GAYography

LGBTQ+ Global Travel News & Events

All the Queer News That's Fit to Link

Made possible by Ashton, the GAYographer

Happy Sunday <<First Name>>,

Are you in NYC on Wednesday? I hope you'll join me at Boxers HK (and on the roof if it's nice) for our Victory 1st Wednesday special staff edition! Josh Roth-Fontaine will be joining us - and we'll also be celebrating a special birthday (mine).

I hope you can attend -- it'll be from 5:30 until late -- so join when you can. And if you're still using Facebook, you can join (and please share) here.

Above, Zooey Zephyr was barred this week from the Montana (not Missouri) Legislature for using the often used phrase "blood on your hands" to reference legislators who pass a bill to bar trans minors from medical care (the measure was signed by the Governor Friday). Hear more about the fight directly from her, here (and more about the broader view from people of the state).

See you Wednesday,

Ashton

P.S. If you want a laugh - and see Biden at his best - watch him at the Correspondents Dinner last night, and Brittney Griner was honored there!

Travel News

Forbes predicts another hellish summer air travel season in the US due to aging infrastructure and lack of funding for air traffic controller personnel.

Check out the worst places to travel this summer - based on the high demand.

Looking for a food tour of Spain? Check out the 11 Michelin-Starred restaurants in the Castilla-La Mancha region.

Travel Alaska Airlines? The ACLU forced the company to stop its use of gender-specific uniforms.

Handmaid America:
Shockingly, in Nebraska and South Carolina, measures to further restrict abortion (effectively ban it at 6 weeks) failed by just a few votes. Ohio groups have banned together to introduce a ballot measure on abortion - yet, Republicans are working to increase the threshold for a ballot measure to block it. Recently in Minnesota & Washington State Governors signed laws protecting abortion - as well as trans rights. The Comstock Act, 1860s-era a law not enforced in years is being used to potentially block the mailing of abortion medication.

Victory Update: Zooey Zephyr's outspoken advocacy would not have been possible without the Victory Fund. Victory trains, endorses and supports she and other LGBTQ candidates that can be in the room speaking up for our community. Legislatures in 16 states have passed laws banning medical care for minors, but a Georgia "don't say gay" bill was blocked because there is just one LGBTQ Senator in Georgia. If you want to get involved this year, join me on Wednesday at Boxers HK, and also plase mark your calendar for our big New York event (email Josh Roth to RSVP) on Oct 12.

Putin's War: The big news this weekend was a missile barrage across Ukraine, killing 23 and by the destruction of an oil depot in Crimea by (apparent) Ukrainian drones. Yet, Poland also seized a Russian school in Warsaw. Potential propaganda: the Wagner Group chief has said he will withdraw from Bakhmut (without more ammo), just as the situation intensifies. Putin also appear to be cracking down on corruption and the selling of data by police officers after high-level assassinations.

World News

As we await a ruling on marriage equality in India, it appears justices may not approve full marriage equality, yet justices do appear to want to provide more fairness for same-sex couples.

Tokyo held its first Pride in 4 years (post-pandemic).

Uganda's President has asked parliament to make changes to its latest attempt to criminalize LGBTQ people; he would "merely" restrict sex acts and not identity (as well as not allow people to "report" on others).

Hear what happens if you attempt to come out in Saudi Arabia, where being gay is punishable by death.

Surprising news from the Hungarian President, who vetoed the latest anti-LGBTQ law that would have banned speech on LGBTQ issues (yet it may still become law).

Leaders in San Francisco (and California) are learning that boycotts rarely work - as they repeal laws that forbid contracts and travel to states where laws opposed LGBTQ equality.

It's going to be tough to block LGBTQ discussions in US schools since now 1 in 4 high school students identify as LGBTQ - as DeSantis fights his own school administrators for defying anti-LGBTQ policies. Hundreds of drag queens and supporters protested at the Florida state house this week.

Disney is fighting back against DeSantis' weaponization of government, now with a lawsuit alleging the Florida government is retaliating against the company for its speech.

The Kansas legislature overrode the veto of its governor to enact a sweeping "bathroom bill" that would erase trans people, as it also narrowly defines men and woman soley based on their reproductive abilities.

The Texas Department of Agriculture has imposed a gendered dress code on its employees that seems likely to be hard to enforce.

ICMI: On a strictly party-line vote, all Republicans supported and all Democrats opposed the trans sports ban that passed the US House (and has no hope in the Senate), so much for "freedom."

Do you drink Bud Light? A majority don't care about its support of trans rights.

Events

NYC. Join Victory 1st Wednesday on Wed May 3 with special guest, Josh Roth-Fontaine, Victory Fund staff member at Boxers HK 5:30-8pm.

DC. Join LGBTQ Congressional reps Chris Pappas (NH) and Eric Sorenson (IL) at the Victory Fund Federal PAC fundraiser on Tuesday, June 22 (reply for details).

Upcoming! NYC. Victory Fund's NYC Soiree will be Thursday, Oct 12.

Forward

Thank you in advance, <<First Name>> for sharing this week's GAYography brief!

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