The Eight Most Heartwarming LGBTQ News Stories Of 2019

In case you missed them or just need a good mood boost, here are 8 inspiring and heartwarming LGBTQ news stories of 2019 (in no particular order)!

1. Straight ‘Country Boy’ Drove His Internet-Famous Rainbow Truck In Oklahoma City’s Pride Parade

Cody Barlow, the self-described straight “country boy” who made headlines earlier this year with his viral rainbow pride pickup truck, was greeted with cheers and hugs as he took part in Oklahoma City Pride parade in July.

The Navy veteran, who lives in Wagoner, Oklahoma, was invited to participate join the parade by the staff of a local LGBT newspaper in Oklahoma City.

Barlow’s pickup truck became a viral internet sensation when he posted a photo on Facebook that showed his truck’s tailgate decorated with rainbow colors and the message “Not all country boys are bigots. Happy pride month.” Read more here.

2. Transgender Man Sends 4,000+ Christmas Cards To LGBT People Disowned By Families

A 21-year-old from Devon, England, who was left cut off from the world due to illness, has started the Rainbow Cards project to help the world’s LGBT+ community overcome loneliness, especially during the holiday season.

Ellis Roberts-Wright – who is transgender and bisexual – launched the project from his home in Axminster with the idea to send Christmas cards to LGBTQ+ people who have been disowned by their own families. Read more here.

3. Two Moms Adopt 3 Young Brothers To Keep Them From Being Split Apart

Three young brothers found a new loving family when a Massachusetts couple welcomed them into their home with open arms.

In 2017, KC and Lena Currie, of Sudbury, met their son Joey at an event sponsored by Children’s Friend, an affiliate of the nonprofit organization, Seven Hills Foundation, in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.

“We saw a picture of Joey and Children’s Friend mentioned [it] would be a good match,” Lena told Good Morning America. “He was 18 months old at the time.”

In early 2018, after fostering Joey, the Curries adopted him. He’s now three-years-old. One year later, they adopted Joey’s biological brothers, Logan, 2 and Noah, 1, on Nov. 23 — National Adoption Day. Read more here.

4. Entire Methodist Confirmation Class Publicly Denounces Their Church’s Anti-LGBT Policies, Receive Standing Ovation

In response to the United Methodist Church strengthening its ban on openly gay clergy and same-sex marriages across the U.S., a group of eight teenagers, aged 13 and 14, who make up this year’s confirmation class at a historic United Methodist church in the Midwest have taken the unprecedented step of refusing to join the church.

The teens stood before the congregation at First United Methodist Church in Omaha, Neb., on Confirmation Sunday (April 28) and read a letter saying they do not want to become members at this time.

The teens said they took their stand on principle because they believed the church’s vote to uphold and strengthen its anti-LGBTQ stances to be “immoral” and “unjust.” The teens received a standing ovation from the audience members. Read more here.

5. NBA Star Dwyane Wade Says It’s His “Job As A Father” To Support Son At Pride Parade

Retired NBA star Dwyane Wade spoke out about why it’s important for him to publicly support his 12-year-old son, Zion, who recently attended the Miami Beach Gay Pride parade.

Read more here.

6. U.S. Embassies Hoist Rainbow Flags In Defiance Of Rejected Requests From Trump Admin

Several U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions around the world were spotted hoisting rainbow flags in honor of Pride Month earlier this year, despite a string of rejections from the Trump administration of requests to fly the iconic flag. Read more here.

7. Washington Nationals Pitcher To Skip Trump White House Visit, Wants To Be An Ally To Wife’s 2 Moms

Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle refused to visit the White House in November after his team won the World Series, in part because he wants to be an ally to LGBTQ people. His wife has two mothers. Read more here.

8. She Attends Gay Weddings As A ‘Stand-In-Mom’ When Family Members Refuse To. Now They’re Making A Movie About Her

Sara Cunningham made national headlines in 2018 when she posted on Facebook that she would attend weddings as a stand-in mom since so many LGBTQ people have been rejected by their parents. But when it was revealed that Jamie Lee Curtis had purchased the rights to her life story, the internet exploded in anticipation and cheers. Read more here.