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Photo by Sean Robinson. Subscribe nowWhen Patrick Wyatt uses poppers, he makes sure he has three hours handy before sitting down to masturbate with the drug.I usually have a variety of bottles next to me, Wyatt says, describing his masturbation routine. I kind of have a mix of things that I do during my sessions.The 57-year-old Colorado native has cycled through many different brands of poppers, including Super RUSH, RUSH ZERO, and French Premium Amyl. He says his popper of choice is the Chicago-based Video Head Cleaner, a brand he describes as the best and strongest in the U.S. He also likes AM Maxx, a brand he orders on Etsy from Latvia that he says gives a smooth hit.Poppers are a slang term referring to the recreational drug made with a chemical group of nitrites. The substance, typically inhaled, increases blood flow and offers a temporary euphoric feeling, lasting no longer than two minutes per hit. For over half a century, the drug has been most popular among men who have sex with men, in part because it is a muscle relaxant, which can make receiving anal sex easier and more pleasurable.While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate poppers, they released an article in 2021 titled Ingesting or Inhaling Nitrite "Poppers" Can Cause Severe Injury or Death.Make no mistake, ingesting or inhaling poppers seriously jeopardizes your health, Judy McMeekin, a Pharm. D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, says in the article. She adds that poppers can damage the skin or other tissues they come in contact with, and they may cause difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure, decreases in blood oxygen levels, seizures, heart arrhythmia, coma and death. Do not ingest or inhale under any circumstances, states the FDA release.Despite these warnings, use of poppers has become increasingly prevalent in pop culture and in mainstream media. Gay, Australian pop star Troye Sivans song Rusha title inspired by the popular poppers brand of the same namehit number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. A 2020 study found that 3.3% of adults in the U.S. have used poppers, with over one-third of gay men having tried the drug. Some companies have cashed out with poppers-themed products, like Pander Shirts slate of Rush-themed merchandise and Boy Smells Citrush candle.Popperswhich are available in many bodegas, gas stations and smoke shops across the U.S., are only legally allowed to be sold as cosmetic products like nail polish remover. They remain unregulated by the FDA, making it not always clear as to what users are inhaling.Theres no real way, unless youre testing the poppers bottle, to [tell whats in them], Perry Halkitis, the dean of the School of Public Health at Rutgers University, told Uncloseted Media.Since there is no mandate when it comes to the ingredients in poppers, different brands contain varying forms of nitrites, including amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite or similar substances that lower blood pressure and raise heart rate when inhaled.I can tell subtleties between brands, how they smell, how they hit. Some hit a little lighter and last longer, and some hit like a freight train with great intensity, Wyatt told Uncloseted Media.Patrick Wyatts poppers supply. Photo courtesy of Wyatt. There are different manufacturers creating different products under different names and using different chemical ingredients and solvents, says Halkitis. The minute the manufacturing and distribution of drugs becomes non-regulated, then you get the situation youre in.Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused journalismAccording to the 2021 note by the FDA, manufacturers are packaging and labeling these products in a way that may mislead consumers into thinking the poppers are safe or intended to be inhaled or ingested by drinking.These dont come with how to use instructions, says Halkitis, adding that the shortage of guidance is leading some to drink the substance.This lack of regulation has been compounded by misinformation surrounding the drug. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has falsely claimed poppers may be linked to HIV and AIDS.Poppers entered the party scene in the 1960s. The product was available over-the-counter as a treatment for angina, a form of chest pain often caused by coronary heart disease. Following its rise in recreational use, the drugs manufacturer, Burroughs-Wellcome, asked the FDA in 1969 to take amyl nitrites off pharmacy shelves and instead opt for prescription-only access. Since then, you can only get regulated poppers from your doctor for angina or similar cardiovascular conditions.Due to this prescription-only access, unregulated manufacturers of poppers filled the supply gap for consumers looking to use them recreationally.The problem nowadays is that there seems to be on the market some versions of poppers that are packed with other solvents, says Halkitis. He says products like acetone and paint thinnerswhich can have serious health implicationshave been found in some poppers bottles.For Wyatt, this results in different aftereffects from the various strains he uses. A lot of American brands that I started using were worse as far as coughing the next day, he says in reference to his experience with popular poppers brands like Rush or Jungle Juice.[European brands] just don't seem to have the side effects that a lot of American brands have, he says.In some European countries, poppers are legal for recreational use. Following a blanket ban on nitrites in France, poppers became legal in 2013. Other countries like the United Kingdom and Germany allow the sale of the drug as a cosmetic but not for consumptionsimilar to the legal framework in the U.S.Photo by Claude Truong-Ngoc Some users may experience a headache, nausea or vomiting, eye damage and dermatitis upon use. Long-term use of poppers may cause bronchitis and brain damage.Despite this, Halkitis says using poppers is still less harmful than other popular party drugs. Id rather see folks doing [poppers] than drugs like meth, K and G, he says. K, or ketamine, and G, or GHB, are two drugs with high rates of use among gay and bisexual men, according to research on drug use in the LGBTQ community.In rare instances, some users become dependent on poppers. There are an array of Reddit threads discussing the issue.I've poured them out many, many times saying okay, no more. I'm done, only to buy more 2-3 days later, one user on Reddit posted to the thread r/addiction.The side effects of poppers destroyed my health: wrecked immune system, permanent damage to my vision, tinnitus and the worst of all a deep depression, eternal fatigue and slow thinking and problems with concentration, another user on r/popperpigs posted. They are so addictive.Halkitis says the biggest health risk with poppers is for those who consume the drug in different, more dangerous ways. If you're going to be using a harm reduction perspective and don't want to get sick, the danger for poppers that are cut with other solvents is really with huffing it.Some heavy poppers users, like Wyatt, have made a habit of huffing the drug for a stronger hit. You put some cotton balls in poppers and put them in a Gatorade bottle and then inhale from the bottle, he says. Every hit I take, I have to huff and hold.Wyatt says that he only experiences negative symptoms from poppers when using very high doses. Say I went three or four days in a row and long sessions with lots of huffing, then I would feel some irritation and some phlegm and a little bit of a cough too, he says. But it doesnt seem to be as bad as when I was using those other [American] brands earlier on, he says.Halkitis says users should act with careful judgment when consuming the drug. Its like anything else in life, he says. It just has to be used carefully and in moderation. Using it is not a bad thing and [we] shouldn't make it a bad thing. But overusing it and abusing it is when the problem occurs.Subscribe nowJay Sosa, associate professor of gender, sexuality and womens studies at Bowdoin College, says a lack of regulations could have homophobic undertones. He says that there exists a large discrepancy in the publics perception of sexual health and drugs that boost sexual performance. Why is [Viagra] seen as therapeutic and kind of something to get men hard? Sosa told Uncloseted Media. But to have anal receptive sex is not considered something that is important to men's normal sexuality.The FDA declined an interview with Uncloseted Media for this story and, in lieu of offering a comment, pointed us to their article from 2021.Sosa says that regulations would create a market with safer poppers products. "The questions around safety are questions that the pharmaceutical industry could easily answer if they decided to regulate the drug. 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

Update: As of Jan. 15, it has been reported that the Biden administration is looking into ways to keep TikTok from shutting down in the United States. TikTok is currently scheduled to be banned in the U.S. as of Sunday, Jan. 19. Also as of reporting, the Supreme Court has not intervened or overturned the ban.Social media platforms are undergoing seismic shifts and LGBTQ+ creators are facing uncertainty about their digital futures, both personally and professionally. With TikTok facing a U.S. ban on Jan. 19, Meta rolling back content moderation and diversity initiatives, and alternative platforms still in their infancy, marginalized communities are facing challenges.For content creators, these changes threaten not just their reach and finances, but the safe, inclusive spaces theyve worked hard to build online. Heres what these shifts mean for LGBTQ+ voices and the future of digital community building.What the TikTok ban means to queer creatorsMeg Ten Eyck is the CEO of EveryQueer, a travel company that provides travel content, curated lesbian parties, and worldwide LGBTQ tours.A longtime queer travel influencer and content creator, Ten Eyck has over 40,000 followers on Instagram and 9,400 on TikTok. She expressed her concerns about the TikTok ban and how it would be a detriment to marginalized communities.TikTok is one of the most effective platforms for information exchange and community organizing, said Ten Eyck. We are one of the last remaining media outlets for queer women in North America. EveryQueer has thrived on TikTok, finding a vibrant and supportive community there. The platforms algorithm fosters genuine connection and organic reach in ways other platforms simply dont. A ban would severely disrupt our ability to reach and engage with our audience, particularly those who rely on TikTok for LGBTQ+ news, education, and community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meg Ten Eyck (@megteneyck)Annie Segarra is a queer content creator and disability advocate who has over 50,000 followers collectively between Instagram and TikTok. For Segarra, TikTok is not only a place for posting content, but a space for building community.If TikTok disappears, were losing a place where creativity, authenticity, and activism thrive, said Segarra. For LGBTQ+, disabled, BIPOC folks, especially, its been an affirming and informative space. Losing that isnt just about a platformits personal.Caroline Kingsbury, a musician who has become popular on TikTok and Instagram for her new wave-tinged queer pop music, shared her dismay with the upcoming TikTok ban.The USA claiming that its just trying to protect American citizens by banning TikTok is BS, said Kingsbury. The U.S. TikTok ban is restricting our freedom of speech. Especially for the LGBTQIA+ community. Its a platform for everyone. Theres a weird corner of TikTok for literally any person of any gender or sexuality or background with any kind of interest. Let alone its eliminating a platform for ordinary people to make extra money.Kingsbury stressed that TikTok has changed peoples lives, hers included, and that the governments safety priorities are focused on the wrong place.If our government actually cared about our protection and safety they would provide universal healthcare and raise the minimum wage, said Kingsbury. They would enact climate policy, To protect people. Creators and influencers rely on TikTok in the U.S. because most people here dont make enough money from full time jobs to live how we really want to live. TikTok is like a lottery where with enough determination you can win at least something.Metas Policy ChangesOn Jan. 7, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to his platforms to announce that Meta would be eliminating content moderation and fact-checking, opting for a community notes system similar to Elon Musks X platform. This announcement came along with the phasing out of Metas diversity and inclusion department and changes to the companys hateful conduct rules.On Jan. 14, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, American Association of People with Disabilities and several other former Meta civil rights advisors, penned an open letter to Zuckerberg. The group, which was not informed of Metas policy changes, said Metas failure to engage even its own advisory group of external civil rights experts shows a cynical disregard for its diverse user base and calls into question Metas commitment to the free speech principles to which it claims to want to return.The letter also calls the changes in the Hateful Conduct rules into question.The new Hateful Conduct policy will now allow far more anti-LGBTQ, racist, anti-immigrant, and ableist content on Metas services globally, said the letter. For example, the policy now permits allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation in religious and political discourse. This exception applies only to LGBTQ persons, opening them up to discriminatory harassment and degradation.For Ten Eyck, Metas decision is disheartening.Rolling back content moderation and fact-checking, especially around anti-LGBTQ+ language, creates a hostile and unsafe environment, said Ten Eyck. As a creator who has dedicated years to building a platform on Instagram, Im appalled by this shift in priorities.Ten Eyck points out, however, that Metas older policies didnt do much to begin with to block anti-LGBTQ+ harassment for her and her accounts.Ive had to block more than 1000 accounts on Instagram from posting hate speech on my account, said Ten Eyck. Reporting those accounts rarely had results or consequences regardless of the severity of the comments. Despite that, rolling back the content moderation undermines the trust and safety that LGBTQ+ creators and communities have come to rely on and emboldens bigots. Closing the DEI department and scaling back diversity initiatives further signals a disregard for inclusivity and representation.Segarra describes Metas rollbacks as devastating.These rollbacks make it clear that protecting marginalized communities is no longer a priorityif it ever truly was, said Segarra. Cutting content moderation, letting anti-LGBTQ+ hate run unchecked and eliminating diversity initiatives will make platforms like Instagram and Facebook even more hostile.Segarra, who has spent years building her platform and community on Instagram, shares that these changes make it difficult to feel safe now on Instagram.These platforms were supposed to be spaces where we could educate, advocate, and build community, said Segarra. Now it feels like our safety and well-being are being deprioritized. For so many of us, these changes make it harder to feel safe, supported, or even welcome online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caroline Kingsbury (@kingsburyxx)Kingsbury has found significant success on Instagrams Reels, even over TikTok.It was really with the addition of Reels and this new culture of just a constant stream of content that allowed a musician like me (10 years into this with 30+ songs released) to really get my work out there for people to discover.However, she expressed disillusionment at the direction Zuckerberg and Meta is taking.I know its just a social media platform and as long as they dont censor LGBTQIA+ humans we can organize and fight, said Kingsbury. I just worry about censorship. He (Zuckerberg) seems to be aligning himself with the upcoming conservative nightmare administration. So much crazy shit is happening over here right now.Future PlansWith sweeping changes to social media platforms, queer creators are looking ahead to the future and where they may end up.We are actively exploring alternative platforms and expanding our presence on existing ones, said Ten Eyck. We are committed to finding spaces where our community can thrive and feel safe. We will continue to advocate for a more inclusive and safer online experience for all, regardless of the platform.Ten Eyck however, remains steadfast in her dedication to her online communities.These recent developments underscore the precarious nature of online spaces for marginalized communities, said Ten Eyck. We must remain vigilant and continue to advocate for platforms that prioritize safety, inclusivity, and genuine connection. While the future remains uncertain, EveryQueer is committed to finding new ways to connect, educate, and empower the LGBTQ+ community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Annie Segarra (@annieelainey)Segarra has begun looking at new alternatives, and even returning to some older platforms like Youtube and Tumblr.Starting over is never easy, but as LGBTQ+, disabled, and BIPOC communities, weve always had to adapt, said Segarra. Im optimistic; I feel that when one space stops being safe or inclusive, we find ways to create something better. That resilience is part of who we are, we adapt and create better spaceslike we always have.The post Queer creators grapple with TikTok ban and Meta policy changes appeared first on News Is Out.

Jenn Freeman was bouncing around the house as a child, so they have their ADHD to thank for the start of their dance journey.The thing that my mom didnt tell me until two years ago was that I was actually diagnosed with ADHD or whatever, they said. The doctors prescribed me Ritalin, and instead of giving me Ritalin, my mom put me in dance class.Years later, Freeman is using their talent for dance to give back to their community.As the founder ofHouse of the Lorde, Freeman hopes to create a community healing space through activities such as burlesque classescombined with their love of praise musicand Black feminist reading groups. After growing up in a small town with a Christian family, theyre seeking to create the church experience they longed for.Freeman started their dance journey between the ages of three and six, growing up in the small town of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. They said they felt grateful for the dance space because it taught them to communicate, be in their body and share what theyre feeling without words.Ultimately they went off to Columbia College Chicago to study dancea culture shock for Freeman after being raised in a very Christian and sheltered home.Freemans dance creations often have a mesh between burlesque, drag and traditional praise dances. Photo by Tyler Croat, courtesy of Jenn FreemanThat shock caused Freeman to drop out of school after two years and take time to figure out their own identity. They then came into the burlesque style through a performer friend, and, after seeing a show, felt like it was [their] language. It reminded them of the types of dancing and energetic exchange they felt in church growing up.Now, they consider themselves a performance artist and work full-time in the art sphere. They studied a variety of dance while attending college and currently create work in the burlesque and drag styles, with some nods to modern and Christian praise dance. They said they try to move in a way thats a reflection of all [their] experiences.As they got into burlesque, Freeman came up with her second namePoChop. They said in burlesque, people who present as women often choose very soft, feminine or demure names, whereas they wanted one that authentically represented them. At 18, a dance teacher told them they needed to cut out their favorite foodtheir moms pork chopsin order to lose weight and make it as a dancer.Now, theyre PoChop. As a Fuck you to that guy, they said.Their love for mixing burlesque styles with modern or praise movements helped inspire House of the Lorde. About five years ago, Freeman discovered the poem A Litany for Survival and essay Uses of the Erotic by Audre Lordethe practices namesakearound the time they felt they were confronting who they were as a queer person who was raised Christian.Freeman founded House of the Lorde in 2021 after feeling called to share Lordes work. They describe the group as one rooted in Black feminist theory and/or practice a space that is thinking about the erotic as a spirit, as a compass in which we can live.For them, this includes requiring masks and trying to be as COVID-19 safe as possible. Freemans larger goal is to eventually reclaim a church building and turn it into a Black feminist sanctuary.Although they were raised in the church and describe it as something rooted into everything they grew up with, its not a practice they continue due to a terrible coming out experience. Now, they said theyre trying to create a church or re-imagine what it could be like through House of the Lorde.With the monthly reading groups, theyve found the connection theyve been seeking as they and other people gather to discuss and otherwise engage with various texts. Some specifically come with trauma or other negative experiences growing up in Christianity, and are looking for ways to heal or discover a new relationship with it. Freeman said they believe the majority of attendees are queer.Parker Haines met Freeman about 13 to 14 years ago while doing an all-Black burlesque and variety show called Jeezys Juke Joint. To Haines, PoChop was [their] muse from the very moment [they] saw them on stage.The two were core members of the group for 10 years. Theyve performed numerous times together in the burlesque and drag community and have now hosted a Drag King-centered show called Notes on Masculinity at The California Clipper, 1002 N. California Ave., for the last three years.Haines said just watching Freeman perform can ignite and encourage a desire to elevate their own work.Haines considers Freeman part of their chosen familythe two lived together for a year in Chicago and enjoyed houses full of people while hosting Thanksgivings and Christmases.According to Haines, Freeman is someone whos incredibly supportive and highlights others individuality. Haines said Freeman is someone who puts their authentic self into what they do, and is always striving to be the best version of themselves.If I were on a game show and they said, Name your top three favorite people, Jenn would be one of them, Haines said.In the year ahead, Freeman has a new solo project premiering in March at Columbia College, a full-circle moment for them. As for their other goals, they hope to continue prioritizing rest and a good work-life balance as a freelance artist. Outside of House of the Lorde, they also produce Notes on Maculinity every other month on the second Tuesday.Working full-time as an artist, they said theyre grateful to be so fortunate that this is their life. They create their own schedule and move how they want, sharing a reflection of themselves through their performance.Oftentimes the dancer is viewed as a canvas for somebody elses ideas to be imprinted on, Freeman said. And burlesque and drag felt like Im not only revealing, especially in burlesque, my skin, Im also revealing who I am as a personmy own beliefs and lens and way Im walking through the world. This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post Choreographer Jenn Freeman creates space for Black feminist empowerment through movement appeared first on News Is Out.

As Donald Trump ascends to the presidency once more, Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the queer media watchdog organization GLAAD, is watching American media very closely.Who owns the media owns politics, she tells LGBTQ Nation, and thats potentially troubling considering GLAADs studies have shown that two of the nations largest social media networks Facebook and X have increasingly allowed the proliferation of anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech and misinformation.Transphobic billionaire Elon Musk has turned X into a right-wing amplifier, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (parent company of Facebook, Threads, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more) recently relaxed the platforms hate speech policies and announced an end to fact-checking and moderation, calling it too politically biased and saying fact-checkers have destroyed more trust than theyve created.What Zuckerberg said was so offensivethat there is a bias in fact-checking, and theres a bias in holding people accountable. That thought is disturbing at its roots, Ellis says, adding, The American people deserve the truth and facts. 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 Who owns the media owns politics, says GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. Photo provided by GLAAD.Ellis understands the impact of truthful storytelling. As GLAADs president and CEO for the last 11 years, she has not only overseen her organizations media monitoring but also advocates for pro-LGBTQ+ cultural change by working with media outlets, politicians, and thought leaders to tell nuanced and compelling stories that humanize queer people and their experiences.The media ecosystem is evolving, and I think that we, as a community and as a society, have to take a really close look at that, says Ellis. The [social media] algorithm plays to hate, and we have to figure out how to make the algorithm play to honesty and truth.But truth and fact seem hard to come by when right-wingers discuss LGBTQ+ issues, and their discourse may be having a negative impact. While one in ten Americans now identify as LGBTQ+, support for marriage equality and nondiscrimination protections has declined over the last year. The drop coincides with a growing online trend of referring to LGBTQ+ people and their allies as groomers who want to sexualize and indoctrinate children. The LGBTQ+ community has faced such demonizing claims in the past, but this time, anti-LGBTQ+ media forces seem to have aligned their message with a Republican agenda, creating a lockstep narrative that casts queers as a threat to all aspects of American life.Most Republican legislators oppose federally recognizing same-sex marriages, and at least two Supreme Court justicesClarence Thomas and Samuel Alitohave said theyd like to overturn the 2015 high court decision that legalized them.Whats going to be at stake for us is protecting the rights that weve fought so hard to get as a community. I think theyre all going to be on the chopping block.GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate EllisTrumps first presidency took numerous anti-LGBTQ+ actions. For his second term, Trump has pledged to expand legal protections for religious-based discrimination and end all federally funded DEI programs, including ones that seek to help the most marginalized Americans.The justifications for these policies are filled with misinformation. Pundits and politicians blame queer inclusion for ruining schools, wrecking the military, and even causing natural disasters.GLAAD has countered these narratives with education and powerful stories from influential ambassadors. At the 75th Annual Emmy Awards, Ellis and drag legend RuPaul issued urgent calls for greater LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. While accepting a GLAAD Vanguard Award last year, media mogul Oprah Winfrey shared how her gay brothers death from AIDS inspired her to share stories humanizing queer people of all sorts. These moments arent just meant to be moving or attention-grabbing. Ellis knows that theyre part of a larger strategy in the continuing battle against anti-LGBTQ+ forces.Whats going to be at stake for us is protecting the rights that weve fought so hard to get as a community, Ellis says of the second Trump administration. I think theyre all going to be on the chopping block, she adds, starting with trans rights. And Republicans have so far proven her right.Republicans have made their first legislative priorities banning trans people from Capitol restrooms and kicking trans athletes off of sports fields. Trump has promised to roll back all transgender civil rights, particularly blocking trans youths access to gender-affirming care. Related Alejandra Caraballo explains Donald Trumps fundamental miscalculation Ignoring the drive to survive may be one of the incoming administrations fatal flaws, but dirty tech money is gambling otherwise. The focus on sports and gender-affirming care seems especially odd to Ellis, considering that an estimated 0.1% of teens are even accessing such care and fewer than 0.0002% of college athletes identify as trans, percentages that Ellis calls minuscule.Its weird that theyre so obsessed with trans people that they spent a quarter of a billion dollars theyre placing big bets on this, Ellis says, noting the $215 million Republicans spent on transphobic election season attack ads. While Republicans have erected a trans boogeyman to fear-monger and divide people, she says, Its not successful. Ellis may be right. Last October, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) conducted a poll showing that only 5% of voters felt concerned about gender-affirming care, and 61% said they wouldnt support candidates supporting banning its access.I think that we have to be really clear about that most Americans feel that people should live the life that they want, and that government shouldnt be involved, and that we should all leave each other alone, Ellis says, pointing to GLAADs 2023 polling showing that 91% of non-LGBTQ+ Americans agree that LGBTQ+ people should have the freedom to live their life and not be discriminated against and 84% support equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.When I talk to people, theyre so sick of it, Ellis says. Whether or not theyre left, right, or in the middletheyre just sick of hearing about trans people from Republicans. But she also acknowledges that Republican attempts to vilify trans people have preyed on widespread ignorance. Related Donald Trump is targeting trans rights. Sydney Duncan is fighting back. The senior counsel for Advocates for Trans Equality gets real about the future for trans Americans. Only 28% of non-LGBTQ+ Americans say they know a transgender person, according to GLAADs polling. In this ignorance gap, Republicans have conjured a threatening image of all trans women as men in dresses waiting to assault girls and women in bathrooms and sports fields.Delaware voters made history in 2024 by electing the first-ever out trans Congress member, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE). However, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) responded by issuing hundreds of transphobic tweets accusing McBride of grooming kids, pushing legislation to protect women and save womens sports by banning trans people from using Capitol restrooms and supporting a bill to ban trans athletes in federally funded schools. While Mace has become just another Republican Congress member spreading anti-trans hate speech online, Ellis believes theres a real opportunity to counter such speech by humanizing reallife trans people outside the highly politicized topics of sports and medicine.Ells speaks of changing hearts and minds by using media to introduce more Americans to real-life trans people and their everyday lives, such as The Washington Posts story about military families figuring out their kids healthcare after the government banned gender-affirming care for minors, a Yahoo! profile in which trans female athlete CeC Telfer sharing her hopes of competing in the 2028 Olympics, and The 19ths feature on Camp Lost Boys, the worlds only sleepaway camp for adult trans men.Theres nothing more powerful than storytelling.GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate EllisEllis notes that the gay rights movement made significant modern advancements when it began sharing stories that showed lesbian, gay, and bisexual people working and living as friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family memberscelebrating birthdays, caring for housepets, and doing choresin communities nationwide. These stories show queer people holistically and not just one-dimensionally, Ellis says.Theres nothing more powerful than storytelling, and whether you meet a trans person through media, or you meet them in real life or by learning peoples stories, you cant hate someone whose story you know, Ellis says, adding that such storytelling as been at the core of GLAADs mission for the past 40 years.It has been proven, time and time again, that when we know each others stories, it brings us together, and it bridges gaps, she adds. Ellis also sees an opportunity to add more nuance to the publics understanding of gender-affirming care by pointing out that cisgender people make gender-affirming choices all the time through cosmetics, clothing, medications, and bodily procedures of all kinds to make them feel more aligned in their gender presentations.Indeed, cis children get gender-affirming surgeries far more often than trans kids, according to a July 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Pointing out such facts, Ellis says, could help normalize and expand peoples understanding, providing some much-needed context and nuance that would demonstrate that No ones trying to take anything over in terms of sports and bathrooms, Ellis says. People are just trying to live their lives and be happy.But GLAAD is not just focused on the hearts and minds of average American media consumers. The organization also seeks to influence powerful individuals who can directly affect how LGBTQ+ people are seen and treated nationwide. GLAAD recently found that advertising industry leaders largely support LGBTQ+ inclusion despite right-wing opposition. GLAAD worked with two social media companies to get them to ban content promoting so-called ex-gay conversion therapy. Before the election, GLAAD launched an extremism tracker to help educate experts about larger systems of anti-LGBTQ+ violence.GLAAD also helps shape policy on Capitol Hill, providing input on the contentious Kids Online Safety Act, and leads cultural briefings about evolving queer community trends to Congress members, CEOs, Hollywood executives, artists, and influencers across the board, Ellis notes.Oftentimes, GLAAD will seek conversations with people who have LGBTQ+ family members, who have stakeholders in their communities, or who understand the challenges that LGBTQ+ faceparticularly those who can help further LGBTQ+-inclusive conversations in high-stakes political and cultural contexts. But she stresses that average Americans, no matter whether they consume legacy or new media, still have a key role to play in helping support the most marginalized queer people in the years ahead.Everybody has a platform now, and everybody has a voice, Ellis says, I always say whats most important is to ensure that youre bringing LGBTQ voices to that table and representing the community. Related Civil rights leader David Johns is fighting to reclaim the future for Black & queer America Culture wars are manufactured to spur misinformation, says the CEO and Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Only hours after Donald Trump began his second term, Elon Musk made the administrations values crystal clear with two unequivocal Nazi salutes while speaking at an inauguration rally. Elections come and go; some elections are important, some are not, but this one really mattered, Musk told the crowd at DCs Capital One Arena. And I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you. Related Elon Musk is making millions from verified neo-Nazi X accounts and hes helping boost their hateful messages as well. At that, he slapped his right hand across his chest, grunted, and threw his arm straight in the air with his palm down a clear Nazi salute. He then turned to the crowd behind him and did it again. 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 Elon Musk goes masks off and does a Nazi salute.[image or embed] Anonymous (@youranoncentral.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:39 PMThe moment has enlivened neo-Nazis across the country who believe Musk was signaling to them. WE ARE F**KING BACK, wrote an administrator of a Nazi meme page on Telegram beside a clip of Musk doing the salute, according to Wired.Christopher Pohlhaus, who leads the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe wrote on his Telegram channel of the moment: I dont care if this was a mistake, Im going to enjoy the tears over it. Holocaust denier and right-wing commentator Evan Kilgore called the moment incredible and declared, We are so back. In response to the salute, Democratic Organizer Gabrien Gregory wrote on Bluesky, They arent hiding it anymore. We need to be ready for the political fight of our lives. Elon Musk just gave a very clear Nazi salute at the Inaugural parade. They arent hiding it anymore. We need to be ready for the political fight of our lives.[image or embed] Gabrien Gregory (@gabriengregory.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:04 PMDespite all of this, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) claimed Musk merely made an awkward gesture and urged people to give him a bit of grace. The organization, which is supposed to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, wrote on X that we are in a delicate moment. Its a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety, the post continued. It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Lets hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.But folks were not having it. Yall are so completely full of sh*t on this, and Im embarrassed for you. Truly, trans activist Charlotte Clymer commented. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also slammed the organization. Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity, she wrote. People can officially stop listening to you as any sort of reputable source of information now. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to all.Musk has a history of supporting far-right extremists and specifically neo-Nazis. Last year, his company X gave Premium blue checkmarks to at least 150 paid neo-Nazi subscribers. These subscriber accounts regularly violated Xs policies against hate speech by reposting hateful views, swastika imagery, Holocaust denialism, speeches from Adolf Hitler, and antisemitic content praising violence against Jews and other groups.Several of the posts received millions of views in just seven days in March 2024, including one repeating the debunked claim that 6 million Jews didnt die in the Holocaust. The subscribers pay $8 a month and benefit from prioritization that helps make their posts visible to others. Thousands of unverified non-subscribers repost this content, spreading and normalizing neo-Nazi views.Since Musk bought X for $44 billion in October 2022, hate content has proliferated on the site. Musk himself reinstated numerous right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+, and neo-Nazi accounts that had previously been banned from the platform. He has also repeatedtransphobic talking pointsand neo-Nazi conspiracy theories likethe Great Replacement Theory,causingbig-name advertisers to flee. Thesites ad revenue has decreased by 50%and itmay lose another $75 millionas advertisers stay away. Musk has responded bytelling advertisers to f**k offandsuing watchdog organizationsthat have reported on Xs hate speech problem.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

What better way to start the year, than to pamper yourself by recharging and rejuvenating at a specialty spa. And nowhere is more replenishing than Desert Hot Springs. Perched just north of the LGBTQ Mecca that is Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs is known as Spa City. Rejuvenating bubbles ascend from the depths of the []The post Spas You Should Visit Right Now in Desert Hot Springs appeared first on GEDmagazine.

The weather has started to turn here in Southern California which can only mean one thing gay ski week season is upon us! Time to put away the speedos and break out the union suits but keep them scandalously unbuttoned, we are gay after all. More than 20 years ago, LA-based event and TV producer []The post Elevation Gay Ski Week Proves to be Winters Hottest Event appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Today, GLAAD responded to longtime reproductive rights and progressive leader Cecile Richards passing. Richards, a native Texan, is remembered best for her leadership on abortion and womens rights, as she spent a decade leading Planned Parenthood. Richards went on to found Supermajority, which mobilized women voters. In November, President Joe Biden honored Richards with the [...]The post Celebrating the Legacy of Cecile Richards first appeared on GLAAD.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1.) Todays the day to catch One of Them Days in theaters! The buddy comedy stars Keke Palmer and SZA as best friends and roommates, Dreux and Alyssa, [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: One of Them Days in Theaters, Trailers for Clean Slate and Prime Target, New Music by Crys Matthews, Trousdale, and More! first appeared on GLAAD.

Let's be honest, this January has been a rough one, but it looks like some people are dealing with their societal woes by getting frisky on Grindr. And honestly, that sounds like a great coping mechanism!At the end of every year, the gay hookup app releases its Unwrapped stats about the filthy things its users have gotten up to that year. For instance, the U.S. beats out every other country for the highest percentage of daddies and is the country that loves to send nudes the most.But it turns out Grindr held back one juicy detail: January is officially the horniest month of the year.See on InstagramGrindr is seeing a spike in desire as the new year begins, with 14.7% of their more than 10,000 users surveyed citing more hookups and lusting in January than any other month.The queer app calls January cuffing seasons steamy cousin and lists post-holiday freedom, New Years resolutions, and the cold weather encouraging cozy connections as reasons why Grindr users are so horny during the first month of the year.January may have nabbed the top spot for the horniest month, but August (13%), July (11.5%), and September and November (11% each), are also popular months to knock boots with a cute guy you meet on Grindr.So put your stress and anxiety away and get out there are make this January even hornier than the last one!

TV has come so far in the last 15 years when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation. No longer are we confined to reading between the lines or digging to find the one or two shows with actual queer characters among the cast. But finding shows that meet your taste and include sapphic characters can be a taller order. Once you factor in shorter seasons and quick cancelations... well, we could always use more sapphic stories.Fortunately, for those willing to expand their horizons, there are always international series. If you're looking for something fresh to check out instead of just throwing on The L Word for the 18th time, check out these shows featuring queer female characters!Amar a muerte (2018)Amar a muerte follows three men who die on the same day and wake up in different bodies. But the real show stealer here is the slowly blossoming romance between Juliana and Valentina, which developed an international cult following.Nurses (2020-2021)Canada's Nurses is a standard workplace drama set in a hospital and following a young crop of nurses trying to pursue a challenging career including Ashley, an adrenaline junky who is also a lesbian.Anne+ (2018-2020)This coming of age web series from the Netherlands features its protagonist, Anne, looking back on all of her past sapphic relationships. It was such a beloved series that Netflix ultimately continued it with a movie in 2021.Derry Girls (2018-2022)Okay, Derry Girls is one you may have seen or at least heard of. Set in 1990s Ireland, it revolves around a group of high school girls, including baby lesbian, Clare.The Secret of Us (2024)Thailand has found success with its "boy love" series, and The Secret of Us was its first entry into "girl love" shows in 2024. Fahlada is still trying to move on after having her heart broken by Earn, but a chance encounter between them sparks a romance once again.Lip Service (2010-2012)Lip Service was essentially the UK's answer to The L Word. Need we say more?La Casa de las Flores (2018-2020)A dysfunctional family runs a flower shop in this dark comedy, which includes several sapphic characters.This Way Up (2019-2021)In This Way Up, Aine tries to find normalcy in her life after a breakdown landed her in rehab. Her biggest supporter is her sister, Shona, who goes through some later-in-life realizations after meeting a woman named Charlotte at work.Madre Solo hay Dos (2021-2022)This Mexican telenovela starts with two women discovering their children were accidentally switched at birth. They decide the best solution is to raise their families together, and, well...things take a turn.The Bisexual (2018)The Bisexual was a short-lived show that follows Leila as she decides to explore her bisexuality after getting out of a 10-year relationship with another woman.Skam France (2018-2023)The various teen-centric Skam series are beloved for a reason, and Skam France isn't even the only one featuring sapphic characters. However, seasons six and nine, revolving around Lola and Maya, respectively, are a great place to start.Sisters (2017)This Australian series follows three women who discover they're biological half-siblings thanks to a fertility specialist's egregious decision to use his own sperm to impregnate many of the women he helped over the years. You may recognize the premise if you caught the single season of the American adaptation, Almost Family, on Fox back in 2019. Lost Girl (2010-2016)Supernatural series Lost Girl featured a bisexual protagonist, Bo, whose entire deal was refusing to pick a side when it came to sexuality and the age-old divide between the Light and Dark factions of the Fae. This series was as queer as queer can get. And as a bonus, some of the cast members have been recording a rewatch podcast.23.5 (2024)A high school student accidentally leads her crush to believe she's talking to a guy, but decides to keep up the ruse. What could possibly go wrong?Wentworth (2013-2021)If you're missing Orange is the New Black, Wentworth might be the solution. It's an Australian show set in a prison much like OitNB, there's no shortage of sapphic characters.Control (2018-2022)This Polish web series follows the relationship between two women and how they became to be exes.Call My Agent! (2015-2020)Talent agents are at the front and center of French comedy series Call My Agent!, including lesbian lead, Andra.Vis a vis (2015-2019)Queer women and prison shows really just go hand-in-hand. This one hails from Spain and centers around Macarena's 7-year prison sentence after committing crimes on behalf of her boss/boyfriend.Such Brave Girls (2023)A British sitcom about a dysfunctional family, Such Brave Girls features the kind of characters who are just such train wrecks, you can't look away. And, of course, it's chaotically queer.Reverse 4 You (2024)One sister can control time. The other can see the future. When one believes her love story is meant to end in tragedy, they take fate into their own hands.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, shared that its classic crisis services (lifeline, chat, text) reported significant increases in volume on January 20, 2025 Inauguration Day. This volume increase follows a record-breaking 700% increase observed across The Trevor Projects crisis lines on November 6, 2024, the day after the 2024 elections.No matter your political beliefs or how you feel about the current administration, one thing must be made clear to all of us living in the United States: real young peoples lives are at risk and we must take immediate action to support LGBTQ+ youth, said Jaymes Black (they/she/he), CEO of The Trevor Project. Suicide prevention transcends politics. And we are sounding the alarm for all lawmakers, community leaders, and adults who care about the health and survival of young people in their communities: The political targeting of LGBTQ+ youth and transgender and nonbinary youth in particular must stop. Whether it was the 700% increase on our lines following election day in November, or the 33% increase we saw yesterday, we urge lawmakers and the media to recognize the impact that their rhetoric can have on young peoples health and safety, and do better. For any LGBTQ+ young person who needs support, The Trevor Project remains here for you, always.As of Tuesday, January 21, 2025, The Trevor Projects volume data analysis found:The Trevor Projects classic crisis services (phone, text, and chat) saw a 33% increase in volume on January 20, 2025, compared to weeks prior.Resources for LGBTQ+ young people who need support:Finding Support & Building Community Amid Political UncertaintyNavigating Personal Safety while Taking Action as an LGBTQ+ Young PersonHow to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile EnvironmentHow to Reach Out to The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects Self-Care FlowchartThe Trevor Projects Visual Breathing Exercise for Stress & AnxietyIf 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 at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.The post The Trevor Project Reported a 33% Increase in Crisis Line Volume on Inauguration Day appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Statement from Janson Wu (he/him), Senior Director of State Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project:One thing must be made clear: regardless of if, when, or how todays anticipated anti-transgender executive order and others like it may be implemented, targeting the transgender and nonbinary community on day one will cause harm especially for young people. No matter a persons political beliefs, we know, from our research and from what LGBTQ+ young people tell us, that policies like these take a damaging toll on LGBTQ+ young peoples mental health. Supporting young peoples health and well-being transcends politics, and we urge all elected officials and the media to understand the dangers that anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric pose for LGBTQ+ youth across the country.We know that many people are feeling afraid, or even confused, by what certain actions today and in the coming days mean for our community. I want to remind everyone that we are prepared for whatever lies ahead and will continue to protect and care for each other now, just as we always have. For any young person who needs support, The Trevor Projects counselors are available 24/7, and we remain committed to working alongside our partners, allies, and advocates on the ground to protect LGBTQ+ young people, and we will fight to create a country where all young people feel safe, supported, and seen exactly as they are.Relevant research:A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that anti-transgender state laws directly caused an increase in suicide attempts among transgender youth by up to 72%.An overwhelming 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said recent politics negatively impacted their well-being.Nearly half (45%) of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that they or their family have considered moving to a different state due to anti-LGBTQ+ politics and laws.A 2023 poll found 86% of transgender and nonbinary youth said recent debates about state laws restricting the rights of transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health.Research consistently supports that LGBTQ+ young people are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of who they are, but rather, they are placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized.Resources for LGBTQ+ young people:Finding Support & Building Community Amid Political UncertaintyNavigating Personal Safety while Taking Action as an LGBTQ+ Young PersonHow to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile EnvironmentHow to Reach Out to The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Projects Self-Care FlowchartThe Trevor Projects Visual Breathing Exercise for Stress & AnxietyThe post The Trevor Project Responds to Anti-Transgender Executive Order appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress, has been appointed Deputy Whip for Policy in the 119th Congress. The announcement marks a significant milestone in McBrides political career as she continues to advocate for policy changes that directly impact the lives of working families, particularly in the areas of healthcare, housing, and child care.Im thrilled to be named a Deputy Whip for Policy in the 119th Congress, advising House Democratic Leadership on policy priorities and plans for our caucus, McBride wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Just as I was in the State Senate, I remain focused on lowering the cost of housing, health care, child care, and helping families thrive.McBrides appointment as Deputy Whip for Policy is a reflection of her growing influence within the Democratic Party, as well as her unwavering commitment to pushing forward progressive policies that prioritize the well-being of American families. McBride has made it clear that she intends to work on legislation aimed at reducing the financial burdens many families face, particularly in terms of affordable healthcare, housing, and childcare costs.My number one priority in Congress is helping to lower costs facing Delawareans and American families. We can do this by guaranteeing paid family and medical leave, lowering the cost of childcare and restoring the child tax credit. Congresswoman Sarah McBride (@mcbride.house.gov) 2025-01-16T21:51:06.364ZOn the social media platform Bluesky, McBride also shared her goals for the upcoming legislative session. I want to make sure we pass bills that provide paid family and medical leave, lower the cost of childcare, and restore the child tax credit, she stated, emphasizing her dedication to securing policies that provide economic relief to struggling families.Understanding the Role of a Whip in CongressIn the U.S. House of Representatives, the role of a whip is essential for ensuring party discipline and unity when it comes to voting on legislation. A whip is responsible for rallying party members and ensuring they vote according to the partys stance on important bills. The current Democratic whip is Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), and McBrides new position as Deputy Whip for Policy will see her assisting in the development of key policy initiatives and working with Democratic leadership to shape the legislative agenda.As Deputy Whip for Policy, McBrides primary role will involve working closely with leadership to ensure that Democratic representatives are aligned on critical votes. She will also help drive discussions on policy priorities, particularly in areas that are close to her heart, including economic justice, healthcare access, and policies aimed at helping working families.McBrides Historic Election and Legislative PrioritiesMcBride made history in November 2022 when she became the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. Congress. Her election to represent Delawares 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives was widely seen as a victory for LGBTQ+ rights and a testament to the power of inclusivity in politics. In an interview on MSNBC after her win, McBride reflected on the significance of her historic election.I think this victory is a testament to Delawarians, she said. In our state of neighbors, we are fair-minded, that we judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities. And I think voters across the state of Delaware Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike responded to our message of building a government that respects all of us.McBrides campaign focused on policies aimed at supporting working families, regardless of party affiliation. I was really singularly focused on bringing down costs facing workers, their families, and retirees, she said. During her tenure in the Delaware Senate, McBride championed policies such as paid family and medical leave and led efforts to secure a substantial increase in the states Medicaid program. Her ability to work across the aisle, gaining bipartisan support, was a key aspect of her legislative success.In contrast to the GOPs anti-trans messaging, McBride ran a campaign centered on unity and inclusivity, focusing on practical solutions for everyday Americans. We put forward a positive, inclusive message during the course of this year-and-a-half-long campaign, and I think voters really responded to that, she added.McBrides Continued Advocacy for LGBTQ+ RightsAs the first openly transgender member of Congress, McBride has also become an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights on the national stage. Throughout her career, she has fought to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals have access to the same rights and protections as everyone else. Her historic election was seen as a step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in politics, and her role as Deputy Whip for Policy will undoubtedly amplify her voice in future policy discussions.McBrides rise to leadership within the House Democratic Caucus is not only a victory for the LGBTQ+ community but also an indication of the growing influence of progressive voices within the party. Her advocacy for economic policies that benefit working families, combined with her commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, positions her as a key figure in shaping the direction of the 119th Congress.As McBride begins her role as Deputy Whip for Policy, all eyes will be on her as she works to help pass vital legislation that addresses issues such as paid family leave, the cost of childcare, and healthcare access. Her leadership promises to be a powerful force in the ongoing fight for economic and social justice in America.Rep. Sarah McBrides appointment as Deputy Whip for Policy in the 119th Congress is a significant step in her political career and a testament to her unwavering commitment to progressive values. From advocating for affordable healthcare and housing to pushing for paid family and medical leave, McBride is dedicated to improving the lives of American families. As the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, McBrides rise to leadership underscores the importance of diversity and inclusivity in shaping the nations legislative priorities.The post Rep. Sarah McBride Appointed Deputy Whip for Policy in 119th Congress appeared first on Gayety.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has sparked controversy by criticizing the decision of a transgender college student, Micah Leroy, to undergo top surgery despite having cerebral palsy. Leroy, a student at the University of Minnesota, has garnered attention on social media for documenting his transition, including his journey with top surgery, a procedure often sought by transgender men to remove breast tissue.Greene, known for her vocal opposition to transgender rights, made the comments after anti-trans activist Oli London shared videos from Leroys Instagram account. London, who previously identified as trans and later detransitioned, misgendered Leroy and insinuated that Leroys disability, coupled with his use of a wheelchair, made him incapable of making his own medical decisions.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Micah Leroy (@disabled_trans_boy)Leroy, who also experiences difficulty communicating through speech due to his condition, uses a speech-generating device to help with communication. Despite these challenges, Leroy has clearly advocated for himself in his transition process, which includes undergoing hormone therapy for over a year and actively engaging with medical professionals about his top surgery. Leroy, 23, posted on Instagram on December 28, 2024, celebrating one week post-op, and later shared a shirtless video showing the results of the surgery.In response to the video, London criticized Leroys choice, saying, Doctors cut off the breasts of [a] disabled woman with cerebral palsy to turn her TRANS. Londons comments, which were shared by Greene, implied that Leroy, due to his disability, lacked the agency to make his own decisions regarding his transition.Greene, amplifying Londons remarks, took to social media to declare: This is criminal! What doctor did this? What hospital allowed this? Who paid for this? There is no evidence to suggest that any laws or medical ethics were violated in Leroys decision to undergo surgery, nor is there any indication that Leroy was coerced or unable to make decisions for himself.Leroy responded to the backlash, telling The Daily Mail, I am making my own decisions. I am my own legal guardian. And people dont understand that. He expressed frustration with the idea that his disability was being used as a reason to question his autonomy. Leroy further stated that he hoped his videos would spark a broader conversation about the rights of disabled and transgender individuals. I want to help other people who are trans and disabled know that its okay, Leroy said. I want people to keep their minds open and not be bigots. People with disabilities are able to do whatever they f**king want.Leroys experience highlights the harmful stereotype of infantilizing disabled individuals, treating them as incapable of making informed decisions about their lives. According to neuroscience student Hari Srinivasan, the infantilization of disabled peopletreating them as if they are children regardless of their actual abilitiescan have negative consequences on their mental health and hinder their personal development. In an article in Psychology Today, Srinivasan reflected on how disabled people often face microaggressions that diminish their agency, even in adulthood.The controversy surrounding Leroys surgery has sparked a wider conversation about the intersection of disability and transgender rights. Many advocates argue that disabled individuals, like all people, should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and their medical care. By undermining this autonomy, Greene and other critics risk perpetuating harmful narratives that disabled people cannot be trusted to make decisions for themselves.Rep. Greene has been a staunch critic of transgender rights, particularly when it comes to gender-affirming care for minors. She has introduced multiple pieces of legislation aimed at banning gender-affirming care for transgender teens, as well as making it more difficult for transgender adults to access such treatments. Greenes comments about Leroys surgery are part of a broader pattern of her opposing the medical and personal rights of transgender individuals.Leroys public documentation of his transition is not only a personal journey but also an act of resistance against the discrimination faced by transgender people, particularly those with disabilities. Leroy has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to normalize the visibility of disabled trans individuals and challenge the prejudices that often go unchallenged.Leroys supporters, including LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, have rallied behind him, condemning the attacks from Greene and London. MassEquality, a leading LGBTQ+ organization in Massachusetts, issued a statement expressing solidarity with Leroy and urging lawmakers to focus on issues of equity and inclusion instead of attacking vulnerable communities.As the debate continues, Leroys story serves as a powerful reminder that all individuals, regardless of their disability status, deserve the right to make choices about their health and identity without fear of judgment or discrimination. While Greenes remarks reflect a deeply polarized political climate surrounding transgender rights, they also highlight the growing need for increased awareness and acceptance of disabled transgender people in both the medical and social spheres.The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Disabled Transgender Students Top Surgery Decision appeared first on Gayety.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order on birthright citizenship in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)2025-01-21T17:22:51Z Follow live updates on President Donald Trumps return to Washington President Donald Trump moved to end a decades-old immigration policy known as birthright citizenship when he ordered the cancellation of the constitutional guarantee that U.S.-born children are citizens regardless of their parents status.Trumps roughly 700-word executive order, issued late Monday, amounts to a fulfillment of something hes talked about during the presidential campaign. But whether it succeeds is far from certain as immigration advocates file lawsuits to block the president. Heres a closer look at birthright citizenship, Trumps executive order and reaction to it: Sonia Rosa Sifore and other anti-Trump protesters gather in Federal Plaza to rally for a number of issues, including immigrant rights, the Israel-Hamas war, womens reproductive rights, racial equality and others, on the day of President Trumps Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Sonia Rosa Sifore and other anti-Trump protesters gather in Federal Plaza to rally for a number of issues, including immigrant rights, the Israel-Hamas war, womens reproductive rights, racial equality and others, on the day of President Trumps Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What is birthright citizenship?Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of their parents immigration status. People, for instance, in the United States on a tourist or other visa or in the country illegally can become the parents of a citizen if their child is born here. Its been in place for decades and enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, supporters say. But Trump and allies dispute the reading of the amendment and say there need to be tougher standards on becoming a citizen. A young man reacts to information on how to prepare for the upcoming changes to undocumented families living in the U.S., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) A young man reacts to information on how to prepare for the upcoming changes to undocumented families living in the U.S., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What does Trumps order say?The order questions that the 14th Amendment extends citizenship automatically to anyone born in the United States. The 14th Amendment was born in the aftermath of the Civil War and ratified in 1868. It says: All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Trumps order excludes the following people from automatic citizenship: those whose mothers were not legally in the United States and whose fathers were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; people whose mothers were in the country legally but on a temporary basis and whose fathers were not citizens or legal permanent residents. It goes on to bar federal agencies from recognizing the citizenship of people in those categories. It takes effect 30 days from Tuesday, on Feb. 19. U.S. flags around the Washington Monument are at full staff during the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff through the end of January out of respect for former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) U.S. flags around the Washington Monument are at full staff during the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff through the end of January out of respect for former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What is the history of the issue?The 14th Amendment did not always guarantee birthright citizenship to all U.S.-born people. Congress did not authorize citizenship for all Native Americans born in the United States, for instance, until 1924. In 1898 an important birthright citizenship case unfolded in the U.S. Supreme Court. The court held that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the country. After a trip abroad, he had faced denied reentry by the federal government on the grounds that he wasnt a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some advocates of immigration restrictions have argued that while the case clearly applied to children born to parents who are both legal immigrants, its less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status. President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More What has the reaction to Trumps order been?Not long after Trump signed the order, immigrant rights groups filed suit to stop it. Chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts along with other immigrant rights advocates filed a suit in New Hampshire federal court. The suit asks the court to find the order to be unconstitutional. It highlights the case of a woman identified as Carmen, who is pregnant but is not a citizen. The lawsuit says she has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a pending visa application that could lead to permanent status. She has no other immigration status, and the father of her expected child has no immigration status either, the suit says. Stripping children of the priceless treasure of citizenship is a grave injury, the suit said. It denies them the full membership in U.S. society to which they are entitled. MIKE CATALINI Catalini covers government, elections and news primarily in New Jersey for The Associated Press. He focuses on accountability and how policy affects people. twitter

President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump attend the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)2025-01-21T16:47:26Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is spending his first full day back in the White House meeting with congressional leaders, making an infrastructure announcement and demonstrating one of his favored expressions of power: firing people.The new president posted on his Truth social media network early Tuesday that he would fire more than 1,000 presidential appointees who are not aligned with our vision, including some high-profile names.Trump fired chef and humanitarian Jose Andres from the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, retired Gen. Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, former State Department official Brian Hook from the board of the Wilson Center and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the Presidents Export Council.YOURE FIRED! Trump said in his post his catchphrase from his reality TV show, The Apprentice. Former President Joe Biden also removed many Trump appointees in his first days in office, including former press secretary Sean Spicer from the board overseeing the U.S. Naval Academy.Trump planned to continue to build on his barrage of Inauguration Day announcements, with the White House promising a massive announcement on infrastructure. Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to detail the announcement in advance, but she said in an interview on Fox News that it would send a message to the world. You wont want to miss it, she said. Infrastructure week became a punchline during Trumps first administration as White House officials promised repeatedly over years to train a focus on major public works projects, only to have Trump himself quickly shift emphasis elsewhere while major legislation on infrastructure never materialized.It was enough of a pattern that Biden joked about how his predecessor couldnt pull off even a week of focus on infrastructure while his administration oversaw passage of billions of dollars for bridges, tunnels, roads and other projects for the coming 10 years. He didnt build a damn thing, Biden said frequently of Trump, adding that his own administration delivered infrastructure decade.Trump wants to ban Chinese companies from owning vital U.S. infrastructure in sectors such as energy, technology and agriculture, and he says he will force Chinese owners to sell any holdings that jeopardize Americas national security.Trump also attended a national prayer service Tuesday morning at Washington National Cathedral, a customary visit for new presidents and one that will wrap up his four days of inauguration-related events.Later in the day, the president was expected to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other GOP legislators. Its the first formal sit-down for the GOP leadership teams including Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso and the new president as they chart priorities for using Republican power in Washington.Despite an ambitious 100-day agenda, the Republican-led Congress is not on the same page on some ideas and strategies as they rush to deliver tax cuts for the wealthy, mass deportations and other goals for Trump. Trump used the first hours of his presidency on Monday to sign a series of executive orders and memorandums, moving quickly to show that his new hold on the U.S. government would be a stark change from his predecessor. He pardoned hundreds of people for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accords and the World Health Organization, began his immigration crackdown by declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and sought to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in America, which is expected to run into constitutional challenges.He also signed an order that intends to pause a ban on TikTok for 75 days to give its China-based parent company more time to find an approved buyer.___Associated Press writers Will Weissert, Darlene Superville and Zeke Miller contributed to this report. MICHELLE L. PRICE Price is a national political reporter for The Associated Press. She is based in New York. twitter mailto

If it wasnt already obvious, the last 72 hours have made it crystal clear that it is urgent to build and mainstream alternative, decentralized social media platforms that are resistant to government censorship and control, are not owned by oligarchs and dominated by their algorithms, and in which users own their follower list and can port it elsewhere easily and without restriction.Besides all of the normal problems with corporate social mediathe surveillance capitalism, the AI spam, the opaque algorithmslets take stock of what has happened in the last few days.First, millions of small business owners and influencers who make a living on TikTok were left to beg their followers in TikToks last moments to follow them elsewhere in hopes of being able to continue their businesses on other corporate social media platforms. This had the effect of fracturing and destroying peoples audiences overnight, with one act of government.TikTok has since come back, but it is still unclear what the future of the platform is, and TikTok now exists at the whim of President Trump and is beholden to him to an unknown extent. TikToks status in the Untied States is still up in the airit is still not available for download in the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store, and it could disappear at any moment if service providers like Oracle decide that Trumps executive order and assurances that they will not be prosecuted or fined are not enough assurance to keep the app online.Elon Musk, who had already turned X into a cesspool of hate and an overt tool to get President Trump elected, is now formally part of the Trump administration, meaning the platform is literally owned by a member of the Trump White House.Meta has made an overt shift to the right, and Mark Zuckerberg has himself become a Trump booster. The platform is making its content moderation worse, has declared that immigrants and LGBTQ+ people are legitimate targets for hate speech, and has made many of these changes at the behest of the Trump White House and Stephen Miller, according to The New York Times.Zuckerberg, Musk, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were all in attendance at Trumps inauguration Monday. There is now no major corporate-owned social media platform that is not aligned with Trump or beholden to him in some way, and nearly every American is on at least one of these platforms.The TikTok ban highlights, as weve seen before, that businesses and accounts built on these centralized, corporate social media platforms are incredibly fragile and can be taken away at any moment, whether by government action, algorithm tweaks that destroy reach, a platform deciding that a specific account does not comply with its ever-changing rules and political systems, etc. We have made clear at 404 Media that one of the reasons we ask our readers for their email addresses is because we have seen media outlets that rely disproportionately on social media distribution die over and over again. Individual influencers and account holders are now seeing how fragile what they have built really is.The solution to this is decentralized, federated, portable social media in which users own their follower list and can port it elsewhere when the server they are posting on changes its rules, changes its politics, is threatened or attacked by the government, or otherwise becomes untenable. Mastodons ActivityPub and Blueskys AT.Protocol have provided the base technology layer to make this possible, and have laid important groundwork over the last few years to decorporatize and decentralize the social internet.The problem with decentralized social media platforms thus far is that their user base is minuscule compared to platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, meaning the cultural and political influence has lagged behind them. You also cannot directly monetize an audience on Bluesky or Mastodonwhich, to be clear, is a feature, not a bugbut also means that the value proposition for an influencer who makes money through the TikTok creator program or a small business that makes money selling chewing gum on TikTok shop or a clothes brand that has figured out how to arbitrage Instagram ads to sell flannel shirts is not exactly clear. I am not advocating for decentralized social media to implement ads and creator payment programs. Im just saying that many TikTok influencers were directing their collective hundreds of millions of fans to follow them to Instagram or YouTube, not a decentralized alternative.This doesnt mean that the fediverse or that a decentralized Instagram or TikTok competitor that runs on the AT.Protocol is doomed. But there is a lot of work to do. There is development work that needs to be done (and is being done) to make decentralized protocols easier to join and use and more interoperable with each other. And there is a massive education and recruitment challenge required to get the masses to not just try out decentralized platforms but to earnestly use them. Blueskys growing user base and rise as a legitimately impressive platform that one can post to without feeling like its going into the void is a massive step forward, and proof that it is possible to build thriving alternative platforms. The fact that Meta recently blocked links to a decentralized Instagram alternative shows that big tech sees these platforms, potentially, as a real threat.And the far right has unfortunately shown that even small social media platforms can have an outsized impact on national politics and can be used to create political power. A legion of the worst people on Earth have spent years building admittedly resilient alternative social media sites after being deplatformed from or rage quitting sites like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Places like Rumble, Gab, Truth Social, Odysee, and Patriots.Win are full of the worst America has to offer, but people on these websites have been successful in seeding (often false, often hateful) narratives that filter up the power chain and often end up getting repeated by Donald Trump or on more widely viewed right wing media like Fox News.I bring up these platforms not to champion them but to highlight that being pushed out of or voluntarily leaving more mainstream platforms did not kill the ideas that were being shared by these people; in fact, their ideas now make up a core part of the current administrations policies.This is all to say that it is possible to build alternatives to Elon Musks X, Mark Zuckerbergs Instagram, and whatever TikTok will become. It is happening, and it is necessary. The richest, most powerful people in the world have all aligned themselves and their platforms with Donald Trump. But their platforms relevance and importance doesnt necessarily have to last forever. A different way is possible, if we build it.

Photo by Adam SchultzSubscribe nowSenator Biden(The Morning News)Sept. 25, 1973Joe Biden is sworn into office at age 30 as the third youngest Senator of all time. When asked about gay rights by an activist, he responds, My gut reaction is that they are security risks.Biden and Helms (Office of Senator Joe Biden)Oct. 14, 1987Biden joins a majority of 94 to 2 to approve an amendment written by Senator Jesse Helms to prohibit the use of sexually explicit materials to promote AIDS education.(CSPAN)Nov. 17, 1993Biden votes with a majority of 77 to 22 to uphold an effective ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. The ban remains in effect until President Obama signs its repeal in 2010.Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Sept. 10, 1996Bidenvoteswith a majority of 85 to 14 to pass the Defense of Marriage Act proposed by President Clinton, which defines marriage as only between a man and a woman and specifies that states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.June 5, 2006Biden defends the Defense of Marriage Act in a TV interview, stating that marriage is between a man and a woman.Vice President Biden(CBS News)Oct. 2, 2008At the vice presidential debate against Sarah Palin, Biden reaffirms that he and Obama do not support redefining, from a civil side, what constitutes marriage, including recognizing gay marriage. However, he does voice support for civil rights for unmarried gay couples.(CNN)Nov. 19, 2010Biden says he and President Obama are pushing as hard as [they] can for a repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, which forbids non-heterosexuals from revealing their orientation while serving in the armed forces. This is a reversal of the position he took in 1993.(NBC News)May 6, 2012Biden becomes the first member of the Obama administration to reverse his stance on gay marriage, voicing support for it on live television. Many viewed this as Biden putting pressure on President Obama, who followed his vice presidents lead three days later.Biden FoundationScreenshot via Scripps NewsFeb. 1, 2017BidenlaunchesThe Biden Foundation, a nonprofit that supports progressive political goals, including LGBTQ rights. Biden and his wife Jill say the foundation will work to ensure that everyoneno matter their income level, race, gender, age or sexualityis treated with dignity and gets a fair shot at achieving the American Dream.(The Biden Foundation)President Biden(LA Times)Jan. 20, 2021On his first day in office, Biden signs an executive order outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. A few days later, he overturns Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military.(NBC News)Feb. 2021Biden appoints Pete Buttigieg as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Dr. Rachel Levine as the Assistant Health Secretary, making them the first openly gay cabinet member and first openly transgender senate-confirmed official, respectively. He later chooses Karine Jean-Pierre as the first openly gay press secretary.(PBS NewsHour)March 1, 2022At his second State of the Union Address, Biden tells trans children, Ill always have your back.(USA Today)June 15, 2022Bidensignsan executive order that tasks the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with writing model legislation to counteract the anti-LGBTQ bills moving through legislatures across the country. The order also directs HHS to determine whether federally funded programs can be required to stop performing conversion therapy.(CSPAN)Dec. 2022Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act, overturning the Defense of Marriage Act he voted for 26 years earlier. As he signs the repeal, Biden declares, Marriage is a simple proposition: Who do you love?April 6, 2023Bidens Department of Education proposes a Title IX rule change that would block blanket bans on transgender athletes. However, the proposal contains exceptions that do not protect transgender athletes from being banned in many cases. These loopholes attract criticism from trans activists, who argue Bidens decision betrayed the trans community. The rule would later be delayed.(NBC News)May 11, 2023Bidens Food and Drug Administration ends a 38-year ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis praises the new policy as the beginning of the end of a dark and discriminatory past rooted in fear and homophobia.Jan. 10, 2024Bidens HHS overturns a Trump-era rule that allowed doctors to discriminate against LGBTQ patients. HHS Director Xavier Becerra calls the new policy another promise delivered by President Biden.(CBS News Texas)April 19, 2024Biden passes a Title IX rule change, expanding protections for LGBTQ students from discrimination in school. Advocates for Trans Equality call the changes a huge step forward and say they were desperately needed. Unlike the previous Title IX proposal, this change does not address student athletics.July 2, 2024In a statement to The 19th News, a White House spokesperson says that gender-affirming surgeries should be limited to adults but that they continue to support other forms of gender-affirming care for minors, including Hormone Replacement Therapy and prepubertal blockers.Sept. 18, 2024Biden sits down with Christopher Kane of the Washington Blade, an LGBTQ news outlet based in D.C. Biden is the first sitting president to be interviewed by an LGBTQ news organization, and he praises the community for the gains it has made since the Stonewall riots.Subscribe nowDec. 4, 2024Biden awards a grant to a first-of-its-kind program for LGBTQ people with eating disorders.Dec. 24, 2024Biden signs a nearly $900 billion defense bill that contains provisions restricting gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. Biden signed the bill while saying he strongly opposes the restrictions within.Jan. 14, 2025In Bidens final week in office, a Gallup poll finds that LGBTQ rights were the only issue where most Americans said they believed more progress had been made than lost under the four years of his administration.Additional reporting by Nico DiAlesandroIf 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

By Malavika Kannan, The EmancipatorThis story was originally published in The Emancipator, a nonprofit newsroom aimed at leveraging the power of journalism to turn public opinion against racist policies and ideas.Mary Kang for the EmancipatorSubscribe nowOn a freezing December night the backstage room of Brooklyns Red Pavilion was warm and smelled sweetly of hairspray.The dressing room was lively. Drag queens came and went, bearing elaborate dresses and wigs. Someone pulled down their pants to reveal a ribbon-wrapped butt cheek.The holiday party drag show would start in an hour.The nights party had a mission: raising money for Trans Lifeline, a hotline offering direct support to trans people in crisis. Queer nightlife has a radical history, as a space where Black and Brown people love freely and express themselves. Now, a new surge of queer artists, partygoers, and DJs are using nightlife to fundraise for its most marginalized. The 2024 post election-holiday party was also an interlude before a new president took office, one whose campaign vilified trans adults and children. Theres a shared sense that hard times lie ahead, but many find refuge in queer nightlife.Mary Kang for The EmancipatorObviously our communities are going to really be put to the test in the coming years of the new administration, with trans people having the lowest life expectancy of many minority groups, Kanika Peach told The Emancipator in an earlier phone call.Luckily, in the Red Pavilion, Kanika has a captive audience. When you have the mic, she said, its your responsibility to speak power and provide space.The Red Lantern District, an all-Asian drag show, was founded by drag queen Felicia Oh to resist the racial tokenization she experienced in the drag scene. Theres always danger when trans people gather the performers commute in groups for safety but in 2024 we learned we cant take anything for granted and to hold our chosen family close, Felicia said.Mary Kang for The EmancipatorThe holidays can be an emotional time for queer people who are isolated from their families of origin, or excluded from religious traditions. Her chosen family includes Kanika and Kekoa, fellow Asian American drag queens who perform by her side at the Red Lantern.This show is gonna remind queer people that we have to take care of each other, Kekoa said. Were worried about people in red states. We live in a much safer bubble. We dont need the money here, but other people do.Nightlife has long been a staple of queer culture and resistance. During the height of the pandemic, however, gatherings halted. There was a slow burn of pent-up emotion, particularly amid Americas racial justice reckoning of 2020.The next year, Black and Brown nightlife returned with a vengeance, giving people space to revel and shake off the isolation. Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.For example, the Body Hack parties which raise money for the Black trans mutual aid program G.L.I.T.S., or Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society had its long-awaited return in 2021.These young people understand our community from every angle from the art world to the gaming world to the nerdy world. All the elements to create this utopia for our community called Body Hack, said Ceyenne Doroshow, legendary trans mother and founder of G.L.I.T.S. In just one week, Ceyenne raised $1 million for G.L.I.T.S. and purchased a 12-unit property in Queens where she now presides over an intergenerational housing unit for trans youth, adults, and elders.In October 2023, following the Hamas attacks and Israels retaliatory violence against Palestinians, some queer organizers felt a call to action. Hundreds of nightlife workers formed DJs Against Apartheid. The groups mission statement points out that queer nightlife was founded with the clear intention to uplift the marginalized.As of July 2024, theyd raised $34,000 in support of Palestinians, as well as NYC-based Fund the Inside, which provides commissary relief to incarcerated QTBIPOC. For many, overlapping advocacy for Palestinians and trans people is instinctive.Queer people understand what it means to be silenced, to be ostracized. Our bodies are the sites of people enacting their rage and their violence, says Thanushka, a Sri Lankan DJ and 15-year veteran of queer nightlife. Were in a really apocalyptic time and nightlife has a hard time being separate from that. She described a moment of one after another collective crisis that shes felt since 2020, from the pandemic to Trumps reelection to numerous climate-related disasters. The vibes are not good.Mary Kang for The EmancipatorTo lift the vibes connecting a desire for community, shrinking communal spaces, and a thirst to get involved organizers host everything from thrift swaps for Gaza to Queer Comedy for Gaza to techno nights. Its not always an easy stand to take publicly some party organizers declined The Emancipators interview request for fear of exposure. But others are loud: Body Hack requests partygoers donate $20 per person at the door, more if youre White or cisgendered. In the traditional nonprofit world, most funds are raised through expensive galas, auctions, tables and celebrity guests, but the mutual aid playbook is different. Two nights before their December party, the Body Hack Instagram posted: I dont care how cold it is Imma need you to shake that ass for mutual aid. Someone dutifully comments, Shaking my ass for mutual aid with my drains in, meaning that he will show up even recovering from his top surgery, no questions asked.Lucas Hilderbrand, a scholar of queer nightlife, said that while early nightlife activism centered around protesting police harassment and discrimination at bars, the AIDS epidemic created a new strategy.Bars become ground zero for activism of fundraising, he explained. The earliest, and most common, strategy was the drag benefit show. These functions were viewed as a community-building practice, as opposed to just writing a check.Mutual aid too, Hilderbrand explained, has always existed in some form, but post-2020, the very grassroots concept is now in the language, people know what it means.Mutual aid [has] been ingrained in us as queer people to be there for each other, but after 2020 we really needed to push the envelope even more, Kanika said.Kekoa called it spotlight mode: the way her body aligned when shes performing, shoulders pushed back and chin high with pride.Mary Kang for The EmancipatorIts sink or swim, she said. She is determined to put on a good show. When people start making out, I know its good.When Felicia explained that the show is a fundraiser for Trans Lifeline, she had to pause for the cheers to quiet down. Trans Lifeline does it all without the help of police, she said, then added, because fuck the police. The room erupted again.When the show started, Kekoa didnt hold back she was regal, towering in her 4-inch heels and a satin floor-length dress, smiling and waving as she swept through the room. By 11:30 pm, the room was packed.And sure enough, people were making out.Next, Felicia brought the house down with a sexy rendition of Sabrina Carpenters A Nonsense Christmas. Kekoa and Kanika enacted making love onstage. The mood was heightened, otherworldly. Nobody leaves without a wet pussy, Felicia vowed into the mic.Subscribe for accountability journalism.Coats came off and were piled on chairs as the room warmed. By this point, nobody was sitting, everybody was on the floor. Between songs, the queens coterie gathered the cash off the floor. Thats not counting, of course, the money that poured in on Venmo. We are 21st century hookers! the girls insisted.By the end of the night, theyve raised a thousand dollars.The drag show ended, and devolved into a free-for-all on the dance floor. Kekoa, finally out of spotlight mode again, gave out high-fives and hugs like Oprah. Outside, people gathered to smoke and chat as the first snow of the winter fell, lit up by the neon club entryway.Kekoa, normally all smiles, grew serious at the mic: Our community is under attack and its in spaces like this that we can come together and love together, she said. I want to thank you guys for being our chosen family this holiday season. I want you to know you always have a place at Red Lantern District.And then the girls hugged: We will keep us safe and keep us protected, Kanika promised. I want you to take this power you feel right now out these doors into your community.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

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 218-206 in favor of H.R.28 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025. The bill would ban transgender girls and women from participating in athletics at schools and institutions that receive federal funding, stating that sex shall be recognized based solely on a persons reproductive biology and genetics at birth.The bill, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), also calls for a study to examine the benefits to women or girls of participating in single-sex sports that would be lost by allowing males to participate.While votes were mostly along party lines, two Democrats, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar, both of Texas, voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) voted present.Several Democrats spoke in opposition to the bill on the House floor. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said, Trans Americans are not the problem. This obsession with monitoring kids genitals is absolutely the problem.Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) addressed the House adding, Republicans who have consistently voted against the violence against women act, who have taken away the rights of all women to choose and have control over their own bodynow want to pretend today that they care about women.In his first debate on the House floor, Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.) argued that the bill would empower child predators, even calling the bill the Child Predator Empowerment Act.They say its about protecting women, but its a damn lie, said Frost. This bill puts all girls, all children at risk in our school systems and across the entire country.Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender member of Congress, spoke to reporters about the bill, asking, How does this lower costs for workers? And how on earth is this going to be enforced?Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson released a statement about the bill, saying We all want sports to be fair, students to be safe, and young people to have the opportunity to participate alongside their peers. But this kind of blanket ban deprives kids of those things. This bill would expose young people to harassment and discrimination, emboldening people to question the gender of kids who dont fit a narrow view of how theyre supposed to dress or look. It could even expose children to invasive, inappropriate questions and examinations. Participating in sports is about learning the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. And for so many students, sports are about finding somewhere to belong. We should want that for all kids not partisan policies that make life harder for them.The bill now heads to the Senate.The post H.R. 28: House votes to ban trans women and girls from athletics appeared first on News Is Out.

Misogyny is defined as a hatred of, aversion to or prejudice against women,according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. Although this definition is used in relation to cisgender men and the feelings some have towards cisgender women, many forget it is common in the LGBTQ+ community, too: misogyny is a deeply ingrained societal issue that permeates even the spaces meant to challenge the norm.Within the LGBTQ+ community, misogyny manifests in complex and often overlooked ways from the devaluation of femme gay men to the marginalization of queer and trans women. It is important to address this issue in order to foster a genuinely supportive and inclusive environment. By acknowledging and confronting misogyny, we can begin to unravel the harmful dynamics that undermine our unity.According to an article by Sean Arayasirikul, PhD,. and Erin C. Wilson, DrPH, in theJournal of Homosexuality,trans-misogyny is understudied and has been used to describe an interlocking form of oppression for trans women.It is a unique and intersectional form of sexism stemming from the interaction between oppositional and traditional sexism.Oppositional sexism is seen as the belief that female and male are rigid, mutually exclusive categories, and traditional sexism is the belief that maleness and masculinity are superior to femaleness and femininity. Even though traditional sexism is more often taken up as the target of feminism, oppositional sexism represents the investment in the gender binary embedded in sexism.Trans-misogyny can drive the demonization and fetishization of trans women in society, as compared to trans men and cis women. It maintains a social system that centers cis-sexism (the belief that trans people are less legitimate than cis people) and transphobia (an emotional disgust toward individuals who do not conform to societys gender expressions).While trans individuals are considered to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community based on marginalized identity status, research has shown they often feel excluded from that community. Experiencing transphobia in LGBTQ communities can lead to feelings of disconnection: Trans inclusivity and acceptance isnt necessarily a given in all LGBT spaces, so the feeling of being in that kind of generalized space isnt as immediately comforting as being a cis person in this space, noted Lex Pulice-Farrow in the articleExperiences of Community Connection and Belonging for Sexual Minority Trans Individuals.Valerie Jackson, who identifies as a trans-feminine woman, shared her experience with misogyny in the community:As a trans-feminine individual, my experience with misogyny in our community often mimics heteronormative misogyny and bigotry, she said. Early on in my transition, I was rejected for not passing as cisgender or not undergoing specific medical transitions.Valerie JacksonI have had my expertise questioned, particularly in male-dominated spaces, which contrasts with how I was treated before transitioning, Jackson continued. I have had my identity frequently reduced to a stereotype or fantasy. Many trans women, including myself, experience societal scrutiny over our bodies, exacerbated by gendered expectations and biases against femininity. Trans women, especially trans women of color, experience disproportionate rates of hate crimes, police brutality and sexual violence.Cisgender gay men can often perpetuate misogyny by devaluing femininity, mocking women or excluding trans women and lesbians from queer bars, clubs and social circles. At times, some drag spaces normalize misogynist humor, targeting cis and trans women and reinforcing stereotypes about femininity.Some believe that homophobia itself is rooted in misogyny, and the same can be said of transphobia. Brandon Andrew Robinson describes a misogyny paradox how men devalue women and femininity and yet are suppose to love and desire women, the very people they devalue, in his articleTransamorous Misogyny: Masculinity, Heterosexuality, and Cis Mens Sexist Desires for Trans Women.Femmephobia can be defined as any negative feeling, aversion or behavior directed toward femininity or toward those who exhibit feminine traits, based upon societal understandings of what is masculine and feminine, according to Brandon Miller inMasculine Guys Only: The Effects of Femmephobic Mobile Dating Application Profiles on Partner Selection for Men Who Have Sex With Men. This term is often used to reference anti-effeminacy in gay men, suggesting that this phobia was partly rooted in the desire to avoid being stereotyped, dating from early experiences as feminine boys in society.Dallas therapistCandy Marcumput it bluntly: Homophobia is about misogyny.It goes like this, she said. What kind of man wants to play the womans part? It is absolutely rooted in misogyny.Candy MarcumMarcum added, Many may not have thought about this. Many young boys were called sissies when expressing feminine traits and characteristics while girls who express more boyish traits were called tomboys, and it was almost a badge of honor.These anti-femme views are often seen on gay male dating apps such as Grindr, Jackd, Sniffies, etc. Often a profile will declare no femmes or masc for masc, expressing a desire and attraction to masculine-presenting men only. When asked how misogynistic views towards femininity relates to the dating world, Marcum said that these qualifications on potential partners come from an individuals dislike of that quality in themselves.Trans women are often marginalized in queer spaces, where masculine privilege exists, and their issues may be dismissed or deemed harmful to the broader movement.Valerie JacksonMen are often told not to cry, not to be vulnerable, etc. because these are viewed as feminine traits. That attitude causes some men to become cold and jaded. When a person of any gender shows emotion, sensitivity or even likes the color pink, some men automatically categorize these traits as feminine and, therefore, inferior to more masculine traits and people.Some users rely on anti-effeminacy themes to frame their romantic preferences in these apps, resulting in femme-phobic language. These anti-effeminacy attitudes can be motivated by a need to be accepted by others as individuals try to enhance their own appeal by aligning themselves with the anti-effeminacy views they perceive to be popular. This femme-phobic framing demonstrates adherence to a masculine ideal within the gay culture.Male homosexuality has traditionally been linked with feminine behaviors. Effeminate men and butch women were examples of the exterior notions of inverted gender behavior, and because both threatened customary conceptions of masculinity and femininity, they were seen as a cause for alarm.Gay men have historically been treated as men who failed at gender.This definition of femmephobia relates well to the apprehension gay men have toward femininity, particularly in other gay and bisexual men. Gay men who ascribe to a strict idealized masculinity experience a fear of effeminate gay men, and these traditional ideals about masculinity affect how gay men feel about both themselves and same-sex relationships.Betty Neal, who identifies as a lesbian, says that while she hasnt experienced misogyny from gay men herself, she has seen it occur firsthand. She recalled an incident in which she and some of her female friends went to a local bar; her female friends were ignored by the bartender, but when two gay men walked up they were immediately served. While this may not be seen as misogynistic or discriminatory to some, it certainly seems that way to those who have experienced it.Betty NealNeal said she wants to be clear, though, that we have come a long way as far as misogyny is concerned in gay spaces. She suggested that a lot of the negativity lesbians experience in primarily gay male spaces relates to the sexual desires of the men. They might see a girl talking to a dancer or bartender, and assume that woman is now competition, Neal said. Theres a limited selection of dates, sex, etc. already, and sometimes gay men might feel that a woman being in the space is an obstacle.And even though men may not realize they are being misogynistic others see it, and it needs to be addressed.Jackson said she believes that Trans women are often marginalized in queer spaces, where masculine privilege exists, and their issues may be dismissed or deemed harmful to the broader movement.When it comes to what steps LGBTQ+ spaces and organizations can do to tackle misogyny within the community, Neal said she believes its all about conversations. Courageous conversations need to be had, she said. You can never assume someones motives, desires, past experiences or goals until you have conversations with them.Jackson agreed, adding that hopefully [this article] inspires change and sparks conversation.Addressing misogyny within the LGBTQ+ community requires honest reflection, allyship and collective effort. While the community has been rooted in the fight for equality, it is vital to recognize and dismantle the biases that perpetuate exclusion, especially against women and femme-presenting individuals.By fostering spaces that center respect, accountability and inclusivity, the community can truly honor the contributions of its members and be a model of progress and unity.As Jackson said, We cannot demand our inclusion in spaces while being exclusive or restrictive.The post Trans and femme voices on misogyny in LGBTQ+ communities appeared first on News Is Out.

Crisis calls to an LGBTQ+ mental health center skyrocketed on Monday as Donald Trump was sworn in as president and reaffirmed his commitment to dismantling LGBTQ+ rights. The Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation hotline received over 1,400 calls by early Monday afternoon, Advocate reported. Before Trump won the election, the organization fielded about 3,765 calls per month. Related Donald Trump starts his presidency by declaring war on the LGBTQ+ community & democracy Trumps first day as president was an assault on trans rights and a reminder of the threat he presents to democracy. Our hotline serves as a critical lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth grappling with the challenges of bullying, social stigmatization, and the looming threat of institutionalized discrimination, Kristen Johnston, case manager and crisis team leader at the Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation, said in a statement. The data were seeing is alarming, and it underscores the urgent need for advocacy, community support, and immediate action to protect our youth. 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 Calls to the organizations hotline have increased significantly since Donald Trumps election victory as well. In November and December, the number of calls more than doubled, with mover 8,000 people contacting the hotline each month. And in the first 19 days of January, there had already been almost 4000 calls. Donald Trumps speech on inauguration day included a declaration that as of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female. He also promised to end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.Immediately upon taking office, Trump also signed an executive order defining sexas based on reproductive biology at birth, banning trans and nonbinary people from obtaining federal IDs that reflect who they are, and also banning federal agencies from enforcing the principle behind the Supreme Courts decision inBostock v. Clayton Co., which found that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination necessarily involves discrimination on the basis of sex. He also signed an executive order repealing former President Joe Bidens executive order that allowed out transgender people to serve in the military. The move doesnt immediately ban trans people from serving in the military but paves the way for a future order from Trump to ban trans servicemembers.He rescinded two other Biden-era orders that protect LGBTQ+ people. Executive Order 14021 Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free From Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity ordered the Department of Educationto implement policies to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ students in schools that receive federal money.Executive Order 14075 Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals took aim at conversion therapy and expanded foster care protections for LGBTQ+ parents and youth. It directed the Department of Health and Human Services to create new policies to protect LGBTQ+ families and the Education Department to protect queer and trans kids in schools in light of an epidemic of state laws attacking LGBTQ+ people. It is now repealed. Todays expected executive actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community serve no other purpose than to hurt our families and our communities, HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in all areas of their lives. No one should be subjected to ongoing discrimination, harassment, and humiliation where they work, go to school, or access healthcare.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, on his first day in office yesterday, signed an executive order repealing former President Joe Bidens executive order that allowed out transgender people to serve in the military. The move doesnt immediately ban trans people from serving in the military but paves the way for a future order from Trump to ban trans servicemembers.In an executive order entitled Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, Trump rescinded a slew of Biden administration policies, accusing them of being deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical. Related Donald Trump starts his presidency by declaring war on the LGBTQ+ community & democracy Trumps first day as president was an assault on trans rights and a reminder of the threat he presents to democracy. Included in the list is Executive Order 14004, issued on January 25, 2021, entitled Enabling All Qualified Americans To Serve Their Country in Uniform. That order, issued by Biden, revoked Trumps previous transgender military ban and ordered the militarys leaders to develop a policy for allowing servicemembers to transition. 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 Republicans defended the move, with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) saying in a statement that Trump isalreadyrestoring the focus of our military on lethality by putting an end to woke DEI programs.Trump has said that he plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military again. Fox host Pete Hegseth, who Trump nominated to lead the Department of Defense, has been critical of transgender people being allowed to serve in the military.At least two other LGBTQ+ executive orders were included in Trumps order to rescind Biden-era orders yesterday. One is Executive Order 14021, Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free From Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, which ordered the Department of Education to implement policies to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ students in schools that receive federal money. The other is Executive Order 14075, Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals. This order took aim at conversion therapy and expanded foster care protections for LGBTQ+ parents and youth. It directed the Department of Health and Human Services to create new policies to protect LGBTQ+ families and the Education Department to protect queer and trans kids in schools in light of an epidemic of state laws attacking LGBTQ+ people. It is now repealed.Trumps order rescinding these previous orders is just one of the anti-LGBTQ+ executive actions he signed yesterday. He also signed an executive order defining sex as based on reproductive biology at birth, banning trans and nonbinary people from obtaining federal IDs that reflect who they are, and also banning federal agencies from enforcing the principle behind the Supreme Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton Co., which found that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination necessarily involves discrimination on the basis of sex. Todays expected executive actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community serve no other purpose than to hurt our families and our communities, HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in all areas of their lives. No one should be subjected to ongoing discrimination, harassment, and humiliation where they work, go to school, or access healthcare.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

I was in high school when Olivia Newton-John released her hit Physical. I was an instant hit, but it wasnt my love for Olivia that infatuated me with the music video. It was the parade of scantily clothed, oiled-up men, lifting weights and doing squats that got my full attention. Today, it occurs to me []The post Sister Roma is Getting Physical! appeared first on GEDmagazine.

ANYTHING GOES in Concert Pasadena: Jinkx Monsoon has become quite the darling of Musical Theatre. The two-timeRuPauls Drag Racewinner, award-winning actor and recording artist made her Broadway debut in 2023 as Matron Mama Morton inChicago, breaking box office records during an extended 10-week run. Most recently, she played Audrey in the off-Broadway production ofLittle []The post Some Definately Like It HOT appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Your new favorite show is almost here! Prime Videos newest comedy series Clean Slatepremieres on February 6th, and youre not going to want to miss it! Starring award winning actress and trans activistLaverne Cox,Clean Slateis a heartfelt comedy following Harry, played by George Wallace, an old-school car wash owner in Alabama who has a lot [...]The post WATCH: Laverne Cox Stars in Prime Videos Newest Series Clean Slate first appeared on GLAAD.

Banning trans youth from participating in sports in Georgia may be a solution in search of a problem, but that did not stop conservative state lawmakers from making good on their promise to introduce anti-trans legislation on January 13, as the Georgia General Assembly began its legislative session at the State Capitol. Nor did it [...]The post LGBTQ Advocates Rally as Lawmakers Target Trans Georgians on Day One of Legislative Session first appeared on GLAAD.

Chi-town kicked off 2025 in the coziest of queer fashion! In onesies, of course.This year Sidetrack Chicago celebrated the new year with its annual 1/1/Onesie Party and reminded the world that the gays can even make anything sexy even an onsie! As in previous years, Sidetrack opened yearly on New Year's Eve, to allow hundreds of LGBTQ+ folks to rock their best one-piece with friends and lovers. And the gays brought it in outfits that ranged from adorable and silly to absolute fire.Counter to the usual holiday fits, the night's theme was comfort so the gays turned out in eye-catching sleepwear and union suits, whatever best showed off they were working with. Talk about a happy new year!Keep scrolling for a peek at the nights festivities and check out even more photos at Sidetrackchicago.com.Need more queer joy? See how Sidetrack rang in Saint Patricks Day 2024.Need more queer joy? See how Sidetrack rang in Christmas with their Santa Speedo Run 2024.Need more queer joy? 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Love is in the air!Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race not only watched Kameron Michaels slay the competition on season ten, but they even got to see him explore dating on the spin-off Vegas Revue.After taking some time away from social media, the star decided to kick off 2025 in the happiest place he's ever been in. Although he's not officially retiring from drag, Michaels is launching his own fitness program and even decided to join OnlyFans.On top of his new business ventures, the model is also enjoying a very loving and supportive relationship that he's teased slightly on social media."I think it's very obvious that I am happier than I've ever been. I think people can see that. This relationship has been going on for awhile. It's actually my longest relationship that I've ever been in. I'm close to 40, so that's a very big deal for me," Michaels tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Michaels is certainly glowing on social media and smiling brighter than ever. The star really took the proper time to ground himself and prioritize healthy habits and people that have led him to his beautiful partner."It's amazing. It's peaceful, supportive, loving, caring... the list goes on. It's everything that I've ever wanted in a relationship and more than I could have ever asked for. I'm very blessed and very happy to be where I'm at in life right now."During his time away from social media, the Drag Race star pursued therapy, which helped him heal a lot of wounds. Michaels encourages everyone, especially queer people, to choose happiness and pursue only healthy relationships."I know for gay men, we end up in a lot of toxic relationships. After going to therapy and learning a lot about myself, I was in a lot of toxic relationships without knowing. When you finally get into a good relationship and you realize how bad the other ones were, you're like, 'Wow. This is what it's supposed to feel like.' You realize all the bulls**t you put up with that you will never put up with again."This is the energy we need in 2025! Fans can keep up with Kameron Michaels on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

By Jaymes Black (they/she/he pronouns), CEO of The Trevor ProjectTo The Trevor Project Community:I grew up in a traditional, religious family in South Texas, which was hard for me as a young queer person. I was lonely, awkward, afraid, and grappled with my identity; I desperately needed a support network like The Trevor Project, but it didnt exist yet. I came to lead The Trevor Project because I am deeply, personally invested in its work to support LGBTQ+ young people in crisis. Today, Id like to share my observations and vision for the future of our vital organization.The Trevor Project will be operating in an extremely complex environment for the foreseeable future: ever-growing demand for our work; an increasingly challenging political environment; a shifting cultural landscape contributing to attacks on LGBTQ+ youth; and continued fundraising headwinds that are limiting resources for many nonprofits like ours. To be able to consistently meet the needs of our community, it is imperative that we adapt accordingly. This entails a number of solutions that will reinforce our services within the context of constrained resources.This week, I announced to our staff that The Trevor Project will begin a transformation of our organization. This will focus primarily on optimizing our U.S. Crisis Services accessed 24/7 across phone, text, and web chat. We will better resource and increase the number of staff directly interacting with LGBTQ+ youth, as well as continue to prioritize timely, high-quality care. We will also assess staffing, structures, processes and operations across the organization. The goal of this transformation is to fortify our organization and ensure that we can meet this moment of demand from LGBTQ+ youth, as we have been for nearly three decades.On November 6, 2024, the day after the presidential election, The Trevor Project experienced a nearly 700% volume increase from LGBTQ+ youth in need of our direct services compared to the weeks prior. This staggering increase signaled a tremendous need for The Trevor Projects services; it also reinforced an urgent need to improve our operating model. Our lines and counselors were stressed, and so were the LGBTQ+ young people desperately trying to access support.Along with The Trevor Projects leadership team and Board, we conducted a deep analysis of our operations and pressure tested our planned transformation. There will be select roles that will be eliminated as part of this process. There will also be new roles, and we will prioritize moving impacted staff into them. Ill repeat that one of our top priorities is to increase the number of staff providing direct support to LGBTQ+ young people on our lines some folks have felt understaffed, and we are planning to fix that. We have notified the union representing our staff of our plans and will continue discussing with them as we move through this process.We will also be exploring new technology solutions to enhance the day-to-day flow on our crisis lines and overall operations. We will continue advancing our stigma reduction and suicide prevention work to garner more support to end the public health crisis of LGBTQ+ youth suicide. And we will, as we always have, continue to work, day-in and day-out, to be there for LGBTQ+ young people in their darkest moments.Change is never easy or straightforward. An organizational transformation will take patience, compassion, and extensive communication with our staff and partners. I am passionate and optimistic that the changes were planning over the next several months will make us the strongest, most reliable, and most resilient support network for LGBTQ+ youth that we have ever been.Serving as this organizations first Black, nonbinary CEO is truly the honor of my lifetime. And I am determined to see our organization reach its fullest potential. We need to be functioning at peak capacity so we can continue to work steadily to end the public health crisis of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.I appreciate your support as we meet the challenges and opportunities of today to be there for all LGBTQ+ youth, wherever they are and whenever they need us.In Community,Jaymes Black, former LGBTQ+ young person and CEO of The Trevor ProjectThe post Transforming The Trevor Project appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Thursday, January 16, 2025 Ahead of the 2025 United States Presidential Inauguration, Jaymes Black (they/she/he), CEO of The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, released the following statement:I want to speak directly to the LGBTQ+ young people across the United States who may be feeling afraid about what your future in this country might look like:You are not alone. You are loved. And you have millions of people fighting for you to lead the healthy, safe, and long life that you deserve. Even in your darkest moments, even as newsrooms publish headlines about anti-LGBTQ+ policies, or you come across hostile perspectives on social media you are never alone, even if you may feel that way.Many of your peers have expressed to our crisis counselors that they are worried about how the next four years may impact their lives. In fact, on November 6, 2024, the day after the election, The Trevor Project saw a nearly 700% increase in volume across our classic crisis services. Your feelings are valid and they are shared. Many of us are navigating difficult feelings along with you.While you may have fears and questions about whats to come, I want you to know that you have an entire community behind you. Many of us have been preparing for the exact kind of political challenges we face now, and for many communities, these are not new. Lucky for us, we sit on the shoulders of leaders who have faced tremendous obstacles and uncertainties, for generations.There may be negative news about your rights or your identity in the coming days and months. It may be hard to hear or even understand. But, I want you to know the vast majority of people want you to thrive exactly as you are. If you ever need support, The Trevor Projects counselors are available 24/7. Please know that we will continue fighting for you, as will our partners, allies, and advocates in every corner of the country. Were here. We arent going anywhere. And no matter what the future holds, we know how to survive and thrive together.Relevant resources:Finding Support & Building Community Amid Political UncertaintyNavigating Personal Safety while Taking Action as an LGBTQ+ Young PersonHow to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile EnvironmentIf 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 at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.The post A Statement from The Trevor Project Ahead of Inauguration Day appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Omar Apollo, the Grammy-nominated crooner behind hits like Evergreen, isnt here for homophobiaor shrinking himself to appease followers. The 27-year-old artist recently shared a provocative still from his film Queer featuring co-star Daniel Craig, and the internet had opinions.But instead of shying away from the backlash, Omar served a masterclass in self-assurance.The Post That Sparked It AllOmar posted a steamy, nearly-nude image from Queer, where he and Craig share an intimate moment. The caption? Queer available on streaming now for all the DLs that didnt wanna go to the theater.Fans and celebrities alike flooded his comments with praise. Troye Sivan even cheekily asked, What platform? But not everyone was thrilled. As followers trickled away, Omar noticedand clapped back in style.Unfollow Me If Youre a HomophobeOmar addressed the exodus in an Instagram Story that oozed confidence: Im losing followers for posting this. Unfollow me if ur a homophobe. Youre not my target audience.The singer doubled down, adding, I will never make myself palatable. This isnt my life; I AM life. Stupid.Yes, Omar! Normalize authenticity over approval.The Queer BuzzDirected by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), Queer explores themes of love, loneliness, and self-discovery. The film has earned rave reviews, with critics applauding the raw performances.However, it hasnt received the critical acclaim it undoubtedly deserves. But thats a story for another timequite literally.Related | Queer Snubbed by BAFTAs: Daniel Craig, Omar Apollos Callout & MoreOmars Unapologetic EraThis isnt the first time Omar has made headlines for his boldness. The singer has built his career on authenticity, blending vulnerability with an edge that resonates deeply with LGBTQ+ fans.So to the followers who bailed? Your loss. Omars too busy being iconic.Catch Omar Apollo and Daniel Craig in Queer, now streaming. You can buy or rent it on Prime Video, iTunes, and other digital platforms.More Stories: Rep. Sarah McBride Appointed Deputy Whip for Policy in 119th CongressRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Disabled Transgender Students Top Surgery DecisionOmar Apollo Shares Full Frontal Queer Scene Shuts Down HomophobesQueer Snubbed by BAFTAs: Daniel Craig, Omar Apollos Callout & MoreDavid Lynch, Iconic Director of Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, Dies at 78The post Omar Apollo Shares Full Frontal Queer Scene Shuts Down Homophobes appeared first on Gayety.

Drew Starkey, Omar Apollo and Daniel Craig star in Queer, Luca Guadagninos steamy adaptation of William S. Burroughs novella. But despite critical acclaim, the film was completely overlooked by the 2025 BAFTA nominations. Fans are questioning whether ongoing stigmas surrounding LGBTQ+ storytelling contributed to the snub.A Risky, Raw Story Left UnrewardedCraig plays William Lee, an addict grappling with loneliness in 1950s Mexico, while Apollo portrays a bar patron who sparks an intimate and explicit moment on screen with Lee. Apollos first film role brought the singer to Instagram with cheeky behind-the-scenes snapshots, but his celebration wasnt without controversy.After posting a censored still from the film, Apollo called out homophobic reactions from followers. Unfollow me if ur a homophobe, he wrote. I will never make myself palatable. This isnt my life, I AM life.Craig, who received Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for his performance, previously reflected on playing a gay character, noting, The movies not defined by [Williams sexuality]. It has universal themes that appeal to everyone.BAFTA Snub: An Industry Blind Spot?Despite receiving international recognition, Queer was ignored in all BAFTA categories. This stands in stark contrast to the success of Emilia Prez, another queer-focused film that dominated with 11 nominations. The snub reignited conversations about the industrys uneven support for LGBTQ+ stories, particularly ones that explore themes of intimacy and identity outside mainstream expectations.Craigs limited BAFTA historyhe has only been nominated once, for Casino Royale in 2006adds to the frustration of fans, many of whom argue that the actor delivered one of his most vulnerable performances in Queer.Known for pushing boundaries in queer storytelling, Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) has injectedQueerwith his signature style and lush visuals. From steamy club scenes to tense jungle encounters, the film is as atmospheric as it is provocative. But its Daniel Craigs performance that is stealing the spotlightdelivering a portrayal thats raw, unhinged, and unforgettable. Craigs Lee is a man driven to the edge of his own sanity by love, in a quest thats both romantic and deeply flawed.Omar Apollo and Daniel Craig Push BoundariesFor Apollo, embracing an explicitly queer role felt natural. I got the call, and they told me about the scene and how explicit it was. I instantly just said yes, he said in an interview. Its not something thats new to me.Whats Next for Queer?The BAFTA snub may sting, but fans and critics continue to celebrate Queer as a bold, necessary addition to LGBTQ+ cinema. With its provocative themes and standout performances, the film underscores the importance of visibility and the ongoing fight for recognition in the industry.The BAFTA Film Awards will air on February 16, 2025, on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK and on BritBox in the US and Australia. Whether Queer finds its redemption in other awards shows remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: its unapologetic story wont be forgotten anytime soon.More Stories: Rep. Sarah McBride Appointed Deputy Whip for Policy in 119th CongressRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Criticizes Disabled Transgender Students Top Surgery DecisionOmar Apollo Shares Full Frontal Queer Scene Shuts Down HomophobesQueer Snubbed by BAFTAs: Daniel Craig, Omar Apollos Callout & MoreDavid Lynch, Iconic Director of Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, Dies at 78The post Queer Snubbed by BAFTAs: Daniel Craig, Omar Apollos Callout & More appeared first on Gayety.

Subscribe nowRemember in 2022 when most folks (including myself) thought there was no way Roe v. Wade could be overturned after it was legalized in 1973? Well, hindsight is 2020.And with that hindsight comes deep concern about a memorial that was introduced in the Idaho Legislature last week calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to let states once again regulate the laws pertaining to same-sex marriage. The memorial, which was first introduced by Republican Rep. Heather Scott, 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.Rep. Scott called SCOTUS historic ruling that legalized gay marriage an "illegitimate overreach" and asked for the restoration of "the natural definition of marriage" between a man and a woman. In the past, Scott has defended white nationalism on Facebook and dismissed the COVID-19 pandemicwhich killed more than a million Americanscalling it a construction of the lying, Trump-hating media who continue to push global and socialist agendas.But beyond Scott lies a deeper ecosystem of forces trying to overturn gay marriage. And this little memorial introduced in Idaho is the first step. The rumblings and parallels to how Roe v. Wade was successfully overturned are eerie and should concern all Americans who believe gay people deserve the right to marry their loved ones.Uncloseted Media is already working on investigative stories looking at the web of people and organizations who are propping up folks like Scott and trying to take the Idaho memorial nationwide.Stay tuned. And stay strong!Donate to support our workIdaho Lawmakers to Take Up Stance Opposing Same-Sex Marriage (Idaho Statesman)Mark Zuckerberg Orders to Remove Tampons from Men's Restrooms at Facebook Parent Metas Offices. (The Economic Times) Zuckerberg has reportedly directed the removal of tampons from men's restrooms in the company's offices, which had been provided to support non-binary and transgender employees who might need them.Why right-wing influencers are blaming the California wildfires on diversity efforts (NPR)Billionaire Elon Musk helped circulate screenshots of the Los Angeles Fire Department's four-year-old 'racial equity action plan,' writing "They prioritized DEI over saving lives and homes."U.S. House Passes Bill Banning Trans Athletes from Competing in Womens School Sports (Colorado Newsline)The legislationwhich advanced 218-206came as an increasing number of states have passed laws banning trans athletes from participating in sports in K-12 schools and colleges that align with their gender identity and amid a wider GOP-led push to enact anti-trans legislation.Fighting the Wave of Oligarch-Owned Newspapers, UNCLOSETED MEDIA LaunchesI was thrilled to sit down with Brody Levesque, former editor-in-chief of The LA Blade and renowned member of Uncloseteds media advisory board, and his colleague Rob Watson, to speak on their new podcast, Radio. We spoke about the importance of accountability journalism as well as Uncloseteds greater mission as we enter a new year and a new administration. Listen Here!This weekend, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: As Joe Biden gets set to leave the White House as the most pro-LGBTQ President in U.S. history, whats his actual track record when it comes to LGBTQ rights? Weve got his full timeline, dating back to 1973 when he was sworn in as one of the youngest Senators of all time. Poppers are used widely in the LGBTQ community on dance floors and at sex parties and have recently penetrated mainstream culture. The nitrates, which can be bought at most bodegas, gas stations, and smoke shops, are not legally allowed to be sold for human consumption, in part because they are unregulated by the FDA. The result? Dozens of poppers brands with different ingredients. What does this mean for frequent poppers users? Jake Angelo investigates. 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

By: Shauneen MirandaThis article was originally published by Colorado Newsline. Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States NewsroomSubscribe nowA measure that would bar transgender students from participating on womens school sports teams consistent with their gender identity passed the U.S. House on Tuesday.The legislation which advanced 218-206 came as an increasing number of states have passed laws banning trans athletes from participating in sports in K-12 schools and colleges that align with their gender identity and amid a wider GOP-led push to enact anti-trans legislation.President-elect Donald Trump, set to be sworn in Jan. 20, repeatedly pledged on the campaign trail that he would ban transgender youth from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity.Almost all U.S. House Democrats opposed the measure, but two Texans U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez voted for it. North Carolina Democratic Rep. Don Davis voted present.Florida GOP Rep. Greg Steube introduced the legislation, a version of which passed the House in the previous session of Congress but had no chance of success back when Democrats controlled the Senate.U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said this is a great day for women in America during a press conference following the vote.The Louisiana Republican said the House voted to uphold common sense again.Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Kentucky who was at the press conference, said that with the Houses passage, we are one step closer as a nation to making sure that not one more male athlete is able to take a trophy, a roster spot, playing time, resources or an opportunity to compete, from a woman.Gaines is a leading voice in opposing transgender athletes participation in sports that align with their gender identity.The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, noted that there has been considerable disinformation and misinformation about what the inclusion of transgender youth in sports entails and that trans students sports participation has been a non-issue.Subscribe nowWhat the bill would doThe measure would amend Title IX so that sex shall be recognized based solely on a persons reproductive biology and genetics at birth.The bill does not specify how exactly the ban would be enforced a point House Democrats in opposition to the measure were quick to point out.Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law that bars schools that receive federal funding from practicing sex-based discrimination.In April 2024, the Biden administration released updated regulations to Title IX, part of which sought to bolster federal protections for LGBTQ students.But last week, a federal judge in Kentucky scrapped the administrations final rule nationwide ending enforcement of the updated regulations that had drawn strong GOP opposition and a slew of legal challenges and created a policy patchwork across the country.With Republicans now leading both chambers of Congress and Trumps imminent return to the White House, the GOP stands in a more robust position to enact such a ban.Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville reintroduced a similar measure in the U.S. Senate last week. That effort, which already has the support of 35 Senate Republicans, would likely need the backing of at least 60 senators to advance past the filibuster.There are 45 Democratic senators in Congress, though independent Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont caucus with the Democrats.The U.S. Department of Education did not immediately respond to States Newsrooms request for comment Tuesday on the House bill.Subscribe nowDemocrats, civil rights groups objectThe measure drew strong opposition from House Democrats, who spoke during the floor debate in front of a backdrop that read: The GOP Child Predator Empowerment Act.The bill is titled by Republicans as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025.U.S. Rep Suzanne Bonamici, part of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, fiercely opposed the measure, which she said would empower child predators putting students across the country at increased risk.Bonamici voiced concerns over privacy violations and harassment regarding how the bill would be enforced.This is a one size fits all bill that would apply equally to every sport, from K-12 schools to colleges, the Oregon Democrat said during floor debate.Meanwhile, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with more than 400 civil rights groups, called on members of Congress to reject the measure Monday, writing in a letter that this discriminatory proposal seeks to exclude transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people from athletics programs in schools.Instead of providing for equal facilities, equipment, and travel, or any other strategy that women athletes have been pushing for for decades, the bill cynically veils an attack on transgender people as a question of athletics policy, the groups wrote.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

LGBTQ+ movie and TV fans used to have to scour the archives of the indie and festival scene to find queer-friendly stories. In 2025 weve finally made enough progress that gay-friendly cinema is one of the most relevant genres being made today. Some of Hollywoods most famous stars are willing to attach their names to pride-filled projects, a brave act that catapults these films and series into the mainstream.As we turn the page to a new year its a great time to look forward to plenty of new LGBTQ+ movies and TV series. From cop romance dramas to some of Netflix and Maxs most iconic shows, these are the queer stories were excited to tune in for in the next 12 months.John Lithgow and Olivia Coleman in Jimpa. Photo: Protagonist PicturesJimpaOlivia Coleman and John Lithgow? What more could you ask for? These legendary screen icons will bring much critical and fan attention to Jimpa, one of the most anticipated LGBTQ+ dramas to debut at the Sundance Film Festival in recent times.Coleman will play a character that has a nonbinary child. Lithgow plays the beloved gay grandfather that Colemans child needs in their life. With so many respected actors and Sophie Hyde as the director, Jimpa has the potential to make people rethink the way queer people can support each other within the same family and across generations.PlainclothesPlainclothes is yet another anticipated Sundance Film Festival 2025 movie that fans of feel-good romance movies should look forward to. Russell Tovey plays a cop who accidentally falls in love with a target during an assignment to arrest gay men around New York in the 1990s. The movie is inspired by events such as the Metropolitan Police performing a witchhunt against gay men in London during the same decade. Tovey is familiar to queer audiences with performances in series such as American Horror Story: NYC and Looking.The Wedding BanquetThe Wedding Banquet made big waves in the 1990s. Directed by Ang Lee, the movie is a story of a bisexual man torn between a lavender marriage and his true desires to be with his gay love. This remake will be directed by Andrew Ahn and stars Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran.It remains unclear whether the story will be a direct translation of the original plot or will tweak the characters. It comes out in theaters on April 18.YellowjacketsHorror and LGBTQ+ are genres that go together like peanut butter and jelly. The lived experience of overcoming the scariest parts of homophobia and societal judgment as a queer person works in perfect unison with scary movies and shows. The frightening elements serve as a fitting analogy for queerness.Yellowjackets follows the journey of a group of high school soccer players when they crash in the wilderness. The show jumps between that timeline and the contemporary one in the 2020s to demonstrate how the past and present are always working in conjunction with each other. With confirmed lesbian romances and ones that are rife with bisexual questioning, Yellowjackets is the quintessential queer adventure series for LGBTQ+ fans. The show returns to Showtime and Paramount+ on February 14.Stranger ThingsYoud be forgiven if you forgot what happened the last time Stranger Things released new episodes on Netflix. Vecna last terrorized the Upside Down in the summer of 2022, but the streamer claims the final season will finally come out sometime in 2025.Set in the 1980s, Stranger Things has been daring in experimenting with queer relationships and characters thus far and in the process has allowed older generations to see their upbringing manifested on the small screen the way it should have been four decades ago. Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) are the two LGBTQ+ characters to watch in season 5.The Last of UsPedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey helped make the first season of The Last of Us one of the most successful video game adaptations of all time. While the main relationship drama that pushes the plot forward is the father/daughter dynamic between Joel and Ellie as they adventure through an undead-inundated wasteland, Ellies sexuality will also be explored much more in season two on Max.Ellies girlfriend, Dina (Isabela Merced), will make her debut throughout the new episodes that start releasing some time in April. Mainstream lesbian relationships are severely lacking in recent years on TV. The Last of Us has a burden and responsibility to make this pairing shine and theres no reason to expect anything other than sharp writing and great acting just as we saw in the maiden season.The History of SoundHistorical LGBTQ+ dramas give a voice to those queer people who were silenced. The History of Sound is a World War I film starring Paul Mescal and Josh OConnor as two companions who bond through the trauma of the early 20th centurys greatest human conflict, by recording the songs that soldiers used to capture the loneliness of the battlefield. OConnor already has experience in the queer drama sphere with his starring turn in Challengers. The History of Sound will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.The HousekeeperUma Thurman and Phoebe Dynevor star in this period drama set in the 1930s. A housekeeper and a novelist fall into a secret love affair against all odds while trying to hide their true identities from the world. Set against The Great Depression, The Housekeeper should transport viewers back to a time when being LGBTQ+ was more societally unacceptable, the stress of which was exacerbated by the financial burdens of the decade. It is unannounced when the film will be released but it is tentatively set for sometime in 2025.Kiss of the Spider WomanJennifer Lopez and Diego Luna are the big names in this retelling of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which was previously an award-winning Broadway musical and a novel. Lopez is a film star in the imagination of Luis Molina, a gay man who dreams of a better life while wrongly imprisoned during the Argentine Dirty War. This one will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January.The post LGBTQ+ stories to watch: The most anticipated movies and TV shows of 2025 appeared first on News Is Out.

On the Saturday after the election, Cheryl Suydam headed to an impromptu meeting for parents of trans kids. The gathering was called by the local chapter of PFLAG, an advocacy group that supports LGBTQ+ people and their families, to discuss their feelings after American voters elected a president who ran on an openly anti-trans platform, Chalkbeat reports.Every single person in that room was absolutely terrified, Suydam said.Suydam and her husband are the parents of three daughters, including a 15-year-old who is transgender. They live in Asheville, North Carolina, a more progressive community in a state that is less so.About two dozen parents seated around a living room discussed changing their childrens legal names while they still could, starting medical treatment while it was still available in other states, and moving to more welcoming communities.It was cathartic to connect with others living this same experience and feeling the need to mobilize in some way, Suydam said.President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to bar transgender athletes from competing in womens and girls sports, ban gender-affirming care for minors, investigate whether such care should be available even to adults, roll back the Biden administrations Title IX changes that gave transgenders students more legal protections at school, and punish schools that teach what Trump calls left-wing gender insanity.Teachers are wondering: What resources will I be able to use to keep kids safe? And thats not just LGBTQ kids, but all students, said Scott Miller, co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus of the National Education Association.Students and teachers in Republican-led states that have passed anti-trans laws have experience resisting those laws, said Craig White, director of Supportive Schools at the Campaign for Southern Equalityand they have lessons for people in the rest of the country if the federal government pushes those policies into more states.Many anti-LGBTQ+ policies are vague, leaving room for districts and teachers to take a more supportive approach and for students to keep exercising their free speech, White said. Activists are also contesting those laws in the courts.Since Trumps election, White said he has been overwhelmed with calls from people who want to organize.My weeks have not just been doom and gloom, White said. Within just a couple of days, Ive seen people turning towards energy and activism and organizing. I have not even been able to keep up with the number of people contacting me and saying, Okay, were ready to take action. What do we do now?'Students Move to Secure Documents, Treatment Before InaugurationIn Texas, Mandy Giles works supporting families of trans children. Since the election, shes received many messages expressing fear and seeking advice.Parents of trans kids and young adults have been scared for a long time in Texas, but there has been a feeling that there was some level of federal protections that now may be going away, Giles said.She runs a monthly support group in Houston. The first meeting after the election had the most attendees everbut at least half of the families in the meeting said they will be moving out of state soon.Some families have been with us since the beginning, Giles said. We had some tearful goodbyes because we knew we wouldnt be seeing each other again before the end of the year.In North Carolina, Suydam has found support locally despite hostile state laws. The state has restricted discussions of gender and sexuality in elementary schools, banned gender-affirming care for minors, and barred transgender youth from competing in middle, high school, and college sports.Its an incredible community, Suydam said. As soon as my daughter came out, we contacted the school, and they quickly started using her preferred pronouns and name.Her daughter, whose name she asked to withhold to protect her privacy, started hormonal therapies before state legislators passed a bill in 2023 to ban gender-affirming care to minors. The law allowed minors who already were under treatment to continue. But her daughter had to stop swimming after legislators passed a law that students can only join sports teams for the genders they were assigned at birth.She used to be a competitive swimmer and has only competed as a female, Suydam said. Since these laws were passed, she has stopped because they gave people the freedom to talk openly against trans athletes. So, it never felt safe to talk to her teammates or the parents of the teammates about the fact that she was trans.The family is preparing for the coming months. Im actively updating all of her documentation to reflect her name and gender now and in the next few weeks while I still can, Suydam said.Trumps election means that any hopes of federal protection to counter state laws have disappeared. People are thinking about how they can protect themselves and their family members, advocates said.Ben Cooper is an attorney based in Columbus, Ohio, who has provided free legal advice at a legal aid clinic for LGBTQ people since 2016. Since the election, he said hes seen more people rushing to get their names and gender markers changed in legal documents.This type of change is regulated by state law, but advocates fear the Trump administration may adopt policies that affect federally issued documents like passports.My advice is: If youve been thinking about adjusting your documents, then theres no time like the present, Cooper said.Milo McBrayer, 17, who identifies as transmasculine and queer, is also considering fast-tracking his documents before Trump takes office.I am also thinking of going out of state to start gender-affirming care, said Milo, who also lives in Asheville. Because of North Carolinas ban, I didnt plan to do it before I turned 18, but now I dont know if my ability will go away after Trump takes office.Milo said that he has also become more active in local groups that support trans people as a way of building a stronger support system.One of those is the Pansy Collective, a group of LGBTQ+ artists, who recently organized a bug-out bag workshop. The workshop covered information about how to be safe and what to bring if you need to escape quickly, whether thats fleeing a natural disaster such as Hurricane Helene or moving across state lines to access gender-affirming medical care.The workshop was mostly about reducing anxiety by providing educational resources, said Riley, an organizer with the group who asked that his last name not be published.Bullying Is a Major Concern for Transgender YouthLast year, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey estimated that 40% of students who identify as transgender or who are questioning their gender identity suffered bullying at school. Advocates worry the election may exacerbate hostile environments in some schools.According to the Movement Advancement Project, 25 states have no specific protection for LGBTQ+ students in their anti-bullying laws, and two statesMissouri and South Dakotaactively ban schools from including LGBTQ+ students in their anti-bullying policies.Even in states such as North Carolina, where students have some protections from bullying, ensuring that schools respect the law is not always easy.In my old school, people just had the audacity to yell slurs at you walking down the hallway, said Milo, who transferred to a charter school for his senior year. And even though I was being bullied pretty heavily, the school refused to do anything about it because it was about me being trans. And that has turned into a political issue, not a human rights issue.In his new school, The Franklin School of Innovation, he feels much more comfortable and has found community among other queer students.Even in liberal states like California, trans students and their families can have difficulties. Juliet Stowers is an elementary school teacher in Orange County, California, and the parent of a 16-year-old trans girl. She said that it is not rare to hear anti-trans rhetoric in her district, and many parents complain about the presence of trans kids in schools.Some days, it can be debilitating, she said. Trump is saying that we, as teachers, are offering hormones or performing surgeries when we have to pay for the pencils in our classrooms.Stowers said shell continue working in the community to support other educators, parents, and kids.My daughter is terrified, but Ive been telling her, Dont worry, there are many people ready to fight. We are ready to fight,' she said.Across the country, Milo feels similarly.I felt very failed by the adults in my country, he said of the election results. So, I have been spending a lot of time grieving. But I have also been trying to do a lot of community work by helping my friends as much as I can, sharing resources to cope with this situation, and talking about it openly.This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.The post Amid fear, trans students and families plan for Trumps second term appeared first on News Is Out.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a case brought by parents in Maryland who want to opt their children out of classes that include LGBTQ+ content.They say the reading material violates their First Amendment rights to freedom of religion. Related Religious protesters in Maryland fight LGBTQ+ school curriculum Religious parents are calling an inclusive new English program indoctrination. The group of Muslim,Roman Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox parents first filed suit in 2023 after an opt-out provision for a literacy class was dropped by Montgomery County Public Schools. 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 Parents sued for a preliminary injunction to restore the opt-out option, but the judge denied the request, saying the challenge was unlikely to succeed because parents couldnt show that the no-opt-out policy burdens their religious exercise.The high court agreed to hear the case as gender and sexuality take a central role in the second Trump administration, and debates over LGBTQ+ content in libraries and transgender athletes in schools continue to roil local school districts and Congress.The group of parents are represented in the Supreme Court challenge by Becket, a non-profit institute dedicated to religious liberty issues. The group has a history of anti-LGBTQ+ litigation. The school systems decision to disallow opt-outs was cramming down controversial gender ideology to three-year-old pupils, said Becket attorney Eric Baxter in a statement.The Court must make clear: Parents, not the state, should be the ones deciding how and when to introduce their children to sensitive issues about gender and sexuality, Baxter said.LGBTQ+-related curricula and lessons apply only to students in Montgomery Countys middle and high schools.The district-wide policy in the states largest school district covers books and lessons in an English language arts curriculum newly diversified in 2023. The curriculum addresses issues like race, religion, and ethnicity, and includes LGBTQ+ perspectives. LGBTQ+ content includes storybook titles like Pride Puppy, about a gay pride parade, and Love, Violet, about a girl who has feelings for a female classmate.The decision to drop the opt-out provision inspired protests organized by a coalition of religious groups. Hundreds turned out for demonstrations that characterized the curriculum as LGBTQ+ indoctrination.We have the religious right to raise our kids based on the Bible, Soloman Hailemariam, a father of four Montgomery County schools students, told far-right news siteThe Daily Signalat a July 2023 rally. Parents aligned with the Maryland schools inclusive curriculum turned out in force, as well.Were here not so much to counter the protest, but to show support for the Board of Education and what theyre doing, and show the queer kids that go to school here that they are supported, said John Zittrauer, a counter-protester at the July 20 demonstration.The Supreme Court has been sympathetic to religious liberty plaintiffs in several recent cases, including 303 Creative v. Elenis, which allowed a graphic designer to discriminate against a same-sex couple, and a high school football coach who prayed at midfield after a game.In July, a Trump-appointed judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that a DC school must recognize a chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), an organization that requires its leadership to oppose same-sex marriage.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

And so the nightmare begins for American democracy.Within minutes of being sworn in as the 47th president, Donald Trump declared war on the LGBTQ+ community. In a speech riddled with his usual grievances, Trump made it clear that he would trample on trans rights. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female, Trump said, promising to end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. Related Alejandra Caraballo explains Donald Trumps fundamental miscalculation Ignoring the drive to survive may be one of the incoming administrations fatal flaws, but dirty tech money is gambling otherwise. Trump immediately proved true to his word (for once) by executive orders targeting the trans community. The first order declares that there are only two genders and with that come a series of specific policy changes. Government documents, including passports, visas, and employee records, can only show male or female. The government will no longer pay for trans-related health care, such as for government employees, military personnel, or federal prisoners. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today While that order was broadly telegraphed in advance, the second order was not, probably as part of the shock and awe strategy that Trumpists were employing. The second order effectively completes the erasure of the existence of trans people altogether. In that order, the federal government will simply not recognize the existence of trans people at all and will bar any federal money being spent on any program that does. Exactly how that will work remains to be seen, but its possible that it will mean nonprofits that receive government money will not be allowed to let clients identify as anything other than male or female. These attacks are directly in line with those recommended by Project 2025, the far-right blueprint for Trumps second term. Despite disavowing any connection to the effort during the campaign, Trump has given its creators carte blanche from day one of his administration. Trumps speech and the executive orders made clear that Trumps fantasy is to return America to the 1950s, when it was whiter, straighter, and more Christian. Indeed, a Christian nationalist listening to the speech could do nothing but swoon, as Trump not only declared himself snatched by God himself from an assassins bullet but declared, We are one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God.As for doing anything to address the economic issues that fed Trumps victory, Trump said little. His solution for inflation was to say energy prices contributed a lot, which is why he was declaring a national emergency to open up oil drilling everywhere he could. Indeed, the day was a compendium of the rights greatest hits. In addition to attacking trans rights, Trump said the U.S. would leave the Paris climate agreement, making the U.S. one of just four nations not a part of it. He declared a halt to support for electric vehicles. He hinted broadly that the U.S. would end aid to Ukraine. And, of course, he attacked immigrants. But that doesnt mean the damage isnt real. His attacks on immigrants were unrelenting in his inaugural speech, complaining that they were coming from mental institutions, a pretty broad hint that Trump has no idea that the word asylum has multiple meanings. He shut down the southern border, canceled standing appointments immigrants had there, and even killed the app that his first administration rolled out to allow immigrants at the border to make appointments with Border Patrol. He canceled flights for more than 1,600 Afghan refugees cleared to enter the U.S, some of them relatives of American soldiers. Trump even tried to overturn the Constitution. He signed an order declaring that babies born in the U.S. to noncitizens arent citizens either. The concept of birthright citizenship is clearly spelled out in the Constitution, and Trump cant change it with some ink on paper. But the worst assault on democracy was Trumps pardon of the January 6 insurrectionists. He had promised to do so, but the action was still shocking, especially since it included people who were convicted of violently attacking police officers that day. Worse still, Trump commuted the sentences of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, which fueled the violence that day, and even pardoned Enrique Tarrio, one-time head of the Proud Boys, who was serving 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in plotting the insurrection. Indeed, the entire inauguration day was a preview of the turmoil, pettiness, and grifting that will mark the next four years. Trumps flurry of 100 or so executive orders was a sign that he views himself as Supreme Ruler, the leader who can change policy and law by fiat. Sometimes he can, but in many cases, its just wishful thinking on his part. Theres no getting around the fact that yesterday was a dark day in the nations history. Trump made a point of entering office in a show of force, surrounding himself with lackeys who will willingly carry out his worst impulses. He signaled his willingness to go after his opponents, and his allies gloried in their newfound power. (This included Elon Musk giving a salute that neo-Nazis loved as a reminder of the good old days.) Trump isnt as strong as he think he is. At least some of his policies will get stopped by courts, although the servile conservative Supreme Court justices literally ruled that he can do no wrong. But he will cause lots of damage, much of it irreparable. He will ruin peoples lives and enflame extremists who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The saddest part is that voters knew all this and chose to return Trump to office anyway.Finally, dont content yourself in believing that at least Trump is lame duck, prevented from running for re-election. A man who would violently overthrow an election and try to rewrite the Constitution with an executive order isnt about to let go of power just because someone else says so, even the Constitution itself. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Since its arrival in 2012, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has revolutionized the fight to stop the spread of HIV. Its usage in the U.S. has climbed steadily over the last decade from around 9,000 users to over 300,000, according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) data. However, a grim reality sadly persists. Huge disparities exist []The post Fighting Persistent Disparities in PrEP Usage appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Adam Berry has seen it all. As a child, he witnessed early signs of paranormal phenomena in his childhood home, but it was a ghost tour he took at Gettysburg that brought him face-to-face with the other side. He wandered off the tour path and smack dab into a scene from Ghostbusters when a mist []The post Queer Ghosthunter Adam Berry Investigates the Spookiest Haunted House in Southern California appeared first on GEDmagazine.

January 14, 2025 Mr. Mark Zuckerberg Via Email Re: Meta civil rights advisory groups grave concerns with content policy changes Dear Mr. Zuckerberg, As a group of external experts whom Meta has convened for years to advise on how its policies impact marginalized communities, we write to express our grave concern surrounding Metas recently announced [...]The post A Letter to Mark Zuckerberg first appeared on GLAAD.

MSNBC host Chris Hayes unpacked new data on the actual numbers of transgender people and contrasted it with the outsize outrage and lies about the community. On Thursdays All in with Chris Hayes, Chris began with the bombardment of anti-trans campaign ads last fall. You could not watch a single NFL football game all election [...]The post MSNBCs Chris Hayes on the Truth about Transgender People, and the Lies of Cynical Culture Wars first appeared on GLAAD.

The nonbinary star of I Saw the TV Glow has changed their name.The actor formerly known as Brigette Lundy-Paine has announced that they are changing their name to Jack Haven. As they shared in a social media post, the name is a nod to a relative, Haven Gillespie, who cowrote a popular holiday song."Haven is after my great great uncle, Haven Gillespie who was a songwriter known for the xmas hit 'Santa Clause is Coming to Town,' which he wrote on the subway in 15 minutes. and first name Jack has stuck," Haven wrote on Instagram. "Two years ago in a workshop led by @saman_arastoo I began using this name. I said I was using it in safe spaces. Saman said use it in dangerous spaces. So I use it in the mens bathroom."See on InstagramHaven's announcement comes one day after President Trump declared, "As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female," in his inauguration speech.Trump also signed an executive order declaring that the federal government will only "recognize two sexes, male and female" and that "these sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."Haven, who is known for starring in the Netflix series Atypical, came out as nonbinary and announced they use they/them pronouns back in 2019.Haven had a breakout year in 2024, starring in the trans horror film I Saw the TV Glow, which earned them nominations for the Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Dorian Awards, and several other honors.

After being plagued by controversy and cast upheavals for more than a year, filming is finally underway for Scream 7, but cast member Jasmin Savoy Brown has reignited the debate over whether the beloved horror franchise should continue after agreeing to return to play fan-fave character, Mindy Meeks-Martin.After Melissa Barrera stirred up controversy and was unceremoniously fired last year, rumors started spreading about Browns role in the upcoming sequel. Now that its been announced that shes returning for Scream 7, fans have taken to social media to express their feelings, of which there are a lot.Scream 7 controversy explainedSee on InstagramIt was rumored that Brown had pulled out of Scream 7 last year in support of Barrera after she was fired for pro-Palestine social media posts. Barrera was dropped from the film after the Scream production company Spyglass Media Group claimed the posts she made in support of the Palestinian people, where she called Israel colonized land, were antisemitic.Spyglass stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech, a Spyglass spokesperson tells Variety.Barrera denied these claims, writing on Instagram, First and foremost I condemn Anti-semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people, Barrera wrote in an Instagram story upon getting fired. As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, she said. Therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.In the fallout from Barreras firing, costar Jenna Ortega officially dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts, Variety reported, but there were rumors that she left in solidarity with Barrera. Then Brown was rumored to have left the cast in support of Barrera, though this was never confirmed.What are fans saying about Jasmin Savoy Brown returning for Scream 7? (@) (@) Some fans were thrilled to find out the Brown would be reprising her role as one half of the Meeks twins, who became instant fan favorites after their first appearance in Scream 5. "Honestly, Jasmin Savoy-Brown returning is more important to me than Patrick Dempsey. it really makes it feel like a more natural transition from Scream 6 to Scream 7. im so fucking happy rn, a fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter) (@) (@) While others were disappointed because they believed that Brown left the production in full support of Barrera and by extension, the plight of the people in Gaza. (@) So yesterday when Variety reported that she has signed on to return to play Mindy Meeks is Scream 7, some fans felt betrayed. After the news broke, fans took to X to call Brown a performative fake woke loser and voice their disappointment that someone who pretended to have morals, integrity and a social conscience turned out to be a liar.But Savoy Brown is far from the only familiar face headed back for the Scream sequel.Who else is returning for Scream 7?Kevin Williamson, who wrote the scripts for Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, is returning to the franchise to direct the seventh installment, a role originally filled by Christopher Landon before he left the film. Veterans Neve Campbell who left the sixth film because she felt she was being underpaid and Courtney Cox are also returning to play Sydney Prescott and Gale Weathers. What character does Jasmine Savoy Brown play? Mason Gooding, who played Mindys twin brother Chad in Scream 5 and 6, is also returning.Who is Mindy Meeks-Martin?Brown plays Mindy Meeks-Martin, the first queer character in the franchise. In Scream 5, we find out that Mindy is the niece of the original Scream character Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), best known as the horror movie expert who teaches the rest of the characters the rules of slasher films, a mantel that Mindy takes over in the fifth film. The production of the film may have been steeped in controversy and frequent cast changes, but now that filming is underway and it's been confirmed that OG and new fan faves are returning if you're a fan of the series it's time to start getting excited for Scream 7!