5 THINGS TO KNOW

Texas GOP Speaker signs arrest warrant for lesbian Democrat

The Republican Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan has signed a civil arrest warrant for lesbian Representative Celia Israel. In July, Israel canceled her wedding so that she and 51 of her fellow Democratic state congress members could flee the…

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Trials to begin on an HIV vaccine based on COVID-19 research

Moderna, the biotech company that developed one of the first COVID-19 vaccines last year, is hoping to break new ground this week in fighting another pandemic: HIV/AIDS. The company will soon begin human trials for their mRNA-based vaccine, according to…

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Debate: The original Pride flag or the Progress Pride flag?

Fifty-five years ago this month, a group of transgender women in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco fought back against police as they arrested patrons at Compton’s Cafeteria, a go-to hangout for temporarily avoiding the harshest harassment, discrimination and physical…

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The GOP waves the white flag in the same-sex marriage wars

To mark the beginning of Pride Month this year, Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel did what party leaders do on these types of occasions: She sent out a tweet. “Happy #PrideMonth!” she wrote, “@GOP is proud to have doubled our…

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Hobby Lobby loses 11 year fight to ban trans woman from bathroom

“Sommerville’s sex is unquestionably female,” ruled the Illinois Second District Appellate Court on Friday, “just like the women who are permitted to use the women’s bathroom.” With that crucial determination, the judges unanimously concluded that Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. violated…