Pulse survivors at the March for Our Lives

5 LGBTQ things you need to know today, March 26

1. Pulse shooting survivors and their family members joined hundreds of Human Rights Campaign supporters on Saturday at the D.C. March for Our Lives. Before the march, the Pulse survivors spoke at the annual HRC Spring Equality Convention. While there, they stressed the importance of the LGBTQ community to the anti-gun-violence coalition, and urged unity in the face of reaction. The Pulse survivors have been an important voice in the gun-control movement since the slaying of 49 people in 2016, during the massacre in Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. HRC President Chad Griffin stated, ““Today we’re proud to be led by Pulse survivors and family members and join the hundreds of thousands of students and their supporters from across the nation in the March For Our Lives.”

2. The Trump Administration issued a memo banning transgender military service on March 23. The memo is considered moot due to court orders which rule against banning transgender troops, but it still amounts to a statement of policy by the administration. Two circuit courts and four trial courts have found against a Trump’s proposed policy. According to the Washington Blade, the military “will still comply with federal court rulings and continue to assess and retain transgender service members.”

3. A team of scientists at a University hospital in Essen, Germany, just published results of a six-year study, revealing that gender confirmation surgery improves the quality of life of all of those who undergo the procedure. The study also found that the overall quality of life of transgender persons (even post-confirmation surgery) is below that of general population, probably due to the effects of minority stress, violence, and discrimination.

4. Christine Quinn has apologized for calling Cynthia Nixon, a gubernatorial candidate for New York State, “an unqualified lesbian.” Quinn, who previously served as the first openly gay (and female) speaker of the New York City Council, condemned Nixon for not backing her in her mayoral race. Quinn was criticized for making an issue of Nixon’s sexuality. In a tweet addressing the matter, Quinn stated “The real point I am trying to make is that qualifications matter and records matter. I do not believe she has the qualifications or the record.”

5. VIDEO OF THE DAY: Todrick Hall’s “Dem Beats (ft. RuPaul)” is #34 trending on YouTube.