Empowering Voices - After Marriage Equality Victory, There’s Plenty of Work Yet to Do

On June 26, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down all same-sex marriage equality bans nationwide. The fight is over! The end. Game over. That’s a wrap.
But wait: I want to offer an alternative to this “happily-ever-after” scenario. Even though many people see it as true, they should look again.
Historic strides have been made in the marriage equality movement. But that’s just it -- the marriage movement has strangely been mistaken for LGBTQ rights for quite some time, and I am here to tell you that our fight is not over. We must continue working toward even more basic human rights than marriage.
Discrimination in the workplace is still very much a part of everyday life for many LGBTQ Americans. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback has actually reversed workplace protections for LGBT state employees. In Missouri, legislators again failed to pass the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA), which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. This issue goes beyond employment law. Residents are being denied the basic human right of self-identification.  
So-called “reparative therapy” is another issue that we need to address. In most states, minors are not protected against this extremely harmful practice, which claims to eliminate a person’s homosexual desires through counseling. The American Psychological Association and other professional organizations have strongly condemned the practice, saying it can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-destructive behavior.
According to a 2009 report from San Francisco State University, young people who are “highly rejected” by their families and caregivers are more than eight times as likely to attempt suicide as young people who are rejected a little or not at all.
Yet, in most states, parents can force children to listen as a stranger tells them how to fit properly into society’s predefined gender expectations. It’s a form of child abuse that is totally legal in most places.

While there’s still work to do, you would expect that the members of a movement that can be as influential as ours would work together to fight these injustices. In my own experience, however, this hasn’t been the case.
There’s still a lot of bickering and needless fighting over semantics within the various parts of our community. There are underrepresented voices that need to be heard. Instead of focusing on how different the members of our community can be, we need to recognize what common ground we have and use that as leverage against the injustices of this world.
This moment is a very important time for our community. We can either continue on our current path toward fragmentation, or we can work together and support each other. With all of us working toward a common goal, there’s nothing we won’t be able to accomplish.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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