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The Vital Role of LGBTQ+ Nurses in Southern Healthcare

Posted on September 20, 2024

The LGBTQ+ community has faced discrimination for decades, especially in healthcare settings. A recent survey from KFF shows that up to 41 percent of queer individuals are more likely to receive unfair or disrespectful treatment at the doctor’s office compared to their straight counterparts. Younger LGBTQ+ individuals, queer BIPOC patients, and those who report lower incomes are the most likely to experience discrimination. …

Navigating LGBTQ Housing Options: Finding Safe and Affirming Spaces for Queer Individuals

Posted on August 16, 2024

It can be difficult to truly assess the queer-friendliness of a town before living there. When looking for a place to call home, you want to feel safe and allowed to express all parts of yourself without judgment. Ideally, you want to find a space that embraces diversity, understanding, and acceptance. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to find queer-affirming spaces in the United States, even in historic southern neighborhoods and rural areas. Here, we explore how to find a…

Safe Spaces: The Role of Schools in Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth

Posted on June 2, 2024

With a nation so divided over how people should be allowed to identify, it’s more urgent now than ever for schools to take action to protect LGBTQ+ youth. The majority, 62 percent, of elementary school teachers report that they don’t think gender identity should be taught in their schools. Queer issues in the classroom aren’t broached very often across the board, with just 29 percent of teachers reporting discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation. For LGBTQ+ students, this can feel…

Drag is Not a Crime: Supporting Rural Communities

Posted on May 16, 2024

Drag has long been a vibrant and multifaceted part of LGBTQIA+ culture, embodying themes of creativity, resilience, and community cohesion. Recently, however, the relevance and legitimacy of drag have been challenged, particularly in rural locales where LGBTQIA+ visibility is notably sparse. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative to understand and affirm drag’s critical role in these spaces as a signifier of enduring queer culture and social progress.…

Don’t Create Safe Spaces: Shift Toward Safer Spaces

Posted on March 21, 2024

A photo of a queer person in a safe space.

In the wake of increasing societal awareness around the need to support marginalized communities, the concept of “safe spaces,” particularly in the context of the LGBTQA+ community, has come to the forefront. These spaces are designed to eliminate biases and microaggressions, creating environments that promote respect and inclusivity. But as appealing as this ideal sounds, the notion of a universal “safe space” is both unrealistic and potentially limiting. Let’s explore a more pragmatic approach: shifting from pursuing safe spaces to…

How LGBTQ Entrepreneurs Can Pitch Their Business Ideas to Southern Lenders

Posted on February 19, 2024

Being an entrepreneur is an incredible opportunity. Not only do you get to bring your unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the market, but your approach as a businessperson can also drive change. Your choices can make you instrumental in boosting diverse workplaces in your area and providing support for the next generation of queer professionals. Yet, there are still hurdles before you’re able to have this kind of impact. One of the significant challenges to starting a company is gaining…

Moving Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: Succeed in 2024

Posted on December 30, 2023

As the year comes to an end, many of us feel compelled to set New Year’s resolutions for 2024. This tradition, while well-meaning, often leads to short-lived commitments that fade by February. Why? Because we often view resolutions as temporary changes rather than lifelong transformations. The journey toward personal and professional success requires more than mere resolutions—it calls for a shift toward a goal-setting mindset. So what’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? Resolutions often revolve around breaking…

Queer Women in Motorcycling: Breaking Stereotypes and Shaping the Culture

Posted on December 19, 2023

Queer women have been breaking barriers and redefining the norms of historically male-dominated sports for decades. Motorcycling has long been linked with masculinity, but there’s a growing community of queer women riders who are challenging these stereotypes and making riding more accessible to everyone.…

World AIDS Day: Four Ways to Address Stigma within the LGBTQIA+ Community

Posted on December 1, 2023

In recent decades, significant strides have been made in the global battle against HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day, marked on December 1 each year, serves as a poignant reminder of the progress achieved, the challenges that persist, and the need for continued awareness and action. …

Men’s Health: Beyond Traditional Notions of Masculinity

Posted on November 23, 2023

A photo of a man not conforming to traditional masculinity.

November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and it is essential to recognize the challenges all men face, as well as how their identities and communities impact those hurdles. In general, men experience hardships related to societal expectations of their gender identities—the pressure to be masculine, maintain a specific appearance, and find fulfillment in their gender roles. This complexity expands when considering factors such as race, cisnormativity, sexual and romantic orientations, generational differences, and the intersectionality that all men carry.…

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