5 THINGS TO KNOW

LGBTK? The “K” is for kink.

According to an article in The Gay UK, some people want to use “LGBTQQICAPF2K+” instead of “LGBT” — adding a “K” to represent “kink.” “There is now a K to add to the ever-growing LGBT+ acronym – and apparently, it stands for ‘kink,’”  

5 THINGS TO KNOW

LGBTQ adoption controversy, governments support adoption and foster care.

This question remains an issue that is controversial and must be addressed in a positive manner. Recently, an Alberta couple was denied the opportunity to adopt a child because their religious beliefs were against homosexuality and gay parenting. The Alberta government, as well as the Roman Catholic Church, were in agreement that the prospective parents would not provide a home of inclusion and indeed preach that LGBTQ folks should not be allowed to be parents.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Toronto’s LGBT community confronts an alleged serial killer.

Last summer, after years of speculation over the fate of people who had vanished from their community, LGBT activists in Toronto organized a town hall to share information and talk about their worst fears. Two men had disappeared between April and June, and there were three earlier cases that made them suspicious. There was open speculation that there was a serial killer in the community.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Is the reported spike in anti-LGBT homicides fake news?

LGBT media outlets are implying the Trump administration is responsible for reports that the LGBT homicide rate doubled from 2016 to 2017. The media reports are citing an 86 percent increase in homicides, indicating a disturbing and sudden rise in violence. The details are laid out in a report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs titled…

5 THINGS TO KNOW

The blue wave didn’t crash on this gay republican couple.

Roselle Park, N.J., with a population of 13,000, is one square mile where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two to one. My name is Joe DeIorio. I was born and raised in Roselle Park, and I served as its mayor for 16 years. In the closet.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Anti-LGBTQ violence claimed one life for every week in 2017.

Brandi Seals, a black transgender woman, was shot to death in Houston on Dec. 13, becoming the country’s 22nd known trans woman of color to be killed in hate violence in 2017. Like many other transgender and gender non-conforming homicide victims, her gender identity and name were not initially acknowledged, even in death.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Has LGBT acceptance come as far as we claim?

In December, I was on a panel organized around the question of whether coming out is “like it used to be.” All but one panelist declared that coming out today is much easier. I was the outlier. To me, there is no single “coming out” experience, and I know firsthand that the pace of progress has varied widely from place to place; it is reductive and…