Current

― Advertisement ―

Massachusetts passes first-in-nation protections for HIV prevention

Massachusetts lawmakers, with the leadership of House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, and House Majority Leader Michael Moran, passed landmark legislation that will protect access to HIV prevention medication for residents and strengthen state efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Governor Healey signed the legislation on July 9.  The measure, included in the Fiscal Year 2027 annual budget submitted to Governor Healey on July 1, codifies into state statute current federal law and policy that requires insurance coverage for all FDA-approved HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications without co-pays, deductibles, or prior authorization. This legislation sets a national precedent by protecting Massachusetts residents from rollbacks in federal protections for...

Vermont Principals’ Association to pay Christian school $566K over trans athlete dispute

Despite having violated Vermont's Principals’ Association antidiscrimination and gender identity policies in 2023 by refusing to allow its girls basketball team to play against another team with a transgender...

Judge weighs DOJ’s demand for trans student-athlete records in Maine

A federal judge is "considering whether to compel the Maine Principals’ Association to provide the federal government with information about transgender student athletes," according to a report in the...

― Advertisement ―

Culture & Arts

For 42 years, Wicked Queer LGBTQ film fest stays forever bold

This year’s Wicked Queer, Boston’s LGBTQ+ film festival, boasts a feature documentary about iconic lesbian experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer. an indie romance starring British singing sensation Charli xcx and a film about legendary Boston film programmer George Mansour who founded the Boston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in 1984. So it’s fitting that the theme for this year’s event, which unspools April 3–12, is “Queer Audacity.” Now in its 42nd year, Wicked Queer is one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. The features, shorts and documentaries will screen at four area venues: Cambridge’s Brattle Theatre, Boston’s Museum...

Multiple award-winning ‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo coming to Tanglewood

Emmy, Tony, Grammy-winning, two-time Oscar nominee and LGBTQ+ pioneer in the performing arts Cynthia Erivo will perform with the Boston Pops at Tanglewood this...

Connecticut’s Jon Orsini balances acting career with wellness practice

“ How do we tell stories that reach people with limited scope, to get them to open up or change? ” Jon Orsini Connecticut resident Jon...

Prides Across New England 2026

Pride season is heating up, mark your calendar for the events across the region.

― Advertisement ―

State Newsmakers

Travel

Sports and recreation