Irene Monroe

United States

Columnist and Podcaster at GBH News (Boston, MA)

GBH Media Commentator & podcast, columnist, LGBT Activist, Public Theologian

Articles

Immigrant life in "Jaja's African Hair Braiding"

1 week ago | mysouthend.com | Irene Monroe

"Jaja's African Hair Braiding" is a tragicomedy. Once again, Jocelyn Bioh brings another thorny issue to the stage. In "School Girl; Or, The African Mean Girls Play," Bioh tackled colorism and Eurocentric concepts of feminine beauty. In "Jaja's African Hair Braiding," Bioh sheds light on immigration. Jaja is the proprietor of Jaja's African Hair Braiding in Harlem. Her hair braiders are catty, gossipy, fussy, and shape-tongued women dealing with their ebbs and flows of everyday life.
Today we must honor the trans troops who are fighting a war waged by their own country

1 week ago | lgbtqnation.com | Irene Monroe

There will be parades all across the country this Memorial Day commemorating our U.S. service members who died while serving the country. But not all service members will be honored for their acts of service, bravery, and patriotism. Back in the day, LGBTQ+ service members who died in service were either closeted about their sexual orientation and gender identities or were discharged under “Fraudulent Enlistment.” Unfortunately, today, not much has changed.
Who will celebrate our trans service members on this Memorial Day?

2 weeks ago | outinjersey.net | Irene Monroe

There will be parades all across the country this Memorial Day commemorating our U.S. service members who died while in the military. But not all service members will be honored for their acts of service, bravery, and patriotism. Back in the day, LGBTQ service members who died while serving our country were either closeted about their sexual orientation and gender identities or were discharged under “honorable conditions,” called “Fraudulent Enlistment.”Unfortunately, today, not much has changed.
In honor of black trans women

1 month ago | outinjersey.net | Irene Monroe

Transgender rights have been on the chopping block since the Trump 2.0 administration took office. Pushback, however, has been equally fierce across the country in Trump’s attempt to erase our trans and nonbinary communities from the social fabric of American life. Our communities have clapped back in political and artistic ways. I honor two black transwomen: Rita Hester and Giselle Kristina Byrd.
Pope Francis' complicated legacy with LGBTQ Catholics

1 month ago | outinjersey.net | Irene Monroe

On Easter Monday, the world received the news of Pope Francis’s passing at the age of 88. The news was a surprise after the pontiff’s herculean battle with pneumonia and his appearance at Easter Sunday Mass. Francis was one of the most beloved popes of the Catholic Church. He was called the People’s Pope. However, when it came to LGBTQ inclusion in the Church, Francis left a complicated legacy. It was one of of dashed hopes and waiting for change.
Pope Francis's Complicated Legacy with LGBTQ+ Catholics

1 month ago | laprogressive.com | Irene Monroe |Rob Maurer

During Francis's tenure as pope, I came to depict him as the consummate flip-flopper whose good intentions never fully followed up with good actions. On Easter Monday, the world received the news of Pope Francis's passing at the age of 88. The news was a surprise after the pontiff's herculean battle with pneumonia and his appearance at Easter Sunday Mass. Francis was one of the most beloved popes of the Catholic Church. He was called the People's Pope.
DignityUSA leader met with Pope Francis

1 month ago | baywindows.com | Irene Monroe

DignityUSA is the world's oldest organization of LGBTQIA+ Catholics. Since 1969, the organization has advocated for change in the Roman Catholic Church. For three weeks in October, Catholics from around the world came to Rome for the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to discuss a range of topics confronting the present-day Church as it prepares to govern itself in the future. Among the many Catholics was Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA since 2007.
In honor of black trans women

2 months ago | baywindows.com | Irene Monroe

Transgender rights have been on the chopping block since the Trump 2.0 administration took office. Pushback, however, has been equally fierce across the country in Trump's attempt to erase our trans and non-binary communities from the social fabric of American life. Our trans and non-binary communities have clapped back in political and artistic ways. For 2025 Women's History Month, I honor two black transwomen- Rita Hester and Giselle Kristina Byrd.
This Black trans theater head knows art is key to resistance. She refuses to cower to Donald Trump.

2 months ago | lgbtqnation.com | Irene Monroe |Giselle Byrd

Transgender rights have been placed on the chopping block by the second Trump administration. Pushback, however, has been equally fierce across the country as activists combat Donald Trump’s attempt to erase our trans and nonbinary communities from the social fabric of American life. For this year’s Women’s History Month, I’d like to honor two Black trans women: Rita Hester and Giselle Kristina Byrd. I honor Hester for her life and legacy and Byrd for her historic appointment.
Honoring Black Transwomen

2 months ago | laprogressive.com | Irene Monroe |Rob Maurer

Since Trump 2.0, the LGBTQ+ community has been under fire even more than in the past. In response, now more than ever we must honor transgender rights. Transgender rights have been on the chopping block since the Trump 2.0 administration took office. Pushback, however, has been equally fierce across the country in Trump's attempt to erase our trans and non-binary communities from the social fabric of American life.