5 LGBT things you need to know today, Aug. 19

1. President Obama appointed the first openly transgender White House staff member on Tuesday.

2. "When I'm engaged with these things the memory of what happened to Tyler becomes more prevalent and in my face. You want to forget about it. It's a reminder of a bad thing, but I balance that with knowing what we're doing is helping kids and their families." The parents of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers freshman who committed suicide in 2010 after being cyber-bullied over his sexuality, have launched a new anti-bullying effort with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

3. “Presenting sexuality as a ‘one or the other’ choice acts as an unhelpful straightjacket (sorry) and can prevent people from feeling comfortable enough to truly understand and explore their sexual desires.” The Independent on the recent YouGov survey showing that half of people aged 18 to 24 chose an orientation other than exclusively straight, and how it's good news for those fighting bi-erasure.

4. The Baltimore woman with the “relentlessly gay” yard is returning the $43,000 in donations she received, citing “taxes and an overabundance of resources.”

5. VIDEO OF THE DAY: Trans people and their partners talk about their relationships.