[This article appears in the March/April 2024 print issue of Boston Spirit magazine. Subscribe for free today.] “A Strange Loop,” a musical about a theater usher named Usher­—a Black, queer man who is writing a musical about a Black, queer man, ad infini-tum—took Broadway by storm and earned the Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards for its creator, Michael J. Jackson. That may strike many as a joy-fully unlikely phenomenon. But “A Strange Loop” continues to have a life well beyond New York, resonating with audiences most recently in London and soon arriving in Boston, where it will hav ..read more

For LGBTQ+ college students who may have missed out on their high school proms, Dartmouth and Colby Sawyer colleges recently teamed up to host an intercollegiate LGBTQ+ student prom on the Dartmouth campus, inviting students from other colleges across New England. Reports the Keene Sentinel: Students from MIT, the University of New Hampshire, and Colby Sawyer College danced under a disco ball and rainbow lights at a first intercollegiate prom for LGBTQ+ students in the New England area this past weekend. The dance, put on by Colby Sawyer College and Dartmouth College, was hosted on Dartmouth’s ..read more

In celebration of their third anniversary Transhealth — the Bay State-based, trans-led, gender-affirming health care center for trans and gender-diverse people and their families — is hosting a benefit fireside chat with actor and writer Elliot Page. Reports the Boston Globe: Elliot Page — an Oscar-nominated actor and New York Times bestselling author for his memoir “Pageboy” — is headed to Western Massachusetts next month to benefit a local transgender healthcare organization. Transhealth — a local medical group that offers primary care and gender-affirming hormonal care — is hostin ..read more

Late last week, the Maine Senate voted 21-13 to approve a bill that would protect out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care or abortions from states where such health care is illegal, even if received in another state. Only the day before, the state’s House passed the legislation with a 76-67 vote. The legislation now moves the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has indicated she would sign it into law. Reports Boston’s Public Radio Station GBH: It is incredibly important “to protect states where care is legal because providers are worried,” said Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy ..read more

In celebration of 20 years of marriage equality, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)’s Mary Bonauto, who argued the landmark Massachusetts Goodridge case, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the annual Pride Night at Fenway Park when the Red Sox take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Red Sox LGBTQ+ Pride Night game time (*first pitch*) is 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, with a pre-game social starting at 6 p.m. GLAD is also providing its own section for the Red Sox Pride Celebration, and invites you to “make it an office outing, bring your significant other, or come by y ..read more

After months of protests and investigation, the three Amherst Regional Middle School guidance counselors accused of numerous complaints concerning their conduct with LGBTQ+ students have been cleared by an administrator in the school’s district. But the spokesperson for the “group or parents, educators and staff and community members formed in August to advocate for accountability, transparency and equity” in the Amherst, Massachusetts school district strongly disagrees with the decision, according to a report by Mass.Live.com. Reports MassLive.com: An Amherst administrator has cleared three A ..read more

The Maine House of Representatives last Wednesday passed a bill that would protect out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care or abortions from states where such health care is illegal, even if received in another state. The bill “faces further action in both chambers, but the House vote gives it a clear path to passage because Democrats have a wider 22-13 majority in the Senate. [Maine Governor Janet] Mills championed last year’s abortion-rights expansion, which only advanced by one vote in the House at first due to opposition from a small group of anti-abortion Democrats,” according ..read more

Unity House, the first group home dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth in the state, opened earlier this month in Keene, New Hampshire. It was created by Boston-based nonprofit The Home for Little Wanders, which designed the first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation Waltham House in Waltham, Massachusetts back in 2002. Unity House was contracted by the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families. Reports the Keene Sentinel: The Unity House will provide a safe and supportive living environment for up to eight youths, ages 12 to 19, who identify as LGBTQ+ and are in the custody of the N.H. Division for Ch ..read more

A coalition of local organizations, advocates, and community members have sent an open letter to Rhode Island legislators urging them to reject a series of proposed bills that would undermine the well-being of LGBTQ+ people in the state. The letter was signed by over 60 organizations, including the National Education Association Rhode Island, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rhode Island Psychological Association, Rhode Island Se ..read more

The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health—one of the country’s leading care and research centers for LGBTQIA+ people—has a new executive director. Says Fenway: Amy Ben-Arieh We are excited to announce that Amy Ben-Arieh has been selected as The Fenway Institute’s new Executive Director. This position attracted a large and talented applicant pool, but Amy’s experience, skillset, and energy made her the best candidate to lead TFI in its next chapter. Amy is very excited to take on this role and has a passion for The Fenway Institute and amplifying its work that we are confident will truly benefit ..read more