, with the first gay bar opening in 1927.
    5. Barcelona, Spain – For travelers looking for some popular hangouts, they should visit the Eixample district.
    6. Berlin, Germany – For those who love cinema and art, Berlin is the perfect place to visit as it has a museum with collections focusing on LGBTQ+ history and culture.
    7. New York City, United States – The only city in the top 10 which is found outside of Europe, New York comes as the 7th spot for popular LGBTQ+ destinations. Historically significant, the Greenwich Village, which saw the Stonewall uprising in 1969, which a year later led to a march to commemorate the one-year anniversary, has been marching yearly since then.
    8. Milan, Italy – Milan, one of the world’s fashion capitals, home to Italian luxury, and where visitors are sure to witness the latest fashion on display, makes it to the eighth place of the most visited LGBTQ+ destinations.
    9. Vienna, Austria – Besides beautiful palaces, museums, shopping, and cafes, visitors can also find relaxing saunas.
    10. Madrid, Spain – Since the mid-1970s, Madrid’s LGBTQ+ community has really grown. Today, Madrid prides itself on having one of the world’s best Pride festivities.

    To see the full list of LGBTQ+ destinations and what percentage you have visited, download Visited for free on iOS or Android .

    To learn more about the Visited app and its latest feature update, please visit https://visitedapp.com/. 

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company; Visited is their most popular app. For inspiration on travel destinations, travel stats and the latest travel news, follow Visited on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Other apps include Pay Off Debt and X-Walk. 

    Contact Information

    Anna Kayfitz

    anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

    Source: Arriving In High Heels Corporation

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  • Ashby & Graff® Real Estate Releases ‘Holding Hands, Holding Dreams’ Video to Support Pride Month and LGBTQ Community

    Ashby & Graff® Real Estate Releases ‘Holding Hands, Holding Dreams’ Video to Support Pride Month and LGBTQ Community

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jun 4, 2019


    LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​To support LGBTQ Pride Month, Ashby & Graff® Real Estate is raising awareness around diversity and inclusion with the release of its “Holding Hands, Holding Dreams” video that highlights the familiar feelings of thrill that come with first holding hands and first seeing the perfect home for sale. (Watch the video: https://bit.ly/2XkWa7a)​

    The video promotes Ashby & Graff’s belief that its strength comes from a diversity of people, thoughts and ideas. Emphasizing and connecting the joy of holding hands with the joy of finding that perfect home delivers a message that relates to all people.

    However, despite the similar emotions experienced during hand holding, the effects of doing so publicly as an LGBTQ person are anything but similar to members of the majority. Hand holding by LGBTQ people can cause ridicule and in over 1/2 the states in the country, denial of housing or jobs because of failure to include LGBTQ people in anti-discrimination statutes. A recent study found same-sex couples are denied mortgages 73 percent more frequently than opposite-sex couples of similar financial worthiness. A separate study by Freddie Mac and the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals found 46 percent of LGBT renters fear discrimination in the home buying process.

    John Graff, CEO of Ashby & Graff Real Estate, stated, “In 2019 – 50 years after the uprising at Stonewall – the LGBTQ community has taken incredible strides toward true equality but there is still progress to be made. We celebrate the gains but recommit to fighting for a better and more equal future on behalf of our employees, clients and their families.”

    Graff continued, “At Ashby & Graff, we embrace and value our differences because it is diversity of thought that strengthens us. Diversity and inclusion aren’t just a corporate policy, they are the fibers that weave the durable fabric of our organization. We are proud to celebrate diversity and the contributions of the LGBTQ community during Pride Month and throughout the entire year.”

    About Ashby & Graff® Real Estate: 

    Ashby & Graff Real Estate is among the fastest-growing independent real estate brokerages in the United States. With agents across Southern California, Ashby & Graff services clients of all budgets, lifestyles and backgrounds. Ashby & Graff is part of the Graff Real Estate Inc. brand collection.

    www.ashbygraff.com

    www.graffre.com​​

    For more information, contact:

    John Graff, CEO
    Ashby & Graff Real Estate
    info@ashbygraff.com
    310-856-9153 ext. 502

    Source: Ashby & Graff® Real Estate

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  • Out at the Fair® Expands to Five Fairs, Starts 2019 Tour Campaign

    Out at the Fair® Expands to Five Fairs, Starts 2019 Tour Campaign

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Dec 3, 2018


    SAN DIEGO, December 3, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​​​Out at the Fair®, the Fair industry’s official LGBTQ+ festival, expanded to five Fairs in two states during 2018 and has initiated plans for its 2019 season. In addition to the San Diego County Fair – where it was originally launched – the festival is also now held at the California State Fair (Sacramento), Marin County Fair (San Rafael), and Santa Clara County Fair (San Jose) in California, plus the New Mexico State Fair (Albuquerque) in New Mexico.

    In October, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation became Out at the Fair’s fiscal sponsor, granting the festival non-profit status. The Foundation is one of the largest LGBTQ+ foundations in the country, and the sole community foundation in San Diego dedicated to the benefit of LGBTQ+ people. Companies and organizations interested in reaching the LGBTQ+ community in a family-friendly setting are invited and encouraged to show support of Out at the Fair® through a tax-deductible sponsorship or donation.

    During their 2018 convention in Reno, Nevada, the Western Fairs Association, a leading trade organization serving the Fair industry in the western United States and Canada, presented Out at the Fair® – with its prestigious Barham Award, which recognizes innovation, quality, and leadership in the field of service.

    According to “Out at the Fair” by Albert H. Fulcher of Gay San Diego, Out at the Fair “…has now turned into the largest “Out” gathering in Southern California region.”

    “Out at the Fair has definitely become one of the highlights of summer in San Diego” – Sen. Toni Atkins President pro Tempore of the California State Senate

    About Out at the Fair®

    In 2013, the “Unofficial Gay Day at the Fair” was held at the San Diego County Fair as a family-friendly celebration of the LGBTQ+ community; the festival was a success and quickly embraced by fairgoers and the community. One year later, it became an official Fair festival and renamed “Out at the Fair®” (“OATF”). During the following four years, the festival grew considerably in scope and breadth, garnering praise from community leaders and awards from trade associations, as well as expanding to two other fairs. What started as an outing by a group of friends in 2011 – as a simple Facebook check-in – is now the only official LGBTQ+ event in the Fair industry.

    Through the years, OATF has gained the support of local LGBTQ+ community organizations, as well as local elected officials and businesses, at the various Fairs where the festival is held.

    OATF includes a full day of entertainment featuring local LGBTQ+ performers, non-profit organizations exhibiting, the Newly Married Game, Diva Drop, Dunk a Hunk, Family Fun Hour, Eat a Gay Bug, flags representing the various LGBTQ+ sub-groups, and all-gender restrooms, and national talent, such as American Idol finalists David Hernandez and Keith London, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Chad Michaels, pop singers Pepper MaShay and Ricky Rebel.

    In July 2017, after five years of increased success, OATF made the jump to the California State Fair in partnership with the Sacramento LGBT Center – as part of an expansion plan that intends to spread a message of diversity and inclusiveness to Fairs nationwide and abroad. In September 2017, OATF crossed state borders and welcomed fairgoers from Albuquerque and surrounding areas to the New Mexico State Fair, in partnership with Albuquerque Pride. In July 2018, the Marin County Fair in San Rafael was added to the roster. In August, the Santa Clara County Fair located in San Jose was added; in both cases, partnering with local Pride and LGBTQ+ organizations.

    For more information about Out at the Fair®, visit www.outatthefair.com. Follow OATF on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vimeo.

    Press Contact: 
    Name: William Zakrajshek 
    Email: will@outat.org 
    Phone: 1+(619) 867-2594

    Source: Out at the Fair

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  • Pride Rally Announces Lineup for 10th Annual Event

    Pride Rally Announces Lineup for 10th Annual Event

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    ​PRIDE RALLY ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR 10TH ANNUAL EVENT; TWO GRAMMY PRODUCERS HEADLINING IN FIRST EVER SHOW

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Apr 18, 2017


    Long Beach, California, April 18, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Long Beach Pride Weekend is May 19-21 in Long Beach, California.  The official kickoff event to pride weekend, the Pride Rally, will take place on Friday, May 19th from 7pm-2am on the Promenade in Downtown Long Beach, California.

    The Pride Rally is an exciting night of music, dance, and entertainment designed to bring people and communities together in support of LGBTQ rights and causes.  

    This year’s event will be hosted by Scott Nevins from Bravo TV’s hit show “The People’s Couch”.  In addition, two DJ Super Producers will be joining forces, Grammy nominated DJ Chris Cox (52 Billboard Dance #1’s) and Grammy Award Winning DJ Lee Dagger from Bimbo Jones (75 Dance #1’s internationally) will handle the entertainment in an exclusive performance, both sharing the stage and mixing together. 

    Jewel Productions is producing a drag show event not to be missed, and a special awards ceremony will be held for the founders of the Pink Party marking its 10th anniversary.  Award recipients include Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Lynwood Mayor Pro-Tem Jose Luis Solache, Miles Nevin, Director of the President at Long Beach City College, Steve Sheldon, and Sergio Carillo.

    Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 after May 7th, and are available now online at www.PrideRally.com.   Tickets may be available at the door, based on availability.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach.

    Pride Rally History:  The Pride Rally is formerly known as “The Pink Party”, will celebrate its 10th year anniversary in 2017.  Over the past decade, there have been a variety of event producers.  In 2016, two community leaders stepped up to take on the overlooked event, rebranded it the Pride Rally, and will host its inaugural event this year.  For the first time in the event’s history, The Pride Rally (Pink Party) has the support of both the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and the LBLGP Festival endorsement, potentially making this year’s event the biggest in the history of the Pink Party.

    For media inquiries, tickets and more information, please contact Stuart Takehara (Stuart@PrideRally.com)  or call 562-277-1267.

    Source: Pride Rally

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