July, 2024 News (38 Articles with 22,820 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for July, 2024 Greeting arrivals at Warren County Pride on June 15. Photo by Michael Mahler.
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
5th Annual Warren County Pride on June 15
The North PA Ghostbusters kicked off the fifth annual Warren County Pride Day (WCPD) at Betts Park in Warren, Pennsylvania, on June 15th, 2024. The event featured Buffalo's Willa DeWhisp, Jamestown's Miss Kimzie, Que Queer, Telly Tease, Pittsburgh's Ms. Kristy Kreme and XNX Kameleon, and Warren's Miss Jessica Rabbit.
Jamestown NY Pride 2024
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Jamestown Pride held their annual Pride in downtown Jamestown. NY. Photos are by Andrea Shaffer, Rex Apps, and Michael Mahler.
Aging With Pride Dinner at Underdog BBQ
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Aging With Pride held its annual monthly dinner at Underdog BBQ, 2714 W 8th St, Erie, PA. Aging With Pride dinners are on the last Thursday of each month at 6 PM at area restaurants. Additionally, Aging With Pride hosts a book club the third Saturday of the month at Werner Books, planning meetings twice a month, and other social and educational events.
LGBTQ+ History Prize awarded at National History Day in PA, Honorable Mention for North East High School Student
The LGBT Center of Central PA and the LGBT History Network sponsored the third annual LGBTQ+ History Prize at National History Day in Pennsylvania, held on April 21 at the University of Scranton. The top prize of $500 went to Chloe Thompson in the senior high school division, from Upper Darby Senior High School, Upper Darby, PA, for their website titled "The turning point of LGBT+ media." Their teacher is Susan Beck. Two honorable mention awards of $150 each were also presented. One went to Miah Skelly, in the senior high school division, from North East High School, North East, PA, for their paper titled "LGBTQIA+ Turn to Justice: How Trans-People of the 1970s Address the Court System." Their teacher is Morgan Gulley.
Zone VAIN Featuring RAJA on June 2
On June 2, 2024, The Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie, PA, held their VERY FIRST VAIN - a night of glamour, drag, and celebration with the one and only RAJA, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, and was hosted by Lola LeCroix! This was an unforgettable evening filled with fierce performances, fabulous music, and much love and PRIDE. Photos are by Andrea Shaffer.
13th Annual Afternoon for Equality by GEAE on June 2
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE) hosted its 13th signature annual event, Afternoon for Equality, at the Watson-Curtze Mansion at the Hagen History Center on Sunday, June 2. Guests and sponsors of GEAE gathered together for friendship and equality. Stephen Trohoske Trio performed cool jazz music, and there was an open bar. President Cody Empey mentioned educational presentations that GEAE is planning for this fall. Christopher Wrobel, Erie Food Co-op Human Resource Manager, also spoke about coming out at work and supporting LGBTQ employees. Fairness Pennsylvania's new State Director, Sarah Hammond, discussed the importance of activism and shared Fairness Pennsylvania's plans for advancing LGBTQ equality. GEAE hosts this event as a significant fundraiser that helps empower GEAE to support the region's LGBTQ+ community and its allies through educational programs, social events, and service opportunities. These programs and events strengthen our voice, improve the quality of life in northwestern Pennsylvania, and propel us toward our mission to create a safe and welcoming community for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
31st Annual Pride Picnic at Rotary Pavilion
NW PA Pride Alliance will host the 31st Annual Pride Picnic at the Rotary Pavilion on Presque Isle (near Beach 7) from 1 to 6 PM on Saturday, August 10th. This event is free and open to the public. While NW PA Pride Alliance will provide meat and beverages, they ask individuals to bring something to share. What you bring could be as simple as a bag of chips, a tray of cookies, or even a dish you have made.
May 2024 Meadville Happy Hour
On May 22, 2024, NW PA Pride Alliance held its monthly Meadville Happy Hour at Julian's Bar & Grill, 299 Chestnut St, Meadville, PA. Meadville Happy Hours are the fourth Wednesday of each month. The June 26 Meadville Happy Hour will be at Cussewago Creek Distillery. Meadville Pride is on Saturday, July 27!
Meadville Pride and Street Fair on July 27
NW PA Pride Alliance will return to Meadville for Meadville Pride 2024 and be held on the upper Chestnut Street and Diamond Park from 1 to 5 PM. Opening ceremonies will be hosted by NW PA Pride Alliance President Alex Sphon and will feature local speakers and performers. Following the Opening Ceremonies, please join in a Pride March around Diamond Park to the Street Fair. At the Street Fair, you can shop and receive information from over 60 vendors, including crafters, local organizations, and food vendors. For more information, go to nwpapride.org.
Journey To A Trauma Informed Life Summer Group Therapy
Join Journey To A Trauma Informed Life, 201 W 11th St, Erie PA, for a summer of healing and growth with their Group Therapy sessions! Application deadline is Wednesday, June 26. Dive into creative expression, self-discovery, and skill-building with our 4-6 week courses
5th Annual Crawford County Pride on July 13
The 5th Annual ORIGINAL Crawford County Pride will be on Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 12:00 - 5:30 PM at Diamond Park Square, Meadville, PA. Join us for a fun day at this family-friendly event, with Vendors, Live Concerts by Odd Atrocity and Nancy Boys, Pride Drag Showcase hosted by Cher Michaels, Rebecca Mae, Mona Lotz, and more!
Deadline for July 2024 print edition (issue #344) of Erie Gay News is Saturday, June 15, comes out Tuesday, June 25!
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 344, cover-dated for July 2024), please send in-person and online events, news items, and other info for late June 2024 and beyond by Saturday, June 15. We expect the next edition to come out on Tuesday, June 25. Please note that this issue will be at Pride On The Bay on June 29.
Entertainment and Travel
Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls at Chautauqua in August, Cyndi Lauper Farewell Tour in November
Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls will be performing at Chautauqua Institute Amphitheatre August 16th, 2024 @ 7:30 pm $2 from every single ticket will go to the co-headliners charities: Etheridge Foundation and First Peoples Fund. https://www.chq.org/event/melissa-etheridge-and-indigo-girls/ Also, upcoming documentaries: Melissa Etheridge's "I'm Not Broken" documentary premieres July 9 on Paramount+ https://www.memorabletv.com/news/paramount-announces-melissa-etheridge-im-not-broken-docuseries-for-july-9/ Indigo Girls doc "It's Only Life After All" is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Fandango, and Apple. https://www.multitudefilms.com/its-only-life-after-all. Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour will be in Columbus, Ohio November 3 at the Schottenstein Center at 7 pm https://cyndilauper.com/Also her documentary "Let the Canary Sing" was released and is now streaming on Paramount+
Colorful, Inspirational Paul & Trisha: The Art of Fluidity - Portrait of Renowned LGBTQ+ Artist Arrives on Home Entertainment this July
Los Angeles, CA (May 29, 2024) - Director/producer Fia Perera's Perera Pictures is proud to announce the North American video-on-demand (VOD) release of "Paul & Trisha: The Art of Fluidity" (Gravitas Ventures) on July 9, 2024. This colorful, heartwarming, and truly inspirational documentary, which explores the lives of two renowned British artists who exist in one gender-fluid body: Paul Whitehead and Trisha Van Cleef, is Perera's directorial debut, and will stream in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Pre-orders are available now on iTunes/Apple TV.
Summer Fun in Madison: Your weekend in the 608
Madison, Wisconsin is a great city to visit but in the summer it cannot be beat. Situated on an isthmus between 2 lakes, there is so much to do: bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, and more. I grew up there and am a frequent visitor and have watched it grow into a medium sized city from just a college town (home to the University of Wisconsin).
Logo honors Ts Madison with Logo Legend Award featuring special tributes from RuPaul, Tina Knowles and Lavern Cox
June 18, 2024 - Today, Logo is spotlighting a true trailblazer in the community by releasing a YouTube special honoring this year's Logo Legend, Ts Madison. On Tuesday, June 18, Logo will launch a 30-minute YouTube roundtable brunch celebrating Ts Madison. The presentation will feature Billy Eichner, Johnny Sibilly, RuPaul's Drag Race's Mo Heart and more, along with special tribute messages from RuPaul, Tina Knowles and Lavern Cox.
Pride Journey: Pensacola, Florida
Nestled along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola, Florida, offers a unique blend of history, culture, and coastal charm along with a vibrant LGBTQ community. From its lively markets to its delectable dining options and picturesque natural wonders, Pensacola has something to offer every visitor. Let's take a closer look at some of the must-visit attractions in this captivating city.
Hot Fun in the Chicago Sun
Chicago is a great city to visit any time of year, but it is even better in the summer: the Lakefront trail, the beaches, bicycling, festivals, and more. And it's one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the world. And the beaches along Lake Michigan are simply incredible.
"Unlock Erie": VisitErie Introduces New App Challenge
Erie, PA: Beginning June 20, VisitErie launches its latest mobile app challenge, "Unlock Erie." This new initiative will encourage visitors to download VisitErie's free 'Hello Erie' mobile app and explore the region for a chance to win prizes. Unlike previous VisitErie challenges which focused on one tourism aspect such as wineries, "Unlock Erie" is a multi-tiered challenge featuring more than 75 Erie County tourism-related businesses including attractions, restaurants, and retailers.
Local Faces and Photos
June G2H2 at Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
G2H2 held their monthly get together on Friday, June 7, at Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, 6 Sassafras Pier, Erie, PA. The group usually meets the first Friday of each month. July 5's G2H2 will be at Sloppy Duck Saloon, and G2H2 for August will be moved to the SECOND Friday (August 9), and will be at The Cove, 2 State Street, and followed by a Wobbly Priate Cruise. Tickets for the Wobbly Pirate Cruise are $15 from Scallywag's Pirate Adventures at https://scallywagspirateadventures.com/.
Political, Activism and Legal
Marriage Equality Bill Passes PA House for First Time in State History
HARRISBURG, Pa. The PA House passed a bill anchoring marriage equality within a state statute in a historic 133-68 vote Tuesday afternoon. This vote on HB 2269 is the first time marriage equality legislation has been moved through a chamber of the General Assembly. The bill received support from all House Democrats except for Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria), joined by 32 House Republicans about one-third of House Republicans present in the chamber for the vote. The bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee with a 17-8 vote on June 12, 2024.
Lambda Legal "Relieved" by Braidwood v. Becerra Decision on Preventative Care
(New Orleans, LA, June 21, 2024) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today issued its ruling in Braidwood v. Becerra, a challenge to the Affordable Care Act's coverage mandate. Lambda Legal HIV Project Director Jose Abrigo issued the following statement:
Parent of Transgender Student Gives Public Remarks for the First Time at Florida School Board Meeting Amid Investigation Fraught with Anti-Transgender Bias
COCONUT CREEK, Florida - June 18, 2024 - Today, Jessica Norton, the mother of a transgender student athlete and employee of Monarch High School, gave her first public remarks at the Broward County School Board meeting amid the seven-month long investigation of allegedly violating the Fairness in Women's Sports Act. The school board was scheduled to consider a final recommendation from the Superintendent that Norton be terminated from her employment with the District, but unexpectedly withdrew the agenda item last Friday without giving notice or explanation. Despite this change, Norton, accompanied by her husband Gary, still gave public comment about the investigation, which has been tainted with anti-transgender bias, mischaracterizations and factual inaccuracies.
In Stunning Rebuke of State Superintendent Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's GOP Governor and Legislature Take Major Steps to Limit Walters' Power
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - June 14, 2024 - In a stunning rebuke of a statewide public official by senior leaders in his own party, the Oklahoma state budget signed today by Republican Governor Kevin Stitt - after being passed by a supermajority Republican legislature - undercuts State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters' authority. Alongside the budget, Gov. Stitt issued an executive order that meaningfully curtails the ability of the state superintendent to spend taxpayer funding on his own personal public relations. These significant legislative and executive steps come after months of Oklahomans demanding accountability for Walters' failed leadership and dangerous rhetoric and policies - including but not limited to matters of LGBTQ+ equality.
ICYMI: New Data Shows Majority Support for LGBTQ+ Equality, Rejection of Anti-LGBTQ+ Agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A strong majority of Americans across partisan divides support LGBTQ+ equality, according to polling data released this morning. In a series of survey questions conducted by the polling organization Navigator Research, nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated support for including sexual orientation and gender identity in federal nondiscrimination protections. That includes 58% of Independents, as well as 42% of Republicans polled.
Victory! Appeals Court Overturns Ruling Upholding Oklahoma's Discriminatory Birth Certificate Policy
(Denver, CO, June 18, 2024) Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit overturned a lower court ruling that had dismissed a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's discriminatory birth certificate policy, which categorically prohibits transgender people from correcting the gender marker on their birth certificates to match their gender identity.
Thailand Takes Monumental Step Towards Marriage Equality
New York, New York - June 18, 2024 - Thailand's Senate passed a historic marriage equality law, marking a milestone in Asia's journey towards recognizing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people. Marriage equality is set to become law through Royal Assent 120 days after its announcement today in the Royal Gazette.
Record Number of Companies Participate in Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Brazilian LGBTQIA+ Workplace Equality Index; Impacts More Than 850,000 Employees
WASHINGTON The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 'HRC Equidade BR: Global Workplace Equality Program' is the leading benchmarking survey and report recognizing employers in Brazil that have demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQIA+ equality by adopting crucial LGBTQIA+-inclusive policies and practices for their employees. Created in partnership with Instituto Mais Diversidade and the Forum de Empresas e Direitos LGBTI+, the third annual report names 79 organizations that earned the maximum score and were recognized with the 2024 HRC Foundation designation of "Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ People," or in Brazil, "Melhores Empresas Para Pessoas LGBTQIA+ Trabalharem." Participation also increased from 91 employers last year to 124 in 2024. The HRC Foundation's work in Brazil impacts more than 850,000 employees working for inclusive organizations nationwide.
Erie Dems LGBTQ Caucus New Leadership
The Erie County Democratic Party LGBTQ Caucus will be under new leadership. Mr. Michael Mahler (he/him) has stepped down as chair, passing the torch to Dr. Tyler Titus (they/them), as appointed by Democratic County Chair Sam Talerico. Mr. Mahler's tenure was marked by steadfast advocacy for LGBTQ rights and ensuring the community's representation within the party. Dr. Titus, who currently serves as the Secretary for the Democratic State Committee LGBTQ Caucus, expressed enthusiasm about building on Mr. Mahler's legacy. They are committed to maintaining equity as a central theme in all party discussions and actions, ensuring that the progress made will continue to grow. Contact Dr. Titus at tylertitusLPC@gmail.com
PA Equality Project to Hold Goodwill Fundraising Donation Drive
Pennsylvania Equality Project will be hosting a fundraising donation drive in cooperation with Goodwill of Northwest Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, from 11 AM until 5 PM at Diamond Park in Meadville. The fundraising drive will happen during the Crawford County Pride event.
Legal Advocates Urge Court to Permanently Protect PFLAG's Members from Texas Attorney General's Latest Attacks
AUSTIN, Texas - June 10, 2024 Today, on the 10th day of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, legal advocates defended the rights of transgender Texans and their families to live with dignity and respect. They urged the Travis County District Court to significantly limit the Texas Attorney General's Office's demands that PFLAG National turn over information and documents and to permanently enjoin the Office from accessing member-identifying information and private communications through the demands.
Health
Adagio Health receives "High Performer" designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA (June 26, 2024) Adagio Health is committed to implementing inclusive policies and care for underserved populations, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) designated Adagio Health as a "High Performer" healthcare provider through their 16th iteration of HRC's Healthcare Equality Index, or HEI.
Erie County residents encouraged to complete the Community Health Assessment Survey
Erie, PA All Erie County residents 18 years and older are encouraged to help guide future health programs and services by completing the Community Health Assessment Survey 2024 organized by the Erie County Department of Health at https://eriecountypa.gov/healthsurvey
Red Cross recommends three steps to stay safe and cool as temperatures soar
[JUNE 17, 2024] As extreme heat blankets the commonwealth, the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is asking residents to take three steps to stay safe: slow down, stay hydrated and spend time indoors. A heat advisory has been issued for all counties in Pennsylvania, with temperatures expected to be in the 90s and increasing humidity throughout the week.
Nanoparticles in HIV Vaccine?
Over the past 40 years of the HIV epidemic, scientists have been trying to find a way to prevent HIV from infecting cells. Researchers made a nanovaccine as a new way to fight HIV infections. This new study looks at making the immune system respond with B cells to make antibodies that stop HIV. HIV quickly evolves making it hard to target. Researchers created immunogens on nanoparticles to start producing antibodies for a large number of HIV variants. The animal study showed how to make a future vaccine that allows our immune system to prevent HIV infections. This is promising research news as we look for new ways to prevent future cases of HIV around the globe. [Source: Vaccination induces broadly neutralizing antibody precursors to HIV gp41 | Nature Immunology]
Contests
Enter to win a digital download of College Jocks and Frat House Bros - Gay, Erotic Stories from University Life!
Enter to win a digital download of College Jocks and Frat House Bros - Gay, Erotic Stories from University Life! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, July 12, and Friday, August 2.
Enter to win The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice
Enter to win The Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Culture Can Transform Your Leadership Practice! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 30.
Enter to win Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk by James T. Sears!
Enter to win Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk by James T. Sears! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, June 25, and Tuesday, July 16.
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