Brody Levesque

Los Angeles

Editor-at-Large at Los Angeles Blade

Journalist * Editor * Author

Articles

LAUSD board votes to ban student cellphone use during school day

Jun 18, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) voted Tuesday to ban mobile phone use during the school day starting in January of 2025. The ban is a complete prohibition against access and use of mobile phones by students on all LAUSD school campuses, including break periods.
Appeals Court overturns Okla. anti-Trans birth certificate policy

Jun 18, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

DENVER, Colo. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit overturned a lower court ruling that had dismissed a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s anti-trans birth certificate policy, which categorically prohibits transgender people from correcting the gender marker on their birth certificates to match their gender identity.
Tampa trans woman qualifies to run for state House seat

Jun 17, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque |Mitch Perry

By Mitch Perry | TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Democratic Party boasted as candidate qualifying closed Friday that for the first time since the state Legislature flipped red three decades ago, it has a Democrat running for every state House and Senate district. That includes Hillsborough County’s 65th House District, where Ashley Brundage hopes to make history by becoming the first transgender person elected to serve in Tallahassee.
Anaheim neighbors show solidarity after Pride flag vandalism

Jun 17, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Neighbors in the Colony Park neighborhood of Anaheim are raising LGBTQ+ Pride flags on their homes in a show of solidarity and allyship after a same-sex couple’s Pride Flag was torn off their house and slashed. KABC 7 reported that Jake Nolan and his partner Jon had just put the flag up a few days ago. When they say it on the ground at first they thought perhaps the wind had torn it down. But when they looked at their doorbell camera they saw something much more disturbing.
Pride flags vandalized at Stonewall National Monument - again

Jun 15, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

NEW YORK, N.Y. – As the 55th anniversary of the queer uprising at the Stonewall Inn in West Greenwich Village, WABC 7 news anchor Bill Ritter interviews Ronald Porcelli, the director of the NYC Unity Project, Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice, and the co-owners of the Stonewall Inn, Stacy Lentz and Kurt Kelly.
Openly gay Carlos Guillermo Smith elected to Florida State Senate

Jun 14, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

ORLANDO, Fla. — Former State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith officially won his race for the Florida State Senate (District 17), becoming the second openly LGBTQ member elected to the chamber in state history. “He’s making history AGAIN as the 1st LGBTQ+ Latino in the Florida Senate. Together, we’re growing the multi-racial, multi-generational, working-class movement in Central Florida. Let’s go!” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost who represents Central Florida in the House.
Supreme Court rules to preserve access to abortion medication

Jun 13, 2024 | washingtonblade.com | Brody Levesque

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a much-anticipated decision against efforts by conservative doctors and medical groups challenging access to mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortions. As a result of the high court’s decision, access to the drug won’t change.
A Georgia Pride Executive Director arrested on drug & gun charges

Jun 13, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

STATESBORO, Ga. – Several hundred students and supporters gathered in the central atrium of the Russell Union student center at Georgia Southern University (GSU) on Monday protesting the suspension of an LGBTQ+ inclusion training program, Safe Space, to the relocation of health care resource listings from a GSU public website.
Supreme Court rules to preserve access to abortion medication

Jun 13, 2024 | losangelesblade.com | Brody Levesque

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a much-anticipated decision against efforts by conservative doctors and medical groups challenging access to mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortions. As a result of the high court’s decision, access to the drug won’t change.
Philadelphia man sentenced to 15-30 years in prison for gay journalist's murder

Jun 13, 2024 | washingtonblade.com | Brody Levesque

Following his win in the Democratic primary contest on Wednesday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who is running for auditor general, is positioned to potentially become the first openly LGBTQ elected official serving the commonwealth.