Mike Jeffries, the gay 80-year-old embattled former CEO of clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch, has dementia and Alzheimers disease, his lawyers have said in court documents filed this week. They are requesting a hearing to determine if Jefferies is fit to stand trial for federal criminal charges in connection to sex trafficking.Jeffries lawyers said that a neuropsychologist diagnosed the businessman after his legal team questioned his health and concentration, according to the documents, NBC News reports."The Michael Jeffries who presented himself did not even come close to resembling a masters degree-educated individual, who was just nine years earlier, the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company," the new filing states.Police arrested Jeffries earlier this year in Florida on one charge of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution. Jeffries pleaded not guilty after posting a $10 million bond and being ordered by a judge to home detention.Authorities allege that Jeffries and his boyfriend Matthew Smith along with associate James Jacobson operated the trafficking scheme, with Jacobson acting as a recruiter.The men were indicted one year after Abercrombie & Fitch announced it would be hiring an independent law firm to investigate allegations against Jeffries and Smith, revealed in a report by the BBC, claiming that the pair sexually exploited young men during Jeffriess time as CEO, which spanned 1992 to 2014. Company officials have said current leadership was not previously aware of the allegations.Authorities said in an indictment that the men allegedly "employed coercive, fraudulent and deceptive tactics in connection with the recruitment, hiring, transportation, obtaining, maintaining, solicitation and payment of the men to engage in commercial sex."Prosecutors said that the men were told not doing certain sexual acts would harm their careers. Many of the men allegedly targeted by Jeffries and the others were also in precarious financial situations.The doctor concluded that Mr. Jeffries currently suffers from dementia with behavioral disturbance ... Alzheimers disease with late onset (probable) ... and Lewy body dementia," the recent filing says, according to NBC News.The outlet reports that a competency hearing has been set for June.Heather Cucolo, a New York Law School professor who specializes in mental disability and criminal law, told the BBC that there is limited data on how the U.S. justice system treats those with dementia."If Mike Jeffries is found competent, the case will move forward," she told the outlet. "But if he's deemed incompetent, and it's found there's no reasonable likelihood that his competency will be restored, then the charges would have to be dropped."

The Ohio Senate and House have now both passed a bill that would forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their parents and also allow parents to opt their child out of sexuality content at school. House Bill 8 defines sexuality content as any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of sexual concepts or gender ideology provided in a classroom setting, with exceptions granted for STI and abuse discussion, as well as incidental references to sexual concepts or gender ideology. Related Ohio Senate passes cruel transgender bathroom ban The bill applies to all students in the state and will restrict the rights of thousands of trans people if the governor signs it. There is also a total ban on sexuality content in grades three and below, with all other grades facing a requirement for parental review of the content. It additionally requires notification of any substantial change in student services, defined as including changes to ones gender identity in the school system. 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 bill was introduced by State Reps. D.J. Swearingen (R) and Sara Carruthers (R).If people are out and they dont have supportive parents there is an epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness, Dara Atkinson, an activist with TransOhio, told News 5 Cleveland. [There are] parents who dont affirm their children and then decide that they would like them to not be their children.For students that have queer families, it is then not OK in early childhood curriculum to discuss queer families as part of the community, they added.Carruthers claims, however, that there is no hidden agenda and that this is about advocating for parental rights. She claims it is not anti-LGBTQ and that nothing can be done these days without offending others.The bill is now on its way to the desk of Republican Governor Mike DeWine as advocacy groups call for him to veto it. We are deeply disappointed that the legislature decided once again to attack LGBTQIA+ youth by passing yet another bill that will make schools less safe and inclusive for queer and transgender people, said a statement from Kaleidoscope Youth Center, an LGBTQ+ youth center.Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward added, Overnight when most school-age children are asleep, the legislature rushed through another shameful attack on LGBTQ+ youth.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Drag is under attack. And given the increasing queerphobia following last months disastrous election, it can be a scary time. But the Normal Anomaly Initiative is fighting back with Drag University, a Houston-based program that will teach students not just the nuts and bolts of drag, but how to be an effective voice on behalf of the queer community. Related Call Me Mother: 4 drag queens discuss the love they have for their drag daughters Drag queens sometimes mentor fledgling performers to become truly dazzling entertainers. Drag University is open to anyone who wants to learn drag, be they straight or gay; queen or king; cis, trans, or nonbinary. There are eight sessions every other week, along with a project meant to empower the community, and of course, students will strut their stuff and show off everything theyve learned in an on-stage finale. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today At its core, Drag University is more than a program; it is a movement, Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espeut, Advocacy Director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative told LGBTQ Nation. We are bringing together art, education, creativity, activism, and healthcare to nurture a new generation of drag performers in the South.Drag University | Normal Anomaly Initiative Team/Used with permission Drag University isnt a brand-new idea. Espeut said that the program is based on a 2011 program by MSociety. However, the Normal Anomaly Initiative is expanding on what MSociety started, not just teaching drag, but how to become important figures in their local community. HIV education is also a key element of the program.The previous iteration of Drag University centered mostly on the drag entertainment component, where participants participated in a pageant. The Normal Anomalys upcoming Drag University cohort will combine the drag component with an added advocacy and leadership development component, Espeut said. Aside from learning skills to enhance themselves as drag entertainers/performers (i.e. hair, make-up application, performance, and sustainability), cohort participants will also learn about advocacy and outreach, and how to advocate using their drag, she added.Drag University is funded by Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of the PrEP regimen drug Truvada, though the Normal Anomaly Initiative is clear that aside from providing a grant, the company has no input on the content of the program. Another partner of the program is Montrose Grace Place, a local nonprofit providing food, care, and community for unhoused youth between the ages of 13 and 24.In addition to learning great skills that are useful in and out of drag, participants who graduate from the program will receive $250. Not just that, but one winner will get a grand prize package worth up to $5,000, and two runners-up will get $1,000 prize packages.Drag University comes at a time when Republicans are ramping up their attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Two states Montana and Tennessee have laws explicitly restricting drag performances. Four more states Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota have language in laws regarding adult performances that could be used to block drag acts, according to the LGBT Movement Advancement Project.Drag University | Normal Anomaly Initiative Team/Used with permission In Texas alone, gender-affirming care for trans youthincluding completely safe puberty blockershas been outlawed, and trans kids cant join sports teams based on their gender. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says hes working to ban woke agendas in schools, according to the Texas Tribune.After this years elections, the Texas legislature has shifted even further right. This year, the Texas GOP focused its advertising on anti-LGBTQ+ measures. And even Democrats have signaled that theyre willing to abandon the queer community both in Texas and nationally. Earlier this month, 81 Democrats in the House joined Republicans in voting to ban children of military service members from receiving transgender healthcare. Quisling Democrats who voted in favor of the bill included House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and four of Texas 13 Democratic representatives: Colin Allred from Dallas, Henry Cuellar from Laredo, Veronica Escobar from El Paso and Vicente Gonzalez from McAllen.Drag in particular has been targeted in Texas. The state even briefly banned drag shows with children present, though that law was struck down last year by a federal judge. Undeterred, Texas Republicans vowed to try again and threatened to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.Setbacks like this make programs like Drag University all the more essential to the LGBTQ+ community. Drag University is the manifestation of liberation, which is especially important in the time and place this program is set, Ian L. Haddock, founder of The Normal Anomaly Initiative, said. As drag and gender expression become more and more politicized, we are here to protect this historic art form and uplift drag for what it is: a powerful platform to celebrate individuality and break boundaries. At the same time, this program offers an opportunity to build a career and a strong network of support.Those interested in signing up can fill out the application before January 5. Participants must be in Houston, Texas and be able to attend in-person to all the sessions at the Normal Anomaly Initiatives drop-in center in the Third Ward neighborhood.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Knit the Rainbow, a nonprofit dedicated to providing colorful handmade knitwear to unhoused LGBTQ+ youth, is in high gear this holiday season as temperatures drop and their clientele seeks shelter from the cold.The group was formed by New Yorker Austin Riversafter he discovered his passion for knitting during the pandemic. Related Bakery turns homophobic messages into delicious fundraiser for LGBTQ+ charities Great way to deal with narrow-mindedness and tasty too! I dont have the capacity to build a shelter, the network or the connections to help in that way, but what I can do is knit, Rivers NBC News. And I know that New York City is cold, so I decided I would start knitting and create this nonprofit. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The groups focus is on LGBTQ+ youth, which make up 40% of New Yorks unhoused youth population.A lot of the times, the reason theyre unhoused is because they were kicked out by their families, so were not just providing warmth, were also providing that love and compassion that they so often dont have.Rivers has recruited 550 knitters across the country to his cause.Volunteers from 45 states and three countries are mailing donations from across the United States to my apartment here in New York. We have local volunteers here in New York that come to my apartment and unbox donations, sort them, inventory them, tag them. The group has given away over 25,000 colorful knitted garments like hats, gloves, scarves and sweaters, Rivers shared. Volunteer teams in New Jersey, Chicago and Detroit are distributing garments to local nonprofits in those areas, as well.Knit the Rainbow has partnerships with 22 different community-based organizations around the country and a long list of financial supporters whove donated funds in lieu of needle skills. A large donation from Kelly Clarkson accompanied Rivers appearance on her talk show in 2022.The groups founder had a message for unhoused youth during the holiday season this year.There are thousands of people out here that are constantly thinking of you and using their hands to make things for you, Rivers said. So dont give up. Keep going.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is addressing criticism over the shows casting of a cisgender man to play a trans woman in its highly anticipated second season.In an interview with TVGuide.com published on December 17, the writer and director said that while he initially hoped to cast a trans actor for the role, it was near impossible to find an out trans performer in South Korea. Related Netflixs Squid Game cast a cis man to play a trans woman Critics on social media have blasted the series for not giving the role to a transgender actress. Netflixs hit South Korean thriller series sparked controversy earlier this month when the streamer released a Meet the Cast video featuring new cast members introducing fans to their characters. In one clip, South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon confirmed that his character, Hyun-ju, is a former special forces soldier and a transgender woman. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Apart from denying a trans actress a high-profile job, casting a cisgender man to play a trans woman reinforces the insidious, anti-trans perception that trans women are really men. In recent years, actors and advocates like Jen Richards and GLAADs Nick Adams have drawn a direct link between audiences seeing cis men playing trans woman on TV and in films and the epidemic of violence directed at trans women particularly Black trans women.Following the release of the Squid Game cast featurette, critics on social media blasted Parks casting as a transgender woman, with many questioning why the shows creators didnt hire an actual trans actress to play the role.In response, Hwang told TVGuide.com that he did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character.In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor, he explained. When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay, because unfortunately in the Korean society currently the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalized and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.South Korea does not recognize same-sex marriage under the law, though earlier this year, the countrys top court ruled that people in same-sex relationships are entitled to the same benefits under South Koreas National Health Insurance Service as heterosexual couples.But as Hwang explained, given the countrys climate for LGBTQ+ people, finding an out trans actress to play Hyun-ju proved a challenge. It was near impossible to find someone who we could cast authentically, he said. And that led us to the decision to cast Sung-hoon.Still, as U.K. outlet the Independent noted earlier this month, simply including a transgender character in a South Korean production like Squid Game is a big deal. Despite the problematic nature of Parks casting, TVGuide.coms Kat Moon suggests that his character could nonetheless move the needle on trans representation in the country.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A long-running dispute between factions of the Methodist church in Nigeria erupted into violence on Sunday when an unidentified individual shot and killed the sister of a Methodist minister and two young children died when their home was set ablaze.The shooting ignited clashes between members of The United Methodist Church (UMC) of Nigeria and the breakaway Global Methodist Church (GMC) in Munga Dosso, Taraba State, according to United Methodist News. 12 homes were destroyed in the fighting. Related United Methodist Church ends ban on LGBTQ+ clergy in historic vote Delegates voted 692-51 to remove the ban. The breakaway group withdrew from the larger United Methodist Church in 2022, accelerating the separation of thousands of Methodist churches around the world from the UMC over LGBTQ+ policy. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today After the UMCs General Conference voted in North Carolina in May to overturn a 40-year ban on self-avowed homosexuals becoming members of the clergy and ease restrictions on clergy performing same-sex marriages, the defection of popular Nigeria bishop John Wesley Yohannato the GMC further heightened tensions among Methodists in the country.An estimated 30% of Methodists in Nigeria broke from the UMC.The government closed both denominations churches in September, citing the growing conflict between two as a threat to the regions stability.A dispute over church property has inflamed tensions as the breakaway group claimed ownership of church buildings and assets despite past rulings under Nigerian law that church property stays with the original denomination, according to Methodist Bishop John R. Schol, one of a team of bishops enlisted to oversee the episcopal area as tensions have risen.To counter this, the GMC created the ruse that rather than them leaving the UMC, this was a simple name change from UMC to GMC because the UMC was a gay church and trying to bring same-gender marriage to Nigeria. This prejudiced many government officials against the UMC because Nigerias constitution forbids same-gender marriage. The UMCs new policy also included a measure that explicitly allows current central conferences to set their own standards forclergy ordination and church marriage rites, as long as those standards follow local law and the UMCs doctrinal statements.A conference of West African UMC members earlier this month codified those rules, including a statement that marriage in Nigeria is a union between one man and one woman. That declaration mollified many members who earlier abandoned the UMC.A group of 400,000 United Methodists who left during Bishop Yohannas tenure have now returned, strengthening the United Methodist witness and mission, Schol said.Those circumstances have put pressure on the GMC and called the nature of the groups existence into question. With each successive step, the GMC has become more concerned that they will lose the battle to maintain their standing in Nigeria and the property and funds of The United Methodist Church, Schol said. The outbreak in violence on Sunday was one symptom of the breakaway groups existential crisis. Twelve homes were set on fire in melee, and ten UMC members were injured, in addition to the three reported deaths.The United Methodist Council of Bishops called for peace in Nigeria following the tragedy.The Council of Bishops offers its condolences to the families whose loved ones died and to the members of the congregation where the incident took place. We condemn the violence and plead with all United Methodists to bear witness to the prince of peace, Jesus Christ, in word and deed. We know that violence never resolves conflict or meaningfully addresses injustice,Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone said in a statement.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.