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mississippi

Crime scene

Man pleads guilty to murder of gay University of Mississippi student Jimmie 'Jay' Lee

Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr., 25, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Jimmie "Jay" Lee.

rainbow flag and scales of justice

The 10 states that have passed pro-LGBTQ+ bills — or defeated the most anti-LGBTQ+ ones — in 2025

Liberal states stand out for passage of supportive laws, while the sheer volume of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in some conservative ones means many bills died there.

Early morning view of shrimp boats in Biloxi harbor

Queer survival in Mississippi and the bars that saved us

On Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, gay bars weren’t just nightlife but sanctuaries where queer Southeners risked everything to exist, to dance, and to be seen, writes Mark Burr.

gay couple holding hands at the summit of a hike

Which states have the fewest same-sex couples? These are the bottom 10

These are the states with the fewest same-sex couples cohabiting, per capita.

American flag with rainbow stripes outside U.S. capitol

Marriage equality will be banned in these 31 states if Obergefell is overturned

Over 60 percent of the country will no longer have marriage equality if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses it.

International Transgender Day of Visibility rally in Union Square New York City 2025

22 states that have passed anti-LGBTQ+ laws in 2025 so far

Here are all the anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have been passed so far in 2025, and which states they come from.

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Exterior of the Mississippi State Supreme Court Building in Jackson

Transgender teen can't legally change name until age 21, Mississippi Supreme Court rules

The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a 16-year-old trans boy cannot legally change his name even with the support of both his parents.

Mississippi Darwells Happiness Cafe alongside Trax Bar and Grill

A Mississippi cafe made a discount for straight couples only. Now, other restaurants are hitting back

Local restaurants are hosting drag shows and inclusive tours after Darwell’s Happiness Cafe claimed they "don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays."

From left: Darwell's Happiness Cafe; male-female couple

Mississippi restaurant gives out straight-couples-only offer and is roundly lambasted for it

"We don't do the trans or the lesbians or gays," an owner of Darwell's Happiness Cafe said.

queer teen doing homework with sibling playing video games in background

LGBTQ+ youth are 'discriminated against' in all 50 states — but some regions are worse

The Trevor Project's recent survey of LGBTQ+ mental health has "grim" findings.

Cowboy at Oklahoma Pride (L); Oklahoma Pride float with young people (M); Pulse Nightclub memorial mourners (R)

What states are the most dangerous for LGBTQ+ people? Here are the worst 15

A lot of states are passing laws that target the LGBTQ+ community — but these 15 are the absolute worst.

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How Grindr, Pornhub, Sniffies are responding to state restriction laws

A total of 19 U.S. states have enacted new laws impacting adult film platforms — some of which are preparing for the possibility of a ban.

murdered-gay-ole-miss-student-jimmy-jay-lee-sheldon-herrintgon-mugshot

Mistrial declared in case of missing Black gay Ole Miss student Jimmie ‘Jay’ Lee

Sheldon "Timothy" Herrington Jr. is still charged with capital murder and remains out on his $250,000 bond.

progress pride LGBTQ rainbow flag

These are the 5 states with the smallest amount of LGBTQ+ people

The states with the fewest queer people are also some of the states proposing and passing the most anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

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Jack Myers House LGBTQ homeless shelter opening jackson mississippi

Mississippi is getting its first-ever LGBTQ+ shelter — Here's where

The Jack Myers House opens on June 28, offering services for members of the queer community experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.