It's Pride. Journalism and The LGBTQ Community Are Under Attack. Help Us Fight Back
Spencer Macnaughton | Uncloseted Media Weekly Newsletter
Happy, happy Pride Month to everyone on here. Pride is absolutely a time to party—some of my fondest memories are of bopping around Toronto’s village as a teenager. Yes, the drag queens and go-go dancers were fascinating… but I was most inspired by the advocates marching down Yonge Street with signs that read “LGBTQ RIGHTS NOW.”
This year, especially, feels like a moment to protest and call out the injustices we are facing. The government, big tech, religious institutions and corporate America have turned their back on the LGBTQ community over the last two years.
That’s translated into a dark reality for the next generation. There are hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills sweeping through state legislatures. The Trump administration recently classified trans Americans as a terrorist threat. And in March, the Supreme Court overturned Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy.
Per the photo above of me at four years old, I was a happy kid, thanks in large part to being raised by a family and social circle that accepted me.
But I’ve also always been outraged by injustice. Two years ago, when I launched Uncloseted, I never could have imagined how fast it’d grow. But the most important part is that my team and I get to wake up every day to hold the institutions outlined above accountable and document how they are creating a troubling and unequal reality for the LGBTQ kids of America.
We have the privilege and responsibility of offering a platform to the kids—some pictured below—who are ready to tell their stories and express their outrage and trauma, but also their hope for change.
You’ve helped us build this community, which now enables the stories of these kids to reach 20 million people a month.
Uncloseted fills a critical gap in a media ecosystem where the next generation is receiving their news from podcasters like Joe Rogan and Candace Owens, who have described LGBTQ people as pedophiles and perverts.
The state of media and LGBTQ issues today is not normal and it creates a dangerous precedent for the future of American democracy.
Uncloseted is responding to this problem with journalism that elevates and deepens the conversation. We’re doing our best to hold the line by holding those in power to account.
But we can’t do this alone. Will you help us help the next generation by supporting journalism you don’t find anywhere else? If so, we would love you to upgrade and become a paid or founding subscriber or make a gift through our 501(c)(3) sponsor here:
![Canadian Porn Star Milo Miles Was Banned From the US for 10 Years. Now, He’s Speaking Out [WATCH]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cO37!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2c319a8-b471-462e-8721-b048354c838c_1200x600.webp)
We had our third annual Pride fundraiser at the Mercedes Club rooftop last night in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. We raised funds and had meaningful (and fun!) conversations all in the name of supporting LGBTQ-focused investigative journalism. Thanks to the Mercedes Club for donating the space, and to our fantastic host committee, advisory board and staff.
“Fascism”—New Federal Rule Would Require Federal Funding Recipients To Deny Trans People Exist (Erin in the Morning)
The rule could have heavy impacts towards trans people across society.
Qween Jean Reacts to Tony Win - ‘It’s a Tremendous Blessing’ (Broadway World)
Qween Jean has made history, becoming the first openly trans person to win in her category.
Ebola ban prevents Ugandan LGBTQ+ activists from speaking at Ottawa rights conference (The Canadian Press)
The federal government’s blanket ban preventing people from some Ebola-affected countries from entering Canada is keeping Ugandan activists from attending a major LGBTQ+ rights conference in Ottawa.
Grand jury says judge ‘laid bare her bigotry’ by refusing to marry gay couple; find she should be removed (Syracuse.com)
A newly unsealed grand jury report reveals how a Syracuse City Court judge discriminated against a same-sex couple by refusing to marry them and attempted to conceal her actions.
Killer found guilty of hate crime in stabbing of gay man who was dancing to Beyoncé (LGBTQ Nation)
The killer tried to argue that he was acting in self-defense when he went up to the gay man, told him to stop dancing, and pulled a knife on him.
Over the next week, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting:
🆕 SATURDAY: Microsoft is one of the few big tech companies that continues to include pro-LGBTQ themes in its marketing. But behind the scenes, they’ve been rolling back protections for LGBTQ people in order to stay in Trump’s good graces. Hope Pisoni investigates.
🆕 TUESDAY: Across Illinois, conservative groups and parents are turning school policies for transgender students into political flashpoints — filing federal complaints and lawsuits against districts even when those policies follow state law. The attacks are forcing schools to spend public money defending themselves. Sam Donndelinger and the Chicago Sun-Times’ Violet Miller team up to investigate just how much money these schools are having to shell out.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints and story ideas!
Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chief — spencer@unclosetedmedia.com
If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation in the U.S. through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:
