Chris Gallant, an openly gay and self-described “kinky” Democratic congressional candidate challenging Republican incumbent Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional District, is responding like it “ain’t no thang” after old BDSM-themed modelling photographs of him resurfaced in the media. The photographs were taken around 2010 for Mr. S Leather, a fetish apparel company, during […]
Reproductive Rights and Healthcare on the Ballot
In the upcoming November mid-term elections in the U.S., voters in three states (Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia) will vote on measures meant to protect abortion rights while voters in one state (Missouri) will vote on an anti-abortion measure that would undo the right to reproductive freedom previously established by a state ballot measure. The Guttmacher […]
Are Democrats Retreating on Trans Issues?
American Academic and trans rights activist, Dorian Rhea Debussy, recently explored how some Democratic candidates ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections are distancing themselves from transgender rights to appeal to moderate and undecided voters. Candidates in states such as Texas and Ohio have adopted more conservative positions on issues including transgender participation in school […]
Gay Bar in Taipei Raided Ahead of Pride Parade
On October 3, 2026 in the late afternoon around 30 Taipei police officers conducted a raid on Commander D, an established BDSM-themed gay bar in the Ximending district on the island of Taiwan. Law enforcement detained 51 patrons and arrested the bar owner over alleged public decency violations. Authorities have been criticized for aggressive actions: […]
Baby Steps for LGBTQ Legal Reform in Hungary
In the post-Orban era in Hungary, some rights that were stripped under Orban are being restored. Hungarian lawmakers voted to remove anti-LGBTQ provisions that were included in a 2021 law that were intended to protect children. “Fundamentally, our goal was to move away from a flawed paradigm, linking child protection in any way to sexual […]
Seattle Expands Its List of Protected Sexualities and Family Forms
Seattle’s City Council unanimously passed civil rights protections for people in polyamorous and consensually non-monogamous relationships,making Seattle the largest U.S. city to adopt such protections. Other West Coast cities, such as Olympia, Portland, Oakland, and West Hollywood have already adopted similar ordinances. Seattle’s new law prohibits discrimination based on relationship structure in areas including employment, […]
Global Challenges to Queer Rights are Escalating
An Outright International Survey found that US foreign-aid cuts have disproportionately harmed LGBTIQ organizations in countries where queer people face the most severe repression, discrimination, and violence. Specifically, Outright report notes that 203 of 229 organizations across 94 countries had lost funding following the Trump administration’s cuts in 2025, with nearly half losing at least […]
Barriers to Gender Affirming Care Can Exist in Blue States Too
Massachusetts has committed to preserving access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth after the Trump administration barred federal Medicaid funding for such treatment for people under 18. The state will draw on its $8.5 million Affirming Health Care Trust to help cover treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for MassHealth recipients. About 550 Massachusetts […]
The Bulwarks of Democracy, Bullied
As public facing workers, librarians are resourceful and well-educated heroes who – especially in urban areas – find themselves assisting marginalized and vulnerable populations who may find themselves with limited options regarding where they are allowed to exist. In addition to this sort of social work, librarians are also crucial actors in democracies, defending free […]
The Fight to End FDM
The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been around for at least 2000 years and was believed to ensure women’s virginity and reduce female desire. Although the practice is dangerous and unnecessary, the fight to end FGM is difficult because it is still engrained in some cultures and based on religious beliefs or ideas […]