Pride Press: 5 Things That Happened in July

Keeping up with current events and news is always important, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you are a member or an ally, it is always critical to stay informed. Pride Palace understands this, and that’s why we came up with Pride Press. Pride Press, featured in our Tik Tok page, covers important news in the LGBTQ+ community in just a few sentences. The more knowledge, the better. So stay tuned and keep reading for a Pride Press special: 5 Things That Happened in July!

1) Mj Rodriguez became the first out trans woman to be nominated in a lead acting category

Pose’s Mj Rodriguez made history in July when she received an Emmy nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the first out transgender woman to be recognized in a lead acting category. The first Emmy was awarded back in 1949, which begs the question as to why there has been no trans women representation until now. We need more transgender representation in media, and MJ Rodriguez is paving the way!

2) Joe Biden nominated the first out lesbian to an ambassador-level post

In July 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Chantale Wong as the U.S. Director of the Asian Development Bank. Wong became the first out LGBTQ+ person of color to be nominated for an ambassador-level position in the entire history of the United States. We love seeing LGBTQ+ women of color do amazing things in government!

3) Lehlogonolo Machaba became the first trans woman to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant

Lehlogonolo Machaba, 24, made history as the first trans woman to rank in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant last month. Not only did Machaba rank, she made it to the top 30 contestants. "It would mean a lot for me as a trans woman to win Miss South Africa but also I believe it would mean a lot for the queer community in South Africa. It would show that South Africa is breaking boundaries,” she explained.

4) US promised to add gender-neutral option on passports

The United States promised to add a third gender option on its passports for those who may not identify as male or female. The US will join the growing list of countries to offer a third, or “X”, option in their passports. Furthermore, the State Department announced that Americans would no longer need to provide medical certification if they wanted to change the gender on their passport. This is huge for not only non-binary Americans, but for all of us allies who have waited for these and more actions to come from the government.

5) Sir Richard Branson took a Pride flag to space to honor the Pulse nightclub victims

Pulse Remembrance Day is observed annually on June 12th as a way to honor the 49 lives that were taken at Pulse nightclub on June 12th, 2016. British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson recently went to space and brought a Pride flag along with him to honor these victims. “Somebody who lost a loved one at the massacre asked if I would do that. We also have many, many friends who are gay and I know people who lost friends there,” explained Branson.

We hope that you not only learned something new, but can also continue learning and spreading information. Remember: It is very important to stay informed, whether you are a member or an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. Stay tuned to our TikTok page for more Pride Press videos!

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