Diversity

Dr. Ruha Benjamin stressed that the people and companies behind the screen, not the technology itself, are responsible for the harms of artificial intelligence. Dr. Benjamin, the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and founding director of the Ida B. Wells JUST Data Lab, called tech industry leaders “the artificial intelligentsia” and warned that they want the public to believe democracy is outdated software. Drawing on Black intellectual tradition from W.E.B.

On July 15, 2026, Judge John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision that could revive a federal grant program the President declared dead more than a year ago. In National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) v. Trump (Civil Action No. 25-3606), the court held that the Digital Equity Act of 2021 contains an unconstitutional racial classification, but that this single flaw does not doom the law.

This report synthesizes findings from academic and industry research, civil society documentation, journalism, and GLAAD’s own monitoring to provide a comprehensive examination of AI’s impacts on LGBTQ people. Key findings include:

AI has been trained on biased data that can reinforce harmful stereotypes and spread misinformation about LGBTQ+ people, said GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. AI is increasingly embedded across platforms, and companies must ensure it is trained responsibly because the harm can extend far beyond digital communications.

May 8, 2026, marked one year since President Donald Trump terminated the grants made under the Digital Equity Act. The Digital Equity Act, part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), is a landmark piece of legislation that primed all 50 states and U.S. territories to implement programs to improve digital literacy, improve access to affordable internet-connected devices, provide technical support, and increase awareness of privacy and cybersecurity.

A year ago today, President Trump abruptly “canceled” the Digital Equity Act (DEA) for being a “woke handout.” The DEA, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, directed funding to states, territories, and community organizations to address the Digital Divide and ensure that everyone has internet-enabled devices, reliable internet service, and the skills needed to use broadband to improve their lives.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon ruled that the U.S.

The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau approved the sale of certain local broadcast TV stations from TEGNA to Nexstar, with certain conditions Nexstar committed to in the record. The Media Bureau found that approving this transaction, with those commitments, will empower these broadcasters to better serve their communities by investing in local news and reporting. The transaction will also enable these broadcast TV stations to counter the growing power that national programmers have amassed in recent years.

Reps Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), and Troy Carter, Sr. (D-LA) introduced the Communications Equity and Diversity Council Act, which would compel the Federal Communications Commission to re-establish the Communications Equity and Diversity Council.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau approved Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises, Inc.’s residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT and cloud businesses.  As approved by the FCC, the resulting combination will provide significant benefits to Americans, including in rural parts of the country, from increased investment in rural infrastructure builds to more job opportunities on U.S.