Senate passes landmark same-sex marriage bill
The Senate has passed landmark bipartisan legislation to protect same-sex marriages.
Colorado gay bar shooting suspect facing murder, hate crime charges
The man suspected of opening fire at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs was being held on murder and hate crime charges Monday, while hundreds of people gathered to honor the five people killed and 17 wounded in the attack on a venue that for decades was a sanctuary for the local LGBTQ community.
From Pulse to Q: Florida shooting survivors to help new cohort of victims cope
Images of a massive police response, bouquets of flowers piled along the sidewalk, and Pride flags risen in solidarity make Keinon Carter wonder if anything has changed since he was shot inside Orlando's Pulse nightclub seven years ago. Now, he and other survivors will offer help to Club Q shooting victims as they face a long road of grief and recovery.
Federal judge blocks DeSantis-backed Stop WOKE Act, calling it 'positively dystopian'
Calling the state’s approach "positively dystopian," a federal judge on Thursday blocked a Florida law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities.
Senate advances same-sex, interracial marriage bill with 12 GOP votes
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the law is a chance for the Senate to “live up to its highest ideals” and protect marriage equality for all people.
Ruby Bridges Day: How a 6-year-old became an icon of bravery, desegregation in the south
Walking together and wearing purple, students from Bay Haven School of Basics Plus commemorated the actions of one brave little girl who, 62 years ago, became the face of integrating schools.
Florida votes to ban gender-affirming care, treatments for transgender minors
The state of Florida has approved a proposal to ban gender-affirming medical care or treatments for transgender minors — a decision that is already expected to be challenged in court.
Beauty pageant can ban transgender contestants, US appeals court rules
Anita Green, who is transgender, has competed in several pageants including Miss Montana USA, Miss Earth and Ms. World Universal.
Affirmative action in jeopardy after Supreme Court justices raise doubts
The survival of affirmative action in higher education appeared to be in serious trouble Monday at a conservative-dominated Supreme Court after hours of debate over vexing questions of race.
Byron Allen’s $10B discrimination lawsuit against McDonald’s can move forward, judge rules
The lawsuit claims McDonald’s spends less than $5 million of its $1.6 billion annual TV advertising budget on Black-owned media.
City of Tampa adds protections against future developments over cemeteries
The City of Tampa added protections against future development over cemeteries, after communities raised the alarm about African American burial grounds that were built over and forgotten.
Gas Plant District in St. Pete: One of the oldest Black neighborhoods razed for baseball
Before the Tampa Bay Rays, there was the Gas Plant neighborhood, where hundreds of Black residents once worked, played, and lived until the city decided to pursue an MLB team and build a stadium. Their story, while complex, isn't just about baseball and broken promises.
From Gas Plant resident to St. Pete mayor, Ken Welch's life comes full circle
In the 1980s, St. Pete began its pursuit of baseball and had to find a place to build a stadium. They ultimately decided to build it in the Gas Plant District, dislocating hundreds of Black residents in the segregated, but thriving community. One of those residents was St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch.
Pasco County school leaders will remove 'safe space' stickers from campuses to comply with Florida law
Pasco County school officials are removing their “safe space” stickers across the district. It’s a move that many are concerned will be harmful to the LGBTQ community, but Superintendent Kurt Browning said his hands are tied.
Miami-Dade school board votes against recognizing LGBTQ history month
The Miami-Dade School Board overwhelmingly decided against recognizing October as LGBTQ history month, voting 8-1 against the measure, despite observing it during the last school year.
Florida Board of Medicine advances ban on transgender treatments for minors
Amid an outcry from the LGBTQ community and harsh criticism from a host of physicians and healthcare professionals, the Florida Board of Medicine advanced a plan that would ban doctors from performing gender-reassignment surgery or providing treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender people under age 18.
Judge orders Indiana school to allow 10-year-old transgender girl to rejoin softball team
A federal judge has ordered Indianapolis Public Schools to allow a 10-year-old transgender girl to rejoin her school’s all-girls softball team while a lawsuit continues against a state law that bans transgender females from competing in girls school sports.
Several Florida school boards sued over state's gender identity and sexual orientation law
A new federal lawsuit filed by Florida parents and students seeks to block several school boards from carrying out the state's new law that prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in Kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms.
Bay Area influencers use Disability Pride Month to highlight struggles, community accessibility advances
Two Tampa Bay Area women are sharing on social media their experiences of how disabilities and accessibility impact their everyday lives.
Rubio on protecting gay marriage: 'I don't vote for fake problems'
During a visit to Tampa Friday, the Senator from Florida said "the chances that Nancy Pelosi will endorse me in my Senate reelection are higher than the chances of [gay marriage] going anywhere," but he added that he still would not vote for a bill that would protect the rights of same-sex couples to marry.