Delivering a keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality in Action event Friday, First lady Jill Biden warned former President Donald Trump is “a bully” who is “dangerous to the LGBTQ community.” Her appearance at the three-day volunteer and board gathering at the Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va., comes as part of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign’s “Out for Biden” program, which aims to “mobilize LGBTQ+ voters, communities, and leaders across the country.” “Today, this community is under attack,” Biden said. “Rights are being stripped away. freedoms are eroding. More an ..read more

Atlanta has been announced to be the host city for Global Black Pride 2024, the world’s first and only Pride event dedicated to Black LGBTQ communities worldwide. This is the second ever in-person Global Black Pride and the first held in the United States, making Atlanta the first American city to host. The event will be held from August 26 to September 2. “Atlanta proudly stands as the LGBTQ capital of the South and a champion for human rights, not only in our region but on a global scale,” Malik Brown, the City’s Director of LGBTQ Affairs, said in a statement. “We are honored to welcome the ..read more

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to lift its ban on sperm donations from men who have sex with men, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The report also says the FDA would simultaneously lift the ban on donations of other tissues and organs from gay and bisexual men. The Wall Street Journal report suggests that the FDA could put out a draft of the new policy for public comment by the summer, with a final rule in place by the end of 2024 or early 2025. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for the FDA would not confirm the Wall Street Journal story, bu ..read more

Accounting for seven percent of the general youth population, young LGBTQ people are overrepresented in Atlanta’s homeless population. Covenant House Georgia reports that a staggering 40 percent of homeless youth in Atlanta identified as LGBTQ. Black/African American people are also disproportionately experiencing homelessness, making up 48 percent of Atlanta’s resident population and 83 percent of its unhoused population. The Trevor Project found that nearly 4,600 young LGBTQ people experienced homelessness or housing instability after being kicked out of their homes. Transgender and nonbinar ..read more

According to my grandmother, it’s time — time for spring terms like trowel, transplanter, cultivator, and tiller. For condo dwellers, there are containers, and for owners of large homes, it’s portions of their backyards. My grandmother advised us never to plant seeds until after Easter, when the chance of frost has vanished, so here we are in the season of the green thumb. If you really do get an A for effort, then I am at the top of my class when it comes to gardening. The truth is, I can kill a cactus. In fact, I already have. Friends have gifted me plants in the past, from spider plants to ..read more

Two new films by out directors are on tap now, both well worth the audience’s time. In the new, “Problemista,” Julio Torres (who also writes and directs the feature) stars as Alejandro, who is from El Salvador, but now lives in New York. He wants to make toys for a living, but is having a problem sustaining a work visa — and the only solution he can come up with is working with Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), an art critic on a mission. In a recent interview, Torres said “Problemista” is very much based on his life. “I went through similar experiences going from a student visa to a work visa and it ..read more

Mercury  April 5, 7:30pm, through April 28 Actor’s Express Revenge is a dish best served bloody in Actor’s Express’s “Mercury.” In this savagely hilarious comedy-thriller, three different stories converge through a strange curiosity shop in Portland, Oregon. Joining in on this crazy thrill ride of a play is a nosy neighbor, a bickering couple, a missing dog named Mr. Bundles, a guy with the worst job in the underworld and a housewife who is not handling the end of her secret affair very well. This play is from Steve Yockey, the creative mind behind AE hits “Octopus” and “Pl ..read more

A conversation with an interior design student On a formerly gray and drab, now sun-drenched weekday morning, I sat down with Nayra to discuss one of my favorite topics, interior design. Nayra is a Brazilian American interior design student studying to get her BFA at Georgia State University. She brings a uniquely Brazilian, secondhand, and community-focused perspective to all her design projects and design opinions. She spoke with Georgia Voice about her design inspirations, her favorite and least favorite trends, sustainability, and more. Quotes have been edited for clarity. What are the mai ..read more

Shawn Harris, a cattleman in Northwest Georgia who served in the military for 40 years and retired as a U.S. Army brigadier general, is running for the congressional seat now held by far-right U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). He connected with the Washington Blade last week to discuss his candidacy as a Democrat in Georgia’s deep-red 14th Congressional District — and why his promise to deliver for constituents who have been failed by their current representative is resonating with voters across the political spectrum. “As it stands today, I’m the lead candidate on the Democratic side ..read more

Spicing up your sex life can be an exciting journey of exploration and creativity. Here are some tips to consider: Communication is Key Communication is the cornerstone of a fulfilling and thrilling intercourse existence. Open and honest conversations with your companion approximately your goals, fantasies, and boundaries can lead to a deeper knowledge and connection. Creating a secure and non-judgmental area where both partners feel comfortable expressing their needs and exploring new thoughts is critical. Discussing what turns you on, sharing your fantasies, and requesting what you want can ..read more