AUSTIN, Texas — Humans have used symbols to communicate since the first hominids scratched pictograms onto cave walls. But in the thoroughly modern age of emojis, commonly available images just don’t fit every user. That’s why a trio of creative Austinites developed Gaymoji — a new app featuring a series of emoticons designed by and…
In 1990, same-sex marriage wasn’t even a blip on our cultural radar and men and women were barred from openly serving in the United States military. In 1990, in Eastern Europe, former Communist strongholds were collapsing with dizzying speed and the year’s Best Picture was Driving Miss Daisy. And in 1990, 25 years ago, a…
U2’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, has come under fire, yet again, only this time it’s neither from their fans nor their critics. A Russian Duma deputy has accused one of the world’s biggest rock bands of distributing “gay propaganda,” a consequence of their 2014 album cover which shows the band’s drummer, Larry Mullen Jr,…
Miley Cyrus officially launched her non-profit organization The Happy Hippie today, with a mission to rally young people to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBT youth and other vulnerable populations. Cyrus launched the organization with a video of her and Joan Jett performing “Different.” Posting on Facebook Cyrus wrote, “Officially launching The Happy Hippie Foundation…
By any measure, OUT at the Park 2015 was a huge success. I rode the beautifully refurbished vintage trolley to the event and quickly found the tailgate party. I was greeted by Pride Director of Development, Sarafina Scapicchio, and she handed me tickets for the game, as well as complimentary food and drinks. She introduced…
The new documentary Kumu Hina premieres tonight on PBS’ Independent Lens. The film follows Hina Wong-Kalu, a transgender native Hawaiian teacher and cultural icon for Hawaii’s mahu (those who embody both a male and female spirit). As Hina plans the school’s final all-boy hula performance, she meets mahu sixth-grader Ho’onanani who is navigating the mixed…
Smith College, the largest of the all-female Seven Sisters schools, has announced that the school’s Board of Trustees “voted to clarify Smith’s undergraduate admission policy to include self-identified transgender women.” In a statement posted on its Web site, Smith College President Kathleen McCartney wrote, “The board’s decision affirms Smith’s unwavering mission and identity as a…
It’s been sixteen years since Ellen DeGeneres’ onscreen persona leaned across an airport PA system and announced to the world, “I’m gay,” writes Eric Cameron on the HRC Blog. “The Puppy Episode” of Ellen aired April 30, 1997, and featured Oprah Winfrey as Ellen’s therapist, Laura Dern as Ellen’s crush Susan, and a brief cameo…
Airbnb has removed a Texas property from its listings after the host reportedly kicked out a couple for being gay. The Huffington Post reported that Jonathan Wang told KTRK-TV that he and his partner, Brent, booked two nights at the home in Galveston for a friend’s wedding. The home’s owner, identified in media reports simply…
NEW YORK, N.Y. – GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, have announced it will honor actress and Emmy Award-winning talk show host Kelly Ripa at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York at the Waldorf Astoria New York on May 9, 2015. Ripa will receive GLAAD’s Excellence…
