ConnexionThe right rages at “gay” Superbowl show, VA will vote on marriage & the rainbow flag rises again
The federal government forced the National Stonewall Memorial to take down its Pride flag. Days later, activists and Democrats raised the Pride flag again.
Why they took it down: The current administration has a rule that “only the U.S. flag and other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are flown on National Park Service-managed flagpoles.” Rules that ban other flags from flying on government property are often formulated to target LGBTQ+ Pride flags since those tend to be the only flags that upset certain people who are more likely to complain about flags.
Why it matters: As NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin said: “Stonewall is a sacred site in this city. It is sacred ground for civil rights and sacred ground for the LGBTQ community.”
Trump administration rages as activists & Dems re-raise rainbow flag at Stonewall monument
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Bad Bunny headlined a queer-inclusive Super Bowl Halftime Show that caused right-wingers to rage all week
Some queer moments from the performance: LGBTQ+ musicians Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin sang while out rapper Cardi B and LGBTQ+ ally Pedro Pascal danced in the background. Also, the performance was so gay that one Republican demanded a congressional investigation into the “explicit displays of gay sexual acts” during the show.
Why it matters: Visibility always matters, and it’s needed even more now as many media organizations have reduced LGBTQ+ representation.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was queer-inclusive — and he didn’t even have to wear a dress
Virginia’s governor sends pro-marriage equality constitutional amendment to voters
What the amendment does: It removes language banning marriage quality from the state’s constitution. This is both for symbolic reasons and in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision that legalized marriage equality nationwide.
Why it matters: Not only is it important for states to get their constitutions in order for various “what if” scenarios, but voters in Virginia could have a chance to do something positive for LGBTQ+ people this fall.
Virginia governor gives voters a chance to erase their state’s anti-marriage amendment
Over half the Fortune 500 companies that participated in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index dropped out this year
Why did they leave: Many of the companies that participated in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which rates their policies on LGBTQ+ employees, have federal contracts. The current administration has denounced such measures that promote diversity, and businesses that seek to curry favor with the president may have been inclined to stop working with HRC.
Why it matters: We are in the middle of a backslide against LGBTQ+ equality, and it’s bigger than just federal policy. It also includes the workplace, where over half of workers say that their employers have publicly scaled back their diversity efforts in the past year, according to a new HRC survey.
More than half of Fortune 500 companies dropped out of a critical LGBTQ+ survey this year
Indiana stops letting trans people correct the gender markers on their driver’s licenses
What happened: The state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles put up a notice on its website saying that it would no longer allow corrections to driver’s licenses that involve a change of gender marker with a court order or a physician’s statement.
Why it matters: Not only does this harm trans people in Indiana, but it’s also only the fourth state to completely ban trans people from getting correct ID documents. Over the last decade, transphobes have largely focused on bathrooms and then on gender-affirming care for trans youth and sports teams, while few states have shown much interest in going after documentation.
Indiana BMV bans trans people from correcting drivers licenses
This week’s pictures
People protested at the National Stonewall Monument after the administration took down the rainbow flag. They raised it again yesterday, but it’s unclear how long it will remain up.
Here are some more great queer and trans reads
Contributor Joshua Mackey draws links between historical events, highlighting Black people’s contributions to HIV/AIDS activism in this month’s LGBTQ Nation Cover Story.
These 3 lessons from the AIDS epidemic show how Black communities can combat HIV under Trump
Deputy Editor Molly Sprayregen talked to trans Minnesota state Rep. Leigh Finke (D) about what’s going on on the ground in her state, what it’s like for queer and trans people during the federal occupation of their city.
Minneapolis is still aching. Trans state Rep. Leigh Finke says America must not look away.
Columnist John Gallagher explains how Democrats need to stop trying to present themselves as the moderate adults in the room and start having some passion and authenticity.
Democrats keep chasing moderation, doubling down on their past failures
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