HEALTH

Transgender health insurance protection in NY State.

Transgender individuals in New York state have new protections when it comes to health insurance coverage. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo says health insurers can’t deny coverage based on gender identity. A state Department of Financial Services letter Wednesday tells health insurers to take reasonable steps to determine if the insured is eligible for services before denying a claim.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Build the condos, but keep the gay bar.

A U.K. City Council has ordered a private company that it cannot build luxury flats and offices on a site it recently purchased that included a closed gay-bar unless it agrees to include a new gay bar as part of the development plan. Tower Hamlets Council ordered earlier this month that developers Regal Homes must build a gay bar that will “remain a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-focused venue for a minimum of 12 years,” regardless of its ability to stay economically afloat.

DESTINATIONS

Coming soon, food, fun and drag queens in Charlotte.

In what the organizers are calling “our coming-out story,” the South End club Boulevard 1820 is changing into a drag queen-themed restaurant starting Aug. 22, with servers and performers in drag. While similar restaurant concepts exist in New York, Atlanta, Orlando and other cities, including the national chain Hamburger Mary’s and the Atlanta restaurant Lips, Boulevard 1820 will be the first of its kind in Charlotte, according to Kolby Brinkley, an owner of the new restaurant at 1820 South Blvd., downstairs from Tupelo Honey.

HEALTH

LGBT Canadian’s have options for starting a family.

All over Canada this summer, cities are celebrating pride. My colleagues and I at the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) walked in Vancouver’s Pride Parade over the August long weekend. What better time to write about the options available to LGBTQ couples for building a family? Every family is unique, so your fertility doctor should help you navigate the specific treatments and laws that apply to your situation. Here is some general information to get you started.

BUSINESS

LGBT heritage sites in Vermont

A small group of community leaders recently met with State Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann in the offices of the Rockingham Arts and Museum Project to work on getting Vermont LGBTQ heritage sites on the state and national historic registry. The process may start in Bellows Falls.

HEALTH

Banning transgender troops could cost $960 million.

If the U.S. military implements President Donald Trump’s directive to ban transgender people from serving, it would cost the U.S. government about $960 million, according to a report. The study released by the Palm Center estimates the cost to replace the transgender service members would be 114 times more than the $8.4 million to provide them care for gender transition.

DESTINATIONS

Florida’s gay capital raises the Transgender Flag!

Wilton Manors city officials raised the transgender flag recently in a show of solidarity with the minority community after President Donald Trump tweeted his intention to prohibit transgender people from serving in the military. The Commander in Chief’s announcement offended many residents and leaders. “Transgender persons are U.S. citizens who pay taxes, support their communities and currently serve with distinction in the military,” Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick said.