Articles from the Constitution State
Reforms for vets
US Senator Richard Blumenthal and over a dozen LGBTQ advocates called for the US Department of Veterans Affairs to issue regulations to end discrimination against women, LGBTQ and other minority veterans at the department’s health care facilities.
The Senator was joined by the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and 13 other veterans advocacy groups in a petition to the department that formally called for the regulations, according to a report by the Westport–based NPR Public Radio station WSHU.
“Issuing regulations is long, long, long overdue,” Blumenthal said at a news conference in Washington, DC.“The ACA dates from the Obama administration, which failed to implement regulations, the Trump administration failed to do it, and so far, the Biden administration has failed. Implementing these regulations is the key to preventing discrimination.”
Alex Johnson, a legal intern with the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic, told WSHU, “Our clients have been dead-named, misgendered, targeted by VA security and denied access to the care that they require. This harassment has occurred at VA facilities across the country, from Connecticut to Florida to West Virginia to right here in DC.”
Most gay-friendly college
Connecticut College is the most gay-friendly college in the state, according to the latest Best Colleges listings.
Reports the school’s website:
“In honor of Pride Month, BestColleges used data available from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Campus Pride’s Index Score to rank the most LGBTQ-friendly institutions in each state. The methodology emphasizes LGBTQ-friendly policies, institutional commitment, academic life, housing and counseling, as well as academic quality and affordability.
“Conn’s LGBTQIA community is supported by active student groups, a safe and welcoming LGBTQIA Center, robust gender and sexuality programs, a diverse academic program, and a number of campus-wide policies and services.”
More: bestcolleges.com
Hartford Pride
Hartford Pride Week returns to downtown Hartford September 4–9, hosted by Out in CT and Connecticut Latinos Achieving Rights and Opportunities (CLARO).
Throughout the week of events, businesses and organizations help sponsor food, entertainment, activities, giveaways and more, and will culminate in a concert on Church Street on Sept. 9, featuring CeCe Peniston, Thelma Houston and Willie Gomez.
More: hartfordpride.org
‘Push ’n’ Pull’ parade
On September 24, Connecticut’s Wilton Pride and the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) are teaming up to host a “Push ’n’ Pull Parade” event where attendees can “parade and party with Pride on the NRVT!”
The fun begins with a pre-parade party, complete with a Best Dressed competition photo booth. The parade part travels along the trail, and it all wraps up with by a post-parade party, with music, treats, opportunities to learn about and support Wilton Pride, and the NRVT announcement of the Best Dressed winners. Categories include “Best Embodiment of Pride,” Best Use of Color” and “Most Creative use of Flair.”
More: @wiltonctpride, nrvt-trail.com
Out Film CT
Out Film CT will host their 36th annual nine-day LGBTQ Film Festival Oct. 6–15 at Trinity College in Hartford.
The festival, which has taken place every year since 1988, is the longest-running film fest in the state.
Out Film CT is a volunteer and nonprofit organization whose mission is “to entertain, educate and promote community through the exhibition of LGBTQ+ film.” In addition to their annual film festival, they also host their “Queer Thursdays” film series on the second Thursday of every month at Cinestudio.
More: outfilmct.org
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