The Guardian has a break-down of gay rights by state: see where your state stands.
Eight months after Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’s repeal took effect, the first openly gay cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduated this week.
President Obama gave the commencement address at the graduation in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Wednesday. Officials from the Blue Alliance, an LGBT Air Force Academy alumni group, said there were at least four openly LGBT people in this year’s graduating class.
“We can say with confidence and pride: The United States is stronger, safer and more respected in the world,” Obama said. “There’s a new feeling about America. I see it everywhere I go, from London and Prague, to Tokyo and Seoul, to Rio and Jakarta. There’s a new confidence in our leadership.”
So exciting! Congratulations to them.
2012 Lesbian and Gay Rights in the World Maps
Maps from: IGLA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)
For larger images, click on direct post and then click images.
NEW YORK — President Barack Obama reaffirmed his support of LGBT rights during Barnard College’s commencement address on Monday.
“No matter who you love or what God you love, you can still pursue your own happiness,” he told the nearly 600 graduates who gathered on Columbia University’s South Lawn after referencing the 1969 Stonewall riots. “I will be with you every step of the way.”
Follow link for full article.
The National LGBT Cancer Network, an organization advocating for LGBT cancer survivors and more competent cancer care for LGBT people, has expanded its directory of LGBT-friendly cancer screening facilities.
The directory helps people to locate facilities that welcome LGBT patients into a safe, affordable and sensitive environment. The updated directory includes facilities in more than 40 states and Washington, D.C., and its creators say they’ll keep working at it until “every LGBT person in the country is within driving range of a safe and welcoming facility where they will be respected.”
More details from Queerty:
The directory is particularly essential to trans patients, who frequently face discrimination in medical services. (One out of five transgender patients has been turned away by a healthcare provider.) Even compassionate doctors may not be aware of relevant data or necessary tests. For example, estrogen therapy and breast implants may affect incidents of breast cancer in trans woman, while trans men may be hesitant to undergo mammograms or breast-cancer screenings in the first place.
Acknowledging that LGBT patients are disproportionately likely to be uninsured, the directory also includes information on facilities that do not require health insurance.
This is important. If you know someone who could use services like these, pass it on - and don’t forget to get yourself checked out regularly.
Our son was allowed to watch the parts of the episode concerning the trans character. Why? Because there is nothing inappropriate about the existence of transgender people, and no reason that they should be hidden from him.
We even had to have a conversation about it:
Son: Why is that boy dressed like a girl?
Me: Well, some boys like to wears girls’ clothes because they think it’s fun. And some boys, like this one, feel like they are girls on the inside, so they are more happy and comfortable in girls’ clothes.
Son, after thinks for a minute: I’m a boy on the outside and the inside.
Me: That’s great, baby, but some people are different, and that’s great, too.
Son: OK. [After a minute] Mom?
Me: Yeah, baby?
Son: Do we have any cookies?
Follow link for full op-ed.
