Support builds as LGBTQ groups call on Orange County to ban conversion therapy

By : Jeremy Williams
August 7, 2019
Comments: 0
ABOVE: (L-R) Heather Wilkie, Andrew Chang and Eric Rollings are among the community leaders helping to ban conversion therapy in Orange County. (Photo by Jeremy Williams)

ORLANDO | A petition calling for the ban of so-called gay conversion therapy for minors in Orange County has been launched on the website Change.org.

The petition, which can be found at ConvertToLove.org, has the support of local, state and national LGBTQ organizations including Equality Florida, Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA), One Orlando Alliance, The Trevor Project and the Zebra Coalition.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Petition launched in Central Florida demands Orange County ban conversion therapy
One Orlando Alliance to host community discussion on LGBTQ homelessness
We look back on 2018, a midterm year for a country that’s just living on a prayer

‘Andi Mack’ star Joshua Rush comes out as bisexual

By : Mariah Cooper OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
August 6, 2019
Comments: 0
ABOVE: Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman on ‘Andi Mack.’ (Screenshot via Twitter)

Actor Joshua Rush has come out as bisexual.

The 17-year-old actor is best known for his portrayal of Cyrus Goodman on the Disney Channel series “Andi Mack.” Cyrus is the first openly gay main character on the Disney Channel.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Bandwagon builds for LGBTQ diversity on children’s TV
‘Andi Mack’ introduces first gay romance on Disney Channel
Disney Channel’s ‘Andi Mack’ character comes out in historic storyline

Petition launched in Central Florida demands Orange County ban conversion therapy

By : Jeremy Williams
July 26, 2019
Comments: 0

ORLANDO | A petition calling for the ban of so-called gay conversion therapy for minors in Orange County, Florida has been launched on the website Change.org.

The petition, which can be found at ConvertToLove.org, has the support of local, state and national LGBTQ organizations including Equality Florida, The Trevor Project, Zebra Coalition, Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA) and One Orlando Alliance.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

One Orlando Alliance to host community discussion on LGBTQ homelessness
We look back on 2018, a midterm year for a country that’s just living on a prayer
Watermark’s Most Remarkable People of 2017

Southern Nights Orlando to host holiday benefit for The Trevor Project

By : Jeremy Williams
December 12, 2018
Comments: 0

ORLANDO | Southern Nights Orlando hosts the 11th annual Broadway Christmas cabaret, presented by Kai’ja Adonis and Jose Marrero and benefiting The Trevor Project, Dec. 20.

Adonis and Marrero began Broadway Christmas in the mid-2000s after they lost a friend to suicide.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Legendary performer Joel Grey headlines the Garden Theatre’s 10-year anniversary celebration
Broadway’s “Fun Home” cast sets benefit for Pulse victims
Dr. Philips Center announces sophomore season Orlando Broadway series

Ryan Murphy creates fund to vote out ‘anti-LGBTQ’ candidates

By : Staff Reports OF THE WASHINGTON BLADE, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION
December 5, 2018
Comments: 0

The Trevor Project hosted its 2018 TrevorLIVE Los Angeles gala Sunday night, Dec. 2, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in a star-studded event that raised over $1.5 million.

The event was hosted by popular YouTuber Eugene Lee Yang, a writer, director, actor and video producer.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Janet Mock becomes first trans woman of color to direct and write a TV episode
Ryan Murphy planning #MeToo anthology series on Spacey, Weinstein
Obama first U.S. president to pose for the cover of LGBT publication

Florida leads nation, introduces bill to end conversion therapy in 2019 legislative session

By : Ryan Williams-Jent
November 30, 2018
Comments: 0

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Florida became the first state nationwide to introduce legislation to end conversion therapy in the 2019 legislative session Nov. 21.

State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat who represents Florida’s 37th district in Miami-Dade, introduced Senate Bill 84 (SB 84) to protect LGBTQ youth from the discredited practice.  Conversion therapy purports to change a child’s sexual orientation and gender identity using “psychological or spiritual intervention.” It is widely opposed by prominent health associations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Pastor Protection Act Florida
Pastor Protection Act headed to Florida Senate for a vote
Equality Florida passes on Jacksonville gay candidate
Leon County commission unanimously approves DPR

Stripes removed from Pride Flag in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day

By : Christen Kelley
September 10, 2018
Comments: 0

World Suicide Prevention Day is Sept. 10, and is aimed at raising awareness to the prevalence of suicide as well as ways to help prevent it.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 24, with LGB youth being five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth, according to The Trevor Project. The Williams Institute reports that nearly half of transgender and gender non-conforming youth ages 18-24 have attempted suicide.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Denmark to revise blood donation laws in 2019
“It Gets Better” hopes to help eliminate LGBTQ teen bullying and suicide with song and hope
italy italians gay lgbt
Tens of thousands anti-gay Italians protest marriage equality

UCF journalism students compile a list of common — and some not so well-known — sexual orientation and gender identity terms

By : Colton Adkins, Jeremy Brener, Layla Ferris and Kathy Ruiz
August 30, 2018
Comments: 0

The cultivation of proper terminology helps educate both the LGBTQ community and the cishet (an abbreviation of the term cisgender heterosexual) community about the identities that not everyone may have heard or may not understand. In the past, coming out as gay took so much courage and demanded even more understanding. Now that same-sex couples can get married and transgender individuals feel more comfortable being themselves, the newer gender and sexual identities fall into even more categories—everything from the ace spectrum to being a completely sexual person have so many nuances.

The terms in this glossary are important because education is essential for progress. Members of these smaller groups still feel marginalized from within the LGBTQ community. As murders and other crimes increase in the United States against the transgender community, it is important that more people seek understanding in their identities. Have you ever heard a term and been confused by it? This glossary will hopefully help you define and understand the term.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Study finds aging harder for LGBT people
Christie approves law to give schools transgender policy guidance

John Oliver spoofs Pence picture book about bunny, tops best seller list

By : Wire and Staff Reports
March 20, 2018
Comments: 0

NEW YORK (AP) — John Oliver has trolled his way to the top.

The HBO host’s spoof of a new picture book by the wife and daughter of Vice President Mike Pence was No. 1 on Amazon.com and out of stock as of midday March 19.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Nico Tortorella gets candid about polyamorous relationship with lesbian partner
RuPaul covers Entertainment Weekly Pride issue
Magic Johnson gives advice for parents with gay kids

“It Gets Better” hopes to help eliminate LGBTQ teen bullying and suicide with song and hope

By : Jeremy Williams
February 22, 2017
Comments: 0

TAMPA – Suicide is the leading cause of death among LGBTQ young people in the U.S., according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of suicide attempts is four times greater for LGBTQ youth than their straight counterparts, and many of these cases have been the result of bullying.

Statistics like these have lead to the creation of organizations such as The Trevor Project, Stomp Out Bullying and the It Gets Better Project, the latter of which is traveling the country with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and Speak Theater Arts and holding educational workshops to help curb the epidemic of bullying and LGBT teen suicide. The group will visit Tampa the fourth week of March.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

YouTube star pleads guilty to vandalism in false report case
Nearly 50 honor the memory of Leelah Alcorn in St. Petersburg
Re-election was even sweeter for Largo’s Michael Smith

CDC: Gay high school students raped, attacked far more often

By : Wire Report
August 11, 2016
Comments: 0

NEW YORK (AP) – Gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students are far more likely than their classmates to be raped or assaulted in a dating situation, according to the first national survey of its kind.

The research also found gay teens were far more likely to have attempted suicide, taken illegal drugs and engaged in other risky behaviors.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

Republican lawmaker proposes ban on LGBT conversion therapy
transgender restroom gender-identity
New policy in Oregon schools helps transgender students
Iowa Catholic school allows gay-straight club

Actor and activist James Lecesne celebrates difference

By : Wire Report
July 28, 2015
Comments: 0

NEW YORK (AP) – During a recent interview in an empty midtown theater, James Lecesne is heckled – by his phone.

The writer and actor who co-founded The Trevor Project, a youth suicide prevention program, stirs in his seat and inadvertently launches Siri, the voice assistant on his smartphone.

Continue Reading >>

Posts Related to this Article

pride school lgbt gay students atlanta
First LGBT private school set to open in Atlanta
transgender restroom gender-identity
Transgender student fights for right to use boys’ restroom in rural Virginia town
Orlando performer claims mistreatment by healthcare facility after suicide attempt