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Tuesday

A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have left the denomination as of December due to disagreements over whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy and perform same-sex weddings.

A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have left the denomination as of December due to disagreements over whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy and perform same-sex weddings. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption

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Charlie Riedel/AP

Religion

United Methodists will again debate LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings

The United Methodist Church is holding its first General Conference since the pandemic and will consider whether to change policies on several LGBTQ issues.

United Methodists will again debate LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings

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Friday

Wednesday

The number of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ+ doubled in 12 years, new poll shows

People participate in the New York City Pride Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York on June 26, 2022. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

National

The number of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ+ doubled in 12 years, new poll shows

In 2023, 7.6% of U.S. adults said they align themselves with the LGBTQ+ community, compared to 3.5% in 2012, the first year Gallup collected such metrics. That figure has grown every year since 2012.

Monday

A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas school, under the nose of censors
Becky Harlan/NPR

Books

A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas school, under the nose of censors

A teacher at a public school near Houston has a secret classroom bookshelf largely made up of challenged titles. Many of the books deal with race, sex and gender.

A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas school, under the nose of censors

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Wednesday

How schools (but not necessarily education) became central to the Republican primary

Perhaps no presidential candidate has leaned more into talking about schools than Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Tracking the issues in the 2024 election

How schools (but not necessarily education) became central to the Republican primary

GOP candidates talk about schools a lot on the campaign trail. But that doesn't mean they are talking a lot about education, instead focusing on culture war issues on the battleground of K-12 schools.

How schools (but not necessarily education) became central to the Republican primary

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Sunday

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

Ret. Lt. Col. Bob Alexander stayed closeted in the Air Force for 20 years because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He came out when the policy ended, and when he retired, he decided to help those who weren't discharged honorably because of their sexual orientation. He resides in Washington D.C., and works as a cybersecurity attorney. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

National

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

Twelve years after repeal of the ban on gay and lesbian troops serving openly, no one in the military or the VA knows how many vets are still without the benefits they're owed.

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

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Wednesday

Friday

What is LGBTQ History Month and why did a Miami school board change its mind about it?

The Miami-Dade County Public School Board voted against making October LGBTQ History Month. The board voted in favor of observing the history month last year, but reversed its decision to align with Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill. Miami-Dade County Public School Board screen grab hide caption

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Miami-Dade County Public School Board screen grab

Education

What is LGBTQ History Month and why did a Miami school board change its mind about it?

LGBTQ History Month celebrates 31 days of education and recognition of the LGBTQ civil rights movement. A school board in Miami voted against the month-long observance, after approving it last year.

Wednesday

J.K. Rowling's new book, about a character accused of transphobia, raises eyebrows

J.K Rowling has said publicly that her new book was not based on her own life, even though some of the events that take place in the story did in fact happen to her as she was writing it. Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images

Books

J.K. Rowling's new book, about a character accused of transphobia, raises eyebrows

In The Ink Black Heart, a popular cartoonist is harassed and killed after her work is criticized as transphobic. Observers say the plot mirrors Rowling's experience, though she calls it a coincidence.

Wednesday

Tina Kotek's win comes amid a wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office

Tina Kotek speaks during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2016. On Tuesday, she won Oregon's gubernatorial Democratic primary. If she wins in November, Kotek will be the nation's first openly lesbian governor. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Elections

Tina Kotek's win comes amid a wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office

Kotek won her state's Democratic primary on Tuesday. If she wins the general election later this year, she will become the country's first openly lesbian governor.

Friday

LGBTQ groups sue Florida over the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education, the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, flanked by elementary school students during a news conference on Monday at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla. Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP hide caption

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Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP

National

LGBTQ groups sue Florida over the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law

The challenge against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis aims to block a new law that forbids classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

Thursday

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Directs Fiery Essay At Former Student — And Cancel Culture

Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in Paris in Jan. 2020. Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Directs Fiery Essay At Former Student — And Cancel Culture

Two literary stars from Nigeria are engaging in a very public feud — a fight that is both personal and also enfolds bigger questions about feminism, gender identity and social media.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Directs Fiery Essay At Former Student — And Cancel Culture

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Wednesday

New York Repeals 'Walking While Trans' Law

The new measure signed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday bans an old law that resulted in decades of discrimination by police against women of color and people who are transgender. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Law

New York Repeals 'Walking While Trans' Law

The anti-loitering law, passed in 1976, resulted in decades of discrimination by law enforcement against women of color and people who are transgender, critics say.

Thursday

Georgia Church Leaves United Methodist Over LGBTQ Clergy, Same-Sex Marriage

Virtual worship services announcement at United Methodist Church in Moscow, Idaho. The denomination, with some 13 million members worldwide, is experiencing a major internal rift over same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. Education Images/Education Images/Universal Image hide caption

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Education Images/Education Images/Universal Image

Religion

Georgia Church Leaves United Methodist Over LGBTQ Clergy, Same-Sex Marriage

Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, which supports LGBTQ rights, announced Thursday that it would split with the United Methodists, becoming the first congregation in the country to do so.

Sunday