Main image courtesy of Bloomberg. By Madison O'Connell Since the 2000s, queer media has been on a serious journey of improvement. The TV screen was once a place where harmful jokes and slurs were said in a casual sense, with no regard for the damage they could cause impressionable youth. But things have changed— queer… Continue reading LGBTQ media representation is breaking barriers and saving lives
Main image courtesy of Mother Jones. By Evelina Torres Having already faced 147 anti-trans bills across the country last year, the trans community and their allies have had enough with transphobic rhetoric that fuels the creation and passing of dangerous bills. From “bathroom bills” preventing trans kids from using their correct restroom to banning trans… Continue reading Pandering to a Refusal of Facts: How Republicans are Putting Trans Kids’ Lives at Risk
Originally published via National Coalition Against Censorship. By Cameron Samuels When Jerry Craft’s New Kid was banned from school libraries in Katy, Texas earlier this year for “pervasively vulgar” content, I defended his book and advocated against this inexplicable censorship. After that, school board meetings in Texas only intensified. After months of persistent demands for intellectual freedom being outnumbered… Continue reading Texas Students Distribute BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Books During ‘FReadom Week’ Initiative: Student Perspective
Main image courtesy of United Food and Commercial Workers Union. By Aarushi Pant Today is March 31, 2022, which is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV). For many people who aren’t part of the LGBTQ community, and even for some who are, TDoV isn’t something that they’re familiar with. However, with increasing violence against LGBTQ folks,… Continue reading Making Transgender Day of Visibility Meaningful
Main image courtesy of Teaching LGBTQ History. By Madison O'Connell There’s no question that media shapes the minds of its viewers, and this is especially the case when the viewers are highly impressionable youth. A deciding factor in the ideals and beliefs that are developed in the teenage years is the media. Whether it's Instagram,… Continue reading The Growth of Queer Portrayals in Media
Main image courtesy of Vanity Fair. By Aarushi Pant The belief that gender is a strict male-female binary is a commonly-held one, but recently, people have been pushing back at the “traditional” concept of the gender, and even sex, binaries. The idea that gender is a spectrum, rather than a binary, has been around since… Continue reading The False Idea of the Gender Binary
By Sandhya Maddali Last week, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was held in Orlando, Florida. The three-day convention featured a slew of speakers, many of whom have very anti-LGBTQ+ histories, and they doubled down on homophobia in their speeches. Ted Cruz, who has previously voiced his support for a ban on same-sex marriage, opened… Continue reading Blatant Queerphobia at CPAC
By Ethan Jiang Last week, a confirmation hearing for one of the Biden Administration’s lesser-known nominees erupted into fireworks. In the widely publicized incident, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) aggressively questioned Dr. Rachel Levine, a Biden pick for the Department of Health and Human Services, about the impact of hormone blockers, gender-affirming hormones, and “genital mutilation”… Continue reading Who is Rachel Levine, Groundbreaking Health Official?
By Aarushi Pant Finding an artist whose identity and experiences align with your own can be a daunting task, especially when you’re part of the LGBTQ community. However, there are more LGBTQ artists and musicians than ever whose voice and words may speak to fellow members of the community. Below is a brief list of… Continue reading LGBTQ artists that deserve a spot on your next playlist
By Ishika Bhatia via Immigain Ever since my freshman year, I’ve gone to Kona Roastery to study or work on projects. The environment is so stimulating and the staff is so sweet and welcoming. Their coffee is even made from coffee beans that are grown in their very own shop! Talking to the manager, Kaitlyn,… Continue reading Support Local and Minority-Run Businesses
By Sofia Pham As 2020 draws to a close, it doesn’t take much scrutiny to realize the toll this year has taken on the LGBTQ community. From the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to the loss of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September, activists and communities across the world became eager for… Continue reading 2020: Milestones for the LGBTQ community this year
By Sandhya Maddali India has a very rich and long history beginning with ancient societies like the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Not much is known about early views on homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community in these civilizations, but with the emergence of the Vedic age came ancient Hindu texts which contained references to homosexuality and the… Continue reading A History of the LGBTQ Community in India
By Ethan Jiang On June 26, 2015, the White House was illuminated in rainbow hues, with the familiar eggshell facade transformed into a shining beacon. The move, a celebration of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that effectively legalized gay marriage, became a symbol for the Obama Administration’s acceptance of and advocacy… Continue reading An Ally in the White House?
By Talia Porter I remember being six and having a crush on two boys at the same time, one on each side of me during my classes. That was the first time I remember being confronted with the idea that being monogamous was unsuitable for me, and in my early teenage years, I learned that… Continue reading Is being Poly the same thing as being LGBTQ?
By Ishika Bhatia via Immigain As a seventeen year old girl preparing for her future, I am often told that hard work pays off in the end. However, statistics tell a different story. Historically, women have not been fairly compensated for their work due to deep-rooted gender bias. Whether or not gender discrimination in the… Continue reading Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
By Aarushi Pant Recently, the sharing of pronouns on social media platforms, virtual meetings, and other online events has become more mainstream and normalized, and rightfully so. However, if you’re new to this practice, you’re not alone, and it can be confusing at first. Gender identity in general can be complex and it’s a difficult… Continue reading A Guide to Respecting Pronouns and Gender Identity
By In an article by Durham College titled “Misgendering, a Not So Silent Killer," Sid MacIsaac, a student of Durham College, is nonbinary, and therefore uses the pronouns they/them rather than he/him. The director of their camp, Kevin tries to reassure Sid when he’s experiencing an anxiety attack, but ends up doing the exact opposite.… Continue reading The Importance of Pronouns and Naming to Gender Identity
By Talia Porter Many LGBTQ+ folk feel pressure to come out in today's society, and although it can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience for some, others may find it incredibly stressful or dangerous. Every LGBTQ+ person thinks about what it will be like, how it will feel, and how the people who find out… Continue reading Coming to Terms with Coming Out
By Sofia Pham Troubled Blood - it’s been in headlines since its release on Sep. 15, although the attention has been anything but positive. JK Rowling’s new novel is the fifth installment of the Cormoran Strike series published under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Recently it’s triggered an onslaught of criticism from both fans and activists… Continue reading What JK Rowling’s New Book Means for the Transgender Community
By Aarushi Pant, originally published by the National Youth Association When it comes to many social justice causes — such as LGBTQ rights, feminism, racial equality, and economic justice — youth are typically discouraged from speaking out and leading movements. Even historically, the majority of progressive movements were led by older individuals who supposedly had… Continue reading Ageism in the Realm of Social Justice
By Sandhya Maddali Though one may not align fully with all of a candidate’s platforms, it is still important to educate ourselves on their stances on a variety of issues. The issue of LGBTQ+ rights in particular seems to be quite polarizing, and the best way to get a real gauge of a candidate's views… Continue reading 2020 Presidential Views on LGBTQ Rights
By Aarushi Pant Looking at the history of social justice movements in the United States makes it clear that most movements that were considered radical during their times tended to still focus only on the needs of white people or men, while excluding women or those of color, in their goals and efforts. For instance,… Continue reading Social Justice, Intersectionality and the LGBTQ Movement
By Sofia Pham The Half of It Synopsis: Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a gifted but introverted girl who helps her father run a local train station, operates a side business where she writes her classmates’ essay papers. When school jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) asks her to write love letters to a girl he likes,… Continue reading 5 LGBTQ Netflix Recomendations to Keep You Busy During Quarantine
By Ethan Jiang In recent months, countries across the world have taken a stand against gay conversion therapy. Leading the charge are Israel and Germany, which have both passed legislation to criminalize the practice. For Israel, a leader in LGBTQ acceptance in the Middle East, the move comes on the heels of remarks made last… Continue reading Global Tide Turns Against Conversion Therapy, US Lags Behind
By Shalini Kumar via Immigain The Black Lives Matter movement has been ongoing since 2013 but has arguably had the most momentum since its upbringing following the death of George Floyd. Since then protests springing from the root of the issue - Minneapolis, Minnesota to all fifty states and even crossing the borders to Syria,… Continue reading Why POC should be an ally to the BLM movement
By Catherine Basil Computer science, mathematical biology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence as we know them today would not exist without the great contributions of renowned mathematician and scientist Alan Turing, who was also a member of the LGBTQ community. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Turing took an interest in math and science… Continue reading Alan Turing: How a Gay Man Revolutionized Technology
By Talia Porter Looking back at your childhood, what are some of your earliest memories? Are they playing with pink or blue toys? What about dressing in flowers or car patterns? Were you described as daddy or mommy’s princess or were you their rascal? Our first memories often have an impact on us and can… Continue reading A Step Towards Abolishing Gender Reveal Parties
By Sandhya Maddali In the midst of Pride Month and on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, the US Department of Health and Human Services enacted a change to Section 1557, effectively removing protections for trans and gender non-conforming people. Section 1557 is a portion of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 that… Continue reading Trump Administration Ruling Allows for Transgender and Non-binary Discrimination in Healthcare
By Sofia Pham In a landmark decision Monday morning, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to ban LGBTQ employment discrimination. The decision specifically addressed the cases of two gay men and one transgender woman who had sued their employers on the basis of discrimination after being fired. Bostock v. Clayton County involved the termination of George… Continue reading Supreme Court outlaws discrimination against LGBTQ workers
By Lillian Spiller Since the legalization of gay marriage in the United States during the summer of 2015, there has been an increasingly prevalent belief that rights for the LGBTQ community have been realized. However, rights for the community still have a long way to go. Homosexuality, for instance, is still punishable by death in… Continue reading Why LGBTQ rights still have a long way to go
By Amber Kaul Although the Indian Supreme Court finally ruled in favor of decriminalizing homosexuality in 2018, LGBTQ+ topics remain controversial in Indian popular culture. Specifically, Bollywood has a long history of ridiculing LGBTQ characters, usually gay men or hijras. In recent years, however, the portrayal of LGBTQ relationships and issues has improved in Indian… Continue reading LGBTQ representation in mainstream Indian media
spectrum's first newsletter highlights our articles from this month and announces the opening of writer applications! Click the link below to view it and to subscribe for future updates. Let's raise awareness of LGBTQ issues and fight for social justice and equality! https://us19.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=08f7782044048cd7f6275178b&id=775668d8d5
spectrum writer applications are open now until June 5! Applications are open to anyone and everyone who has a passion for writing, social justice, and advocacy! Writers are only responsible for publishing one article every two months. Leadership positions will be available, and this is an incredible opportunity to develop communication skills, learn more about… Continue reading spectrum writer applications are now open!
By For years, the LGBTQ+ community has lacked and still lacks the representation given to other groups – but author and journalist Allen Young sought to change that. In an interview with The Advocate, Young discusses his memoir “Left, Gay, and Green.” Young reveals that he came out as gay as a teenager and “lamented… Continue reading Allen Young and the Gay Rights Movement
By Ethan Jiang Pixar’s “Onward,” a charming film about a pair of adventurous elves, recently topped the box office for the second weekend in a row. However, its first-place finish is somewhat deceiving; ticket sales plummeted that week because of coronavirus fears. Just as one statistic fails to paint a full picture, the whole story… Continue reading LGBTQ censorship marches “Onward”
By Sofia Pham June 25, 1978. San Francisco. A then 27-year-old Gilbert Baker was stationed in the attic of the San Francisco Gay Community Center, soaking eight fabric strips in trash cans filled with vibrant dye. Hot pink for sex. Red for life. Orange for healing. Yellow for the sun. Green for nature. Turquoise for… Continue reading The Making of the Pride Flag
By Naomi Canny Through the years Marvel Comics has created a diverse array of characters that range in powers and backgrounds. Despite the media’s strictly heterosexual portrayal of the Marvel characters, many LGBTQ+ characters were introduced in the comics. The first openly gay Marvel character was Northstar from the X-Men series, who was first introduced… Continue reading Valkyrie: The First LGBTQ Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
By Sofia Pham High school junior Katie Vierling, at just 17 years old, is a local leader - she’s found herself as president of the growing community of LGBT teens at Seven Lakes High School. The SLHS Pride Club, according to Vierling, garners around 15 members per weekly meeting. Although they’re a small organization, their… Continue reading The impact of a high school Pride Club
By Sofia Pham January 1 - Same-sex marriage legalized in Austria. January 25 - New York becomes the 15th state to ban the use of conversion therapy on minos following a bill signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. February 1 - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signs legislation requiring public schools to include contributions by LGBT… Continue reading 2019: Milestones for the LGBTQ community this year
By Josue Bello On June 26, 2015, same sex marriage was legalized in the United States. To many, the law was a new hope, an opportunity to finally be happy and to have the equal opportunity of a future with someone without having to hide it. However, this wasn't the case for all communities. Smaller… Continue reading A community moving towards LGBT acceptance
By This summer, fans anxiously awaited the return of a much loved Netflix series, Stranger Things, which came out with its third season on July 4. In this season, viewers got some insight on what it’s like for the kids of Hawkins when they finally get a break from school. Fans also got meet new… Continue reading Stranger Things introduces first queer character
By Aarushi Pant and Sofia Pham The Trump administration has overturned an Obama-era rule that prevented discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, allowing for faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to deny services to LGBT families. The proposed rule, released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), would enable… Continue reading Trump administration proposes rule allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT couples
By Grace Marra This August, the decision of the state of Illinois to join California, New Jersey, and Colorado in mandating the inclusion of LGBT history in public school curriculums, starting in 2020, has sparked much debate. Some who oppose this new legislation argue that the time in history classes devoted to the historical contributions… Continue reading The importance of LGBT history in schools
By Ethan Jiang Back in 2008, the Central American nation of Ecuador made a dramatic stride towards protecting the environment by revising its constitution to include articles that protected the rights of nature. With these provisions, citizens can bring lawsuits that name ecosystems themselves as defendants. Unfortunately, Ecuador’s regard for nature has failed to extend… Continue reading Igual en Ecuador: Inside Ecuador’s LGBT+ Rights Struggle
By Sofia Pham *Name has been changed to protect the identity of the subject. An invitation to the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin. A foundational high school plan focusing on cuisine. For a 12 year old boy in Aldine, Texas, becoming a chef was a one-way ticket out of a home with an… Continue reading Freeze Frame: Inside the Lives of the LGBT Homeless in Houston’s Busy Streets
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