The Rainbow World Fund (RWF) is the only international humanitarian aid group based in and created by the LGBT community. In the wake of the crippling Japanese earthquake and tsunami earlier this month, the organization has established the LGBT Japan Earthquake Fund in order to finance relief efforts for victims of the disaster. RWF seeks…
While many may think first of her stunning beauty or iconic screen performances, Elizabeth Taylor was also a tireless activist for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention – and one of the first celebrities to go public in her efforts to combat the disease. Taylor, who died today at the age of 79, began her crusade against…
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) recognized pro-LGBT pop sensation Lady Gaga at their annual dinner Monday night in Washington D.C. Gaga received the Randy Shilts Visibility Award as a result of her vocal opposition to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy – a protest firmly in keeping with the SLDN’s goals and interests. Although…
In a marked shift from the Bush administration’s largely silent policy concerning anti-LGBT violence and international recognition of gay rights, the Obama administration announced Tuesday that it is committed to fighting against discrimination of gays and lesbians around the world — and called on the U.N. Human Rights Council to do the same. The Los…
The Survey Data Inclusion Act (SB 416), the first bill in the country to include questions of gender identity, same-sex relationship status and sexual orientation in state government surveys, cleared the California Senate Governmental Organization committee 7-5. The historic bill, authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, would require the…
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced its intention to stand with GLAAD and promote anti-bullying messages. The partnership comes after wrestler John Cena made a number of televised comments that many viewers considered anti-gay. Cena’s comments, made in the context of the program WWE Raw, included negative implications of homosexuality in reference to Dwayne “The…
Recent controversy over a so-called “gay cure” app from Exodus International has sparked a response from the University of Minnesota pediatrics professor whose research was used in developing the app. According to PCMag.com, the scientist in question, Dr. Gary Ramafedi, has contacted Apple and demanded that they remove the application from the App Store. Ramafedi…
Former SNL star and 30 Rock creator Tina Fey fielded a string of “what if” questions during Andy Cohen’s gay quiz at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York. According to New York Magazine’s Vulture blog, Fey teamed up with Cohen, the openly gay host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live program, to put on…
Amsterdam has always been a mecca for liberal minded, tolerance-seeking individuals. And while the city has enjoyed its distinction as the ‘Gay Capital of the World’ for almost a decade, recent anti-gay violence has somewhat tarnished that image. Despite Holland’s landmark passage of equal civil rights for gays and lesbians back in 2001, Amsterdam has…
On Wednesday, Representative Barney Frank (D) stated that he anticipates the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will be introduced into the House within a matter of days. But will this important act be passed by the House? Frank remains skeptical while others remain hopeful. ENDA prohibits job bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity in…
