Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is set to speak to the Delaware GOP this week about her crusade to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender at the U.S. Capitol. Delaware is represented by transgender Rep. Sarah McBride (D), who Mace has viciously bullied since her victory in November. The party is hosting an event in Newark, Delaware, specifically to honor Mace, who the now-defunct event page called one of Congresss boldest conservative voices, according to Delaware Online. While the event has been scheduled since mid-December, Axios recently obtained information on the contents of her speech. Related Mike Johnson may use anti-trans measures to hold onto his job as House Speaker Johnson could use anti-trans measures to placate far-right opponents who want to replace him. Mace spokesperson Syndey Long told the publication she will speak about her fight for bathroom bans as well as other key womens issues, including her Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act. 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 Meanwhile, McBride will be in Williamsburg, Virginia, at a bipartisan event hosted by the Congressional Research Office. This weekend Congresswoman McBride will attend a bipartisan meeting with her colleagues from the House to discuss solutions to the most pressing issues facing her constituents, said her spokesperson Michaela Kurinsky-Malos. Mace has made national headlines since November for her crusade against McBride, the first transgender person elected to Congress. Mace introduced a resolution to ban McBride from using the womens facilities at the Capitol complex, has posted hundreds of times to social media attacking transgender people, and has made numerous media appearances to promote anti-transgender policies. Trans people have been working at the Capitol and visiting it for decades without incident, and McBride has a private restroom in her office, so Maces rule would mainly have the effect of making it harder for trans staffers to work at the Capitol and for trans people to visit the Capitol and participate in democracy.While the Houses new rule package did not include a measure limiting trans peoples restroom usage at the Capitol, the rule was slipped into the January 3 edition of theCongressional Record. The policy, mentioned onpage 26 of the dense, 87-page document, says that access to all gendered facilities at the Capitol complex will be based on biological sex. It says that the policy will be enforced by the sergeant-at-arms butdoesnt explain how biological sex will be defined. The inclusion of the policy in theCongressional Recordwithout a vote from the House means that it was enacted with Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-LA) own authority governing Capitol facilities, not the Houses power to pass its own rules.This cruel and discriminatory policy has nothing to do with helping the American people or addressing their priorities; its all about hurting people, The Human Rights Campaigns Kelley Robinson said. It targets not just Congresswoman McBride, but all trans and nonbinary people who work and visit the Capitol public servants who have been working in the Capitol for years but are now the subject of cynical political games. Speaker Johnson has proven yet again that the Republican majority is more focused on culture wars than on the needs of the country.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Donald Trump has announced that hes naming out lesbian Fox News host Tammy Bruce to a State Department spokesperson position despite her years of bizarre statements on air but it seems she and her new boss may be starting on the wrong foot. Bruce will serve under Trumps nominee for Secretary of State, Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (assuming he is confirmed), who she spent years mocking on social media. Related GOP-led Congress promises to save women with rushed vote on anti-trans sports bill Rep. Greg Steube has reintroduced the legislation he believes will protect women from the radical left. Politico unearthed a series of posts in which Bruce insults Rubio as irrelevant and incompetent. 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 In one 2016 post on X, she described Rubio as the kid waving frantically in the back of the room trying to prove relevance.In more than one post, she also referred to him as Little Marco, echoing Trumps condescending nickname for the senator while both were running for president in 2016. Strange. I didnt mute Trump but I had to mute Marco, she wrote in another post from the same year.And in 2014, Bruce called Rubio another inexperienced senator whos never run a thing in his life in response to his desire to run for president.Nevertheless, Bruce claimed in a recent statement that she is thrilled to work with Senator Rubio. She called him one of the presidents strongest allies when it comes to the America First agenda. Bruce has a history of making extreme statements on Fox News. In 2021, for example. she claimed that Democrats were funding research into human-animal hybrids as a bannerdeclared, Mutants are coming! on screen.Bruce is one of the only out LGBTQ+ personalities on Fox News, something she has used to attack other LGBTQ+ people in the past. For example, in 2023, she joined in the rightwing bashing of Pride in a Fox segment about a drag queen whoparticipated in a marketing campaign for The North Face, the outdoor gear company. That year, conservatives freaked out over the Pride gear, LGBTQ+ advertising, and influencer partnerships of numerous corporations, including The North Face, Bud Light, and Target.Bruce said that most of the audience knows Im a gay woman, but there has been a kind of push for something, for everyone to be a victim or for some kind of new dynamic, claiming that Pride campaigns really do damage to the gay and lesbian community and were embarrassing.And its not about homophobia, its about everything being politicized,she said.In 2021, Bruce raged at President Joe Biden for saying that men and women are equal.Alright, you noticed how he added women and men are created equal, not just men,Bruce said sternly. It matters, right? Thats not what the Founders wrote. Apparently, the sacred words of our Founders werent inclusive enough for Sleepy Joe, so he corrected them.That same year, she said that she wished she could give back the COVID-19 vaccine. I got the vaccine!she said. In certain ways, its like, If I could give it back! at this point, you know?Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Social media accounts with a history of anti-transgender rhetoric frequently and falsely accuse transgender people of crimes, particularly during mass shooting events, before facts are known. There is no evidence of escalating violence committed by LGBTQ people. Extremism and domestic terrorism experts tell PolitiFact that there are no widespread threats of growing radicalization or violence [...]The post Fact Sheet for Reporters: Debunking Trans Terrorism and Other False Claims in High-Profile Crimes first appeared on GLAAD.

At only 17 years old, Neha Sikder founded Desoire, her own fashion line of genderless clothing to inspire femininity for everyone. Desoire strives to be a sustainable brand challenging a fashion industry that often promotes only the masculine side in unisex clothing.Sikder was only 13 years old when the idea for Desoire came to her. She was listening to a podcast and heard the term genderless fashion for the first time. After doing some research, she was drawn in by this whole realm of expression. Despite having no previous experience, Sikder jumped in to learning about clothing design and manufacturing.I knew I wanted to have a positive impact on the world, and this seemed like a way to do that, Sikder said.She saw that there were many brands in the market attempting unisex clothing lines, but they were only focusing on masculine styles. There can be a lot of stigma around how men express themselves, even though clothing has no bearing on ones gender or sexuality. Here was a market where Sikder could do something different and work to redefine gender norms.I drew a lot of inspiration from my Indian heritage and the way my male ancestors approached fashion, Sikder explained. This style of clothing touches on more feminine styles for everyone.She has found the process to be a lot more approachable than most people realize. Sikder began by reaching out to people already in the industry and found a mentor to help her map out the steps to starting a company. At this point, she had already done some market research and identified a gap in what was being sold, so the main difficulty was legalities, which were compounded because she was still under the age of 18.Sikders parents have been a big support throughout the process. Theyve really allowed me to have full control of the direction of the company, she explained. Her parents have been involved since the beginning, offering guidance and necessary backing.In fact, the name of the company was inspired by Sikders parents. Her stepmom is French, and Sikder asked her to come up with a name that sounds fancy. She provided a phrase; Sikder unscrambled the words and picked out what sounded to her like high fashion, Desoire.The next step was figuring out the design and manufacturing process. It can be incredibly daunting to find a manufacturer that meets all of ones requirements, and Sikder wanted to find a domestic producer that paid its employees fairly. Thankfully, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has online resources, including an open-access directory of over 340 U.S. fashion manufacturers. Sikder called every single number on the directory until she found the best fit for her brand.It is a long process from initial conception to having the product ready to sell. Sikder begins by digitally sketching her designs. Those sketches are then sent to a pattern maker who creates a digital pdf, and that gets sent to the manufacturer in Brooklyn. For Sikder, it typically takes two weeks from drawing the idea sketch to having a pattern. The turnaround time to get the first sample can be anywhere from one to two months depending on how busy the manufacturer is.Once a sample is created, the next step is figuring out adjustments. Sikder first decides how the garment fits on her, and then goes to friends or hires models to try out other sizes. The smaller end of our sizes fit differently on people than the larger sizes, so there is some work in adjusting it to work on everyone, Sikder explained.It was really exciting to get my first-ever sample and be able to hold something I designed, Sikder recalled.It was also a big learning moment.The first garment Sikder made was an asymmetrical, cropped, black sleeved tee, listed on Desoires website under The Cropped One. The first sample was made with fabric that was much thinner than Sikder wanted it to be.This was also the first garment Sikder saw an influencer style, and it was awesome.It was amazing to see people enjoying something I created and support my mission, Sikder said. Im very attached because theres so much that went into that piece, so it was great to see people praise the style.The inspiration for Desoires clothing comes from all over. Sikder gets a lot of ideas from watching fashion and runway shows. She also finds inspiration in music and architecture, and she will even craft a collection around an emotion.Of course, she also draws parallels from her Indian heritage. A lot of it is trial and error, Sikder said. I want to be experimental with my designs and play with conventions.When founding the company, Sikder wanted to ensure sustainability was a core value. Fast fashion is a big contributor to environmental deterioration.At Desoire, fabrics are either made from recycled or organic materials. All packaging is recyclable and biodegradable when possible. The company is registered with the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, a collection of almost 300 other companies committed to global sustainability.Desoire is committed specifically to sustainable development goals 12 and 13: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, and take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.Desoire is also looking into a new concept of sample making. This is currently a very time intensive process, that produces a lot of waste as designers work to figure out the sizing of their clothes. With new 3D sampling technology, creators use a digital system to see their designs on an avatar. This helps eliminate the time and fabric wasted as one can more accurately tell proportions before the first sample is created.As of now, Desoire is an online only company, but Sikder hopes to one day have a physical location. Next up, she is working on a skirt design to be available soon. Its something our consumer platform is showing interest and enthusiasm in, Sikder said.In addition to changing the fashion industry, Siker wants to inspire tomorrows leaders. One thing I hope I can achieve is letting young entrepreneurs know their dreams are possible, she said. Her advice is to find what youre passionate about, believe in yourself and eventually youll make baby steps towards your dream.So far she is on track to reach her goals. Her genderless fashion brand is being well received and has already been featured in multiple publications. Desoire is a brand, Sikder said, designed so everyone can embrace their femininity.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.The post Sustainable, genderless and bold fashion: The vision behind Desoire appeared first on News Is Out.

When thepresident does it, that means it is not illegal, Richard NixontoldBritish interviewer David Front years after the disgraced former president resigned from his officeforbugging and spyingonhis political opponents andorchestrating a massive cover-up.DonaldTrump, an obvious practitioner ofthe Richard Nixon SchoolofCriminal Behavior, employed Tricky Dicks lineofargumentinhis demand that all charges be droppedinhis election interference caseonthe basisofpresidential immunity. Related Donald Trumps quest to discredit the free press is his biggest threat to American democracy Without an independent media, democracy simply has no chance. Accordingtoafiling handed down on December 2, 2023, Judge Tanya Chutkan denied Trumps motion. The Judge wrote thatTrumps four years as president didnt give him the divine rightofkingstoevade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Chutkan disagreedwithTrumps claim that the Constitution granted him presidential immunity, saying the Constitutions text, structure, and history dont support that argument. Chutkan added that former Presidents enjoy no special conditionsontheir federal criminal liability.Well, actually, they do. Ina 6-3 decisioninTrumpv. United StatesonMonday, July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court provided broad presidential immunity. The Court declared that a president is immune from prosecution when exercising the core powersofthe presidency but not for unofficial acts.Immunity means a personcannotbe prosecuted. Although the majorityofjustices did not outline precisely what these core powers were, nor what would be considered an unofficial act, there is no higher or stronger exampleofa core power than what is outlinedinArticle II, Section IIofthe U.S. Constitution stating that the President shall be the CommanderinChief. During argumentsonthis caseinfrontofthe Supreme Court, the justices askedTrumps lawyers whether a president could dispatch a SEAL Teamtokill his political enemies.The Courts ruling seemedtohave answered its own questioninthe affirmative. If a President, actinginaccordancewiththeir official capacity, orders the militarytokill other Americans judges, elected officials, reporters, your neighbor, you they can do so, and that President would be immune from accountability under criminal law.This new official-acts immunity now liesaboutlike a loaded weaponforany President that wishestoplace his own interests, his own political survival, or his own financial gain, above the interestsofthe Nation, Justice Sotomayor wroteinher dissent.Composed of three Trump-nominated justices, the Supreme Court has elevated the presidency to a virtual monarchy by making the chief executive officer above the law. Fuel, oxygen, spark: How we resistAccordingtotheMerriam-Webster Dictionary, the term trumpery first appearedinthe English languageinthe mid-15th century. Websters 1913 dictionary defined the word as such: Trumper`y n: 1. Deceit; fraud. 2. Something servingtodeceive by false show or pretense; falsehood; deceit; worthless but showy matter; hence, things worn out andofno value; rubbish. a. 1. Worthless or deceptiveincharacter; nonsensical talk or writing; ornamental objectsofno great value.A democratic republic like the United StatesofAmerica demands an informed and committed publictomaintainatleast a basic standardtowhich our leaders are held. Even within someofthe most tyrannical regimes in history, resistance movements have cometothe foretoworkonbehalfofthe people over autocratic, oligarchical, and kleptocratic assaults.Individuals and groupsofpeople have found waystobecome involved accordingtothe timesinwhich they find themselves and accordingtotheir own particular interests and strengths. Everyone in this nation has a placeinbuilding and maintaining strong and equitable institutions and acting as bulwarks against democratic decline.Let us use fire as an analogytodemocracy when determining the elements and where eachofus fitsinits sustenance. What does it taketocreate and sustain fire? It takes three major elements: fuel (somethingtoburn), oxygen, and a spark or other adequate heat source.Similarly,inour worktocreate and sustain a great, equitable nation, it takes peoplewithdiffering interests and talents (fuel, oxygen, spark),withconnecting values and goals coming togethertomake this democratic republic a reality.During Trumps first term, MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle required her guests to pay her $2.00 each time they uttered the already overused term unprecedented when referring to the words and actions of the very atypical president. Unfortunately, she was correct,for what was once considered unprecedented has become routinizedtothe pointofnormalization. The shock that once sparked vigilance and counteractionstochallenge the attacksonour social institutions andonsomeofour cherished values can diminish over time by the mere drainonpeoples energies and desireforengagement.Duringour current grieving process over the resultsofthe recent presidential election and as we are recharging our activist batteriesforthe impending fights ahead we can learn from the past and imagine new waysofdefending our rights and our power.Since our democratic institutions are only as strong as we, the people, I know we will overcome the toxic red tide that has washed over us and come up staring toward the sun against a deep blue sky.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The fourteenth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) is in full swing, and the sixth episode of the season that premiered on January 7 had an unexpected guest: Kesha, who was there as a close friend of Kyle Richards.When the singer arrived to attend a red carpet premiere at The Viper Room for RHOBH star Erika Jayne to promote her new song, Dominos, Richards made a joke in her confessional about letting the rumors begin, and even made a comment to Kesha about freeing the nipple during the show.Richards also recently addressed the difficult conversation shes had with her children about her evolving sexuality.This wasnt actually the first time Richards and Kesha have been seen publicly together, which started in March 2024 when they attended an Academy Awards viewing party hosted by Elton Johns AIDS Foundation together. They then attended Coachella together the next month with Richards' niece, Paris Hilton, and also went skiing in Aspen.See on InstagramThere are also further tie-ins with Richards other rumored lover, Morgan Wade. Kesha appeared on the song Walked on Water with Wade on her fourth studio, Obsessed, after initially connecting through Richards.As to how Kesha and Richards met, it was also the same avenue Richards used to meet Wade: Instagram.Kesha and I met on Instagram, Richards said in her confessional when Kesha first appeared on the episode. She was following me. We DMed each other. And shes here with me tonight.Sounds familiar.During the RHOBH After Show, Richards delved further into their relationship with Jayne.I just automatically connected with her, she said. Shes just so sweet and has such a big heart. Due to Keshas talent, creative drive, and non-judgmental attitude, Richards said it ultimately led them to become really close friends, fast.Whether anythings happening between the two or if Richards is just fanning the flame for the fun of it, we may never know.But, honestly?We ship it.Catch new episodes of RHOBH on Tuesdays on Bravo, which are available to stream on Peacock the following day. Check out Keshas new single, Delusional, below, and keep an eye out for her upcoming yet-to-be-named sixth album.

Every year since 2010, the Kinsey Institute (named for Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the bisexual sexologist who also lent his name to the Kinsey Scale) has the Singles in America (SIA) Study. The independent study is sponsored by none other than match.com, a company that certainly has some interest in figuring out what single Americans are feeling. One of the most interesting trends over the past decade and a half is the rise of people engaging in or willing to engage in "consensual non-monogamy," which the American Psychological Association defines as, "an umbrella term for relationships in which all partners give explicit consent to engage in romantic, intimate, and/or sexual relationships with multiple people." According to the 2023 SIA Study, nearly a third (31%) of singles reported having been in a non-monogamous relationship.Queer isn't just something you are, it's something you do. LGBTQ+ folks have been queering dating norms for as long as we've been around. For many, this rise in CNM sounds like a breath of fresh air; a sign that progress is still being made all the time, little by little. For others, this induces a cold sweat it's you, you are "others" in this case. You're partner has suggested opening your relationship and you don't want to, so you panicked and went to the internet for advice and now you're here.So what do you do if you've found your one and only, but they want to keep looking? One person's "progress" is another person's "nightmare!" And if and that's a really big if you do try CNM, you might be completely overwhelmed by the terms and different styles. Does this mean you should just break up?However your feeling right now just know it's valid. So, we gathered three queer relationship experts, Ally Iseman, writer, television host, relationship coach, and founder of the educational platform passport2pleasure.com; Anne-Marie Zanzal, ordained minister, late-in-life lesbian, coming out coach, and founder of Anne-Marie Zanzal Coaching; and Melissa Klass, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to help you figure out where to go from here.Does my partner wanting an open relationship mean I'm doing something wrong or not doing enough?"When a partner suggests opening a relationship, its common to be concerned that you are not enough, that youve done something wrong, or perhaps you arent doing something that the other person may want or need from you," says Klass. "In my experience, desire for non-monogamy is rarely about inadequacy. Monogamous relationships are founded on the cultural and societal belief that one person can and should be your everything. This is an immense amount of pressure for one to fulfill. The desire to explore non-monogamy can be about novelty, sure, but more often is about meeting a need that it may be difficult or even unreasonable for a current partner to fulfill."I myself am in an open relationship, and one of the most helpful practices for me personally has been getting very good at looking at situations and telling myself, "This is not about you." Zanzal reaffirms this concept, saying, "This is about their needs and desires. I would be leery if my partner stated they wanted an open relationship because of something I did or didn't do. That feels like them evading the responsibility of wanting an open relationship. People often open relationships because one or both the partners want to explore other romantic opportunities. Or one partner no longer wants to be sexually intimate."The approach to an open relationship, Iseman describes, should be "A 'yes and' rather than an 'either or' decision. This means that it's intended as an additive experience to an already secure dynamic as opposed to a solution to or escape from addressing something difficult. It can be a perfectly reasonable solution to some relationship incompatibilities, but only if the issue has already been directly addressed and examined so that opening up is not used as an avoidance tactic."Your own adequacy and place in your partner's life isn't a factor, and you have to find assurance of your own worth in your relationship, non-monogamous or not. As Iseman so succinctly puts it, "Enoughness is not necessarily what's on the table here."Not all open relationships look the same, what are some options for exploring nonmonogamy?Okay, so even if you're not in love with the idea, it's worthwhile to at least be on the same page with your partner. There are plenty of configurations for CNM, so you should figure out what they mean when they say they want to open the relationship. We have a brief introduction to some common forms of CNM to help you wrap your head around it.Klass outlines the basics well. She defines some key terms like, polyamory as, "building meaningful relationships with multiple partners, where love and commitment are shared." Iseman expands on polyamory, adding, "You can have an open or closed polyamorous dynamic, ie: you can have a closed polyamorous relationship with two other people but you all only engage sexually and emotionally within the triad dynamic and are closed to connections outside of that."Your partner might be someone who is finding that being non-monogamous is an important part of their identity, something essential. Or, they might be "ambiamorous, meaning they are equally happy and fulfilled in either a monogamous or non-monogamous dynamic," says Iseman.There's also the idea of being "monogamish," which Klass defines as, "staying primarily monogamous but allowing occasional outside experiences," like allowing your partner a "hall pass."All this is key to building a healthy relationship, whatever you and your partner decide. "Understanding more fully all the options that are actually available enables you to actually choose your relationship, even if you choose monogamy," says Iseman.Though you shouldn't overwhelm yourself, it's a lot to take it. Once you feel like you've got the absolute basics down an you're ready for terms like "Swinging or Swapping, Hierarchical or Non-Hierarchical Polyamory, Solo Poly, and Relationship Anarchy," then Iseman's course "ENM 101: Exploring Healthy Non-Monogamy" is an excellent resource.What are some green flags in my relationship that, if we did open up, show we're ready for it?If you end up in a place where you feel you might want to at least try an open relationship, the hard part then becomes trying to do self assessment on whether or not you can handle it. Like many of life's big decisions, sometimes you'll never know if you're ready to do it until you do it. But! That doesn't mean you can't make an informed decision! Here are some indicators that bode well for opening up a relationship.Klass keeps it simple, saying that you and your partner need a baseline of, "Clear, compassionate, and specific communication," "baseline trust," "strong sense of self" and "a shared curiosity." Great news: those are all qualities to be fostering in a relationship for any reason, and there's a reason that they keep coming up again and again. "You trust each other and that the relationship between the two of you is first and foremost," says Zanzal, also adding, "Both parties feel secure in this relationship and have no fears around abandonment of replacement." She brings up that it can be helpful if you and your partner just aren't naturally drawn to envy, saying when "both parties are genuinely happy for each other's experiences and there is no jealousy" that's a huge green flag.Iseman brings up the term for this: compersion. "Commonly referred to as 'the opposite of jealousy,' is when you feel joy or pleasure from your partner experiencing joy or pleasure with someone else," she says.These are all traits that can be learned, grown, and developed, but if you're naturally inclined to them or they're already something you've been trying to build between each other, that'll make the concept of a successful open relationship much more realistic.What are some signs that might mean we should wait, or not be right for opening up at all?Inversely, as much as your partner an open relationship, you might be opposed to it because it's not a good idea for you two right now. Maybe they have some blind spots to qualities of your relationship that could make opening it up a bad idea from the get go. If you're struggling with any of these things, bring them up with your partner, you should both be making as informed of a decision as possible, whatever it is. Klass says simply, "Non-monogamy tends to amplify any existing challenges within a relationship. If theres unresolved tension or unmet needs, those issues will likely become more pronounced."When evaluating the concept of having an open relationship, your partner should explain in detail what it is they're looking for and you both need to be self-aware of the problems you've shared together. "If the relationship has been monogamous up to this point and you are using an open relationship to 'save' it," is a massive red flag according to Zanzal. She asks, "Are you using an open relationship to avoid addressing concerns about the relationship? One partner feeling pressured or coerced and allows the open marriage to make the other partner happy, this indicates an imbalance of power in the relationship. If either of you has problems with boundaries in any aspect of your life, then the boundaries of an open relationship may be too difficult for you. Are you prone to jealously or insecurity? This is a red flag not to open up your relationship. Poor communication, dishonesty, or secretive behavior can undermine trust, while emotional or physical neglect may leave one partner feeling disconnected.""Avoiding discomfort is a solid sign that you are not ready to open up your relationship. This can look like requiring 'veto power' over your partner's potential other partners or enacting a DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell) policy. These are often used to mask cheating and/or avoid uncomfortable experiences like jealousy or mistakes," says Iseman. You can't experience compersion just by running away from jealousy. "Uncomfortable is not the same thing as unsafe, and it is a requirement for growth. Not being radically honest and authentic in your communication or being unwilling to accept responsibility for when you aren't is another red flag. If you say one thing but mean another aka 'testing' your partner you are not ready to open up. It's okay to think you will be okay with something and then after the fact realize you're not, but it's not okay to blame your partner for acting within an agreement you made even if it makes you uncomfortable."Is it harder for queer women to open their relationships vs. straight couples or queer men?While there are wide overlaps in queer culture, this is one area where queer women and queer men differ vastly. "Gay men are often assumed to be sexually non-monogamous (polysexual) unless otherwise discussed, whereas queer women generally engage more readily with emotional connection (polyamorous)," says Iseman. "Queer womens relationships often carry unique cultural baggage," says Klass. "Cultural baggage like, 'The 'U-Haul' stereotype of intense emotional intimacy can make the idea of 'sharing' feel especially daunting. Additionally, the queer community is smaller and more interconnected, which means the boundaries between friends, exes, and lovers can blur. Queer women are also navigating societal narratives that say they should feel lucky to have any partner, let alone one who accepts them as they are. Opening a relationship can feel risky when the world already tells you that love is scarce."As progressive as we queers would all like to think of ourselves, we're all products of our culture for better or worse. "Queer women as a subculture do not have many examples of healthy, loving, stable open relationships, and therefor it's hard to envision one for yourself. "Just like comphet [compulsive heterosexuality] there are internalized monogamy norms where all of us must be in a committed monogamous relationship," describes Zanzal. Not to mention, "Queer women take an enormous risk already rejecting the patriarchal structures, so further rejecting monogamy may be too much for some people."What do I do if neither of us changes how we feel about an open relationship?Even with all your knowledge, and know how, even if you have all the green flags a relationship could wish for, you might still end up at a stalemate. At the end of the day, you might be staring down a very cold, hard truth: that you are in a wonderful relationship, but you want to be monogamous and your partner no longer does. Neither of you have done something wrong in honestly recognizing and holding steadfast to your own needs. But it might be time for someone to say the hard part."Explore whether or not you can meet your partners needs without sacrificing your own. If the answer is no, then the most loving choice might be to let each other go. Its not a failure; its an acknowledgment that love isnt just about compatibility but also alignment in vision," says Klass."It may be time to consider ending the relationship," agrees Zanzal. "Although painful, it is less painful then being in a relationship that you do not want or are uncomfortable in. Your needs and desires are important too."Iseman suggests another option, adding, "You also don't both have to be non-monogamous to open up. Mono-Poly relationships are possible, but come with their unique challenges and benefits. Working with a vetted and experienced professional to navigate this decision making process and guide you in any exploration can make the difference between a hard or soft landing."Whatever you decide, wherever you end up, Klass say to, "Approach it with compassion, curiosity, and care. Whatever you decide, youll learn more about yourself and each other and isnt that the heart of any great love story?"Experts cited:Ally Iseman, writer, television host, relationship coach, and founder of the educational platform passport2pleasure.com.Anne-Marie Zanzal, ordained minister, late-in-life lesbian, coming out coach, and founder of Anne-Marie Zanzal Coaching.Melissa Klass, licensed marriage and family therapist offering remote therapy throughout California with extensive experience working with diverse relationship configurations, including ENM and CNM.

Fresh off a failed nomination for U.S. Attorney General and following the release of a scathing House ethics report detailing years of heavy drug use and a pension for regularly hiring prostitutes, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has floated his name for the next governor of Florida.I am starting to think about running for governor in 2026, he told the Tampa Bay Times. Related MAGA cries over Matt Gaetzs withdrawal as Donald Trumps attorney general pick But not all Republicans are sad to see him go. The declaration came days after new members were sworn into Congress, where Gaetz was a divisive and self-promoting representative from Floridas panhandle. He served four terms in the safely Republican district and won a fifth in November before resigning after Donald Trump nominated him for U.S. Attorney General. 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 Gaetz had hoped to avoid the release of the House Ethics Committee report which also accuses him of statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl with his resignation, but committee members voted to make the report public anyway. Gaetz has denied the allegations.The Justice Departmentinvestigated Gaetz for sex traffickingbefore deciding not to charge him in 2023.The far-right MAGA provocateur said he would pray in the coming months about whether to seek the governorship. Current Florida governor and failed presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (R) is termed out after his second win in 2022.I have a compelling vision for the state, Gaetz said. I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and its not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry. If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side.Gaetz calls himself an economic populist and favors cannabis legalization. Of the litany of allegations directed at him, Gaetz said, Those lies have been told about me for years, he said. Theyve never affected my ability to win elections.Gaetz recently picked up a hosting gig on the One America News network, giving the rhetorical bomb-throwing provocateur a regular, if diminished, platform to own the libs.One of his latest taunts earned the ire of out Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), who blasted Gaetz for promoting the idea that trans people are responsible for the school shootings epidemic. Responding in December to a statement from President Joe Biden calling for Congress to enact gun safety laws in the wake of so many shootings, Gaetz posted on X, What about trans control instead?Pocan reposted Gaetzs attack, adding, To all the idiots who claimed the shooter was trans with no information whatsoever to believe that, f**k off, Pocan wrote. Your ignorance speaks volumes. Your hate is consuming your brains (or whats left of them).Florida has been plagued by multiple mass shootings, including the Parkland massacre atMarjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, which killed 17 students and staff. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to life in prison in 2022. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

One reason we love Andy Cohen so much is that he isnt afraid to spill all his sexy secrets. Whether dishing on threesomes, hookups, or just making us giggle on New Years Eve, Cohen always keeps us entertained. His latest admission is that he has a sex tape with his ex John Hill. The two dated for three years back in the early 2000s and now cohost the SiriusXM show Radio Andy together. Were not shocked, oh not at all, but we are titillated! In Tuesday's Watch What Happens Live episode, the host ended the episode with a game with Things Andy Should Do in 2025 in which Hill listed things the host should do in the coming year. He joked Cohen should get tits, and finally learn to read. Then Hill dropped the real tea, Finally release our sex tape from 2003. Cohen immediately broke down in laughter at the tapes mention.Both guests Erika Jayne and Racquel Chevremont immediately became the voice of the people and expressed a desire to see it. Wait, I kind of want to see it. Is that wrong? said Jayne. Can we pull it up? added Chevremont. You know what, I think there is one, admitted Cohen, But the format, its in some janky format. Its bad, Hill agreed. No, Im glad we probably cant even transfer it. While he didn't specify the janky format, it sounds like VHS to us, to which we say, Digitize it, Mary! (@) But in all seriousness, we live for Cohen and his unapologetic queerness. In a time when more and more folks are feeling pushed back into the closet, we appreciate him being out and proud of his identity and his sexuality.Go off queen, and while you're at it, release the tape!

As a wave of corporate retailers buckle under pressure from right-wing groups to shed their diversity, equity and inclusion *(DEI) initiatives including most recently fast food giant McDonalds Costco, the membership-only big-box warehouse club retail chain, is going on offense over their inclusive hiring policies.Activist shareholders at the retail behemoth, the countrys third largest after Walmart and Amazon, are looking to end Costcos diversity ambitions with a proposal from the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) think tank that would require the warehouse retailer to evaluate and issue a report on the financial risks of maintaining its diversity and inclusion goals. Related The number of companies committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion is growing HRCs 2025 Corporate Equality Index reported an overall positive trend despite some major companies rolling back their DEI policies NCPPR argues that Costcos DEI initiatives are a form of illegal discrimination against employees who are white, Asian, male or straight, reportsCNN. The group claims victims of that discrimination could pursue legal actions against the company, potentially costing Costco tens of billions of dollars. 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 retailers board of directors isnt buying the argument, and is urging shareholders to defeat the proposal.Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers, a statement from the board reads. Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our Company the importance of creating opportunities for all. We believe that these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed.The company has a chief diversity officer and a supplier program dedicated to expanding ties with small and diverse businesses. It also donates to organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund that serve marginalized and underrepresented groups. Flipping the argument that DEI initiatives are discriminatory and a burden on shareholders, the board said NCPPR is inflicting a burden on Costco with challenges to DEI. The organizations broader agenda is to abolish diversity initiatives, the board asserted.The proponent professes concern about legal and financial risks to the company and its shareholders associated with the diversity initiatives, the company said. The supporting statement demonstrates that it is the proponent and others that are responsible for inflicting burdens on companies with their challenges to longstanding diversity programs. The proponents broader agenda is not reducing risk for the company but abolition of diversity initiatives.The board said Costcos DEI policies are integral to its business model. Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the treasure hunt that our customers value, the board explained. We believe (and member feedback shows) that many of our members like to see themselves reflected in the people in our warehouses with whom they interact.Robby Starbuck, a vocal opponent of corporate DEI policy who has led MAGA-based boycotts against several companies, called on supporters to boycott Costco after the boards recommendation to vote down NCPPRs proposal. For now, I suggest conservative consumers find other places to spend their money if Costco is so dedicated to doubling down on DEI. If theyre smart, Costco will do right by their shareholders and change before we turn our attention to them, Starbuck threatened in a post on X. Companies including Walmart, Stanley Black & Decker, Molson Coors, Jack Daniels, Ford Motor Company, John Deere, Lowes Hardware, Target and Harley-Davidson have publicly rolled back DEI initiatives in the face of Starbucks online threats and groups like NCPPR organizing shareholder revolts.On Monday, McDonalds, the worlds largest fast-food chain, announced it was retiring aspirational representation goals and would pause survey submissions to third-party groups including the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index, among other concessions to anti-DEI activists.Shareholders vote on DEIs fate at Costco on January 23.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Have you watched their videos?At the end of every year, Pornhub releases the spicy statistics that breaks down all of the sexy content people binged every month.For the 2024 Year in Review, many recognizable gay porn stars earned millions of views on their raunchy videos including Rhyheim Shabazz, Cade Maddox, Tyler Wu, Dante Colle, and so many more. The steamy content was at an all-time high last year!Who secured the number one spot? Scroll below to see the 20 most-searched gay adult entertainers on Pornhub in 2024.20. Alex MecumSee on Instagram19. Devin FrancoSee on Instagram18. Diego SansSee on Instagram17. Rafael AlencarSee on Instagram16. Diego BarrosSee on Instagram15. Cris Fabio14. Drake VonSee on Instagram13. Dom KingSee on Instagram12. Timothy ChampagneSee on Instagram11. Zilv Gudel & KaiSee on Instagram10. MtwunkSee on Instagram9. Legrand WolfSee on Instagram8. Leon & MikeSee on Instagram7. Joey MillsSee on Instagram6. Dante ColleSee on Instagram5. Rhyheim ShabazzSee on Instagram4. Cade MaddoxSee on Instagram3. HunnypaintSee on Instagram2. Tyler WuSee on Instagram1. Malik DelgatySee on Instagram

Republicans in the Montana state House will likely hold the first anti-trans state legislative hearing of the year concerning House Bill 121, proposed legislation banning transgender adults from using multiple-occupancy bathrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters in public buildings, including school campuses, businesses, libraries, museums, hospitals, auditoriums, detainment centers, and abuse shelters.The bill which is co-sponsored by 35 of the state Houses 58 Republican members and was introduced by a legislator who said shed rather have a dead child than a trans one would affect all trans or nonbinary (NB) individuals. It would also allow anyone who encounters a trans or NB person in one of the aforementioned facilities to sue that person or whoever granted their entry up to two years after the encounter. Related Record number of anti-trans bills introduced just before 2025 120 bills have been introduced, topping last years count of 80. House Bill 121 bans trans individuals and members of the opposite sex from the multiple-occupancy spaces except when providing custodial, maintenance, medical, emergency, or law enforcement services or when assisting as a legally recognized family member. 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 defines gender as either being male or female, determined by ones chromosomes and reproductive organs. It deems that those determinations should make it easier to categorize intersex people as either one gender or the other.The purposes of the bill are to reaffirm the longstanding meanings of the terms sex, male, and female in law; and preserve women in facilities where women have traditionally been afforded privacy and safety from acts of abuse, harassment, sexual assault, and violence committed by men.The latter aim echoes claims from trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs), who have long vilified trans women as a threat to cisgender womens safety even though almost all violence against women is perpetrated by cis men. Trans journalist Erin Reednotedthat transphobic bathroom laws have led trans people to experience medical issues from having to hold their bodies waste products for prolonged time spans. Transphobic bathroom bans have also led vigilante citizens to mistakenly forbid cis people from using restrooms whenever those people dont fit their preconceived gender stereotypes.The bill was introduced by Montana state Rep. Kerri Seekings-Crowe (R), a cis woman who once said that she would rather have her daughter die by suicide than let her transition genders. She made her comment while speaking in favor of a now-implemented law to ban gender-affirming care for minors in the state.Rep. Seekings-Crowe said that her own daughter was suicidal for three years but that she would never have let her access gender-affirming care, even if it would have saved her life.The state legislature passed the bill, and Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed it into law in 2023, despite his nonbinary son pleading with him to veto it. The state has two trans legislators, Reps. SJ Howell (D) and Zooey Zephyr (D). Neither seems to have publicly commented on the hearing at this time via social media.Editors note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at988lifeline.org. TheTrans Lifeline(1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth viachat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Donald Trump has already gone full imperialist before even taking office, and his unhinged desire to plant the American flag in other countries has the internet clowning on him with memes so funny we can't stop laughing.Trump's terrifying vision of neocolonialism includes his desire to annex Greenland, make Canada the 51st state, take control of the Panama Canal, and change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.Who does he think he is? Carmen Sandiego? Next, he'll be wanting to steal the Eiffel Tower.While this may seem like idiotic mustache-twirling levels of villainy, the real reasons he wants to conquer these foreign countries may be more sinister. "We need Greenland for national security purposes," Trump said Tuesday, CBS News reports. "I'm talking about protecting the free world. You look at you don't even need binoculars you look outside. You have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place. We're not letting that happen. We're not letting it happen." Greenland also contains significant oil, natural gas, and deposits of rare earth minerals, including lithium and graphite, which Tesla owner and Trump's buddy Elon Musk needs to make electric vehicle batteries. This America-first imperialism and Trump's desire to slap the United States' name on everything so he can control other countries and shipping routes may be a scary glimpse into what Trump has in store for the next four years; his outrageous claims have led to a deluge of hilarious jokes that have kept us giggling all day.From someone quipping that MAGA supporters "wanted cheaper eggs and accidentally got a tyrannical group of oligarchs challenging the sovereignty of our closest allies" to another person joking," Thank god Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate have prepared Gen Z alpha males to die in battle for the annexation of Greenland" the memes are coming in fast and furious, and we can't get enough.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Trump's absurd expansionist plans! (@) "Just posted by Trump. Unhinged." (@) "Thank god Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate have prepared Gen Z alpha males to die in battle for the annexation of Greenland" (@) "Coke Junior has already left Greenland disappointed realizing all that white stuff is just snow." (@) "You wanted cheaper eggs and accidentally got a tyrannical group of oligarchs challenging the sovereignty of our closest allies. Oops" (@) "i have seen the theory that Trump is so obsessed with Greenland because he doesn't understand the Mercator projection and i cannot stop laughing. one hundred percent that's what's going on" (@) "We are living in the stupidest of times... Trump: 'We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.' I feel like we are being led by Patrick from SpongeBob." (@) "Dear Greenland, Were sorry. Sincerely, Sane America" (@) "This must hit so hard if youre stupid" (@) "MAGA: We want all the immigrants deported & eggs to be cheaper! America first! Trump: Actually, were gonna hire immigrants for all the tech jobs & its too hard to make groceries cheaper, but we are gonna take over Greenland & Canada to help Putin! MAGA: OK! (Fucking idiots)." (@) "I have a feeling this meme format is going to get a lot of use over the next four years." (@) "Where's the lie?" (@) (@) (@) "You idiots voted for lower egg prices and you're getting the 'Gulf of America.'" (@) "Things America needs: 1. A better healthcare system Things America doesnt need: 1. Canada 2. Greenland" (@) "Remember when people said MAGA was anti-war? Lol" (@) "MAGA: THE PRICE OF EGGS IS TOO HIGH!!! Trump: How about I change the name of some buildings and the Gulf of Mexico instead? MAGA: YAY!!!!!" (@) "So let me keep track here... MAGA wants to buy or use the military to get ahold of: 1. Panama Canal 2. Canada 3. Greenland 4. Great Britain 'No new wars!' Were broke! We cant afford all of this spending!'What happened, MAGA?" (@) "This motherfucker said its 'too hard' to lower the cost of groceries, but he wants to buy Greenland? Never forget - all roads lead to Putin." (@) "Imagine Canada and Greenland wanting to give up their universal healthcare to become part of America. Not going to happen." (@) "This whole discourse is stupid (not to mention dangerous), but how exactly do these conservatives think a country full of people accustomed to universal healthcare would vote as the 51st state?" (@) "Suddenly, all the 'no new wars!!!' crowd is just fine with their naked emperor threatening to take Greenland by military force, seize the Panama Canal, and potentially annex our NATO ally, Canada." (@) "So, you're not getting lower prices on anything. He's buying Canada and Greenland, invading Mexico and Panama, and pretending to change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, while putting tariffs on everything that YOU will pay for. Got it, hes insane." (@) (@) "Welcome to idiocracy." (@) "Fox News is talking about Harry Truman trying to buy Greenland in 1867. Harry Truman wasn't even alive in 1867." (@) "We got yelled at so much for calling you fuckers Nazis and the MINUTE you get elected youre all 'lets take Canada, lets take the UK, lets take Greenland'"

RuPaul has resurfaced an old video of herself fake-slapping Tyra (formerly known as Tyra Sanchez) from an acting scene filmed on RuPaul's Drag Race season 2 a clear reaction to Tyra's several disturbing social media posts in which made light of The Vivienne's tragic death based on a tweet shared by the Drag Race UK winner in 2020.Ever since The Vivienne's death was officially announced via a press release on Sunday, Jan. 5, Drag Race season 2 winner Tyra started sharing various disturbing posts making light of The Vivienne's passing.That series of negative X posts about the OG Drag Race UK champion was all based on a tweet that The Vivienne shared over four years ago, on July 27, 2020. This caused an uproar within the drag community, with several drag artists responding to Tyra's X posts to call she and/or her comments "rotted" (DeJa Skye), "disgusting" (Kandy Muse), and "distasteful" (Tayce), among other things.On Wednesday, Jan. 8, RuPaul resurfaced an old clip of herself fake-slapping Tyra in an acting scene from the grand finale of Drag Race season 2, which aired in 2010. And while RuPaul didn't include a caption for the post (seen below), it absolutely suggests that this is Ru's reaction Tyra spending several days sharing disturbing X posts not only disrespecting The Vivienne, but also those who were mourning her death.See on InstagramTyra responded, "Right back at ya. Puppet," via an X post.This subsequent post from Tyra included an illustration of in-drag RuPaul wearing the Confederate flag dress her costume from To Wong Foo and being manipulated by marionette strings. It's an image Tyra has used before to criticize the Drag Race host.The overall LGBTQ+ community and hundreds of drag artists have been mourning The Vivienne's death all week from Drag Race alumni from around the world to legendary drag performers who haven't competed on the show to former The Boulet Brothers' Dragula contestants.Celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Russell Tovey, Ben Platt, Russell T Davies, and John Whaite also shared their reactions to the tragic news of The Vivienne passing away, and RuPaul herself shared an emotional post about it, writing:"With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being."See on InstagramThis story is still developing

Babygirl may have been getting the noms at this years Golden Globes awards, but it was a lesbian boyfriend who dominated the night. Were of course talking about our beloved Kate Winslet, who bounced around the ceremony, red carpet, and after-party looking like every Sapphic's dream date in a white Erdem suit and leaving everyone in her wake absolutely swooning. Winslet was there celebrating two nominations, one for best performance by a female actor in a drama for Lee, and the other for best performance by a female actor in a limited anthology series for The Regime. But her big win of the night was every ladys heart. (Disclaimer: This is all in good fun; were not outing anyone, so dont @ us!) The night started with Winslet wowing us in a suit on the red carpet. If that werent enough to send us into a Sapphic spiral, she also sent out the lesbian bat signal. We see what you did there, Kate. From there, she headed into the party where no one was safe from her Sapphic charms.This moment with bi queen Angelina Jolie alone is enough to launch a million Sapphic ships. (@) She then turned her witchy lesbian boyfriend powers on the Wicked girlies, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who, of course, were under her spell. I mean, find someone who looks at you like Grande looked at Kate.Just Kate being a goddess. NBD. No wonder all the guests she took photos with looked smitten.See on Instagram (@) (@) Yep, that's Sharon Stone in Kate's lap. And yep, the world is envious, Including noted lady kisser Zoe Saldaa.Of course, the moment we loved the best had to be when Jodie Foster jumped in her lap. (@) As we said, Winslet ruled the night. But it wasn't the first time she had our little gay hearts beating at the Golden Globes. Check out this flashback of her with the OG lesbian boyfriend, Gillian Anderson. She clearly learned from the best.See on Instagram

The stereotype of lesbians always being prepared for an emergency everyone knows a queer woman who doesnt leave the house without a Leatherman multitool and carabiners holds true for Los Angeles first openly LGBTQ+ Fire Chief Kristin Crowley who is overseeing the firefighters trying to stop the Palisades fire.As of Wednesday morning, more than 5,000 acres in the affluent celebrity-inhabited neighborhood of Pacific Palisades in southern California has been consumed by fire, with approximately 1,000 structures and coastal homes reduced to rubble.The fire is being called one of the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory by the LA Times and has already carved a path of destruction along the Pacific Coast Highway.As the Palisades fire ravages the wealthy area, three other fires are also devastating Los Angeles County and have led to the death of two people, and fire hydrants in the area have run dry, the LA Times reports.This has led to Crowley facing growing backlash on social media, where conservatives are taking cheap digs at her appearance and are claiming shes a DEI hire and isnt qualified for the position.But Crowley already had multiple decades of experience when she was nominated for her position in 2022. She had been with the fire department for 22 years and had held the positions of firefighter, paramedic, engineer, fire inspector, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, and deputy chief. She also ranked in the top 50 out of 16,000 applicants when she took her firefighters exam in the late 90s, according to Newsweek.Becoming the first LGBTQ+ fire chief wasnt even the first time Crowley made history; back in 2016, she also became Los Angeles first female fire marshal.Conservative actor James Woods has also expressed his frustration with Crowley, taking a jab at her LAFD bio, which lists her priorities as creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities.Woods took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his opinion. Refilling the water reservoirs would have been a welcome priority, too, but I guess she had too much on her plate promoting diversity, he wrote.The Santa Ana winds in the area have reached nearly 100 mph, which has spread the fire farther and faster and is only made worse by the lack of rain the region got this winter, extending the Southern California fire season.We are absolutely not out of danger yet, Crowley said, adding that these fires are stretching the capacity of emergency services to the maximum limits.

The Atwood family made eight $1 million donations to various nonprofit groups in the U.S. working to support and provide resources to communities in needJanuary 7, 2025 Today, The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis organization for LGBTQ+ young people, announced that they are the recipient of a $1 million donation from Jeff Atwood, co-founder of Stack Overflow and Discourse.We are profoundly grateful to Jeff Atwood and the Atwood family for this incredibly generous gift, said Jaymes Black (they/she/he pronouns), CEO at The Trevor Project. Our life-saving work would not be possible without the support and compassion from our donor community, and the Atwood familys contribution will play a transformative role in advancing our mission to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people. This donation comes at a critical time for our movement in the face of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric that directly harm our youth, its more crucial than ever that we keep fighting for a future where all LGBTQ+ young people can thrive. This gift enables us to continue to provide free, 24/7 crisis services to youth in need and advocate for laws that protect the rights of LGBTQ+ young people across the country. Jeff and the Atwood family are sending a powerful message of solidarity that we hope will inspire others to help us build a safer, more inclusive world for LGBTQ+ young people everywhere.According to The Trevor Projects 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth. Despite these alarming findings, 50% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to access it.The Trevor Projects research also found that an overwhelming majority (90%) of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics. Following the outcome of the 2024 U.S. election, The Trevor Projects crisis services saw an overall volume increase of nearly 700% on November 6, 2024 compared to the weeks prior.In a blog post announcing the news, Jeff stated: I encourage every American to contribute soon, however you can, to organizations you feel are effectively helping those most currently in need here in America. We must also work toward deeper changes that will take decades to achieve. Over the next five years, my family pledges half our wealth towards long term efforts ensuring that all Americans continue to have access to the American Dream.In addition to The Trevor Project, Jeff and the Atwood family made $1 million donations to Childrens Hunger Fund, First Generation Investors, Global Refuge, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, PEN America, Planned Parenthood, and Team Rubicon.Visit Jeffs blog here to read more about his familys movement to help fund dreams across the U.S.If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Projects trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat atTheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.The post Stack Overflow Co-Founder Jeff Atwood Donates $1 Million to The Trevor Project appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Who are you taking home at the end of the night? A video of a bi king putting in the work at the club is going viral on social media, and everyone has opinions!Yesterday, a video was posted on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, what the heII is this mf doing and shows a young man subtly rubbing the backs of the guy and woman sitting on either side of him.The person who filmed the trio (can we normalize not filming strangers in public please?) also turns the camera on himself to show his confusion and skepticism, but to a trained LGBTQ+ eye, this is clearly a bisexual guy who is attracted to both of the people hes hanging out with. Those back rubs are far too sensual to be just friendly. (@) The now-viral video, which has already amassed more than 22 million views as of publication, inspired countless commenters, some of whom joked about his obvious bisexuality. (@) (@) (@) Some commenters also posited that hes angling for a threesome. (@) (@) (@) While there is a harmful stereotype that bisexual folks want to have their cake and eat it too and are more prone to cheating because they want to go to the bone zone with men and women, thats ridiculous and biphobic.But the jokes about the bi king in the video wanting both of his night-out pals are hilarious. (@) (@) (@) (@) Whether he was trying to start a threesome or the trio is already a poly throuple, its glaringly obvious the guy in the middle is bi and knows how to make a pass! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) This bi guy just catapulted himself to bicon status!

Nicholas is a huge Hollywood star!English actor Nicholas Galitzine is quickly becoming a major player in Hollywood as he grows his career on the big screen and gets cast in numerous projects.After creating some buzz in 2016 for starring in the films High Strung and Handsome Devil, Galitzine went on to appear on TV shows such as Legends and Chambers. In 2020, the actor starred in the Sony reboot The Craft: Legacy as Timmy, whos moving bisexual coming out scene, regardless of how you felt about the movie, made it a must-see.Galitzines career truly broke into the mainstream as he starred as Prince Robert in the Amazon Prime Video original film Cinderella released in 2021. With Camila Cabello in the titular role, and Galitzine appearing as her love interest in the movie. Since then, the actor was cast as the lead in Netflixs Purple Hearts and truly became a gay fave with back to back roles in Red, White, & Royal Blue and Mary & George. Next up is is going to slay our hearts again as Prince Adam in the live-action He-Man movie, Masters of the UniverseScroll through to see sexy pictures of Nicholas Galitzine and make sure to follow him on Instagram via @nicholasgalitzine.See on InstagramSee on Instagram View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine Fanpage (@nickgalitzinefans) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@galitzinefans) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicholas Galitzine (@nicholasgalitzine)See on InstagramSee on InstagramSee on InstagramRELATED | Red White & Royal Blue's Polo Morn Was Outed & Had His Nudes Leaked

RuPaul has subtly reprimanded RuPauls Drag Race season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez following the latters controversial comments about the recent death of The Vivienne, the first crowned queen of RuPauls Drag Race UK.On Wednesday, RuPaul shared a short clip from the 2010 season 2 finale, featuring a memorable scene in which she slapped Tyra during an acting challenge. The video post, which quickly went viral, comes after a wave of backlash against Tyra for mocking The Viviennes death. While numerous Drag Race contestants, including RuPaul, publicly mourned the 32-year-old queens passing, Tyras comments ignited an online firestorm.Tyras remarks stemmed from a five-year-old social media post from The Vivienne that referenced her. In the post, The Vivienne wrote, Bet Tyra was fuming when she realized Netflix Spoiled the win Too. Sorry gal. You Tried though. After The Viviennes death, Tyra responded with a callous comment, writing, Yet it doesnt compare to the fumes of the crematorium.The response was met with swift and widespread condemnation from both fans and Tyras fellow Drag Race alums, including Kandy Muse, DeJa Skye, Tatianna, and new season 17 contestant Hormona Lisa, who all condemned Tyras actions as distasteful. Despite the outrage, Tyra remained unapologetic, continuing to taunt The Viviennes death with further posts across multiple social media platforms, including a direct response to RuPauls video clip.View this post on InstagramA post shared by RuPaul (@rupaulofficial)In the aftermath of RuPauls post, Tyra took to Instagram, sharing an illustration of the host with a caption reading, Right back at ya. Puppet. On her Instagram Story, she also expressed her gratitude to both her supporters and critics, writing: I am immensely thankful to everyone visiting my page this week. Whether showing love or showing your ass, you increased my pages reach TREMENDOUSLY. Welcome to all new followers! Tyra also sent a pointed message to those critical of her, stating, Two fingers in the sky to those who have left us. Special shoutouts to the ones who truly hate me yet hang around watching my every move. With you hanging around here youve increased the reach by 95%. Silly rabbits. You work for me. It is because of you that my name LIVES on.RuPauls post and Tyras continued provocations drew strong support for the host from several Drag Race alumni. Shea Coule, the winner of All Stars 5, voiced her approval, writing, GET HER AGAIN FOR ME MAMMA!!! referencing RuPauls implied reprimand. Crystal, a Drag Race UK season 1 queen, also chimed in, commenting, Mamas had enough nonsense, as other queens, including Kandy Muse, Jiggly Caliente, Jasmine Kennedie, Mrs. Kasha Davis, and Victoria Scone, echoed their support for RuPauls stance.Tyra has a well-documented history of controversy within the Drag Race fandom. She previously faced backlash for falsely announcing the death of fellow season 2 queen Morgan McMichaels and was allegedly banned from DragCon for making threatening comments about the event. Tyra, however, has denied these claims, telling Entertainment Weekly in a statement, I never threatened DragCon and I damn sure never apologized for it.In response to Tyras callous comments about The Vivienne, Kandy Muse, who competed on season 13 and All Stars 8, issued a strongly worded rebuke. Ive defended you for years but now you can absolutely go f yourself and if our path were to ever cross its absolutely on sight, bitch, its not a threat, its a promise. You disgusting person, Kandy wrote in a fiery Instagram post. DeJa Skye, who appeared on season 14, also condemned Tyras behavior, calling her a rotted person and expressing dismay at her actions.In addition to the drama surrounding Tyras online posts, the season 2 queens name resurfaced in the news in 2023 when she was arrested in Starke, Florida. Tyra, whose real name is James Ross, was initially detained for allegedly resisting arrest after a car accident. The charges were later dropped after Ross filed a complaint against the department, but the incident further fueled the queens controversial reputation.Following The Viviennes death, RuPaul shared a heartfelt statement on social media, expressing her grief over the loss of the late queen. With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Viviennean incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being, RuPaul wrote.The post RuPaul Posts Drag Race Clip of Slapping Tyra Sanchez After Season 2 Winner Mocks The Viviennes Death appeared first on Gayety.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs recent announcement that he would be ending professional fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram signals a significant shift in the companys approach to political content. The decision, unveiled Tuesday, marks the culmination of months of efforts to position the social media giant to navigate the conservative pressures expected from a potential second term of Donald Trump.Zuckerberg, who has long been known for supporting progressive causes, appears to be recalibrating his companys policies to align with a more right-leaning stance. In the past, Zuckerberg has engaged in high-profile meetings with former President Barack Obama and criticized his administration at times, particularly in matters related to privacy and tech regulations. However, over the last year, Zuckerbergs actions have hinted at a clear pivot toward embracing conservative influences.The first sign of this shift came in July 2024, when Zuckerberg publicly praised Trumps defiant response after an assassination attempt, calling it one of the most badass things Ive ever seen. Although Zuckerberg quickly clarified that he was not endorsing any presidential candidate, the comment set the stage for what would become a series of moves signaling alignment with conservative positions.In the same month, Meta made a pivotal decision to lift the special restrictions placed on Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This move effectively restored Trumps access to Metas platforms, signaling the companys willingness to embrace a more lenient approach toward the former president.By August, Zuckerberg escalated his rhetoric, criticizing the Biden administration for its handling of COVID-19 misinformation. He accused the government of pressuring Meta to censor content, a sharp contrast to the companys earlier stance, which had taken a firm position against misleading health information during the pandemic.Further demonstrating his political pivot, Zuckerberg allowed a personal threat made by Trump to go unaddressed. Trump had released a book in which he ominously claimed Zuckerberg would spend the rest of his life in prison if he attempted to interfere with the 2024 election. Meta did not comment on the statement, an indication of the companys increasing detachment from its previous, more critical stance toward Trump.Amid these changes, Metas corporate political action committee (PAC) notably refrained from donating to either of the major presidential candidates during the 2024 election cycle. However, individual Meta employees contributed heavily to Vice President Kamala Harris campaign, raising nearly $2 million, according to the transparency website OpenSecrets. The PAC also made contributions to both Republican and Democratic Senate campaigns, highlighting a more neutral posture in some respects, though the companys recent leadership appointments have leaned more conservative.In December, Meta revealed that it had donated $1 million to Trumps inaugural fund, signaling further support for the former presidents political future. Moreover, Zuckerberg made headlines last week by appointing Joel Kaplan, a longtime Republican insider, as Metas head of global policy, replacing Nick Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister with more liberal leanings. Kaplans appointment underscores Zuckerbergs growing reliance on conservative political strategists.These moves have drawn sharp criticism from some observers. Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert, called Zuckerbergs shift a full bending of the knee to Trump and criticized the companys direction as part of a broader trend of tech leaders catering to right-wing agendas. Others, however, suggest Zuckerberg is simply trying to adapt to the political realities of the moment.David Sacks, a venture capitalist and Trump adviser, praised Zuckerbergs decision, calling it a turning point in U.S. political and cultural realignment. Zuckerbergs pivot is significant not only because of the potential return of Trump to power but also due to Metas dominant role in shaping online communication. Metas suite of appsFacebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messengerare among the most widely used platforms in the world, giving Zuckerberg immense influence over public discourse.Zuckerbergs shift is not just about political convenience; it is also tied to the companys financial and regulatory interests. Meta faces ongoing legal challenges, including a high-profile antitrust case brought by the Federal Trade Commission over its 2012 acquisition of Instagram. As Meta navigates these pressures, its increasingly conservative policy shift may also be a strategy to better align with a potential Republican administration, especially in light of the growing influence of right-leaning political figures within the company.Over the years, Zuckerberg has cultivated relationships with both Democratic and Republican leaders, from Obama to former House Speaker Paul Ryan. However, Metas top ranks have increasingly been filled by Republicans. Kaplans promotion is just one example of how the company is adjusting to shifting political tides. Other notable Republicans in Metas leadership include Jennifer Newstead, Metas chief legal officer, who previously served in the George W. Bush administration, and Kevin Martin, Metas new vice president of public policy, who also has deep ties to Republican administrations.Zuckerbergs decision to hire key Republican operatives such as Dustin Carmack, a former adviser to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, reflects his growing embrace of conservative political strategies. Metas corporate culture has shifted significantly since Sheryl Sandberg, once the companys most prominent Democrat, left her day-to-day role in 2022.Despite these moves, Zuckerberg insists that his shift is not a departure from his core values. In a recent video explaining the changes, he referenced a 2019 speech in which he criticized traditional gatekeepers in politics or media, suggesting that the latest policy adjustments were part of his long-standing vision to reduce content moderation.The coming years will reveal whether Zuckerbergs pivot is part of a broader trend in corporate America or a strategic move aimed at positioning Meta for political and regulatory influence in a potential second Trump administration. However, with Metas growing influence over global communication and its increasing ties to conservative politics, the implications of Zuckerbergs decision will be felt across the digital landscape for years to come.The post Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Shifts Political Strategy Amid Trumps Possible Return to Power appeared first on Gayety.

The nominations for the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced today and are set stream live with Kristen Bell as host on Netflix Sunday, February 23 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall. Jon M. Chus movie musical juggernaut Wickedleading the pack and holding space [...]The post SAG Awards 2025: Wickeds Jonathan Bailey Lands Nomination for Beloved Fiyero Performance; Cynthia Erivo, Baby Reindeer, Hacks Score Nods first appeared on GLAAD.

The new year has kicked off and For the Love of the DILFs is bringing the heat!King Adonis is the latest himbo to enter the mansion looking to fall in love with a daddy. It also doesn't hurt that he's very easy on the eyes.Shortly after his DILFs debut, Adonis has already linked up with a daddy in the house and it looks like the tension is only growing stronger."Patrick and I have a lot of fun! You're going to be seeing a lot of us. We look mad cute. I will say... he's a really good kisser. I'll give you guys that, but you'll have to wait for more," Adonis tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Adonis has had no problem showing off his sexy physique and opening up on his spicy bedroom preferences on the hit show."Listen, I haven't always looked like this! I'm damn proud of it and I'm going to show it off every time I can. I am fully a vers person. I really believe on vibing with the right person. I love switching it up! I want you to pound me and the next day I'm going to pound you. That's what's good!"For the Love of DILFs is streaming now on OUTtv. To see the full interview with King Adonis, check out the video at the top of the page.

Republicans in Idahos House of Representatives are considering making a formal statement imploring the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its famous 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.The measure proposed by Republican state Rep. Heather Scott frames the court decision as an illegitimate overreach. Scotts measure asks the court to bring back the natural definition of marriage, even though different forms of marriage (including same-sex unions) have existed throughout human history. Related GOP law forces library to require ID from patrons under 30 to access adult books The adult book section includes books with queer themes, something a new law defines as sexual content. The purpose of this resolution is just to affirm our state authority to regulate marriage, she said at a Tuesday hearing. 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 2015 Supreme Court ruling, Obergefell v. Hodges, came after decades of activism from the LGBTQ+ community to legalize same-sex marriage. When the ruling was implemented, many states still banned gay marriage, in spite of growing support for such unions.The decision, implemented on a 5-4 vote, came before three additional conservative justices were appointed during the term of then-President and now-President-elect Donald Trump. The justices appointed by Trump include Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have called for a reconsideration of the Obergefell decision.Scotts resolution has no legal weight, though it would be sent to the Supreme Court for consideration. The committee moved it forward on Tuesday, with a public hearing set on a date yet to be determined. State House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D), and Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow (D) referred to Scotts resolution as a sad distraction. This is yet another example of the extreme wing of the Republican Party ginning up divisive social issues in order to create problems where none exist. Big government has no business telling consenting adults who they should love.This resolution may be a helpful gimmick for winning in closed GOP primaries, they added, but it should be offensive to all Idahoans who value their individual rights and freedoms and just want to live their lives without egregious government interference.In 2021, Rep. Scott compared Idaho to Nazi Germany over a policy requiring students to wear facemasks in school to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Idaho still has a ban on same-sex marriage on the books, in spite of a federal judge ruling that it violates the U.S. Constitution. Recent polling suggests more Idahoans support same-sex marriage than are against it.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A man who used his truck to deface a rainbow-colored intersection dedicated to the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting must now pay nearly $6,000 in damages to the city of Delray Beach, Florida. His own friends helped police identify and arrest him.Dylan Reese Brewer, a white male 19-year-old who is a registered Republican voter, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and reckless driving causing injury to property or person after using his Dodge Ram truck on February 4 to do burnouts, leaving black tire marks on crosswalks painted in the colors of the Progress Pride flag. At the time of the incident, he drove the truck with two passengers while flying a large flag bearing the words President Trump. Related Anti-LGBTQ+ Christians stop traffic & destroy rainbow crosswalk The church threatened the town to get it to cancel a drag event and followed through with the vandalism. Investigators identified Brewer the truck using license place information taken from two nearby businesses surveillance videos. Police discovered that the truck was registered to his mother and father, Marisa and Barry Brewer of Clearwater, Florida. 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 Using social media, investigators located Dylan Brewer through his mothers Facebook account, eventually locating the vandals Instagram account where he had pictures of the truck and himself wearing the same black cowboy hat that he was seen wearing on surveillance video while committing the crime.The surveillance video also showed two passengers in the truck with him. Police eventually located both passengers who told officers that Dylan Brewer had driven the truck and worn the black cowboy hat.Near February 13, 2024, police arrested Dylan Brewer and issued him a felony charge of criminal mischief. The police report noted that the vandals truck had nearly hit a man riding a scooter while destroying the crosswalk. The vandal eventually accepted a plea deal that resulted in reduced charges.Judge Daliah Weiss suspended Dylan Brewers drivers license for one year, sentenced him to 12 months probation, ordered him to attend anger management classes. He must now perform 75 hours of community service, pay thousands of dollars in court fines and costs, and $5698.71 in restitution to the City of Delray Beach, The Smoking Gun reported. The rainbow crosswalk was installed by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The groups unveiled the crosswalk during Pride Month festivities on June 12, 2021. The total cost of installation was $16,720.The same intersection was vandalized by another 19-year-old, Alexander Jerrich,in July 2021. Like Brewer, Jerrich performed a burnout in his truck which also had a flag flying from its rear end to deliberately leave black marks on the rainbow street art. The truck was driving as part of a convoy celebrating the birthday of Republican former President Donald Trump,one of the most anti-LGBTQ presidents of all time.A court ordered Jerrich to write a 25-page essay about the 2016 Pulse shooting but declined to pursue a felony criminal mischief charge against Jerrich for fear that it would make it harder for the Trump supporter to find a job. During the trial,Jerrich cried as his father discussed what a disappointment he is. Local LGBTQ+ organizations refused to let Jerrich work with them, even though the judge thought it would help him learn more about the queer community.Jerrich was sentenced to two years probation, 100 hours of community service, and a mental health screening for his crime.Defacement of the memorial to the LGBTQ+ community should be considered a hate crime, said Rand Hoch, the president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council,in response to Jerrichs sentencing. However, local State Attorney David Aronberg previously determined that since the intersection is owned by a municipality and not an individual, Floridas hate crime statute does not apply.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

BREAKING: State of Washington Passes Bill To Take Minor Children Away From Parents If They Refuse to Agree to Gender Transition Surgery.ALERT: CANADA JUST MADE IT ILLEGAL TO PROTEST AGAINST THE LGBT!NEWSFLASH: CALIFORNIA GOV. JERRY BROWN TO FORCE SCHOOLS TO SHOW KIDS GAY SEX AS PART OF INCLUSIVE LGBT CURRICULUM.No, none of the above are accurate or factual (its fake news!). But yes, all of the above are real headlines posted to Facebook in the last few years that were presented as real news.Theyre produced by content factories or thirsty influencers trying to make money by getting as many clicks as possible by having you get riled up enough to at least say, f*ck it, I wanna read more.Click.And as of Tuesday, Metawhich owns Instagram, Facebook and Threads and has upwards of 3.3 billion usershas canned their fact checkers, which were put in place in the wake of Trumps 2016 election. But whats most alarming about Metas new rules is that while the social media giant will still prohibit insults about someones intellect or mental illness, there is now a caveat for accusing LGBTQ people of being mentally ill because they are gay or transgender. We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like weird, the revised company guidelines state.The decisionwhich comes at a time when 41% of queer kids seriously considered suicide in the last yearis seen as Zuckerbergs latest bow to Trump. The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech so were going to get back to our roots and restore free expression on our platforms, Zuckerberg announced in a video he released on Tuesday. The tech CEO, whose company donated $1 million to president-elect Trumps inaugural committee and dined at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida in late November, says his fact-checkers had become too politically biased. He went on to say Meta will use a community notes feature, similar to what Elon Musk has done with X, to help users understand the legitimacy of posts.Trump said Zuckerbergs new approach was probably due to threats he made against the tech mogul.Subscribe nowMeta's New Hate Speech Guidelines Permit Users to Say LGBTQ People are Mentally Ill (NBC)Changes to its hate speech guidelines were among broader policy shifts Meta made to its moderation practices.Pentagon Agrees to Historic Legal Settlement with Gay and Lesbian Veterans (CBS)The Pentagon has reached a historic legal settlement with more than 35,000 gay and lesbian military veterans who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation, and in many cases denied an honorable discharge and the array of services they had earned.The Vivienne, Winner of RuPauls Drag Race UK, Dies at 32 (The New York Times)James Lee Williams was best known by that stage name and also built a career in musical theater.Pope Names LGBTQ Supportive Cardinal as Head of Archdiocese of Washington (Washington Blade) McElroy was praised as a brilliant theologian and astute political analyst.Instagram Blocked Teens From Searching LGBTQ-Related Content for Months (Teen Vogue)Posts with LGBTQ hashtags were hidden under Meta's sensitive content policy which restricts "sexually suggestive content."We are officially partnering with The Stranger, a Seattle-based news publication! Check out our story that they republished this week here. This weekend, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: I interviewed fellow Substacker Judd Legum of Popular Information about Metas new rules and how they could affect the LGBTQ community. Weve explored the challenges surrounding PrEP access before, but this weeks story delves deeper into a high-stakes legal battle. A controversial lawsuit argues that requiring insurance coverage for PrEP violates employers' religious rights. What could this mean for HIV prevention efforts nationwide? Thanks for reading! And feel free to email me with questions, complaints, tips and story ideas! Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chiefspencer@unclosetedmedia.comIf 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

A judge has denied an attempt by disgraced gay former U.S. House Rep.George Santos(R-NY) to delay his sentencing for federal fraud charges. Santos who became infamous for lying about his biography and using campaign funds for lavish personal finances before Republicans kicked him out of the House in December 2023 said he needed more time to pay criminal fines using earnings from his recently launched podcast, Pants on Fire with George Santos.Santos wanted to delay his sentencing originally scheduled to occur next month until August to give him more time to pay off the $205,000 he owes in forfeiture 30 days before his sentencing hearing after pleading guilty last August to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert only allowed the sentencing to be delayed until April 25, noting that he hasnt made any payments toward the amount he owes despite his promises and predictions since pleading guilty. Related George Santos tried to sue Jimmy Kimmel. A federal judge just threw his case out. This comes after Santos pled guilty to criminal charges. In recent court hearings, Santos lawyers argued that he deserved a delay in sentencing now that he has a viable path to pay the fine through the promising revenue stream of his podcast which was launched just last month, The Hill reported. 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 However, prosecutors argued that Santos had sufficient time to secure the funds to pay his $205,000 fine since pleading guilty. They called his claims of being able to pay the fines through his podcast speculative and said that delaying sentencing could set a perverse incentive structure that rewards famous defendants. Despite this, Judge Seybertsaid shed delay his sentencing as a one-time courtesy.In August, Santos admitted to using another persons identity and credit cards as well as campaign funds for his own personal benefit. He originally faced23 federal charges of campaign finance fraudincluding wire fraud, identity theft, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making materially false statements to both the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. House of Representatives. He initially pleaded not guiltyto all charges, calling them a baseless witch hunt, but later accepted a plea deal to avoida public weeks-long trial and possible decades in prison time.In addition to that fine, he owes an additional $375,000 in restitution and could face up to eight years in prison for his criminal misdealings.Its clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical and guilty, Santos said outside the courthouse after pleading guilty. Pleading guilty is a step I never imagined Id take, but it is a necessary one because it is the right thing to do. Its not only a recognition of my misrepresentations to others, but more profoundly, it is my own recognition of the lies I told myself over these past years. On November 16, 2023, the House Ethics Committee issued a reportaccusing Santos of illegally spending campaign fundson luxury goods, OnlyFans subscriptions, and cosmetic Botox treatments. Immediately after, the Housevoted to expel Santos in a 311-114 voteAfter his expulsion, Santos began making moneycreating personalized videos on the Cameo platform. Santos claimed that his largely fake campaign biography which hepreviously admitted fabricatingdue to stupidity and insecurity was actually falsified by an unnamed former campaign staffer.Santos has provided no proof to back up his previous biographical claims that his grandparents escaped the Holocaust, that he attended the Horace Mann preparatory school, that his mother died in connection to the September 11th terrorist attacks, or that he lost four employees in the June 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. Santos was part ofRios drag scene in the late 2000s(despite initially claiming that he was never a drag queen). He also deniedan accusation of check fraudin Brazil butlater formally confessed to it. Some have questionedwhether he married his ex-wife just so that she could obtain U.S. citizenship.After joining Congress, Santoscosponsored a bill to roll back LGBTQ+ civil rightsand one toban LGBTQ+ books from schools. He also made public statementsagainst transgender peopleand the so-calledradical rainbow mafia.Additionally, he said thatLGBTQ+ families create troubled individuals.Santos said last March that he would leave the Republican Party to run for congressional re-election as an independent in New Yorks 1st District. However, hedropped this plan last April, saying that he didnt want to pull away votes from the districts Republican incumbent.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Subscribe nowBy: Mia MaldonadoThis article was originally published in the Idaho Capital Sun. Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, walks to the lectern to present a piece of legislation during the House State Affairs Committee on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)The first pieces of legislation introduced in the Idaho Capitol this session address same-sex marriage and Boise State Universitys decision to forfeit its womens volleyball matches against San Jos State University.On Tuesday morning, legislators in the Idaho House State Affairs Committee voted to move two items a memorial and resolution forward.Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, was the first to introduce her memorial to the committee. The memorial pushes to restore the authority of defining marriage to the states and urges the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage.A memorial is not a bill, but rather it is a petition or representation made by the House of Representatives and concurred in by the Senate, or vice versa, addressed to whoever can effectuate the request of the memorial, according to legislative rules. The committee voted to move the resolution forward with a hearing that will take place at a later date.The second piece of legislation came from Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, who introduced a concurrent resolution commending the Boise State University womens volleyball team for forfeiting its matches against San Jos State University in protest of the team having a transgender athlete, Idaho Education News reported.Ehardt, a longtime college basketball coach, said Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in sports, changed her life. She said a transgender athlete should have never been allowed to play in the Mountain West Conference.Shame on the Mountain West for allowing this to happen and not changing their policies, she said. Even bigger shame we call out the NCAA (President) Charlie Baker for allowing this to happen. It should never have happened. Their regressive policies are putting men in womens sports, men in single sex spaces, and its not right.The concurrent resolution doesnt have the force of law. Instead, it expresses the opinion of the Legislature on a topic. The committee voted to move the resolution forward to a full public hearing to be held at a later date.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

With the holiday break over, a number of state legislatures are reconvening starting this week to hold their 2025 sessions, and LGBTQ-related bills and policies are already on the docket in many states. Massachusetts, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New [...]The post State Legislatures Reconvene to Consider 2025 LGBTQ-Related Bills first appeared on GLAAD.

In an exclusive clip for the third season of Bravos Southern Hospitality,we see a moment between resident bartender TJ Dinch and new assistant general manager Michols Pena. Last week, it was revealed that they had kissed but nothing really came from it. The discussion between the two (while getting mani-pedis, of course) turns into a [...]The post Exclusive Clip: Southern Hospitalitys Michols Opens Up To TJ About Sexuality, Coming Out, Chosen Family, and Challenges of Dating in the South first appeared on GLAAD.

Erika Hilton, a Black trans member of Brazils Chamber of Deputies, has asked the U.N. to investigate Mark Zuckerbergs revelation that Meta will end fact-checking and allow anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech to go unchecked on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. Policy changes by large corporations like Meta continue to put the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals at risk,Hilton wrote in a document sent to Nicolas Levrat, the U.N.s special rapporteur on minority issues, as reported by InfoMoney. Related The number of companies committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion is growing HRCs 2025 Corporate Equality Index reported an overall positive trend despite some major companies rolling back their DEI policies She added that Metas new policies can be considered complicit in the dissemination of practices that violate the rights of groups protected by Brazilian legislation. 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 Hilton one of the first trans people elected to Brazils Congress, along with Duda Salabert the same year also pointed out that the relaxed policies violate two U.N.-approved international treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities of 1992.Immediate intervention is essential to protect the rights of affected communities and prevent further human rights abuses, Hilton wrote. Zuckerberg announced in a January 7 Facebook video that hell be loosening restrictions on Metas fact-checking systems on Threads, Instagram, and Facebook, instead opting for a community-driven notes system. He told the press that hes also planning to loosen content moderation policies, especially those around political topics.Were going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms, Zuckerberg said in his announcement. More specifically, heres what were going to do. First, were going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the U.S.He criticized governments and legacy media for pushing to censor more and more. He said he was inspired by the 2024 presidential election. Zuckerberg has been making moves to meet with Donald Trump to discuss policy, and hehas committedto donating $1 million to the president-elects inauguration fund. Part of Metas new policies also include explicit permission to bully LGBTQ+ people on its platforms. New company guidelines state, We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like weird.'Hilton posted about her U.N. request on Instagram, where she emphasized the dire impact the policy will have on LGBTQ+ people. I cannot allow practices that violate fundamental rights to go unpunished, she wrote, according to a translation by Google. In Brazil, where transphobia and violence against LGBTQIA+ are already reaching alarming levels, corporate decisions like these put lives at risk and weaken the hard work for justice and equality. I will continue fighting for a safe and respectful digital environment for all people, for the sovereignty of Brazil and the regulation of social networks, against the right to commit crimes on the internet, as the extreme right wants. We will not back down!Hilton has made waves for her immense passion in fighting for the rights of marginalized people. The 32-year-old has spoken about wanting to make politics more appealing to young people and was named a Next Generation Leader by Time in 2022. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

V Spehars journey from food advocacy to becoming one of TikToks most trusted LGBTQ+ news voices is remarkable. On January 6, marking the fourth anniversary of their channel Under the Desk News, Spehar, 42, spoke with The Advocate to discuss their platforms impact, new media challenges, and journalisms future in a rapidly evolving landscape. As their platform enters its fifth year, they remain a steadfast advocate for meeting audiences where they areeven if that means reinventing what journalism looks like.Spehars journey into digital journalism began in chaos on January 6, 2021. As supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, Spehar was on a Zoom call discussing food policy. Watching the events unfold, they made a TikTok video explaining the 25th Amendment from under a desk. It was a safe space for me and for the audience, they recalled. That sense of calm resonated with people.From then on, Spehar continued to inform the audience of important news stories.At that time, I was just your friend V Spehar whos really smart about this particular stuff, Spehar said.Over the years, Spehars platform has grown to over 3.2 million TikTok followers and more than 600,000 on Instagram. Their approachpresenting news in a relatable, conversational tonehas made Under The Desk News a trusted source for many, particularly younger audiences who may not engage with traditional media.Before they became a trusted voice on TikTok, Spehar, who identifies as nonbinary, worked with the James Beard Foundation, focusing on culinary advocacy and policy. They worked on combatting food waste and championed programs supporting woman-owned restaurants and small food businesses. Spehar also contributed to policy initiatives related to the Farm Bill and collaborated with organizations to provide resources to struggling culinary entrepreneurs, they told The Advocate. Their experience in this space helped hone the advocacy and communication skills that would later define their approach to journalism.Changing how news is deliveredSpehar says TikTok bridges gaps between traditional journalism and new media, offering digestible insights into complex topics for audiences often left behind by legacy media outlets.However, Spehars success has not come without challenges. In a Saturday NPR interview, they discussed the skepticism they face from legacy media. Introduced on the program as a newsfluencer, Spehar pushed back against the term, emphasizing their professional background, which includes roles at the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. I dont know what that word means, Spehar told The Advocate. @underthedesknews NPR does some fantastic work, but they really biffed this one - they also cut anytime I mentioned my professional credentials to keep this newsfluencer thing going. Im a @MediaWise ambassador for crying out loud Mozilla Rise25, Webby special achievement winner, GLAAD nominated digital journalist who had a ding dang billboard in Times Square once for excellence in my podcast programming - I worked at LATimes, WashPo, and did field work for NBC - when do I get to be a journalist? #news #media #tradmedia #npr #misinformation Spehar described their experience on NPRs Weekend Edition Saturday as both disheartening and a learning experience. During the interview, they felt their words were misrepresented. They chopped the sentences I said to not be the answers I gave, Spehar explained. I think thats gravely disingenuous and lazy.Spehar accused NPR of selectively cutting their answers to fit a preconceived narrative in a video posted online after the segment aired. Yes, I said those words, but not in the way they were presented, Spehar said. It felt like they were trying to discredit the work Ive done over the past four years.Despite their frustrations, they acknowledged NPRs overall contributions to journalism. I think NPR does fantastic work, they said. But this time, they got it very wrong.Spehar had pointed explicitly to the segment where they discussed having a shtick on TikTok, which they felt was reduced to sounding trite rather than thoughtful.One thing about TikTok is youve got to have a shtick, Spehar said in the segment that aired before being cut off. In the transcript of the response, they had continued, Mine was doing news from under the desk as opposed to at the desk. It was a little bit more visually interesting. Were living in very absurd times, so doing something silly felt like the right thing to do during a difficult story.Spehar noted that the bias they felt exhibited in the interview reflects a broader misunderstanding of digital creators.Theres this idea that social media journalists are less credible, but thats simply not true, they said. Every day, I have to earn the trust of my audience, just like any other journalist.The NPR segment also delved into the tension between influencers and traditional journalists, particularly at major events like the Democratic and Republican National Conventions last summer. While influencers were criticized for allegedly receiving preferential treatment at the DNC, Spehar clarified that their access was carefully managed.Theres this misconception that everyone who makes content is the same, Spehar told The Advocate. But the public understands the difference between someone giving their opinion online and someone like me, who is providing vetted, contextualized news.NPR defended its editorial practices. In response to questions about the segment, an NPR spokesperson responded to The Advocate in a statement. We stand by our journalism, the spokesperson wrote. V Spehars voice was not speeded up. The entire piece was edited down for time on the air, and additional answers from both guests were also transcribed for a digital piece. Some exchanges and answers were shortened or not included in the final story. The edited interview did not alter the substance of any of V Spehars answers.NPR, however, maintained that because of time constraints, we never include every single Q&A, but are careful to reflect the substance of the conversation.The outlet's statement continued: [Host] Eric Deggans questions were reasonable, fair, and respectfully addressed journalism ethics and access to newsmakers.Additionally, NPR stressed its respect for social media as a platform for journalism. NPR values social media, produces original journalism for social media, and we have very talented digital journalists on our staff. Our goal is to provide impartial fact-based information and meet our listeners where they are, the spokesperson wrote.A fight against the TikTok banSpehar and Under the Desk News not only have to defend against critics of this new form of journalism but also a critical challenge to the account's operation as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on a potential TikTok ban on Friday.The law, set to take effect just one day before Trumps inauguration, requires ByteDance, TikToks China-based parent company, to sell the app or face a nationwide ban. While the federal government argues that the app poses national security risks due to its foreign ownership, Spehar counters that political narratives and a cultural bias against TikTok are overshadowing the real story.This isnt just about TikTok, Spehar told The Advocate. Its about the government setting a precedent that platforms can be shut down without evidence or due process.Spehar pointed to the troubling legal journey of the case, highlighting that lower courts upheld the ban without requiring the government to provide evidence accessible to TikToks lawyers. The case relied on secret evidencedocuments that werent even shared during discovery, they said. And the court ruled, We dont even need to see the evidence because Congress says so. That kind of deference to government say-so over a trial or hard proof is terrifying.For Spehar, the issue transcends TikTok and raises alarms for the broader media landscape. If this ban is upheld, it sets the stage for the government to label any platform or entity as a national security threat without justification, they warned. This is a constitutional crisis. The governments say-so cannot exceed the need for evidence or trials. If this precedent is upheld, its a threat to the First Amendment and journalism at large.The stakes of the TikTok ban go beyond Spehars channel. The app, with its 170 million U.S. users, has become a hub for creators, marginalized voices, and alternative journalism.Losing TikTok isnt just losing an app; its losing a platform that amplifies voices traditional media often ignores, Spehar said. Its a place where queer people, women, and people of color hold the most power right now.Looking aheadAs Spehar navigates an uncertain future for TikTok and social media, they remain committed to adapting. Ive always said Ill go back to cooking if I have to, they partially joked. But their focus remains on the bigger picture: fostering a more inclusive, accessible media landscape.Coming into Trump 2.0, I have a lot of concerns, they admitted. Will my marriage be overturned? Will my Guatemalan nephew be pulled out of school? Theres so much at stake. But whatever happens, Ill keep doing the workwhether its on TikTok or somewhere else.

The Last Dream by Pedro Almodvar (translated by Frank Wynne) is a collection of 12 short stories, including eight works of fiction, that were written over a span of 55 years.Considered a fragmentary autobiography by the author, this book demonstrates the Academy Award-winning film directors literary prowess and versatility. His writing, like his filmmaking, delves deep into the human psyche using beautifully crafted spare prose.The Spanish-speaking world will be quick to note the titles allusion to the 18th-century epic poem First Dream (Primer Sueo) by Mexican lesbian Renaissance nun, playwright, philosopher, inventor, painter, and composer Sor Juana de la Cruz. (I, the Worst of All, a film of her life based on research done by Nobel Prize Laureate Octavio Paz, is available for free online.)Fabulator, not writerIn the books introduction, Almodvar writes that he sees himself as a fabulator, his preferred term to describe what he does. Its a freeing term for him, freeing from a strict adherence to the truth, and even from himself as author-director. He rather prefers to consider himself a mere guide taking us on a wild ride into the recesses of his mind.He writes that there is an intimate relationship between what I write, what I film and what I live.Despite bold story lines that know no bounds and an exhibitionistic alter-ego named Patty Diphusa (patidifusa is Iberian slang for flabbergasted) that first appeared in the Spanish magazine La Luna in 1979, the fabulator remains a very private person hidden behind the camera.Nonetheless, several stories fill in biographical information about Almodvar the man, such as the title story The Last Dream, about the day his own mother died. It represents his finest writing in his own view.Author Pedro AlmodvarPhoto: Nico BustosIn the short story The Visit, he reveals the story of how one of his most enduring films Bad Education about clerical abuse came to be.Like fine sculpture, Almodvars writing has carved away all the superfluous description that many writers and readers luxuriate in. This book, however, is not perfect; no work ever is. At times the fabulator seems to be trying too hard to be overly creative when theres no need to be, something that feels like a more egregious sin in literature than in labor-intensive filmmaking: Genet was a sauce we sometimes used to douse our work together. Was there no budget for an editor? Whatever the books few mechanical shortcomings, it more than makes up for it in creativity.The secret to his geniusIn The Mirror Ceremony, a vampire enters a monastery and manages to transcend his unsatisfactory circumstances through an obvious yet startlingly novel solution: he simply accepts Christs redemption of his soul!Stories like this get readers wondering whether the premise of the plot is silly or serious. With Almodvar, its always both, always a paradox, always as fascinatingly complicated as real life.The same can be asked of the story Too Many Gender Swaps, which contains ideas that appear in several films including the gay thriller The Law of Desire and the wondrous film Dark Habits on which the terribly dumbed-down Sister Act films were based.In A Bad Novel Almodvar, 75, commands interest as he tries to candidly assess his own writing. But when he sets out to assess it again in Memory of an Empty Day we begin to see why he has thus far not been prolific. Nonetheless, the story fascinates as he tries to measure his worth as fabulator in light of the fact that he is aging and no longer shares a culture of youth with an ever-growing percentage of his audience (readers).The memorable short story Adis, Volcano was written as a tribute to the great Mexican queer singer Chavela Vargas upon her death. Vargas gained success despite (or because of) her masculine appearance and dress, and famously dated women like Frida Kahlo, even photographing themselves frolicking in the grass. The singer is featured in a number of his films.And finally, the collection would not be complete without a proper romp into surrealistic territory, not so far removed, really, from Catholic reality. The Life and Death of Miguel, written when Almodvar was very young man, depicts a world in which death and life happen in reverse as people grow younger, like Benjamin Button. (He was certain the idea was stolen when he first learned of the film.) Writing the story, he reflects, was his attempt to come to terms with our powerlessness in the face of unstoppable time.All in all, reading The Last Dream is well worth your time. But the book is best enjoyed after watching at least a few of his world-class films. In particular, I recommend Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and All About My Mother as a basic introduction to the wild world of Pedro Almodvar.The Last Dream by Pedro Almodvar, HarperVia, $26.The post Review: Pedro Almodvars The Last Dream appeared first on News Is Out.

Fox host Jesse Watters claims that gay people are nuts to think that Donald Trump is going to attack LGBTQ+ rights in his second term in office while discussing a Philadelphia Inquirer article about how some LGBTQ+ people are getting guns to prepare for the next four years. He insisted that, because Trump promised to be fair as president, that gay people have nothing to worry about. Related Fox News fool Jesse Watters says Tim Walz is gay for Kamala Harriss husband The funny primetime host fixated on how Walz hugged Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at a recent rally. Watters opened his segment on the subject by saying that Trump won the election because of inflation, the border, culture. 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 Culture as in Culture Wars is a euphemism used by the right to describe restricting LGBTQ+ peoples and womens rights, as well as issues involving restrictions of free speech and the right to practice no religion or a minority religion. But Watters apparently felt that Trump mounting a campaign on the back of attacks on transgender peoples rights should somehow be reassuring to cis gay people. Moreover, Watters insisted, Trump has vaguely promised to be fair to everyone. Donald Trump promised to be a fair president to all Americans and to protect them whether they like it or not, but the liberal fringe is convinced that Trump is out to get them, Watters said. So now hard left gay activists are strapping up and embracing the amendment liberals love to hate, the Second. Theyre joining groups like the Socialist Rifle Association and the Pink Pistols, which have seen a surge of membership. Why? Many think that a gun is the only thing standing in the way between them and concentration camps.Watters got a few facts wrong from the Philadelphia Inquirer article he was riffing on. The article didnt say anything about a surge in membership in those organizations. It mentioned an increased interest in training sessions at the Liberal Gun Club and the Pink Pistols. Moreover, the people who talked about getting guns in the article werent necessarily hard left gay activists. They didnt all discuss their political beliefs and werent activists. Also some of the interviewees were transgender.But Watters said that gay people arming themselves is proof that theyre nuts. Everyone should exercise their Second Amendment right. We just wish they werent so nuts, he said. He then had conservative comedian Jimmy Failla on to talk about the matter. Failla made some jokes about how much Trump loves gay people, citing how Trump dances to YMCA often and attended Elton Johns wedding. Both Watters and Failla seemed to be making a large distinction between gay and trans people, apparently not even understanding why many cis gay people would feel threatened by Trumps attacks on trans people. There are historical connections between gay and trans people which is why its even intelligible to discuss LGBTQ+ people as a group today and many LGBTQ+ people can see how homophobia and transphobia often come from the same sources and have similar effects. This is a separation of the community that the Philadelphia Inquirer article they were discussing did not make, as it involved interviews with trans people who were arming themselves after being the targets of $215 million of campaign ads from the GOP this past election season.One trans woman interviewed in the article said that shes worried about becoming the victim of hate crimes or terrorist attacks showing that shes not just worried about Trump administration policies. In the event of hate crimes or terrorist attacks, knowing that, OK, Im personally armed and I can protect my property and people that are close to me,' she said. All the people who want to kill the people I care about have guns, another woman said in the article. So I do, too.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Journalists covering legislation about transgender participation in sports should include these facts and context in their coverage, seek transgender voices in stories about transgender issues, challenge politicians rhetoric to provide facts to back up any claims, and include any history of targeting LGBTQ people (200+ profiles on the GLAAD Accountability Project, here). Transgender people make [...]The post Fact Sheet for Reporters: Transgender Participation in Sports first appeared on GLAAD.

Soaps are failing LGBTQ+ viewers. With four network soaps, all of which have been airing for decades, the dearth of representation of LGBTQ+ storylines is disappointing at best. Looking back at queer storylines over the years, soaps seem to be moving backward, not forward, from some groundbreaking characters and storylines that debuted decades ago tolittle if any representationnow.Soaps have always had a complicated relationship with gay and lesbian characters. (Trans characters are fairly new to the soap landscape.) Often, characters are introduced only to have their queerness questioned, or they exist in isolation with no one to share their queer identity, regardless of how large their town may be. In some instances, plots have shattered gay and lesbian relationships in truly awful ways that have ruined the characters lives and resulted in them ostensibly being de-gayed: What has happened to them is too awful for them to consider being in a relationship again. And then the character fades away or just their gayness does.Thats what happened to one of the most iconic lesbian soap characters, Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) on ABCs All My Children. Bianca the daughter of the shows main character, Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and came out to her mother on Dec. 22, 2000 in a storyline widely touted as groundbreaking.But Biancas path did not run smoothly. First, the writers had her violently sexually assaulted and she became pregnant with her rapists baby, which she decided to keep. Then several years and a couple of complicated and damaging relationships later one of her lovers was murdered she was getting married in Connecticut (before marriage equality) to the love of her life, Reese Williams (Tamara Braun), with whom she had another child. But it was revealed that Reese had had a one-night stand with a man and the marriage was annulled. Bianca did seemingly have a happy ending when AMC concluded in 2011 as she was dating Marissa Tasker (Sarah Glendening) but in Prospect Parks short-lived 2013 online revival of the soap, Marissa was revealed to have died off-screen.Why couldnt Bianca just have a happily ever after for five minutes?As the World Turns inaugurated the first gay male kiss in daytime between Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) and Noah Mayer (Jake Silbermann) on Aug. 17, 2007. The kiss made Luke and Noah the first gay male super couple on daytime television. The duo were named one of televisions top power couples by TV Guide and one of the great super couples by Entertainment Weekly.But all good gay things must end and Luke and Noahs relationship concluded with Noahs homophobic father trying to kill Luke, then Noah marrying a young Iraqi refugee to help her stay in the country and a series of other crises that include Lukes drinking and Noah still trying to come to terms with his gayness till the couple breaks up.Throughout the aughts and 2010s, there have been a series of gay male couplings on CBSsDays of Our Lives,a gay male couple onOne Life to Live,lesbian relationships onThe Bold and the Beautifuland Guiding Light and a gay male couple onGeneral Hospital.The Young and the Restlesseven had a brief gay male storyline with Victor Newmans (Eric Braeden) son, Adam (Michael Muhney), who was playing gay to get help from another man. But that died the quick death it deserved. And B&B had a brief and fraught trans storyline in 2015 when it introduced Maya Avant (Karla Mosley). Maya wasrevealed to be a trans womantwo years into her debut on the series.All these major front-burner stories took place a decade or more ago. Now, withGLAAD notingrecord representation in primetime, why is daytime lacking LGBTQ stories?On GH, Kristina (Kate Mansi) has been out as bisexual-now-lesbian for years in abusive relationships with both men and women and was even helming an LGBTQ+ center.In 2024, she became involved with Latina singer Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez) and was caught in a scandal caused by Blazes homophobic mother, all while being a surrogate for her sister, Molly (Kristen Vaganos).Kristina had decided to keep the baby and raise her with Blaze when she nearly died in a freak fall out a window. The fall killed the baby and her relationship with Blaze, who left town to go on tour while Kristina grieved alone.Also on GH, Lucas (now played by Van Hansis of ATWT super couple fame) has returned, and his ex-husband Brad (Parry Shen) is trying to win him back. But Lucas isnt dating. Hes told Brad he doesnt want to get back with him, and his gayness is on the back burner to his work as a surgeon at the hospital.GH also has the sole trans character in daytime. Cassandra James plays Dr. Terry Randolph, chief of staff at GH. James is the first transgender actress to play a transgender character in a soap opera. While there is a wealth of opportunity for story here, especially as Terry is friends with Brad and also has a sexy Russian boyfriend, she is mostly recurring, with few in-depth scenes and none that address her transness. Couldnt she have been a spokesperson for Kristinas center?Y&R has a lesbian couple, Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) and Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks). In May 2022, the couple became the first to have asame-sex weddingon the show. The duo is the sole lesbian couple in daytime.And how is it possible that B&B, the show about the fashion industry which is also one of the top exports globally, has never had a gay storyline when so many top designers are gay? B&B is the most-watched soap opera in the world, with an estimated 300 million viewers daily and shown in over 100 countries across five continents.In 2025, LGBTQ+ viewers deserve better representation and its confounding that there were more pivotal, groundbreaking and front-burner storylines for queer and trans viewers 20 years ago than there are now. How and when will this change?The post Why arent soap operas more gay? appeared first on News Is Out.

Out California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) has introduced a bill to protect trans peoples privacy in preparation for the incoming Trump administration. Donald Trumps ire toward trans people and his planned assault on their rights will only embolden abusive right-wing extremists, Wiener said.S.B. 59, also called the Transgender Privacy Act, would establish an automatic process to seal all court records regarding someones gender transition in the state, including retroactively sealing those that already exist. It would also ensure all gender transition records that refer to the person by their dead name or sex assigned at birth would be sealed. Related Donald Trumps endless assault on our nation is exhausting. But complacency is not an option. We must learn from the past and imagine new waysofdefending our rights and our power. A similar law applying only to youth was passed in 2023. Wieners bill specifically applies to those over 18. 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 incoming Trump administration and Republican congressional leadership have made clear that targeting and erasing trans people is among their highest policy priorities, and California must have our trans community members backs, Wiener said in a statement. Making this personal identifying information public after someone transitions, including a persons dead name, as well as the basic fact that theyre trans or nonbinary, pointlessly exposes trans and nonbinary Californians to harassment and potential violence.If passed, California would join Washington, Oregon, and New York in having some form of privacy laws to protect trans people from being forcibly outed by state records. When I learned I was unable to change my name in California without being forcibly outed online and exposed to harassment I was appalled, said Hazel Williams, a trans activist who worked on the legislation with Wiener, according to the Bay Area Reporter. Im proud to help rally community members and advocacy organizations to fix this. There are 220,000 transgender and nonbinary adults in California. All of us deserve privacy and safety and this legislation is a vital step in that direction.The legislation follows a decision last year by Fresnos 5th District Court of Appeal that granted a trans woman in the state the right to seal her transition-related records after she was outed on social media, harassed by anonymous users, and forced to close all her accounts. While the decision set a precedent for judges to grant requests to seal transition records, it does not require them to do so the way Wieners bill would. As Trump and his cronies continue their cynical incitements of violence against transgender people, its critical that we fight back with progressive protections at the state level, Syd Simpson, co-chair of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ_ Democratic Clubs Transgender Caucus, told the Bay Area Reporter. Its really scary to know that there are people out there who want to hurt you and that your personal information is just sitting there for them to exploit. The right to privacy and the right to be safe are precious to our community, and weve got to fight for them.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

One hundred years ago, queerness was illegal in just about every way in the U.S. There were laws against cross-dressing and sodomy, being trans or queer was classified as a mental illness, and it was legal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the same time, there was a thriving underground subculture of balls, drag shows, and salons.During the Harlem Renaissance and blues craze, queer people were open in their own circles, but organizing politically for equality was not in the collective consciousness. The community centers, groups, and newsletters that would become the foundation for the fight for equality wouldnt come around until the 1950s. Related A century before Kill the Gays, Uganda had a queer king: Mwanga II The kings fight against imperialism and his brutality have been used to paint homosexuality in positive or negative lights. In Berlin, however, where there was a booming queer scene, Magnus Hirschfeld began the official movement for LGBTQ+ rights. He founded the first organization for LGBTQ+ rights in the world the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in 1897 and the world-renowned Institute for Sexual Research in 1919. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today A man who would follow in Hirschfelds historic footsteps was born in 1892 in Bavaria, and in 1913 he emigrated to Chicago, where his name became Henry Gerber at Ellis Island (sources disagree on his birth name). He would go on to found the first gay rights organization in the United States after being briefly institutionalized for homosexuality in 1917.Gerber returned to Germany from 1920 to 1923, when he served with the U.S. Army in the wake of World War I. There, he was in contact with Hirschfeld and learned more about what gay rights advocacy could look like, including subscribing to some of the first LGBTQ+ publications. He returned to Chicago determined to start a parallel effort in the U.S.He spent a year recruiting founding members, and on December 10, 1924, he filed with the state of Illinois for the incorporation of a nonprofit organization called the Society for Human Rights. The state granted him a charter on December 24, officially marking the first LGBTQ+ rights organization in the United States. Sodomy remained illegal in Illinois until 1962 (when it would become the first state in the nation to repeal its antisodomy law), and Gerber and his group could not claim they were advocating for crime. As such, the stated purpose was broad: to promote and protect the interests of people who by reasons of mental and physical abnormalities are abused and hindered in the legal pursuit of happiness which is guaranteed them by the Declaration of Independence and to combat the public prejudices against them by dissemination of factors according to modern science among intellectuals of mature age.Gerber began to publish the first known gay publication in the country, Friendship and Freedom, which only had two issues. Dissemination of queer content through the postal service was illegal under the anti-obscenity Comstock Act, so readers were limited. But Hirschfeld did receive a copy, as did Harry Hay, who would go on to co-found the gay rights organization the Mattachine Society in 1950. Hay said receiving that publication directly contributed to his creation of that group, which was the first openly LGBTQ+ group in the country.There were seven founding members of the Society for Human Rights, including the group President John T. Graves, a Black clergyman. The vice-president, Al Weininger, ended up having an inadvertent hand in the organizations swift end. Weininger was married with two children, and one of his family members (some sources say his wife, others his daughter) reported to a social worker that he was part of a group of degenerates just seven months after the organization formed. Police arrested Gerber, Graves, Weininger, and others. Other than Gerber, the fate of the rest of the members has been lost to history.Gerber was released after spending his life savings on his defense across three trials and losing his job as a U.S. postal worker. The police confiscated all of his papers, and zero copies of Friendship and Freedom exist today.Its hard to imagine the courage and strength and determination of someone like Henry Gerber in 1924 determining to do a new thing in the U.S., teacher Rodney Wilson, the founder of LGBTQ+ History Month, told LGBTQ Nation. He was a man ahead of his time by about half a century. The fact that Gerber and the other men who founded the Society were able to get it recognized by the government, were able to exist for months, creating a space within Gerbers home that was safe this proved that something seemingly impossible like gay rights in the 1920s was possible, even if it had to be done in a coded, secret way, added Erin Bell, Operations Director of the Gerber/Hart LGBTQ+ Library & Archives in Chicago. It took an extreme amount of courage, and theres courage to be found in community spaces.Gerber/Hart is a nonprofit organization named for both Henry Gerber and Pearl M. Hart, a Chicago lawyer and advocate. The organization served as the first institutional home for LGBTQ+ History Month in the 1990s.At Gerber/Hart, we pay homage to Henry Gerber in more than just our name, Bell said. In life, he was committed to fostering community and spreading awareness of the need for gay rights and acceptance. We want to honor his advocacy work through programs and services aimed at supporting the queer community: from operating our library as a free space for members of the public to come peruse and borrow materials, to majority-free programs that are both fun and educational, to striving to bridge the access gap by making more online resources. While many have never heard of Gerber or the Society for Human Rights, Bell and Wilson both say awareness is increasing. A book about Gerber An Angel in Sodom was published in 2022. But even those who have never heard of him are connected to his legacy. He helped to inspire future leaders and assisted behind the scenes for decades, witnessing the movement blossom until his death in 1972.The centennial celebration of the Society for Human Rights is also the centennial of the official movement for LGBTQ+ equality in the United States.The celebration reminds us of all the group has taught: to gather in community, to help in community, to organize in community. As LGBTQ+ history is removed from curriculums as part of a broad anti-LGBTQ+ movement, organizations like Bells and Wilsons continue to share our heritage outside of state-sanctioned channels.We are grounded in the present moment only when we understand the moments of the past, Wilson said. Understanding history empowers us to stand our ground and to advance the causes that others, like Henry Gerber, began advancing long ago. Historical literacy is required to be a fully functioning, empowered human being able to contribute to the conversation and move the moment forward.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While the use of PrEP has helped drop the rates of HIV infections, instances of syphilis and chlamydia among queer men have been skyrocketing, but a new study shows that doxyPEP may be the answer to curbing the rising tide of infections.A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on January 6 concluded that taking doxyPEP reduced the rates of chlamydia and syphilis by around 80%.DoxyPEP, short for Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is a 200 mg dose of the antibiotic taken within 72 hours after sex to lessen the chance of acquiring gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis.Our study suggests that doxyPEP may be turning the rising tide on chlamydia and syphilis, which had been seemingly endless, while important questions remain about gonorrhea and antibiotic resistance, said Julia Marcus, PhD, MPH, of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute in Boston, and one of the authors of the study, according to POZ magazine.The newly released study which tracked 11.551 people in northern California shows that the medication not only lowers the risk of chlamydia and syphilis for gay men and transgender women but also found a smaller but significant decline in rates of gonorrhea.People taking doxyPEP reported a drop of 79% for chlamydia, 80% for syphilis, and 12% for gonorrhea.Receipt of doxyPEP was associated with substantial declines in chlamydia and syphilis incidence and with moderate declines in urethral and rectal gonorrhea but not pharyngeal gonorrhea, the study concluded.Gay men make up half of all cases of syphilis in the U.S., but after years of the rates of STIs rising in the U.S., the CDC reported in November 2024 that infection rates dropped by a total of 2%, with a 13% reduction in syphilis among gay men, Queerty reports. Experts believe this significant drop is due to DoxyPep being prescribed in large cities like San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.Interventions that are effective in clinical trials dont always end up working in real-world settings, where people tend to face more barriers to consistent medication use, Michael Traeger, PhD, a research fellow at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and lead author of the study said in a statement. We were excited to see that doxyPEP users in our study experienced declines in chlamydia and syphilis comparable to those observed in clinical trials.The study found that when doxyPEP was offered to patients, not only did the rates of positive STI test results plummet, but the number of patients needing treatment after an STI exposure declined too. It also underscored the importance of STI testing even in people using doxyPEP because the treatment plan is less effective at reducing the rates of gonorrhea.Although the authors still have more questions they want answered about doxyPEP, Marcus said in a statement that the study suggests that broader implementation of doxyPEP could have tremendous benefits for reducing STI transmission and improving sexual health."