LGBTQ

Controversy Arises as North Carolina School Board Opts Out of LGBTQ Provisions, Risking Legal Action

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board is facing the possibility of legal complaints or action by legislators after choosing to leave out two LGBTQ-related provisions that were directed by the General Assembly for districts to follow. On Thursday, the board unanimously voted in favor of initial approval for several updated policies in compliance with the Parents’ Bill of Rights legislation, which was enacted in 2023 by Republican lawmakers. However, they decided against incorporating a provision that would have required schools to notify parents before a student uses a different name or … Read more

Florida School District Faces Lawsuit Over Removal of Books on Race and LGBTQ+ Identities, Judge Rules

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PENSACOLA, Fla. – A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed against a Florida Panhandle school district for removing books about race and LGBTQ+ identities from library shelves. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, based in Pensacola, made the ruling on Wednesday, granting standing to the writers’ group PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House, banned authors, and parents to pursue their claims under the First Amendment’s free speech protections. However, the judge denied a claim under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. “We are gratified that the Judge recognized that books cannot … Read more

Russian Singer Jailed Under LGBTQ+ Propaganda Laws for Provocative Performance

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St. Petersburg, Russia – Maxim Tesli, a Russian singer, has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for violating the country’s LGBTQ+ propaganda laws. The arrest came after Tesli performed a show wearing nothing but a sock on his genitals. Reports suggest that he was planning to leave Russia amidst increasing calls for his arrest, following the viral spread of a video of his performance. After being detained at a St. Petersburg airport on Monday night, Tesli appeared in court the following day. He was charged with petty hooliganism and subsequently sentenced to 10 days … Read more