From #20BITEEN to same-sex marriage getting passed in Northern Ireland.
For people within the LGBTQ+ community, this year held a lot of moments to be proud of, from the advancement of human rights, to community members thriving, to inspiring celebrity role models.
While memes took over Twitter and British drag fans became obsessed with RuPaul UK, there were also news stories that will impact the community for years to come.
There’s no room for all of the LGBTQ+ moments that took place over the year, but here are 10 of 2019’s best viral spots, including animal stories, memes and defiant messages of hope.
1. Same-sex marriage was passed in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland celebrated a vote passing same-sex marriages this year, with the law due to be finalised in January 2020.
Other countries to mark this milestone in 2019 included Austria, Taiwan and Ecuador.
Several indigenous tribes in the United States, including the Oglala Sioux Tribe, have also legalised same-sex marriage this year.
2. The penguins at London Aquarium became an unexpected part of the community.
London Aquarium’s same-sex penguin couple Rocky and Marama became parents after they were given an egg that a female penguin in the colony was unable to take care of.
The aquarium also revealed in September that the infant had become the first in its history not to have its gender assigned.
Graham McGrath, general manager at the aquarium, said: “While the decision may ruffle a few feathers, gender neutrality in humans has only recently become a widespread topic of conversation.
“It is completely natural for penguins to develop genderless identities as they grow into mature adults.”
3. Trans and non-binary candidates from across parties ran during the general election.
Transgender and non-binary candidates from across the political spectrum put themselves forward at the general election.
The 2019 election saw a record amount of non-binary politicians stand for election, with three putting themselves forward.
Some people have called me 'brave' for standing for parliament as a non-binary person, and I'd like to put that idea to bed. Almost all people are open-minded,generous,and loving;and my voters care more about policies then gender. I have faith in people,so don't need to be brave.
None of the trans or non-binary candidates who stood were successful, however with 45 out LGBTQ+ MPs elected in December, the UK now has the highest number in Parliament than any other government in the world.
Thom Kirkwood, who stood for Labour in Richmond, Yorkshire, said ahead of the election: “I think we’re starting to be properly represented; people are starting to realise that being trans or non-binary isn’t going to hold them back.”
4. Virgin Atlantic ran its inaugural Pride flight.
In June, Virgin Atlantic ran its first Pride Flight from Heathrow to Newark, to coincide with World Pride as it marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots.
The flight featured an all-LGBTQ+ crew and pilots and was hosted by Netflix star Tituss Burgess.
Celebrity passengers included Ru Paul’s star Courtney Act, I’m A Celebrity winner Scarlett Moffatt and Strictly’s AJ Prichard.
Also on the journey was Tree Sequoia, 80, who was working as a bartender in New York’s Stonewall Inn during the infamous demonstrations in 1969.
5. Pride Month threw up some incredible memes on Twitter.
Speaking of World Pride, Pride Month in general gave the community a huge opportunity for memes and fun on Twitter.
During June, social media was awash with GIFs celebrating the community and highlighting the significance of the month.
Pride month was also defiantly celebrated by LGBTQ+ people in areas where Pride marches are banned, including demonstrations in Cuba, Kenya and Uganda.
6. For some, the entire year was re-branded as #20BITEEN.
7. Protests against equality lessons outside a Birmingham school were permanently banned.
Demonstrations against LGBTQ+ inclusive education were permanently banned outside a primary school in November.
Anderton Park school in Birmingham was giving LGBTQ+ relationships education as part of its curriculum, which some parents attempted to halt with protests.
Andrew Moffat, assistant headteacher at Parkfield Community School, which was also protested against for its inclusive lessons, was invited to lead the Birmingham Pride parade in May.
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness championed LGBTQ+ inclusion in football after attending Brighton Pride.
Speaking at the event in August, Mr Souness said: “Society has made such giant strides generally in terms of LGBTQ, that as football people we’ve got to ask why does the issue of homophobia persist within our community and the professional game and challenge that.
“I’m here today as an ally and to bring attention to members of the LGBT community in the amateur game who are leading the charge in that conversation.”
With no openly gay or bisexual players currently in the Premier League, Mr Souness’ comments, as well as the rainbow laces campaign alongside charity Stonewall, bring much-needed LGBTQ+ visibility to football.
9. A Hallmark video featuring a same-sex wedding was pulled… and then put back up again.
The Hallmark Channel in the United States revised its decision to pull an advert featuring a same-sex couple.
The advert for wedding registry and planning website Zola features two women kissing, and was pulled from the channel following criticism from an anti-LGBTQ+ group.
After releasing an apology, the network said it will be working with charity GLAAD to better represent the community.
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, said in a statement: “LGBTQ+ people are, and will continue to be a part of advertisements and family programming and that will never change.”
10. Lastly, RuPaul’s Drag Race came to the UK for a British edition.
After 11 seasons of RuPaul’s US show Drag Race, the crew finally came to the UK to crown a British queen.
The Vivienne was appointed the UK’s first Drag Superstar and is heading to Hollywood to star in a digital TV series. Other finalists included Twitter favourite Baga Chipz and Divina de Campo.
The second series of Drag Race UK will take place in 2020, with casting already closed.
Thousands of United Methodists are gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, for their big denominational meeting, known as General Conference.
It’s a much-anticipated gathering. Typically it is held every four years, but church leaders delayed the 2020 gathering until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the 11-day gathering runs from April 23 to May 3. Among those assembling are hundreds of voting delegates — the United Methodists from across the globe who were elected to represent their regional church body — though as many as one-quarter of international delegates are not confirmed as able to attend. The delegates, half clergy and half lay Methodists, are the decision makers at General Conference.
General Conference — the only entity that can speak for the entire denomination — is a business meeting where delegates set policy, pass budgets and address other church-wide matters. It’s the only body that can amend the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which includes church law. It also includes Social Principles, which are non-binding declarations on social and ethical issues. There’s worship and fellowship, too.
Yes. This will be the first General Conference since more than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations left the United Methodist Church between 2019 and 2023 because the denomination essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and having “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” serving as clergy and bishops.
It’s possible. The delegates in Charlotte are expected to vote on whether to eliminate them. Similar efforts have failed in years past, but with the election of more progressive delegates and the departure of many conservatives, supporters of removing the bans are optimistic.
— Disaffiliations: The rules that allowed U.S. congregations to leave between 2019 and 2023. It allowed them to leave with their properties, held in trust for the denomination, under friendlier-than-normal legal terms. Some want similar conditions for international churches and for U.S. churches that missed the 2023 deadline.
—Regionalization: A proposal to restructure the denomination into regional conferences around the world, rather than having distinct names for U.S. and other jurisdictions. It would define the role of regions more precisely and put American congregations into their own regional body. Under this proposal, all regions would be able to adapt church policies to their local contexts, including those on marriage and ordination.
—Budgets: Because of all the disaffiliations, the conference will vote on a much-reduced budget proposal for the coming years.
New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the denomination’s Council of Bishops, addressed the recent schism head-on in feisty remarks during Tuesday's opening worship, which included music and Communion.
Bickerton spoke of his recent visit to a Texas conference that had lost more than half its congregations and said those remaining were committed to rebuilding the church. He said those at the General Conference should be doing the same – not continuing the controversy.
“Are you committed to the revitalization of the United Methodist Church?” Bickerton said to applause. “Are you here to work for a culture marked by compassion, courage, and companionship? … If you can’t agree to that, what are you doing here anyway? Maybe, just maybe, you’re in the wrong place.”
He alluded to criticism of the denomination during the disaffiliation debates and said it was holding on to its core beliefs.
“Don’t you tell us that we don’t believe in Scripture,” he said. “Don’t you tell us that we don’t believe in the doctrine of the church. And Lord have mercy, don’t tell us that we don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. … We have got to rebuild the church and we’ve got to do it together.”
Though thousands of Methodists with be attending the conference, there are only 862 official voting delegates, from the following regions of the church:
• 55.9% from the U.S.
• 32% from Africa
• 6% from the Philippines
• 4.6% from Europe
• 1.5% from concordant (affiliated) churches
No. As of last week, only about three-quarters of international delegates were confirmed as able to attend, the Commission on the General Conference reported Thursday. The other quarter includes 27 delegates unable to get visas or passports, others who couldn’t attend for various reasons, and 62 delegates still unconfirmed. African groups have strongly criticized denominational officials, faulting them for delays in providing necessary paperwork and information and raising questions about whether African conferences will accept voting results from the conference.
However, denominational officials defended their work Tuesday, telling the General Conference that visa requirements are stricter than in the past, that some regional conferences hadn’t followed correct procedures in sending reserve delegates — and that some would-be delegates received invitations sent by “an unauthorized person or people.” Delegates now must wear picture badges amid heightened scrutiny that their credentials are authentic. The conference overwhelmingly approved a resolution "to make every effort to listen to and carefully consider voices from regions that are underrepresented."
That varies widely, but those long active in the movement to repeal LGBTQ bans are focused strongly on the conference. First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, for example, held a commissioning service on April 14 for three members attending the conference in varying capacities. “It will be deeply meaningful for me personally to vote for those changes,” said member Tracy Merrick, who will be a delegate.
They’re part of a larger worldwide family of Methodists and other groups in the tradition of 18th century British Protestant revivalist John Wesley, who emphasized evangelism, holy living and social service. They hold many beliefs in common with other Christians, with some distinct doctrines. United Methodists traditionally ranged from liberal to conservative. They were until recently the third largest and most widespread U.S. denomination. Methodist missionaries planted churches worldwide, which grew dramatically, especially in Africa. Some became independent, but churches on four continents remain part of the United Methodist Church.
5.4 million in the United States as of 2022, but that will decline significantly due to 2023 disaffiliations.
4.6 million in Africa, Asia and Europe. That’s lower than earlier estimates but reflects more recent denominational reports.
SOURCES: General Council on Finance and Administration and other United Methodist entities.
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