This articlefirst appeared on Mother Jones. It has been republished with the publications permission.For a briefmoment in November, theTheoBros, a network of militant Christian nationalist influencers, made news when Donald Trump nominated one of theirallies, former Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth, to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth attends a church that is affiliated with the TheoBro movement, and he has cited TheoBro patriarch Doug Wilson, a pastor in Moscow, Idaho, as someone who has had a major influence on him. While the controversies surrounding Hegsethsallegedalcohol abuse and mismanagement of funds meant for veterans continue tomake the news, the TheoBros have receded into the background. Related Anti-LGBTQ+ hate preacher says racists go to Heaven and MLK is burning in Hell Christian nationalist Joel Webbon also ranted that abolitionists were not the good guys. But as it turns out, they are embroiled in a major controversy of their own. A simmering divide over how Christians should regard Judaism has ignited into a conflagration. The resulting rift has left two factions of TheoBros retreating into their separate campsone of which is doubling down on antisemitic rhetoric to a widening audience. LGBTQ+ news you can rely on Keep track of the ongoing battle against bias and for equality with our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The backstoryas much of it as Ive been able to piece togethergoes something like this: An undercurrent of antisemitism, which has long rippled through the TheoBros social media spheres, has intensified over the last year. In May, Samuel Holden, apro-Hitlercontent creator, released avideothat he called White Boy Summer, a nod to an earlier song and meme popularized by white nationalist influencers, including head GroyperNick Fuentes. Holdens video combined hyper-masculine and Christian nationalist content withpro-Nazi imagery. Wilson, the TheoBro patriarch, condemned the video,callingit Nazi triumphalism.But Wilsons acolytes seemed titillated by White Boy Summeror maybe they were just flattered. In the video, Holden tagged several younger TheoBros, including Texas pastor Joel Webbon, Utah pastors Eric Conn and Brian Sauv, and Stephen Wolfe, author of the 2022 bookThe Case for Christian Nationalism. Shortly after Holden released the video, Conn reposted it on X,commenting, By God we shall have our home again, a white nationalistslogan. The following month, Sauvposted, Pride month is canceled. Welcome to White Boy Summer.Wolfe, meanwhile,criticizedWilson for disavowing it. A better tactic would be friendliness to these young rightwing guys, he said. Conn, Sauv, and Wolfe didnt respond to questions fromMother Jonesabout their reactions to the video.Webbon, one of the most outspoken of the TheoBros, praised the video in a June podcast. He clarified in an email toMother Jonesthat he had initially shared the Samuel Holden video without watching closely and that he condemns both Nazis and Bolsheviks/Communists. However, the latter is by far a more present threat today. Yetthe videos message fit in nicely with some of the sentiments he had been expressing earlier in the spring. You thought Christian nationalism was scary, he posted on X in May. Enjoy Jewish nationalism. The same day, he posted: America has long had a separation of Church and State. Perhaps one day we might also have a separation of Synagogue and State.America has long had a separation of Church and State. Perhaps one day we might also have a separation of Synagogue and State.Texas pastor Joel WebbonThe disagreement over the video simmered for a few months. Then, this past fall, a skirmish erupted on X and in various podcasts over anaccusationby German TheoBro Tobias Riemenschneider that Webbon had failed to adequately address the problem of a young man in his church who had allegedly been sharing pro-Nazi memes. Wilsonsidedwith Riemenschneider, agreeing that allowing such hatred to go unchecked was dangerous for a church community.In November, Wilson issued a statement he called theAntioch Declaration, a rambling document that eventually condemns the racial and antisemitic theories of Adolf Hitler and neo-pagan doctrines of the Nazi cult. Several prominent TheoBros signed on, and some wrote statements of their own. Wilsons sidekick Toby Sumpter, a pastor in Wilsons church, for example, endorsed his friends argument, adding in ablog postthat a church that tolerated antisemitism was just as bad as one that tolerated homosexuality. In the same post, Sumpter called the White Boy Summer video as gay as socks on a rooster. Hegseth hasnt signed the declaration, but his views on Judaism seem to align with those of the Wilson camp: He isstrongly pro-Israeland posted on Instagram that he believes antisemitism is running rampant on elite university campuses.Webbon, meanwhile, has dug in his heels. In the last few weeks, virtually all of his posts on X have focused on the TheoBro rift. For him, the problem with Judaism,at least theologically, appears to be the Talmuda sacred text of ancient rabbinical teachingsin Judaism that, hearguedin an October blog post, not only rejects the notion of Jesus as the son of God, but also effectively corrupts and totally undermines all of the Old Testament. In early November, hepostedon X, I hate Judaism but love Jews and wish them a very pleasant conversion to Christianity. Later in November, in his podcast episode after Wilson released the Antioch Declaration, Webbon said that in his version of a Christian nationalist America, No practicing Jew who hasnt converted to Christianity will be able to serve in public office. He called Judaism a parasitical religion in the subsequentepisode. What it has done historically throughout the ages is typically go into other countries, other peoples with other religions, and kind of cozy up but not really for their benefitnot a mutually beneficial relationship, but where they ultimately get far more out of the deal than the Christian nation does, he added. In mid-December, mixed martial arts champion Jake Shields appeared on Webbons podcast. Afterward, Shieldsposteda clip to his 800,000 X followers in which Webbon argues that ever since the Allies triumphed over Hitlers Germany in World War II, Christianity has been diminished in the West. In an email toMother Jones, Webbon said he stands by everything Ive said about Judaism. It is a pernicious evil.Webbons damn-the-torpedoes social media approach to this conflict is somewhat ironic, given thathe learned how to shitpost from none other than Wilson. For the last six years, Wilson has been celebrating what he calls No Quarter November: The month where we say out loud what everyone is thinking. In avideoa few years ago, Webbon described being inspired by Wilson not to censor himself.You stay in your little corner, you stay on your little leash, because youre like, I dont know what will happen, Webbon said. But when you see some other guy do it, and youre like, thats the worst thing that can happen?Vicewrites an article about you? [Christianity TodayEditor-in-Chief] Russell Moore wont invite you to his birthday party anymore? Like, thats it.While a well-knownfigure in the world of the TheoBros, with only about 27,000 followers on X, Webbons influence outside those circles is difficult to determine. But there is some evidence that the antisemitism he and other TheoBros espouse may be breaking into the MAGA mainstream. The week after Wilson released the Antioch Declaration, Webbon appeared on the podcast of Calvin Robinson, a British Christian nationalist pastor, where he argued that the Talmud was uniquely hostile to Jesus Christ. Robinson posted that portion of the conversation to his 403,000 followers on X. In addition to his robust social media following, Robinson is connected to the Trump team: He spoke at a Trumprallyat a Georgia church a few days before the election. And then there is William Wolfe, a TheoBro who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon in the first Trump administration. He has posted phrases that are widely recognized as antisemitic dog whistles, such as, Notice things. And point them out to others. That may appear to be anodyne, but antisemitic extremists use the word noticing to refer to identifying Jewish people in powerful positions. Around the same time, Wolfe posted, apropos of no previous conversation: You know whats a beach I love? Hilton Head. The initials HH are often used as neo-Nazi code for Heil Hitler. Wolfe didnt respond toMother Jones request for comment.The TheoBros attitudes toward Judaism differ starkly from those of adherents to theNew Apostolic Reformation(NAR), a rapidly growing charismatic movement that calls Christians to take over the government. As Iwrotea few months ago, many NAR believers are fervently pro-Israel because they are convincedit will play a crucial role in ushering in the return of the Messiah just before the End Times. This scenario isnt entirely benigneventually, they believe, all Jews will convert to Christianity, and those whodont will perish. The NAR crowds extreme love for Israel can have a love-bombing quality about it: At NAR events, I have seen many charismatic Christians wearing Stars of David and Jewish prayer shawls. At one in Pennsylvania, a group of Christian teenagers set up a chuppahthe canopy used at Jewish weddingsand danced the horah.The TheoBros fixation on Judaism, however, is much less admiring. Its also an example of a broader shift on social media over the past year, where, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, extremists have become emboldened to use more explicitly antisemitic memes and rhetoric. One prominent example of this is former bounty hunter-turned-livestreamer Stew Peters, who since October 7 has transformed from a garden-variety anti-vaccine activist into afull-onNazisympathizer. (At the time of this writing, his most recent post on X was: Putting a television set in your living room is like inviting a jew into your house. Using AI is like inviting a jew into your brain.) In June, Webbonappearedon Peters show; he called the founding of Israel one of the biggest mistakes in history. He added,There is no major world religion with a more hostile view toward the person and work of Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord, than Talmudic Judaism.Peters has more than 550,000 followers on Rumble, the far-right platform where he broadcasts. When asked for comment, Webbon clarified toMother Jonesthat he does not hold to Peters views. In a separate email, he provided a link to adocumentcalled the Statement on Natural Affections, which he said he had helped write. The statement acknowledges that Nazism was, and is, an anti-Christian ideology that exalts the state as savior and god and that while the Allied powers rightly opposed the evils of Nazis, that some of their actions violated Christian principles of justice and morality.Wilson signed the Statement on Natural Affections, but it doesnt seem as though hes forgiven Webbon. He recently withdrew as a featured speaker from a conference that Webbon plans to host next year. When I asked Wilson for comment for this article, he responded, Because one of the accusations against us is that we only did the Antioch Declaration in order to placate commie publications likeMother Jones, I couldnt risk any positive mention of us right now.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Michigan Democrats are trying to push through a bill that would enshrine same-sex marriage in the states constitution. The move comes amid fears that the Supreme Court could overturn its 2015 decision legalizing marriage equality in all 50 states and calls from at least one state Republican congressman to make gay marriage illegal again.While the Supreme Courts decision in Obergefell v. Hodges declared state laws banning same-sex marriage unconstitutional, Michigan is one of several states where vestigial laws or constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage remain on the books. As Fox 2 Detroit notes, voters in the state approved a constitutional amendment stating that the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose in 2004. Related Marriage skyrockets in NYC as couples rush to tie the knot before Donald Trump takes office Marriages in November were up 33% over the previous year. Should the Supreme Court overturn Obergefell, as Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have signaled they are eager to, Michigans marriage equality ban would go back into effect. 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 Last year, out Michigan state Rep. Jason Morgan (D) introduced a House Joint Resolution F, which if approved would strike the 2004 language from the states constitution. Before going to Michigan voters, however, the resolution needs support from at least two-thirds of the state Legislature, which Morgan says will be an uphill battle.I believe the people will vote to support families, Morgan told Fox 2. The support just isnt there for two-thirds majority [in the Legislature].Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver, meanwhile, is actively calling for marriage equality to be overturned. Earlier this month, Schriver claimed in an X post that America only accepted gay marriage after it was thrusted into her by a perverted Supreme Court ruling.Make gay marriage illegal again, the post continued. This is not remotely controversial or extreme.At the time, Schriver told Fox 2 that his post was meant to urge the Supreme Court to reverse the decision that has falsely equated traditional marriage with gay marriage. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) responded in a statement, saying, Any attempt to strip away gay marriage is wrong. Here in Michigan, we protected fundamental rights because no one should be fired from a job, evicted from their home, or unable to marry because of who they love. Michigan is a place for all to live and work with dignity, and Im going to fight like hell to keep it that way.But with a 63 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that seems willing to overturn longstanding precedent as it did when it overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and an incoming second Trump administration, many same-sex couples are rushing to the altar to ensure that they are legally married in states where those unions are protected before Inauguration Day.Trump spokesperson and incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently told NBC News that overturning marriage equality was never a campaign promise the president-elect made.But Morgan said that he believes legal same-sex marriage is at risk under the incoming administration. I do believe that marriage equality is at risk under the Trump administration, Morgan said.Even if the Michigan legislature doesnt approve his resolution, Morgan told Fox 2 he would continue to fight to protect marriage equality in the state. As the outlet notes, the amendment could also make it to the ballot via a citizen-driven petition.Its just so important, Morgan said. This is something Im very passionate about.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Kevin McHale has opened up about the Glee episode he calls his "actual breaking point."The actor starred as Artie Abrams, one of the members of William McKinley High's glee club the New Directions in all six seasons of the show. And yet, McHale opened up even more in the latest episode of his Glee recap podcast cohosted alongside Jenna Ushkowitz (who played Tina Cohen-Chang on the show).The two cohosts of And That's What You REALLY Missed podcast discussed an episode from season 5 of Glee titled "Previously Unaired Christmas" with McHale revealing that this episode was his "actual breaking point" while working on the show.Many fans consider this to be one of the most outrageous episodes in Glee history. For instance, this episode includes Rachel, Kurt and Santana inhaling helium to sing "Christmas Don't Be Late" before getting robbed by a sexy Santa; Marley, Unique, and Tina singing The Supremes' "Love Child" with Unique dressed up as pregnant Virgin Mary; and a live nativity scene where Becky, a student with Down syndrome, played Jesus as a baby.McHale offered an apology to anyone who was on set while he was filming the Nativity scene in particular."My mustache was causing some sort of allergic reaction, and I was itchy and upset, and it was late at night," he said. "[I'm] not proud, but I remember when that number came up, I was like, 'What are we doing?'"Back then, news outlets reported that this Glee episode was "too problematic" to air. As a result, the entire episode was recut into the version that aired on TV and fans have gotten to see.Ushkowitz pointed to the version of Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child" that she performed alongside Marley and Unique in the episode as a low point."It was like you had to commit so hard, because it was so bad. That's what I felt like in this number," the actress said."But that's the thing: I don't think it's supposed to be bad," McHale said. "It's supposed to be controversial But I mean, bad is good when it's funny. But I didn't think this was good this just felt like being controversial for controversial."Ushkowitz added that she "hated this song so much." She also hated "everything in this episode.""I was so angry in everything in this episode," the actress revealed. "But yet like, watching it, I'm like, 'This is ridiculous,' and it's so funny to me; I couldn't stop laughing during 'Mary's Boy Child.' And I hated the number so much. I didn't want to be there, but I had fun doing it because the stakes were so low at that point, right?"Listen to new episodes of And That's What You REALLY Missed on all podcast streaming services.See on Instagram

A pizzeria in Red Bank, Tennessee, has announced on social media that it wont cater same-sex weddings because doing so would violate the business owners personal beliefs.Its announcement was spurred by a screenshot of a text exchange between an unknown person and Pizzeria Cortile that was posted on Reddit. Related Republicans killed a pizza party for turning kids trans. Then something surprising happened. City council members tried defunding a weekly pizza party for LGBTQ+ students. But The person asked if the pizzeria could confirm rumors that it had recently refused to cater a same-sex wedding. In response, the business wrote, We do not cater same sex weddings. Many of the over 1,300 comments on Reddit expressed disappointment and pledged not to patronize the business. 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 business later posted a public statement on its Facebook page, declaring that it had made the difficult decision not to cater a wedding due to our personal beliefs.This belief comes from a place of personal conviction and we know is not shared by everyone, and it is one we hold without judgment toward others, the business wrote, adding that it didnt intend for its decision to harm anyone and apologizing for the pain this has caused for people who have been a part of our community.The statement also said the business has been privileged to serve people from all walks of life with open arms and genuine care. It also asked for people to extend grace and treat each other with dignity and love even though we may not always agree, adding, We hope you will give us the chance to continue showing love to you when you come through our doors.The pizzeria turned off comments on its Facebook statement. In response to the statement, another local business, The Book & Cover, a local bookstore, wrote via Facebook, that it would no longer allow the pizzeria to operate a part-time food truck on its property.The bookstore wrote, It is vitally important to us that it is clear we treasure and respect the queer members of our community and celebrate the rights and love that they carry.The bookstore also asked that its customers not use its physical or digital spaces for commenting on the matter. A 2015 Tennessee law passed after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage says forbids local governments from penalizing any businesses or individuals that refuse service based on profoundly held beliefs.We as the queer community, should work to put the businesses on a pedestal who do support us and do work to make the city a better place, Crynne Phenere, program director at local The Seed Theatre, told WDEF.Another unnamed LGBTQ+ community member told the aforementioned news outlet that the incident has at least resulted in an outpouring of public support for the queer community.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

We pledge allegiance to gun manufacturers and the NRA of America, and for campaign funds for which they give, we sacrifice, under God, our integrity and compassion for all. -The Pledge Taken by Too Many PoliticiansI write these words after hearing of yet another school shooting in the United States. This time a shooter killed at least four people at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin before killing himself. At least five others were taken to the hospital with bullet wounds. Related Is socialism really so anti-American? I say its time for a revolution. With less than two weeks to go in 2024, there have been at least 385 mass shootings, according to theGun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot. But gun violence in the United States is so common as to be unremarkable, almost normal. At the height of the pandemic in2021, for example, gun-related violence resulted in 26,328 suicides and 20,328 homicides. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Earlier this month, Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old highly educated young man from a wealthy family, allegedly acted out the rage many of us have against mega-insurance companies and other blood-sucking corporations by murdering the CEO of one of the largest health insurance companies in the country.Even a cursory glance on several social media sites shows the extent to which Mangione has already become a cultural icon, a hero in the realm of David slaying the mighty Goliath, or Robin Hood challenging the powerful Mayor of Nottingham on behalf of the poorest among us.But we cannot separate the shooting of children and teachers from the shooting of a a CEO of a highly profitable corporation because each case testifies to the violent nature of the United States of America, which was founded and maintained on violence. In the Constitutions Second Amendment, the framers of the United States guaranteed its free people the right to carry and shoot terrifying weapons, all while enslaving people transported from Africa against their will and robbing the people who had preceded Europeans by thousands of years of their lands, livelihoods, and their very lives.While the founders were mostly wise men who crafted what many consider a brilliant and enduring blueprint for a new nation, they were also products of their times who had human shortcomings and biases.Just coming off a war of independence against one of the worlds great colonial powers, leaders thought it reasonable to ensure the free people the capability of defending themselves against any potentially tyrannical government. In this regard, they established the Second Amendment, granting Americans the right to bear arms.Since then, firearms and the culture supporting it has been encoded into the very DNA of American identity. But what may have been reasonable in the 18thcentury stands today as unreasonable and deadly without substantial reform. When gunpowder changed the world Around 850 of the Common Era, the Chinese invented a powdery mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate that, when ignited with a spark, created an explosion. Though they discovered it quite accidentally when attempting to invent an elixir for immortality, they quickly utilized it for defensive and offensive advantages in wars against internal and cross-border enemies.First used to stuff tubes in which the Chinese tied a fuse and lit to propel as a hand-held rocket aimed at their adversaries, gunpowder transformed the art and scale of killing, the likes of which the world had never seen. Throughout the centuries across the planet, emerging technologies led to the creation of more and deadlier hand cannons, as they were once called.Attributed to the Portuguese in the 1400s, the matchlock mechanism became the first known mechanically firing gun. Users attached a wick to a clamp that, when triggered, sprang into the gunpowder. The Spanish carried these with them on their invasions into the Americas, and the Pilgrims brought them from England when they arrived in what would become known as North America. Christopher Columbus took with him matchlocks and other types of hand cannons and breech-loading wrought-iron weapons and arquebuses an early type of portable firearm supported on a tripod or a forked rest. When he sailed from Haiti, he ordered shots fired through the shipwrecked hull of the Santa Maria to frighten indigenous populations with the power of European firearms.European inventors in 1509 replaced wicks with friction-wheel mechanisms to create wheellock guns. These generated sparks to ignite the gunpowder. Later, as would become common in Colonial America, residents used flintlock guns with flint-ignition mechanisms, invented around 1630.The Long Rifle (also called the Kentucky Rifle or Pennsylvania Rifle) was developed with spiral grooves, giving iron balls a spiraling motion, which improved overall stability and accuracy. Combatants used these firearms as major weaponry during the so-called French and Indian War, as well as in the American Revolutionary War. At the end of the 16thcentury in Germany and other European countries, firearms technicians developed a wheel gun (revolver) that included a revolving cylinder containing several chambers and at least one barrel for firing. Now, shooters no longer had to reload following each shot but could unload up to six bullets at their intended targets. In 1836 in the U.S., Samuel Colt mass-produced these multi-shot guns, popularly called six shooters.By the 1850s, shotguns (also referred to as scatterguns) became popular. Usually fired from the shoulder, they used a single-fixed shell to fire numerous small spherical pellets called shot or a solid projectile called a slug. Today, these firearms range from single-action to semi- and fully automatic varieties.In 1862, the Union forces popularized the Gatling gun, developed by Richard Gatling, as a weapon of mass destruction. This rapid-fire gun was the forerunner of the machine gun. Then came the Cartridge Revolver developed by Colt in 1872 a .44-caliber rear-loading weapon.The technology with its capacity to injure, mutilate, dismember, and kill increases with each passing day. If Leif Erikson, the first known European to set foot in North America, had had access to these later technologies, there is little doubt that he would have brought firearms to those shores. How free are we, really?Until 1996, Australia had relatively high murder rates, but a tragic incident at Port Arthur, Tasmania on April 28, 1996, changed everything. On that date, a man opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 35 and wounding another 23. The massacre was the worst mass murder in Australias history.Taking decisive action, newly-electedconservativePrime Minister John Howard negotiated a bipartisan deal between the national, state, and local governments in enacting comprehensive gun safety measures, which included a massive buyback of more than 600,000 semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, and laws prohibiting private firearms sales, mandatory registration by owners of all weapons, and the requirement that all potential buyers of guns at the time of purchase give a genuine reason other than general or overarching self-defense without documentation of necessity.By 1996, polls showed overwhelming public support of approximately 90% for the new measures. And though firearms-related injuries and deaths have not totally come to an end, homicides by firearms fell by 59% between 1995 and 2006, withnocorresponding increase in non-firearm-related homicides and a 65% reduction in gun-related suicides. In addition, there have been significant drops in robberies involving firearms, and contrary to fears by some, no increase in the overall number of home invasions. In the decade preceding the Port Arthur massacre, Australia recorded 11 mass shootings. No mass shootings have occurred in the 20+ years since the measures went into effect as of 2016.Just six days after a terrible hate-inspired 2019 shooting of Muslims praying at two Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced sweeping new firearms regulations, which included banning semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines and a mandatory government buyback of such previously sold weapons.The U.S. Congress enacted a brief federal ban on assault weapons, The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, in September 1994. The ban, which also included barring high-capacity magazines, expired in September 2004 as required in its 10-year sunset provision. Congress has not reauthorized the measure. Instead, a provision inserted as a rider into the 1996 federal government omnibus spending bill known as the Dickey Amendment named after Arkansas Republican Rep. Jay Dickey and lobbied heavily by the National Rifle Association was passed by Congress into law. It mandated that none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be used to advocate or promote gun control.So, what limits at the national, state, and local levels should we as a nation consider on the sale and ownership of firearms? Many people within the larger gun safety movement have proposed common sense solutions. Unfortunately, what one person determines as common sense, another person considers freedom killing.How free, though, are any of us when tens of thousands of people are murdered annually and tens of thousands more lose their lives by guns through accident or suicide? How free are we as the gun lobby purchases our politicians in the service of firearms manufacturers as part of their quest to acquire even more power and profits? With the relatively easy access to firearms in the United States, most of us have already been touched by the ravages of gun violence. Hardly a day goes by that we do not hear of yet another high-visibility mass shooting, which does not even begin to reflect the seemingly countless number of lives taken in small towns and large cities throughout the nation that dont make it to the national spotlight.What will it take for us to cease fighting insanity with insanity? How many more of our precious people will have their lives cut short under the banner of freedom?Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The anti-LGBTQ+ organization Catholic League put up a billboard in Wisconsin claiming ownership over the season of winter and specifically calling out atheists as well as people who celebrate Winter Solstice, a holiday that has been celebrated since the Stone Age. That is, since well before Christianity existed.Atheists strike out at Christmas, the billboard reads, celebrating Winter Solstice is a childs game. Related Happy Holidays is not the inclusive phrase we think it is The words merely mask the fact that Christianity still reigns supreme. This is our season not yours, it continues. Celebrate the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas! LGBTQ+ news you can rely on Keep track of the ongoing battle against bias and for equality with our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The billboard says that its paid for by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. The groups website also takes credit for the billboard, stressing that the Christmas season is our season. We rule. They lose.The website explains that the billboard is a response to signs that the religious freedom organization Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) puts up each year in Madison, where its headquarters are located. At this Season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail, their sign says, according to a photo posted by independent journalist Hemant Mehta. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds. Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, told the Christian Post that he hopes our billboard emboldens Catholics, letting them know that we will not be bullied by our adversaries.The Catholic League and Donohue have a long history of attacking LGBTQ+ rights. Donohue opposes marriage equality and supports conversion therapy. He has called AIDS self-inflicted, said trans people dont exist, and compared marriage equality with South African Apartheid.Last year, Donohue was outraged against the LA Dodgers for honoring the LGBTQ+ charitable group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during Pride Month. He accused the MLB of spreading lies, rewarding hate speech, and promoting bigotry with homosexuals known for simulating sodomy while dressed as nuns. Donohue was able to get Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to speak out against the Dodgers, and the Dodgers eventually caved to his demands and uninvited the Sisters from the teams Pride Night. After outcry from LGBTQ+ fans, the Dodgers re-invited the Sisters several days later.There is evidence that Winter Solstice or the shortest day of the year has been honored in the Northern Hemisphere since prehistoric times. Megalithic monuments like Newgrange and Stonehenge align with the position of the sun on Winter Solstice, and diverse cultures have written records of celebrations held on that day.Christmas, on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, likely evolved from Winter Solstice celebrations, historians believe.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Ah, the holidays: a time of turkey, mistletoe, andif you're anything like Alex Halla little culinary magic that keeps your gut (and your romantic plans) in check. As the founder of The Bottom's Digest, a platform dedicated to bottom-friendly recipes, Alex has reimagined the intersection of food, sex, and self-care. The concept of "bottom-friendly" dining might make some blush and perhaps think of nothing but a meal of freshly-cut ice cubes and a hearty serving of air, but Alex is refreshingly candid. His mission? To debunk myths, advocate for queer health, and celebrate the nuances of a diet that doesn't just satisfy the palate but also supports a more pleasurable experience in the bedroom. Why Bottom-Friendly Matters View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Bottoms Digest (@bottomsdigest)Alex started The Bottom's Digest in 2021, initially inspired by the challenges queer individuals face in reconciling diet with intimacy. "I'd been hearing the same tired jokes for years," Alex recollects. "Ice cubes and starving yourself before sex? No thanks!" Hall's professional background in reproductive rights gave them a lens through which to explore food as an intersectional issue. However, it was his personal experiences and a growing awareness of the broader LGBTQ+ community's dietary concerns that truly propelled their passion project forward. He noticed how many people were disconnected from understanding their bodies and dietary triggersan issue Alex addresses with compassion and science. Enter Tim Spector, an epidemiologist whose work on gut health profoundly influenced Alex's approach to recipe development. "He's led the world's largest gut study," Alex gushes, crediting Spector for deepening his focus on nuanced, individualized eating. "There are 8 billion people on the planet, and no one's body works the same way. That's why I say: figure out your triggers and make adjustments." Holiday FavoritesWith a TwistRegarding bottom-friendly holiday dishes, Alex is all about indulgence...with intention. "The holidays are so layered for queer people," he notes. "Many of us don't go home, and some create entirely new traditions. It's important to honor that complexity." For some, traditions can still be present under a tree. Others enjoy the holidays with their chosen family. And then some may indulge in a holiday 'treat' or two, for Santa may not be the only one coming down the chimney. But regardless of the traditions, food is a way to bring holiday cheer during this time of the year. So, what's on the festive menu? Alex's dairy-free macaroni and cheese is a standout. It is loved for its uncanny ability to fool even the most skeptical dairy enthusiasts. The secret? "Don't tell people it's dairy-free," Alex quips. Other go-to dishes include fiber-rich staples like roasted potatoes and turkeyhonestly, this one was a shockerpaired perfectly with bottom-friendly sauces. Pumpkin pie, a surprising source of fiber, makes a triumphant appearance at Christmas tables. Alex has a Louisiana-inspired twist for those who want to break from tradition: oven-baked friend catfish with dairy-free cheesy grits. "It's a nod to my dad's roots," he shares, proving that even regional comfort foods can align with gut health goals. Balancing Indulgence and Gut HealthNavigating the tension between indulgence and responsibility is key during the holidays. "It's all about knowing what you're getting into," Alex says. "If you're staying with family for a week, you might not be the most horny you've ever been. But if you're sneaking away to a hookup's house, you'll need to plan accordingly." Alex's advice is rooted in flexibility and self-forgiveness. "Enjoy the indulgent food," he urges. "If you eat something heavy, give yourself 30 minutes to gauge how you feel before deciding what's next. And if you overdo it, c'est la vie! You'll digest it, you'll past it, and sex can wait until tomorrow." The real key? Avoid self-shaming. "Let yourself enjoy the moment," he proclaims. "In the kitchen and beyond." Recipes and Resources View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Bottoms Digest (@bottomsdigest)For those ready to dive into bottom-friendly cooking beyond the holidays, Alex recommends starting with The Bottom Digest's foundational recipes, like dairy-free cheese and cream sauces. These versatile bases can transform classics like green bean casserole into gut-friendly delights. And if you're sensitive to common ingredients like mushrooms or onions, Alex has you covered with easy substitutions. "The goal is to give people tools to make recipes their own," they emphasize. "We're not reinventing the whell; we're just making the ride smoother." So this holiday season, ditch the shame, grab a fork, and indulge in bottom-friendly style. Alex reminds us that life is too short for lousy mac and cheese or bad vibes before getting it on. When it comes to balancing gut health and holiday cheer, Bottom's Digest will ensure your chimney stays clear. All of the recipes are available at thebottomsdigest.com.

On December 14th in Missoula, Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr married writer Erin Reed in front of 100 of their family and friends. The transgender women met nearly three years ago and Zooey proposed a year and a half ago at the Queer Prom in Missoula. The wedding was celebrated in the same place they [...]The post Queer Love and Joy: Erin and Zooey Get Married first appeared on GLAAD.

Officials in Louisiana held a series of meetings in October and November, telling Department of Health staff that the state would no longer allow them to promote COVID, flu, and mpox vaccinations.The new policy would be implemented quietly and would not be put in writing, four health department employees told NPR. They asked to remain anonymous. Related Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reveals plans to fire 600 federal health workers The Trump ally and anti-vax conspiracist takes aim at the agencies he loathes. The directive was shared by two lower-level officials in the department after the states surgeon general was unable to attend, the staff members said. 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 Employees were told they could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccination events, give presentations, or create social media posts encouraging the public to get vaccines. They were also barred from putting up signs at the departments clinics announcing COVID, flu, or mpox vaccines were available on site.I mean, do they want to dismantle public health? one health department staffer asked.In 2023,652people in Louisiana died of COVID, including five children, and the state is tied with Washington, D.C., for thehighest rate of fluin the U.S. Flu killed586 peoplein Louisiana in 2022, according to data from the states health department.As of August 6, 2024, the U.S. reported 60 deaths and 33,435 cases of mpox. 309 cases were reported in Louisiana through February 2023, the last data available before the state stopped reporting cases. Im very surprised that anyone would call a state meeting, not provide an agenda for that meeting, not provide a written set of notes from that meeting, said Kimberly Hood, who led the Office of Public Health, a subunit of the health department, from 2021 to 2022. I think that, to me, it sounds like people are trying to avoid public records laws.The policy change can be traced back to Gov. Jeff Landry (R), an anti-vaxxer who served as the states attorney general during the COVID pandemic, as well as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Landry ally and Donald Trumps pick to head up the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.In his role as AG, Landry spoke at astate committee hearingin 2021 about his opposition to adding the COVID vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule. Kennedy testified alongside him, presenting false claims about COVID vaccines. As governor, Landry has signed five bills and two resolutions this year rolling back vaccine requirements, limiting the power of public health authorities, andquestioning vaccine safety.Landry appointedDr. Ralph Abraham, a family medicine doctor and another vaccine skeptic, to be the states surgeon general.I see, now, vaccine injury every day of my practice, Abraham said at a 2024 legislative meetingon the states response to the COVID pandemic, linking vaccination with autism.The adverse effects of the COVID vaccine have been suppressed, he told legislators. In a statement, the Louisiana Department of Health told NPR it has been reevaluating both the states public health priorities as well as our messaging around vaccine promotion, especially for COVID-19 and influenza.The department described the move as a shift away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance to one in which immunization for any vaccine, along with practices like mask wearing and social distancing, are an individuals personal choice.The statement did not address mpox vaccinations.The Health Departments new unwritten guidance against vaccine promotion is malpractice, said Dr. George Benjamin, executive director of theAmerican Public Health Association.The U.S. vaccination program represents one of the most important public health interventions that we have, Benjamin said.Anyone whos articulating that these vaccines are not well tested, theyre not safe, theyre not effective, is not giving you the science as we know it today, he added. Former health staffer Hood said the false claims are a step backwards.Its a medical marvel that were fortunate enough to live in a time where these vaccines are available to us, she said, and to not make use of that tool is unconscionable.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While losing the election to the Republicans was a huge disappointment, things have only gotten worse since Elon Musk glued himself to Donald Trump's side and started to act as a shadow president before the MAGA leader has even takenoffice. On the other hand, this has also triggered a slew of social media posts and memes that are so funny they are single-handedly getting us through this week!One of the funniest now-viral posts on X (formerly Twitter) comes from frequent Trump critic Alex Cole, who wrote, "Maybe it's just me, but Republicans having two daddies seems kind of woke." This joke is especially funny considering the gay joke when completely over the heads of the Trump fans in the comments and how many MAGA followers unironically like to call Trump "Daddy."People also took to the comments to wonder about who's the top and who's the bottom in the relationship and quip that Vivek Ramaswamy and Vladimir Putin are pulling Trump's puppet strings too, with jokes like, "Actually, with Vivek, they're a throuple," and "Three. You forgot Vladdy."We're also loving how people are calling the president-elect "Vice President Trump" and all of the memes showing Trump kneeling before Musk or portraying Trump as the Tesla owner's butler. Trump's ego is so fragile you know it's driving him nuts. We can only hope he gets angry enough to kick Elon to the curb.Listen, would the jokes be even funnier if Musk wasn't currently the co-chair of the MAGA leader's new Department of Government Efficiency (yes, the acronym is DOGE) and wasn't trying to destroy democracy and the US economy from behind his keyboard? Of course. But we still need a good cathartic laugh every once in a while, so we'll take them where we can get them!Keep scrolling to see Trump and Musk being endlessly roasted by the internet! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

The Heart of Free 2 BFree 2 B was founded by Frank Pupa, whose personal experience in the LGBTQ+ community drove his mission to create a space where people could feel seen, heard, and celebrated. "We wanted to offer something more than just products. We wanted to create a space where people could truly be themselves and find items that resonated with their identity," Pupa explains. The name "Free 2 B" embodies the essence of the brandfreedom to be who you are, unapologetically. Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B Pupa started Free 2 B after feeling a lack of representation in the marketplace for products that truly reflected the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. "When I couldnt find the products I was looking for, I decided to create them myself. Our brand is about inclusivity, love, and the celebration of individuality," Pupa says. From apparel and accessories to home goods and greeting cards, Free 2 B offers a wide range of products that cater to people who want to express their authentic selves in meaningful ways. Each item is designed with intention and purpose, always with a focus on celebrating diversity. Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B Designs that Speak to the SoulThe design philosophy behind Free 2 B is rooted in fun, bold colors, and empowering messages. "Our Pride Halloween Monster Sweatshirt is one of our most popular items. Its a fun, playful design, but it also has a message of self-love and confidence," Pupa explains. The designs reflect the playful and joyful nature of the LGBTQ+ community, while also embracing deeper messages about acceptance and love. Whether its a T-shirt with a bold statement or a whimsical mug, every product tells a story of individuality and empowerment. Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B "We want people to feel good when they wear our products, but more importantly, we want them to feel like theyre part of something bigger. Every time someone buys a Free 2 B item, theyre not just supporting a brandtheyre supporting a movement that values inclusivity, love, and authenticity," Pupa says. The brands impact goes beyond products; its about fostering a sense of belonging and connection within a community. Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B Events that Foster ConnectionOne of the most rewarding aspects of Free 2 B is its focus on creating spaces for people to come together and celebrate their identities. "We do a lot of pop-up shops and Pride events where we get to connect with our customers face-to-face," Pupa shares. These events are an opportunity for Free 2 B to engage directly with its audience and build relationships. "At a recent Pride event, a customer told me that our Love is Love T-shirt helped them feel confident enough to express their true self at a family gathering. Moments like that make everything worth it," Pupa says. Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B A Vision for GrowthFree 2 Bs future is one of continued growth, collaboration, and impact. "Were constantly looking for new ways to engage with our community and support LGBTQ+ causes. Were also expanding our product lines to include more inclusive clothing sizes and sustainable materials," Pupa says. "Our goal is to create a brand that represents the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ experience, from different cultures to different expressions of gender and sexuality."Shop Free 2 B Now Photo Courtesy of Free 2 B

Based on a new Texas state mandate that bans reading material in school libraries which describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive, officials in a school district in the Texas panhandle recently removed the Bible from library shelves.Then they put it back. Related MAGA education official orders schools to play video of him praying for Donald Trump The Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools also just spent $25,000 of state money on Trump Bibles. In an email to parents in the sprawling rural district, school Superintendent Darryl Flusche wrote, House Bill 900, which passed during the last legislative session, establishes library standards that restrict content in school libraries. This standard for library content prohibits books that have one instance of sexual content as described above. Therefore, HB 900 doesnt allow numerous books, including the full text of the Bible, to be available in the school library. 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 Flusche had staffers take the religious text off shelves.Some parents in the west Texas district werent happy, ABC Amarillo reports.It seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books, said parent Regina Keeney during public comments at a December 9 school board meeting.In a day where we are needing security guards, and bullet proof windows and doors, I think having the word of God available to our children can not only be preventative to violence, but also provide comfort and a sense of security in a chaotic world.The removal prompted consultation with House Bill 900s author, Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson, and a reevaluation from the school district.After receiving clarification from Representative Patterson regarding library content, we reevaluated the guidelines and are pleased to have the Bible available in each of our Canyon ISD libraries. The Bible has become a flashpoint in several states and school districts around the country, as Christian nationalist officials seek to erase the line separating church and state by imposing Christian theology on schools and in government.In Oklahoma, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters ordered the purchase of 55,000 copies of the so-called Trump Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments along with the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, conflating church and government for students in a single text. Walters has mandated a copy of that Bible be placed in every Oklahoma classroom. Walters also ordered teachers in the state to play a video for students of Walters praying for Trump.In Louisiana, a federal judge recently blocked a new law passed by state legislators mandating the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school classroom in the state.Louisiana is the first state to try to enact a law forcing the display of the Biblical directives since a similar law in Kentucky was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1980 as a violation of the First Amendment.The judge called the Louisiana mandate unconstitutional on its face.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Russell Vought, a prominent figure in conservative politics and the architect behind Project 2025, has been named as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), an office that oversees every federal agencies funding, performance, data collection, and communication to ensure that it aligns with the presidents agenda.As such, Vought, who served as director of the OMB during Trumps first term, could wield tremendous power to implement the largely Christian nationalist vision of both Trump and the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing organization that authored Project 2025, the blueprint for Trumps second presidency. This vision would largely roll back hard-won LGBTQ+ rights and protections. Related Linda McMahon will support Donald Trumps transphobia in the Department of Education The millionaire Trump donor has little educational experience but co-founded an anti-LGBTQ+ think tank. Russell Vought At a Glance 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 Location: Arlington, VirginiaParty Affiliation: RepublicanRace/Ethnicity: WhiteGender Identity: MaleSexual Orientation: StraightPronouns: He/HimLGBTQ+ Ally: No Social MediaX: @RussVoughtWebsite: AmericaRenewing.comBiographyRussell Vought, born on March 26, 1976, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Virginia, is a prominent American political figure known for his influential roles in government and conservative policy circles. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wheaton College, Illinois, and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School.Voughts career in public service includes significant positions such as serving as a legislative assistant for Sen. Phil Gramm, policy director for the House Republican Conference, and executive director of the Republican Study Committee. He also held the position of vice president at Heritage Action for America, the lobbying arm of The Heritage Foundation.In 2018, Vought was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Donald Trump. He later served as acting director and was confirmed as OMB director in July 2020, overseeing the administrations fiscal policies during a critical period.After his tenure at the OMB, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America in 2021, focusing on advancing conservative policies and combating critical race theory. He played a pivotal role in Project 2025, a conservative initiative aimed at reshaping the federal government. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Vought to lead the OMB once again.Voughts views have been described as aligning with Christian nationalism, advocating for the integration of Christian principles into government and society. Voughts stance on LGBTQ+ issuesWhile Vought hasnt made many public statements on various LGBTQ+ issues, his largely anti-LGBTQ+ views may be inferred from his work on Project 2025 and his Center for Renewing America. Same-sex marriageProject 2025 calls for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be renamed the Department of Life and for the agency to officially define a family as consisting of a married father and mother and children. Project 2025 calls for federal funds to support only a biblically based definition of family that support[s] the formation of stable, married, nuclear families. The plans concept of a biblical nuclear family includes the idea that children should only be raised by their biological fathers and mothers because the male-female dyad is essential to human nature.This claim of parental hetero-superiority has been called baseless by theAmerican Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. These changes would not only limit LGBTQ+ couples access to family planning options, like access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), it would also nearly eliminate queer couples ability to foster and adopt children. In fact, Project 2025 would offer federal protections and support to agencies that discriminate against queer couples and LGBTQ+ families, Furthermore, Project 2025 proposes that only faith-based recipients who reaffirm that marriage is between one man and one woman would be eligible for Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education grants, funds that finance educational programs for familial life skills.Trans children in sportsVought has called the inclusion of trans athletes in sports, the end of womens sports [and] female-only spaces, etc. Kinzinger has never been a conservative. Latest example is he is one of a handful of Republicans pushing a terrible compromise on gender identity issues, the so-called Fairness for All Act. The end of women's sports, female-only spaces, etc. https://t.co/g4cvDNdeVK Russ Vought (@russvought) March 16, 2021In a letter opposing the Fairness for All Act, a Republican LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination bill with huge religious exemptions, Voughts Center for Renewing America wrote, Female-only spaces should be off limits to men who identify as women. Female sports should not be destroyed by male competitors.Project 2025s authors want to ban trans students from playing on sports teams associated with their gender. He has supported initiatives that would tie Title IX protections for female athletes to biological sex and deny federal funding to schools that permit transgender athletes to compete in womens sports. Project 2025 would eliminate any legal recognition of trans identity to begin with, making the inclusion of trans athletes in sports conceivably impossible. Transgender access to public bathroomsIn general, Project 2025 aims to end any legal recognition of trans identities and seeks to entirely deny the existence of such individuals, defining ones gender identity as exclusively either male or female based entirely by the sex they were assigned at birth.Additionally, Voughts Center for Renewing America has written that trans bathroom access allows biological males to enter girls bathrooms and dressing rooms in schools, places of public accommodation, and government facilities.His organization considers trans public accommodations laws in general an ill-defined and radical attempt to reorder American civilization that pushes a false and unscientific view that biology is fluid and a mutable social construct that can be altered merely by the cognitive choice of an individual and the misguided view that public policy affirming male and female biology is immoral.If trans people are allowed into bathrooms matching their gender identity, Women and girls would face immediate discrimination and unnecessary obstacles when it comes to going to the restroom in public facilities, or maintaining privacy in the workplace, Voughts organization claims. Dont say gay/LGBTQ+ discussions in schoolsVought has voiced support for a 2021 executive order signed by then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey requiring schools to notify parents ahead of time of any curriculum addressing sexuality and allowing them to opt their children out of such instruction. Project 2025 would apply this nationally while largely eradicating LGBTQ+ content in schools and prohibiting school districts from requiring teachers to speak about it.The foreword to Project 2025 states, The noxious tenets of critical race theory and gender ideology should be excised from curricula in every public school in the country. These theories poison our children. It goes on to equate LGBTQ+-inclusive content as pornography that should be criminalized a common aim of right-wing parents rights groups that have sought to ban queer-inclusive content in schools and public libraries.Children suffer the toxic normalization of transgenderism with drag queens and pornography invading their school libraries, the foreword adds. Pornography, manifested today in the omnipresent propagation of transgender ideology and sexualization of children has no claim to First Amendment protection. Pornography should be outlawed Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders. Project 2025 also wants Congress to pass afederal Parents Bill of Rights that would allow parents to sue public schools for including any curricular content that offends them, the free speech organization PEN America writes. Doing so would subject schools to costly lawsuits that cow them into teaching only watered-down versions of history, social studies, literature and other humanities.Project 2025 also seeks to eliminate the Department of Education (DOE), the federal agency that (among other things) enforces anti-discrimination laws to ensure that all children are treated equally regardless of LGBTQ+ identity. The DOE tracks demographic information needed to document inequities in education. With such tracking ended, discrimination against queer students and viewpoints could easily proliferate while hidden from public view.Discrimination protectionsProject 2025 seeks to remove key terms associated with sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) from all federal rules and regulations, including the following: gender, gender identity, gender equity, gender awareness, gender-sensitive, abortion, reproductive health and reproductive rights. In doing so, it would severely prohibit federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)or the Department of Housing and Urban Development from tracking data related to LGBTQ+ inequalities or enforcing anti-discrimination measures.The blueprint seeks to repeal policies from the Obama and Biden administrations as well as the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 Bostock v. Clayton County that view anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination as a form of sex-based discrimination already prohibited by federal law. These policies help ensure equal access to government institutions and civil rights regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.The President should direct agencies to rescind regulations interpreting sex discrimination provisions as prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, sex characteristics Project 2025 states, urging federal workers to instead focus their enforcement of sex discrimination laws on the biological binary meaning of sex. Furthermore, the document seeks to end all federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that help competently attract and serve people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In fact, Project 2025 views DEI policies as forms ofaffirmative discrimination against white, heterosexual, and Christian identities.Any person found to have participated in such initiatives even within state and local governments, institutions of higher education, corporations, and any other private employers would be subject to investigation by the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division and susceptible to possible discipline or firing.Lastly, Project 2025 calls for expanding legal protections for any individual or group that discriminates on the basis of religious beliefs. This could allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in various contexts, including employment and public services. Gender-affirming care for minorsProject 2025 describes gender-affirming care for minors as a social contagion that especially affects young girls and claims that radical gender ideology is having a devastating effect on school-aged children today. It also refers to such care as a form of mutilation and child abuse and suggests punishing any adults who help kids obtain it.My side is not the one killing kids and encouraging girls to have their breasts removed. Russ Vought (@russvought) October 7, 2022Project 2025 suggests that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should immediately end its collection of data on gender identity, which legitimizes the unscientific notion that men can become women (and vice versa). The report also calls for the National Institutes of Health to fund studies into the short-term and long-term negative effects of gender-affirming care, from social affirmation to surgery, and the use of so-called reparative therapy to convince children that they are not transgender, The 19th reported. Russell Voughts careerGraduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in political scienceEarned a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law SchoolServed as policy director for the Republican Study Committee in the U.S. House of RepresentativesWorked as vice president of Heritage Action for America, the advocacy arm of The Heritage FoundationServed as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019Appointed as director of the OMB in 2019, a role he held until 2021Played a key role in shaping the Trump administrations fiscal policies, including budget proposals and spending prioritiesBecame president of the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank, in 2021Served as a leading architect of Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda aimed at reshaping the federal government and executive branch for a future Republican administration Vought could majorly erode LGBTQ+ discrimination protectionsRussell Voughts oversight of the OMB could help implement systemic changes that would allow anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and inequalities to worsen nationwide for years to come. Empowered by the Heritage Foundation, far-right Christian Nationalists, and Trumps supporters, he would have the authority to erase and exclude LGBTQ+ people from numerous facets of public life and civil inclusion. Related links Related Hate groups rejoice as Trump ends anti-racism training for government workers This is a sickness that cannot be allowed to continue, Trump tweeted. Please report any sightings so we can quickly extinguish! After win, Trump fans admit Project 2025 is the agenda Now that the election is over I think we can finally say that yeah actually Project 2025 is the agenda. Lol. Trump is bestowing prestigious appointments on his most extreme & anti-LGBTQ supporters On his way out the door, Trump is packing presidential commissions and boards with anti-LGBTQ politicians and conspiracy theorists, sanctifying their bad behavior. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A Brand Inspired by Athletes for AthletesTop Spot Apparel was founded by Paralympic swimmer Kim Yu, whose passion for performance and inclusivity led to the creation of a swimwear line that was as stylish as it was functional. "As an athlete, I knew how important it was to have swimwear that could perform in the water while also making me feel confident outside of it," Yu explains. This vision became the foundation of Top Spot Apparel, which was designed not just for athletes but for anyone who wants to express themselves while enjoying the water.Top Spot Apparels line of products, from classic bathing suits to mini swim briefs, is centered around performance. "We wanted to create swimwear that could meet the needs of athletes while also embracing the fun and freedom of self-expression," Yu shares. The brand's products are made with high-quality materials that ensure durability, comfort, and support, making them perfect for both casual swimmers and serious athletes alike. The addition of fun, bold colors and unique designs makes these swimsuits stand out in a market filled with conventional options.Designing for DiversityDiversity and inclusivity are at the heart of Top Spot Apparels design philosophy. "Swimwear should be something that anyone, no matter their shape or background, can enjoy. Weve made sure our products reflect that by offering a wide range of sizes and featuring models from diverse backgrounds," Yu explains. Top Spot Apparel also emphasizes sustainability by using eco-friendly fabrics and promoting ethical production practices. "Its important to me that were creating a brand that not only provides great products but also respects the planet and the people who make our swimwear," Yu adds.Building a Community of ConfidenceAt its core, Top Spot Apparel is about empowering people to feel confident, whether theyre at the pool, at the beach, or just lounging in the sun. "We want our customers to feel like they can own their space and express themselves through their swimwear," Yu says. The brand has quickly garnered a loyal following, with customers praising the high-quality construction and bold designs. "Whether its a bright, fun swimsuit or a classic piece that never goes out of style, Top Spot Apparel allows people to showcase their personality in a way that feels true to them," Yu reflects.A Vision for ExpansionLooking ahead, Yu plans to expand Top Spot Apparels offerings, introducing new product categories such as activewear and accessories. "We want to become a global brand that not only offers great swimwear but also becomes a lifestyle brand that celebrates self-expression, inclusivity, and performance," she says. "Im excited for what the future holds and cant wait to continue growing the brand while staying true to our values." Discover Top Spot Apparels high-performance and inclusive swimwear at The Pride Store, and experience a brand that champions self-expression and confidence in the water.

The Origin of an Iconic BrandAdam Dalton Blake is not just an artist; he is a vision of unapologetic self-expression. His journey into the world of art began long before the world of pin-up art fully embraced him. Originally pursuing graphic and fashion design, Adam found that the fashion world often lacked the vibrant, cheeky, and bold designs he craved. This creative gap led him to embrace a form of artistic expression that would later become his signature style: playful pin-up art featuring exaggerated masculine and feminine features. When I couldnt find fabrics with male pin-up designs, I decided to create my own, Blake shares. This initiative was the spark that ignited a passion for blending bold masculinity and femininity in a way that resonated with countless individuals. His style wasnt just about bold colors and pin-up poses; it was about creating art that expressed freedom and individuality. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake What started as a personal project quickly gained traction, and Blakes distinctive illustrations began to appear on a wide range of productsfrom apparel and greeting cards to prints and posters. His creations, filled with vibrant colors and bold characters, became a form of self-expression for those who loved the idea of embracing both sides of their personality, unapologetically. Blake's work is playful yet thought-provoking, inviting viewers to think about the ways in which gender, identity, and self-expression can be explored through art. With every print, he encourages a deep connection to oneself while making people laugh along the way. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake A Fusion of Pop Culture and ArtAdam Dalton Blake draws inspiration from pop culture, history, and a wide array of art styles, but his approach to incorporating humor and wit into his illustrations sets him apart. Blakes zodiac series is a perfect example of his ability to reinterpret well-known imagery and blend it with his cheeky aesthetic. "The zodiac series is one of my favorites. It's always fun to see how my audience reacts to how Ive interpreted their astrological signs," Blake says. The interplay of colors, symbols, and facial expressions in each piece elevates the zodiac signs essence and infuses it with a fresh and modern spin. Its art that doesnt just hang on the wall; it speaks to the viewer, creating a dynamic connection. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake Social media has completely changed how we create and share art, Blake continues. I can interact with my followers in real-time, see what resonates, and refine my work based on their feedback. His fans play a crucial role in his creative process. Whether its a new zodiac sign, a funny greeting card, or a limited-edition tote bag, Blake listens to his audiences feedback to fine-tune his designs. This collaborative spirit, combined with his love for bright colors and playful imagery, helps him craft art that speaks to the heart of modern-day pop culture. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake From DragCon to Global RecognitionBlakes art reached new heights in 2023 when he debuted at DragCon, a crucial moment that allowed him to showcase his artwork to a massive, supportive audience. "The experience at DragCon was transformative for my brand," he recalls. "It was the first time I showcased my work on such a big scale, and the response was beyond anything I could have imagined. Seeing people interact with my prints and wearing them with pride was a huge affirmation that I was on the right path." His booth, adorned with his signature colorful prints, greeting cards, and tote bags, quickly became a hub of activity, proving that Blakes style resonated deeply with people who embraced self-expression, inclusivity, and fun. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake Through collaborations with major brands like Brooks Running and LIFEWTR, Blake has brought his art into the mainstream while staying true to his roots in the LGBTQ+ community. His work on the Brooks Pride sneaker and tote bag allowed him to merge his artistic vision with a brand that shared his passion for inclusivity. "Designing products that blend my art with functional items like sneakers and bags has been a dream come true. Its an opportunity to share my art in a more accessible way while supporting causes that are close to my heart," he says. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake Spreading Laughter and JoyBlakes goal is simple: to create art that brings joy. Life can be serious enough at times. We need moments of levity, humor, and frivolity to balance it all out, he says. His artwork encourages people to embrace joy, express themselves freely, and never take life too seriously. Whether its through a quirky greeting card, a fun piece of home decor, or a cheeky shirt, Blakes creations are all about making people smile, laugh, and feel empowered to be themselves. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake "That joy, laughter, and frivolity are the things that keep us going in life. While my art is fun, it carries deeper messages about identity and self-love. But its also a reminder that we all deserve to have fun and celebrate who we are," Blake reflects. His work isnt just about aesthetics; its about creating a cultural shift where embracing one's true self is celebrated. Photo Courtesy of Adam Dalton Blake Discover Adam Dalton Blakes vibrant and playful designs at The Pride Store, and take a piece of this empowering and joyful art into your life.Shop Adam Dalton Blake Now

Big Hetero has tried to give a straight spin to sports for decades, but many LGBTQ+ people are finally seeing the light: a lot of sports are exceptionally queer. While football remains the dominant American sport and indeed dominated by the straights, that's fine because football is boring. But some sports are actually not boring! Like most pop culture, if it's cool, there are queer people involved.Women's basketball? Exceedingly gay (men's basketball, take notes). Hockey? GAY. And wrestling? We've known since the days of ancient Rome what wrestling is really all about. Wrestling has been homoerotic for time immemorial, but now it's getting a uniquely trans spin.Now, stepping into the ring, here comes T-Boy Wrestling.What is T-Boy Wrestling?See on InstagramT-Boy Wrestling is an event put on in Los Angeles by Adam Bandrowski, the founder of Trans Dudes of LA, and co-organizer Mich Miller. It is an event for trans wrestlers of any skill level and any expression of trans masculinity. The only requirements are being transmasculine and a desire to get grappled.After noticing the often one-note representation for trans men, and the lack of trans specific socials even in somewhere as queer as Los Angeles, Bandrowski started Trans Dudes of LA a little over a year ago. They've held other highly successful events including but not limited to: a concert for all transmasc band The Pussyboys, a pole dancing contest, and a tattoo party.T-Boy Wrestling continues TDLA's work of creating a thriving community of trans masculine individuals in LA, and expanding ideas of what trans masc expression can look like. "Their goal for T-Boy Wrestling has been to highlight an expansive idea of trans masculinty that includes people who are still figuring out their relationship to gender," Bandrowski and Miller said in an interview with the LA Times about the event."Come see what you identify with, and if it helps you figure yourself out, we are happy," said Bandowski.How does T-Boy Wrestling work and how sexy are the matches?See on InstagramEach match consists of three rounds, each one-minute long, with two t-boys wrestling one on one, head to head. During those 60-second intervals, these hunks try to dominate one another. A win is called once both shoulders of one competitor are pinned to the mat. Hot.One official judge for the event agrees wholeheartedly. Cal Dobbs, 27, told the LA Times why events like this are so powerful in a period of such intense trans hate. "[Republicans] are scared of us because we're too sexy," said Dobbs. "Scientifically, trans masculine and trans men have better butts than cisgender men. ... As professional judges, weve been looking at everyones butt.The spectacles inside the ring are only limited by the competitor's imaginations and their commitment to camp. According to the Times, the antics seen during the bouts included: "gratuitous twerking; a prosthetic leg becoming an improvisational weapon; a whipped cream pie smashed against the face; a banana pulled out of boxers, peeled and eaten in front of an adulatory audience."How successful has T-Boy Wrestling been?See on InstagramJust like professional wrestling, much of what went down in the ring was planned beforehand and rehearsed. There was also a great deal of prep done by Bandrowski and Miller. A playlist was meticulously curated, and ASL interpreters were hired for the event. In preparation for the big night, 200 hot dogs were cooked, but no one could have known it would be TDLA's most successful event to date.500 tickets were sold in person for T-Boy Wrestling, and another 500 spectators watched live via Twitch. Hopefully, 300 of the attendees were vegetarian. Spectators and competitors alike traveled from all across Southern California, with some attendees traveling 5 hours by car just to be there.T-Boy Wrestling is now prepping for even bigger and better events in 2025.How to participate?See on InstagramThe application is currently open for competitors at T-Boy Wrestling in LA on March 22, 2025. You can apply solo or with a partner, and are encouraged to get creative with your TBW vision. If you're a trans masc person with any experience with wrestling, gogo dancing, or just have a dream in your heart to hit the mat, you should absolutely apply.A T-Boy Wrestling event is also being organized in NYC on August 9, 2025. Applications for this event have yet to open, but if you're an East Coast t-boy with a dream to pin or be pinned, keep your eye on the TBW social media.Whether you're dying to compete or just want to watch, you'll be in great company. TBW's inaugural wrestler's included a real who's who of trans guys in LA, like adult performers Noah Way, Austin Spears, and the late Apollo Moon, whose death is a tragedy and who is dearly missed by friends and fans alike.If you're looking for T4T love in the new year, T-Boy Wrestling might be just the place to be. Miller said to the Times that at least two wrestlers have gotten together since the event, but adds "Im sure theres more we dont even know about.Whatever your role, you won't want to miss being apart of such an interesting, joyful, and unapologetically queer event. Until then, you can revisit full coverage of TBW on TDLA's YouTube channel here.See on Instagram

Billy Eichner is back as the voice of Timon in the highly anticipated live-action prequel Mufasa: The Lion King, directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Jenkins, with music by Grammy Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.Known for his sharp wit and Emmy-nominated work on Billy on the Street, Eichner once again breathes life into the beloved meerkat, bringing his signature humor and charm to the screen. While Timons adventures are entertaining millions, we caught up with Billy to talk about his own real-life adventures in our latest Out & About interview.Eichner shares his favorite NYC spot for casual dining, his surprising celeb picks for seatmates on a long-haul flight, and a refreshingly simple hack to make travel more enjoyable. We also dive into his admiration for Central Park, his dream role, and where hes longing to visit. Whether hes stealing scenes as Timon or reflecting on his deep love for New York City, Billy Eichner continues to entertain with a voice as authentic as it is irreverent.Favorite hotel?BE: Recently Ive liked The Dominick in Soho. I like it in the warmer months because its close to Hudson River Park.Must have travel essentials?BE: Very basic, fragrance-free, anti-bacterial hand soap. Im not a germaphobe, I just dont like flowery, fragrant hotel soaps. I bring my own.What's your go-to movie to watch on a plane?BE: I dont really have one. If Im going to watch a movie, I want to watch something I havent seen. I like to use long flights to watch some recent long movie that I havent had the time or patience to watch. Which puts me in the strange position of flying to party somewhere like Provincetown or Fire Island while watching something like Killers of the Flower Moon. Whats your go-to book that you return to from time to time?BE: I dont really reread books a second time. What Im more likely to do is rewatch old interviews or concert clips with entertainers I love. Or award show speeches. Favorite NYC restaurant?BE: I love eating but Im not a foodie, so I never know where the hottest new restaurants are. I wish I did. I order from Westville a lot because its healthy and it comes in like 15 minutes. Im on the go!What advice would you give LGBTQ+ travelers who may feel hesitant or anxious about visiting places that might not be as inclusive?BE: Personally, I probably would never go anywhere which didnt have some baseline acceptance of LGBTQ folks. I wouldnt feel comfortable. But thats just me.Youve somehow wound up on a 15-hour flight to Australia, wedged into a middle seat in economy class which two celebrities would you choose to sit beside you and why?BE: Tommy Lee Jones and William H. Macy. Theyre older straight men whod probably be quiet and not talk too much and thats the way Id want it.Can you share a travel tip or hack that has made your journeys more enjoyable or convenient?BE: Being rich. I wasnt always so I really appreciate the perks!As a native New Yorker, are there any unique or lesser-known spots in the city you would recommend to our readers?BE: Its not lesser known obviously but Im always surprised by the New Yorkers I know who never go to Central Park. Ive only become a regular visitor to Central Park in the last 10 years or so, even though I grew up in New York City, and I am madly in love with it. I highly recommend it if youre not someone who goes there regularly. Its a masterpiece its gorgeously art-directed and is just a magical, glorious place.If you could guest star in any current T.V. show, which one would it be, and what kind of character would you want to play?BE: Id like to be on Yellowstone, and I want to play a character named Mr. Yellowstone. He can really sing! What do you miss most about living in NYC, and are there any only in New York experiences you still crave?BE: Im still in New York all the time. I couldnt live without it. Im there about once a month. Its my hometown and still my favorite place on Earth. As for an only in New York experience, I try to get to the theater there as much as possible.Timon is such an iconic character with a big legacy. How do you bring your own unique spin to him while staying true to the character that fans know and love?BE: I think I probably have a similar comedic sensibility and, broadly speaking, a similar style to the OG Timon, my friend, the legendary Nathan Lane, who I adore. So that probably helped a bit and was part of the reason I was initially cast. Other than that, I just have to trust my own comedic instincts and trust the guidance of my directors, Jon Favreau in 2019 and now Barry Jenkins with Mufasa, and of course, it helps that Im not alone I get to be part of a comedy duo with Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, who is so warm and generous and fun to work with.How was it working with Barry Jenkins as the director of this new chapter in The Lion King story? Did his vision add new layers to how you approached Timon for this film?BE: Barry is obviously a masterful director, so it was a huge honor to get to work with him. Im really impressed by the amount of complexity he was able to bring to a family film with the characters in Mufasa.Travel has been a big part of The Lion King storys themes exploration, self-discovery, and developing diverse bonds. How do you think these themes will resonate with audiences today?BE: I think a lot of people go to the movies today in order to escape the real world for a few hours and feel like theyre traveling somewhere new and Mufasa is the perfect movie for that. The action-adventure sequences are truly incredible. It made me feel like a kid again I was on the edge of my seat watching it. It is honestly thrilling and a truly great escape from the world, and I think people are really going to have fun watching it.Lastly, whats a destination still on your travel bucket list?BE: Ive never been to Japan and Im dying to go!

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1.) Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters today! Told through a series of flashbacks, the adventure musical introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: Mufasa: The Lion King in Theaters, Trailers for The Traitors, XO, Kitty and Dungeons and Drag Queens, New Music by The Velveteers and More! first appeared on GLAAD.

A lesbian comedian's back-and-forth with an audience member lamenting her wife's obsession with buying tents is bringing the camping lesbians out to play.Kristin Key had been in the midst of doing crowd work during a show in Australia when one audience member bluntly shared what she considered to be a problem in her marriage."My wife keeps buying tents," she called out."Sounds like a lesbian problem," Key quipped as the rest of the crowd laughed.@kristinkeycomedy Can you really have too many tents? #camping #lesbian #camp @comedy #standup (recorded live in Sydney @comedystoresyd)A love of camping is one of those stereotypes lesbians just aren't going to be beating anytime soon, right up there with driving a Subaru and wearing Birkenstocks. Doesn't even matter if these things are true or even widespread anymore, they're just an undeniable Known Fact of lesbian culture. That was made even more clear by responses to the clip, as the comment section of Key's TikTok was filled with kindred spirits."I have 3: a 6 person, 10 person, and 2 room cabin with a front porch. Plus a changing tent. And a sun shade beach tent," wrote @toebeans_and_rice."To be fair, they have different purposes!" @runningtomtns insisted. "You need a backpacking one, a car camping one, a massive one that all your friends can fit in together when there's a downpour so you have a place to all hang."And sometimes you just have to embrace the culture rather than fight against it."Dude, I don't think there's anything wrong with her; I think my wife's just made a new friend," Key ultimately admitted after an amusingly escalating back-and-forth. "So I don't know what your question was. I'm assuming it's 'Why is my wife so fucking awesome?' I don't know, but you gotta hang on. You gotta stake her down, if you know what I mean.""That's what we're doing with the lesbian army," she added. "We're just going to build tents."Alright, who's bringing the carabiners?

A Vision for Beauty Beyond the OrdinaryGregory Dylan, founder of Gregory Dylan Skincare, never intended to follow the conventional path in the beauty industry. "I wanted to create something different, something that felt fresh and vibrant, yet still effective," Dylan explains. After working for years in the beauty industry, he saw a gap in the market for skincare products that were not only powerful but also fun and approachable. Inspired by the vibrant energy of West Hollywood, he launched his skincare line with a mission: to make skincare a joyful and empowering experience for all. Photos Courtesy of Gregory Dylan "Skincare has traditionally been a very serious space. But for me, skincare should be something you enjoysomething that makes you feel good, inside and out," Dylan says. His line of products, from cleansers to moisturizers, stands out for its bright, jewel-toned packaging and its emphasis on quality and effectiveness." I didnt want to settle for beige bottles and clinical packaging. I wanted my brand to reflect who I am: bold, colorful, and unapologetically fun. Photos Courtesy of Gregory Dylan Cult-Favorite Products and Client-Centric ApproachGregory Dylans products quickly gained a loyal following, and Skin Slept In, his first product, became a cult favorite. The product is known for its unique ability to hydrate and restore the skin overnight, leaving users with a refreshed and rejuvenated complexion. "Skin Slept In was our first big hit, and it really opened doors for us. It wasnt just a skincare product; it was a way to redefine what people expected from skincare," Dylan says. His Dream Sequence Illuminating Beauty Oil became another standout, offering a luxurious texture that hydrates and nourishes the skin. "I wanted to create a product that people could use every day, but that also made them feel like they were indulging in something special," Dylan adds.What sets Gregory Dylan Skincare apart is its dedication to creating products that not only work but also enhance the user's experience. "We take feedback from our clients seriously. If they want something new or different, we listen. Its all about making the skincare routine something you look forward to," Dylan shares. From the moment you try one of his products, the focus on care and attention to detail is evident, ensuring a skincare routine thats as fun as it is effective. Embracing Diversity and SustainabilityGregory Dylan Skincare stands out not only for its colorful packaging and top-tier ingredients but also for its commitment to inclusivity. "West Hollywood and Palm Springs are incredibly diverse communities, and we wanted our brand to reflect that. We use models of all backgrounds in our marketing to show that our products are for everyone," Dylan says. The brand is known for its dedication to sustainability as well. "We work hard to source ingredients responsibly and to ensure our packaging is eco-friendly. Its about making sure we leave the planet better than we found it," Dylan adds. Photos Courtesy of Gregory Dylan As Gregory Dylan Skincare expands, it continues to make strides toward both environmental responsibility and inclusivity. "Beauty isnt just about looking good; its about feeling good and doing good," Dylan reflects.A Bright Future AheadLooking forward, Gregory Dylan has ambitious plans for the future. "Were constantly working on new products, including a toner and a new serum thats packed with hyaluronic acid. Were also looking to expand into new markets and partner with more like-minded brands," Dylan shares. His goal is to create a brand thats not only synonymous with great skincare but also with fun, joy, and inclusivity. "Skincare should never feel like a chore. It should feel like something you want to do for yourself every day," Dylan concludes.Shop Gregory Dylan Skincare Now Photos Courtesy of Gregory Dylan

As RuPauls Drag Race gears up for its Season 17 premiere on Friday, January 3rd on MTV, the queens have been spreading holiday cheer and LGBTQ love throughout New York City. The queens of Season 17Acacia Forgot, Arrietty, Crystal Envy, Hormona Lisa, Jewels Sparkles, Joella, Kori King, Lana JaRae, Lexi Love, Lucky Starzzz, Lydia B [...]The post RuPauls Drag Race Season 17 Queens Sleigh Through the Big Apple with Holiday Cheer and a Glamorous Premiere! See the Photos! first appeared on GLAAD.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson fulfilled her longtime dream of performing on Broadway when she recently made a special one-night-only appearance in the very queer musical & Juliet.On December 14, the Biden appointee and the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court took the stage at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City in a walk-on role created specifically for her. Related Ketanji Brown Jackson smacks down transphobic GOP senator Marsha Blackburn with four words Judge Jackson is not here for your gotcha questions about trans people, Senator. I think that it means that anything is possible, Jackson said of the experience in a behind-the-scenes video posted to & Juliets social media feeds this week. 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 clip features footage of the Justice rehearsing for the show as well as performing with the cast onstage.I did it, an elated Jackson says at the end of the clip, I made it to Broadway! View this post on Instagram A post shared by & Juliet Broadway (@andjulietbway)As Playbill notes, Jackson described herself in her recent memoir, Lovely One, as a Miami girl from a modest background with an unabashed love of theatre. She writes that in one of her application essays for Harvard, she expressed that I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.Jackson fulfilled the first part of that very specific dream in 2022 when she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, a Bill Clinton appointee. Her appointment was itself the fulfillment of President Bidens 2020 campaign promise to appoint the first Black woman ever to serve on the Court should a vacancy occur during his presidency.In March 2022, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released a report on Jacksons record, concluding that she will uphold and honor the principles of equal rights for all and continue Justice Breyers legacy as a pioneer of equality. The following month, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called Jacksons appointment a critical step to ensure our hard-won progress is not reversed by those using the courts to fight outdated culture wars. As a member of SCOTUSs three-woman liberal minority, Jackson appeared to side with plaintiffs earlier this month in United States v. Skrmetti when they argued that a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors violates the constitutional prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex.During her one-night stint in & Juliet, Jackson appeared onstage alongside performer Michael Ivn Carrier (they/he), whose nonbinary character May features prominently in the jukebox musicals queer love triangle. In early 2023, nonbinary performer Justin David Sullivan, who originated the role on Broadway, withdrew from consideration for the Tony, citing the awards gendered acting categories. View this post on Instagram A post shared by & Juliet Broadway (@andjulietbway)Ahead of the December 14 performance, Jackson spoke about her Broadway debut on NPRs Wait Wait Dont Tell Me.Well, you know, I got a call, and someone said, We heard that this was your lifelong dream, she explained. They have invited me to do a special walk-on role that Im told they wrote for me, she said. So, Im very excited.She also recalled performing a scene with Matt Damon during her time at Harvard. We did the scene, and it was some play that didnt have a whole lot of action like Waiting For Godot or something, where youre just sitting on the stage, she said. But at the end, the professor said, Oh, Ketanji, you were so good. Matt, well talk. View this post on Instagram A post shared by & Juliet Broadway (@andjulietbway)Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

This is the sizzling chemistry we love to see!Danny Pellegrino is bringing more queer joy into everyone's homes this holiday season with his adorable new film Deck the Walls on Hallmark Channel.With only a handful of LGBTQ+ holiday movies coming out this year, Pellegrino is grateful that people can see his queer storyline play out in the rom-com."I'm so thrilled. This year, it feels like there's not a lot of [LGBTQ+ films] unfortunately. I feel very honored to have a little LGBTQ+ romance in our movie. I'm proud of it. The LGBTQ+ audience will enjoy," Pellegrino tells PRIDE. See on Instagram It's refreshing to see Elder, a very talented queer actor, play a gay role on a major network. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes.Pellegrino is hoping fans will resonate with the characters on Deck the Walls so a potential sequel could explore this LGBTQ+ romance even further."He's so handsome and such a stud. Our characters have a little love-hate situation. I was so honored to get to work with Clay. I really want us to get a good kiss in the sequel. We need a Deck the Walls sequel for sure."Deck the Walls is airing now on Hallmark Channel and streaming on Peacock. To see the full interview with Danny Pellegrino, check out the video at the top of the page.

Breakups are rough, but one of the hardest parts is the fear that youre not just losing your romantic partner but a good friend, too. Although there are plenty of toxic or even abusive relationships that arent worth salvaging, there are plenty of people weve dated who we dont want in our beds anymore but would love to hang out with as friends.Plus, statistically, there just arent that many queer people (especially if you live in a smaller town), so if you want to be friends with and in community with other queer folks, you may have to figure out how to be buddies with your ex.Becoming friends after a bad breakup is hard to accomplish, which is why weve reached out to licensed marriage and family therapist Hannah Reeves and Angelika Koch, a relationship and breakup expert at LGBTQ+ dating app Taimi, to figure out how to end a relationship while leaving the door open for a real friendship to develop. But transitioning from lovers to friends can be tricky and the path to becoming BFFs can be full of landmines. So, how do you do it successfully?What steps should you take if you want to break up but would like to remain friends?Breakups are almost always difficult, but if you want to remain friends, then gentle honesty is the best policy, Reeves tells PRIDE. "The first step is to be clear about your intentions. No vague 'it's not you, it's me' and definitely no cryptic, 'I just need space,'" she says. "I always tell my clients that clarity is kinder in the long run as they aren't left wondering what went wrong. If you want to stay friends, say it, but make sure you're not dangling a carrot of hope for something more." Koch says that making it clear that friendship is important to you can go a long way toward making that transition easier for both of you. "It's important to begin with letting this person know what you've been thinking about while also explaining how deeply meaningful the friendship is to you," she explains. "Being vulnerable is the most important step you can take when it comes to changing the dynamic from a relationship to a friendship."What additional steps should you take to become BFFs after a breakup?Once you've had the uncomfortable breakup conversation and you both have agreed to try to become friends, give it some time. You and your former paramour may need a little time and space before you're both ready to become besties. "Refrain from contacting them for a while. It's not ideal texting them at midnight to ask if they're okay," Reeves advises. "Give it at least a couple of weeks or longer, before trying to transition into friendship. That emotional reset is non-negotiable. If you reach out too soon you might be met with resentment or continue to string the other person along."If you really want to stay friends with an ex, setting firm boundaries and sticking to them is also key. "Don't talk about your sexual partners, dates, or things that could possibly make this person feel hurt or uncomfortable. Keep the conversations away from a deep emotional connection, as that can confuse them when things start to change," Koch says.Is it possible to maintain a friendship after a breakup?The unfortunate answer is that it really depends. If your relationship was toxic before the breakup, or you fought all the time, it may be harder to bridge that gap and build a healthy friendship. On the other hand, if youre open and honest and set firm boundaries, you have a good shot at making it work. Honestly, its a mixed bag. Some people pull it off brilliantly, others end up blocking each other for good, Reeves explains. The likelihood depends on whether youre both on the same page emotionally. Maybe you both felt the relationship wasn't going anywhere or just weren't ready yet. Having a mutual understanding of your relationship is usually what makes this possible. When the affairs are one-sided, it makes it way more difficult to remain friends afterwards.What are some of the common pitfalls of trying to be friends with an ex?It may seem like a no-brainer, but not respecting your partner during or after the breakup may destroy any chance of becoming friends. That means being careful not to give them hope that you may get back together, but also dont rub new relationships or hookups in their face especially when your budding friendship is new.Don't do things that could possibly lead your ex on. It's important not to give them a false sense of hope by telling them that maybe in the future you can go back to being a couple, Koch says. Its also important not to do things to make them jealous or make them feel like they are not enough.What can you do to make the transition to friends easier?Transitioning from lovers to friends may be a piece of cake or may take careful planning and trial and error before you get it right, but the benefits of keeping someone important in your life make the trials and tribulations worth it in the end. To give yourself the best shot at a new friendship with your partner after the breakup, Koch says respect and boundaries are going to be the most important things. "Always stay firm in your boundaries when moving from a relationship to a friendship," she says. "You can be friends with an ex, so long as there is consistent respect on both ends and you're able to both move forward in a healthy way."Reeves says to remember to "take it slow" and be honest when things aren't working. "If friendship is meant to happen, it'll develop naturally over time," she explains. "But be realistic about what you both can handle. Staying friends isn't a moral obligation. It's okay if you need to close the chapter completely. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is set a boundary and stick to it."Experts cited:Hannah Reeves, LMFT, relationship therapist and writer at Private Sugar Club.Angelika Koch, a relationship and break-up expert at LGBTQ+ dating app Taimi.

The iconic Queen of the Night has done it again!Each and every year, David Barton and Susanne Bartsch cohost a festive charity event that focuses on spreading joy to underprivileged kids.The 2024 edition of the David Barton & Susanne Bartsch Toy Drive brought together a star-studded lineup of attendees who are artists, social media influencers, celebrities, and philanthropists who are all encouraged to bring toys that can be donated to children who would otherwise not get anything for Christmas.Scroll through to see pictures of the 2024 David Barton & Susanne Bartsch Toy Drive!

A 90-year-old grandmother is winning the hearts of queer people across the internet after her story about a decade-spanning lavender marriage and her decision to finally come out as bisexual made waves on TikTok."My grandfather was a gay man who was starting to see success in Hollywood as an artist and graphic designer and my grandmother was a bisexual Colombian immigrant in nursing," Christian Owens wrote in a TikTok posted in November. "They met in West Hollywood and became best friends instantly so they knew that they had to protect each other at all costs."It wasn't long before Elida and Don were married, eventually having two daughters.According to People, the couple was honest with each other about their sexualities from the start. They came to an "arrangement" that allowed dating outside of the marriage, but Elida admits that despite having a "beautiful life together," "not being able to be our true selves made us feel like we were in a prison."Still, they remained committed until Donald's death in 2021, at which point Elida came out to her family."It's never too late to love who you love, and theres nothing wrong with loving who you love," Owens told People.@faultywiring0709I am so truly blessed. #fyp #TikTokPartner #pridetiktok #lgbt #lavendermarriage #Despite keeping up a public front for prying eyes in a different time, the picture Owens paints of her grandmother is one of a woman who was deeply involved in the LGBTQ+ community throughout her life in the ways she could beattending Pride, helping during the AIDS crisis, and even participating in the Stonewall riots. And it sounds as if her grandfather was frequently right there at her side.Owens' family's story has encouraged others to share their own family histories of lavender marriages and secrets made necessary by a society that wasn't ready to accept LGBTQ+ people."It pains me to know that some ppl didn't get to live their lives like they wanted to because of old standards," one viewer commented, "but at the same time, a lot of us wouldn't be here."

ALOKsBiology! played to sold-out shows across the globe and starting December 18, the comedy special will be available to stream. Executive produced by the comedy legend Christopher Guest,ALOK: Biology! marks the comedian and poets inaugural comedy special and its calledBiology!for a reason. Oftentimes when people discuss biology, they act as if its fixed and [...]The post ALOK Talks Trans Joy, Social Media Safety and the Absurdity of Societal Hatred in New Comedy Special, Documentary first appeared on GLAAD.

The Challenges Facing the LGBTQ+ Community in 2025: A Path Forward As we move deeper into 2025, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face an evolving set of challenges, some familiar and others new. While progress has been made over the past few decades, including significant strides in marriage...

Video edited by E E OliverSubscribe nowLGBTQ Americans and their families and friends have been concerned with the legal implications of the incoming Trump administration. When Trump takes office on January 20th, what does he actually have the power to do to LGBTQ rights from a legal perspective? To help our audience better understand what is and isnt possible, we called fellow Substacker of . Geidner has 15 years of experience covering the Supreme Court and the American legal system. He also has extensive political reporting experience, having covered aspects of the past three presidential administrations from D.C. Watch the full interview above or read the transcript here:Spencer Macnaughton: So today we're here with Chris Geidner, fellow Substacker who founded Law Dork. Chris has covered the Supreme Court and the American legal system for nearly 15 years and is formally the legal editor at BuzzFeed News. Chris, thanks so much for chatting with me and with Uncloseted Media today.Chris Geidner: Of course.Spencer Macnaughton: Fabulous. So what we want to talk about and, you know, really use your expertise with is what Trump and, you know, a public and trifecta can and can't do when it comes to LGBTQ rights and the law in his second term. What are you have your eye on most in terms of what the next Trump administration can and can't do as it relates to LGBTQ rights from a legal POV?Chris Geidner: Yeah, I mean, I think like first, like just big picture, the first thing to think about when we are looking at what's going to happen in about a month is that the reality is that any action needs to actually be implemented. And so, and that might seem like it's a stupid statement, but that's probably one of the most important things that we learned from the first Trump administration is that you really need to watch beyond the vibes and see what's actually being proposed, what's actually being put in place, what's actually going to happen. And so because of that, I think one of the most important things going into January 20th is the reality that's always true in Washington, that personnel is policy. And that who gets in different positions matters a lot. And I think one of the most notable examples of that is that for all of his troubling positions in some ways, a lot of the concern from the right about RFK's nomination for HHS secretary is that he is not a right winger is that he's pro choice and while he certainly had some some certainly not left wing positions and some right wing positions on trans issues, on gay issues, on HIV /AIDS. He is also certainly not one of them. It's not like a Stephen Miller type being put into that position. And that's obviously, HHS is one of the areas where I mean, where gay people historically have had the most interactions since the AIDS crisis and where right now in this moment of dealing with efforts to restrict medical care for trans people where trans people are going to be very focused. And so I do think that the reality is that depending on who's in what position in what agency could dramatically change what sort of results we get. I think that another area where that is surprisingly true is basically everyone other than Pam Bondi in the leadership of the Justice Department, the two junior people, the number two and number three in the Justice Department are Trump's former defense lawyers, but they're that, they're criminal defense lawyers, they're not, they are not right-wing advocates, they are not far-right people. And that's also true for his pick for Solicitor General. There are certainly problems in DOJ picked. You've got Harmeet Dhillon, his pick for the Civil Rights Division, who does have a record of representing detransitioners, of attempting to challenge the woke agenda in court, and we certainly have confirmed would be open to prioritizing aspects of the civil rights division for their focus that are not going to be to the benefit of LGBTQ people. So that would be out. You have this question of what he's going to do on day one in the military with regards to transgender people, with regards to medical care.Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Spencer Macnaughton: What do you think we can expect from the Supreme Court?Chris Geidner: We don't know. I mean, we don't know what's gonna happen with the Skrmetti, the transgender care case that oral arguments were held earlier in December and whether the Trump administration, because it was technically a request from the Justice Department to hear that case that the court took and whether or not the Trump administration will try to get that petition dismissed in January. There's all sorts of complications because there was also a request from the it plaintiffs so the justices could just replace the one petition with the other so it's not clear but the point is that it could be confusing and confusion and chaos is not good for people who are dependent on healthcare whether it be trans care whether it be prep whether it be cancer screenings whether it be mental health screenings for all of these things, the main concern that I have about the first six months of the Trump administration will be slipshod decisions that are poorly understood and poorly implemented that then lead to immediate litigation that then has everything up in the air and confused for six or seven months.Spencer Macnaughton: And I mean, when we're talking about, you know, Trump's first day in office or Trump's first few months in office and, you know, what is he gonna care about? I mean, if we looked at his campaign, you know, he says we need to eradicate transgender insanity, get rid of left-wing gender insanity, all these kinds of promises, right? I mean, why wouldn't he push that Supreme Court case as far along as possible and take away trans rights. Like if you were, you know, a trans kid, a trans person or a family member what would you be genuinely concerned about from a legal perspective right now?Chris Geidner: The first concern is if states taking anti-trans provisions are upheld. The second, even greater concern would be if there's an effort to stop pro-trans states from taking pro-trans transactions. The equivalent of that that is something that's been discussed a lot. So it's easy to to discuss is like, if there would be an effort to ban Mifepristone nationwide.Spencer Macnaughton: Like in super basic terms, if Trump comes in on day one and says, I want gender affirming care gone for trans kids, I don't want trans girls playing in sports, you know, I want gender affirming care gone for trans adults. How much power does he have if he says do it for people to actually do it and get it done?Chris Geidner: A lot of it would take legislation and as of now right now you you have You would need 60 votes in the Senate for legislation but if they include it somehow in reconciliation, which is a budget process, so they tie like spending funding to it, that only takes a majority vote. And that's something that Democrats use successfully to get programs and the first Trump administration use successfully to get programs through is by tying them to spending somehow. And so that would be the strongest way is obviously to pass legislation, which then could be challenged and would be challenged in court, but that would be the strongest way. The second way would be to sort of do the opposite of what the Biden administration was trying to do, to do something like under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 that provide sex discrimination protection in education is to say that the Biden administration passed a rule that said that in accordance with like the principles of the Supreme Court decision in Bostock that said that in employment discrimination, sex discrimination includes sexual orientation and gender identity. The Biden administration said sex discrimination in Title IX should be treated the same way. And what you could see from the Trump administration, they could withdraw the rule so you would get rid of the rule itself. But in order to propose an alternative role, they would need to go through another whole process of notice and comment that would take time. But when they do that, they could propose a rule that said that sex under Title IX is only referring to biological sex and basically take some of language from some of the different state sports bands and stuff like that.Spencer Macnaughton: When you listen to the rhetoric though of Trump and of Mike Johnson and all these people, you would imagine that doing exactly what you just described would be top of mind for them, based on what they said.Chris Geidner: I don't think anything is top of mind of Trump. Donald Trump would say whatever he needed to to win the election. My bottom line take on Donald Trump is that, like he is going to do what he thinks is right at the moment, what he thinks will win him the most applause at the moment and often based on the last person in the room with him. I mean, we learned that, I had literally written that one weekend after his election this time. And then like three days later, Matt Gitz was announced as his attorney general pick. And then the day after that, we found out that the reason why he was Trump's pick is because he was on a flight back from Florida to DC with Gates and with somebody else who was pushing for him. And so it was literally the last person in the room with him was why he made his decision. And so in that sense, there's almost in a Trump administration and even greater the personnel is policy because sometimes literally the personnel who that's in the Oval Office will be the policy. And so to that extent, if you have certain far-right people who get into positions, that will potentially lead to some really bad policies for LGBTQ people. The bigger problem, I think, in a Trump era is from two groups. It's from the fact that no matter what, the Republicans writ large Mike decide is the right path forward, the most reasonable anti-abortion and most reasonable anti-LGBTQ positions. There will be a deep red state that has a far right governor that has a strong right legislature that is both houses are super majority Republican and they will pass a much more extreme bill that will be signed into law that will then go to court that will then be challenged and or that will then become a model for other states that will then become a national problem, which then sometimes if those look too popular, Trump will then pick them up and start doing them himself. Mike Johnson believes it 100%. The fact that we have a house speaker who is following Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace is horrifying, but like what's even more horrifying is that that's not politics for him. That is his position. That is where he came from. That is the job he held before he was a member of Congress. And so, like, for him, it's real. And he will definitely try to do things. They could definitely implement the equivalent of a rule that says that education, federal education funding could be withheld if you do not adhere to a definition of sex that is based on biological sex in education. So that that could effectively ban trans kids from using restrooms in schools, locker rooms.Spencer Macnaughton: I mean, at this moment in time, Trump is super tight with Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. You know, they were just at the football game together the other day kind of thing, right? And, you know, Johnson has said that homosexuals are the dark harbinger of chaos. And that, you know, has compared, you know, gay marriage to letting people marry their pets.Chris Geidner: Yeah, I mean, to be clear, if Donald Trump decides to like become Mike Johnson's toady, then LGBTQ people are in deep trouble. But I think there's a reality that that has not been the experience throughout the past 10 years of the Trump era in public life. Like, eventually Mike Johnson is going to make Donald Trump angry and Donald Trump is going to say, "Why is this loon ruining my agenda?" I do think that that is more protective right now of gay and lesbian people than it is of transgender people. I mean, like, if you just look functionally, I think the fact that, like, we're going to have a married treasure secretary, gay marriage treasury secretary who has children is like, makes it seem pretty likely that Donald Trump is not going to try to roll back Obergefell. Seeing that there won't be lower people, there won't be far right red states with Republican trifectas who won't do it. And that won't mean that there's not interest in some lower courts in doing it.Spencer Macnaughton: We report a lot on religion and a lot on religious exemptions and how people use religion, freedom of religion laws, right? What are your biggest concerns about if those religious exemption laws are expanded for LGBTQ folks?Chris Geidner: Yeah, I mean, the fact of the matter is that a narrow religious exemption is generally pretty reasonable and protects everyone and keeps people safe, keeps people happy. when you have very broad exemptions, they can essentially eat the non-discrimination provision. And this was the concern out of 303 Creative last term, or two terms ago now at the Supreme Court about the woman who allegedly wanted to start making wedding websites, but hadn't, but might have, and might have someday gotten a gay couple who wanted her to make a website, but wouldn't, she wouldn't wanna do it. And the Supreme Court said that the non-discrimination law that she should have an exemption to that, that she should have a religious exemption into that and while that might seem that it could be narrow, I don't know if you remember like in the immediate aftermath of that, there was like a hairdresser in Michigan that put up a sign saying like, I don't do lesbian haircuts or something like that.Spencer Macnaughton: Well, that's what I find really interesting what you just said is that the super red states that introduced these perhaps extremely anti-LGBTQs and state legislatures, if they bubble up and keep going up the courts and Trump thinks they're cool and invogue and popular, that could be dangerous.Chris Geidner: Yeah, oh, that absolutely is, like it literally looks like an epidemic spread of the, what was it, 2021, where the Arkansas ban passed over the governor's veto. And then 2022, the Alabama one passed. And then 2023, you had the explosion.Spencer Macnaughton: Do you think anything could be different from like the 2016 Trump administration to now? Do you kind of imagine he'll approach LGBTQ at all differently. I mean, his rhetoric, this election cycle has been more aggressive, I would say. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely been more aggressive. They definitely, they went all in on the anti -trans ads. Like, I definitely think that they will do something with at least trans sports. They're going to try to do something with sports. I think that they think that that's clearly the thing that's pulling best for them. The other thing that I would be concerned about that we're seeing already reports out of the UK on is that, when you do ban gender affirming care for minors that they're that providers get concerned even about adult provision of care. That some providers just say, like, "Why would I put myself in this position?" And sometimes it's, I mean, obviously there are some providers who are going to do it no matter what, who this is their purpose. I mean, just like we're seeing with abortion care. But you certainly are going to have large providers that they're like, this is a business decision that we have 25 trans patients a year of our 5 ,000 patients and we have 250 employees.Spencer Macnaughton: We've seen a lot of headlines of, you know, same-sex couples running to get married out of fear of Trump 2 .0 kind of thing. Is that necessary? What are your thoughts on that?Chris Geidner: I mean, I don't think it's ever bad to protect your rights. Second, I am no one's lawyer listening to this. I mean, I think that there is a reality that there probably will be far right efforts to push back and lay the groundwork. I mean, one, I don't think they have the votes on this courts to do that. I don't know if there's an interest. You look at polling, there doesn't seem to be any, I mean, if anything, it continues improving. I'm more worried for individuals being targeted by far -right policies from far-right states trying to implement laws that sometimes will even be applied exterritorially and then litigation aimed at having nationwide effect.Spencer Macnaughton: What are examples of what you could see the more extreme cases being in those deep red, totally red states?Chris Geidner: We've seen examples out of Florida and Texas that could just get more extreme. I mean, Florida has already limited provision of adult gender affirming care. They have put in place restrictions that make it more difficult, that require additional appointments, require fewer providers being able to actually provide the care. We have seen efforts by both Paxton and Andrew Bailey, the Attorney General of Missouri, to investigate nonprofits, media entities. They are going after, both are going after media matters for their reporting on Twitter, X, Elon, advertising Nazis, all of the above. You have seen Paxton has specifically gone after PFLAG trying to get lists of their members, donors. We have seen various versions of efforts to limit books in schools. That certainly could expand.Subscribe nowSpencer Macnaughton: A lot of people are really afraid in the LGBTQ community about Trump 2 .0, about the laws, you know, and I think you've given fantastic context to clarify a lot of things for them. Is there anything they can do proactively now that might, you know, help mitigate, you know, their rights in case Trump decides to do things that could, you know, strip them.Chris Geidner: I mean, certainly handling passport changes for trans people. I mean, certainly handling passport changes for trans people now is smart. Getting any trans documents that need to be changed in place as soon as you can is smart. I do think to the extent that people want to, same-sex couples want to feel protected. If you're already engaged, make your parents happy and just finish it and get it done, I don't think that's, I don't think that is harmful and I think it is an added protection. I mean, it's no different than like saying you should have a will. Like, if there is a legal document that you could have to make your life more secure, you should have it. But stepping back, I actually think the most important thing to do is not to lose hope and to be engaged. That the way that these changes happen are by people being engaged. We should have more trans people on school boards. We should have more trans people in legislatures having that that presence matters. And so I think trans people, gay people, LGBTQ people, people being proactively, aggressively defensive, and transparent and supportive, and demanding of their right and our rights to exist is important. To the extent that there are places where there are already bad laws in place, to the extent that there are bad changes that are going to come, that is he first step in reversing that. People who are feeling safe right now, be there for the people who aren't feeling safe.Spencer Macnaughton: Amen, fair enough, yeah um I was gonna say you definitely are a law dork.Chris Geidner: I am.Spencer Macnaughton: This is such important and helpful context for all our audience so super grateful for your time and thank you so much.Chris Geidner: Thank you.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

Wicked star Kristin Chenoweth shot back at the conservative Christian group One Million Moms (OMM) for encouraging people to boycott the new film due to its LGBTQ agenda.Everyone knows the one million Moms are a mere few hundred. Maybe, Chenoweth wrote in an Instagram comment on an article covering the boycott, along with an eye roll emoji. 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. Its called entertainment. Artistry, she continued. I am a Christian woman or originated the role of Glinda and all the silliness that these women spew out of hate. No no no. I cant help it : i try to love em anyways. For they dont get it. For anyone who wants to see girl power, then go so WICKED. Onstage or in a movie theater. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today OMM posted its anti-Wicked petition earlier this month asking supporters to send the following message to the films distributor, Universal Pictures: I disagree with the LGBTQ agenda you are pushing on families in the filmWicked. My family and I will not watch this film. Universal has left conservative and Christian families with no choice but to avoidWickedsince it goes against our beliefs and values. My family will not support Universal Pictures; you have lost our trust.On its website, OMM takes issue with the tremendous amount of witchcraft and sorcery in the film a revisionist origin story ofThe Wizard of Ozs Wicked Witch of the West making the somewhat odd claim that such content would prompt most parents to avoid taking their children to seeWicked. But for those who may not be quite right-minded enough to shield their precious kiddos from cinematic depictions of witchery, OMM also warns of not-so-discrete crossdressing and men crushing on men in the film. Worse still, according to the organization, Four of the films main characters are openly queer or gay in real life, or at the minimum, these actors have spoken about their queer experiences. Presumably, OMM means four of the filmsstars; while Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, andMarissa Bodeare all openly queer,Wickedfeatures exactly zero explicitly queercharacters.As such, the queer representation and visibility inWicked: Part Onewere important to them, the petition continues of the films stars. Obviously, this part of the movie is a nod to inclusivity, along with a blatant attempt by Universal to normalize same-sex crushes.And OMM may actually have us there. The films stars have definitely spoken aboutWickeds queer subtext particularly Erivo and co-star Ariana Grande, herself a vocal LGBTQ+ ally. Every day in the Emerald City is a Pride parade, Grande said in one recent interview, in which she also suggested that her charactermight be a little in the closet.Chenoweth originated the role of Glinda on Broadway alongside Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba. Both actresses made surprise cameos in the film. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A school board meeting in Riverside, California, went awry after Republicans and anti-trans activists stormed the town hall in opposition to school policies protecting transgender girls.The Riverside County School District held a board meeting on Thursday, with California Assemblymembers Bill Essayli (R) and Leticia Castillo (R) in attendance alongside a crowd of anti-trans activists wearing Save Girls Sports and Its Common Sense. XX XY shirts. Related Will Gavin Newsom sign Californias bill to license more gender-affirming doctors? The legislation would expedite the training of trans healthcare providers. But Gov. Newsom vetoed three LGBTQ+ bills last year. There were vocal calls for Superintendent Renee Hill to resign, with attempts to urge the school district to oppose transgender girls inclusion in girls sports. This is in spite of the fact Californias education code explicitly requires that transgender youth not be subject to discrimination or segregation and that sports teams are divided along the lines of gender identity, not sex assigned at birth. 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 California Interscholastic Federation also permits transgender girls to participate in girls sports.Nobody should be bullied like that. It doesnt feel okay, said one person at the meeting, in reference to the targets placed on transgender kids We dont need to be having this conversation. Theyre just kids let them live their lives.The meeting also featured many advocates for LGBTQ+ rights calling for an end to the harassment of transgender girls.The meeting concerns a lawsuit filed by two cisgender girls at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. They allege that by her mere inclusion, a transgender girl got them ousted from spots on the cross-country team. They also complain that their shirts, featuring language that misgenders and dehumanizes transgender individuals, were inappropriately compared to other hate symbols like the swastika. They allege that this was in front of Jewish students. No student has yet to come forward alleging this as an issue.They are represented by far-right legal advocacy organization Advocates for Faith & Freedom, which frequently sees cases that are related to opposition to transgender individuals.Anti-transgender legislation has been linked to upwards of a 72% increase in the number of suicide attempts in transgender youth. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement that he is committed to providing his unwavering support to ensure every student enjoys their right to an equal education free from discrimination and harassment.Daisy Gardner, outreach director of Our Schools USA, said on behalf of a parent of a transgender athlete at King High, The anti-trans movement at King has gotten out of control. This is not about saving girls sports. This has become a bullying campaign aimed at our most marginalized and vulnerable communities.In a statement, Riverside Unified School District said it is committed to ensuring that each student in our schools is safe and that students exercising their 1st Amendment rights, within the existing limits, will be allowed to do so.At our district, we uphold students rights to free speech at school and encourage them to express their perspectives in a respectful and meaningful way, however, at the same time, we recognize that there are some limits to free speech in schools, including speech that constitutes a true threat, causes a material disruption to the learning environment, or infringes on the rights of other students. Student safety remains our No. 1 priority and while we continue to focus on student learning, we are taking steps to minimize disruptions likely to arise from public attention on this issue,Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced this week that the Boulder County Courthouse in Colorado has been designated a National Historic Landmark for being the site of the first issuing of a same-sex marriage license in the United States. On March 26, 1975, Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex issued the license after confirming with the assistant district attorneythat state law did not ban marriage between two people of the same sex. Related Judge refused to perform same-sex couples wedding: She looked disgusted then walked away The city court had to bring in a queer judge to officiate the lesbian couples marriage. This act of courage ignited a nationwide conversation about marriage equality and cemented the courthouses role as a symbol of hope and progress for the LGBTQ+ community, the Boulder County Board of Commissioners wrote in a press release. Within weeks, Rorex issued five more same-sex marriage licenses, and news outlets across the country spotlighted Boulder as a trailblazer for civil rights. 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 commission shared a quote from Rorex reflecting on the moment years after she issued that first license: After having been so deeply involved in the womens rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else? It wasnt my job to legislate morality.While the college town of Boulder has a liberal reputation now, it was deeply divided over gay rights in 1975, and few, including Rorex, had thought about same-sex couples marrying. Seeing a parallel with the womens movement and finding nothing in the law to prevent it, the 31-year-old county clerk ultimately granted six licenses to gay couples before the states attorney general at the time, J.D. MacFarlane, ordered her to stop.Our community includes people of many races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and professions, and we consider this diversity an asset that enriches the lives of all of our residents, Commissioner Claire Levy said in a statement. Honoring the Boulder County Courthouse with a National Historic Landmark designation is a tribute to these neighbors and a ringing endorsement that America is still the land of the brave.Commissioner Marta Loachamin also pointed out that the moment is particularly meaningful in todays sociopolitical climate, where many Americans feel unwelcome or excluded. Recognizing the courthouse as a National Historic Landmark underscores the United States dedication to fostering a future built on equity and justice for all.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

President Joe Biden has established a national monument in Newcastle, Maine, to Frances Perkins, the first woman member of a presidential Cabinet who may also have been part of the LGBTQ+ community. Perkins served as Labor Secretary under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Perkins is remembered for her fierce advocacy for working people and worked to establish huge public works programs to decrease unemployment. Related Biden admin awards grant to first-of-its-kind program for LGBTQ+ people with eating disorders The right is outraged and says Trump will end the program that has already been shown to be effective at helping LGBTQ+ people with eating disorders. Perkins is considered the woman behind the New Deal, as the Frances Perkins Center explained, and her policy ideas helped establish the modern middle class. 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 Among many other accomplishments, she convinced the president to invest $3.3 billion in public works as part of his One Hundred Days legislation. The investment led to the employment of between 1.5 and 2 million public works employees, who helped create better schools, post offices, roads, and housing projects. Perkins is also known for creating the blueprint for Social Security as head of a Committee on Economic Security. She also helped create the Fair Labor Standards Act, which established maximum work hours, banned child labor, and created a minimum wage. The story goes, after Franklin Roosevelt asked her to become his Labor secretary, Frances Perkins immediately responded by outlining her goals, what she wanted done, Biden said during his remarks on the establishment of the monument. She said, I want unemployment relief, overtime pay, child labor laws, minimum wage, workers compensation, national health insurance, and Social Security many of the benefits we take for granted as a consequence of Frances dedication to inciting courage. He added, Its clear that Frances Perkins and a generation of activists and labor leaders laid the groundwork for much of what weve accomplished in the last four years.He also quoted Perkins saying, The people are what matter to government, and the government should aim to give people all people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.' Perkins married Paul Wilson in 1913, though she kept her last name. Wilson regularly received inpatient treatment for mental health issues, during which times Perkins would room with other women. While there is no confirmation about her sexuality, the National Park Service wrote that her relationship with one roommate, Mary Harriman Rumsey, was very intimate. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

On the evening of December 9, I read about the death of legendary poet and educatorNikki Giovanni while searching for something on the Internet.What a tremendous loss. I thought I was going to cry.On November 9, a month before her death, I watched Giovannis interview on iOne Digital. She wore a T-shirt that said, I write banned books, and she talked about getting old, finding joy, and, of course, banned books. Related Feminist icon Judith Butler slams liberals who want to abandon trans people: Thats fascist logic Butler called denying health care to trans kids an act of cruelty. I LOVED Giovanni long before I LOVED Toni Morrison. During the Black Arts and Black Panther eras, I grew up listening and grooving to Giovannis voice on scratchy vinylalbums as she read her poems, my favorite being Ego Trippin. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today I wanted to attend Fisk University because she did, and I hoped it would make me as smart as she was. At Wellesley, during my only appearance in a school theater production, I recited Giovannis poem, All I Gotta Do. I recited itwith a Brooklyn Black girl sass, imagining shed have been proud. I hear it in my head now and smile. The poem inspired my activism. Because of Giovanni, I fought my own revolution against homophobia in the Black Church.In the 2000s, I was invited to deliver a talk on religion and homophobia at Virginia Tech. I was ecstatic beyond belief because Giovanni taught there. When I met her, I thought Id faint. I meant to shake her hand, but instead, I said while bowing my head, Ive been a fan of yours, Ms. Giovanni, since high school. She warmly smiled back.In 2007, I wrote an article for Advocateshortly after the Virginia Tech shooting titled Virginia Techs invisible gay angles. Cho Seung-Hui, a student at the school, killed 32 people and wounded 17 others. I asked in the article, Why did the LGBT community feel they had no part in the story of Cho Seung-Hui and the massacre he wrought?I wrote about how when Washington Blade reporter Lou Chibbaro inquired if there were any LGBTQ+ students or professors killed in the massacre, the president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Alliance of Virginia Tech said, Some were queer, and others were straight allies. The GLBT community at Tech grieves in the same way as others deeply and as part of a greater whole [the tragedy is] not a gay thing; its an everybody thing. And because it is an everybody thing, it is precisely why it is important to know.Because I knew Giovanni was lauded for being a first responder during the shooting, I wrote, As with our fallen LGBTQ sheroes and heroes of 9/11 and this never-ending war, many of us in the queer community, myself included, would like not only to celebrate our fallen in the Virginia Tech massacre for being courageously out of the closet but also to show America that we, too, are everywhere in the human drama of life.Where I blundered was with this sentence: Case in point: Nikki Giovanni, a neglected and overlooked heroine in our queer community. The backlash was swift. I received this email: I work at Virginia Tech and am openly gay. Your article onadvocate.com caught my attention because it quoted my roommate, the president of the campus LGBTA. In the article, you write that Nikki Giovanni is an out lesbian. I do not think that is the case. I attended Virginia Tech as a student for four years and have worked here doing public relations for a year and have heard nothing of the sort. I was the president of the campus LGBTA in 2005 and can tell you that, if Nikki Giovanni is a lesbian, she is certainly not out. What is the source of your information?I cried throughout this incident. As an ardent fan of Giovannis, I chided myself for knowing well how LGBTQ+ people live bifurcated lives between professional and social, but I did not think at the time if it was possible she was not out. I wrote back, conveying my most profound apology for any harm my piece may have caused the community, especially Professor Nikki Giovanni. I asked for her email address because I wanted to send a note of apology.The school reached out to Advocate. I worried Id never be able to write a piece for the publication again. However, my editor was gracious and wrote,I get so tired of people codependently padlocking other peoples closets, which is what happened in that instance with whoever called us from Virginia Tech. Its also true that Nikki, when I met her some years ago, wasnt exactly interested in confirming or denying. If not for that experience, Id have let your piece stand online. I wrote Giovanni an apology letter. I also thought of sending her flowers, but I realized that wouldve been over the top. I never heard back.Love is love, and I still possess her albums from childhood and have all her works spoken and in print. From time to time, when I need a Giovanni fix, Ill read some of her poems or listen to one of my scratchy albums to hear the lyricism in her voice.Im glad she leaves us as a revered LGBTQ+ icon.May she rest in power!Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Photo: Canva. Design by Sam Donndelinger.Subscribe nowIn 2022, on the set of one of the many made-for-TV romance movies that are shot every year, the crew was producing a scene where the supporting casta lesbian couplehave their first dance at the wedding of their dreams. As the music swells, the couple shares a chaste kiss and their families erupt in applause.In the few holiday movies that feature queer characters, producers often avoid including moments that display same-sex intimacy. These networks typically like to dip their toe in the pond, a director of holiday romance films told Uncloseted Media. They want to check off a box in terms of including a queer storyline, but they don't want to go so far as to see characters kiss because that typically does not sell as well to the more Christian-based networks, he says, noting that production companies shoot the movies first and then pitch them to various networks.This director, who asked to remain on background to avoid jeopardizing future opportunities, had advocated to include the lesbian peck and felt it was wrong to omit it. It didn't make sense from a filmmaking standpoint, from a directorial standpoint, and it didn't make sense from a narrative standpoint. I made the argument that it's a bit strange to see a couple go through their first dance and then at the end they just pull away from each other. And so I convinced them to let me shoot the kiss.But after they shot the scene, the movie was packaged [without the peck] in order to sell it to as many domestic and international streaming services and networks as possible. The film was eventually sold to multiple vendors.The omission of any display of LGBTQ intimacy is far from surprising in the over $500 million holiday movie industry. While in recent years, there has been some queer representation on networks like The Hallmark Channel, made-for-TV holiday movies still overwhelmingly depict heterosexual romance.But even with these progressive steps, The Great American Family Channel (GAF)a new major player in the holiday movie industryis making bank by seemingly refusing to include any queer representation. Uncloseted Media was not able to find one openly LGBTQ character in any of their 71 holiday movies over the last four years.This year, GAF signed a multi-year deal with actor Mario Lopez with a focus to showcase diverse talent in front of the camera. Despite this, in the 18 original Christmas films they released this season, there is once again not a single queer storyline that Uncloseted was able to identify.They've carved out some real estate which is defined by some very old school notions of family values. And it's not being announced directly, says Robert Thompson, Director of The Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. Thompson says that the channels refusal to create inclusive stories is a silent declaration of a certain brand.Subscribe nowHow it BeganThe birth of GAF came shortly after a 2019 scandal at The Hallmark Channel, when the far-right group One Million Moms started a petition to keep Hallmark family-friendly after they aired a commercial featuring a lesbian couple. Hallmark decided to succumb to the pressure and discontinue the ad; a decision that was met with outrage from LGBTQ viewers.After this, Hallmark reversed its decision, put the ad back up and pledged to better represent the LGBTQ community. One month later, Hallmarks CEO Bill Abbott stepped down.After his departure, Hallmark started including more LGBTQ storylines in their holiday films, upsetting fans and spurring a wave of online backlash.As this outrage became widespread, Abbott co-founded Great American Media, the parent company of GAF. Over the next year, he would be joined by a swath of former Hallmark executives and actors.Abbott took what was a country music channel and rebranded it into a faith-based, family-friendly lifestyle channel. As part of this rebrand, Abbott decided to create original made-for-TV holiday films that, unlike Hallmark, would focus on a more traditional view of the holidays. There will always be a segment of the population that just wants to be able to not have to fast forward through something or feel uncomfortable when theyre watching with their kids, Abbott said in an interview this year.Since GAF officially launched in September 2021, its holiday programming has focused on the traditional and religious roots of Christmas and the family. But their definition of these sacred institutions seems to exist in an LGBTQ-free world. Abbott and GAF did not respond to Uncloseted Medias request for comment.Why Queer Representation MattersWhile the effect of holiday films on societal progress might feel minimal, research has shown that queer representation on TV has the ability to move the needle on the publics perception of LGBTQ people. A 2020 GLAAD Media study found that 48% of respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ people in the media say they are more accepting of gay and lesbian people, when compared to the respondents who had not recently seen any queer people on their screens.I live in an extremely progressive and diverse and colorful place, says the director, who lives in Toronto, the most diverse city in the world. But I think there are many, many places in the states that are not that way, he says, noting that the majority of holiday movies are shot in Canada. I think that there are young men and women and trans folks who are terrified to speak about their own truth and it does nothing for those people if the living room that they inhabit is filled with that content.Where the Controversy BeganPhoto: Gage Skidmore via FlickrGAF captured attention and controversy in 2022 when Candace Cameron Bure, former Full House star, left Hallmark, and promised fans that their new programming would focus on traditional marriage instead of LGBTQ stories.Her comments received intense backlash from fans and the LGBTQ community and caused former GAF actor Neal Bledsoe to leave the channel, writing in a statement that the thought that my work could be used to deliberately discriminate against anyone horrifies and infuriates me.In response, CEO Abbott distanced GAF from Bures comments, stating that her views do not reflect the companys and that GAF [doesnt] have an agenda either way. Its not in the faith-and-family playbook to have agendas that are either pro or anti, he said in an interview with Variety.Still, total exclusion of LGBTQ characters has meant big business for Abbotts network. Many holiday movie fans were thrilled with this shift and turned to GAF to escape the queer representation on Hallmark and other similar channels. In the Great American Family Fan Community Facebook Group with over 150,000 members, fans voiced homophobia and expressed their gratitude for GAFs exclusion of queer characters.Forcing Hallmark into the alphabet group lifestyle programming is criminal, wrote one user. Time to take a stand and preserve the sanctity of the natural family order in as many areas of life that we can, the same user added. Another user wrote about their passion for GAFs movies: I love this channel and also I dont want to look at 2 men or 2 women kissing. Its just not Gods way. Each post garnered over 600 likes and over 200 comments.Uncloseted Media reached the users who posted in the community but did not receive a response.In addition, members of the community have criticized GAF when they aired a RuPauls Drag Race ad and an LGBTQ-themed commercial about PrEP, an HIV prevention drug that has been integral to ending the epidemic. One user commented asking if GAF has removed the very non-family friendly AIDS drug ad with 2 men kissing. GAF responded on Instagram, saying Unfortunately, we dont have any control over local commercials, and we sincerely apologize.Family ValuesWhile GAFs audience is still fractional to Hallmarks 737,000 primetime viewers, the Christian alternative still averages 173,000 viewers in the coveted slot and is the 41st most popular channel on TV.They have identified and carved out a core audience, says Thompson.They know that if they watch [holiday films] here, theyre not going to have to confront all of the kinds of stories that they're hearing elsewhere and that they're clutching their pearls over, Thompson told Uncloseted Media.The so-called family values brand that GAF has been capitalizing on is one that has been popular on TV for upwards of a century: the white picket fence, Leave it to Beaver, 2.5 children type.They were always nuclear families, a husband and wife, in their first marriage [with] a couple of kids Because it was such a predominant presence it became the mythical idea of what a family was, says Thompson. Great American Media markets itself heavily as a family-friendly organization. In its company blurb, the word family appears in nearly every single sentence, sometimes more than once.Jason Wrench, a professor of communication and media at the State University of New York, says the move toward family values is indicative of a bigger goal: national Christianity. They have this desire to go back to something that never actually existed, he says. They've created a fantasy of what the past was or even how this country was founded.Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support LGBTQ-focused journalism, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.GAF movie scripts are flooded with Biblical language and the channel airs Bible quotes before many ad breaks. By doing this and by excluding queer characters, GAF has earned media and marketing. In the past few years, Focus on the Family, a powerful anti-LGBTQ lobbying group, has written in support of GAF in numerous articles. And earlier this year, Abbott spoke about GAF on a podcast by The Daily Signal, a conservative media organization founded by The Heritage Foundation, who wrote Project 2025.Holiday Movies and American PoliticsWhile holiday movies may ostensibly seem disconnected from politics, Wrench believes theyre linked. Since the legalization of gay marriage in 2015, far-right organizations have been collaborating to promote a narrative that excludes same-sex couples. They are moving the pieces on their chessboard, Wrench told Uncloseted Media. I think sometimes it's hard for us because we're seeing it in the moment and we don't see how this has been strategic.In todays political climate, the notion of returning to traditional families like the ones promoted on GAF has taken center stage. Project 2025, the 920-page document that was written by 140 former Trump administration officials, suggests that policies that support LGBTQ equity should be repealed and replaced by policies that support the formation of stable, married, nuclear families.Media Fragmentation and Echo ChambersThe popularity of GAF may be attributed to the fragmentation of media in recent years. It used to be that there were three television stations that had more actual control over what was shown to the public, says Wrench.The lack of TV options meant shows that aired on the three networks had serious impact. When All in the Familywhich was watched by over 20 million people each weekdecided to include the first-ever gay sitcom character in 1971, it had a seismic effect on Americas perception of gay people. And in 1997, when Ellen DeGeneres came out on her self-titled sitcom, it was watched by more than 42 million people and was the highest-rated episode of the show.Television and popular culture was very good at licking the envelope shut on progressive issues because once it happened on a television show in the network era, it wasn't an argument anymore, says Thompson.But today, people can look elsewhere when a channels programming doesnt match their beliefs. [There are] an infinity of places where people can go to find the claims of affirmations that they need, says Thompson.In this new media ecosystem, polarization has become profitable and media corporations have taken notice. Its not only the holiday film industry that is capitalizing off existing in an echo chamber. The news, pop culture, science and podcasts are often fragmented along partisan lines. Now, if you have a large enough population that doesnt want to expose themselves to anything queer oriented, if a company sees that as a business model to make more money, theyre going to do that, says Wrench.The director of the film with the lesbian peck that never made it to your screen says GAFs echo chamber only widens the gap between peoples varying beliefs about LGBTQ issues. It doesnt help parents develop any sort of understanding and it doesnt challenge their perspective on diversity and on queerness, he says, noting that less than 40% of LGBTQ youth consider their homes affirming.Queer Exclusion Becomes Big BusinessBut he says that the market of traditional values is too big for GAF to pass up on. It really does all come down to the money, he says.The audience for these films is a middle-aged Christian woman who just wants to pour herself a glass of Chardonnay and forget about all the pain in the world.The exclusion of queer characters from GAF movies is occurring in parallel with a recent shift of U.S. corporations abandoning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and LGBTQ initiatives under pressure from right-wing outrage. For months, big-name corporations like Harley-Davidson, Bud Light and Walmart have folded under pressure from conservative influencers who have started campaigns calling for divestment from inclusive practices. And even this month, Disney removed a transgender storyline from an animated streaming series prior to its release, with a spokesperson for the company telling The Hollywood Reporter that when it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.There are definitely companies that have caught the rainbow and gone with it because it was socially appropriate, says Wrench. Those companies will become more hesitant as the pressure from these groups becomes louder. Its not that they represent the majority of America, its just that theyre really loud.In the last year, even Hallmark has pulled back in their LGBTQ programming. In the more than 30 original Hallmark holiday films airing in primetime this year, Uncloseted Media was not able to identify any that feature a main queer storyline. The channel has also fallen short of incorporating trans and gender nonconforming characters into their films. Hallmark did not respond to Uncloseted Medias request for comment.Whether GAF says it out loud, they have found a niche by creating a holiday story that is rooted in heteronormativity where viewers can enjoy a world where queer people dont exist. And its paying off: last year, GAF saw a 76% rise in viewership and announced it is TVs fastest-growing network.Additional reporting by Hope PisoniIf 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

Cardi B caused a bit of a social media uproar recently when she used an anti-LGBTQ+ slur to describe herself in an X post.On December 12, the bisexual rapper posted a pair of photos of herself in Timberland boots, baggy jeans, and a fur coat. Related Cardi B says that homophobes are just ugly Cardi B specifically admonished every bad bitch to get a gay best friend or gay best friend cousin. The post was captioned simply D*key B. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Dykey B pic.twitter.com/lY0dVky7Wx Cardi B (@iamcardib) December 13, 2024Response to the post was decidedly mixed, with some fans thirsting after Cardis soft butch vibes while others called her out for using the term.Isnt that a slur, one X user commented.Another suggested that she edit the post to say Stud-y B before Twitter goes crazy.cardi I love you but you cant openly use slurs like this and think its ok, another fan commented. isnt that a slur? Get The Raid (@dinopostedthat) December 13, 2024 Hurry up and change it to Stud-y B before Twitter goes crazy &then I'll delete this &we'll pretend it never happened x (@lurkaveli24) December 13, 2024cardi I love you but you cant openly use slurs like this and think its ok. . (@positionsmafiaa) December 13, 2024Others seemed to take issue simply with the Bodak Yellow rappers insufficiently butch look.Girly girls call themselves d*kes whenever they wear pants and timbs, one X user commented.On December 15, Cardi clapped back at one commenter who wrote that b***hes put on pants and think they genderbending.Baby I BEND b***hes in REAL LIFE! the rapper responded. Baby I BEND bitches in REAL LIFE! https://t.co/48o9h7z2Ih Cardi B (@iamcardib) December 15, 2024Another fan expressed confusion over the outrage directed at Cardi. i am part of the community and NEVER have i ever heard anyone say d*ke is a slur. since when is it a slur?? these replies have me VERY confused. i was just looking for someone saying she doesnt look like one loli am part of the community and NEVER have i ever heard anyone say dyke is a slur. since when is it a slur?? these replies have me VERY confused.i was just looking for someone saying she doesnt look like one lol lil baby (@rissybabyxx) December 13, 2024 As Them notes, the term has a long and complicated history as both a slur used to denigrate lesbians and as word that the community has reclaimed as its own. The famous Dykes on Bikes motorcycle club has been a fixture at Pride events for decades, and the NYC Dyke March has taken place during the citys June Pride celebrations since 1993.But as the LGBTQ+ outlet also noted, Cardi identifies as bisexual, not a lesbian. While none of her online critics directly called her out on those grounds, that may be the source of at least some peoples discomfort with her use of the word. As one commenter wrote, Girl u cant say that, though it appears Cardi herself would beg to differ.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Trans influencer Jesse Sullivan is known for documenting his life as a father of three for his 3.1 million Tik Tok followers. Sullivan has newborn twins, Locket and Poetry, with his fiance, Francesca Farago of Too Hot to Handle, and is also the parent of teenage Arlo, who he gave birth to at 18 years old. Related Trans power couple Zooey Zephyr & Erin Reedgot married & the pictures will melt your heart The pair have spent the days since the wedding celebrating every first together as wives Long before the twins were here, he used his platform in part to share his familys daily life and also to educate viewers about his experience as a transgender parent and all of the joy and challenges that come with it. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today @jessesulli My KIDS will change the world original sound Sulli Some people will always have their mindset and you cant change it, he told Pop Sugar in 2021, but I really believe the way you can change minds is by informing people. So I simply explain that Im just like everyone else. @jessesulli Idec that this is long, it needs to be said. Happy Pride everyone original sound Sulli Now with two new babies, Sullivan is bringing even more joy to his followers, with whom he shared his and Faragos entire IVF and pregnancy journey as well. @jessesulli 11.11 you are my sunshine christina perri After the babies were born, Sullivan also spoke about being misgendered by a nurse, who acted hostile to him for not being the biological father. I was like in all my years of being who I am, Ive had a ton of people treat me bad, but this is unbelievable, he said, adding that she made him feel like a freak. But hes clearly not letting experiences like this get in the way of his love of fatherhood. Earlier this week, Sullivan posted a heartwarming photo of himself with twins, along with the caption, Merry twinmas. The photo garnered comment after comment praising him for being an amazing dad and for how adorable the twins look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sulli (@jessesulli)Social media really is what is running our world, he also told PopSugar. Thats why its so powerful for trans voices to be open and transparent about their journeys and their lives. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Viciously anti-LGBTQ+ failed gubernatorial candidate and current North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) has been fined $35,000 by the North Carolina State Board of Elections for committing hundreds of campaign finance violations during the 2020 election when he won the race for North Carolina lieutenant governor.A report following a four-year investigation details findings that Robinsons political committee, Friends of Mark Robinson, accepted donations that exceeded the legal limits, took money from unauthorized donors, and used campaign money for personal reasons. Related Unhinged GOP candidate says LGBTQ+ people are a terrorist organization who kill Christian kids Valentina Gomez is in Texas now. The committee, for example, accepted $12,500 from national political committees that were not allowed in the state. There was also $38,850 worth of unreported donations from 33 political committees. 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 The investigation stemmed from a 2021 complaint by government watchdog Bob Hall, who said in a statement that hes satisfied with the actions the board took.The investigation documented the Robinson teams magnificent disregard for obeying the law and flagrant mismanagement of campaign finances, he said. He added, however, that the findings should have been made public while Robinson was still running for governor of North Carolina since the audit was finished in September and the election was in November. Its unfortunate it took so many years to finish this investigation. The public should have known about the scope of Robinsons illegal activity in the 2020 campaign well before the 2024 election ended. We should have known about the audit report that was finished in September 2024 except a law promoted by General Assembly leaders prohibited its release. The committee has reportedly already paid the fine, which will go to the North Carolina Civil Penalties and Forfeiture Fund, according to NC Newsline. Robinson, whoallegedly called himself a Black Nazi and a perv for adult material involving transgender models, lost his race to become his states next governor on November 5. Robinson has said that he considers LGBTQ+ people as filthy demons who mentally rape children. Among hismany anti-LGBTQ+ statements, he has called homosexuality an abominable sin, hascompared LGBTQ+ people to cow dung, and Satanic demons, and said trans peopleshould defecate on public street corners outsiderather than using bathrooms matching their gender identity. He has also made numerous racist and antisemitic comments. He also wrote on social media, later adding, Note to liberals; Ill accept Gay Pride when you accept White Pride.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Actor Lukas Gage is opening up about feeling pressured to come out as gay and expressing sympathy for Kit Connor who he says faced a similar witch hunt.The Smile 2 star appears on the cover of the latest issue of Attitude, and in the accompanying profile Gage recalls dealing with the public perception that he was a straight actor taking on queer roles before he came out publicly in 2023. Related Kit Connor opens up about being pressured by fans to come out I wasnt angry. I was just slightly disappointed by this reaction. When I did [come out], my friends and family knew I wanted to keep [it] sacred for myself. I felt like I didnt need to prove anything to anyone, he told the magazine. But I was also dealing with people coming for me, being like, Why is he stealing a gay role? Hes just a straight guy, how dare he, blah blah blah. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Gage, who first gained attention for his role and an infamous queer sex scene opposite out Emmy winner Murray Bartlett in the first season of HBOs The White Lotus, said hes of two minds when it comes to the issue of casting straight performers in queer roles.Its two-fold. Im in the camp where theres of course certain scenarios. Its an injustice to not cast with diversity and inclusion, to tell the most authentic story, he said. In other less specific cases, its important to remember it is acting, and we should be free to play as many different kinds of roles as possible.Gage called for grace and generosity, implying that audiences shouldnt be so quick to criticize actor who may not be out publicly for playing gay characters.I dont like it when people do a witch hunt for people for doing it. Trying to take them down, he said.Theres a gray area with sexuality, Gage continued. Nuances. To be demanding receipts I remember, it was the same time people were coming for me, they were coming for Kit [Connor].Connor, who plays bisexual teen Nick in Netflixs Heartstopper, famously resisted labeling his sexuality when asked about it in early interviews about the series, leading to accusations of queerbaiting from fans. The constant criticism lead the young actor to briefly quit Twitter (now known as X) in 2022, before returning to the platform to publicly acknowledge that, like his character, he is bisexual.Congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself, Connor wrote in an October 2022 post. I think some of you missed the point of the show. Feeling bullied into coming out at 18 years old? That area where public and private intersect is so confusing to me, Gage told Attitude, referencing Connors post.I want to have visibility, to be a role model. I want little kids to see me and think, Hes doing it I could do it too, Gage added. But its also the thing Tina Fey said, Authenticity is expensive. Things that are private and sacred to you are valuable. You dont want it all out there.While Gage admitted he hasnt met Connor, he said he felt for the Heartstopper star.With my experience in that situation, I felt like I reached a point where it just became like It was a big f**k you to everybody, Gage said. I was like, All right. Im going to be completely out there. Be in-your-face annoying about it.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Last week was a reminder that the chaos we saw in the first Trump administration was just an appetizer for the banquet of bedlam that we can expect in his second term. A carefully crafted deal to keep the government open got blown up by the worlds richest man who used his social media platform to promote lies about the measure. (At least that was a break from sharing his love for a German neo-Nazi party.) Not to be outdone, Donald Trump not only seconded the out-of-the-blue demand but upped the ante, insisting that Republicans repeal the debt ceiling, which caps how much money the government can owe. Trump wanted to lay the blame on Joe Biden for lifting the limit permanently when it was just an excuse for Trump not to worry about the impact his proposed tax cuts for the rich would have on the national deficit. Related There is no room for denial in resisting the Trump regime Following a grieving process, we can pick ourselves and others up and organize our defenses. That order was simply too much for many Republicans, who think the government is spending too much money as is. Much as they love tax cuts, they want to offset them by spending less money on poor and elderly people. Ultimately, lifting the debt limit failed, but a spending bill came together and a government shutdown was avoided. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today For now.The media has made much of the fact that Trump suffered a defeat at the hands of his fellow Republicans, showing the boundaries of his power. Reporters also had a field day with Musks emergence as a political powerhouse, functioning as co-president. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that Trump waited hours after Musk killed the spending bill to weigh in with his agreement. As tempting as it is to fantasize that Trump has met his match and can only go so far, theres reason to be cautious about reading too much into the whole episode. It would be a mistake to believe that Trump is losing his grip on the party or that he is any less feared. It would also be a mistake to think that Musk will somehow escape the same exile that others have suffered because they made Trump feel they had eclipsed him. The 38 Republicans who voted against Trumps demand to lift the debt ceiling were the most MAGA of the House members. They want to shrink government, and they know that their constituents wont punish them for voting against a bill that allows the deficit to grow. If anything, it wasnt that they were defying Trump. Trump was defying the MAGA faithful, who think the government is too big. But the far-right congressmembers are so ideologically opposed to government spending that not even Trump could get them to change their minds. But lets not think that means House Republicans are going to restrain Trump. If there was a bill that paired huge tax cuts with deep cuts to safety net programs, every Republican would be all in. They will be salivating at a program to deport undocumented immigrants and will give Trump whatever he needs to do so. They are not a moderating influence. If anything, they will try to push Trump as far right as they can. That includes trans issues. They wont be content with just fiddling with federal regulations. They are going to want laws, and they are going to push Trump for more of them. The National Defense Authorization Act, which strips health care for trans youth under the militarys health care plan, is just a preview of what will follow. Trump is fueling that wish by complaining as recently as yesterday about the transgender lunacy. As for Musk, it no doubt galls Trump no end that Musk has a bigger platform. Musks postings on X are seen by twice as many people as Trumps. While Musks purchase of Twitter has proven financially disastrous, as a soapbox for his own views, it clearly cant be beat. Democrats have piled on by referring to Musk as co-president. There is nothing that threatens Trumps ego more than the idea that someone is more powerful than he is. Trump is all about domination, and he will eviscerate anyone who he thinks is in danger of getting too big for his britches. Trump fired a warning shot yesterday. While he praised Musk for his work in the ill-named Department of Government Efficiency, Trump made a point of letting Musk know there is only one president. Hes not going to be president; that I can tell you, Trump said at a right-wing conference. Im safe. You know why? He cant be. He wasnt born in this country.Musk spent at least $260 million to help elect Trump, but Trump is renowned for his ingratitude. Musk also originally backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in the race for president, something that Trump is holding as a grudge in the back of his mind. (DeSantis launched his campaign on Twitter, with Musk interviewing him. It was an epic failure, both technologically and politically.)In short, theres room for only one king of the universe. Musk is about to find out that Trump will level him if he considers Musk a threat to the throne. So the lesson of the past week isnt that Trump is losing his grip or that there are restraints to his power. If anything, Trump will be doing more to assert his power, including lashing out and creating even more chaos to show who is calling the shots. Its just going to be four years of unpredictability except for the one given: it will be very, very bad. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

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.With the holidays coming up, heres an early gift of good news to stuff your stockings. Unwrap the joy with this weeks uplifting, holly, jolly roundup!Some dogs are wayyyyy too affectionate View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jesse Theologus (@jessetheologus) 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 power couple Zooey Zephyr & Erin Reedgot married & the pictures will melt your heartThe pair have spent the days since the wedding celebrating every first together as wives.And talking about exceptional people, rememberthedrag queen who became Americas #1 Christian musician last year? How abouttheUber Eats driver who was out to feed the gays? And did you know aboutthe first male major pro mens coach to come out as gay? A gay NYC councilmembers viral videos helped defeat a very unpopular lawThe Gen Zer politician is showing how to mobilize against bad policy. A judge helped trans Montanans correct their drivers licenses & birth certificatesIt comes one week after the Montana Supreme Court also ruled in favor of trans rights.An alternate way of seeing the world View this post on Instagram A post shared by CONTEMPORARY100 (@contemporary100) A Texas oil city just elected its first gay councilmember and gave a bigot the boot!Residents wanted council members who would fix their problems rather than fearmonger. Democrats just took an important stand for trans kids during a military battleAdvocates praised a speech from Sen. Ed Markey as being especially impactful.Out ER nurse Molly Cook explains how she won 4 elections in just one yearShe talked to LGBTQ Nation about Texas politics and Republican overreach. Perhaps cool it on the Wicked re-enactments View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiam Oliveira (@cristiamods) Young LGBTQ+ people advise each other on how to survive challenging timesJust look for the people who love you no matter what.Gay couple brought to tears as Japanese court rules marriage equality ban unconstitutionalOne of the same-sex partners uncontrollably cried as the judge read the ruling. Bobbie Simpson sworn in as Californias first out trans school board memberI am proud to serve my community and create a future where every student can thrive, no matter who they are, said Simpson. Heres our plan for sticking together in the years ahead View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sylvanian Drama (@sylvaniandrama)From our sibling sites:OUTSPORTS:Gay former pro athlete Sam Stanley shares incredibly emotional wedding day with his husbandGAYCITIES:10 winter wonderlands for LGBTQ+ travelersQUEERTY:That time James Bond went undercover as a gay man in 1969s On Her Majestys Secret ServiceINTO:Finally! Theres gonna be a reality competition for drag kings!Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Biden administration has withdrawn its proposed rule seeking to protect transgender student-athletes from discrimination through Title IX. A memo announcing the withdrawal explained that during the public comment period, Numerous commenters expressed concerns about the application of the proposed regulation in practice, arguing that the proposed regulation was unclear or too complex for recipients to implement, and many commenters offered alternative regulatory text for the Departments consideration to clarify, simplify, elaborate on, or substantively change the focus and impact of the proposed rule. 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. Additionally, a significant number of commenters included discussions of case law, scientific studies and research papers, and existing athletic association policies and practices regarding athletic eligibility criteria that, according to the commenters, supported the adoption, modification, or withdrawal of the proposed regulation. 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 The memo also acknowledged the multiple pending lawsuits associated with the proposed rule, as well as lawsuits related to other applications of Title IX in the context of gender identity. In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time, the memo said.The Biden administration initially proposed the rule change in April 2023 to allow K-12 schools and universities to limit the participation of transgender athletes in sports while also forbidding schools from completely banning trans athletes altogether.The proposal was intended to promote fairness in competition and strike a compromise between trans advocates and those who support trans athlete bans. Trans lawmakers were not satisfied with the proposal. At the time, fourteen trans and nonbinary legislators from across the country sent a letter to Biden urging him to reconsider a rule that would sometimes allow schools to discriminate against trans athletes. There is no such thing as an acceptable compromise that limits trans Americans access to equal rights, the letter declared. When it comes to policy addressing trans athletes, our stance is this: Trans athletes belong in sports. Full stop.The rule sought to generally allow trans elementary school students to play on sports teams matching their gender identities. However, higher school levels could ban trans students from certain sports if they claim its to preserve fairness or avoid the possibility of sports-related injuries. If a schooldidban trans students from a sport, it would have had to minimize harms by providing other participation opportunities, the Department of Education said a vague condition that could be interpreted many ways.According to Advocate, some people believe the administration withdrew the rule to prevent the Trump administration from weaponizing the vagueness of the rule.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

After spending the last several years arguing womens sports are being ruined by trans swimmers with arms that are 30 feet long and weightlifters with super-strength, Donald Trump said that what he really wants to do is end womens boxing.Were going to end that one very quickly, he told the crowd at an event for the far-right organization Turning Point USA this past weekend. Related Donald Trump bullies boxer Imane Khelif as she begs the world to stop Transphobes have been falsely saying that she was assigned male at birth and Trump joined in. Womens boxing made international headlines this past summer when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif became the subject of online rumors which Trump helped spread that she is transgender, even though no evidence that she is was ever made public and her family insisted that she is cisgender. 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 Its a person that transitioned! Trump said of Khelif in August. He then referred to Khelif with he/him pronouns and lied and claimed that Khelif had competed as a male boxer in the past, even though she has participated in womens boxing for her entire career. He was a good male boxer, yeah, he was a good male boxer. And [Italian boxer Angela Cirini] didnt even go down. He hit her with two jabs and she said, Im out!The fictionalized version of what happened at the Olympics apparently stuck with him because he brought up womens boxing again at the TPUSA event. Theres a spirit that we have now that we didnt have just a short while ago, he said. Sadly, we didnt have. Who the hell can have spirit watching women get beat up in a boxing ring?I dont think thats spirit, right? Were going to end that one quick! Were going to end it very quickly. Were going to end that one very quickly.Trump also promised to end transgender rights across the board on his first day in office, saying that it will be official policy that there are only two genders, male and female.With a stroke of my pen on day one, we are going to stop the transgender lunacy, he said. And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools, he added. And we will keep men out of womens sports, and that will likewise be done on day one. Should I do day one, day two, or day three? How about day one.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Donald Trump made sweeping promises at a far-right event this weekend to end trans rights in several areas, including education, health care, and military service. Speaking at an event organized by Turning Point USA, Trump also promised to end transgender rights across the board on his first day in office, saying that it will be official policy that there are only two genders, male and female. He also said he would sign an executive order to end child sexual mutilation. Related Trans activist from Donald Trumps notorious anti-trans ad insists its not why Kamala Harris lost Mara Keisling asked the question that got Harris talking about surgery for prisoners. She says its absurd to say that lost Democrats the presidency. With a stroke of my pen on day one, we are going to stop the transgender lunacy, he said. 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 During his first administration, Trump tried to ban transgender people from serving openly in the military, a move that spawned several lawsuits as well as federal injunctions against his orders. The Supreme Court eventually weighed in and allowed his ban to go into effect as the litigation proceeded through the courts. The lawsuits were not concluded by the time that President Joe Biden took office, at which point the lawsuits were moot because the Biden administration allowed transgender people to serve openly.Trumps promise to keep transgender out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools likely refers to school curricula, which Republican state lawmakers have been legislating against for several years. Questions about curriculum are usually handled by state and municipal bodies, not the president. Trump has also promised to end the Department of Education, which provides some federal funding for schools, which would remove one avenue of control the federal government has on school systems. Child sexual mutilation is an inflammatory way of referring to surgery associated with gender-affirming care, something that is almost never performed on minors in the U.S. It is not clear what power a president has to ban medical procedures through executive order.Still, Trump is showing that he has not forgotten that he campaigned on anti-trans politics. Earlier this month, he told Time magazine that the transgender population is a small number of people and that the pushback against trans equality has ripped apart our country. He sounded so conciliatory to trans people that Time had to remind him that one of the ads he put the most money behind declared, Trump is for us and Harris is for they/them. Well its true, Trump replied. Trump is for us.I mean, Trump is definitely for us, okay? And us is the vast, vast majority of people in this country. And also, I want to have all people treated fairly. You know, forget about majority or not majority. I want people to be treated well and fairly.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Queer author and researcher Jaime Grant quite clearly remembers the day she got fired by her doctor.Following a 2012 hysterectomy, Grant, then living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, told her physician that she wished to discuss new hormone replacement treatments therapies with her male doctor. She added that she had learned about these therapies from practitioners who had worked with trans people.He abruptly closed her medical file and left the exam room. Grant recalled that his last words were, I cant help you. He had fired Grant as his patient.Queer women on the whole face unique issues in their everyday lives, including how and when they access healthcare. The overt and covert discrimination that queer women like Grant experience makes it more difficult to navigate a healthcare system that was not built for their needs.I had already been involved with womens health advocacy for 25 years at that point in my life so I was accustomed to discussing my heath and healthcare options with my medical providers in the past, said Grant. This should never have happened to me or the many other queer women who have been ignored and dismissed by medical providers over the years.Grant took a key role in efforts to address disparities in medical practices, so queer women get the healthcare they need without the fear of being marginalized and dismissed by healthcare organizations and individual providers. She co-authored theUrvashi Vaid LGBTQ Womens Survey(named after the late LGBTQ+ activist, attorney and author who partnered with Grant to create the survey in 2018), which found that queer women face significant health disparities, mental illness issues and overall barriers to healthcare due to a variety of issues that are specific to that community.The 5000queer women survey respondentscited myriad access and cost issues and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in medical offices, healthcare facilities and hospitals as the reasons for why they put off or dont obtain medical care.With the surveys release, Grant and co-author Savy Elahian hope that the entire medical field will learn from these results and make the necessary improvements so queer women feel comfortable in healthcare settings. This includes eliminating the sexism, racism, anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry and fatphobia from the institutions that are supposed to take care of all queer womens health.Elahian said, This is powerful data that people need to listen tofrom the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to doctors offices to medical universities.Grant added, We need health spaces that are driven and determined by LGBTQ+ women. We already know what works for us which is community-based solutions, peer-based counseling and support and transformative justices approaches that have been trailblazed by queer BIPOC women. We are saving each other.Rather than culturally competent care, Grant said, queer women must advocate for culturally congruent carecare for queer women as defined by queer women.AnApril 2024 JAMA investigationillustrated the grave consequences of ignoring these needs. The study, which focused on a cohort of nurses living with chronic conditions, found that those who identified as lesbian or bisexual died 26% sooner than straight women. The study further found that lesbian women died 20% sooner and bisexual women died 37% sooner.A March 2021 Williams Institute reportadditionally showed that over half of queer women fear negative judgement by their healthcare provider and that anti-LGBTQ+ bias may impact their care. The report also found that, among other issues, nearly 29% of LBQ women described their health as fair or poor, compared to 19% of straight women.A number of LGBTQ+ focused healthcare facilities in the U.S., among them Boston-basedFenway Healthand Chicago-basedHoward Brown Health(Howard Brown), are trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to how they address these medical disparities as well as the facilitation of queer womens comprehensive healthcare access.Some queer women dont realize that their health care needs are different from other womens health care needs.Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H Fenway HealthsFenway InstituteCo-Chair Jennifer Potter, MD, said that the institutes focus is on research to help improve outcomes and healthcare policy to change laws and education to teach healthcare professionals to do a better job.Potter spoke about the importance of queer women being their own healthcare advocates because, Your health is important and you can find healthcare that will meet your needsbut it may take a little bit of advocacy on your part.Fenway Institutes National LGBT Health Education Center provides a brochure calledDo Ask, Do Tell: Talking to Your Healthcare Provider About Being LGBT,which has resource links and answers to frequently asked questions. Potter also pointed to GLMAsFind a Provider LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directorywhich is a free, searchable database where patients can find doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people inthe United StatesandCanada.Fenway Health has hosted the annual Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch fellowship gathering for over 25 years to raise awareness of cancer diagnoses among the BIPOC and queer women populations, as well as other regular health screenings and events for women.Howard Brown Medical Director of Preventive Health Kenya Thomas, MD, said, When youre uncomfortable with your medical provider, youre far less likely to approach sensitive topics like sexual health or feel like your concerns will be heard before they become severe. In LGBTQ+ women, this can result in issues like undiagnosed chronic illness, untreated STIs, late diagnoses for cervical cancer and much more.Howard Brown joined over 30 LGBTQ+ and multi-racial organizations as a collaborative group to create the Equality Healthcare Cultural Competency Coalition, which pushed for cultural competency training requirements for licensure. That coalition emerged in response toa bill signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzkerrequiring that cultural competency is part of continuing medical education.According to American Medical Associations (AMA) immediate past President and Medical College of Wisconsin Professor of Anesthesiology Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H (who is gay and the first out LGBTQ+ leader of that organization), The AMA has toolkits for physicians to enhance understanding of the unique health issues of the LGBTQ+ community, including queer women, such as access to reproductive healthcare, mental health support and screenings for conditions like breast and cervical cancer.The AMA also has established aNational LGBTQ+ Fellowship Programthrough its AMA Foundation to train physicians in LGBTQ+ health that has resulted in a network of culturally competent healthcare providers. In 2024, the AMA also created theLGBTQ+ Section,whose work advocates for best-care practices for the LGBTQ+ community that is, among other things, aimed at the improvement of access and health outcomes for queer women. Ehrenfeld noted that, since there is no unified curriculum in medical schools that focuses on queer/trans peoples health needs, the AMA began working with medical schools to ensure that all doctors receive training on LGBTQ+ patients health needs.Ehrenfeld advises that medical providers use intake forms allowing patients to self-identify their sexual orientation, gender identity (and sex assigned at birth), relationship status and the pronouns they use, thereby reducing the potential stigma that queer women and LGBTQ+ people on the whole feel when they access medical care. He added that the questions should be nonjudgemental about patients sexual behavior, contraception use, STI prevention and family planning.Some queer women dont realize that their health care needs are different from other womens health care needs, Ehrenfeld said.A lot of physicians are reluctant to ask about sexual orientationso queer women may not feel like they need to disclose that information or feel uncomfortable disclosing that information. The evidence is clearthe needs of LGBTQ+ individuals are unique. Patients do better when they are able to be honest about who they are and who they love.The post Removing barriers preventing many queer women from healthcare access appeared first on News Is Out.

The House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) committed several crimes, including the statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl. The 37-page report states Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress. Related Gay congressman calls Matt Gaetz an idiot & tells him to f**k off Gaetz made an inappropriate joke about a school shooting in Rep. Mark Pocans district. The draft report obtained by several news outlets reportedly includes testimony from witnesses admitting Gaetz paid them for sex, as well as evidence of the misconduct through both texts and Venmo and PayPal receipts. 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 From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use, the report states, adding that the payments spanned 12 different women and exceeded $90,000, as reported by CBS News. The report also details that Gaetz had paid for sex twice with a 17-year-old, who it refers to as Victim A. Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex, it says. Victim A said that she did not inform Representative Gaetz that she was under 18 at the time, nor did he ask her age.The committee also detailed extensive drug use by Gaetz, as well as his propensity for drug-fueled parties. While the women who testified said all of the encounters were consensual, one said the number of drugs involved could have impair[ed their] ability to really know what was going on or fully consent. The committee did not find Gaetz guilty of violating federal sex trafficking laws, though, since any women he transported across state lines for sex were over 18 at the time. It was initially believed the report would not be released after Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for attorney general and Gaetz subsequently resigned from the House of Representatives (he has since withdrawn from the nomination in the wake of the controversy surrounding him). Its rare for the House Ethics Committee to release an ethics report after a member has left Congress, but the Ethics Committee held a secret vote to release the report anyway.Gaetz reportedly filed a lawsuit this morning to block the reports release, arguing that he is now a private citizen and thus not under the committees jurisdiction. Shortly after he was nominated for attorney general,The New York Timespublished a document prepared by federal investigators bolstering claims by women who said Gaetz hired them for sex. The image showed a web of payments from Gaetz and dozens of friends and associates who are said to have taken part with him in drug-fueled sex parties.Gaetzremoved himself from considerationbarely a week after Trump nominated him, writing that the scandals surrounding him had become a distraction to Trumps transition into the presidency. He later announced that hell join the right-wing media outlet One America News Network in January.However, upon hearing news of the reports possible release, Gaetz wrote on X that he was fully exonerated from any allegations of criminal wrongdoing. While the DOJ didnt seek criminal charges against him, that isnt the same as being completely absolved of any wrongdoing it merely means the body may not have found enough evidence to build a case against him that would prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, Gaetz wrote, In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18.Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court which is why no such claim was ever made in court.My 30s were an era of working very hard and playing hard too. Its embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now, he added.Then, the very witnesses DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys, Gaetz continued. Ive had no chance to ever confront any accusers. Ive never been charged. Ive never been sued. Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body. The allegations facing GaetzIn 2020, the Secret Service received a tip that Gaetz was associated with a Florida county tax collector who was charged with making fake IDs to sex-traffic underage girls. The DOJ opened an investigation into Gaetz that same year, and investigators found that Gaetz would show his colleagues videos of naked and topless women on his phone as he bragged about how he was able to go to the parties held by the county tax collector,according to some witnesses.In an attempt to get a pardon in 2020, the county tax collector wrote a letter to the Trump administration in which he confessed to paying women and girls for sex and said that he and Gaetz sexually abused a 17-year-old girl together but said that they thought she was 19.Around the same time, the DOJ was also investigating whether Gaetz paid for her to travel with him for an alleged sexual relationship with her when she was 17. Gaetz denied the accusations and said that he was the victim of an extortion plot by an unnamed DOJ official. In strange media interviews, Gaetz claimed his father was wearing a wire to help officials catch the person extorting him, and he denied that there were photos of him with child prostitutes no one accused him of that.Gaetzs close relationship with Joel Greenberg who pleaded guilty in 2021 following a DOJ probe into whether he had sex with an underage girl and introduced her to other adult men who also had sex with her while she was underage put him under suspicion, as did the fact that Gaetz was the only member of Congress to vote against a bill that increased funding to fight human trafficking.Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CO), who was House Minority Leader at the time, said that he would not remove Gaetz from his committee assignments.CNN reportedthat Gaetz showed pictures of naked women to his colleagues on the House floor and bragged about having sex with themin 2021.But by 2022, the DOJ investigation into Gaetz had concluded, and prosecutors recommended not charging Gaetz in the sex trafficking investigation due to a lack of credibility of two key witnesses.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.