Latest news with #ClubQ
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The future of LGBTQ+ journalism begins with you
In November 2023, I sat at a bar in Colorado Springs. Survivors of the Club Q mass shooting had gathered with friends and supporters for a night of remembrance before the first anniversary of a night that forever changed their lives. One survivor hosted the night. There were maybe 20 people there in total. There were drag performances, laughter, tears, and memories shared among this group of people who were acquaintances before Nov. 19, 2022, but were forced to become more after the shared traumatic experience. I sat at the dimly lit bar, having been invited by one of the survivors I interviewed for a story on the shooting. When I first got there, an activist from Denver who had become a dear friend and support to many of the survivors took me aside before I even walked in. 'Who are you with?' they asked, protectively. I told them I worked for The Advocate, and I assured them I was just observing, getting contact information from folks, and wouldn't record what was said inside the bar. I drank with them. I danced with them. I listened to them. Mental notes were taken, but something that kept piercing through my mind even then was that this is what journalism should be. It connects. It reveals. It honors. It reopens wounds to let them air out. I wrote in my oft-forgotten notes app: 'An observer reaching for the impossible idea of objectivity will never be privy to this. So, they lack the story. It's listening and talking and being.' All journalists have an ethical duty to uphold the truth, and in queer journalism, we have an ethical duty to report and write factually about LGBTQ+ lives and experiences. Us in queer media — to borrow from my colleague Tracy E. Gilchrist — are authentic in our journalism because we're approaching our work through sympathetic yet informed lenses (we're often queer ourselves). I think about (queer) journalism a lot. Are our sources diverse enough? Would this make a good series? How can we get funding for investigative stories? How do we ensure we can keep doing this work for the next month, next year, next decade? Support queer media. . The Advocate has brought queer news to readers since it was a newsletter in Los Angeles, first drafted after a police raid at a gay bar in 1967. A small group was spurred to act, driven to help LGBTQ+ people in L.A. know what was happening in their community. Our mission remains largely the same since then: To inform the queer community. While we've grown to a national (and international) audience, that focus has stayed on what news our readers need to know to live their best lives — from the latest Supreme Court ruling to what's happening at local Pride events. This is a precarious time for journalism. NPR has sued the Trump administration after the president signed an executive order slashing its funding. CBS News cowered to a lawsuit that experts say it could have won against Trump. The Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have been decimated by cuts of their federal funding. The Trump White House has repeatedly attacked the press — see the Associated Press debacle over the Gulf of Mexico. It's clearly becoming more risky for journalists to criticize this administration. Just as journalism is under attack, so too are queer lives. The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. this legislative session alone. The right-wing backlash against gay and trans rights has led many corporations to pull back from publicly supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. That includes funding things like Pride events, and yes, advertising in LGBTQ+ publications. Queer media — reported by, reported on, and involving LGBTQ+ people — is needed more than ever. It's a journalism that goes beyond superficial attempts to see the world in binaries and instead accepts the nuances and variety of people and their stories. It's why we're asking you, our readers, for your direct support. Today, we launch a membership program for The Advocate. Your financial support will go directly to the sort of reporting I did in Colorado Springs, and much more. When you become a member, you'll back the community The Advocate created in 1967 – you'll also get special perks like a behind-the-scenes newsletter from me, with exclusive insights into our reporting. If you join at The Advocate's founding level – for $19.67 a month – you'll receive a free print subscription to keep or give to someone, as well as a specially designed enamel pin to show your support of LGBTQ+ journalism. Celebrate this Pride Month by directly supporting The Advocate's work. Become a member today, and let's keep providing our community with the news it needs. I go back to that night in Colorado so often because for me it is what queer journalism is: Empathetic storytelling that reports the real LGBTQ+ experience. It's what we strive for at The Advocate. Since our founding in 1967, the LGBTQ+ community has been our north star. It continues to be. In this moment, we are fighting to keep bringing audiences the best of queer journalism. Thank you for reading, and thank you for supporting The Advocate.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Misgendering' now considered discrimination in this US state: Here's what the law says
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed House Bill 1312 into law, marking a significant shift in how the state handles discrimination against transgender individuals. While early drafts of the legislation stirred controversy, its final version still delivers key protections, including restrictions on 'misgendering' and 'deadnaming' in specific contexts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bill, named the 'Kelly Loving Act' after a transgender woman killed in the 2022 Club Q shooting, expands Colorado's anti-discrimination laws. It no longer explicitly mentions the terms 'misgendering' or 'deadnaming', but it lays out provisions that indirectly address those actions by mandating inclusive practices across public records, education, and identification documents. Originally, HB 1312 included far-reaching clauses, including a requirement that courts consider 'deadnaming' and 'misgendering' in child custody disputes as forms of coercive control. Those sections were ultimately removed after significant public pushback and concerns raised by groups across the political spectrum. Over 700 people signed up to testify at a Senate hearing – the highest number for any bill this session. Polis, a Democrat and the nation's first openly gay governor, acknowledged the controversy. He said he was 'not comfortable' with the family law provisions in the initial draft, praising the final version for better reflecting public consensus. 'A lot of the controversial parts were removed during the legislative process,' he added. 'What's left are a few provisions that make it easier to reflect the gender identity of folks. ' Under the law, individuals can now update their marriage or civil union licences with a new name without the revised certificate being marked as amended. The same applies to sex designation changes on a Colorado driver's licence, which may now be made up to three times before a court order is required. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In educational settings, students are allowed to choose names for any reason if a school has a name policy in place. Dress code policies must now permit all students to choose among available options, regardless of gender identity. The bill also includes a clause that prevents Colorado courts from recognising laws from other states that would penalise parents for supporting a child's access to gender-affirming care. Despite the removal of some of its original provisions, HB 1312 still marks a landmark moment in LGBTQ+ rights in Colorado. Sponsored by Democrats in both chambers, the bill passed 36-20 in the House and 20-14 in the Senate.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kelly Loving Act signed into Colorado law
DENVER (KDVR) — The Kelly Loving Act was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis, expanding legal protections for transgender people in Colorado. Known as House Bill 25-1312, the legislation passed through the Colorado House and Senate with bipartisan support after several amendments addressed concerns raised during the legislative process involving child custody decisions and protections for parents assisting their children in obtaining gender-affirming care. 'Kelly Loving Act': Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections The bill was named after a victim of the Club Q mass shooting in 2022. The bill approved measures, including: Anti-discrimination policies that consider intentionally misgendering or deadnaming someone as discriminatory acts under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Educational policies that require schools to adopt policies regarding chosen names and dress codes Identification documents that allow people to change their gender marker on state-issued IDs without the need for a court order. The legislation came about after a survey of more than 500 transgender Coloradans found areas where transgender people still faced discrimination, harassment and abuse. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kelly Loving Act aims to reinforce existing transgender rights
(COLORADO) — Colorado lawmakers have passed the Kelly Loving Act, a new bill that, if signed into law, would provide new protection for transgender individuals. HB25-1312 is named after Kelly Loving, a Club Q shooting victim. The bill would create several protections for transgender individuals, including children, and add deadnaming and misgendering as discriminatory acts in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. 'This bill, by far, has generated a lot of conversations,' said Senator Rod Pelton, who detailed that he had received many emails concerning HB25-1312. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday, May 6, with a 20 to 14 vote, right before it adjourned its regular session on Wednesday, May 7. The act has sparked concerns from some communities, including parents and educators. In late April, Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education Secretary Jason Jorgeson sent a letter on behalf of the Coalition of Colorado Public School Administrators, Board Members, and individuals who influence educational decisions in Colorado, opposing HB25-1312 due to 'significant concerns.' According to the letter, which has over 80 signatures, the Kelly Loving Act would undermine local control, parental rights, and 'create ambiguity and compliance challenges for schools.' The letter states that the bill penalizes parents for their speech or belief about their child's gender identity. Read the full letter here: Colorado-House-Bill-1312-School-Board-Member-Letter-1Download While some senators also agreed that the bill could put a strain on families and even schools, some senators argued that the policy would help transgender individuals. 'The Kelly Loving Act seeks to increase the amount of dignity and respect that we as a state offer to trans Coloradans,' Senator Julie Gonzales said during the bill's third reading on May 6.'…We all deserve the freedom… Freedom… to make decisions about our bodies, our families, and our futures.' The letter sent by Jorgenson argues that the chosen names and dress code policy requirements in the bill undermine the district's authority to create policies that align with the needs and values of the communities. '…The prohibition on gender-specific dress codes may limit schools' ability to maintain clear and equitable standards for student conduct and attire,' the letter says. Senator Chris Kolker explained that the dress code section of the bill leaves it up to the schools to make it equal for all students. 'I know students go to school dressed a certain way when they leave the house, but when they get to school, they are dressed a different way because their parents don't know,' Kolker said. 'It's just what that child wants to wear, and they come back and change before they get back home. That's not about transgender policy, it's about what that kid's choice is. We are just leaving it to the school to enforce policy, establish policy, enforce it, and make sure it is equal amongst all kids.' The Kelly Loving Act would also determine the 'allocation of parental responsibilities' when making child custody decisions, and would consider deadnaming, misgendering, or threatening to publish material related to an individual's gender-affirming health-care services as types of coercive control. Another section of the bill would also prohibit a Colorado court from enforcing another state's law that authorizes a state agency to remove a child from a guardian because the guardian allowed the child to receive gender-affirming healthcare. 'This could strain family relationships and place schools in the challenging position of navigating sensitive custody disputes, diverting resources from our core educational mission,' the letter sent by Jorgenson said. Kolker further defended the bill, explaining that it is reinforcing previous laws, and it is not about taking parents' rights. He said that the bill 'reinforces an existing civil rights framework in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, by adding clarity and enforcement precision. It does not create new superior rights for transgender people, nor does it strip rights from anyone else. In practical terms, it says you may not deny someone housing, employment, or public services because they are transgender, that public forms must respect a person's chosen name and gender marker when they have been legally recorded.' While the Kelly Loving Act has passed both the House and the Senate, it still awaits a signature from Colorado Governor Jared Polis to be considered 'Governor Polis appreciates the work of the bill sponsors and all the advocates involved in the bill's progression, especially in removing the controversial changes to family law from the bill, and will review the final version of the bill.' To read the full bill, click the link above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News AU
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Transgender bill passes in Colorado USA
Colorado has passed a bill granting new protections for transgender people called the Kelly Loving Act. Club Q survivor Edward Sanders, who is an advocate for the bill and transgender rights, claimed it is 'abusive' for parents to not support their kids with their gender identity. The bill is named after a transgender woman who was killed in a gay bar in Colorado in 2022, whom Mr Sanders had met that night.
