Alabama LGBT

Transgender youth in the United States, including in Alabama, have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald Trump, who made anti-transgender themes central to his campaign. Many teens worry about how their lives could change once he becomes president.

A Birmingham-based nonprofit that preserves LGBTQ history in the Deep South is offering an educational lecture during LGBT History Month. Invisible Histories invites the public to take part in "Extra! Extra!" Queer All About It: Southern LGBTQ Newpapers and Magazines. The event is set for 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 17.

October is LGBT History Month, where each year the history and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are celebrated. Oct. 11 is Coming Out Day. It's an annual observance, in Alabama and across the country, dedicated to celebrating and supporting individuals in the LGBTQ+ community as they share their authentic selves with the world.

An Alabama bill that impacts college DEI programs, bathroom access has been in effect across the Yellowhammer State for about a week. The SB129 legislation prohibits public universities, K-12 school systems and state agencies in Alabama from maintaining DEI offices.

A Montgomery nonprofit is working to highlight the epidemic of hate-fueled crimes, their survivors and the advocacy to prevent the crimes. The Southern Poverty Law Center is holding its Hate Crimes Awareness Month multi-media campaign throughout October.

New federal protections for transgender students at U.S. schools and colleges have launched, but not everywhere, including in Alabama. Most Republican-led states challenged the rule from President Joe Biden's administration, took effect Thursday. In response, judges have blocked enforcement in 21 states plus hundreds of individual schools and colleges.

A federal judge has postponed the upcoming trial over Alabama's ban on the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a similar case from Tennessee.

Advocacy for Alabama’s LGBTQ+ communities is continuing beyond the ending of Pride Month. The Alabama Latino Access Center is part of the social services of AIDS Alabama. The program works with medical providers and community liaisons to connect Latinx people with healthcare and other resources.

Invisible Histories in Birmingham collected its 150 LGBTQ+ archival last month after six years of working to preserve materials that represent the rich history of the southern LGBTQ+ community.

Invisible Histories, which locates, collects, researches and creates community-based, educational programming around LGBTQIA+ history in the Deep South, is hosting a virtual discussion about southern sapphic history. Registration for the event closes on Monday, June 24.