2021 Year in review: News • The number of LGBTQ elected officials tops 1,000

Most online images are just a right-click away from being in someone’s personal collection. They’re free, pretty much. So it’s tough for charities to fundraise with them. That is, until 2017 when non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, came along. Unlike regular pieces of digital media, NFTs can’t be so easily copied. And for as long as they have existed, there have been conservation charities using them for fundraising.

The 2022 Brit Awards took place yesterday (8 February). The glamorous ceremony recapped another year of incredible talent, including standout LGBTQ+ acts. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite queerest moments straight from the night.

The sentencing of the three men found guilty for the gang rape of a gay man in South Africa has been delayed yet again.

LGBTQ+ museum is due to open in London in spring 2022.The museum, created by the charity Queer Britain, will be located in Kings Cross in north London, in part of a building owned by Art Fund, the national charity for art.It will be a ‘fully inclusive space that celebrates the stories, people and places that are so intrinsic to the queer community in the UK’, the charity declared.Queer Britain, established in 2018, plans for the museum to allow visitors to explore and learn about the past, present and future stories of the LGBTQ+ community.The director and co-founder of Queer Britain, Joseph Galliano, said: ‘It’s time the UK had an LGBTQ+ museum for all, and we are delighted to have found our first home in beautiful Granary Square, with Art Fund as our first landlord.‘It’s a prime location accessible to swathes of the country, and in a part of town with a rich queer heritage.’The new museum will include four galleries, a workshop, an education space, a gift shop, and offices for the Queer Britain team.The space will be fully accessible with lifts and ramps and will be free to enter, with donations welcome to support its work.Queer Britain’s archive is currently housed at the Bishopsgate Institute and is accessible by appointment to the public and researchers.A trustee of Queer Britain, Lisa Power, shared: ‘I’m really excited that Queer Britain is finally going to have a space to show what we can do and that we’re here for all the community, from old lesbian feminist warhorses like me to young queer folk of all genders and ethnicities.‘Queer Britain aims to tell our many and diverse histories, and now we have a home to do that from.’The director of Art Fund, Jenny Waldman, said the charity was ‘delighted’ to welcome Queer

Twitter. "That last comment, though ambiguous, could be perceived as TERF-y.

In a sincere moment of vulnerability, Blu Hydrangea confided in their RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World costars, Cheryl Hole and Jujubee, about their complex gender journey and confusion around pronouns. “The main thing that I struggled with with drag is that I found I put Blu first,” Hydrangea told their sisters. “She was […]

Will Young catapulted to fame when he won ITV's singing competition, Pop Idol in 2002.Going up against Gareth Gates in the nail-biting final of the popular evening show, Will stole the nation's hearts with his undeniable talent, outspoken nature and amazing vocals.Becoming the first winner of the worldwide Idol franchise at the age of 22, the heartthrob was the centre of media attention shortly after when he came out as gay preempting a tabloid newspaper from "outing him".Despite the controversy at the time, Will continued to have a successful career in music with a number of top 40 hits including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now.However, the star did later face tragedy down the line, with label feuds and the untimely death of his twin brother.Daily Star has taken a detailed look inside Will Young's life.Shortly after being crowned the winner of Pop Idol in the early noughties, in March 2002, Will told the nation that he was gay.However, the star also admitted that he never hid his sexuality and was comfortable with who he was.In September 2020, Will spoke openly on news night about homophobia and the terrible comments he's received regarding his sexuality.He explained: "There's intentional homophobia and there's unintentional homophobia."People get too muddled up with it and worry they'll say the wrong thing. Listen, I say the wrong thing the whole time and I'm so happy to be educated."Gay shame...

Spencer, while DeBose has earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of Anita in the remake of West Side Story.Two openly LGBTQ+ actors being nominated in acting categories in the same year has prompted praise and joy from fans.Stewart identifies as openly queer, telling InStyle in 2020: "Living in this world, being a queer person, there are things that hurt constantly."While many fans have pointed out on social media that if DeBose wins in her category, she will be the first queer woman of color to take the prize.The stars join only a handful of other openly LGBTQ+ actors who have received a nomination in an acting category at the Oscars.Ian McKellen, who is gay, was nominated for his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 20 years ago.Two queer-identifying actors who have been nominated for Oscars since then are Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie, who are both bisexual.Jeremy Blacklow, director of entertainment media at GLAAD said many actors are not out when they are nominated because "LGBTQ+ actors have long faced blatant employment discrimination and have felt forced to hide their sexual orientation and/or gender identity if they hoped to work at all."He added to Vanity Fair: "Once they come out, lesbian, gay, and bisexual actors have rarely been considered for straight leading roles and they haven't been cast for leading lesbian, gay, or bisexual roles either."Fans of both stars have been reacting to their nominations today."With Ariana DeBose & Kristen Stewart this year we have two queer icons nominated for acting Academy Awards!" reads one tweet.With Ariana DeBose & Kristen Stewart this year we have two queer icons nominated for acting Academy Awards!

News of Love, Victor’s upcoming third season being its last has sparked a passionate response online from fans.

Adele declared her love for “being a female artist” as she took home the gender-neutral award for Artist of the Year at the Brits.

Gemma Collins has shared a first look at her upcoming moving documentary where she opens up for the very first time about her painful battle with self-harm. The Channel 4 programme, which will air on Wednesday 16 February, sees Gemma going on a personal journey, as she tells her loved ones how she secretly struggled for two decades.

TikTok has updated its community guidelines to ban an array of anti-LGBTQ+ content, including deadnaming transgender people.

The post Here’s why gender-neutral award categories are here to stay appeared first on GAY TIMES.

An extreme Christian sect is being probed for spreading gay hate and anti-vaxx propaganda among its followers.

Heather Dubrow, 53, is sharing more intimate details about her family’s story, and this time, it involves her other daughter: 15-year-old Kat. One year after her eldest daughter, Max, 18, came out as bisexual, her younger daughter Kat is also sharing some news: she’s a lesbian.

In the midst of Black History Month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tuesday delayed a vote on whether to reappoint a Black lesbian to her seat on the city's juvenile probation commission. The decision was shadowed by her role in the campaign to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

Joe Biden is defending LGBTQ students by slamming the "Don't Say Gay" bill proposed by Florida Republicans.The legislation, coined as the "Don't Say Gay" bill by naysayers, seeks to ban the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. The Republican-led Senate Education Committee gave initial approval of the controversial proposal in a 6-3 vote Tuesday despite condemnation from activist groups.Biden took to Twitter promising LGBTQ students he would stand up for them."I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are.

“Yeah. Almost every night for the last two weeks.”One of her eyebrows went up. The movement looked rehearsed, like a trick she’d learned in medical school meant to convey the proper level of concern.

press release described her as “a leading authority in international development policy with over 30 years of experience in the multi-disciplinary field that includes finance, technology, and the environment.”Wong has said she was inspired by the late Congressman John Lewis, a longtime civil rights leader. Lewis, she wrote in a Facebook post last year, “taught me about making good trouble but necessary trouble.” She accompanied Lewis on his annual visits to Selma, Ala., where he was beaten by police during a 1965 voting rights demonstration, and videotaped his appearances.Wong is founder of the Conference on APA Leadership, which encourages young Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders to pursue careers in public service. The LGBTQ Victory Institute, which advocated for Wong’s nomination and confirmation, issued a laudatory statement Tuesday.

The Advocate. “I’ve always been a big kid growing up, and I was always happy.”It wasn’t until others started pointing out his “imperfections” that the actor, beloved for his role as Guillermo de la Cruz in the hit FX series What We Do In The Shadows, even began to question if he was beautiful.

star Heather Dubrow is opening up about her family's journey when it comes to her children freely expressing their sexual identities with their parents' support. In a new interview with, the 53-year-old reality star shares that her 15-year-old daughter, Kat, has come out as a lesbian.

Heather Dubrow’s daughter Kat is coming out to the world.

Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law late last month that repeals the statute that criminalizes sexual penetration while infected with a venereal disease or HIV under certain circumstances.

Kleefeld Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach, which has undergone an ambitious renovation and expansion, will open next month with exhibits by two important and influential abstract artists: Linda Besemer, who identifies as queer, and Mark Bradford, who identifies as gay.

After months of working behind the scenes with UltraViolet & GLAAD, TikTok unveils updated user policy to impede harassment, disinformation, misogyny, Anti-LGBTQ+ Hatred, Misgendering, disordered eating content, etc.In an announcement today, the video-focused social media platform TikTok released an updated user policy now expressly featuring limitations on ‘misogyny’ and anti-discrimination protections for transgender people, including a prohibition on misgendering and deadnaming. TikTok also announced they will start to remove the promotion of disordered eating content, conversion therapy programs, etc.TikTok implemented the changes after campaigns by UltraViolet, GLAAD, and other groups urged the platform to start taking more responsibility for algorithmic issues and protecting users.“TikTok has become a little safer for women, girls, LGBQ, and trans people today,” said Bridget Todd, Communications Director at UltraViolet, a national gender justice advocacy group.

The 2022 Winter Olympics are underway in Beijing. Between now and February 20, we’ll spotlight some of the inspiring LGBTQ athletes vying for gold.French ice dancing duo Guillaume Cizeron and Gabriella Papadakis competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but a wardrobe malfunction kept them from reaching the top of the podium when the clasp holding Papadakis’s dress together came undone.Still, the partners managed an impressive silver medal, and now they’re back to compete in Beijing in what we assume will be fully-sealed costumes.Cizeron is a seven-time French National Champion and four-time World Champion who made history by winning the European Championships five times in a row.Born in France, Cizeron relocated to Canada in 2014 at age 20 to continue his skating training, though still competed under the French flag in skating events.In 2020, he came out on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia by sharing a photo with his boyfriend on Instagram.“I wanted to share this publicly because it was world day against homophobia and transphobia,” he told Têtu.

updating its community guidelines to make the video-sharing app a safer place for its queer people and women by banning misgendering, deadnaming, and misogyny, as well as conversion therapy from its platform, which has more than 1 billion monthly users.This move follows months of work and advocacy by UltraViolet, a U.S.-based gender justice advocacy group, along with LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization GLAAD.According to Cormac Keenan, TikTok’s head of trust and safety, these changes to the community guidelines were put in place to “further support the well-being of [the] community and the integrity of [the] platform.”While TikTok says that such content was prohibited on the app, Keenan notes that the company has “heard from creators and civil society organizations that it’s important to be explicit in our Community Guidelines.”Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO, told the New York Daily News that she hopes this move by TikTok will inspire other social media apps to make similar changes. “[It] sends a message that other platforms which claim to prioritize LGBTQ safety should follow suit with substantive actions like these,” she said.Making social media apps like TikTok safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people should be a priority as it’s “a public health and safety issue,” explained Ellis, because, as GLAAD’s 2021 Social Media Safety report shows, queer people are “in the crossfire, and [are] experiencing real-world harm.”Changing the guidelines is a step in the right direction.

published earlier this week in the journal, Science.Though the newly identified “VB variant” is easier to transmit and does indeed attack the immune system at a faster rate than other strains, researchers believe that the variant has actually been around since the 1990 but primariliy localized to the Netherlands region. In addition, despite the strain’s aggressive nature, it is still easily controlled by current HIV medications.The strain was discovered while researchers were looking at data and blood samples from people living with HIV in Europe and Uganda who are participating in a study called the BEEHIVE project.

Penrith Christian School has listed transgender identity and same-sex attraction alongside “abusive relationships” as behaviours “not acceptable to God” in a statement attached to its enrolment application. Trigger Warning: This story has details of homophobic and transphobic statements, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.The Sydney private school’s principal, Tracey Deal, has defended the homophobic and transphobic Statement of Faith, which states that “Adultery, same-sex attraction, transgender identity, premarital sex, sexual acts between members of the same sex and abusive relationships, are all examples of relationships and behaviours which are not acceptable to God.According to the Guardian, in a letter to parents, Deal called the controversy a misunderstanding and said the media has “misinterpreted a small part of the Statement of Faith and inferred mistreatment of students.”Other parts of the Statement of Faith discuss “divine healing for the body” and “everlasting punishment of the wicked (in the sense of eternal torment).”Back in 2013, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Penrith Christian School was forced to review its Statement of Faith after it came to light that it called homosexuality an “abomination unto God, a perversion of the natural order and not to be entered into.” The school had responded then that the “policy was now under review, according to Christian Schools Australia, which says the wording has been ‘misunderstood’ and that gay and lesbian students are treated with care”.Good to see Penrith Christian School now re-thinking their

LONDON: Bitcoin donations have soared to Ukrainian volunteer and hacking groups, some of which have supplied equipment to government forces, according to a report showing such groups received more than US$550,000 worth of cryptocurrency in 2021.

Gay dating app Grindr had made it safer for Olympic athletes to cruise for hookups during the 2022 Games in Beijing.

Revry, the first global LGBTQ+ network, celebrates 10 Days of Valentine’s Brought To You By McDonald’s, a carefully curated selection of love stories from around the world and across the spectrum.These love stories center a diversity of themes and identities from the Asian American, Muslim, African American, Trans, and other LGBTQ+ communities, and feature stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy, Morgan Fairchild, Nicole Sullivan, Leslie Jordan, Caroline Rhea, and more.Revry is led by a diverse group of founders, and their entire library with over 5,000 curated LGBTQ+ titles including LGBTQ-focused series, news, and exclusive programming is available on free live TV.You can access Revry’s extensive library on connected TV, Smart TV, OTT, and mobile platforms like Samsung, Vizio, Roku, Apple, and more.Keep scrolling to see the complete lineup for 10 Days of Valentine’s Brought To You By McDonald’s exclusively on Revry. Eat with Me (Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m. PST)Emma and her estranged gay son face adversity together and use their love of food to connect where words fail. Naz & Malik (Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m.

Modonna’s singular success spans five decades and includes 50 number-one hit singles, eleven concert tours and more awards than any one mantle could ever hope to accommodate. There’s a reason she’s the queen.But even queens are human, and Madonna‘s startling fall while performing at the BRIT Awards in 2015 has been named the most embarrassing moment in the show’s history.In a survey commissioned by Betfair Casino, fans determined her tumble was the most awkward moment to ever happen at the show.In Madonna’s defense (not that she needs it), the terrifying plunge was the result of a wardrobe malfunction.

Newsweek, "Every parent hopes that our leaders will ensure their children's safety, protection, and freedom. Today, conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most—LGBTQI+ students, who are already vulnerable to bullying and violence just for being themselves."The administration added that it was not an isolated action, but a move seen across the country by Republican leaders who are trying "to regulate what students can or cannot read, what they can or cannot learn, and most troubling, who they can or cannot be."Two bills moving through the state legislature, HB 1557 and SB 1834, are seeking to prohibit schools from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not "age-appropriate.""This is politics at its worse, cynically treating our students as pawns in a game and not people who deserve love and respect," the White House said.

embattled podcaster Joe Rogan.Amid increasing backlash to his spread of COVID-19 disinformation and use of racist language, Spotify has begun making overtures that Rogan’s days with the streaming giant may be numbered.Publicly, Spotify has stood by Rogan up until this point, with CEO Daniel Ek sending a letter supporting him to employees of the company.Behind-the-scenes, however, things appear to be in chaos.Related: Just when we didn’t think the Joe Rogan thing could get any stupider, Caitlyn Jenner entered the chatThe platform recently announced that it would start adding content advisory labels to podcasts dealing with COVID-19 misinformation. Now, The Independent reports that Spotify has quietly removed over 100 episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience.

spoken out against the bills as well, as have several other LGBTQ+ leaders.DeSantis, considered a possible Republican presidential candidate for 2024, was asked about the legislation at a Monday press conference. He didn’t say for certain that he’d sign it into law, but he signaled support.It’s “entirely inappropriate” for teachers to talk to students about gender identity, he said, according to NBC News.

Having served 11 years on the San Francisco Superior Court, Judge Angela Bradstreet has decided to retire. One of three lesbians serving on the lower court, Bradstreet has been a vocal advocate for increasing the number of women and LGBTQ professionals in the legal system.

Sex and the City and its spinoff And Just Like That, has just revealed a mortifying experience he suffered as an up-and-coming stand-up comic.It happened over 30 years ago, when he was scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and he found his appearance nixed at the last minute… because he was gay.Related: All the backstage drama that made us wonder, is ‘And Just Like That’ actually cursed?While speaking to the podcast Allison Interviews, the 62-year-old said he booked an appearance on The Tonight Show in 1986. After initially being welcomed by talent coordinators, he found his fortunes reversed in an instant.“When [the talent scout] saw me, he said, ‘Oh my God, you’re amazing! We are going to shape six minutes for you.’ Then he looked at the video again, because he filmed it that night, and he said, ‘You know what? Your comedy has a gay edge to it and I think it’s going to make Johnny nervous, so I’m going to cancel you,’” Cantone recalled.Honestly, we’re not surprised.

Dallas Police Department presents Inspire Autonomy, a transgender self-defense class. All are welcome.

“You can’t stay in the closet when the floor gives way.”

Sorry, this video isn't available any more.A gay couple today told Good Morning Britain of their upset after being refused a three-bed property in Surrey due to their sexuality.Lachlan Mantell and Luke Whitehouse were sent a message from the owners of a house they were interested in which said they were ‘unwilling’ to let them view or buy it.Joining Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on the ITV programme, the couple shared the shocking response they received from the homeowners after they had disclosed their relationship.‘Dear Lachlan and Luke, thank you for sharing your circumstances with us,’ the message read.‘We’re sorry if we seem intrusive, but we just want to make clear that we would be unwilling for two men in a partnership to view or buy our house. As it is contrary to the gracious teaching in God’s Word, the Holy Bible, e.g.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation runs one of the largest community-based HIV service programs in the country, but last month, it began canceling some services and rationing testing for sexually-transmitted infections due to supply shortages at its Strut health center in the Castro.

Grindr has changed the privacy settings for people using the app in the Olympic Village in Beijing. Users in the Village can still find one another, but their profiles are not visible to people outside the Village.Bloomberg reports that the change “is designed to protect the world’s top athletes from persecution or harassment.”“We want Grindr to be a space where all queer athletes, regardless of where they’re from, feel confident connecting with one another while they’re in the Olympic Village,” said Grindr for Equality head Jack Harrison-Quintan.The shift keeps nosy outsiders from using the app’s “Explore” feature to see who’s online in the Village.

Valentine’s Day is soon to be upon us and for those of you crying out for cool gift ideas, fear not! GCN has got you covered. 1. Quirky cards from WeirdWaterColours   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Cards + Gifts + Puns (@weird_watercolours) Let’s start with the basics – support […]

Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law in order to have the charges against them dismissed last week. A judge rejected their claims.“There’s nothing in that video — and I watched it over and over again — that showed me that any of these defendants was in fear for their safety or their lives,” Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan said at the conclusion of a three-day hearing last week, according to local TV station WSVN.“I cannot find that any one of these defenses can be used for prosecution, so the motion to dismiss is denied,” Orshan said.The four men are accused of attacking Rene Chalarca and Dmitry Logunov during Miami Pride in 2018.The two were holding hands as they left a restroom when they were attacked.

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has interviewed nearly 500 witnesses so far and the AP just reported on some of the latest findings, including what Ivanka Trump allegedly said about Mike Pence hours before the insurrection.According to congressional testimony, after Pence refused to follow Donald Trump‘s orders to reject Electoral College votes on the morning of January 6, 2021, the former first daughter turned to retired Lt.

Allison Kugel on her podcast “Allison Interviews.”“I was booked on [‘The Tonight Show’ with] Johnny Carson in October of 1986 by the show’s talent coordinator,” the “Sex and the City” star began. “When he saw me, he said, ‘Oh my God, you’re amazing! We are going to shape six minutes for you.’ Then he looked at the video again, because he filmed it that night, and he said, ‘You know what? Your comedy has a gay edge to it and I think it’s going to make Johnny nervous, so I’m going to cancel you,’ ” Cantone continued. Elsewhere in the interview, the Massachusetts native also discussed the loss of his onscreen husband and pal, Willie Garson.

Leslie Jordan announced the nominations with the help of “movie fans” in several cities around the US. Some major snubs and surprises kept the announcement interesting, and will no doubt make for some interesting campaigns ahead of the March 27 ceremony.Related: Oscar predictions: Queerty’s top picks for the 2022 Academy Awards nominationsMost notably, the Academy snubbed director Denis Villeneuve for a Best Director nomination, despite Dune landing 10 nominations.Lady Gaga also missed a spot in the Best Actress category for her no-holds-barred performance in House of Gucci, as did previous winner Jennifer Hudson, for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect.