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Jason Van Ness is a bylined journalist whose reporting appears on LGBTQ News. We aggregate Jason Van Ness's work from trusted local sources with full attribution, linking back to the original publisher. To learn more about how we select and review stories, see our editorial standards.
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Leading up to the 2015 landmark Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality a federal right, sociologist Mark Regnerus published controversial research titled the “New F
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Amidst Russia's crackdown on so-called LGBTQ+ propaganda, television viewers in the country noticed the censorship of a rainbow in a famous episode of the children's cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. In the episode, SpongeBob speaks about the fun of using one's imagination, and as he does so, his hands
A Texas judge is asking a federal court to overturn marriage equality in the U.S., arguing in a lawsuit filed on Friday that marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional because it was legalized in a decision that "subordinat[ed] state law to the policy preferences of unelected judges." The cas
State Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Republican leader of the Utah Senate, once said that transgender athletes put cisgender girls at risk. Now, he's facing criticism for his help to keep his 18-year-old relative out of jail after the relative raped a 13-year-old. Adams helped change a state law to give his
Leading up to the 2015 landmark Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality a federal right, sociologist Mark Regnerus published controversial research titled the “New Family Structures Study”. Regnerus, who is forthcoming about the fact that his Catholic faith shapes
Following the start of the Iran war, many Americans were worried for the first time in decades about a potential draft. When asked about the possibility, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that it was not part of the current plans but that, “The president wisely keeps his options on
Trans Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) recently spoke about her high hopes for Democrats in the midterm elections this November. In a Tuesday interview with Out, McBride said she's "determined to enter a Democratic majority in January of 2027." "I'm determined as a member of Congress, but even more so as a
During an appearance on Fox News last night, anti-LGBTQ+ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) spoke with host Sean Hannity about what Hannity called a "mass migration" of conservative voters moving from blue states to red states. DeSantis said a massive influx of GOP voters to Florida has inflated the perc
This story originally appeared on The Advocate.As questions swirl around Washington about the health status of Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized for weeks after emergency responders went to his house for a patient in cardiac arrest, the political world woke up Sunday morn
Gay cruise blocked from docking in Turkey and Egypt due to "moral values" Why they blocked the ship: An LGBTQ+ cruise operated by Atlantis Events was supposed to stop at a port city in Turkey this week, but authorities denied access to it because LGBTQ+ people are " known for behaviors that do not a
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) died suddenly on Saturday. The South Carolina Republican’s office in a statement said Graham, 71, “passed away from a brief and sudden illness.” The Washington Post reported first responders responded to Graham’s Washington home on Saturday and transported him to a
Goose, a new gay dating app that launched last month, is using AI-generated Instagram "friends" to recruit members to the Grindr alternative, reporting from Wired alleges. “On one hand, I’m flattered that I’m their target audience,” Ryan Cheam, a PR professional and a mark in the fake friends' campa
Jerusalem's LGBTQ+ community is mourning the closure of the city's only gay bar, which bid farewell to patrons at the end of June. Video Pub has been a haven for LGBTQ+ Israelis and tourists for the past 14 years, but its owner, Avi Goldberger, believes it's no longer needed. Related How LGBTQ+ affi
MAGA infighting erupted at Turning Point USA’s America Fest in Phoenix, Arizona, as conservative broadcaster Ben Shapiro blasted Candace Owens for spreading conspiracy theories about the murder of Turning Point's founder Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson for platforming neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, and Steve B
Why are so many lesbians big fans of Heated Rivalry, the steamy TV series filled with gay male sex scenes? Is it because the series is based on novels that were written by female author Rachel Reid and reflect a woman’s sensibility, as some have suggested? Related "Heated Rivalry" stars score cheeky
A pastor in Kentucky is defending a skit he staged at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, which featured teen boys armed with assault rifles "shooting" another parishioner to cheers from children and their parents. He's blaming the controversy on Satan. Related Pete Hegseth's pastor describe
During a heated hearing before the Congressional House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, three Democratic governors – Kathy Hochul of New York, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Tim Walz of Minnesota – answered questions about their states' sanctuary policies for immigrants. In one tense excha
Here are this week’s most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this? Sign up for our Good News email. You thought Pride Month was over? Well, guess again, because this week's Good News Roundup has all sorts of Pride-related head
Happy Forest!Pride Month 2026 was certainly one to remember. Despite the hateful rhetoric being spewed by the Republican Party toward the LGBTQ+ community, queer people showed up and showed out during a very divisive time in history.Although many gay events were packed throughout June across the glo
Vice President J.D. Vance tried to joke about former President Joe Biden in front of soldiers at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach on July 1. It didn't go well for Vance—literally no one laughed. During his speech, Vance told the troops he was having a mental debate about whether to jok
In recent years, Love Island USA has distinguished itself from the sea of tropical, horny reality dating shows, to become something of a longform sociological study in heterosexual dating. Going deeper than the mere interpersonal drama that seems to consume most of its contemporaries, the Peacock hi
The Idaho-based nonprofit Trans Affirm has released an "Inclusive Bathroom Map" to help trans people in the state find safe restrooms as they live under what advocates have called "the most extreme anti-transgender bathroom ban in the nation." Gov. Brad Little (R) signed the law in March, but it did
This story originally appeared on The Advocate.Kristi Noem plans to divorce her husband, Bryon Noem, after 34 years of marriage, her mother told the British tabloid The Daily Mail. The split follows revelations that Bryon Noem paid online fetish performers and shared photographs of himself presentin
The Capital Stonewall Democrats, D.C.’s largest local LGBTQ political group, announced on July 7 it has launched a campaign to help elect large numbers of LGBTQ candidates to the city’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. The D.C. local government is believed to be unique among U.S. cities in current
A gay and virulently anti-transgender candidate for Congress in Wyoming is suing over accusations that he's a pedophile, charges lobbed by other, virulently anti-gay Republicans. Reid Rasner, a Trump loyalist who has spent $1.2 million of his own money on multiple campaigns for office in the state,
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was rushed to a hospital on a stretcher last month, according to new information reported by CNN, including video. A neighbor said that emergency responders arrived due to a report of an unconscious person in the McConnell home. They opened the door at around 8:30 a.m. on
Kris Cravens-Hutton and her husband, Dave Hutton, made headlines with the "maximalist" Pride Month display in front of their Detroit home. The large, rainbow-colored display of allyship even gained the couple a visit from pro-LGBTQ+ Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D). The straight couple's display includes
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has a new excuse for why Donald Trump's hands are bruised again. People have been noticing for the past year that Trump's hands are often bruised when he appears in public, wondering whether this is a symptom of a larger medical issue. Leavitt has offered
Republicans in Colorado nominated Victor Marx, a Marine veteran, culture warrior, and lately a mercenary who claims he single-handedly ordered a strike on ISIS, as their nominee for governor, according to projections by the AP and CNN. The election was held a week ago Tuesday, but it took over a wee
In this excerpt from the forthcoming anthology Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection, contributor Jake Montano, a.k.a. the Bay Area drag queen Imelda Glucose, reflects on drag houses as a form of chosen family.I was nine years old the first time I applied makeup to my f
Anti-LGBTQ+ Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) argued that people should vote against state Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D) because he can't lift weights. "He's a lightweight," the 76-year-old said of Talarico. "He's a 90-pound weakling. He couldn't lift a 10-pound weight in the gym if
LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream films continued a three-year decline last year, according to GLAAD’s latest “Where We Are in Film” study. The study also showed particularly troubling results when it came to trans representation in film and any LGBTQ+ representation in family films. This week, th
Librarian, novelist, and advocate for intellectual freedom Gareth Carter will talk about his debut novel, “The Misadventures of Don Kee Dong & Phillip Mihol,” on Sunday, July 12 at 4 p.m. at Green Lantern Bar. The event, titled “Cocktails, Chaos & Controversy” is a fundraiser for the DC LGBTQ+ Commu
Have you hopped on the Love Island USA bandwagon, even though it’s the straightest show in existence? You’re not alone. Rest assured, Love Island host Ariana Madix also wants to see some queer bombshells in the villa. (Also, hello, Zach and Bryce “bromance” truthers! Kidding, kidding. Team #Brinity
Friday, July 10 Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 6 p.m. at Freddie’s. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite. Women in their Twenties and Thirties will
As Pride Month came to a close, Pete Buttigieg described one of the worst days of his life: a false, anonymous report that triggered a visit from Child Protective Services and law enforcement. His four-year-old twins endured forensic interviews — without either of their parents present and without k
A trans teen withdrew from the girls’ division of an Irish Dance contest in Florida after the organizers were pressured by state officials to kick her out. However, it is unclear whether the girl’s participation in the competition would have actually violated any law. “No young person should become
There are some hateful people out there who apparently have far too much free time on their hands. I’ve received plenty of hate messages over the years targeting my gender identity and the work that I do. But in the last year or two, the content of those messages has changed, from focusing on attack
The official Instagram and Facebook pages for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted a positive profile about fashion designer Pono Skousen on June 29, in the eleventh hour of Pride Month, that has since caused quite a stir online — because, as it turns out, Skousen is gay and some o
Just over two and a half miles from President Donald Trump's primary residence lies one of Florida's most reliably Democratic congressional districts. There, a 27-year-old progressive is mounting a campaign centered on resisting what he calls the Trump-Vance administration's attacks on civil rights,
New research from the Human Sexualities Research Lab at the State University of New York and The Conversation reveals that women are moving away from exclusively heterosexual relationships and attraction, while men are not. Related 9% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ Researchers studying sexuality, g
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