Blog Posts | OK 2B GAY

October 24, 2020

A lesbian couple dedicated their lives to LGBT+ rights and helped win marriage equality. Now the fight is on for them to be honoured

The home of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, a late lesbian couple who sought to defy federal and state marriage equality bans in 2004 by getting married, could be preserved as a city landmark. Lyon and Martin were the first in California to receive a marriage licence when then-mayor Gavin Newsom openly challenged a state ban,...

October 24, 2020

Media coverage of transgender issues is ‘catalyst’ in young people seeking support, says landmark study

Media coverage of trans issues has been linked to an increase in the number of young people seeking support at specialist gender clinics, a landmark study has found. In the past 10 years there has been a significant increase in the number of under-18’s being referred to gender clinics, and the reasons for this have...

October 24, 2020

Women’s bowling club takes down advice warning ‘transsexuals’ not to ‘vamp up’ after backlash over ‘archaic’ policy

A women’s bowling club has removed advice on its website saying that “transsexual” women shouldn’t “vamp up” after backlash to its “archaic” policy on transgender inclusion. The first part of the Portsmouth & District Women’s Bowling Association policy, which is still on...

October 24, 2020

Non-binary author Jamie Windust on celebrating queer joy amid the dumpster fire that is 2020

It’s publication day for Jamie Windust’s debut book, In Their Shoes: Navigating Non-Binary Life – and it’s raining. Jamie jokes that they’re looking at the rain and deciding whether or not to go outside, but either way they’ve got a big day ahead. First, Jamie will be signing copies of In...

October 24, 2020

Poland’s homophobe-in-chief Andrzej Duda tests positive for coronavirus

Andrzej Duda, Poland’s staunchly homophobic president, has tested positive for coronavirus. Duda, 48, tested positive for the deadly virus yesterday (October 23). He is feeling “fine”, according to presidential minister Blazej Spychalski, who announced the news. The number of people with coronavirus in Poland...

October 24, 2020

Women’s rights activist launches landmark bid to become the first trans member of any of Britain’s parliaments

Mridul Wadhwa, a women’s rights activist and the manager of a rape crisis centre, has launched her bid to become a member of the Scottish parliament in the 2021 election. Wadhwa is seeking selection as the Scottish National Party candidate in two constituencies – Stirling and Edinburgh Central. If she makes it...

October 23, 2020

LGBT+ Republican group is endorsing a dozen candidates whose voting records are anything but LGBT+ friendly

An LGBT+ Republican group has endorsed 12 politicians who have long track records of opposing LGBT+ rights. The Log Cabin Republicans, which describes itself as “the nation’s original and largest organisation representing LGBT conservatives and straight allies”, has endorsed 34 candidates from across the...

October 23, 2020

Man who violently beat trailblazing LGBT+ activist at a far-right rally faces charges

A man in his 20s has been charged with assault after he was accused of violently attacking trailblazing LGBT+ activist Izzy Kamikaze at a far-right rally in Dublin. The man, named as Michael Quinn, was arrested on Thursday (October 22) in County Louth, Ireland, on suspicion of assault after he allegedly hit Kamikaze over...

October 23, 2020

Army doctors ‘learn how to do facial feminisation surgery’ as US military ‘considers offering procedure to trans troops’

US military doctors are reportedly learning how to do facial feminisation surgery with the intention of offering the gender-affirming procedure to transgender troops. The training reportedly took place at a recent conference of military surgeons at an army medical centre outside of Washington, DC, with army doctors...

October 23, 2020

Pope’s endorsement of same-sex unions could be ‘breakthrough’ in fighting Polish homophobia, activists say

The Pope’s endorsement of same-sex civil unions has given hope to LGBT+ activists in Poland as they fight against a rising tide of homophobic sentiment. Pope Francis made a major break from Catholic teachings in an interview for the documentary Francesco, which premiered on Wednesday (October 21). The pontiff said:...