1st female sailor completes Navy special warfare training
For the first time, a female sailor has successfully completed the grueling 37-week training course to become a Naval Special Warfare combatant-craft crewman. Those are the boat operators that transport Navy SEALs and conduct their own missions at sea.
Museum of Chinese in America reopens with anti-Asian racism exhibit
The museum dedicated to telling Chinese American history is reopening to the public with an exhibit on Asian Americans and racism that it curated partially during the pandemic and a surge of anti-Asian bias incidents around the country.
Group asks public to help change offensive name of moth
Bug experts want to change the common name of the gypsy moth because it's considered an ethnic slur and they're asking the public to help them.
President Biden to give speech on voting rights in Philadelphia Tuesday
President Joe Biden will be visiting Philadelphia next week to 'deliver remarks on actions to protect the sacred, constitutional right to vote,' according to a White House press release issued Friday.
The future American LGBTQ+ Museum finds a home in Manhattan
The New-York Historical Society has featured a number of LGBTQ+ exhibits, making it a natural fit to host a separate museum devoted entirely to the history and stories.
Supreme Court limits reach of Voting Rights Act
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that evidence that a law suppresses minority votes is not, by itself, enough to prove a violation under the Voting Rights Act.
July 4, Juneteenth and the meaning of national holidays
We set our calendars around national holidays — from December 25 for Christmas to July 4 for Independence Day, and, starting this year, June 19 for Juneteenth. But national holidays, even for the country's founding, didn't start until the United States was nearly 100 years old.
San Francisco DA mandates use of preferred pronouns to show dignity and respect
The San Francisco policy also requires prosecutors to ask the defense which pronouns should be used for anyone accused of a crime.
House votes to remove Confederate, pro-slavery statues from US Capitol
The House has approved a bill to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol.
Times Square billboard ads shine light on growing anti-Semitism
A massive billboard in Times Square is displaying messages from JewBelong, a nonprofit that launched the campaign to spark conversations.
France legalizes IVF for lesbians and single women
France has approved a law that will allow single women and lesbians access to medically assisted reproduction for the first time. The National Assembly adopted the wide-ranging bioethics law in a 326–115 vote.
California bans government travel to 5 additional states due to new anti-LGBTQ+ laws
California is restricting state-funded government travel to Arkansas, Florida, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia as a "result of new anti-LGBTQ+ legislation recently enacted in each state," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday.
Accessibility is a centerpiece at East Harlem restaurant
Restaurateur George Gallego knows from personal experience how difficult it can be navigating New York City streets and businesses in a wheelchair.
Reparations needed to help end racial discrimination, UN rights chief says
The U.N. human rights chief made the call in a landmark report launched after the killing of George Floyd.
Supreme Court rejects school's appeal to revive transgender bathroom ban
The Supreme Court justices left in place lower court rulings that found the policy unconstitutional.
Some New York buildings and bridges are illuminated for Pride
Several New York state government sites are illuminated to honor Pride month and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the state's Marriage Equality Law.
Biden celebrates Pride Month, names special envoy for LGBTQ rights
President Joe Biden named a U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights and gave remarks to celebrate Pride Month at the White House.
Cuomo signs Gender Recognition Act, NY adds 'X' gender mark on government IDs
New Yorkers will be able to designate their sex as “female,” “male” or “X” on a driver’s license and birth certificate under a law that Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he signed Thursday.
NYPD, NYC Pride officials still at odds heading into pride weekend
Relations between the organizers of NYC Pride and the NYPD are still frozen, with NYPD officers banned from participating in official Pride events this weekend.
Biden praises pro athletes Carl Nassib, Kumi Yokoyama for coming out
President Joe Biden said he’s "proud” of athletes Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama, who both recently announced that they’re part of the LGBTQ community.