A Supreme Court case that will decide whether Tennessee can continue to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth could imperil the ability of all Americans to make decisions about their health care, experts say. The outcome depends on how far the court is willing to stretch its ruling that overturned federal abortion rights.In United States v. Skrmetti, the court has agreed to take up the question of whether gender-affirming care bans for trans youth are unconstitutional, in response to the Biden administration petitioning on behalf of trans youth and their families in Tennesseeone of 26 states that has banned such care for minors. The outcome of the case will grant much-needed clarity in a political landscape that has thrown the lives of trans people across the country into turmoil, as hospitals turn patients away, pharmacies deny prescriptions and families travel hundreds of miles to find care.But with the case set for oral arguments on Dec. 4, the stakes are even higher than most Americans realize, legal and policy experts say. As reported by The 19th, Tennessee has banned gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, for a specific demographictrans youthwhile allowing those same treatments for cisgender youth. If the Supreme Court allows the state to keep its ban in place, that could imperil everyones access to health care.What the state of Tennessee is arguing is really dangerous for any person who has any sort of medical condition, said Ezra Young, a civil rights lawyer and constitutional scholar. Tennessee is dictating what medical treatments people should or should not be allowed to have, Young said; that goes well beyond states authority to regulate medicine, specifically because giving health care to trans people is not a public health concern.The state can make sure that the doctor you see has a medical degree and has an active medical license, for instance, he said. What the state cant do is micromanage the medical decision-making of patients or doctors, and thats for good reason. Bureaucrats or lawmakers arent medical experts.Yet in half of U.S. states, Republican lawmakers have banned or restricted medical care that many trans people need to live, over the protests of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and other leading medical groups. Federal judges have attempted to block these bans from taking hold, finding them to be likely unconstitutional. Appeals court judges have disagreed and overturned those decisions. Now, the Supreme Court will have the final say.If we dont win here, its going to be open season on any health care related to transgender people, said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. If the Supreme Court holds that banning gender-affirming care is not discriminatory, then trans people would no longer be protected under the Affordable Care Act, he said. States and private insurers would be able to exclude gender-affirming care from coverage plans.It would be devastating. I mean, absolutely catastrophic, Minter said.Ultimately, the outcome of this case will have a wider impact beyond gender-affirming care. A Supreme Court ruling endorsing Tennessees argument that the state can ban safe medical carejust because it disagrees with who that treatment is being given towould enable the government to control peoples health decisions and enact other blatantly discriminatory policies, legal experts say.I think this case has bigger and broader implications than a lot of people realize, even frankly within the legal community, said Michael Ulrich, an associate professor of health law, ethics and human rights at Boston Universitys School of Public Health and School of Law. If the Supreme Court agrees with Tennessees ban, theres nothing stopping states from banning or restricting other kinds of health care, he saidlike what gets covered under Medicaid.Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogars office, representing the Biden administration, will split argument time before the Supreme Court with Chase Strangio, co-director of the American Civil Liberties Unions LGBTQ & HIV Project.The United States v. Skrmetti case is focused on whether Tennessees gender-affirming care ban violates the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. The state insists that its ban has nothing to do with sex and that it does not target trans people. Instead, the law sets age and use-based limits, Tennessees attorney general argues. Minors can still access hormones and puberty blockers for medical purposes, as long as those treatments are not being used as part of a gender transition or to alleviate gender dysphoria. The state claims such a distinction is not based on sex because neither boys nor girls can use these drugs for gender transition.To support this argument that the ban is not discriminatory, Tennessee is looking to the case that overturned federal abortion rights.In Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the Supreme Court found that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in the United States. This ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that had guaranteed the right to an abortion since 1973. When writing the majority opinion in Dobbs, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito briefly addressed a theory that suggests abortion could be covered under the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. This idea is not part of Roe, or at issue in Dobbs, but was invoked in a separate friend of the court brief. Alito dismissed it, saying that state regulations on abortion do not discriminate based on sex.So thats what the state of Tennessee is now latching on to, this passing reference, this brief statement in Dobbs, and theyre pinning their whole argument on it, said Minter. Everything hinges on it.In Dobbs, Alito wrote that abortion cannot be protected under the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, citing the arcane Geduldig v. Aielloa case about pregnancy-related disability benefitsand Bray v. Alexandria Womens Health Clinic, a case dealing with the rights of anti-abortion protesters. These rarely cited cases found that state regulations on abortion and pregnancy, or opposing abortion, is not sex discrimination. Tennessee is now using this framework to argue that any disparate impact on transgender-identifying persons caused by its law does not single trans people out for discrimination in ways covered by the 14th Amendment.If the states gender-affirming care ban is found by the Supreme Court to be discriminatory under the 14th Amendment, it is subject to heightened scrutinya more rigorous review to determine whether a law is constitutional or not. In that scenario, Tennessee is more likely to lose.Using abortion case law to support bans on gender-affirming care is especially dangerous, experts say. Tennessee is taking the Supreme Courts own decision in Dobbs out of context, according to lawyers who have worked in LGBTQ+ rights cases for decades. And, if the justices read Tennessees law, it is obvious that banning gender-affirming care for trans people is discriminating based on sex, they say.Only banning gender-affirming care for people who are transitioning is clearly a policy dividing people based on their sex characteristics, experts saywhich should be apparent to the justices, even if they dont fully understand what gender-affirming care is.Its not about whether they understand or agree with the care, Minter said. All they have to do is read the language of these laws, which use the term sex over and over again.But Tennessees argument echoes circuit court decisions that have forced gender-affirming care bans to take hold across several statesthanks, in part, to Dobbs.Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit allowed Kentucky and Tennessee to enforce their health care bans for trans youth. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled via a three-judge panel that Alabama could enforce its gender-affirming care ban. Both circuit courts cited Dobbs, as well as Geduldig, to argue that these bans do not discriminate on the basis of sex, since laws restricting abortion dont trigger heightened scrutiny.To Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Tennessees arguments relying on Dobbs are just smoke and mirrors. And while its not surprising that Tennessee is doubling down on the approach that won in the 6th Circuit, she said, Dobbs cannot prop up this case.You cannot ignore the fact that this law is regulating medical care only for a particular group of people, transgender people, and its clearly discrimination based on sex, she said, noting that the cases are fundamentally different. Dobbs dealt with whether substantive due processmeaning unenumerated rights in the Constitutionincluded the right to an abortion. Analyzing potential sex discrimination wasnt involved.Whats more, the question before the Supreme Court regarding Tennessees gender-affirming care ban is different from what the 6th Circuit took up last year. The initial case, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal, accused Tennessee of violating the 14th Amendments equal protection and due process clauses when the state banned gender-affirming care. Any consideration of due process is no longer before the court, since the Biden administrations appeal for the Supreme Court to take up this case focused only on equal protection.But, although the question before the court has become more specific, this ruling still has the potential to broadly set back LGBTQ+ rights.Tennessee argues that the Supreme Courts 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which found that employment discrimination against LGBTQ+ workers is sex-based discrimination prohibited under the Civil Rights Act, has nothing to do with this case. But going down this road leads to more questions, Ulrich said: Is discriminating due to sexual orientation also not considered sex-based discrimination?Then you can see just a proliferation of discriminatory laws that are coming out thereafter, he said. Thats a really dangerous proposition for the entire LGBTQ+ community and its setting us back significantly.Sruti Swaminathan, an ACLU staff attorney who has been counsel in this case from the beginning, said United States v. Skrmetti will test how far the Supreme Court is willing to stretch its Dobbs decision. They are well aware that the outcome of this case could curtail bodily autonomy for everyone. And taking this challenge before a conservative-majority Supreme Court has stoked fears among trans people of worst-case scenarios.Were already at the place where half the country has banned this care. We need to not let the 6th Circuit decision stand idly and be utilized in the way it has, Swaminathan said.But Tennessees tactics, and the consequences that they could have during a time when laws targeting reproductive and transgender health care are proliferating, still worry them.Im terrified. What we learned from Dobbs is that these attacks wont stop with abortion, Swaminathan said. Banning abortion seems to be one pillar of an effort to write outdated gender norms into the law.Tennessees argument in this case illustrates a larger coordinated effort to attack abortion access alongside gender-affirming care, said Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit that tracks LGBTQ+ legislation.States across the country have attempted to define sex based on reproductive capacity at birth. These efforts open transgender people up to discrimination and ignore the realities of intersex people, as well as cisgender women with conditions like primary ovarian insufficiency. Proponents of gender-affirming care bans inaccurately portray the effects of hormone replacement therapy on trans peoples reproductive ability by conflating the treatment with sterilization.This Supreme Court case exemplifies a much larger argument thats been a through line across attacks on transgender care and trans issues across the country, Casey said: What is sex and who is protected when we think about that?Many of these state actors and politicians and extremists are clearly very invested in the concept of sex and defining sex in a very restricted and extraordinarily old-fashioned way that focuses only on peoples reproductive capacity, and then they use that argument in whatever context they can to advance the policies that would match that worldview, he said.This piece was published in partnership with Them.This story was produced by The 19th and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.The post How the Supreme Court case on trans youth could affect health care for all Americans appeared first on News Is Out.

In the second episode of the fifth season of Canadas Drag Race, indigenous queensJaylene Tyme and Xana shared a special moment together as spoke about about their Mtis identities and it gets emotional. I grew up without my culture, Xana, who is from Vancouver, said in the Werk Room to her sisters. It feels [...]The post Canadas Drag Race QueensJaylene Tyme and Xanas Emotional Two-Spirit Connection is a Story of Representation and Reclamation on TV: We Are Family first appeared on GLAAD.

The Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee just passed a piece of legislation that would repeal a so-called zombie law that criminalizes sodomy, something that was made legally unenforceable by the Supreme Court in the 2003 case Lawrence v. Texas.Eight Democrats voted in support of the legislation, with two Republicans opposing it and two more opting not to vote. The bill will be sent to the state House for an additional vote, will then go to the Senate and, if it passes there, to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers desk. She is a Democrat. Related Michigan becomes 22nd state to pass LGBTQ+ protections after decades of fighting Amid the ongoing legislative attacks on LGBTQ communities this proactive law is a beacon of hope and optimism. According to state Rep. Noah Arbit (D), who introduced this bill, Despite repeated attempts to do so, the legislature has never repealed Michigans so-called sodomy ban, permitting a zombie law that insults the constitutional rights of Michiganders to remain on the books. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Sodomy laws have historically been used to target gay couples as an attempt to criminalize sex. The law is especially significant in the modern climate as there is a new risk that the U.S. Supreme Court may repeal the Lawrence ruling, similar to how Roe v. Wade the ruling legalizing abortion was overturned last year.State Rep. Josh Schriver (R) has openly said that gay marriage should be made illegal again on social media.The current sodomy law on the books prohibits abominable and detestable crime against nature either with mankind or with any animal. The repeal would keep the provisions outlawing bestiality, while removing the on-the-books provision against anal sex.When the sodomy law was enforceable, violations were punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and or individuals with a prior sexual assault offense could face life imprisonment. It is imperative that Michigan does not have a criminal ban on the books that could be used to target and criminalize people across Michigan, Arbit said. Because the moment Lawrence is overturned this statute is once again good law and any individual engaging in this conduct could theoretically be arrested and charged.Last year, Michigan lawmakers voted to enact anti-discrimination measures to protect LGBTQ+ people. These measures explicitly outlined sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.The two state representatives who voted against the bill were Republican Reps. Brian Begole and Bob Bezotte. While Bezotte has declined to explain the rationale behind his vote, Begole said, My vote was intended to send a message. I just dont believe the majority of Michigan citizens feel this legislation is a priority right now. Many people have bigger problems right now that they need help with.State Rep Graham Filler (R) passed on the vote due to not having enough time to read any of the proposed votes beforehand, as they were introduced the night before.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

There's another himbo back on the market!The third season of For the Love of DILFs is in full swing, but one shocking elimination is already sending shockwaves throughout the mansion.Spoiler alert... Justin decided to quit the competition at the end of episode two. As host Stormy Daniels began the elimination process, Justin cut off the host to announce his exit."It's so dramatic, right?! It's such a great scene! I loved all the daddies so much, but I don't think any of them were for me in that way. Meanwhile, people were meeting their daddies and that was much more exciting to me," Justin tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Justin isn't the first contestant to ever quit the popular reality show. Although, Daniels typically isn't too thrilled whenever a himbo or daddy voluntarily leaves the mansion.However, in Justin's case, Daniels understood the show wasn't the best fit for him and that it was best for the rest of the men to continue on without him."I was ready to take a lashing! When she was supportive, I was so happy. She was so sweet about it. I think that having 'realty TV star' checked off this early is a good run. I'm pretty okay with that."For the Love of DILFs is streaming now on OUTtv. To see the full interview with Timmy Hilton, check out the video at the top of the page.

Professional surfer and influencer Henry Martinez readily concedes that being blind is a challenge but refuses to accept his condition as an impediment to experiencing life to its fullest.Being a blind person, its a big challenge, says Martinez. But I think its not a problem.Martinez just completed Seguimos III: A Blind Travelers Experience, the final installment of his acclaimed Sequimos short video series. Translated as keep going in Spanish, Sequimos highlights the importance of travel for the blind community.In collaboration with Visit Lauderdale and Wheel the World, Seguimos III follows the intrepid traveler as he visits Greater Fort Lauderdale.The video captures Martinez exploring the areas renowned beaches, parks, and natural beauty, making new friends, and experiencing the Greater Fort Lauderdale vibe and LGBTQ+ scene with locals.Greater Fort Lauderdale is committed to being a welcoming and accessible destination for all, and we're proud to showcase our ongoing partnership with Wheel the World, says Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. Accessibility is a priority for us, and were continually working to enhance our experiences to ensure everyone can enjoy the diversity and warmth of our community.We are committed to being a destination that truly sees you for who you are, said Richard Gray, Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility at Visit Lauderdale. Genuine hospitality embraces diversity and ensures everyone feels welcome. Our focus on accessibility and acceptance allows each visitor to create unforgettable memories and feel at home in Greater Fort Lauderdale.Martinez agrees, saying in the video that Greater Fort Lauderdale is an ideal destination for the sight-impaired because there are many options to touch, to feel, not just to see.According to data provided by the TravelAbility Foundation, there are an estimated 12.7 million disabled travelers in the world. Seguimos III demonstrates Greater Fort Lauderdales commitment to ensuring its famed intercoastal waterways, beachfront promenade, museums, restaurants, shops, and entertainment and cultural offerings are available and accessible to everyone.And Visit Lauderdale's partnership with Wheel the World underscores its dedication to accessibility and inclusion.Partnering with Visit Lauderdale to create the first blind destination video in North America has been an inspiring journey, said Alvaro Silberstein, CEO of Wheel the World. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to innovation in travel and accessibility, ensuring that the beauty and unique experiences of Greater Fort Lauderdale are within reach for everyone. By breaking visual barriers, were opening new avenues for exploration and showing the world that travel knows no limits.In addition to its page on Greater Fort Lauderdale, Wheel the World also has two handy and specific guides on the region.The Accessible Guide to Fort Lauderdale provides tips and much more on where to stay and what to do in the area. The guide doesnt just recommend accommodations but includes detailed amenities lists and even pictures of the rooms and facilities. It also provides a list of accessible trails and their conditions.The Fun Wheelchair Accessible Expeditions Guide provides helpful information to keep you rolling in style for your visit, including pre-planning, getting to your hotel from the airport, and more. Want to go kayaking, swim in the ocean, or visit a flamingo garden? This guide has you covered.Martinez says he faces lifes challenges head-on by serving as a visible activist for the community, working to make travel accessible for all.For many years, people with disabilities, we have been at home, Martinez says. And I think that it is our moment to live, to travel, to be visible.I really want to invite you to visit Greater Fort Lauderdale. If youre a blind person and youre thinking about it, this can be your next destination, Martinez says in Seguimos III.You can learn more at Visit Lauderdale and Wheel the World. You can follow Visit Lauderdale on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube at @visitlauderdale.

The Kenyan government is standing in the way of LGBTQ+ refugees seeking asylum in countries that are offering it, according to reporting from The Toronto Star.Its not a right as far as the Government of Kenya is concerned, said Kenyan refugee commissioner John Burugu, when questioned about the lag in processing LGBTQ+ asylum cases. Related LGBTQ+ Africans are sitting ducks now that Donald Trump will return to the White House If history is any indication, a second Trump administration will provide tacit approval for foreign governments to repress queer communities. He said the criteria for refugee status include persecution and genocide, but not what he called those letters, referring to the LGBTQ+ acronym. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today It is wrong. Please [keep] those skeletons in your cupboard, he added.Kenya has become a choke point for LGBTQ+ refugee claims, according to Devon Matthews, program head for Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based international resettlement organization.LGBTQ+ refugees most at risk from across East Africa are fleeing into Kenya and are finding themselves entirely stuck within the refugee-processing structure, she said. Many arrive at the notorious Kakuma refugee camp, which houses nearly 300,000 refugees from across East Africa. LGBTQ+ people are regularly subjected to harassment, beatings, and in some cases death, from fellow refugees and homophobic locals.Multiple reports from the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration and the United Nation Refugee Agency in Kenya have documented human rights violations against LGBTQ+ people at the camp.That violence and the Kenyan governments refusal to process asylum claims are forcing refugees to flee once again. Hundreds have made the 250-mile journey to the much smaller Gorom camp in South Sudan, an East African country mired in armed conflict, hoping for better luck resettling to a Western country. The United Nations Human Rights Commission says 450 LGBTQ+ refugees have trekked to South Sudan since January alone. Of them, 28 were resettled before that country, too, barred registration for asylum claims based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Kenyas clampdown on LGBTQ+ refugees comes amid conservative lawmakers efforts to push them out of the country.Kenya MP Mohammed Ali is sponsoring legislation that seeks to deport any refugees or asylum seekers who commit same-sex acts or advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.If you want homosexuals, get them visas and take them to your countries, he said at an anti-gay rally in Mombasa last year.He called LGBTQ+ identity a Western import, but numerous tribes in pre-colonial Africa had instances of homosexuality, both in their rituals and social relationships.These days, gross indecency between males in Kenya is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, though the law is rarely, if ever, enforced.Kenyas restrictions are adding to the chaos caused by their neighbors anti-LGBTQ+ crusades. Rainbow Railroad says they received 1,400 requests for help from Uganda last year after the government enacted its Kill the Gays law, which criminalizes identifying as LGBTQ+ and imposes the death penalty for certain acts.Every time someone is arrested or beaten, or publicly shamed or outed, it causes a ripple effect where everyone in that persons circle or community is also put into an extremely defensive state and in a place of fear, said program head Matthews.Its the state-sanctioned witch-hunt that causes community-level violence and religious violence as well to crop up, she said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Every year, we think the firefighters in Australia cant get any sexier, but they just keep outdoing themselves!This year, the Australian Firefighters Calendar features more than 30 smoking hot shirtless men who will have you seriously considering moving to Australia and taking up arson just to meet them.But these hotties arent just there for eye candy although theyre very good at that theyre also raising money for charity. Profits from their 2025 calendar, which has five variants you can purchase, will go to support citizens and animals affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton.For the new calendar, the hunky men participated in a month-long photo shoot that was so hot they ended up on our hump day hunks lists multiple times, and not only were they deliciously shirtless, but many of them are also holding adorable animals. Call 911 because our loins are on fire!For more information about the calendar, visit AustralianFirefightersCalendar.com.Keep scrolling to see the too-hot-to-handle firefighters that we cant stop drooling over!

This week, the popular gay hookup apps Grindr and Squirt released their end-of-year reviews, and on top of telling us what sex positions, sex toys, kinks, and adult films gay men were into in 2024, we also found out which male celebrities were the hottest. Honestly, this is why you take statistics classes in college, people!Grindr Unwrapped and Squirt Unloaded both revealed the top five hottest male celebs of 2024, and both apps had wildly different lists, except for one hot Wicked star who ended up on both lists. Grindr #5 Jeremy Allen WhiteSee on InstagramBetween seeing him tatted up on The Bear, shirtless and muscle-bound in The Iron Claw, and dripping sex appeal in his Calvin Klein ad campaign, we've been fans of Jeremy Allen White for a while now!Grindr #4 Travis KelceSee on InstagramBetween the Eras tour and her dating the sinfully hot Travis Kelce, gay Taylor Swift girlies had a banger year. Kelce's rugged hotness is enough to make us become overnight Chiefs fans!Grindr #3 Bad BunnySee on InstagramBad Bunny is sexy. Period. No explanation needed. Grindr #2 Jonathan BaileySee on InstagramJonathan Bailey is having a banger year, so it's no wonder he ended up so high on Grindr's ranking. Between his sex appeal, raw talent, and those hot sex scenes in Fellow Travelers, it's not hard to see why gay hookup app users have the hots for him! Grindr #1 Pedro PascalSee on InstagramPedro Pascal is such a dreamboat, we'd happily call him daddy any day. Squirt #5 Jonathan BaileySee on InstagramJonathan Bailey is the only celeb to make it on to both lists! This hunky gay star deserves all of the attention he's been getting this year.Squirt #4 Jason MomoaSee on InstagramWe started lusting after Jason Momoa when he played a shirtless Dothraki on Game of Thrones, and now we're drooling after his sexy rock star era.Squirt #3 Idris ElbaSee on InstagramIdris Elba is the probably the sexiest, most debonair man alive, which is why we're still secretly hoping that he'll get to play 007 one of these days.Squirt #2 Chris HemsworthSee on InstagramSometimes a star's personality makes them hotter in your eyes and other's have the body of a Norse god literally! Squirt #1 Henry CavillSee on InstagramHenry Cavill was hot, if a little boring, when he starred as Superman, but his long-haired, grungy look from The Witcher, combined with finding out he's actually a nerd, has us salivating every time he graces our screen!

RuPauls Drag Raceis walking into season 17 purse first alongside 14 new queens competing for the title of Americas Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $200,000! The 14 new queens were announced today for the 17th season of the GLAAD Media Award and Emmy-winning reality competition which is set to premiere on MTV [...]The post Meet the Season 17 Queens RuPauls Drag Race first appeared on GLAAD.

We're living through a strange time progress has been made, but there's so much uncertainty that lies ahead. Queer shows are constantly being canceled, while a lesbian pop star has been dominating the airwaves. It's enough to give anyone whiplash.But amidst all of the usual end-of-year roundups charting the ups and downs of queer media, we want to take a minute to highlight just how much there is to look forward to as well, specifically in terms of sapphic content. So if you're looking for things to hold onto to get you through the coming months, start here.1. Yellowjackets: Seasons 1 & 2Yellowjackets is a delightfully dark drama following dual timelines one in which a girls soccer team crashes in the wilderness and they're forced to do awful things to survive, and one in which the mysteries of their past begin to catch up with those who remain years later. This one has explicitly queer relationships in both timelines.Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 3 premieres on Paramount+ on February 14, 2025.2. Agatha All AlongThe Marvel Cinematic Universe has long dragged their heels about including any meaningful queer representation, but those days are over thanks to Agatha All Along. You really only need to know three things: Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, witches. You're welcome.Why You Need to Catch Up: While we don't know if Agatha will get a season two, it would be extremely surprising if these characters don't show up somewhere else in the MCU in the near future.3. I Kissed a GirlReality dating shows often leave queer romance out of the mix, but this BBC Three spin-off of I Kissed a Boy puts the ladies front and center.Why You Need to Catch Up: The success of I Kissed a Girl earned a second season for I Kissed a Boy, so we're hoping more of the former will be in the works down the line as well.4. ArcaneNetflix's Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends Universe. It's made waves since its 2021 debut, and wrapped up with a sapphic season two this year.Why You Need to Catch Up: The show just concluded in November, so there's still plenty to talk about with other fans.5. Hayley Kiyoko's "Girls Like Girls"It's been nine years since Lesbian Jesus casually dropped "Girls Like Girls" and became the sapphic songstress pop music needed to break through the hetero-noise. Why are we bringing it up now? Well...Why You Need to Catch Up: A feature film adaptation of "Girls Like Girls" is finally in the works, with Kiyoko directing, as well as co-writing the script with Stefanie Scott.6. Love Lies BleedingLove Lies Bleeding is one of those movies that's kind of hard to describe, because it just far surpasses its logline. Suffice it to say, Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian do a bang up job diving into the dark underworld of this claustrophobic town amidst a backdrop of the world of bodybuilding.Why You Need to Catch Up: You just do, okay? And it will certainly help get you hyped for this upcoming O'Brian movie.7. Bad Sisters: Season 1This family of dysfunctional sisters who simultaneously plotted and attempted to solve the murder of their heinous brother-in-law received well-deserved acclaim when it premiered in 2022. One of the sisters is married to a woman and raising a family of her own, and it's refreshing to see that casual queerness while the story itself revolves around unrelated mayhem.Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 2 is currently airing on Apple+.8. Wynonna EarpI find it impossible to believe that there's a queer woman on the planet who hasn't heard of Wynonna Earp by now. The film follow-up to the TV series came out on Tubi this year thanks to fans clamoring for more following the show's end in 2021.Why You Need to Catch Up: TBD on whether there will be more live action Wynonna Earp, but the fact that an audio series followed the movie bodes well for some sort of continuation of the story.9. KeshaKesha has dropped two new songs so far this year "Joyride" and "Delusional" marking the beginning of a new era in which she's taking control of her own musical future. If you haven't gotten into her music yet, get your shit together and dive in.Why You Need to Catch Up: Kesha's sixth studio album is expected to be released some time in 2025.10. The Last of Us: Part IIBeforeThe Last of Us became a hit series for HBO, it was a beloved video game. That video game had a sequel, and that sequel was pretty gay. So if you need some apocalyptic queerness in your life, you can catch up on the show and you can play through the games as well.Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 2 of The Last of Us will premiere some time in 2025, and will be based on Part II.11. Wicked by Gregory MaguireSee on InstagramDo we even need to explain this one?12. Hazbin Hotel: Season 1Hazbin Hotel went from a YouTube pilot to a proper Amazon series this year, following the daughter of Lucifer as she opens a rehabilitation hotel for demons.Why You Need to Catch Up: The show has been renewed for season two, and though we don't have a premiere date yet, it's possible we'll see more episodes drop in 2025.14. Joy Oladokun's Observations From a Crowded RoomJoy Oladokun's latest album, Observations From a Crowded Room, dropped earlier this year. Why You Need to Catch Up: Good music is good music. You don't want to be left behind here.13. The Sex Lives of College Girls: Seasons 1& 2Rene Rapp may have said her farewell to The Sex Lives of College Girls, but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to do the same. Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 3 is currently airing on Max.15. Wednesday: Season 1Jenna Ortega won just about everyone over with her portrayal of the iconic Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series centered around her character. While season one saw her in a love triangle with two guys, it seems as if that will fortunately be left in the past as we move on to season two. Meanwhile, a number of fans are rooting for Wednesday's attention to shift to her friend Enid and it should.Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 2 will likely drop on Netflix sometime in 2025. Oh, and did we mention Lady Gaga is set to make an appearance?16. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoSee on InstagramThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is much more queer than it sounds, I promise. Why You Need to Catch Up: Leslye Headland and Liz Tigelaar are adapting the novel for Netflix. Although we're not sure exactly when just yet, it's good to be prepared for this one.18. Dove Cameron's Alchemical, vol. 1Last year, Dove Cameron released the first half of her debut album, Alchemical, featuring the unapologetically sapphic bop "Boyfriend." Why You Need to Catch Up: A year later, Cameron has finally started teasing songs from Alchemical, vol. 2, suggesting we're close to a full album drop.17. Stranger Things: Seasons 1-4Stranger Things has been a massive win for Netflix, thanks to the combination of '80s nostalgia, monsters, and a delightful cast of both fresh faces and familiar faves. It's also infused queerness into that nostalgia through several characters, including Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke).Why You Need to Catch Up: The fifth and final season should be hitting Netflix sometime in 2025.19. Drive-Away DollsLesbians accidentally doing crime.Why You Need to Catch Up: Drive-Away Dolls is meant to be the first of a "lesbian B-movie trilogy" from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke.20. Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and SaraThis Hulu documentary follows a bizarre saga in which someone catfished Tegan and Sara fans for 16 years. Why You Need to Catch Up: In an era where the separation between celebs and fans seems thinner than ever, this could not be more timely.21. HeartstopperSee on InstagramHeartstopper may center around Nick and Charlie, but there are sapphics to love among the cast of characters as well. While we wait to find out whether there will be a season four of the Netflix series, it's a great time to check out the graphic novels that started it all if you haven't done so already.Why You Need to Catch Up: Author Alice Oseman revealed that the upcoming sixth graphic novel will be the final entry for Heartstopper. There's no official release date yet, but fans are keeping their fingers crossed for 2025.22. Squid Game: Season 1Squid Game is not for viewers looking for a story that ends with happily ever after. And it's only sapphic undertones that we get here, but there's a reason this show was such a hit when it first came out.Why You Need to Catch Up: Season 2 premieres on Netflix December 26, 2024.

Giddy up, Chappell Roan stans! Soon you can step into a real-life version of the Pink Pony Cluband even visit the iconic bar across the street that inspired the hit song.Spotify Celebrates Wrapped 2024 With a Pop-Up ExperienceSpotify is celebrating Wrapped 2024 by bringing a pop-up experience to West Hollywood, California, highlighting Chappell Roan as one of only two openly queer artists on the platforms most-streamed lists.According to WeHo Times, the pop-up is part of Spotifys Wrapped festivities. It will feature dazzling neon art and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments. Sorry, folksthere wont be alcohol or merch, but theres plenty of queer magic to go around.A bold mural on the building reads: This year, 300k+ people streamed Chappell Roan after midnight, a nod to her critically acclaimed debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.Related | Chappell Roan & Sabrina Carpenter to Sing a Duet for Netflixs A Nonsense ChristmasWhy WeHo is Already a Pink Pony ClubRoan has previously confirmed that the inspiration for Pink Pony Club was The Abbey. This legendary queer bar is conveniently located just across the street from the pop-up. Its a full-circle moment for Roans fans, who can now experience the magic of her music in a whole new way.How to Visit the Pink Pony Club Pop-UpThe Pink Pony Club pop-up, described as a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day, will be open for a limited time at 8954 Santa Monica Blvd.When and Where to Catch This Fabulous ExperienceThe pop-up will gallop into West Hollywood for one week this December. So grab your boots, round up your crew, and make it a night to remember. This experience is not to be missed!More Stories: Heres How You Can Visit the Pink Pony Club Pop-Up Coming to WeHo!David Archuletas Steamy Bedroom Confession: Doing Only One Thing Is Boring to MeJoe Locke is Marvels New Breakout StarSee His Reaction to a Major Award Nom!Transgender Activists Stage Sit-In Protest at US Capitol Over Bathroom Ban ProposalWicked Pulled from Kuwait Cinemas Amid Speculated LGBTQ+ ControversyThe post Heres How You Can Visit the Pink Pony Club Pop-Up Coming to WeHo! appeared first on Gayety.

When winter arrives, theres nothing like curling up with a good book to warm your soul. For LGBTQ+ readers, the season offers the perfect opportunity to dive into stories that reflect diverse identities and experiences. From heartwarming sapphic romance to thought-provoking family tales, these queer-centric books are must-reads for cozy nights by the fire.Related | Spread Holiday Cheer With this Festive Playlist of Pop Girls + GaysYour Winter Reading ListThis Winter by Alice OsemanAlice Oseman, the bestselling author of Heartstopper, brings us This Winter, a poignant novella that captures the highs and lows of the holiday season. The story follows the Spring siblingsTori, Charlie, and Oliverover one emotional Christmas Day. While Charlie navigates recovery from an eating disorder, Tori struggles with the pressures of being the eldest sibling. Osemans signature charm and sensitivity shine throughout, making this a perfect pick for readers looking to connect with realistic, heartfelt stories. If you love Heartstopper or relatable family dramas, add this to your winter reading list.In the Event of Love by Courtney KaeNothing says holiday magic like a small-town romance, and Courtney Kae delivers just that with In the Event of Love. This sapphic rom-com follows Morgan, a big-city event planner who returns to her hometown to help save her familys business. Sparks fly when she reconnects with Rachel, her childhood best friend, who now owns a struggling tree farm. Packed with snowy scenery, festive fun, and second-chance romance, Kaes debut is perfect for fans of Hallmark-style love stories with an LGBTQ+ twist. Its a feel-good escape that wraps you in cozy, romantic vibes.The Holiday Trap by Roan ParrishThis charming queer holiday rom-com delivers double the fun with two parallel love stories. Greta and Truman agree to swap homesGreta escapes to a snowy small town in Maine, while Truman heads to sunny New Orleans. Both find unexpected romance in their new settings, with themes of self-discovery, love, and the magic of the season woven throughout. Roan Parrishs heartwarming and witty storytelling makes The Holiday Trap an absolute delight for winter nights.Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison CochrunIn this swoon-worthy holiday romance, Ellie, a down-on-her-luck artist, agrees to a fake engagement with her landlord to make ends meet. The twist? Her landlords sister turns out to be the woman she had a whirlwind romance with last Christmas. Alison Cochruns Kiss Her Once for Me is a cozy sapphic love story full of snowball fights, family drama, and second chances.Wrapped Together by Annabeth AlbertThis steamy holiday novella follows Hollis, a grumpy craft store owner, and Sawyer, a charming gift shop owner, as they rekindle their friendship and discover something deeper. Set in the backdrop of festive Oregon, Wrapped Together offers both heat and heart for readers who love opposites-attract romances with holiday flair.The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan ParrishA single dad, Adam, and his daughter move to a small town, where they meet Wes, a reclusive artist. As they work together to create a dazzling light display, romance blossoms. This queer holiday story is sweet, uplifting, and perfect for the season.Holiday-Themed Queer AnthologiesFor readers craving variety, holiday-themed queer anthologies are a seasonal treat. Collections like All I Want for Christmas Is You and Queerly Ever After offer short stories from diverse LGBTQ+ authors. These anthologies blend romance, fantasy, and slice-of-life tales, ensuring theres something for every mood. Theyre also ideal for readers with busy holiday schedules who want quick but satisfying reads.Grab Your Blanket and Dive InThis winter, let This Winter, In the Event of Love, and holiday-themed queer anthologies transport you to a world of heartfelt connections and festive charm. These books are more than just readstheyre the perfect companions for every cozy, LGBTQ+ holiday night.More Stories: Perfect Holiday Books for a Cozy Winter NightHeres How You Can Visit the Pink Pony Club Pop-Up Coming to WeHo!David Archuletas Steamy Bedroom Confession: Doing Only One Thing Is Boring to MeJoe Locke is Marvels New Breakout StarSee His Reaction to a Major Award Nom!Transgender Activists Stage Sit-In Protest at US Capitol Over Bathroom Ban ProposalThe post Perfect Holiday Books for a Cozy Winter Night appeared first on Gayety.

Here are this weeks most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this?Sign up for our Good News email.It seems like every week brings a few new instances of people making LGBTQ+ history. This weeks collection includes the worlds largest quilt, an award-winning trans model, and the president giving the queer community a much-needed boost. Lets take a look and celebrate!This holiday season, skip the gingerbread house View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maria Emmerichs Recipes (@mariaemmerich_recipes) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Trans lawmaker Zooey Zephyrs colleagues stood up for her (and all trans peoples) dignity in a recent voteRepublicans are trying to make trans bathroom use a national debate, but the Montana legislature isnt having it even some GOP members are tired of it.And talking about great moments of community solidarity, rememberthe Florida activist who made Build-A-Queer kits?How about the time thata Miss Netherlands winner trolled her haters by thanking them for giving her a platform?And what about whensoccer starMegan Rapinoe stood up to Dave Chappelle & Martina Navratilova for the rights of her marginalized siblings?Not all heroes wear capes! Biden admin awards grant to first-of-its-kind LGBTQ+ programThe money will help fight a little-discussed issue that seriously affects members of our community. First trans woman wins Model of the Year & gives uplifting speechShe called on the fashion industry to support each other, especially those who have been made to feel insignificant.Psst its not library books that are turning kids queer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by kevyn fong (@level4alpha) Zookeepers rename female penguin after animal reveals surprising secretJust goes to show: You cant judge a bird by its beak alone! This government just took a major step towards banning anti-LGBTQ+ hate speechThe proposed legislation still has a long way to go, but advocates are optimistic.Joe Biden makes history by displaying AIDS Memorial Quilt on White House lawnThe Library of Congress also released personal images and documents about thousands of AIDS victims commemorated by the quilt. Santas male and female reindeer are more like than you think! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natures Finest (@natures_finest_uk) Oppenheimer star Emma Dumont comes out as transmascThe actor will keep their stage name but is embracing their identity like never before.Malaysia court orders return of rainbow watches after bizarre government raidAgents seized 170 watches from 11 shopping malls last year for a somewhat strange reason. Michigan takes a major step towards repealing a law targeting gay menMost people may not realize, but 12 states still have these outdated anti-gay laws on their books. The Mariah has awoken and it wants something View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max Goodrich (@maxgoodrich)From our sibling sites:OUTSPORTS:These 24 trans women have won national or international competitions or titlesGAYCITIES:This is what AI thinks gay bars in every state look likeQUEERTY:Man and his tiny husband celebrate anniversary with viral throwback photoINTO:The internet thinks Albert Einstein was gay after this viral post, but theres a catch

Almost two months after coming out as gay in an emotional video, The Upshawsstar Jermelle Simon is gushing about how happy he is. I found the perfect boyfriend, he told Out. I found someone who I have a friendship, a best friend foundation with, and a love Ive never felt before. Someone who challenged me in the ways I need to be challenged. Someone who literally lights up my entire world. I lucked up. I kind of skipped the line a little bit and I found the perfect guy. Related Susan Sarandon says shes down for love with anybody The comments come as the once-revered actress and liberal activist saw her career dry up in the aftermath of comments she made at a pro-Palestinian rally. Simon is dating influencer Obio Jones, and according to Out writer Ty Cole, he is radiating happiness and pride. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Simon plays Bernard Bennie Upshaw Jr on the Netflix series, which chronicles the lives of a Black working-class family in Indiana. The character came out as gay on the show last year, and Simon came out this year in early October in celebration of National Coming Out Day. Happy National Coming Out Day to everyone, Simon opened his video. To the ones who feel like now is the time, to the ones who feel like maybe later, to the ones who may never come out.And to myself, he added. I want to say to myself, Happy National Coming Out Day. I have decided to embrace myself fully, all the parts of me. Ive decided to love myself unconditionally. Ive decided that the one thing that I thought was the biggest curse in my life is actually the biggest blessing I could ever receive.I have decided that I am enough, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me to get to that place where I feel seen, where i feel like I belong, where i feel loved Thank you for providing a space where I can come on the internet and say, I am a Black gay man. Simon told Out he hadnt been planning his coming out for long when he decided to take the plunge. That morning I woke up and I was really heavy for some reason For a very long time, I hid behind my character. It had been years of suppression, years of hiding, you know? And over time, that weight just starts to take its toll on you.He added that he didnt even know it was National Coming Out Day at first, and when he realized it, he decided it was the perfect time. I was like, Ah, this is so of God this is the moment. I didnt envision ever doing it, especially on National Coming Out Day. I didnt want it to be cheesy like that, but it just kind of all aligned and it felt like intuitively it just felt right. I thought it was really important to say it, to just honor, like a past version of myself. He was sick of playing this character even outside of the show, he added, explaining that being in the closet was weighing on his mental health. Theres so many things to navigate in life, and I think sexuality, especially when youre hiding it, can take up your entire life. I have a career, Im a father, Im in a relationship. I have so many responsibilities, and so many things to do. I needed to free up my mind. Asked what hed tell his younger self, he replied: Lean into the thing that you fear.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Despite hopes of red mirages leading to blue waves, I could sense what Election Night 2024 would bring. America has never failed to disappoint me, and I knew it would again. Though an eerie calm (aided by Ativan) filled me, it couldn't mask the one thing I buried itself deep in the weeks leading to that evening.This is where I should talk about Henry.We first met through my ex-boyfriend. I had been nave to think I could reconfigure our toxic coupling into a friendship with occasional benefits. That naivete would come back to bite me in the ass when Henry became my ex's rebound less than a month after our breakup."Im sorry I didnt tell you about Henry," he said during a call. "Can I bring him over this weekend?" After denying his request and hanging up, Henry sent me a DM and later asked if we could talk. It would be the first of many calls between Henry and me. Witty, kind, and genuine, it was difficult not to gravitate toward Henry. We spoke for hours that day and nearly every other day after that.Love you, Goober, he would say at the end of every conversation.A year later, Henry and I had a falling out. I don't recall what caused it, but I know I was not prepared to lose his energy.About two years ago, a scroll through my Facebook Memories led me to a comment from Henry. I was surprised that I could still access his profile. Other than a lack of hair, he looked exactly as I remembered him. I hesitated before sending him a message, not knowing how he might react. Would he still be holding on to that grudge? I had nothing to lose, so I sent him a short note. He responded almost immediately. After sharing some necessary life updates, he shared one of his own. While working as a rideshare driver, he began suffering from fainting spells and issues with walking. One doctor's visit led to two, and two became four. Around his sixth doctor, he was given a diagnosis of a brain tumor. Surgery to remove it took place earlier that summer. It was mostly successful but left him with some memory loss and seizures."Many friends I had stopped calling after my surgery," Henry shared. "Ive been lonely. Im so glad you reached out." Almost immediately, we were right back to talking almost daily. Most of our conversations still began and ended in laughter, and Henry closed them out exactly as he had back then.Love you, Goober.At some point, he was hospitalized for nearly a week. While recuperating, his mother, Maryann, took care of any calls and texts that came his way. While responding to one from me, I asked if we could stay in touch through Facebook in case something serious occurred with Henry. She accepted the request later that day.On September 15, 2024, Donald Trump survived a second assassination attempt less than three months after a different gunman attempted to end his life at a rally. Not even 90 minutes after news of the second shooting made waves, Maryann posted a photo on Facebook of the alleged shooter being led away in handcuffs.2-0," she captioned it. "Nice try, losers! #MAGA.I was stunned as Ms. Maryann was a proud Latina, and her son, Henry, was a gay Latino. Anyone who has paid attention to the news cycle over the last 12 years knows how Trump openly detests those from marginalized communities. I unfriended Ms. Maryann that day and prayed it wouldn't get back to Henry.It hadn't crossed my mind to ask Henry about his political leanings. I assumed he was a registered Democrat, like myself, as the party fiercely supports the communities we both come from. Besides, just because his mother had ignorant beliefs didn't mean he did.Henry posted a wordy rant on his Facebook page the day before Election Day. He had been taken to task by an acquaintance who strongly disagreed with a political comic Henry shared earlier that morning. "Theres a difference between having a thoughtful debate about the election and merely echoing misinformation from uninformed liberals."I was familiar with many of those terms. I could feel my heart tear inside of my chest. The feeling got worse when Henry texted me later that day to explain. "I should post what I want without someone telling me that Im a bad gay because Im a Republican."And there it was, clear as day. As I sat there fighting to accept who my friend was, I realized I had two choices. Both involved accepting said reality, but one included losing Henry forever. Love you, Goober," I kept hearing him say. I loved him, too - more than he knew, to be honest. It was the worst possible time to realize I had fallen in love with Henry. And I knew I couldn't lose him again. And so, I made a choice.Maybe we don't see eye to eye on everything," I told him, "but I missed you too much. So, here we are." And there, indeed, we were: A gay Democrat and a gay Republican. Was it stupid of me? Maybe, but I was scared of never hearing him call me "Goober" again.On Election Night, I decided to turn off everything early. Before I laid my head to rest, I grabbed my phone and channeled my frustrations into a short but strongly worded Facebook post."To everyone who voted for him, especially people of color: I truly hope your proximity to whiteness keeps you safe." That night, I dreamt that Vice President Harris pulled a late-stage victory and became the President-Elect of the United States. When I opened my eyes later that morning, I could feel the dread seep through my window. I didn't need confirmation of the actual results. I knew who won. I grabbed my phone and prepared myself for the despair that would greet me online. One of the first things that caught my eye was the large reception to my Facebook post the previous night. Among the friends who reacted and responded was Henry, who responded with the care emoji.I just didn't get it. Was Henry mocking me somehow? Was this his way of showing "support" despite making the choice he willingly made? I sat at the corner of my bed, working out how to get the info I needed from Henry with minimal drama. I decided that simplicity would be best. I texted a screenshot of the post his way and added a simple question: "Why?"Why not? Our difference in political views doesnt change my love for you."It was the first time I wished Henry hadnt told me he loved me. I stood with his words for a long while. After collecting myself, I gave him my truth."Im not sure if I believe that," I responded."Okey-dokey, Henry he replied.His carelessness sealed the deal. With shaky fingers and tears flooding my eyes, I accessed his contact page on my phone, hit the block button, and then did so all over social media. For the second time in my life, I lost someone I wanted in my life forever.I love Henry. That may never change. Regardless, you cannot claim to love someone while actively voting against them. That includes those who vote against the same marginalized communities that they come from.I'm trying to find a moral from this experience, but this freshness has stopped me from doing so. I've distanced myself from loved ones over ignorant takes, but this hits differently. I guess it helps to know that I'm not the only person in America dealing with something like this. Maybe one day, it will hurt less. Maybe one day, I'll forgive Henry and try again. But today isn't that day.A Bronx-born pop culture commentator, Jonathan Apollo finds his way back to the writing field after losing his mother to cancer in 2021. It was this profound loss that reminded him of his role in this world as a storyteller. He considers Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) his greatest hero and the iconic Selena Quintanilla-Perez as his beacon of self-acceptance. Oh, and if you havent figured it out by now, hes pretty gay, too. He can be found on X/Twitter and Bluesky at @JonnyAWrites. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit pride.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of PRIDE.com or our parent company, equalpride.

Walmart, the largest corporate employer in the United States with a workforce of 1.6 million, announced it will abandon itsdiversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)initiatives, including:Cancelling its Center for Racial Equity, a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment the company made in 2020 to address the root causes of gaps in outcomes of African Americans in education, health, criminal justice, and other areasEnding racial training programs for staffNo longer giving priority in programs designed to increase supplier diversity regarding the number of suppliers that are at least 51% owned or managed by a woman, minority, veteran, or someone who is LGBTQ+ Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Removing lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender products marketed to children.Withdrawing from thegay rights indexconducted by theHuman Rights Campaign, acorporate report card ensuring equity of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people Related Trans activists hold dance party in a Capitol womens restroom in protest of bathroom ban Eight activists entered the restroom and had a dance party. Walmart represents the largest corporation that willno longer participatein the Corporate Equality Index and abandon other DEIinitiatives due to growing right-wing backlash, which was further emboldened when the U.S. Supreme Courtoutlawed affirmative actionin college admissions. As with most social change efforts, opposing forces have launched a fierce and sustained backlash to turn back progress.Walmarts reversal on civil and human rights concerns in the workplace is not coincidental. In advance of Donald Trump overtaking the Oval Office in January, increased pressure will in all likelihood come to bear on progressive corporate management initiatives from the incoming administration and from the 51% of the electorate who voted for it.From the moment Trump descended the golden escalator in the summer of 2015 to announce his run for ruler in his First Reich, he has twisted the acronym for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into DIE, as in the death of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive society. In September 2020 while still in the Oval Office, Trump signed an executive order banningDEIprograms in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions that held or applied for federal contracts. The stated purpose of the order was to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping.And in his ruthless campaign to turn Florida into the place where WOKE goes to die, for example, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) launched a frontal assault on issues ofDEIinitiatives. Several Republicans in Congress have referred to Kamala Harris, the first woman and first person of African and South Asian heritage to lead a major political party for president, as merely a DEIhire. Elon Musk Trumps pick to co-chair his new so-called Department of Government Efficiency is an outspoken critic ofDEIprograms and is no friend of organized labor.He shouted from the rooftops into his high-volume microphone on his X platform about his disdain forDEIefforts by promoting a tweet arguing that graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have IQs nearing borderline intellectual impairment. This comes on the heels of the billionaire broadcasting a tweet asserting that Jews push hatred against whites.Musk promoted the post of a popular user called @eyeslasho, which argued that theUnited Airlines programof hiring traditionally underrepresented employees such as people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, and others, some from HBCUs, is dangerous because graduates from HBCUs are not intelligent, and, therefore, not qualified to fly a plane. The mean IQ of grads from two of those United Airline HBCU partners is about 85 to 90, based on the average SATs at those schools. (The SAT correlates reasonably well with IQ.), @eyeslashowrote. The HBCU IQ averages are within 10 points of the threshold for what is considered borderline intellectual impairment.Musk added: It will take an airplane crashing and killing hundreds of people for them to change this crazy policy of DIE. DEI is pro-AmericanWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -Declaration of IndependenceWhat is more pro-American and patriotic than programs and people who are attempting to bring about the promise of our founding documents?As we all know, however, no matter how progressive some corporate managers and their board of directors are, it still all relies on the bottom line. So, in good times and bad, corporate leaders place their toes in the political waters to test the temperature.They found warmer streams during the Biden/Harris years to sendDEIlife rafts for their employees and vendors to float upon at their jobs. With the cold front of ultra conservatives turning the waters to ice, however, these once supple agile rafts have capsized and sunk to the bottom, as corporate officials have committed them to the junk pile for burning. Corporate cooptation in a neo-liberal ageAs a political activist and student of progressive movements, I understand the actions people have undertaken in their impetus for radical liberatory change as opposed to mere reform, accomodation, or assimilation within an overridingly oppressive social structure. When we consider the phrase, Keep your eyes on the prize, I now wonder what we consider precisely as the prizes we are working toward?Are we, for example, working under the vision of the Gay Liberation Front, which began in 1969 as a radical project for social transformation and dismantling of the economic and social structures we considered inherently oppressive?Or are we working to reform the current social system in order to assimilate?Or is it none of the above?I am sure each of us will have a different answer.Looking back over the years, as our visibility of progressive peoples has increased, as our place within the culture has become somewhat more assured, much certainly has been gained, but also, something very precious has been lost.For some, that early excitement though by no means ability to fully restructure the culture seems now to lay dormant in many sectors of our communities. In our current so-called neoliberal age, emphasis is placed on privatization, global capital, reduced governmental oversight and deregulation of the corporate sector, attacks on labor organizing, and competition.We are living in an environment in which property rights hold precedence over human rights. In this environment, we are witnessing a cultural war waged by the political, corporate, and theocratic right, a war to turn back all the gains progressive people have made over.In our queer communities, for example, the Pride marches of the past have morphed into parades and festivals funded on a base of major corporate sponsorship and capitalist consumption. Parade contingents now include large canvas banners affixed with familiar logos of national and local banks, insurance, soft drink, beer, and real estate companies. Ironically, some of these same companies refused to hire out members of our communities not so long ago, but seeing how our business has improved their economic bottom line, we are now happily welcomed, or, at least, we were.Along the parade routes and at rally sites, companies and individuals display and sell their wares, from internet and phone company subscriptions to rainbow-colored everything imaginable.Merchants and artisans misappropriate the pink triangle the Nazi patch gay men were forced to wear on their clothing when incarcerated in concentration camps to fashion glimmering pink Rhinestone jewelry worn as glamorous fashion accessories. I call this form of consumerism the tchotchetization of a movement (tchotchke in Yiddish means knick knacks, small objects, etc.).The pink triangle originally a symbol of ultimate oppression was deployed by LGBTQ+ people in the 1970s as a mark of solidarity in the AIDS movement, an emblem of resistance in mobilizing against the intransigence of governmental, societal, and corporate inaction. But today it is simply as an accoutrement of vanity.Corporations have had a leading role in recent years in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and hopefully they will continue to do so. They must be encouraged and thanked for their efforts. The costs of corporate involvement, however, within progressive movements and communities include the ever-present potential for cooptation of the prize, transforming the goal of personal and collective liberation into mere reform and maintenance of the capitalist status quo.Today, the United States stands as the most culturally and religiously diverse country in the world. This diversity poses great challenges and great opportunities. The way we meet these challenges will determine whether we remain on the abyss of our history or whether we can truly achieve our promise of becoming a shining beacon to the world.When deployed effectively, DEI initiatives can give us the opportunity to shine to our outer limits of our potential. Progressive people cannot depend on the government or on corporations to do the work of liberation.This work is our responsibility and our joy. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Annette Bening was among the celebrities, advocates, and lawmakers who delivered rousing speeches in support of transgender rights on the steps of the Supreme Court on Thursday, December 5, as the justices heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, a landmark case that will likely determine the future of gender-affirming care access nationwide.Trans rights is the civil rights issue of our era, the Oscar nominee and proud mother of trans writer Stephen Ira told the crowd. Related Christian commentator says trans people should be erased from the earth in vicious SCOTUS rant He also said all trans kids are abuse victims. As a well-meaning parent, I didnt always know how to support my teenager, my vulnerable teenager, who was just trying to live his truth. But you know what? I learned, Bening said. I learned that what these kids and families need is judicious counseling, sound medical advice, and an atmosphere of calm, and love, and acceptance. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The Nyad star went on to say that what trans kids and all trans people need is to be seen and heard.She also had a message for folks who may be hostile to or simply unfamiliar with trans issues. There is nothing to be frightened of, Bening insisted. For people out there who may be hearing this, who havent met someone whos trans, you have. Trans folks are everywhere. Theyre your doctors in your emergency rooms, theyre your firefighters, theyre your teachers, your librarians, the store clerks, the clerks in the bookstores. Everywhere in this world trans folks exist, and it is our responsibility to support and love them. Theres nothing to be frightened of. Everyone just wants to live in freedom, safety, and dignity. And for the Supreme Court Justices, she continued, I encourage them to talk to their kids, their grandkids, their nieces and nephews. Because Ill bet if they really sit down and ask them Do you know trans kids around you? Do you have any non-binary friends? Theyre gonna say, Yes. And theyre gonna say that this is part of the beautiful rainbow of human beings everywhere.Bening was joined by fellow actors Elliot Page and Ilana Glazer, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ed Markey (D-MA), and others for the rally in support of declaring Tennessees anti-trans S.B. 1, which bans gender-affirming care for minors, as unconstitutional.Elliot Page attends New York Premiere at NewFest Pride Close to You at SVA Theatre in New York on June 1, 2024 | ShutterstockI know how important it is for all of us to disrupt the narratives that demonize us, Page said. No matter how much I publicly speak about my life being transformed for the better because of gender-affirming medical care, too many people ignore my words and instead project their fears onto my self-love.Page questioned whether the debate happening at the Supreme Court and in state houses around the country is really about medical care. The evidence proves that this medical care is safe and effective, he insisted. Yet half the states in the country have passed new laws banning families from accessing healthcare that their transgender children need and their doctors prescribe.I think that we all know that they want to ban this care, not because it doesnt work, but because it does, Page said.Glazer used their speech to recognize American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Chase Strangio, who was arguing against the Tennessee law before the Supreme Court on Thursday. Strangio is the first openly transgender lawyer ever to deliver oral arguments before the nations highest court.No matter what happens in that court today, December 4, 2024, Chase Strangio is an American hero changing the world for the better, Glazer told the crowd. They also drew a connection between the Courts 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, striking down the constitutional right to an abortion, and Skrmetti. Gender-affirming healthcare and abortion are simply medical treatments, both of which have been politicized to distract Americans from the growing wealth gap, Glazer said. As our government slides into an authoritarian framework, girls and womens bodies and trans bodies are exploited as a device for distraction.We are collectively a refutation of everything they say about us, Strangio said to the assembled crowd following Thursdays hearing. And our fight for justice did not begin today. It will not end in June, whatever the court decides.We are in it together, he added. I love being trans. I love being with you, and we are going to take care of each other. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

For Joy Wright, not being a mother was not an option. But by the time she reached 34, she was, as she described in an essay for Buzzfeed, single, lesbian and feeling desperate. Related Does sperm donation need global regulation so kids wont have hundreds of genetic siblings? In addition to incest risks, experts say it can be psychologically damaging for children of donors to find out they have hundreds of genetic half-siblings. The path to parenthood as a queer person can be a marathon it takes stamina and determination, she wrote. Just the mention of wanting children seems to confuse friends, family and medical professionals who are used to parents being non-queer. Its much better than it was when I began my process, but LGBTQ people must still push to be seen as potential parents. Each road whether its insemination, IVF, surrogacy or adoption is an uphill battle. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Wright began her quest to become a single mother by choice first by going the standard route: seeking a sperm donor through a fertility treatment program. But she continued to find herself not pregnant, and now with a lot less money. Frozen sperm is expensive, and after several attempts, she simply couldnt afford it anymore. She tried a series of crazy ideas after that, which she wrote included a sexy dress, a six-pack of beer and an old co-worker who left town the day before I got to him; a gay friend who then tested positive for HIV; and a wild womens weekend with drums and goddess chants that was followed by two missed periods but no pregnancy. Then one day at an intuitive healing workshop with a friend, she met a man who offered to be her donor. They lived two and a half hours apart, and with the need to drop everything when she was ovulating, they quickly stopped meeting at his home and instead met at a Burger King in between their houses. Coolly, without the least bit of awkwardness, Drake walked out of the mens room, handed me a Burger King cup full of his semen, smiled, and headed out of the restaurant, she wrote of her first experience inseminating herself at the fast food giant. Looking around, I took the cup into the womens room and used my little syringe to inseminate in one of the stalls.They tried this several times at their Burger King meeting spot, but unfortunately, she still wasnt pregnant. After that, she endured infertility tests to discover she had blocked tubes and would need IVF if she wanted a chance at carrying a child. A queer person experiencing infertility faces extreme challenges. Medical and insurance policies, as well as adoption programs and legal procedures, are designed for the heterosexual user, Wright explained. Some policies leave queer folks out because our desire to be parents never occurred to the writers. Others are intentionally discriminatory.While adoption also provided large hurdles for LGBTQ+ people, Wright decided that route was more likely to make her a mother than trying IVF. And it did. Now in a committed relationship, Wright has two children. I became a mom in a two-mom family, she wrote. Wright is far from the only LGBTQ+ person who has struggled to afford sperm and far from the only person who has been forced to get creative in her quest to build a family as LGBTQ+ parenthood becomes increasingly common. Services like IVF, surrogacy, and adoption can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and insurance companies often deny coverage to LGBTQ+ couples due to stringent definitions of what qualifies as infertility.In fact, as the cost of using sperm banks rises, an increasing number of people are turning to Facebook groups to find their own donors without the middleman. Last year, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee announced they wereupdating the definition of infertilityto be more inclusive in hopes that insurance companies would follow suit. And in a historic win for the LGBTQ+ community earlier this year, Aetna reached a settlement that included the companys commitment to providing equal fertility coverage to LGBTQ+ people. The case marked the first big step toward ending fertility-based medical discrimination for LGBTQ+ couples.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

With President-elect Donald Trump just weeks away from taking office again, same-sex couples are rushing to get married and start families before Inauguration Day.Legal experts say fears that marriage equality may be overturned under the second Trump Administration are likely overblown, but the fear is causing couples to upend plans and take actions they wouldnt have chosen to otherwise. Related LGBTQ+ couples are racing to get married before Donald Trump takes office One queer chaplain is helping ensure these weddings happen. This is not what equality looks like, 32-year-old Ben Nelson told NBC News recently. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Nelson and his fianc Adam Weinberger have scrapped their plan to marry next October and will now elope this month.We kind of decided that we would take a step back and do what we think is necessary for our lives, not necessarily what our first choice was, said Weinberger, 31.While the Supreme Courts 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges currently protects the rights of same-sex couples to legally marry across the country by declaring state laws banning same-sex marriage unconstitutional, many of those state laws remain on the books. The courts 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision ensuring the right to an abortion, stoked fears that the same could happen to Obergefell under the courts current 63 conservative majority. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have signaled they are eager to do just that. But Mary Bonauto, civil rights project director at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), insists that marriage equality is not in immediate danger. I understand that there are things about these times that introduce a lot of uncertainty in peoples lives. I understand that, Bonauto, who represented plaintiffs in Obergefell, told NBC News. But right now, and certainly for the foreseeable future, marriage equality is not one of the things that would change.As NBC News noted, Trump has not indicated he intends to overturn marriage equality and the Republican party has removed decades-old language defining marriage as being between one man and one woman from its platform.Trumps spokesperson and incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the outlet that LGBTQ+ people worried about the future of marriage equality are sadly mistaken and have fallen for the fear mongering from the media. Leavitt added that overturning marriage equality was never a campaign promise Trump made. I dont think that the Supreme Court is going to outright overturn marriage equality with a 63 conservative majority, Slate legal analyst and Supreme Court Correspondent Mark Joseph Stern said on the outlets Outward podcast recently. But I do think that if, say, Justice Sonia Sotomayor dies under Trump and he replaces her, that theres a very good chance that the Supreme Court could overturn marriage equality.Sotomayor, who is 70, has reportedly resisted pressure to retire while President Joe Biden is still in office and can replace her. At the same time, court watchers expect Thomas, 76, and Alito, 74, to retire at some point during the second Trump term.Even if the Court were to overturn Obergefell, the Respect for Marriage Act signed by President Biden in 2022 would still require the federal government and all U.S. states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where same-sex marriage is legal. But Stern noted that the law is unclear about what would happen if a couple married under Obergefell in a state with a same-sex marriage ban still on the books and then moved to another state with a similar ban on the books after the 2015 decision was overturned. The Respect for Marriage Act, he said, is ambiguous enough that a conservative court could interpret it very narrowly.I think it is imperative that gay couples who choose to get married do so in a blue jurisdiction, in a blue state or D.C., that has expressly authorized marriage equality, not through the federal courts, but through the democratic process or through the state courts, Stern said. Because if the federal judiciary pulls the rug out from marriage equality, its not clear that the new federal law will provide a backstop.But even LGBTQ+ couples in blue states are considering fast-tracking their marriage plans. Nelson and Weinberger live in New Jersey, and New York City resident Michael Kaye told NBC News that he and his fianc had intended to marry in June but are now strongly considering tying the knot before Inauguration Day. It just feels like we took a step backwards and that fear is resurfacing, Kaye said. And it might be a different fear than I felt like when I was in middle school or in high school, but I just feel like there is this fear again around the queer experience.Other couples, like 35-year-old Matt Woodruff and his boyfriend, are moving to start the process of becoming parents before Trump takes office in January. While Trump claimed that Republicans really are the party for IVF on the campaign trail, the overturning of Roe opened the door to attacks on the fertility treatment, which is often utilized by LGBTQ+ people to have children. In September, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have created a right to access IVF and required insurance companies to cover it.Trump has claimed he supports universal access to IVF and that, as president, he would order the government or insurance companies to cover the cost of the treatment for all Americans. Nonetheless, Woodruff told NBC News that he fears the in-coming administration could ban same-sex couples from accessing IVF or from adopting.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Soccer player Ali Krieger has released a vague statement about misinformation after ex-wife and fellow soccer star Ashlyn Harris revealed details about their divorce on a recent podcast. Im overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support Ive received this last year, Krieger wrote on Instagram. However, amidst this warmth, Ive also had to confront a wave of dishonesty and misinformation regarding my marriage and personal life. While Im not yet prepared to make a formal statement, I feel compelled to address this currently to prevent further distortion of the truth. Related Actress Sophia Bush cant stop smiling after coming out as queer in a powerful essay I feel like I was wearing a weighted vest for who knows how long. I hadnt realized how heavy it was until I finally just put it down. She continued, Above all else, my unwavering priority remains the protection and well-being of my children. I promise to share more when my heart feels ready. In this vulnerable time, I humbly ask for privacy and understanding from all involved, as I grapple with the profound changes in my personal life. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ali Krieger (@alikrieger)Krieger did not hint at what spurred her to make these comments, but it follows Harris appearance on the Naked Sports podcast, where she claimed she once proposed an open marriage with Krieger in an attempt to save their relationship. Many have criticized Harris for airing the couples private conflicts with the world, especially considering they have two children. I didnt know how to tell people that, like, oh, my wife doesnt want to touch me, Harris said during her interview with Naked Sports host Cari Champion. I constantly wanted more, Harris said. I constantly wanted the feeling of being loved the same way I loved I just felt like I wasnt a priority.She said deciding to separate from Krieger was the hardest thing shes ever done, adding I had to take my power back, and people were hurt in that process.I wanted someone to love me so bad, she said. I caved every bit of who I was inside to try to be more lovable, to be enough. Just wanted to be enough. I wanted to be able to walk through the door and someone miss me, want me, need me in a way that wasnt so business, that wasnt so on the field I felt like I was living with a stranger. The conversation went on and on, with Harris sharing deeply personal emotions and details about her perception of her marriage with Krieger that led her to leave. She also spoke about the way social media affected her mental health throughout the divorce. Harris began dating actress Sophia Bush soon after her split with Krieger, leading to a lot of speculation on social media that Harris and Bush had an affair that ended the soccer stars marriage something both Bush and Harris have vehemently denied. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced Wednesday that trans women who went through male puberty are no longer eligible to compete in elite competitions. The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) announced the same policy.Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach, LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan claimed in a statement. The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions. Related 24 states file an amicus brief to convince SCOTUS to ban trans girls from sports There is no evidence that transgender girls have a significant biological advantage in sports. Cant say I didnt see this coming, trans professional golfer Hailey Davidson reportedly wrote in an Instagram story on Wednesday. The new rules make her ineligible to compete, as she did not begin transitioning until her twenties. Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay neutral thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA and former LPGA commissioner, told the Associated Press that competitive fairness is the North star.We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff, Whan said. We just simply said, Where would somebody at least medically today where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field? And we needed to draw a line. We needed to be able to walk into any womens event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.Many trans athletes are facing impossible hurdles as legislators make it increasingly difficult for youth to obtain gender-affirming care while sports bodies increasingly make rules requiring transitions to have happened in childhood. Earlier this year, Davidson who has long been the subject of controversy in her sport issued a withering response to NXXT Womens Pro Golf Tours decision to ban trans women, calling it a slap in the face to ALL female athletes.In a March 1Instagram post, Davidson noted that despite the LPGA and USGAs now former policies allowing trans women to compete, trans women have not dominated the sport.In 14 years [there] has yet to be a transgender female in the USA actually tee it up and compete in anything but a pay to play event and make it to the highest level in womens golf, she wrote. I would semi understand all the hate and threats if there were a ton of transgender women out there dominating at all levels but unfortunately that just isnt [sic] the case nor has it been since the policy went into place. I think society seems to forget just how amazingly good and talented female professional athletes are in all sports, she continued. I mean those women are just insanely good and I can only dream of working towards playing alongside of them one day but in reality that is always a longshot and will require all I have even for the tiniest of chances.Davidson echoed those statements in another Instagram stories post responding to Fridays NXXT decision. You know what really bugs me is that people think I win just by showing up, she wrote. This is such a slap in the face to ALL female athletes being told that any male can transition and beat them regardless of the life of hard work those women put in.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Wicked has reportedly been banned in Kuwait.On Wednesday, December 4, Variety reported that screenings of the film had been removed from cinema listings in the Persian Gulf state ahead of its scheduled December 5 theatrical release. Related Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo celebrate the Wicked film as beautifully queer Grande and Erivo say it isnt just Glinda and Elphaba that make the land of Oz a celebration of uniqueness. According to the outlet, local media in Kuwait speculated that the ban was due to the films queer cast members. The film, based on the long-running Broadway musical which in turn was based out author Gregory Maguires 1995 novel, features out actors Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey in starring roles, as well as Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode in supporting roles. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today However, as them notes, the Kuwait edition of the Arab Times reported that the decision to ban the film came amid reports that it includes a gay character. On their recent press tour, both Erivo and co-star Ariana Grande, herself a vocal LGBTQ+ ally, have played up the films queerness and appeal to LGBTQ+ audiences. In one interview, Grande suggested that her character, Glinda, might be a little in the closet. Everyone is just so beautifully queer, she added of the characters who populate the Land of Oz in the film. Every day in the Emerald City is a Pride parade.However, despite Grandes take on the film, Wicked features exactly zero explicitly LGBTQ+ characters.Apparently it was because of lesbian and gay portrayals in the movie, Australian entertainment journalist Peter Ford said of the Kuwait ban on Melbourne radio station 3AW. Which, I guess if you look for it you mightve seen it.3AW host Ross Stevensom noted that he took his eight-year-old daughter to see the film and didnt clock any LGBTQ+ content.While Ford described Kuwait as not the most conservative of the Gulf countries, Variety notes that the nation has become one of the strictest in the region when it comes to film censorship. The country banned director Greta Gerwigs Barbie in 2023, claiming that the film promoted ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order, according to a statement from the state-run KUNA news agency. As them notes, the country also banned the 2023 horror film Talk To Me citing nonbinary and transmasculine actor Zoe Terakess role in the film. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

This articlefirst appeared on Mother Jones. It has been republished with the publications permission.After contemplatinga Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors Wednesday, the Supreme Court appears likely to greenlight the prohibition on the theory that nine humble justices are not the best arbiters of complex medical questions.Its a theory of a modest judiciary that stays in its lane and knows the limits of its expertise. But the notion is a wolf in sheeps clothing: Under the guise of judicial restraint, several justices suggested during arguments they would allow states to circumvent the Constitutions guarantees of equal protection. Related LIVE UPDATES: Supreme Court hears arguments in challenge to gender-affirming care ban The Supreme Court will rule on whether people can be trusted to make their own medical decisions with doctors or whether states can intervene. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This Supreme Court, dominated by a 6-3 majority of Republican appointees, doesnt usually take such a modest posture toward government regulation. But when it does, its often in cases that will allow a state to implement a constitutionally questionable and partisan-motivated policy. If Wednesdays case,United States v. Skrmetti,is decided this way, it will be one in a line of decisions where the court deferred to state legislatures so it could avoid facing the constitutional deficiencies those same lawmakers created. Such an outcome would also stand in stark contrast to the courts rulings on federal law and regulations, where conservative justices have been eager to take power away from Congress and federal agencies.Wednesdays casepitted Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care against transgender youth and their parents, the ACLU, and the US government, who allege that the law prohibits treatment on the basis of sex. As a result, they argue, courts must take a closer look at the legislatures justification for the law to determine whether it violates the Constitutions equal protection clause.In taking the case, the Supreme Court agreed to decide the proper judicial analysis. That first means determining if the law indeed discriminates on the basis of sex or targets a protected class of people. If it does, then the state of Tennessee must provide additional proof that a ban based on sex is necessary to further the states purported goal of improving the health of young people. Its hard to deny that Tennessees law treats people differently based on sex. For one, the Tennessee law explicitly states that its purpose is to encourage minors to appreciate their sex and prohibit treatments that might encourage minors to become disdainful of their sex. As Justice Elena Kagan put it on Wednesday, sounds to me like we want boys to be boys and we want girls to be girls.But at oral argument on Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts kept trying to dodge that constitutional analysis by describing the medical science around gender-affirming care as evolving and technical. Here, it seems to me that the medical issues are much more heavily involved than in other sex discrimination cases the court has ruled on, Roberts said. Doesnt that make a stronger case for us to leave those determinations to the legislative bodies rather than try to determine them for ourselves?Justice Brett Kavanaugh repeatedly made similar points about stepping back. The Constitution doesnt take sides on how to resolve that medical and policy debate, he said. Why isnt it best to leave it to the democratic process? But the premise that the court was being asked to make a scientific determination was simply untrue. Again, the question before the court was whether Tennessee relied on sex to ban gender-affirming care. Thats because while the Constitution may not take a position on a certain medical treatment, it does take a position on whether a treatment can be denied on the basis of sex. As Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, arguing for the United States government, put it to Roberts, It would be a pretty remarkable thing for the Court to say that just because were in the space of medical regulation, you are not going to apply the traditional standards that ordinarily are applied when theres a sex classification. It would also be a classic Roberts move: reaching a radical conclusion while claiming the mantle of restraint.So Roberts theorized the justices have a constitutional duty to defer to the legislature. Its not really so much a question of qualifications, Roberts said, even though he had repeatedly suggested that it was. Its more questions of constitutional allegation of authority. We might think that we can do just as good a job with respect to the evidence here as Tennessee or anybody else, but my understanding is that the Constitution leaves that question to the peoples representatives rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor.This notion of the humble court flies in contrast with the Roberts Courts usual pattern of deciding cases in a manner that augments its own authority. Time and again, the justices have let neithermootnessnorirreparably weak standingtheories stop them from ruling when they want to decide a hot-button issue. The justices have invented the so-called major questions doctrine toshoot down agency programsthey deem too big or expensive to enact without clear congressional authorization, leaving the nine justices to decide whether an action survivesnot the elected branches. Roberts has authored several of these opinions. And last term, the courtthrew outChevrondeference, the judiciarys decades-long practice of deferring to reasonable agency interpretations of statutes when the law is unclear. The opinion, by Roberts, was a judicial power grab: rather than defer to the expertise of agency policy-makers and scientists, judges should take it upon themselves to second guess all manner of US regulations. As Kagan wrote in her dissent: In recent years, this Court hassubstituted its own judgment on workplace health for that of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; its own judgment on climate change for that of the Environmental Protection Agency; and its own judgment on student loans for that of the Department of Education. But evidently that was, for this Court, all too piecemeal.Despite this track record of amassing power, on Wednesday, Roberts shifted directions to urge deference. Conservatives on the court rarely grant such deference to the federal governmentat least under a Democratic presidentbut often reserve it for states seeking a constitutionally dubious outcome. This may reflect an ideological dislike for over-regulating states. But it also demonstrates an aversion to enforcing the Constitutions bedrock civil rights protections.A good example are the courts decisions granting states almost entirely free rein to gerrymander legislative and congressional maps. In 2017, the court was served an opportunity to place constitutional limits on extreme partisan gerrymandering. But during oral argument, Roberts spurned it,callingthe proposed method of determining when voting boundaries are unconstitutional sociological gobbledygook, and, in writing for the court, Roberts declined to decide the issue on a technicality. In a subsequent 2019 case heard after the roster of justices had shifted, Roberts had the votes for the outcome he wanted andauthoredan opinion holding that partisan gerrymandering was a political issue that could not be litigated in federal court. The federal judiciary was, conveniently for Republicans in the case, bowing out. (Its worth noting that it appears that next years GOP majority in the House of Representatives will be aresultof the courts gerrymandering permission slip.) In 2023, the court made it much harder to fight gerrymandering that uses race to sort voters. Writing for the conservative majority, Justice Samuel Alito created a new standard for racial gerrymandering cases, now requiring that courts act with thepresumption that the legislature acted in good faith. Under such a presumption, courts are instructed that the word of the legislators outweighs their deeds. On Wednesday, that same kind of instruction appeared likely to carry the day in when it comes to gender-affirming care bans. Rather than assess whether legislators use sex to unconstitutionally limit access to the drug and whether doing so is justified, the justices could simply defer to the good judgment of the legislators.The Democratic appointees to the court were alarmed by the implications of Roberts and Kavanaughs questions. Im suddenly quite worried about the role of the core questions and the constitutional allocation of authority concerns, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said. Jackson explained that the court simply needed to engage in a two-step analysis. First, does the law draw lines on the basis of sex, and second, if it does, is that delineation justified?Jackson pointed to a bedrock civil rights case,Loving v. Virginia,in which the Supreme Court banned anti-miscegenation laws as a violation of equal protection. In that case, she noted, Virginia argued that the court should defer to the states because the science on interracial marriage was in doubt. In 1967, the court declined. But on Wednesday, it looked like the Roberts court might take the bait. If this court decides there are lots of good reasons for this policy and who are we as the Court to say otherwise, warned Jackson, Im worried that were undermining the foundations of some of our bedrock equal protection cases.The three Democratic appointees see Tennessees ban as treating people differently based on their sex, which would raise the bar a state must clear to justify the law. (The liberals also likely agree that transgender people should be, in the eyes of the law, a protected class so that laws targeting them be subjected to more intense judicial scrutiny.)The argument that Tennessees law discriminates based on sex was laid out multiple times and is fairly simple. If a boy seeks puberty blockers to prevent precocious puberty, he can get them. If a transgender boy seeks them to stop puberty, he cannot get them. In other words, access to the drug depends on the biological sex of the child requesting it. That, the plaintiffs argue, is sex discrimination. The law prohibits inconsistency with sex, Prelogar argued, in the same way that laws once prohibited people dressing like the opposite sex or women from pursuing certain professions. Tennessee denies any sex discrimination, arguing instead that it is not banning access to puberty blockers and hormones based on sex, but rather purpose. If a boy seeks puberty blockers to stop precocious puberty, the drugs are allowed. If the same boy requests them to treat gender dysphoria, the drugs are denied. The underlying medical condition is different. Its application turns entirely on medical purpose, not a patients sex, Matthew Rice, Tennessees solicitor general, told the justices Wednesday.The problem with that analysis, the liberal justices countered, is that the purpose of hormones and puberty blockers is to control sexual development. If a boy and a girl both want to take testosterone for the same purposeperhaps to deepen the register of their voiceonly the boy can do so, Jackson pointed out. As Prelogar put it, under the law you cant have these medications to live or identify in a manner inconsistent with your sex. Kagan was more blunt. Its a dodge to say that this is not based on sex, its based on medical purpose, when the medical purpose is utterly and entirely about sex.Which is why the justices may choose, boldly and consequentially, to ignore their own duty to analyze the laws equal protection impact.If Tennessee can have an end run around heightened scrutiny by asserting at the outset that biology justifies the sex-based differential in the law, that would undermine decades of this Courts precedent, Chase Strangio of the ACLU said Wednesday. And it would undermine the rights of transgender peopleand likely those of many othersas well.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Singer and actor Lance Bass says that, after coming out as gay in 2006, a network TV show he was supposed to appear in was shut down.I had a sitcom with The CW [TV network] at the time, and we were about to shoot the pilot and this came out and they were like, We cant do the show anymore. Like, they have to believe that youre straight to play a straight character, Bass told California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and media businessman Doug Hendrickson, co-hosts of the podcast Politickin. Related Lance Bass got a welcome gift from the king of the gay mafia after he came out Almost 20 years after he came out in People Magazine, Bass is revealing who sent him the present. Every casting director I knew, theyre like, Lance, we cant cast you because they cant look past Youre too famous for being gay now that they cant look at you as anything other than that. So, I lost everything, Bass said. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bass didnt mention the name of the show or any of the other people involved with its production. The CW declined to respond to questions about the show when asked by People magazine.Bass also said that his other talent agents fell off after he came out, as if they no longer knew how to manage his career after he became known as a gay celebrity.They were right about that, it was definitely a career killer, Bass added. A lot of the casting directors for sure, they were like, Yeah, that was really dumb And so I had to completely restart and rebrand at that moment.He said, however, that some of those same directors have since cast him in other roles, which he called funny and ironic. He also said while the situation sucks he understood it as a business decision and added that he never holds any grudges about what occurred.Lance Bass came out on the cover of People Magazine | public domain The U.S. was largely anti-gay when Bass came outBass, who first rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band NSYNC, came out in a cover story for People magazine on July 26, 2006.At the time he said, The thing is, Im not ashamed thats the one thing I want to say. I dont think its wrong, Im not devastated going through this. Im more liberated and happy than Ive been my whole life. Im just happy.However, anti-gay sentiment in the U.S. was high at the time. In 2006, then-President George W. Bush had called for Congress to pass a federal amendment banning gay marriage and 23 states had already passed their own laws or constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. Nearly 55% of Americans opposed gay marriage at the time, according to the Pew Research Center. Gay male visibility in media was also fairly low. While the TV sitcom Will & Grace ran from 1998 to 2006, one of its gay male leads was played by a straight actor and its gay co-star Sean Hayes didnt come out until 2010. The most high-profile male celebrity to have come out before Bass (arguably) was George Michael in 1998 after an arrest for public sex. The most prominent mainstream gay movie to have come out in the new millennium was Brokeback Mountain, a 2005 tragedy whose two male romantic leads were played by straight actors.Inclusive media aided gay visibility after Bass came out, as did the ongoing gay marriage debate and the 2010 emergence of the It Gets Better Project a video social media campaign to encourage gay kids not to kill themselves in which a handful of celebrities, business leaders, and other social media users came out to help raise awareness of community support.Bass told People magazine that he had known he was gay since age 5 but didnt know any gay people growing up in his home state of Mississippi. He said that, as a child, he regularly prayed to God not to be gay because he had heard of gay people being murdered and homosexuality being caused by the devil.Bass married actor Michael Turchin in December 2014. They have twin children. Since 2006, he has appeared or voice acted in eight films, 16 TV shows, and two video games.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) claims that she tried to have transphobic wrapping paper made but that the vendors she contacted refused to make it because it was offensive.Mace, who has been making headlines for the past month because of her crusade against Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first trans person elected to Congress, posted on social media that she tried to get wrapping paper made, presumably to sell to raise campaign funds. She posted a picture of the wrapping paper and it had a pattern that alternated between a graphic that reads, No [picture of balls] in our stalls, and her campaign logo. Related Nancy Mace calls Sarah McBride it in unhinged transphobic tirade She went on cable news to discuss the freshman congresswomans genitals. My team just informed me that no company would make this wrapping paper for us because its too offensive,' she wrote. What I find offensive is men in womens bathrooms. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But anyway, who wouldve bought this wrapping paper? My team just informed me that no company would make this wrapping paper for us because its too offensive. What I find offensive is men in womens bathrooms.But anyway, who wouldve bought this wrapping paper? pic.twitter.com/z4gTytuyEp Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) December 7, 2024Several people asked her if she actually asked anyone to make the wrapping paper or if she just assumed that she would be refused. We asked our current vendors and they refused, she replied to one person. We asked our current vendors and they refused. Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) December 7, 2024Mace spent the weekend posting anti-transgender messages to social media, including some with slurs. In one, she denounced trans rights protestors at the Capitol by calling them tr***ies.The tr***ies came, they saw, and they did not conquer during their protest, she wrote.A sitting Congresswomen using a disgusting and bigoted slur about Americans who staged a nonviolent protest, responded Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL). People who use this type of despicable language should not be leading anyone. A sitting Congresswomen using a disgusting and bigoted slur about Americans who staged a nonviolent protest. People who use this type of despicable language should not be leading anyone. pic.twitter.com/4Dcf9duMN2 Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) December 5, 2024In another post, she shared a rightwing pundits post that called trans women chicks with d***s.In yet another post, she called trans women men and accused them of voyeurism for wanting to use restrooms. She said that she read criminal profiles and studies before church this past Sunday and learned that men who commit voyeurism are dangerous and should be treated as such.Mace called trans people slurs in a video she posted to social media last week. This comes a month after she introduced a resolution to stop McBride from using the womens facilities at the Capitol and a bill to ban trans people from using the appropriate restroom on all federal property. Mace has been using transphobia to build her political career since before she was elected to Congress. In her first campaign for Congress, she made up a law that she claimed required transgender equality in the military, said that her Democratic opponent was responsible for it, and said that it would result in a Marine Corps base in her district getting shut down. It was all a lie there was no such law and the Marine base is still in operation today but it helped her secure her seat in Congress.In her second run for Congress, she accused her opponent of providing SEX CHANGE SURGERY. PUBERTY BLOCKERS. GENDER CHANGING HORMONES. FOR CHILDREN? in an ad, even though her opponent was a doctor who worked at a hospital that didnt provide gender-affirming care for trans people at all. Her opponent was forced to resign from her job.Mace has a poor record on LGBTQ+ rights in Congress, getting scores of 15 and 14 out of 100 on HRCs Congressional Scorecard, and she even voted against the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ people at the federal level, and against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act because it would give some protections to transgender inmates.In her effort to stop McBride from using the womens restrooms at the Capitol, Mace has referred toMcBride as it and as a man. She has also startedselling anti-trans t-shirtsand saidthat its offensivethat McBride thinks shes equal to other congresswomen.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

You think hes queer? Daniel Craigs William S. Burroughs surrogate Lee asks his friend Joe about Drew Starkeys lithe young Eugene in Queer. You could always just ask, Joe, Jason Schwartzmans louche invocation of Allen Ginsberg, replies while Lee protests that he could never. Set in Mexico City in the 50s, Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of Burroughss novella delivers the audience to a time when "queer" was a slur used by those who identified with it. And something so straightforward as asking someone if they were anything but straight was not done in the light of day. Throughout Queer, Lee, an addict and expat, smolders and sweats through his linen suit jackets while cruising Mexico Citys gay underworld, becoming smitten with and hooking up with pretty young things, including Omar Apollos character, billed only as Chimu bar guy.Told in several sections, Queer follows the tenuous relationship of Lee and Eugene from Mexico City to the jungles of Ecuador, where they trip on yag or ayahuasca together, before finally landing on Lee back in Mexico. A24 The film drops at a time in the United States when the re-ascension of Donald Trump to the presidency has some LGBTQ+ folks, again targets under Project 2025, considering expat status. Though unlike when Burroughs wrote Queer while awaiting trial for killing his wife in a botched game of William Tell, queer sex is discussed more openly and mostly free of pathos among LGBTQ+ people nowadays. Burroughs was a very complicated, messy, kind of wonderful artist writer and who was married and went through all sorts of [experiences], was a junkie, and represented queerness at a time when it was illegal, when it was all of these things, Craig, who plays the queer character Benoit Blanc in Knives Out, tells The Advocate. I think it is as important now as it ever was and maybe more so to have stories like this, but I wouldn't have tackled it unless I thought I could emotionally dig into it and know what that was. Starkey (Outer Banks) explains Eugenes hot and cold approach to physical and emotional intimacy with Lee.I think hes in a state of vulnerability. I think Lee's probably the first person in his life thats ever shown [Eugene] to himself in a way. And I think that's scary, but also its in a time where he may not have, or a lot of people, you don't have the language to associate these feelings to externalize them in any way, Starkey says.[Eugene] doesn't have the mechanisms to allow himself to show [intimacy], but theres still some type of gravitational force that's pulling him towards Lee in a way. And at times he leans into it. At times, he keeps it at arm's length. Daniel Craig as Lee and Drew Starkey as Eugene in Luca Guadagnino's Queer A24Though Apollo appears only briefly in the film, the image of his Chimu Bar Guy bedding Lee in a grimy hotel under stark overhead lighting permeates the movie. Queer recording artist Apollo, who says hes a longtime fan of Burroughs, discusses working on that memorable scene with Craig that depicted real sexual connection between men.I got the call and [they] told me about the scene and how explicit it was. I instantly just said yes. I was like, Yeah, of course. Its Daniel Craig. Of course I'm down, Apollo says. I wasn't really fearful or anything. I was like, It's kind of my reality. Its not something that's new to me, he adds.But it was exciting to do something, especially when it comes to skin and bodily physical contact, Its nice to trust somebody that shoots those kinds of scenes, so intimate and beautifully. So I trusted everyone on set and it was really easy and fun.Watch The Advocate's interviews with Craig and Starkey and Apollo above. Read out sibling publication Out's review of Queer here.

Karla Sofa Gascns performance in Emilia Prez has made her a global sensation. Now, she's made history as the first out trans woman to be nominated for a lead actress in a film at the Golden Globes.In the film, Gascn plays the title character, a Mexican drug lord who comes out as transgender and transitions.Related: Emilia Prez star Karla Sofa Gascn shares thoughts on representing the trans community in filmThe Spanish actress' nomination sits in the musical or comedy category. There is a separate category for dramatic films.Besides Gascn's nomination, Emilia Prez, Jacques Audiard directed, received 9 other nominations, making it the film with the most nominations this year. Gascn is competing in her category with Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), and Zendaya (Challengers) See on Instagram Gascn is also an Oscar frontrunner for her work in Emilia Prez. She, along with co-stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Zoe Saldaa already won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Gomez and Saldaa both received nominations for Best Supporting Actress for their work in the film.Related: Wicked's Cynthia Erivo is ready to soar as the Out100's cover starGascn knows the history of trans representation on screen and knows how important it would be for a film about a trans woman, and starring a trans woman, to get awards buzz. "I think that at the end, I only represent myself," Gascn told The Advocate's sibling publication Out. "I have a lot of responsibility because a lot of people, maybe they need that representation from me. And I take this with my whole full heart to help the minority that I represent.""But I think it's not only trans people," she continued. "I think there's a lot of people in this world that need freedom. They need to live in a world in peace with the respect for each other. And I think that is the most important."Related: 16 trans actors who have been nominated for major acting awardsIf Gascn wins, she'll become the first to win a Golden Globe for acting in a film. Michaela Ja Rodriguez became the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe in 2022 for her role in the groundbreaking television series Pose.Emilia Prez is streaming on Netflix.

I'm a dog person, but I'm also partial to reindeer. One in particular: Rudolph, of course. To be clear, I'm not one of those everyday-is-Christmas folks. Nor am I that person who spends the whole year prepping, ordering new ornaments on Amazon in February, and posting on Facebook in mid-August: "Christmas shoppingDONE!" Most years, I don't celebrate Christmas at all.If Tofurky isn't sad enough, try Tofurky for one. Rudolph isn't about Christmas. Sure, he's a big help on foggy Christmas Eves, but I'm confident there's technology for that now. With three hundred sixty-four other days in the year and, even accounting for a week to rest his tired legs, he's got more of a life to live. RudolphI used to call him Rudy, but a particular political figure ruined thatgot me through childhood. I suppose every kid has bouts of feeling like he doesn't belong, but it was pervasive with me. I'd play the equivalent of reindeer games like Hide and Seek, Tag, and Make My Sister Scream.But right around the age when kids started questioning the whole Santa thing, games got more complicated, requiring coordination and catching skills. That's when I, like Rudolph, started getting left off the neighborhood roster. When my gang let me play baseball, they would stick me in the Extreme Outfield, where no ball had ever landed. My at-bats were preceded by Jimmy Hardy yelling, "Move in, everybody. Way in!"If I'd perfected a slugger's spit, I might've landed a loogie on Jimmy's cheek instead of my chin. Im different, I'd tell myself in wallowing moments. Just like Red-Nose. Unlike the derisive names Rudolph's peers gave, it became an endearing expression.I wasn't as brave as Rudolph. For all the times I wanted to run away, I needed more follow-through. The closest I got was walking out of the house and "hiding" on a window ledge under an awning. I didn't spawn a search party since no one realized I was missing during my twenty-minute stunt.If he left the North Pole feeling like an outcast, Rudolph soon attracted like-minded company. Hermey the Elf refused to be typecast as a toymaker, walking away from a lifetime supply of Keebler cookies in pursuit of a career in dentistry. Affable Yukon Cornelius showed I could be content living life as a solo venturer. These were dreamers, believing wholeheartedly that the best days were ahead. I drew on that mindset so often and still do. Having faced intoleranceeven from a cranky SantaRudolph never responded in kind. He didn't tell Hermey that elves can't be dentists. He didn't question the value of Charlie-in-the-box, the water pistol that shoots jelly, and the other misfit toys. Rudolph immersed himself in a world of acceptance when he found his chosen bunch.In time, I realized my sense of being different was more complicated than my hair color. I preferred boys more than girls as I was supposed to in second grade but, when all the boys shifted to liking girls. I couldn't make the pivot. A sheltered '70s kid, I didn't know what that was about until others introduced me to many unkind labels.I grew up long before "It Gets Better" and rainbow flags. Instead of RuPaul, it was Rudolph who offered comfort.To this day, I think the animated stop-motion TV show is a 1964 marvel, a subversive production intent on showing it's okay to be gay. I don't regard Rudolph as gay, but it's easy to draw the parallels. His father, Donner, insisted he mask his bright nose. "You'll be a normal little buck like everybody else." Even warm-natured Sam the Snowman struggled to talk openly about Rudolph: "Well, for the first year, the Donners did a pretty fair job of hiding Rudolph's, uhnonconformity."I connect to Hermey's sensitive nature. Yukon and the possibly closeted, meticulously dressed Sam represent the masculine "bears" of gay culture. Charlie has stereotypical, dated gay mannerisms. He can't pass for Jack. Tellingly, the misfits sing, "Wake up, don't you know it's time to come out?" Others are welcome to interpret the show as a production aimed at accepting their own misfit qualities. Enduring classics have specific and universal messages.Thanks to Rudolph, I proudly claim my misfit status. Shunned differences have required considerable soul-searching. However, they have strengthened my convictions and made me kinder to others and myself.It's enough that I can draw inspiration from Rudolph at any time of year I want.Gregory Walters is a writer living in Vancouver. His essays have been published by The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, CBC, Writer's Digest, The Funny Times, Little Old Lady Comedy, Next Avenue, and Cottage Life. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

Former soccer star Ali Krieger has a few thoughts on her bitter divorce from ex-wife Ashlyn Harris, particularly around what she describes as the dishonesty and misinformation surrounding their marriage.The two initially met when they played together for the US National Team in 2010, then married in 2019 and had two children before calling it quits in September 2023.See on InstagramA couple of weeks ago, Harris did an interview on the Naked Sports podcast with Cari Champion, where she aired out her side of the story and detailed the lack of intimacy between the two, the discussions for an open relationship, and those pesky cheating rumors that dont seem to leave her alone.Following the chatter Harriss interview caused, Krieger wound up taking to her Instagram to express her gratitude for the outpouring of love and support shes received, but also to confront what she considers a distortion of the truth.See on InstagramAlthough she said she wasnt ready to make a formal statement yet, she said, Above all else, my unwavering priority remains on the protection and well-being of my children. I promise to share more when my heart feels ready.She continued, In this vulnerable time, I humbly ask for privacy and understanding from all involved, as I may grapple with the profound changes in my personal life.See on InstagramOne of the top comments on the post came from Kriegers brother, Kyle, who responded, Love you punkin. Even though youve said very little everyone knows the truth. That is a testament to your character and very telling of others. No matter how many lies someone may tell or pr campaigns are planted we all know you love your children, and we all know you are an honest, loving, beautiful human being. Be free and soar. The best is yet to come. We got you.We hate to see love crumble like this, and we wish them both the best as they try to navigate this trying time.

This December 2nd, 2024, Write It Out! (WIO!), a groundbreaking program founded by Afro-Queer playwright and HIV advocate Donja R. Love, captivated audiences at The Center in New York City with a powerful staged reading of ten-minute plays written by its 2024 cohort. Held in honor of World AIDS Day, the event showcased the transformative [...]The post Celebrating Courage and Creativity: Write It Out! 2024 Cohort Shines on Stage first appeared on GLAAD.

The post A political toll: Black LGBTQ+ students face new barriers appeared first on News Is Out.

The trial of Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., age 24 accused of killing a popular Ole Miss student who was gay after the two had a sexual encounter continued into its second week on Monday after prosecutors introduced damning evidence including Herringtons purchase of duct tape, rubber gloves, and trash bags from a local Walmart the day his victim disappeared.Jimmy Jay Lee, 20, was well known among the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Mississippi in the town of Oxford. Both men were former students there. Lee vanished on July 8, 2022. Herrington was not out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, according to prosecutors. Related Man convicted for the twisted murder & cover up of his alleged gay lover The internet searches and lengths he went through to hide his crimes are shocking. Police said cellphone history showed conversations between Herrington and Lee early on the morning Lee disappeared. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today On Wednesday, jurors were shown surveillance video of Lee leaving his apartment shortly after 4 a.m., dressed in a robe and slippers. He returned about 40 minutes later and left again just before 6 a.m., speaking on his cell phone.Khalid Fears, a friend of Lees, testified that he had a video chat with Lee at that time, in which Lee said he was on his way to see a man hed been with hours earlier.Lee and Herrington saw each other twice during the hours before Lee disappeared, Assistant District Attorney Gwen Agho said during opening arguments. The men had sexual contact during their first meeting and Lee was upset when he left Herringtons apartment.Herrington invited Lee back, Agho said.Before Lee arrived, Herrington searched online for how long it takes to strangle someone.Surveillance video recorded on the day Lee disappeared shows Herrington running from where Lees car was found at an apartment complex near Herringtons. Herrington was later seen picking up a shovel and wheelbarrow at his parents house, authorities said.Lees body has never been found. He was recently declared dead by a judge at his parents request.Herrington maintains his innocence. In opening arguments, his defense lawyer said there is zero proof that Lee was killed or that any crime took place. Other evidence introduced at trial includes the gray hoodie Herrington was allegedly wearing when he was seen on video near Lees car, and an acrylic fingernail discovered in Herringtons apartment.Prosecutors said Herrington gave conflicting statements over two interviews about Lees disappearance. Police first interviewed Herrington in his apartment, when he said he knew Lee but did not have any kind of sexual relationship with him, said Shane Fortner, one of the officers involved.In the second interview at an Oxford police station, after Herrington was advised of his rights, he said he and Lee had a deeper relationship and that they had a sexual encounter just hours before Lee disappeared. Lee was pursuing a masters degree in fashion, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee, and was a popular drag performer in Oxford.Prosecutors announced they dont intend to pursue the death penalty against Herrington if convicted. Capital murder in Mississippi is defined as a killing committed along with another felony, in Herringtons case, kidnapping.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the out niece of Donald Trump, slammed her uncles promise to end birthright citizenship without, apparently, realizing that the Constitution would get in his way.Look, lets be very clear here: its despicable, she said on MSNBC. Also, he doesnt know what hes talking about. I think thats the first time hes ever heard any part of the Constitution in his life. Related Donald Trumps lesbian niece has a simple message for her uncle: Go f**k yourself Mary Trump is terrified for what Donald Trump will do to Ukraine. She was discussing comments made by her uncle during an interview with NBCs Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, where he said that birthright citizenship or the legal concept that people born in the U.S. automatically get U.S. citizenship is ridiculous. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today We have to end it, he said. Were the only country that has it, you know, he added, apparently not knowing that over 30 other countries have birthright citizenship.Welker asked him if it was still his plan to end birthright citizenship on his first day in office and he said, Yeah, absolutely.The Fourteenth Amendment, though, says that, quote, All persons born in the United States are citizens,' Welker said. Can you get around the Fourteenth Amendment with executive action?Well, were going to have to get it changed, Trump responded. Maybe have to go back to the people.Changing the Constitution would require support from two-thirds of both the House and the Senate and three-quarters of state legislatures, which is unlikely to happen. Welker: You promised to end birthright citizenship on day one. Is that still your plan?Trump: Yeah, absolutely.[image or embed] Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) December 8, 2024 at 5:01 PMMary Trump pointed out that her uncle doesnt even seem to understand that he himself is the descendent of recent immigrants, including his mother who was born in Scotland, and his fathers parents, who were both born in the Kingdom of Bavaria.Hes a deeply ignorant, cruel man who seems to forget that his father was a first-generation American, Mary Trump said about her uncles comments. So, if it hadnt been for birthright citizenship, my grandfather probably wouldnt have been allowed to stay here.Obviously, the immigrants Donald hates are people of color, she continued. And what he also doesnt understand is the reason why we have the Fourteenth Amendment was because we enslaved an entire race of people, and it was to ensure that after the Civil War was over and they were freed, they were, in short, protected by citizenship being conferred upon them.So, its a power grab. I dont think there is any mechanism by which he can make it happen, but this is another instance in which we are in the unfortunate position of having to rely on Republicans to do the right thing and protect American citizens, she said. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

President-elect Donald Trump and his team are swiftly revealing important Cabinet, White House, and other key nominations for his second term. Trumps LGBTQ record is documented on the GLAAD Accountability Tracker and includes a history of deploying policies across federal agencies to target LGBTQ people. The LGBTQ records of his nominees includes: Marco RubioSecretary of [...]The post Trumps Nominees on the Record on LGBTQ Issues first appeared on GLAAD.

A federal judge overruled a small towns decision to ban an LGBTQ+ group from participating in the annual Christmas parade, allowing the group to participate in the parade this last Sunday. The town of Prattville, Alabama, banned Prattville Pride after an anti-LGBTQ+ group, Clean Up Alabama, campaigned against the groups participation, causing threats and requiring extra police security for the group.However, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker(a 2019 appointee of then-President Donald Trump) ruled that the towns ban violated the groups right to free speech. The group participated, but a drag performer who planned on participating didnt ride the float as originally planned out of safety concerns. While Prattville Pride used the media attention to drive donations towards The Trevor Project (an LGBTQ+ youth anti-suicide organization), the anti-LGBTQ+ social media account, LibsOfTikTok, called Prattville Pride garbage for offering chest binders to transgender kids. Related These 6 LGBTQ+ holiday movies are a must-watch this Christmas Lets make the yuletide gay. Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie initially said the city would ensure all persons are served and respected equally while maintaining a safe Christmas parade event for us all. However, last Wednesday, Prattville Pride said it had received threats over its participation after Clean Up Alabama told its members that the group planned on violating the parades rules against political and offensive displays by displaying a drag queen and transgender flags on its float. Prattville Pride asked the city for two extra police officers to accompany its float during the parade. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Then, last Thursday morning, the city government informed Prattville Pride that it was no longer allowed to participate, citing security and safety concerns for all of the parades participants and attendees. In response, Prattville Prideasked a federal judge to issue an injunction over the mayors decision.On Friday, Judge Huffaker issued the injunction, writing, [The] city makes no argument and provides no evidence that Prattville Pride has engaged in any speech or behavior that would remotely fall into an unprotected speech category. It is undisputed that Prattville Pride has complied with the Citys regulations.The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way, Huffaker added. But discrimination based on a messages content cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment, The Birmingham News reported. In response to the judges decision, Prattville Pride wrote in a public Facebook post, This ruling is a powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility, representation, and inclusion for all members of our community. The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity.While we celebrate this important step forward, we must also acknowledge the challenges and hateful rhetoric that have been directed towards our organization and the LGBTQ+ community during this process, the group added. Such negativity can have a profound and damaging effect on LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, who often face heightened risks of isolation, mental health struggles, and rejection.The groups post encouraged people to donate to The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth anti-suicide organization.Prattville Prides float featured a giant star covered in white and rainbow-colored cellophane atop a fluffy cloud covered in stars. The floats riders threw candy, and a man walked in front of the float carrying a rainbow and trans Pride flag with a multicolored fist icon at its center. While a bicycle-riding Prattville Police officer accompanied the float, the drag queen didnt appear on the float as originally planned, 1819 News reported.In a public Facebook post, the drag queen Alee Michelle Sapphire explained, For the protection of myself and others, I made the executive decision not to participate at last nights parade. I may not have been physically present in the seat, but just know I was there and was filled with so much love at the acceptance of our community after all of the backlash from prior announcements. Following the parade, LibsOfTikTok,a social media account run by anti-LGBTQ+ activistChaya Raichik,noted that Prattville Pride provides free chest binders and other gender-affirming shapewear to trans kids. She posted screenshots showing that This is the same organization which boasted about having the gayest Christmas parade float ever, Raichik wrote. This garbage is everywhere. Theyre after your kids.LibsOfTikTok regularly accuses LGBTQ+ people and allies of grooming, sexualizing and indoctrinating children. Its social media posts have resulted in threats against LGBTQ+ teachers, all-ages drag performers, gender-affirming medical professionals, their allies, as well as children. Prattville Pride in Alabama is raising money to buy chest binders and shapewear for kids who think theyre trans. This is the same organization which boasted about having the gayest Christmas parade float ever.This garbage is everywhere. Theyre after your kids. pic.twitter.com/rUXuaiUfwk Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 9, 2024Editors note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at988lifeline.org. TheTrans Lifeline(1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth viachat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In a dissenting opinion to the Supreme Courts refusal to hear a case about a schools policy supporting transgender students, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas said that the Court should have heard the case and claimed that the schools policy to not out trans kids to their parents kept the parents in the dark about the identities of their children.The case Parents Protecting Our Children v. Eau Claire Area School District, Wisconsin is about the school districts policy of supporting trans and gender non-conforming students on a case-by-case basis. The policy doesnt ban teachers from outing students to their parents but it also doesnt require them to. The policy, adopted in 2021, notes that there may be safety concerns when it comes to the parents of trans kids being informed about their identities. Related New Hampshire Supreme Court upholds school policy protecting trans students from forced outing In their ruling, the court shut down a mother who claimed the district violated her parental rights. A group of conservative parents sued, saying that their parental authority gives them the right to be told whatever teachers know about their kids identities so that they can say no to childrens often short-sighted desires, according to the petition they filed with the Supreme Court in June. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The district court and the appellate court both rejected the parents lawsuit on a question of standing, since the parents couldnt show that they had a trans kid in the school district and therefore couldnt show that they were actually affected by the districts policy. Six Supreme Court justices rejected their petition in an unsigned order. Alito wrote a dissent and Thomas joined. Justice Brett Kavanaugh also dissented, but he didnt join Alitos dissenting opinion.Alitos dissent says the issue is schools that encourage[] a student to transition to a new gender or assist[] in that process without parental knowledge or consent. The policy at Eau Claire is not about encouraging students to transition since being transgender isnt something that one can convince someone else to be. Alito noted that the districts policy had a plan for when parents arent involved in helping create a Gender Support Plan for their child and that the schools training materials said, Parents are not entitled to know their kids identities. That knowledge must be earned.Alito wrote that its not possible for the parents to know whether they had a trans child without the school telling them, which would mean that the possibility that their kids are trans is enough to have standing to sue.The challenged policy and associated equity training specifically encourage school personnel to keep parents in the dark about the identities of their children, Alito wrote, using scare quotes around the word identities. Conservatives often oppose thinking of LGBTQ+ identities as such and instead insist that they are behaviors or mental illnesses. Thus, the parents fear that the school district might make decisions for their children without their knowledge and consent is not speculative,' he wrote.Generally, Supreme Court justices dont write opinions when refusing to hear cases, but this isnt the first time that Alito and Thomas have done so on a case about LGBTQ+ issues. In 2020, when the Supreme Court refused a petition from Rowan County, Kentucky, clerk Kim Davis who infamously refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 Thomas and Alito signed a dissenting opinion saying that the Court should have used the opportunity to end marriage equality in the U.S. Transgender youth make up an outsized percentage of homeless youth. The Trevor Project found that 28% of LGBTQ+ youth report being homeless at some point in their lives, and over 35% of trans and nonbinary youth reported the same. Many say that parental and familial rejection factors into their homelessness.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Sometimes, there are moments that serve as great reminders as queer people that things, however fraught, are still progressing for the better even just a little. The stress from the current onslaught of anti-trans laws across the country and the looming fears for Trump's second term are a lot to carry, so you've got to take the little victories where you can get them.Today, that little victory is a homophobe getting nonstop dunked on for posting a video on the internet of a gay couple kissing.On December 7, user @JMcGobble69 posted this video to X (the artist formerly known as Twitter): (@) To be fair, that is quite the kiss. That's some steamy, sultry, full-on making out right there. It's restaurant quality French kissing. It's not surprise the 6 second video has gained over 27 million views at the time of writing this article, and it will definitely continue to go multiplatinum in my mind for some time. Frankly, I'm quite jealous!I get not wanting to see other people kissing like that for any number of reasons, be they good, bad, or indifferent. But just as these gentlemen are free to keep getting their smooch on at the bar, we are all free to look away if we don't like it. It's one thing to not want to see that level of PDA, but this user hasn't decided to take a blanket stance against couples getting handsy across the board. There are no straight couples getting similarly shamed. No, it's just these two gentlemen because they are two men making out. In a real sign of progress, the internet tore this man to shreds.Not only did he get called out for how blatantly homophobic this was, but also how weird it is to record strangers in public. Some highlights: (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) In a time when things feel a little hopeless, it's nice to see a shift in the right direction, at least in terms of calling out homophobes and people recording strangers in public. So just give it a rest! Go home, or look away! Let them do them (and then maybe me next). (@) Me and paul mascaul east coast refugee (@abolishislam1) December 9, 2024 Fam mind your own damn business pic.twitter.com/kQIK60NAsu INFERNO (@Kingkt211801) December 9, 2024 Nosy ass, omg! pic.twitter.com/C62J9gvyCU FlambaySashayAway (@Wrath0fJello) December 8, 2024 But you recorded it and still have it saved on your phone pic.twitter.com/UGdyeyx7R5 ChaosMoogle (@ChaosMoogle) December 8, 2024

David is playing the game and honestly, were here for it. Not only is he following through with his desire to explore connections, but hes also making great TV with this love. Triangle? Square? No make that a love trapezoid.Last week a new Himbo entered the DILF mansion, the dreamy circus performer, Steff who first caught (taken) Daddy Davids eye, but ultimately snatched Samuels Daddy Robert much to the shock and chagrin of that Himbo. Then to top it all off Justin decided to self-eliminate, but not before handing off Dr. DILFs golden cellphone, which gives him some as of yet unannounced advantage. The twists? The turns! Could we love this show any more than we already do? No, the answer is no. This week kicks off in the aftermath of that dramatic finale with Timmy and Samuel reconvening by the pool to discuss how they feel about where they stand with their daddies and Timmy spilling some major tea about some extracurricular activities that went down in the Daddys room the night before.Cue the grainy black-and-white footage! We love a receipt and here we see David first getting cozy with Timmy before doing the exact same thing with Steff while Timmy watches on.Listen, is it dramatic? Sure. But what else are these folks here to do but explore connections and chemistry with one another, so we can't totally blame David for doing exactly that. Should have done it mere feet from his other connection? Probably not. Are we glad that he did it for our viewing pleasure? Duh.What can we say, we love spicy drama especially since it sets up Nicholas to make his move on Timmy. We cant wait to see how this turns out.'For the Love of DILFs' is streaming now on OUTtv. Watch the first 10 minutes of season 3 episode 3 now.

New York City officials have confirmed what other local jurisdictions are reporting: theres been a Trump bump in the number of marriages performed around the country.The city doesnt track couples gender or immigration status, so there is no data on who exactly is getting married, but anecdotal evidence suggests many marriages are taking place out of fear marriage equality for same-sex couples could be imperiled in a second Trump administration. Related Fact check: Does Donald Trump support marriage equality? LGBTQ+ conservatives insist that Donald Trump supports same-sex marriage rights. But has he ever shown such support? The City Clerks office in New York, which oversees the Marriage Bureau there, recorded 8,537 marriage license appointments made in November 2024, the same month Trump was elected to a second term. Thats a 33% increase compared to November last year, according to data the agency shared with The City. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In the two weeks leading up to the election, the city tracked about 1,500 marriage license appointments each week. That number jumped to 2,365 the week following the election, a 55% increase. The number of appointments remained above average for the rest of the month. The wedding fever dipped to 1,914 appointments the week ending on December 3.We already fought for it. I dont want to have to do it again, Ryan Addario, 36, said of marriage equality as he was leaving the Marriage Bureau in Lower Manhattan with his new husband, Nicholas Caycedo, 39. The pair call the Bronx home.I just didnt want to have any potential obstacles, he said.The longtime couple, like others interviewed there on a recent morning, expressed concerns a conservative super-majority could overturn the 2015 Obergefell decision that legalized same sex-marriage. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have been clear about their intention to do so if the opportunity arises.Trump, while surrounding himself with anti-LGBTQ+ staff and appointees, hasnt made marriage equality a campaign issue. His incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt toldNBC News that LGBTQ+ people worried about the future of marriage equality are sadly mistaken and have fallen for the fear mongering from the media. She added overturning marriage equality was never a campaign promise Trump made.I dont think that the Supreme Court is going to outright overturn marriage equality with a 63 conservative majority,Slatelegal analyst and Supreme Court correspondent Mark Joseph Stern said on the outlets Outwardpodcast recently. But I do think that if, say, Justice Sonia Sotomayor dies under Trump and he replaces her, that theres a very good chance that the Supreme Court could overturn marriage equality.Attorney Diana Adams, executive director of the Chosen Family Law Center, advised unmarried same-sex couples, particularly those with children, to establish a legal connection with longtime partners and children in their relationship as a form of insurance. Having a legal connection to your child, having a legal connection to your partner is very, very helpful. And so if you were intending to get married, this is the time to get married, Adams said.Its possible some obsessive newlyweds were just celebrating their fellow New Yorkers (relative) electoral success in the Big Apple. Trump almost doubled his vote margin in his native Queens when compared with 2020, for instance, while Harris took the city as a whole with 68% of the vote.As for Staten Island, fuhgeddaboudit. Trump only built on his previous popularity in the fifth borough, netting nearly 70% of the vote in 2024. Data for Staten Island-specific marriages wasnt available. The urgency outside the Marriage Bureau was accompanied by the joy attendant the same ceremonies no matter who is in the White House.Theres so much uncertainty in the world right now and so much uncertainty with what will occur in the next coming year with this new presidency, said Bronx resident Caycedo. The one thing that is certain is our love. And I was like, lets surrender to that.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

December 1 was World AIDS Day, and this years international theme wasTake the Rights Path: My Health, My Right! In alignment with the theme, the World Health Organization (WHO) has challenged health professionals to combat AIDS by addressing the social factors that most affect the health outcomes of people living with HIV, especially since specific populations continue to be hardest hit in the ongoing struggle against HIV/AIDS.For African Americans, the disparities within the healthcare system contribute disproportionately to the high number of HIV/AIDS, directly affecting the quality of life and its spread. Related Donald Trump had a plan to end HIV by 2030. His re-election may kill that plan. In 2019, he announced the Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative. But the GOP seems determined to gut it entirely. An August 2008 report from the Black AIDS Institute, entitled Left Behind, showed that the number of Black Americans living with HIV exceeds the HIV population in seven of the 15 focus countries in the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative, an initiative helping to save the lives of those who have HIV/AIDS in international countries like Haiti, Dominican Republic, India, and South Africa (to name a few). Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today The epidemic is heavily concentrated in urban enclaves like Detroit, New York, Newark, and Washington, D.C., and sadly, these disparities affecting Black people with HIV still persist in the present day.Also, with the Souths unfortunate propensity for avoiding uncomfortable subjects, the South has evolved into one of the HIV/AIDS hot spots in the country. Prisons have become hotspots too, with rates of HIV/AIDS among Black male inmates at five times the rate of the general population in prisons, its transmitted primarily through male-to-male sex or tattooing. The complexity of HIVs perception in the Black communityPresciently, when The New York Native, a now-defunct gay newspaper, first reported on a virus found in gay men (then known as GRID: Gay-Related Immune Deficiency), its May 18, 1981 editorial noted, Even if the disease first became apparent in gay men, it is not just a gay disease.Back in the day, famous HIV-positive heterosexual African Americans like tennis great Arthur Ashe, news anchorman Max Robinson, and rapper Eazy-E all died of AIDS, and basketball giant Earvin Magic Johnson, who is still living with the virus, highlighted the fact that anyone can contract the virus. However, many still see the epidemic as a white gaydisease, suggesting being gay or having sex with someone of the same gender puts you immediately at high risk.Over time, we got toseethat some heterosexual African-American men were not honest about their sexual behavior, and the virus showed up in the women they slept with. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, a sex scare hit the African-American heterosexual womens population due to Black men living life on the down low (or on the DL). As an underground subculture of African-American men who have sex with other men (MSM), men on the DL dont identify as gay, bisexual or queer. The feminization of this disease made many of us AIDS activists and scholars wonder if the same amount of money, concern, communication, and moral outrage that was put into white gay men with the disease would be put into curbing its spread among black women but it wasnt!There are still many persistent social and economic factors contributing to the high rates of the epidemic racism, poverty, healthcare disparity, and violence, to name just a few. We know that the epidemic moves along the fault lines of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, and that HIV transmission is tied to specific high-risk behaviors that are not exclusive to any one sexual orientation.However, the significant barriers to ending the AIDS epidemic still today are lack of information, health disparities and access to health care, which overrides homophobia as a main cause. As a matter of fact, homophobia merely heightens the lack of information, health disparities, and access to health care that already exist.As we enter the season of Advent in the Christian calendar the days spent in preparation for the Christmas holiday my prayer is one of health equity. I pray that health professionals heal not only those suffering from the disease but also address the social determinants of health that surround it, causing more lives to be lost.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Amidst everyone posting their year-end reviews from Spotify Wrapped, Reddit Recap, and whatever other platforms deliver stats to sum up the last 12 months, one TikToker is taking things to a whole new level with his own personal 2024 Grindr Wrapped.Joshua Fox (@jshfx) made the bold decision to publicly catalogue his results from a year's worth of Grindr, getting both chaotic and authentic all at once. Sitting in front of a TV display, he sifted through his homemade presentation, which even included charts."This year you met up with 84 random [men]," he began, "which might seem like a lot, but we're down 163% from last year, which is what we call growth."Fox's charts divide the time he spent as a top (55%) vs bottom vs "light fun," how frequently he asked a hookup's name before meeting them in person (only 13% of the time!), and what percentage of his "shags" were near home."The other 13% were during that week in America," he added.There was also a moment in the presentation where Fox dove into the emotions he was feeling before and after his hookups, sharing that his "most common feelings after each meet were shame and regret."Both the cold hard facts and the emotional component clearly resonated with viewers, launching his video into viral territory with over 2.6 million views in just two days."This is satiric, sad, humorous, and eye-opening, all at the same time," @jpviguen wrote. "It's brilliant. It's depressing. Just perfect.""we listen and we don't judge," reads one comment, while another followed up with, "i'm listening and i'm judging."Even the official Grindr account jumped in, writing, "this is so good."@jshfxThe stats are innnn #grindr #grindrwrapped #gayAs amusing (and lowkey terrifying) as the idea of hook-up apps doing a personal yearly round-up might be, ultimately, it seems likely Fox made his as part of an ongoing attempt to be transparent about his struggles with hookup culture following his divorce. In a subsequent video, he shared that he has a book coming out about his Grindr experiences called What You Into?"The day my husband left me, I had no idea how to process that," he admitted. "So I just started writing, and then I never stopped. At the start, it was just documenting me spiraling into Grindr and casual hookups, just to try and feel something, and then turning to sex with strangers for validation. And this is a toxic cycle so many people are stuck in, too."

The greatest play of a generation is going to be great just a little bit longer. Cole Escolas critically acclaimed playOh, Mary!is extending its run again until June 28, 2025. Escola is set to bow out of the role of the unhinged Mary Todd Lincoln on January 19, 2025 and Emmy-nominated actress Betty Gilpin will [...]The post Oh, Mary! Extends Run With New Lead Stepping in For Cole Escola in 2025 first appeared on GLAAD.

Spencer Liffs past Broadway credits include Head Over Heels, with music by the Go-Gos, The Lincoln Center revival of Falsettos, the Tony Award-winning revival of Hedwig And The Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, and the critically acclaimed and Tony-nominated revival of Spring Awakening. Spencer has earned two Emmy Nominations for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the hit FOX TV series So You Think You Can Dance, where he has been a resident choreographer for the past 10 seasons. Highlights of his other TV credits include Dancing with the Stars, B Positive, One Day At A Time, Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, Mike and Molly, 2 Broke Girls, The Latin Grammy Awards, The Emmy Awards, and The Oscars. Films include the upcoming Legendary Pictures feature film The Toxic Avenger, Steppin Into The Holiday starring Mario Lopez, and Stephen Karams Speech and Debate.Written by Ryan Bernsten (he/him), Director, Editorial & CopyRYAN: What exactly is Drag the Musical? Where is it running, and how would you describe it?SPENCER: Drag the Musical is currently running off-Broadway at New World Stages in New York City. Its really the most authentic representation of drag artists that I have seen in musical theater. Unlike Broadway shows like La Cage aux Folles or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which portray drag queens through the eyes of musical theatre actors, this show features real drag artists names you know from RuPauls Drag Race.At its core, its a story about two rival drag clubs who face challenges that force them to work together to survive. The story follows Alexis Gilmore, a drag queen played by Nick Adams, who must reconnect with his estranged brother, Tom, played by Joey McIntyre (and soon to be Adam Pascal), to save the club. Tom brings along his 10-year-old son, Brendan, and through the show, you see the family begin to heal their past traumas while Brendan discovers his own identity.RYAN: Having to confront the past in order to achieve familial reconciliation feels like such a universal theme, even beyond the queer context.SPENCER: Absolutely. This isnt just a queer story its about family. The layers of miscommunication between Alexis and Tom resonate with anyone whos struggled with a sibling or family member. They both have legitimate grievances. Alexis shut Tom out for years, but Tom also feels betrayed because Alexis wasnt there for him when his wife passed away.Tom isnt painted as homophobic, which I think is an important nuance. His actions stem from a misguided belief that he was toughening up Alexis for a world he thought would be cruel to someone like him. Theres a pivotal moment in the show when Tom explains, I was trying to toughen you up, and Alexis fires back, You were supposed to protect me. Their relationship isnt one-sided, and I think thats why it feels so real. By the end of the show, they find a way to rebuild their bond not by ignoring the past but by confronting it. It became clear that many in the cast shared similar stories especially those of us who grew up as queer younger siblings to older, straight brothers.RYAN: And Brendans journey adds another layer to the story. Can you talk about his role in the story?SPENCER: Brendans journey is my favorite part of the show. Hes a shy, reserved kid who has lost his mother and doesnt quite know where he fits in. Being around these fabulous, unapologetically themselves drag queens opens up a world of self-expression for him.When I read the script, I immediately connected with Brendan. I thought, This is so important. I was that boy. I loved putting on rhinestone costumes and headdresses as a kid, and I was lucky enough to be in an environment that didnt tell me it was wrong. But I know many kids arent as fortunate. Theres a moment when Tom catches Brendan experimenting with womens clothes, and in his fear and frustration, he says to Alexis, If you think Im going to let my son turn out like you, youre crazy. That line is heartbreaking, but its also a turning point for Tom. Through Brendan, Tom begins to see the importance of letting people especially the ones he loves be who they truly are.Brendan could have fallen in love with baseball or baking or anything else. Its not about pushing an agenda; its about celebrating individuality and showing kids that its okay to be themselves. Fashion, for example, is such a powerful tool its the first thing people see, and it can say so much about who you are. Unfortunately, society has these rigid rules about whats appropriate, especially for kids. But weve always had icons like David Bowie and the rockers of the 70s who challenged those norms. If Brendans story can inspire just one kid to feel less alone, then weve succeeded.RYAN: In one of our documentaries, Learn with Love, we captured a grandfather reconciling with his trans granddaughter after ten years of estrangement. These stories are so raw and relatable, but it shows that change is possible. From your experience with the show, what have you learned about these family dynamics and the communication breakdowns that often occur?SPENCER: From the beginning, we received such a powerful response. People would come up to us and say, Thats my story. I was Brendan or Alexis. One of the most moving parts of this journey has been hearing audience members say, I need to bring my sister and her son, or, I have a friend with a gender-questioning child who needs to see this. While we are doing something entertaining, art can have a bigger purpose in terms of making people feel seen. Representation is everything. It cant be stated enough how much it matters to see a character on stage that you can identify with.RYAN: What do you think someone unfamiliar with drag would learn from seeing this show?SPENCER: First, theyd gain immense respect for the artistry. Our queens are extraordinary true artists. Their makeup, costumes, comedic timing, and the sheer stamina required to perform eight shows a week in heels, wigs, and pads its remarkable.People often come in expecting a RuPauls Drag Race experience or a casual drag show, and they leave saying, I had no idea this would be a full musical with original songs and a heartfelt story. Its been rewarding to see peoples minds open to the depth and sophistication of drag as a performance art.RYAN: So its not just for one audience its reaching a broader spectrum.SPENCER: Exactly. While the show is undeniably queer, were intentional about making it inclusive. We didnt want to create a narrative where straight audience members feel alienated. Instead, we focus on universal themes family, love, acceptance that anyone can relate to.RYAN: For young people who are inspired by this work and want to get involved in performing arts, what advice would you give them especially queer youth who may feel uncertain about their place in this industry?SPENCER: The reality is, its harder than ever to break into the performing arts. But you have to start somewhere your high school musicals, community theatre, whatevers accessible to you.If youre LGBTQ+, you might face the added challenge of feeling like there arent roles for you. But I always tell people: dont let anyone pigeonhole you. Say yes to all opportunities. Ive worked on all kinds of stories queer and not because I dont want to be boxed in. You deserve to explore every facet of who you are as an artist.RYAN: I know how vital theatre can be for queer community-building. Why do you think so many queer young people gravitate toward theatre?SPENCER: Theatre kids are often the ones who dont fit the mold. They find each other and create chosen families people who share their values and celebrate their differences.For queer youth especially, theatre becomes a sanctuary. Its a space where they can express themselves fully, without judgment. Ive seen it firsthand in the Broadway Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit I work with. We run programs across the country,and of course its the epitome of diversity in every single possible way and so theres so much kindness in those groups of kids. They are so happy to be around other people that get them and where they can be themselves and where theyre not going to get made fun of for being different.Ive met so many young people who might have felt lost without their theaters. These spaces give them confidence, a sense of belonging, and a platform to be themselves. For many, its life-changing.This interview was edited for length and clarity.If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 via chat www.TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678-678.The post Spencer Liff on Changing Hearts and Minds in Drag: the Musical appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Republicans in Congress have hijacked a bill authorizing national defense spending for the coming year by forcing a ban on any medical treatment for gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization for those under 18 under the militarys health insurance plan, TriCare. The provision could prevent military members from getting safe, effective transitional care for their transgender children.The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual act published by Congress that regulates how the military budget is spent; it also regulates additional military facets beyond the budget. The GOP added a provision in this years NDAA that regulated any gender-affirming care for minors. However, in a bipartisan compromise meeting, the aforementioned provision against gender-affirming care was revealed instead. Related House GOP introduces bill to ban newly elected Democrat from using the womens room at the Capitol Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene are outraged that Sarah McBride might use the restroom at her new place of work. This version awaits a vote from the House and Senate, and will go to President Joe Bidens desk, where he may veto or pass it. If he passes it, this would be the first federal statute restricting the LGBTQ+ community since the infamous Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy of the 1990s which heavily restricted LGBTQ+ peoples membership in the military. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today It is unclear exactly what gender-affirming care procedures will be targeted by the NDAA. Whilepuberty blockers do not affect fertility, hormone replacement therapy may limit it to some degree while individuals are on it, although this is by no means universal, and there are fertility preservation processes like freezing eggs or sperm to counteract it.Additionally, not all gender-affirming surgeries affect fertility, such as mastectomies, or top surgeries, in transmasculine individuals. However, such procedures are rarely conducted on children to begin with.This provision may make the bill difficult to pass during the current lame-duck session. Over 160 House Democrats said in September that a final agreement should not target LGBTQ+ people, and President Biden has previously promised to veto legislation that would negatively affect the LGBTQ+ population.House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement, This [NDAA] legislation includes House-passed provisions to restore our focus on military lethality and to end the radical woke ideology being imposed on our military by permanently banning transgender medical treatment for minors and countering antisemitism. This legislation also reinforces our commitment to Americas brave men and women in uniform, and their families, by making landmark investments in their quality of life.Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) released a statement urging Johnson to reconsider the bill. Blanketly denying health care to people who clearly need it, just because of a biased notion against transgender people, is wrong, Smith wrote. This provision injected a level of partisanship not traditionally seen in defense bills. Speaker Johnson is pandering to the most extreme elements of his party to ensure that he retains his speakership. In doing so, he has upended what had been a bipartisan process, he said.I urge the Speaker to abandon this current effort and let the House bring forward a bill reflective of the traditional bipartisan process that supports our troops and their families, invests in innovation and modernization, and doesnt attack the transgender community, Smith continued.Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement, Instead of focusing on the needs of the American people and our national security, anti-equality House Republican leaders are hijacking a defense bill to play politics with the healthcare of children of servicemembers. This is not leadership, its bullying, and it is a direct attack on military families. This discriminatory provision is a slap in the face to servicemembers and their families, who sacrifice every day for our country. We ask our servicemembers to defend our country, and in return, we should defend their rights, Robinson continued. This cruel and hateful bill suddenly strips away access to medical care for families that members of our armed forces are counting on, and it could force servicemembers to choose between staying in the military or providing healthcare for their children. Politicians have no place inserting themselves into decisions that should be between families and their doctors. We call on members of Congress to do whats right and vote against this damaging legislation.Republicans introduced numerous anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the 2024 NDAA, butmost of them got stripped out of the final versionin order to win the Democrat support it needed to become law. The single anti-LGBTQ+ provision remaining in the bill prevented Pride flags from being flown over U.S. embassies in foreign countries, something that embassies can creatively work around.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Gyms can be great places to meet other men.The gym and queer men seem to go hand in hand, but everyone has their own reasons for going. Despite any legitimate health or actual interest reasons, let's be real for a second: Part of you goes to the gym hoping to meet another cute, single gay/bi guy.There's no reason to be shy, we've all heard the stories of couples who've shacked up after meeting at the gym. If youre like me, youve probably thought to yourself, HOW?!? How do these guys manage to strike up conversations at the gym in a way thats not painfully awkward? There is no tried and true way, which is the unfortunate part about this situation. That said, here are 15 tips that should help you out the next time you want to give it a go.1. Determine if hes into menThe first thing you need to do is determine if hes into men. In my experience, the answer is always a resounding Yes. Obviously, not every guy who works out at the gym is queer, but its surprising how many gay guys are actually there. A number of times Ive thought to myself, Nah I dont think that guy is gay.and then I see him on Grindr or at a gay bar.2. Start with eye contactOkay, so this willactually help you determine if he really is gay. Gay men know how to steal glances. We know how to make eye contact in a way thats asking,So you into this or not? Since many straight men would be offended (or even violent) if a gay man were to hit on them, weve mastered how to be subtle yet clear regarding our attraction to other men. This first starts by making eye contact.3. Smiling doesn't hurt, eitherSome people feel uncomfortable when others make eye contact with them, regardless of their sexuality. Break some of the awkwardness with an inviting smile to make him feel a little more welcome.4. Dress to impress... ishThe gym isn't the place for a fashion show, no, but if you know he's going to be there, there's nothing wrong with sprucing yourself up a little more than usual. Doing your hair first, wearing the cleanest shorts, maybe even going so far as to iron your clothes so you look your most put together may help get his attention.5. Be confident and approachableConfidence is attractive, and a friendly smile can go a long way in breaking the ice. Try to make eye contact and give a nod or a smile to the guy you're interested in to show you're open to talking.6. Introduce yourselfHeres the thing about introducing yourself to someone at the gym. You dont introduce yourself to someone that you're not interested in. If I actually wanted to use the equipment, I wouldnt say"Hi, Im Zach." I would just use the equipment and be on my merry way. If you introduce yourself, its clear that you plan on talking to him again, and you want to get to know him. This makes your romantic intent clearer.7. Ask him if he needs a spotter/request a spotAfter introducing yourself, ask him to spot you. (This only works if youre using weights. Im aware you cant have someone spot you on the elliptical.) When youre spotting each other, this gives you an opportunity to talk a little more.Do you live nearby? When do you usually come in to work out?8. Ask him to spot youMaybe you're the one who needs a spot for the today -- and you actually might need one, too. Regardless, asking him to help you out might be easier for you than asking him if he needs you.9. Don't be too aggressiveWhile it's okay to express your interest, it's important not to come across as too aggressive or pushy. Respect personal space and boundaries, and if he seems disinterested, move on.10. Find common groundYou both are at the gym for a reason, and that can be a great conversation starter. Maybe you can ask about the exercise he's doing or offer a compliment on his workout routine.11. Happen to need the same equipment as him How many more sets do you have on this? orDo you mind if I work in with you? This is how youre going to start up conversation with him. Its a natural, non-flirty way to start talking to a guy. This will also help you determine if hes gay. A friend of mine I met at the gym (initially we dated, but are just friends now) said he always thought I was cute, but wasnt sure if I was into men. He said he knew I was queer the moment I opened my mouth after he asked if he can work in.Oh my god! Of course, go for it honey!12. Say hi to him every time you see him at the gym Now that your buds, you say hello to him. Talk to him and see what hes up to every time youre at the gym.13. Ask him outFinally, youre now in a position to ask him out. You know each others names. You know a few personal details about one another from your previous chats. It would be completely normal, in fact expected, for you to ask him out at this point!14. Dont end things on bad termsNot to end things on a negative note, but lets be real: things might not work out. Thats just part of dating. Remember, you guys both work out at the same gym, so do your best to try to end things on good terms (if they do end). You dont want to get nervous at the prospect of running into him at the gym. Or worse...feel obligated to change gyms.15. Consider joining group fitness classesGroups are fun! Group fitness classes can be a great way to meet new people, including potential love interests. You may have more opportunities to interact with others in a relaxed and social setting.

luigi mangione is guilty of being handsome as fuck, having a beautiful smile, and being built like an italian stallion. therefore i believe all other charges should be dropped. pic.twitter.com/46svFiW6mO C | A | M | E | R | O | N (@its1stclassCAM) December 9, 2024 On Monday, ABC News reported the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione in Pennsylvania in connection to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in New York City. The attack, which took place before Thompson was set to appear at a shareholder meeting, sparked a chase for the alleged shooter.Mangione was taken in on Monday morning, found with a gun, fake IDs, a passport, and a manifesto railing against the healthcare industry at a McDonald's in Altoona, a Pennsylvanian town almost 300 miles west of New York City. A computer science graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, he's described by one former student as "super normal."The culmination of Mangione's arrest concludes a five-day coordinated manhunt from New York to Atlanta. Online, however, was a completely different story.Every response to this photo should be - Never seen him before. Good lookin kid though. #DenyDefendDepose #NYC #UnitedHealthcare pic.twitter.com/B5VvQXdLd4 White Rabbit (@Th3_WhiteRabbit) December 5, 2024 On December 5, the NYPD released the first image of the suspect, dressed in a hoodie, showing a semi-pixelated image of him smiling. And the internet response was WILD!I mean that smile is #UnitedHealthcare #UHC #HealthInsurance #unitedhealthcareceo pic.twitter.com/MkBJOZ3rsl Neci (@OmgItsNeci) December 6, 2024 After releasing the name, outlets and netizens quickly found photos of Luigi online, ranging from a pic of him smiling with a McDonald's happy meal to a thirst trap photo of him shirtless with that 'killer' smile.Luigi Mangione pic.twitter.com/hmD80jRI0E Yavetk. (@yokiodoo) December 9, 2024 And, once again, the internet did not fail.@jemar.mxchaelUmmm who can i give some bu$$y to, to free my King?! LIKE?!Users were also quick to find his social media accounts to like and follow. His Instagram account has jumped to almost 40,000 followers and his Twitter account reaching over 100,000 followers since the identification.Me and the girls distracting the guards so Luigi Mangione can escape pic.twitter.com/QfUbEPMfoT welp. (@YSLONIKA) December 9, 2024 The attack became a divisive topic on social media: some praised the attack on a man whose careerand salaryis built on denying coverage for medical needs; others found it shocking netizens were praising a cold-blooded killer. Even as the discourse over the attack was politicized by right-wing commentators like Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh, their followers were quick to point out that frustrations over healthcare and insurance industries And as the likes of Ben Shapiro and others tried to position the shooting as a "liberal" attack, even some of their followers were quick to admit that frustrations with the insurance industry isn't a one-sided issue.Can't wait to see Dave Franco play Luigi Mangione in whatever TV series Ryan Murphy is currently creating pic.twitter.com/ic9GNAciNS Meh (@Spilling_The_T) December 9, 2024 So is the internet's new babygirl a cold-blooded killer? Perhaps. But 2024 has presented weirder things.After all: who would've thunk we'd have a convicted felon as President-elect?

by: Eve CrawfordPhoto courtesy: Eve CrawfordSubscribe nowOn the first day of December, as I decorated the house, sent out invitations for my Christmas Eve get-together for neighbors and friends, and used my blow dryer to dust off our fake tree, a sense of monotony descended on me. The routine of Christmas, of repeated traditions, seemed to melt into each other; one year becoming indistinguishable from the next. It felt as though the meaning of the holiday was getting lost in the overeating, the fatigue, and the spending of the season.But as I tied another bow onto the tree, I felt myself smile. Not this year. This year something was happening that would take me back to the soul of the season. My son, Spencer, who is in his mid-thirties and the editor-in-chief and founder ofthis very publication, will be bringing his partner, Sean, home for Christmas week. And the thought of that brought me joy.Sean grew up in rural Virginia in a deeply religious family that views homosexuality as a sin. At 17, he left home and moved to New York City to make a life for himself. A year later, on a phone call with his mom, he summoned the courage to tell her he was gay. She started crying and couldnt stop. On his next visit home, she said to him, You might as well have died in a car accident.As I adjusted the lights on the tree, I thought about the greater LGBTQ community at this vulnerable time of year. 34% of LGBTQ people have moved away from family to escape discrimination. 52% have few or no close family or friends they can ask for help and support. And more than 57% of LGBTQ youth have experienced at least one negative or rejecting experience from a parent. I thought about Sean, whose Mom told Uncloseted Media over text that his assertions about her rejection are incorrect but that she believes in the word of God and that God says the act of homosexuality is a sin.I thought back to the AIDS epidemic, of the many men who were struck down by the disease and of how someeven in my circle of theatre friends were more frightened of having to come out to their parents than of dying.In 1987, I helped look after my dear friend Tony in the last months of his battle with the disease. On the day he died, I went over to sit with his partner until the doctor arrived to sign the death certificate. When he got there, I will never forget the painful phone call he had to make to Tonys elderly, Catholic mother in England. She not only had no idea Tony was sick, but she had no idea that Tony was gay. As I sat, head bowed, studying the pattern on Tonys Turkish rug, all I could hear was the doctors side of the conversation. But the poor womans shock and confusion at the end of the line was palpable.He died of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the doctor repeated.Pause.Then, He died of AIDS.There was a long pause as the doctor listened.At last, he said gently, Yes, you can call it cancer if you like.With Tony, left, and Spencers Dad, Ross Macnaughton, right. Photo courtesy: Eve CrawfordI wonder about the thousands of parents who lost their children in that war. If they could have them back, even for one day, would they give two hoots if they were gay?But even in these so-called enlightened times, LGBTQ friends of all ages have shared with me the various responses they received from their parents when they came out to them. You have been struck by lightning, You can change, or, You are dead to me.Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.How are they spending the holiday season? I wondered. What heartache and loss both parents and children must be feeling in this so-called season of love.My son Spencer and I never came close to estrangement. But when he came out to me at eight years old, I struggled to accept the truth of his courageous declaration. Thats just because your brother calls you that, I said, handing him a Kleenex to wipe away the tears. (In those days, boys called everything gay.) Fast forward seven years when he told me a second time, and I did it again. Maybe you dont know right now. At your age, theres confusion about all sorts of things. It took him a third time at 16 for me to finally hear him. This, despite my friendship with Tony and despite the fact that I am an actor and a Liberal! Last Mothers Day, I wrote an article for MSNBC about the stages I had to work through to arrive at acceptance. First came the denial: Was he just going through a stage? Then came the guilt: Was it my fault? Followed by the shame: How will my frail, elderly parents react? None of their many grandchildren were gay. And finally, the fear: What prejudice and danger will he face?Of course, none of these issues were really about Spencer. They were all about me. The guilt and the denial are laughable to me now. As if I had anything to do with my sons sexual orientation.Take it from me this holiday season: If a child tells you they are gay, believe them. That truth is as real as the color of their eyes. And when you hear those conspiracy theories about how kids are becoming gay or transgender through social contagion on YouTube or through the teachings of progressive teachers, treat them with the ridicule they deserve.As for the shame related to how my parents would have reacted, a paradoxical memory recently came to me. Both my parents regularly attended the Anglican church. Yet in the last five years of his life, my father, who died in 2006 at ninety years of age, stopped going. I attributed this to his increasing frailty. But after he died, I mentioned this in conversation with my mom and her response gobsmacked me. Oh heavens no! Thats not why he quit. He quit because he was furious with our church for not accepting gay marriage!Spencer, left, with my Dad, right. Photo courtesy: Eve CrawfordBoth my parents died without knowing Spencer was gay. Yet maybe they did. I have a feeling if I told them today, their response would be, And?As for the fear regarding my sons well-being? Yes, to an extent that was true. But more to the point was my own desperate need to hang on to what had been my vision for his future: The woman he would marry. The children he would have (my grandchildren!)So, what has all this got to do with the upcoming holiday season? If I could make one wish for all the parents out there who are struggling to accept their childs queer identity, it would be to let go. Let go of all of it: the denial, the guilt, the shame and the fear.And yes, even let go of your religious beliefs surrounding homosexuality.After all, isnt the most overwhelming message about Jesus birth one of love? And isnt love, at its fullest, unconditional? Isnt it about acceptance, without prerequisites and expectations?Shakespeare nailed it when he wrote, Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.Photo courtesy: Eve CrawfordWhen I finally surrendered my own fear and resistance about my vision of how my sons life should be, it was as though every muscle in my body let go.What I didnt expect was the joy that followed. Of fully connecting with my son. Of fully sharing the laughter, the tears, the challenges of both our lives.My only regret was the eight lost years of that joyous and authentic connection.None of us know how much time we have left in our precious life. So, this is my Christmas wish: For any parent out there imprisoned by the heartache of loss, pick up the phone and call your child while you still can. You only have to say two words.Come home.If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Video edited by E E OliverSubscribe nowThis week, the debate surrounding gender-affirming healthcare (GAC) for trans kids took center stage after The Supreme Court seemed very likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on GAC for minors. For roughly two and half hours on Wednesday, lawyers offered oral arguments, and the justices debated whether states could prevent trans kids from using puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The conservative justices, 6 of 9 of whom lean conservative, repeatedly suggested that laws surrounding GAC for minors are best left in the hands of state legislatures.Since the arguments, dozens of protesters on both sides of the debate have rallied outside the courthouse in Washington, D.C.One of the key moments from the arguments was when Chief Justice John Robertswho has been described as a more moderate conservativesaid, It seems to me that it is something where we are extraordinarily bereft of expertise.As the media reacted to the news, countless talking heads with little to no experience in the science and research arena of trans healthcare started popping up on cable news and social media to weigh in. Coleman Hughes, a fellow at the conservative think tank The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, who has very little experience studying trans issues, was invited to opine about the science on CNN News Night with Abby Phillip. In a lead segment, he debated with trans advocates and cited studies, where he was positioned as the other side of the debate.The vast majority of Americans are deeply uneducated on the nuances of gender-affirming healthcare. Many cannot define it or think that it solely means bottom surgeries (which are very rarely performed on trans youth).To help our audience better understand what we know (and dont know) about what the research says regarding GAC and trans kids, we called fellow Substacker , an epidemiologist and scientific fact-checker who has done deep reporting and analysis of the research that exists in this area. Watch the full interview above. Full Transcript:Spencer Macnaughton: Hi, everyone. Spencer MacNaughton here. I'm the founder and editor in chief of Unclosed Media. I am here with Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong, and an epidemiologist who writes a substack called the Health Nerd. After the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors in the state of Tennessee, we wanted to get Gideon's perspective from an epidemiological point of view on what we know and don't know as it relates to the science and research behind gender-affirming care as it relates to kids. Gideon, thank you so much for chatting with us. You know, to a lot of Americans and people beyond there, they hear gender-affirming healthcare as kind of almost like a buzzword, but couldn't really define it if they tried, right? Could you possibly tell our audience what is gender-affirming healthcare exactly for kids?Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz: It is any care provided by clinicians to people who are questioning their gender or having issues with their gender assigned at birth. And that can span, or it does span, everything from just counseling to recommendations for social transition to medication and, for adults, sometimes surgical interventions as well.SM: Like, broad strokes, what do we know about gender-affirming healthcare for kids and what do we not know? What do we have left to learn?GMK: So that's a really complicated question. There are some aspects of gender-affirming care where we basically don't know anything. So there's no data currently on whether psychological interventions are beneficial. There are very, very few studies on whether counseling actually does anything per se. It's really hard to know just because we assume that such things are helpful, but it's very hard to know because we haven't really studied it. The field as a whole is very new. Almost all of the studies have been published since 2010, and that's in part because the definition of, the clinical definitions changed quite substantially in 2013. So prior to 2013, a clinician would diagnose someone with Gender Identity Disorder, and that was a very strict diagnosis and it was also a mental health issue, was seen as a mental health problem. And in the noughties, there was a big shift away from that and it moved to a gender dysphoria as the clinical problem, and gender dysphoria has no bearing on someone's identity. It is simply about whether the gender that they feel themselves to be matches the gender that they are presenting at, presenting as rather. But things that we have more evidence for are the impact of puberty blockers and hormone therapy. So puberty blockers are usually given to children around the ages of 12 or 13 who are experiencing parts of puberty, irreversible aspects of puberty, like deepening of the voice or growing breasts, and who don't want to experience those things and who experience having significant discomfort from those aspects of puberty. And they are a reversible pause.SM: Completely reversible, right?GMK: There are some questions in terms of completely because it does to some extent depend on your definition, but broadly reversible, yes. If you stop taking the drugs, you can continue puberty as normal. The question about reversibility becomes more complex when you take into account the further treatment. So if you go on puberty blockers and then you go on hormones, hormones are largely or substantially irreversible. Some aspects of hormone therapy are reversible, but some are not. And if you've taken puberty blockers, then the changes up till then would not be reversible. So it's a somewhat complex question, but broadly speaking, if you take puberty blockers for a year and then you stop taking them, yes, just go back to having a pretty normal puberty.SM: In the US, you know, we have a lot of people who, you know, a lot of far right or, you know, right wing, even President-elect Donald Trump, who will equate, you know, puberty blockers with essentially kind of like surgeries, like, equating those things as the same thing, really, right? But I know that Chase Strangio, he's the first openly trans lawyer who argued in the Supreme Court case. He argued that puberty blockers, for example, are for the most part, like you say, completely reversible, but B. they've been used for decades on teen girls or tween girls assigned female at birth for things like precocious puberty, like these are not new drugs, puberty blockers. Is that fair to say?GMK: That's very true, yes. So there are some arguments against using puberty blockers that say we have no idea what their long term impact on neurological development is. And that makes very little sense to me because, yes, we have been using them for decades for children with precocious puberty, and if they had these extremely negative impacts on neurological development, that would probably show up. We would know about that. So, yeah, we know a fair bit about the risks: there are some relatively minor issues with bone health, when you take puberty blockers, that you have to be aware of, and there are a few other side effects. Some people get headaches. But broadly speaking, we do know pretty much what the drugs do and how they work.SM: And then a lot of, you know, folks again, politicians a lot of the time in the U.S. say that, you know, kids are going for sex changes, gender confirmation surgery, bottom surgeries, really, right? But that is not happening all that much, if really at all. Do you know much about that?GMK: So as far as I'm aware, particularly in the US, the numbers don't support that argument. There are vanishingly few surgeries on people under the age of 18. The number of children for whom there is any surgery recorded, any genital surgery recorded, is fewer than 50. And where there are potentially surgeries happening, they are almost exclusively limited to teenagers who are aged 17.SM: You published a series of articles about the Cass Review, which is, as you know, many of us know, the biggest and perhaps most controversial review of healthcare for trans kids. Trans healthcare groups like WPATH have argued that its recommendations could severely restrict access to physical healthcare for trans youth, while some groups, including medical organizations and advocacy groups, have praised some parts of the report while criticizing others for drawing too far-reaching conclusions. Curious, like, how do you, as an epidemiologist who really dug in there, how do you summarize the findings?GMK: I think it's a very interesting document because, as I wrote in my articles about the Cass Review, the primary findings, the argument in the Cass Review, is that there is insufficient evidence to recommend things like puberty blockers and hormones, and that instead the government of the United Kingdom should rely on the psychological treatment until they run randomized clinical trials investigating puberty blockers and hormones for younger people. The stuff about puberty blockers and hormones was a very significant departure from what the UK had been doing up till then. And I think the issue that I had when I looked into the Cass Review in detail was basically that there were kind of two standards for evidence. Evidence that supported gender-affirming care was given a very, very careful interrogation, was treated very harshly. That evidence was considered to be suspect and they focused really deeply. But evidence that did not support gender-affirming care was pretty much just passed through and then entered into the document. So one example is that there was someone who theorized a single psychiatrist in Germany wrote an opinion piece, essentially an academic op-ed, saying that they thought that pornography could be influencing cisgender girls to become transgender boys. The document doesn't cite any evidence. It's just some one person's opinion, one German person's opinion. And that person works for an anti-treatment organization. So they identify themselves as someone who is recommending against treatment. That document is cited uncritically in the Cass Review. The Cass Review simply says that some clinicians believe that pornography may be influencing people's decision to be trans. So where it comes to evidence that kind of doesn't support gender-affirming care, the Cass Review basically just says any evidence will do, but the evidence for puberty blockers, that has to be interrogated. Every single study is carefully pulled apart. They were very, very harsh on that sort of evidence.SM: And what do you attribute that to? I mean, as an epidemiologist, when you get in the weeds of them interrogating one part of it really intensely, but not so much the other part. How do you explain that out? Why does that happen?GMK: I don't like to talk about people's motivations. All I can say is that if you read the document, you find that the recommendations don't line up with the evidence in many respects. If you read the document, the implicit recommendation is that children in the United Kingdom should not get any medical care for transition, they should only get psychological care. But psychological care was the part of transgender healthcare that the reviewers themselves, the actual people working on this, found to be the least convincing in terms of evidence, had the fewest studies of any area. So it's this weird juxtaposition where they say we have to rely on evidence except when it comes to actual treatment decisions.SM: So the recommendations per the Cass Report don't line up with what we know from the studies and the research that exists right now in terms of what's effective when it comes to gender-affirming healthcare.GMK: Yeah. And more importantly, I suppose, it doesn't line up with the evidence that they themselves put together.SM: So interesting. And another controversial topic, right, you know, detransitioning, and a lot of folks will say, who are against gender-affirming healthcare, will say that, you know, social contagion on YouTube and progressive teachers and different forces like this are, you know, creating a social contagion that's causing more kids to falsely say they are trans, right? What do we know about that?GMK: Yeah, I think if you look at the data, detransition or detransition and regret are complex because people, detransition is defined in many different ways. It's defined sometimes as people who stop identifying as transgender, but sometimes it's defined as people who stop identifying as trans but identify as non-binary are sometimes included, but sometimes not included in the definition. When you are doing a research project, you have to define it relatively specifically so that you can know what you're talking about. And in the research, yeah, detransition is defined in many different ways. So I think what the data suggests is firstly, detransition is very uncommon. Depending on the study you're looking at, the highest estimate anywhere is 30%, and that's from a study in the United States. That study found that 30% of adults it was about 34% of adults and about 28% or 26% of children who were taking puberty blockers or hormones, getting them through their parents or partners healthcare stopped getting those medications through their healthcare.SM: That's a high number.GMK: So that's relatively high. The thing about it, though, is it's not really an estimate of detransition, because there are many reasons why people may stop using their parents or partners healthcare even when it's free. They may move away. They may split up. They may fall out with their parents. They may decide that they just want to, even though it's more expensive, they want to break out on their own and pay for their own healthcare. They may want a different plan or want medications that aren't covered by that plan. You know, there's, yes, some portion of that is probably people who stopped taking the meds because they didn't want to anymore, but there's also many other reasons why they may have stopped taking the meds. There's a study in the Netherlands where they followed children who were taking puberty blockers up as adults up to their mid-twenties. And they found that nearly all, it was about 95%, of those children continued taking puberty blockers and then hormones as adults. So I think we can say with a fair deal of certainty that at least as far as medical treatment goes, the majority of children who medically transition at this point in time do not detransition as adults. And then regret, which is the other side of the coin, is complex. So if you ask people whether they regret their transition, somewhere between 10 and 20% will say they do. But if you hone in on that number, there was a study by Jack Turban and some colleagues where they analyzed a large dataset of survey responses from transgender people. And if you look at that study, the main reasons that people give for regretting their transition are related to factors that are external to themselves. So they transitioned and they lost their job, they transitioned and their parents didn't support it and that was very problematic for their mental health. And I think, so the Turban study found, I think, 13.8% said that they regretted transitioning to some extent, and most of those people regretted because other people were not supportive.SM: Factors that we don't even know exist, probably. I mean, I feel like in 2024, we're so far from having, you know, respect and acceptance of trans people in general, at least in American society, right? So if you think about gay guys, or gay people, right, you know, 30 years ago, a lot of people run back into the closet, right? So that could be even another factor that could play into that maybe.GMK: Yeah, it's, I mean, that's basically I think what the Turban study showed, is that when people talk about regretting their transition, the majority of the regret seems to come from what other people say about it and not so much from the changes that happened to them or how they feel about themselves.SM: How much do you think misinformation is playing into people's understandings as it relates to gender-affirming healthcare for trans kids right now?GMK: Oh, I think quite a lot. I mean, the rapid onset gender dysphoria issue is a rather remarkable case. I mean, the entire idea of rapid onset gender dysphoria is based on a handful of surveys of people who inhabit anti-trans Reddit forums and websites. And it is the only attempt at establishing a diagnosis that I'm aware of where we, where people have interviewed anonymous Internet trolls to try and figure out what is some sort of medical problem. The fact that that is, even that it's a term that's even discussed, is remarkable, especially given how terrible the scientific papers on this question are. So, yeah, I think misinformation does play into it quite a lot.SM: What is rapid onset gender dysphoria and how did it become mainstream? Because it is relatively a mainstream term now.GMK: So rapid onset gender dysphoria is the concept that children who have, teens primarily, who have never before had any experience of gender dysphoria and never expressed, specifically expressed to their parents a desire to be a different gender, all of a sudden, after going online, decide that they are trans. One of the things that makes rapid gender dysphoria pseudoscientific, in my opinion, rapid onset gender dysphoria rather, is that there is no definition of what the word rapid means. Usually that would be the, you know, the first part of defining a condition like this. We say acute onset X means that it's happened quickly. And we usually define that as like within a week. The acute period of Covid-19 is usually defined as the first month or two of Covid. So there's specific time periods that you would expect rapid to be. But it's not. It's just the parents think that it was quick. And the way that, so the idea of rapid onset gender dysphoria is basically that this social contagion idea that you touched on, they're not trans and they go online, they meet people online who convince them that they're trans, they go on Tumblr or TikTok or whatever. There is no evidence that this happens. The only evidence for the diagnosis of ROGD is a series of papers where the authors posted links to surveys on the r/detrans subreddit, and there are a few anti-transgender websites, websites that say that transgender people don't exist, so they posted links on those websites to recruit people who claim to be the parents of transgender teens and who claim that sometimes this transition was rapid. There are so many holes in that process. Firstly, they're all anonymous. There's no verification that these were actually, that these people are actually parents, never mind that they are parents of transgender youth. So you don't know how many of the people responding to your survey actually have children who are trans. There's no strict definition of rapid that I've seen in this research. So they just say, you know, was it a quick process, did it seem overly quick? And that isn't scientific. The next issue is that they don't have any information from the children. So the parents' perception of this experience may be rapid. The parents may say, oh, they went online and a month later they were trans. The children may have been feeling that way for years. So what you would really need to do is identify a group of children who were trans and ask the children and the parents how long before they transitioned did they start experiencing feelings of being the wrong gender. And that would give you some information on how quickly it happened. And then you would have to find a sample of children who are cisgender and see how many of them became trans, eventually came out as trans, and how many of them, and how quickly that happened. And then you might be able to say, well, some group of them were rapid, quote unquote. But the research that's been done so far to establish this diagnosis is just terrible.SM: And I get frustrated even hearing you explain that, because I think, you know, for even me, a journalist who researches this quite a bit, I'm not an epidemiologist, but I know how to research things. And it is tricky to separate fact from fiction here, right? So for parents or American citizens who are trying to find really strong research, what are kind of tips you'd offer them to be able to say, this is legitimate research, this is good? Because I think there's so many people in the U.S. and beyond who just genuinely and honestly don't understand what's trustworthy these days.GMK: I think that's a very difficult question because it takes time and effort and expertise to properly appraise scientific research. It's very easy to be misled by studies if you don't have the right training and experience. So if you just go online and someone sends you a link to a study that's been published, you may be convinced of things that aren't true because they've misunderstood the research, because the research is garbage, all sorts of things. I think when it comes to study appraisal and knowing what research is good, you kind of do need an expert.SM: Why do you think it's so damn hard to have these conversations? People don't want to have them in the media in general. You know, it's like pouring gasoline on a fire sometimes. Why do so many people avoid having these conversations about gender-affirming healthcare?GMK: I think particularly in the United States, it's because of the politicized elements of the discussion. Because really, when you're talking about gender-affirming care for trans youth, you are talking about a tiny, tiny group of people. The number of children who access gender-affirming care of any kind in the United States, I think the most recent estimate I have seen is that it was somewhere in the region of 0.2% of children. So generally the estimates are that about 1% of people between the ages of ten and 17 identify as trans. Below the age of ten, kids tend not to express, the numbers are so low that they're hard to measure. The actual issue that we're talking about is incredibly minor. And I don't mean to be blas about people's experience. I just mean that there is no reason why we should be having a huge national or international debate about this issue. It's really just a matter for healthcare professionals and patients, in my opinion. The three biggest killers of children in the United States are guns, automobiles and drugs. And yet gender-affirming care is one of the biggest media discussions. And how often do you see an article about car safety in the New York Times?SM: Very interesting. Yeah. Based on what you know about the research and everything you've studied, do you think gender-affirming care should be illegal for trans kids?GMK: No, I don't think making it illegal is likely to help the situation. But I also don't know enough about the ban or the Supreme Court decision to give you a strong opinion on what they're actually doing.SM: Well, they ban blockers, hormones, bottom surgeries, all of those things.GMK: So that's similar to the United Kingdom, which I do know a fair bit about. And I think that the decision to do so in the UK is not based on good evidence. I think that banning treatment leaves people with only one choice, which is to see a psychologist or a counselor about their gender dysphoria. And we know that there's basically no evidence around that at all. So basically what you're doing is throwing out all of the evidence that we've gathered so far on medication, saying we don't like that data, and giving people only one option, which is the least well-evidenced option.Additional reporting by Sophie Holland.If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media