An aerial view of a large crowd of people wearing pink hats, holding signs, and participating in a public protest or demonstration.

People Will Talk: The 2017 Silver Lining Edition


By Nancy Ford

JANUARY
“We firmly declare that LGBTQIA Rights are Human Rights and that it is our obligation to uplift, expand and protect the rights of our gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans or gender non-conforming brothers, sisters and siblings. We must have the power to control our bodies and be free from gender norms, expectations and stereotypes.â€
—Passage in the unity principals from The Women’s March on Washington affirming LGBTQIA rights. The march brought millions of women, men, and children out into the streets to demonstrate. Via LGBTQNation.com

FEBRUARY
“Researchers found that children with lesbian mothers and children with gay fathers both had low levels of emotional or behavioral issues. Gay fathers reported even less internalization of problems among their children than did lesbian mothers, countering the idea that children with two fathers may have adjustment problems.â€
—LGBT HealthLink. Via HuffingtonPost.com

MARCH
“I don’t care! I don’t look at their face—I look at their heart…. Somebody who feels a heart ticking. And nobody can do that unless you let them.â€
—Roman, who is 96 and newly out, on his quest for a man to love. Via HuffingtonPost.com

APRIL
“Our role is to drink and celebrate with all the amazing journalists, who are doing great work in this terrifying time.â€
—Tegan Quin of the queer-twin pop-rock duo Tegan and Sara in a red carpet interview at Full Frontal With Samantha Bee’s Not The White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Via WashingtonPost.com

MAY
“Players attempt to solve the crime of who ate the last piece cheesecake, what they left at the scene of the crime, and which room they did it in. The players can assume the role of any of the four women or that of a mystery suitor. And instead of murder weapons, the key tools of this game are more golden such as a bathrobe, a purse and lipstick.â€
—A description of Clue: The Golden Girls, a new version of the board game based on the cult television classic. Via NewNowNext.com

JUNE
“The world is changing and they say it’s time to be free,
But you live with the fear of just being me.
Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be.
No harm for them, no harm for me,
But life is short, and it’s time to be free.
Love who you love, because life isn’t guaranteed.â€
—Gloria Carter, coming out as lesbian in her son Jay-Z’s video, Smile, from his album, 4:44. Via LGBTQNation.com

JULY
“Brendan is strong and smart and loving and a obviously a leader!! Titi Jenn loves you!!â€
—Jennifer Lopez, in support of her sister’s non-binary child. In July, Brendan represented their school at the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC. Via Instagram.com

AUGUST
“I really thought I was going to die that night if he had kept punching me. Drag queens are the strongest people in the LGBTI community. They stand there and say ‘This is who I am and I’m proud.’ I hope to replace my hero’s hair, ruined because of her good heart. To replace her nails, broken because of her courage. To get her new heels because she stood up for what is right.â€
—Ivan Flinn, a gay man in Sydney, Australia, was being beaten by a group of straight men shouting homophobic slurs when a trio of drag queens named Ivy Leaguee, Coco Jumbo, and Vybe saved him. It will cost about $800 US to replace the drag queens’ wigs, nails and heels. Via LGBTQNation.com

SEPTEMBER
“Darn it, I thought no one knew I had a super power over weather.â€
—Victory Fund president and former Houston mayor Annise Parker, responding to conservative pundit Ann Coulter tweet that stating she doesn’t believe “Hurricane Harvey is God’s punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor. But that is more credible than ‘climate change.’†Via Twitter.com

OCTOBER
“We see a lot on the topic of sexual fluidity in the media, but it seems as if little of this information has trickled down into clinical practice. Healthcare providers need to recognize this new reality and incorporate it into their approaches to caring for their female patients.â€
—University of Utah Professor of Gender Studies and Psychology, Dr. Lisa Diamond, at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting, discussing lesbian sexuality and whether sexual attraction is likely to change as women age. Via ScienceDaily.com

NOVEMBER
“Today, we offer a long overdue apology to all those whom we, the Government of Canada, wronged. We are sorry. We hope by acknowledging our failings we can make the crucial progress LGBTQ2 people in Canada deserve. We will continue to support each other in our fight for equality because we know that Canada gets stronger every single day that we choose to embrace diversity.â€
—Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an apology delivered in the Canadian Parliament’s House of Commons regarding members of Canada’s LGBTQ community who were discriminated against by federal legislation and policies. Via NBCNews.com

DECEMBER
“I think it is something that is bound to happen. Like elsewhere in the world, the activity of individuals and groups (can make it happen).â€
—President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, saying he believes his country will legalize homosexuality in time, as public support grows. Homosexual sex is currently illegal in Ghana, and can result in up to three years of imprisonment for those found guilty. Via AlJazeera.com

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