LGBT+ News and Discussions

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Disney announces LGBTQ event night at its California resort immediately after DeSantis threats

The Disneyland resort in California will hold a new LGBTQ-themed event night, according to the company in a tweeted statement on Monday.

"The first-ever Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite is coming to @Disneyland during Pride Month in June!" said the statement. "This separately ticketed event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community & allies will have themed entertainment, Disney characters, specialty menu items & more."

This announcement comes just hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced at a press conference in Lake Buena Vista that he would be pursuing punitive policies against Disney in an escalating feud that began over the company's criticism of his handling of LGBTQ rights.

Among other things, DeSantis suggested he could authorize a state park, a rival amusement park, or even a state prison on the land immediately adjacent to the Walt Disney World resort complex.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/tra ... r-AA19Ysck

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Florida Bill Could Allow Doctors To Deny Care To LGBTQ+ Patients
What a horrible place Florida has become for all sorts of reasons to all types of people. It is not the same Florida that was fun for vacations. They are even trying to totally f*ck up Disney. Imagine, denying medical care to people. What a hellhole.

https://gomag.com/article/florida-bill- ... -patients/

Florida is considering a bill that could allow doctors and insurance companies the right to deny care based on what law-makers are calling “conscience-based objection.” The Florida House Health and Human Services Committee voted to approve the bill early this week, and next it will head to the full house for consideration.

The bill, which is being framed as a means to give providers more freedom, raises concerns that it could allow doctors and insurers to refuse treatment and coverage for minorities — specifically within the LGBTQ+ community.

HB1403 is already being met with criticism and fear, as it further endangers LGBTQ+ affirming care and birth control as well as other treatments that might have religious objections.
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Washington bill would allow transgender medical procedures for minors without parental consent
https://www.kptv.com/2023/04/17/washing ... l-consent/
Published: Apr. 17, 2023 at 3:48 PM PDT|Updated: 5 hours ago

OLYMPIA, Wash. (KPTV) - A Washington state law that would remove parents’ ability to intervene in their children’s medical care in some circumstances cleared the House, paving the road for Gov. Jay Inslee to approve it.

“An act relating to supporting youth,” or Senate Bill 5599, allows host homes for runaway youth “to house youth without parental permission.” Furthermore, the host homes do not need to notify parents about where their kids are or if they are getting medical interventions “if there is a compelling reason not to, which includes a youth seeking protected health services.”

The “protected health care services” included “gender-affirming care,” which for minors arbitrarily included anything prescribed by a doctor to treat dysphoria, the bill obtained by FOX 13 Seattle said.

SEE ALSO: REI to close Pearl District store citing ‘increased crime’

“Gender affirming treatment can be prescribed to two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, and other gender diverse individuals,” the bill stated.

For minors, “affirming care” typically included puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries. It was unclear which services would be approved under the bill.

Shelters can call the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) instead of contacting parents.

Another “compelling reason” not to notify parents about kids staying in a host home was “circumstances that indicate notifying the parent or legal guardian will subject the minor to abuse or neglect.”

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Kansas governor shoots down anti-transgender bills that could involve genital inspections

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a slew of anti-transgender bills, several of which could involve intrusive physical examinations of adults and children to determine their reproductive traits.

In response, one of the state’s top Republicans insinuated Kelly was high.

“Today being 4/20, one must question what the governor was smoking when she made this ludicrous and dangerous decision,” said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, in response to Kelly’s veto of a jail bill that could involve sperm checking inmates.

Kelly, who announced this third round of vetoes Thursday, has repeatedly denounced legislation aimed at disenfranchising LGBTQ Kansans. She vetoed four bills that incorporated some form of a heavily criticized “women’s bill of rights.”

All of the bills are likely to be challenged on constitutional grounds if enacted.

The bills pushed by Kansas Republicans are not unique to the state. Similar legislation has appeared in Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Iowa, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and other states, backed by national faith-based and conservative organizations.

https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/ ... spections/

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Minnesota could soon join these other states in protecting transgender care this year
April 21, 20235:01 AM ET
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/21/11710690 ... d-illinois

At the same time, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland and New Mexico have passed laws designed to protect transgender health care through legal protections, health care coverage and access. Friday, the Minnesota legislature is expected to pass a bill that protects youth and parents who seek health care and the providers that give it.

"We are going to lead on this issue," said Gov. Tim Walz, a second-term Democrat at an LGBTQ rights rally last week. "And I want to make note, not only do you belong here, you are needed here, you're part of the fabric that makes Minnesota the best place in the country to live."

Last year, California passed a similar bill, calling itself a "refuge" state for transgender youth and their families. Also this year, Oregon Democrats are proposing a constitutional amendment to protect care. Washington State and Vermont have their own protective bills.
Minnesota: A final vote Friday

Friday, the Minnesota Senate will vote on a House-approved bill that would prevent state courts or officials from complying with child removal requests, extraditions, arrests or subpoenas related to gender-affirming health care that a person receives or provides in Minnesota.

Physicians who practice gender-affirming care in Minnesota, and families who've sought it out for their transgender children or teenagers, have said the bill would go a long way to ensure that they can continue to access treatment without fear of other states' laws. Some have said they've already seen an uptick in prospective patients from states where their options have been eliminated.

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MN: Senate passes three DFL social issue bills

The Minnesota Senate passed three bills on Friday that fulfill important progressive policy goals: a bill banning “conversion therapy” for minors, which is the medically discredited attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation; a bill that ensures Minnesota will not comply with other states’ laws or subpoenas regarding abortion-related health care; and a bill protecting transgender people from legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota for gender-affirming care.

The three bills have become pillars of the Minnesota DFL’s social issue agenda this session, and the conversion therapy ban is years in the making. The Senate is expected to debate the bills for hours, with many Republican amendments expected.

Around midday on Friday, the Senate passed the conversion therapy bill 36-27, garnering two Republican votes — Sens. Zach Duckworth of Lakeville and Jeremy Miller of Winona.

“People should have the liberties that are guaranteed in our Constitution. People should have the right to self-determination, and the Minnesota people should be free from the laws of other states that would impact and negatively affect all of those basic American rights and freedoms,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who is chief author of the conversion therapy ban.

The bill to ban conversion therapy has been a nearly decade-long effort. The legislation defines conversion therapy as any practice that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It prohibits mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy to people under 18 and vulnerable adults, and prohibits false advertisements about the effectiveness of conversion therapy — which has been widely debunked for years.

https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/se ... sue-bills/

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Florida Pride parade cancelled due to state’s extreme anti-drag bill

Apr 21

A Florida Pride alliance has cancelled its Pride parade and restricted other Pride events to people over 21, in anticipation of Republican governor Ron DeSantis signing a far-reaching anti-drag bill into law.

On Wednesday (19 April), Florida’s House passed Senate Bill 1438 – also known as the Protection of Children law – which could mean that all Pride parades in the state are banned.

In a move that highlights the impact of the bill even before it has been signed into law, the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast cancelled their Pridefest event that was scheduled for this coming weekend.

The alliance posted on Facebook that the decision to cancel the event was made after “multiple meetings” with the Port St. Lucie officials.

“As all of you know, the political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community,” the post read.

“The city has decided that with the likelihood that the governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change."

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/21/ ... -drag-ban/

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Lizzo brings drag queens on stage, protesting Tennessee law
Source: AP

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In a concert Friday night in Knoxville, Tennessee, Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens in a glittery protest against the state’s legislation designed to restrict drag performances in public.

While performing at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Grammy-winning “Juice” singer brought out a number of drag performers, including Aquaria, Kandy Muse, Asia O’Hara and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. On Saturday, Lizzo posted videos on Instagram from the show, including comments to the crowd that referenced the pending law.

In February, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation against “adult cabaret” in public or in front of minors. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law in late March, saying it was too vaguely written. Civil rights groups have criticized the law as a violation of free speech.

The Tennessee law is part of a wider Republican effort to restrict drag shows and other LGBTQ+ public gatherings.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/lizzo-tennes ... 3cca347701