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Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak talks to the press at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)2025-11-28T08:50:38Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Anti-corruption units have raided the home and office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, in an unwelcome distraction for Kyiv officials as they battle to defeat Russias invasion and persuade U.S. officials to accommodate their concerns in peace proposals.Two national agencies fighting entrenched corruption in Ukraine said they searched Yermaks office. Yermak, a powerful figure in Ukraine and a key participant in talks with the United States, confirmed they also searched his apartment.The investigators are facing no obstacles, Yermak wrote on the messaging app Telegram. He added that he was cooperating fully with them and his lawyers were present.The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office are Ukrainian anti-corruption watchdogs. They are behind a major investigation into a $100 million energy sector corruption scandal involving top Ukrainian officials. Two of Yermaks former deputies Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma left the government in 2024 after watchdogs investigated them for financial wrongdoing. A third deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was investigated for bribes and other wrongdoing but still works for Yermak. The scandal has heaped more problems on Zelenskyy as he seeks continued support from Western countries for Ukraines war effort and tries to ensure continued foreign funding. The European Union, which Ukraine wants to join, has told Zelenskyy he must crack down on graft. Zelenskyy faced an unprecedented rebellion from his own lawmakers earlier this month after investigators published details of their energy sector investigation.Although Yermak was not accused of any wrongdoing, several senior lawmakers in Zelenskyys party said Yermak should take responsibility for the debacle in order to restore public trust. Some said that if Zelenskyy didnt fire him, the party could split, threatening the presidents parliamentary majority. But Zelenskyy defied them. Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to unite and stop the political games in light of the U.S. pressure to reach a settlement with Russia.Yermak met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago when he was a lawyer venturing into the TV production business and Zelenskyy was a famous Ukrainian comedian and actor.He oversaw foreign affairs as part of Zelenskyys first presidential team and was promoted to chief of staff in February 2020.Yermak has accompanied Zelenskyy on every trip abroad since Russias invasion in February 2022, and the presidents trust in him has made Yermaks power appear almost untouchable.Domestically, officials describe Yermak as Zelenskyys gatekeeper, and he is widely believed to have chosen all top government appointees, including prime ministers and ministers.Individuals connected to Yermak and the presidents office have come under investigation before.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This is a locator map for Syria with its capital, Damascus. (AP Photo)2025-11-28T09:32:01Z DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Israeli forces in southern Syria raided a village and opened fire when they were confronted by residents on Friday, killing at least 10, Syrian media and officials said, as Israel fights on a number of fronts while the shaky ceasefire in Gaza moves forward.The Syrian state news agency SANA said Israeli forces entered the village of Beit Jin aiming to detain local men and opened heavy fire after protests by residents. Dozens of families fled the area.Israel said Friday it conducted an operation following intelligence information to apprehend suspects from Jamaa Islamiya, or Islamic Group, operating in Beit Jin to attack Israeli civilians. During the raid, several militants fired at Israeli troops, injuring half a dozen soldiers who were evacuated to a hospital, the military said. Israeli troops fired at the militants and also responded with aerial assistance, the military said. It said the operation had concluded, all of the suspects were apprehended and a number of militants were killed. Israel has regarded the new authorities in Syria warily since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning offensive led by Islamist insurgents in December 2024. Since Assads fall, Israeli forces have seized a formerly U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria set up under a 1974 disengagement agreement. Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military sites, and pushed for a demilitarized zone south of Damascus. The two countries, which do not have diplomatic relations, have been negotiating a potential security agreement to de-escalate. Syrian officials have condemned the Israeli incursions as a violation of Syrias sovereignty but did not immediately comment on Fridays raid.A local official in the village, Walid Okasha, told The Associated Press that those killed were civilians, and one of them had celebrated his wedding the day before. The situation is miserable, he said.In a previous raid on Beit Jin in June, Israeli forces captured several people who they said were Hamas members a characterization disputed by residents and killed a man whose family said he had a history of schizophrenia.Ongoing conflicts in the region have fueled concerns that unrest could spill over and undermine the fragile truce in Gaza.The deaths in Syria followed a series of strikes by Israels air force in parts of southern Lebanon on Thursday. Israel says its ongoing strikes are aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding after a devastating war last year ended with a ceasefire. The United Nations on Tuesday said Israel had killed at least 127 civilians, including children, in its strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire a year ago. Things escalated earlier this week with a rare strike in Lebanons capital of Beirut, killing a senior Hezbollah official who Israel described as the groups chief of staff. ___Find more of APs Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Cars and houses are submerged in floodwaters in the Songkhla province of southern Thailand, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Arnun Chonmahatrakool, File)2025-11-28T09:09:10Z BANGKOK (AP) The death toll from flooding in southern Thailand has reached at least 145, officials said Friday, as receding waters started to reveal devastating damage across the region.More than 1.2 million households and 3.6 million people have been affected by floods triggered by heavy rains in 12 southern provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said Friday.Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said in a news conference in Bangkok that flooding has killed 145 people in eight provinces, particularly in Songkhla province which recorded at least 110 deaths.He said search and rescue efforts have become more successful as floodwaters started to recede further.Songkhla province recorded a sharp increase in the death toll after flooding began to subside. News reports showed rescuers gained more access to residential areas that had previously been submerged under high water and recovered more bodies, particularly in Hat Yai, the largest city in the south. The disaster department reported Friday morning that waters have receded in most of the affected areas, but levels remain high in some locations. The Meteorological Department said rainfall has decreased in the south but warned of thunderstorms in some areas. The flooding caused severe disruption, leaving thousands of people stranded, rendering streets impassable and submerging low-rise buildings and vehicles.Videos and photos from the affected areas on Friday show damaged roads, fallen power poles, household appliances and debris washed away by floodwaters piled along the streets. Abandoned cars were overturned or stacked atop one another, apparently swept away by powerful currents.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during the inauguration of the new production plant of Flex, the Flex Zala Automotive Next Gen Mobility plant in Zalaegerszeg, southwestern Hungary, Nov. 25, 2025. (Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP, File)2025-11-28T07:38:25Z BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn is visiting Moscow for energy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare step from a European leader while Russias war grinds on in Ukraine.The trip to Moscow is the second since last year for Orbn, who is widely considered Putins closest partner among all European Union leaders. In comments to state media before departing for Moscow early Friday, Orbn said the focus of his talks with Putin would be Hungarys continued access to cheap Russian oil and gas, resources that have come under sanctions by the U.S. government.Hungary remains among the only EU countries to continue importing large quantities of Russian fossil fuels, and has strongly opposed efforts by the bloc to wean its 27 member nations off Russian energy supplies. Earlier this month, Orbn traveled to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump where he succeeded in securing an exemption to sanctions the Trump administration placed on Russian energy companies Lukoil and Rosneft an allowance Orbn said ensured Hungarys continued energy security. Before departing from Budapest Friday, Orbn said that following Hungarys exemption from U.S. sanctions, now all we need is oil and gas, which we can buy from the Russians. I am going there to ensure Hungarys energy supply at an affordable price both this winter and next year. Orbn has long argued Russian energy imports are indispensable for his countrys economy, and that switching to fossil fuels sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic collapse a claim some critics dispute. As the rest of Europe has gradually cut off Russian energy, Hungary has maintained and even increased its imports, and argued against an EU plan to eliminate all Russian fossil fuels by the end of 2027. The Trump administration has said it is seeing signs that its sanctions on major Russian oil producers are crimping the economic engine that has allowed Moscow to continue to fund its war in Ukraine. Prices for Russian oil have plunged as major Indian and Chinese buyers moved to comply with U.S. sanctions before they went into effect last week, according to a senior Treasury Department official. Meanwhile, Trump last week released a plan for ending the nearly four-year war. The 28-point proposal heavily favored Russia, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to quickly engage with American negotiators. European leaders, fearing for their own future facing Russian aggression, scrambled to steer the negotiations toward accommodating their concerns.Trump said Tuesday that his plan to end the war had been fine-tuned, and that hes sending envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet with Putin and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials. He suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.

Cans of seltzer containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, speed down the canning line at Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)2025-11-28T05:01:06Z MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The production lines at Indeed Brewing moved quickly, the cans filling not with beer, but with THC-infused seltzer. The product, which features the compound that gets cannabis users high, has been a lifeline at Indeed and other craft breweries as alcohol sales have fallen in recent years.But that boom looks set to come to a crashing halt. Buried in the bill that ended the federal government shutdown this month was a provision to ban those drinks, along with other impairing beverages and snacks made from hemp, which have proliferated across the country in recent years. Now the $24 billion hemp industry is scrambling to save itself before the provision takes effect in November 2026.Its a big deal, said Ryan Bandy, Indeeds chief business officer. It would be a mess for our breweries, for our industry, and obviously for a lot of people who like these things.Heres what to know about the looming ban on impairing products derived from hemp. Congress opened the door in 2018Marijuana and hemp are the same species. Marijuana is cultivated for high levels of THC in its flowers. Low-THC hemp is grown for its sturdy fibers, food or wellness products. Rope, not dope was long the motto of farmers who supported legalizing hemp.After states began legalizing marijuana for adult use over a decade ago, hemp advocates saw an opening at the federal level. As part of the 2018 farm bill, Congress legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp to give farmers, including in Republican Sen. Mitch McConnells home state of Kentucky, a new cash crop. Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel. Follow on But the way that law defined hemp as having less than 0.3% of a specific type of THC, called delta-9 opened a huge loophole. Beverages or bags of snacks could meet that threshold and still contain more than enough THC to get people high. Businesses could further exploit the law by extracting a non-impairing compound, called CBD, and chemically changing it into other types of impairing THC, such as delta-8 or delta-10. The result? Vape oil, gummy candies, chips, cookies, sodas and other unregulated, untested products laden with hemp-derived THC spread around the country. In many places, they have been available at gas stations or convenience stores, even to teens. In legal marijuana states, they undercut heavily taxed and regulated products. In others, they evaded the prohibition on recreational use of weed.Some states, including Indiana, have reported spikes in calls to poison-control centers for pediatric exposure to THC. A patchwork of state regulationsDozens of states have since taken steps to regulate or ban impairing hemp products. In October, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products outside the states legal marijuana system. Texas, which has a massive hemp market, is moving to regulate sales of impairing hemp, such as by restricting them to those over 21. In Nebraska, lawmakers have instead considered a bill to criminalize the sale and possession of products containing hemp-based THC.Washington state adopted a program to regulate hemp growing. But the number of licensed growers has cratered since the state banned intoxicating hemp products outside of the regulated cannabis market in 2023. Five years ago, there were 220, said Trecia Ehrlich, cannabis program manager with the state agriculture department. This year, there were 42, and with a federal ban looming, she expects that number to drop by about half next year. Minnesota made infused beverages and foods legal in 2022 for people 21 and older. The products, which must be derived from legally certified hemp, have become so popular that Target is now offering THC drinks at some of its stores in the state.Theyve also been a boon to liquor stores and to small Minneapolis brewers like Indeed, where THC drinks make up close to one-quarter of the business, Bandy said. At Bauhaus Brew Labs, a few blocks away, THC drinks account for 26% of their revenues from distributed products and 11% of revenues at the brewerys taproom. A powerful senator moves to close the loopholeNone of that was what McConnell intended when he helped craft the 2018 farm bill. He finally closed the loophole by inserting a federal hemp THC ban in the measure to end the 43-day federal government shutdown, approved by the Senate on Nov. 10.It will keep these dangerous products out of the hands of children, while preserving the hemp industry for farmers, McConnell said. Industrial hemp and CBD will remain legal for industrial applications.Some in the legal marijuana industry celebrated, as the ban would end what they consider unfair competition.They were joined by prohibitionists. Theres really no good argument for allowing these dangerous products to be sold in our country, said Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.But the ban doesnt take effect for a year. That has given the industry hope that there is still time to pass regulations that will improve the hemp THC industry such as by banning synthetically derived THC, requiring age restrictions on sales, and prohibiting marketing to children rather than eradicate it. We are very hopeful that cooler heads will prevail, said Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the industry group U.S. Hemp Roundtable. If they really thought there was a health emergency, there would be no year-long period.The federal ban would jeopardize more than 300,000 jobs while costing states $1.5 billion in lost tax money, the group says.Drew Hurst, president and chief operating officer at Bauhaus Brew Labs, has no doubt his company would be among the casualties.If this goes through as written currently, I dont see a way at all that Bauhaus could stay in business, Hurst said.What comes next?A number of lawmakers say they will push for regulation of the hemp THC industry. Kentuckys second senator, Republican Rand Paul, introduced an amendment to strip McConnells hemp language from the crucial government-funding bill, but it failed on a lopsided 76-24 vote.Minnesotas Democratic U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, are among those strategizing to save the industry. Klobuchar noted at a recent news conference that the ban was inserted into the unrelated shutdown bill without a hearing. She suggested the federal government could allow states to develop their own regulatory frameworks, or that Minnesotas strict regulations could be used as a national model.Kevin Hilliard, co-founder of Insight Brewing in Minneapolis, said the hemp industry needs a solution before planting time next spring.If a farmer has uncertainty, theyre not going to plant, Hilliard said.___Johnson reported from Seattle. AP congressional reporter Kevin Freking contributed from Washington, D.C. STEVE KARNOWSKI Karnowski covers politics and government from Minnesota for The Associated Press. He also covers the ongoing fallout from the murder of George Floyd, courts and the environment, among other topics. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The FOIA Forum is a livestreamed event for paying subscribers where we talk about how to file public records requests and answer questions. If you're not already signed up, please consider doing sohere.Recently we had a FOIA Forum where we focused on our reporting about Flock. This includes how to file public records requests for audit logs, footage, and other ideas for FOIAing surveillance companies. We showed subscribers how we got the records behind that story, the specific request language was used, tips for turning records into articles, and much more.Check out all of our FOIA Forum archiveshere. And the video is below.

Because we run 404 Media on Ghost, an open source and privacy-forward stack, we actually know very little about who reads 404 Media (by design). But were hoping to learn a bit more so we can figure out how people are discovering our work, what our readers do, and what other projects people might want us to launch in the future. If you want to cut to the chase: here is a link to our very short survey we would really, really appreciate you filling out. You can do it anonymously and it should take around a minute. If you want to know more on the why, please read below!As we said, Ghost doesnt collect much data about our readers. The little info we do have shows broadly that most of our readers are in the U.S., followed by Europe, etc. But we dont have a great idea of how people first learn about 404 Media. Or whether people would prefer a different format to our daily newsletter. Or what industries or academic circles our readers are in.This information is useful for two main reasons: the first is we can figure out how people prefer to read us and come across our work. Is it via email? Is it articles posted to the website? Or the podcast? Do more people on Mastodon read us, or on Bluesky? This information can help us understand how to get our journalism in front of more people. In turn, that helps inform more people about what we cover, and hopefully can lead to more people supporting our journalism.The second is for improving the static advertisements in our email newsletters and podcasts that we show to free members. If it turns out we have a lot of people who read us in the world of cybersecurity, maybe it would be better if we ran ads that were actually related to that, for example. Because we dont track our readers, we really have no idea what products or advertisements would actually be of interest to them. So, you voluntarily and anonymously telling us a bit about yourself in the survey would be a great help.Here is the survey link. There is also a section for any more general feedback you have. Please help us out with a minute of your time, if you can, so we can keep growing 404 Media sustainably and figure out what other projects readers may be interested in (such as a physical magazine perhaps?).Thank you so much!

Subscribe Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. Success Great! Check your inbox and click the link. Error Please enter a valid email address. A new feature on X is making people suddenly realize that some large portion of the divisive, hateful, and spammy content designed to inflame tensions or, at the very least, is designed to get lots of engagement on social media, is being published by accounts that are pretending to be based in the United States but are actually being run by people in countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Russia, and other countries. An account called Ivanka News is based in Nigeria, RedPilledNurse is from Europe, MAGA Nadine is in Morocco, Native American Soul is in Bangladesh, and Barron Trump News is based in Macedonia, among many, many of others.Inauthentic viral accounts on X are just the tip of the iceberg, though, as we have reported. A huge amount of the viral content about American politics and American news on social media is from sock puppet and bot accounts monetized by people in other countries. The rise of easy to use, free AI generative tools have supercharged this effort, and social media monetization programs have incentivized this effort and are almost entirely to blame. The current disinformation and slop phenomenon on the internet today makes the days of Russian bot farms and fake news pages from Cyprus seem quaint; the problem is now fully decentralized and distributed across the world and is almost entirely funded by social media companies themselves.This will not be news to people who have been following 404 Media, because I have done multiple investigations about the perverse incentives that social media and AI companies have created to incentivize people to fill their platforms with slop. But what has happened on X is the same thing that has happened on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms (it is also happening to the internet as a whole, with AI slop websites laden with plagiarized content and SEO spam and monetized with Google ads). Each social media platform has either an ad revenue sharing program, a creator bonus program, or a monetization program that directly pays creators who go viral on their platforms.

In the deserted town square of the city of Springfield, three people huddle in an empty courthouse. Two of these people are civilians; one is a vulnerable, someone being pursued and targeted by government agents. They talk in hushed tones to one another, playing music to keep fear at bay. Above the door of the courthouse, a plaque reads, Liberty and Justice for Most.At the bottom of the courthouse stairs, two government agents step out of a purple golf cart. They approach the door. Theyre carrying guns.Hey, is anyone inside? one of them says. Any vulnerables in here? We have a warrant. We have a warrant for any vulnerables in the area.One civilian opens the door, sees the agents, and immediately slams it shut. After more warrant calls, the civilian says, Slip it under the door.I would slip it under the door, but theres no space under the door, the agent says, stuttering.The civilian pauses. Well. Sounds like a personal problem.

Welcome back to the Abstract! Here are the studies this week that overthrew the regime, survived outer space, smashed planets, and crafted an ancient mystery from clay.First, a queen gets sprayed with acidand thats not even the most horrifying part of the story. Then: a moss garden that is out of this world, the big boom that made the Moon, and a breakthrough in the history of goose-human relations.As always, for more of my work, check out my book First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens, or subscribe to my personal newsletter the BeX Files.What is this, a regime change for ants?Shimada, Taku et al. Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology.Every so often, a study opens with such a forceful hook that it is simply best for me to stand aside and allow it to speak for itself. Thus:Matricidethe killing of a mother by her own genetic offspringis rarely observed in nature, but not unheard-of. Among animal species in which offspring remain with their mothers, the benefits gained from maternal care are so substantial that eliminating the mother almost never pays, making matricide vastly rarer than infanticide.Here, we report matricidal behavior in two ant species, Lasius flavus and Lasius japonicus, where workers kill resident queens (their mothers) after the latter have been sprayed with abdominal fluid by parasitic ant queens of the ants Lasius orientalis and Lasius umbratus.Mad props to this team for condensing an entire etymological epic into three sentences. Such murderous acts of dynastic usurpation were first observed by Taku Shimada, an ant enthusiast who runs a blog called Ant Room. Though matricide is sometimes part of a life cyclelike mommy spiders sacrificing their bodies for consumption by their offspringthere is no clear precedent for the newly-reported form of matricide, in which neither the young nor mother benefits from an evolutionary point of view.In what reads like an unfolding horror, the invading parasitic queens covertly approach the resident queen and spray multiple jets of abdominal fluid at herformic acid, as it turns outthat then elicits abrupt attacks by host workers, which ultimately kill their own mother, report Shimada and his colleagues.The parasitic queens are then accepted, receive care from the orphaned host workers and produce their own brood to found a new colony, the team said. Our findings are the first to document a novel host manipulation that prompts offspring to kill an otherwise indispensable mother.My blood is curdling and yet I cannot look away! Though this strategy is uniquely nightmarish, it is not uncommon for invading parasitic ants to execute queens in any number of creative ways. The parasites are just usually a bit more hands-on (or rather, tarsus-on) about the process.Queen-killing has evolved independently on multiple occasions across [ant species], indicating repeated evolutionary gains, Shimadas team said. Until now, the only mechanistically documented solution was direct assault: the parasite throttles or beheads the host queen, a tactic that has arisen convergently in several lineages.When will we get an ant Shakespeare?! Someone needs to step up and claim that title, because these queens blow Lady MacBeth out of the water.In other newsThats one small stem for a plant, one giant leaf for plant-kindMaeng, Chang-hyun et al. Extreme environmental tolerance and space survivability of the moss, Physcomitrium patens. iScience,Scientists simply love to expose extremophile life to the vacuum of space to, you know, see how well they do out there. In a new addition to this tradition, a study reports that spores from the moss Physcomitrium patens survived a full 283 days chilling on the outside of the International Space Station, which is generally not the side of an orbital habitat you want to be stuck on.A reddish-brown spore similar to those used in the space exposure experiment. Image: Tomomichi FujitaEven wilder, most of the spacefaring spores were reproductively successful upon their return to Earth. Remarkably, even after 9 months of exposure to space conditions, over 80% of the encased spores germinated upon return to Earth, said researchers led by Chang-hyun Maeng of Hokkaido University. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the survival of bryophytesthe family to which mosses belongfollowing exposure to space and subsequent return to the ground.Congratulations to these mosses for boldly growing where no moss has grown before.Hints of a real-life ghost worldHopp, Timo et al. The Moon-forming impactor Theia originated from the inner Solar System. Science.Earth had barely been born before a Mars-sized planet, known as Theia, smashed into it some 4.5 billion years ago. The debris from the collision coalesced into what is now our Moon, which has played a key role in Earths habitability, so we owe our lives in part to this primordial punch-up.KABLOWIE! Image: NASA/JPL-CaltechScientists have now revealed new details about Theia by measuring the chemical makeup of lunar samples, terrestrial rocks, and meteoritesfrom which Theia and proto-Earth might have formed, according to a new study. They conclude that Theia likely originated in the inner solar system based on the chemical signatures that this shattered world left behind on the Moon and Earth.We found that all of Theia and most of Earths other constituent materials originated from the inner Solar System, said researchers led by Timo Hopp of The University of Chicago and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. Our calculations suggest that Theia might have formed closer to the Sun than Earth did.Wherever its actual birthplace, what remains of Theia is buried on the Moon and as giant undigested slabs inside Earths mantle. Rest in pieces, sister.Goosebumps of yoreDavin, Laurent et al. A 12,000-year-old clay figurine of a woman and a goose marks symbolic innovations in Southwest Asia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Youve heard of the albatross around your neck, but what about the goose on your back? A new study reports the discovery of a 12,000-year-old artifact in Israel that is the earliest known figurine to depict a humananimal interaction with its vision of a goose mysteriously draped over a womans spine and shoulders.The tiny, inch-high figurine was recovered from a settlement built by the prehistoric Natufian culture and it may represent some kind of sex thing.An image of the artifact, and an artistic reconstruction. Image: Davin, Laurent et al.Wesuggest that by modeling a goose in this specific posture, the Natufian manufacturer intended to portray the trademark pattern of the ganders mating behavior, said researchers led by Laurent Davin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This kind of imagined mating between humans and animal spirits is typical of an animistic perspective, documented in cross-cultural archaeological and ethnographic records in specific situations such as an erotic dream or shamanistic vision.First, the bizarre Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, and now this? What is it about ancient cultures and weird waterfowl fantasies? In any case, my own interpretation is that the goose was just tired and needed a piggyback (or gaggle-back).Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Photo by The White HouseSubscribe nowSince the start of Donald Trumps second presidential term, Uncloseted Media has been checking in every 100 days to document each move in the administrations ongoing and relentless attack on the LGBTQ community. These last few months have continued the trend of each 100 days being worse than the last. Trump has weaponized the assassination of Charlie Kirk to put an even bigger target on trans Americans, and he has been testing out new rhetoric, claiming that Democrats want transgender for everybody, a line hes now used so many times that we couldnt include every reference. With that in mind, heres the administrations complete track record on LGBTQ issues from days 201-300.Aug. 9, 2025Trump announces that he is nominating Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce as deputy ambassador to the United Nations. Bruce, an out lesbian, opposes transgender health care for minors and claims LGBTQ Pride commercials really do damage to the gay and lesbian community.Aug. 11, 2025Trump deploys the National Guard in D.C. Photo from The White House.During a public safety press conference, Trump orders the National Guard to deploy in Washington, D.C., claiming it will curb crime despite it being down. While doing so, he attacks the LGBTQ community, saying, Thats why [Democrats] want men playing in womens sports, thats why they want transgender for everybody. Everybody, transgender.Aug. 12, 2025Trump orders a review of the Smithsonian Institution to determine whether it aligns with his administrations standards. He targets the museums exhibits on transgender athletes, ballroom drag and the evolution of LGBTQ identities, as well as a painting of a Black trans statue of Libertythat was later withdrawn by the artistin the National Portrait Library.The same day, the State Department releases a revised 2024 Human Rights Report that omits references to LGBTQ people and erases mentions of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The report also removes critiques of governments for mistreating LGBTQ communities. For example, it removes information about Hungarys anti-LGBTQ laws that encourage citizens to report their LGBTQ neighbors and that ban depictions of homosexuality or gender transition in schools or the media. Aug. 14, 2025The Department of Education (DOE) launches an investigation into four Kansas school districts, accusing them of violating Title IX as they permit students to participate in sports and access intimate facilities based on gender identity rather than biological sex.Aug. 15, 2025Budget cuts stemming from Trumps federal workforce reductions eliminate $600,000 in funding for the D.C. Office of LGBTQ Affairs for 2026.The same day, the administration announces plans to eliminate gender-affirming care from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program starting in 2026, cutting coverage for over 8 million people. The policy would block access to hormones and surgeries for federal workers and their families.Aug. 20, 2025The media reports on court filings that reveal that the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued subpoenas to hospitals for private medical records of LGBTQ patients 18 and younger. The DOJ requests billing data, communication with drug manufacturers, Social Security numbers and recordings from providers who treat gender non-conforming minors. Doctors across the country report threats and fear government retaliation.The subpoena is a breathtakingly invasive government overreach. Its specifically and strategically designed to intimidate health care providers and health care institutions into abandoning their patients, says Jennifer L. Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD law, an LGBTQ legal group and civil rights organization.Aug. 21, 2025The White House publishes a list of 20 Smithsonian exhibits deemed objectionable, including many that highlight LGBTQ and non-white artists. Targeted works include the American History Museums LGBTQ+ exhibit that explores queer and disabled identities, as well as a Title IX anniversary display featuring transgender athletes.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cuts $12 million of federal funding for Californias Personal Responsibility Education Program, which provides sex education to teens. HHS officials cite the states refusal to remove lessons on so-called radical gender ideology. The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) upholds an executive order which directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to cut more than 1,700 grants, nearly 200 of which provide funding for HIV/AIDS.The New York Times reports that the Trump administration will withhold more than half of the congressionally appropriated $6 billion for the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Experts say the cuts threaten HIV/AIDS services worldwide, as the Kenyan HIV/AIDs network NEPHAK announces layoffs and closures of health centers.Aug. 23, 2025ICE violently detains Brazilian trans woman Alice Correia Barbosa, later announcing plans to deport her.Aug. 26, 2025The administration warns U.S. states and territories that they will lose federal funding for sex education unless they remove all references to gender ideology. Forty-six states and D.C. receive letters ordering the purge of all gender ideology content within 60 days.Aug. 28, 2025The DOE orders Denver Public Schools to replace gender-neutral restrooms with sex-designated facilities within 10 days. If they dont comply, the DOE suggests they will lose federal funding.HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tells Fox News that the HHS is studying whether gender-transition medications or antidepressants cause violence, citing a church shooting in Minneapolis by a transgender woman. Research shows no such connection, and nearly all mass shootings are committed by cisgender men.Aug. 29, 2025In an interview with the Daily Caller, a right-wing opinion website, Trump baselessly claims that banning transgender troops improves military readiness. He falsely links transgender identities to violence and repeats debunked claims about gender-affirming care.Subscribe nowSept. 2, 2025The Harvard Crimson posts Dean David J. Demings announcement that the university will no longer host programming for specific races or identity groups, signaling deeper cuts to diversity efforts. The move follows Trumps demands that Harvard dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs or lose billions in federal research funding. Since Trump took office, Harvard has removed DEI language, closed identity-based offices and folded LGBTQ, womens and minority programs into a single Harvard Foundation.On a podcast with former George W. Bush special assistant Scott Jennings, Trump conflates crime with support for transgender people, saying Democrats are fighting for criminals, just like they fought for transgender for everybody all these crazy things.Sept. 3, 2025After a settlement requiring the administration to restore health and science information to federal websites, HHS officials tell the Associated Press that they remain committed to its mission of removing radical gender and DEI ideology from federal programs. The reversal follows an executive order meant to eliminate the term gender from policies and delete public health pages about pregnancy risks, opioid addiction and AIDS.Trump greets Polish President Karol Nawrocki in front of The White House. Photo by The White House.During an Oval Office meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Trump once again says Democrats gave us things like men playing in womens sports, open borders for everybody, transgender for everybody.Subscribe nowSept. 4, 2025In response to the Minneapolis mass shooting, CNN reports that the DOJ is considering restricting transgender Americans Second Amendment rights by building off of Trumps trans military ban and using it as justification for a firearm bansomething that would only be possible by declaring them mentally defective. The proposal sparks backlash from the National Rifle Association, who says in a statement that they will not support sweeping gun bans that arbitrarily strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights without due process.A Maine principals group challenges a subpoena from the DOJ that seeks athletic rosters statewide as part of the administrations effort to ban transgender students from sports. The group argues the request would expose private student information unrelated to the case.A federal appeals panel upholds an injunction blocking the Trump administrations plan to deny accurate passports to transgender and nonbinary Americans. Judges rule the government failed to show how inclusive passports violate federal law. In its decision, the court writes:Based on the named plaintiffs affidavits and the expert declarations submitted by the plaintiffs, the district court made factual findings that the plaintiffs will suffer a variety of immediate and irreparable harms from the present enforcement of the challenged policy, including a greater risk of experiencing harassment and violence while traveling abroad.Sept. 5, 2025CNN uncovers years of homophobic and misogynistic posts by E.J. Antoni, Trumps nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Antoni, an economist at the Heritage Foundation, contributor to Project 2025 and a bystander on Jan. 6, has repeatedly mocked LGBTQ people and journalists and appears to have been running an X account where he posted that there is only one sexual orientation - everything else is a disorientation. The administration would withdraw his nomination Sept. 30.Sept. 8, 2025Three military families sue the Department of Defense after the Trump administrations ban on transgender health care. This is a sweeping reversal of military health policy and a betrayal of military families who have sacrificed for our country, says Sarah Austin, staff attorney at GLAD Law.Trump speaks to the Religious Liberty Commission. Photo by The White House.Speaking to the Religious Liberty Commission, Trump rambles, On day one of my administration, I signed an executive order to slash federal funding for any school that pushes transgender insanity on our youth. He goes on to falsely claim that some states can force children to transition without the parents knowing.Sept. 9, 2025A federal judge blocks the administrations attempt to subpoena medical records of transgender minors at Boston Childrens Hospital. The court finds that:The Administration has been explicit about its disapproval of the transgender community and its aim to end GAC [gender-affirming care]. It is abundantly clear that the true purpose of issuing the subpoena is to interfere with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts right to protect GAC within its borders, to harass and intimidate BCH to stop providing such care, and to dissuade patients from seeking such care.Sept. 11, 2025The Wall Street Journal publishes a leaked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives memo which falsely claims that shell casings found near the scene of Kirks murder were engraved with expressions of transgender and anti-fascist ideology.Sept. 12, 2025The DOJ removes a study from its website showing that far-right extremists have killed more Americans than any other domestic terrorist group. The archived report disappears two days after anti-LGBTQ conservative Charlie Kirk is assassinated.Sept. 15, 2025Photo by The White House.In a press conference, Trump says he would have no problem removing Pride flags from Washington, D.C. streets after Brian Glenn, a far-right content creator, says that a lot of people are very threatened by this flag. Glenn attempts to paint the Progress Pride flag as the transtifa flag and suggests that if you can label them a domestic terrorist group, in all reality, you could take that flag down.Trump acknowledges legal limits under free speech law but adds, I think you probably could. Again, youll be sued, and its okay. Ive been sued before a couple of times.Subscribe nowSept. 16, 2025UCLA faculty and workers unions sue the Trump administration for freezing $584 million in research grants, arguing it violates academic freedom and constitutional rights. The freeze follows a DOJ letter demanding UCLA end gender-affirming care for minors, ban transgender athletes and align policies with anti-DEI directives.Sept. 17, 2025The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues new priorities that declare that biological sex is unchangeable and that pledge to protect children by deprioritizing programs offering transgender health care.Sept. 18, 2025Two national security officials tell independent journalist Ken Klippenstein that the FBI is weighing whether to classify transgender people as a sub-category within its new domestic extremism threat model that was originally used to classify Jan. 6 rioters.Sept. 19, 2025The Trump administration petitions SCOTUS to reinstate its passport rule requiring sex designations match birth certificates. A lower court had blocked the policy, allowing transgender and nonbinary Americans to use X markers or gender-aligned IDs.A federal judge blocks the administration from withholding the National Endowment for the Arts grants from arts organizations it deems to be promoting so-called gender ideology, ruling the policy unlawfully punishes artistic expression.It is reported that the DOE threatens to withhold $15 million from New York City magnet schools unless they repeal trans-inclusive policies.Sept. 20, 2025The CDC removes or restricts nearly two dozen webpages, many related to LGBTQ health and equity. Deleted pages include About Shigella Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men, STI Information for Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons and others addressing asexuality, disabilities and race-based health inequities.Sept. 22, 2025White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claims the administration is investigating why transgender people are turning to domestic terrorism, despite no evidence of this. She calls anyone denying the false link willfully ignorant. Transgender people are four times more likely to be victims of violent crime.Sept. 23, 2025Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner. Photo by The White House.Trump cancels a budget meeting and blames a potential government shutdown on Democrats support for trans-inclusive policies.Sept. 24, 2025The administration withholds $1.25 million in congressionally approved funds from 20 projects serving LGBTQ and underrepresented communities. The grants include efforts to document queer historic sites and to nominate the residence of Bayard Rustin, a gay civil rights advocate, socialist and adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., as a National Historic Landmark.Klippenstein releases excerpts from recent federal threat assessment reports that deliberately exclude trans people, referring repeatedly to threats against the LGB+ Community.Sept. 25, 2025Trump signs a presidential memo pledging to disrupt and dismantle entire networks of criminal activity, blaming extremism on migration, race, and gender and proclaiming there is hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality. The memo has no legal weight and does not alter First Amendment protections.Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2025Canada updates its U.S. travel advisory, warning citizens with X gender-marker passports that entry may be denied.While the Government of Canada issues passports with a X gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries.Oct. 1, 2025FBI Director Kash Patel fires a trainee for displaying a Pride flag on his desk, labeling it an improper political message. The dismissal follows reports that pro-Trump appointees are combing internal FBI files to identify LGBTQ employees.Oct. 3, 2025Education Secretary Linda McMahon sends a 9-page proposal to nine universities that demands they ban trans-inclusive facilities, define sex by reproductive function and limit race, gender, or identity factors in admissions. It also orders schools to revise their governance structures by abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas.Oct. 7, 2025DOJ attorney Hashim Mooppan suggests SCOTUS should overturn Colorados ban on conversion therapy for minors, saying, There is ongoing irreparable harm for a Colorado counselor who is challenging the ban. Conversion practices remain illegal in 27 states and are condemned by every major medical association.Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meet in the Oval Office. Photo by The White House.During an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneywho has a nonbinary childTrump makes anti-trans remarks while discussing trade. We have strong borders. We have no men in womens sports. Were not going to take your child away and change the sex of your child.Oct. 10, 2025The White House announces sweeping layoffs to the DOE, cutting roles that oversee civil rights, grants and disability services. LGBTQ youth, 28% of whom have faced housing insecurity, will lose key protections. A federal judge temporarily blocks the layoffs on Oct. 15.The White House also lays off more than 1,100 employees at the HHS. The Office of Population Affairs, which administered Title X family-planning networks, teen-pregnancy prevention and LGBTQ health initiatives, is eliminated entirely. Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy and senior adviser on LGBTQ health tells The Advocate, These are the programs that centered reproductive and queer health, and now theyre gone. [This] leaves us more vulnerable to health inequities and worsened health outcomes.Subscribe nowOct. 24, 2025The White House changes its Major Events Timeline to include that Joe Biden established Trans Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday in 2024, which is not true.Oct. 25, 2025The United States Department of Agriculture posts the following notice:Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry.At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.Oct. 30, 2025NPR shares the draft text of two proposed rules by HHS that would heavily restrict trans health care. One prohibits Medicaid reimbursement for gender-affirming care for people under 18 and another blocks all Medicare and Medicaid funding for hospitals that provide the care to minors.Nov. 2, 2025Trump and Norah ODonnell on 60 Minutes. Photo by The White House.In an interview with 60 Minutes Norah ODonnell, Trump repeatedly misgenders trans women and accuses Democrats of promoting transgender for everybody.Nov. 6, 2025SCOTUS grants the Trump administrations request to put a hold on federal rulings in Massachusetts. These rulings would have required the State Department to issue correct passports to transgender and nonbinary Americans. In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writes the majority once again paved the way for the immediate infliction of injury without adequate (or, really, any) justification. Because I cannot acquiesce to this pointless but painful perversion of our equitable discretion, I respectfully dissent.Additional reporting by Hope PisoniIf objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Subscribe nowThis week, the Supreme Court declined to revisit Kim Davis appeal that attempted to overturn its landmark precedent recognizing same-sex marriage as a legal right nationwide.Davis may now fade into the distance, but how did the former Kentucky county clerk become the face of Americas anti-gay marriage movement?In short, Davis had help from some of the biggest Christian legal groups and most influential figures in the U.S., who are still actively trying to roll back LGBTQ rights on home soil andin many casesinternationally.Now more than ever, we need to remain vigilant about Davis and these groups and monitor their efforts. Here are a few key moments where far right groups and actors tried to assist Davis, aiding in her infamy and celebrification in American culture:July 8, 2015: Attorneys from the Christian legal group Liberty Counsel move to represent Davis in her first lawsuit, which had been filed against her by four couples who shed denied a marriage license to and were being represented by the ACLU Aug. 4, 2015: Davis and Liberty Counsel sue Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear for requiring her to issue gay marriage licenses, arguing that its a violation of her religious liberty and that he should be accountable for any legal damages instead of her.Sept. 3, 2015: Davis is arrested and jailed for not complying with a court order when she continued to refuse to sign gay marriage licenses and ordered her deputy clerks to do the same. She allegedly did so under the advice of Liberty Counsel.Sept. 8, 2015: Davis is released from jail. Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee emcees a rally outside the jail supporting her upon her release. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was also running for president at the time, visited Davis in Kentucky because he was going to be doing everything in his power to ensure more Americans dont become victim to religious persecution by the government, an aide to the campaign said.Sept. 9, 2015: The Oath Keepers, a far right militia group, announce that theyre sending troops to prevent Davis from being arrested again, though Liberty Counsel would later decline their offer.Sept. 24, 2015: Davis and her husband meet with Pope Francis. Liberty Counsel Founder Mat Staver claims that the Pope gave her rosaries and told her to stay strong. The Vatican later releases a statement clarifying that this meeting should not be seen as an endorsement and that several dozen people were in attendance.Oct. 5, 2020: The Supreme Court rejects Liberty Counsels appeal in Davis case, which sought to overturn Obergefell. While Justices Thomas and Alito agree on the decision not to hear the case, they also note that it is a stark reminder of the consequences of the Obergefell decision and say that Davis may have been one of the first victims of this courts cavalier treatment of religion.Nov. 11, 2025: Supreme Court denies Kim Davis petition to revisit same-sex marriage ruling. Staver says he will keep trying. Like the abortion decision in Roe v. Wade, Obergefell was egregiously wrong from the start. This opinion has no basis in the Constitution, he says.Spencer went live on Monday with Hope Pisoni, one of our staff reporters whos been leading the charge on tracking the ongoing fight to attack gay marriage, to discuss how we got here and what it means in the aftermath of the Supreme Court rejecting Kim Davis case. You can watch that here: Jim Obergefell celebrates U.S. Supreme Courts rejection of Kim Daviss marriage equality challenge (The Advocate)I hope the Supreme Court halts further attempts by public officials to use their personal faith to deny others their civil and human rights, the civil rights icon told The Advocate.Apple Pulls Chinas Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order (Wired)The removal of Blued and Finka marks another setback for Chinas marginalized LGBTQ+ community.4 dead, 13 injured after Florida police chase ends with suspect crashing into popular LGBTQ bar (CBS News)A video released by Tampa police Saturday afternoon showed a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle chasing the suspect vehicle at high speed on Interstate 275 around 12:40 a.m.Olivia Rodrigo condemns Trump administrations use of her music for racist, hateful propaganda (The Guardian)Pop star rebukes DHS and White House for video demanding undocumented immigrants self-deport.LGBT memorial means the world to army veteran (BBC)The metal sculpture at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, was unveiled by the King last week.Over the next week, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: Next Wednesday, Nov. 19, marks the 300th day of Donald Trumps second term as President of the United States. For the third time, weve tracked every move the administration has made to attack LGBTQ rights in the past hundred days. As the campaign dust settles, Pennsylvanias first transgender mayor-elect, Erica Deuso, reflects on the journey that brought her here: from facing misunderstanding in her community to envisioning how her lived experience will guide her as Downingtowns next mayor.Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints and story ideas! Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chief spencer@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

Photo by Maryland GovPics.Subscribe nowOn November 6, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that she would be retiring after 38 years serving as the representative for the district that encompasses San Francisco. Since she was first elected in 1987, Pelosi has been one of the most consistent voices in support of LGBTQ rights, speaking out about the AIDS crisis and marching for gay rights during a period of heightened stigma and supporting gay marriage long before the majority of her party. In recent years, as increasing numbers of Democrats have stepped back or flipped their stances on trans rights, Pelosi has remained firm, pushing for the party to hold the line against anti-LGBTQ policies and pledging to fight gender-affirming care bans.As Pelosi gets set to retire in January 2027, we took a look back through her LGBTQ advocacy.Congressperson (1987 - 2002)June 2, 1987Pelosi is elected to Congress in a special election. In her primary, she defeats Harry Britt, a city supervisor for San Francisco and a gay activist.June 9, 1987Pelosi mentions the AIDS crisis in her first speech on the House floor. Were very proud of the Fifth Congressional District and its leadership for peace, for environmental protection, for equal rights, for rights of individual freedom. And now we must take the leadership of course in the crisis of AIDS, and I look forward to working with you on that, she says.Subscribe nowOct. 11, 1987Pelosi at the Second National March on Washington. Photo by Nancy Pelosi.Pelosi helps secure permits to display the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. She sews her own patch for Susan Susie Piracci Roggio, the flower girl in her wedding who died of AIDS at age 30.That same day, Pelosi marches in the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The march calls for legal recognition of same-sex relationships, for more HIV/AIDS funding from the federal government and for the repeal of laws that make sodomy illegal.March 1, 1989Pelosi cosponsors the Housing and Community Development Act of 1990, which created the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. HOPWA gives grant funding to communities, states and nonprofits for projects that benefit low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. Pelosi has supported subsequent funding of HOPWA in the 35 years since its passage.March 6, 1990Pelosi (left) and Elizabeth Taylor (right) testify before a congressional committee. Photo by Nancy Pelosi.Pelosi testifies for HIV/AIDS funding with actor and philanthropist Elizabeth Taylor in front of the Committee on the Budgets Task Force on Human Resources. We have striven for what is best for the patient and what is best for the budget and frequently they are the same, she tells the committee.Pelosi in 1993. Photo by US Government Printing Office.March 11, 1993Pelosi votes against the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, which codified a travel ban for immigrants and foreign nationals living with HIV/AIDS.Sept. 29, 1993Pelosi votes in favor of the 1994 Defense Authorization Act, which codified the Dont Ask, Dont Tell (DADT) military policy created under the Clinton Administration that forced gay members of the military to remain in the closet while serving. The law reads:The prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service. The presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.Pelosi votes for the bill despite opposing DADT and later speaks in favor of its repeal on the House floor, calling on Clinton to act definitively to lift the ban that keeps patriotic Americans from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation. She goes on to say that Dont Ask, Dont Tell doesnt contribute to our national security and it contravenes our American values.July 12, 1996Pelosi votes against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which established marriage as only a legal union between one man and one woman. She votes in the minority of Democrats, with 118 voting in favor and 65 voting against.Nov. 12, 1996Legislation spearheaded by Pelosi to establish the AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco as a national landmark is signed into law.Democratic Party House Leader (2002-2007)May 27, 2003The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is created after President George W. Bush signs the United States Leadership Against Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 into law. It passes with bipartisan support under Pelosis party leadership. To this day, PEPFAR provides HIV/AIDS funding to over 50 countries.Subscribe for accountability journalism.Sept. 30, 2004Pelosi votes against a proposed constitutional amendment that would have restricted marriage to be between one man and one woman. She would vote against the same amendment again in 2006.Speaker of the House (2007-2011)Sept. 28, 2007Pelosi releases a statement endorsing a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which had been controversially amended to include discrimination protections for sexual orientation but not gender identity. While I personally favor legislation that would include gender identity, the new ENDA legislation has the best prospects for success on the House floor. I will continue to push for legislation, including language on gender identity, to expand and make our laws more reflective of the diverse society in which we live.Pelosis support for the amended version attracts criticism, with nearly 300 LGBTQ rights organizations signing a letter to her opposing the move. No version of the bill makes it to the Senate floor.May 15, 2008Pelosi releases a statement supporting the California Supreme Courts decision to overturn the states gay marriage ban. In reference to Proposition 8, she writes that she opposes any ballot measure that would write discrimination into the State Constitution.Oct. 28, 2009President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was developed in response to the murders of two gay men, into law. Pelosi strongly supports the bill, and Obama calls her a champion of this legislation.Subscribe nowOct. 30, 2009Under Pelosis leadership as speaker of the House, HIV is removed from the list of communicable diseases that prevent foreign nationals from entering the U.S.With the end of the HIV/AIDS travel ban, the United States will close the door on an era of intolerance. This discriminatory policy has done nothing to protect public health, and it is inconsistent with the values that have made our nation great, Pelosi writes in a press release.March 21, 2010Under Pelosis speakership, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passes the House by a slim margin. The ACA helps fill significant gaps in health care coverage for LGBTQ Americans.Dec. 22, 2010Retired Navy Cmdr. Zoe Dunning, Pelosi and former Navy Petty Officer Joseph Rocha celebrate the repeal of DADT. Photo by Nancy Pelosi.Dont Ask, Dont Tell is formally repealed with Pelosi serving as a key figure in pushing for the repeal. Repealing the discriminatory Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy will honor the service and sacrifice of all who dedicated their lives to protecting the American people. I urge my colleagues to end discrimination wherever it exists in our country, Pelosi says on the House floor right before the policy was repealed.Democratic Party House Leader (2011-2019)June 24, 2014Pelosi receives a Congressional Global Champion Award from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) for her work. Leader Pelosi has been a friend and partner of the Foundation from its earliest days, writes Chip Lyons, president and CEO of EGPAF. Here in the capital of the United States, the Ryan White Care Act was passed in 1991, with the solid support of Leader Pelosi. It was a watershed moment in the fight against AIDS.Subscribe for LGBTQ journalism.Oct. 17, 2014Pelosi endorses openly transgender military service members. A spokesperson for her office says, Leader Pelosi believes there is no place for discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces, including on the basis of gender identity.June 26, 2015The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) rules in favor of Obergefell v. Hodges, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Pelosis office issues a press release in support of the ruling:This decision is about creating a future where loving, committed families are able to live with dignity. This is about freedom. This is about love. This decision is a declaration of our deepest held values and our hope for a better America. We must continue the fight for the full protections that are long overdue for LGBT Americans.Subscribe nowJuly 13, 2017Pelosi and her party help defeat an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would have banned coverage of gender affirming care for transgender troops.July 26, 2017In response to Trumps first attempted ban on transgender people serving in the military, Pelosi speaks at a press conference:It is a cruel and arbitrary decision designed to humiliate transgender Americans who have stepped forward to serve and defend our country. The Presidents allegations of tremendous tremendous - medical cost are bold-faced lies: a ludicrous pretense for his hateful campaign against these brave men and women in uniform and those who have become veterans.ShareSept. 9, 2017Pelosi presents Sam Altman with the Ric Weiland Award. Photo by Nancy Pelosis Office.Pelosi makes a surprise appearance at a GLAAD Gala in San Francisco honoring Don Lemon and Sam Altman, where she tells attendees that Trumps trans military ban is a move that hurts and humiliates the thousands of Americans who serve in our military with strength and courage.Speaker of the House (2019-2023)March 28, 2019In a vote of 238-185, the House passes a resolution condemning the ban on transgender military service members. The resolution does not reverse the ban but instead urges the Defense Department to not implement it. On the House floor, Pelosi calls the ban bigoted.May 17, 2019Pelosi passes the Equality Act in the House of Representatives. The bill prohibit[s] discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell never brings the bill to a vote in the Senate and it dies in committee.July 24, 2019The House unanimously passes the Promoting Respect for Individuals Dignity and Equality (PRIDE) Act. This legislation would allow for same-sex couples who married before DOMA was struck down in 2013 to tap into an estimated $67 million in back tax refunds. In a press release, Pelosi says:Discrimination has no place in our society or in our laws. In passing the PRIDE Act, Democrats are honoring our diversity and providing long-overdue justice to countless same-sex couples who have been denied critical tax refunds because of who they are and who they love.The bill is never brought to a vote by McConnell, and dies in committee.June 15, 2020SCOTUS rules in Bostock v. Clayton County, finding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Using this decision as leverage, Pelosi issues a press release, urging the Senate to pass the Equality Act to further enshrine LGBTQ discrimination protections into law:To finally and fully end LGBTQ discrimination, not just in the workplace, but in every place, last year, House Democrats passed the landmark Equality Act. Now, Leader McConnell must end his partisan obstruction and allow the Senate to vote on this critical legislation.Feb. 25, 2021The House once again passes the Equality Act, which again stalls in committee and dies in the Senate.Feb. 9, 2022The House passes the Global Respect Act, which would impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for or complicit in violating the human rights of individuals due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In a press release, Pelosi calls the legislation a bold step forward in protecting the fundamental rights and dignities of the global LGBTQ community. The bill is referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations in the Senate and never passes.June 10, 2022Pelosi makes an appearance on RuPauls Drag Race All Stars season 7 encouraging viewers to vote. My honor to be here, to say to all of you how proud we are of you, she says on the main stage. Thank you for the joy and beauty you bring to the world. Your freedom of expression of yourselves in drag is what America is all about.The call to action comes four years after she first appeared on the groundbreaking TV series.July 18, 2022The House passes the Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals DOMA and requires the federal government, all states and territories to recognize the legal validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages in the United States. The bill eventually passes the Senate and President Biden signs it into law Dec. 13.Congressperson (2023-Present)June 30, 2023After stepping down from Democratic Party leadership, Pelosi criticizes SCOTUS decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which states that public businesses and organizations may discriminate against LGBTQ people if their work is deemed expressive activity and conflicts with the owners/creators religious beliefs concerning marriage.Photo via Tweet Hunter. June 14, 2024Speaking at the new Collecting Memories exhibit at the Library of Congress, Pelosi reflects on those who have been lost in the fight against AIDS while looking upon the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a lasting tribute to those whove died of the virus. Speaking of friends lost to the crisis, Pelosi laments: [Seeing] friends holding them in our arms. Formerly robust people. Just so frail. So frail. Again and again, again and again.Feb. 24, 2025In an interview with The Advocate, Pelosi speaks about the concerns she has for the LGBTQ community under the Trump administration.I have a grandniece who is trans, and shes scared to death. Its just the saddest thing. Over my career, Ive witnessed the progress the LGBTQ+ community has made in terms of social acceptance, so its just alarming and sad that trans rights remain a focal point of the administrations attack. The trans issue is what they have glommed onto. They want to strip trans individuals and their families of essential services. Democrats must stand unequivocally with the trans community. The message has to be: We are with you. You are not alone.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

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Photo of Asherah Barton 2025. Courtesy of Barton.Subscribe nowBy Asherah Barton, They/ThemIn July 2022, when I was 18, I was forced to come out as transgender.I remember the car ride through Oregon, back from the DMV, where my state ID had my deadname and the wrong gender marker on it. My mom started interrogating me when I mentioned offhandedly that I didnt want to have kids.Are you gay? Bi? she pressed me.I shook my head no.No? Well, then what the hell are you?My mom kept questioning me until I told her I was trans. I didnt want to come out to her. I knew her beliefs as an ex-Catholic, and I had already heard her misgendering her trans coworker and had even found a transphobic book, Irreversible Damage, on the kitchen counter.She dismissed me. She told me it was a phase. When I started using my chosen name publicly, she told me she would never call me by it. Even now, after two years on hormones and my dual top surgery and hysterectomy in September, Im still saved in her phone as my deadname and she doesnt use my pronouns.Since then, life has been hard. I moved out of my moms house to a suburb of Portland. I needed space to exist without constant tension.On top of the familial estrangement, maintaining work has been tough. For a while, I had a seasonal job at a local grocery store, something stable enough to cover rent and bills but not a long-term contract. I worked hard, often taking extra shifts and covering for others, hoping to be kept on. But on Christmas Eve of last year, I got the call that my contract wouldnt be renewed. It wasnt about performance, they said, the store just didnt have room in the budget to keep the seasonal hires. It felt like the ground had fallen out from under me.I needed help, so I applied for SNAP in February and started receiving it the following month.I am part of the 42 million Americans and the nearly 2.1million LGBTQ adults in the U.S. who rely on SNAP, the federal safety net that helps low-income Americans like me afford the food they need to stay healthy and independent. Im also one of the 10% of younger recipients with a physical or neurological disability, and one of the nearly 3 million 1824 year olds who need it to afford food.When I was on it, SNAP helped me breathe a bit easier.But all of that changed on Oct. 30, when I got the notification on my phone: SNAP benefits are paused starting Nov. 1 because the federal government is closed.Screenshot of Bartons phone notification. Courtesy of Barton. With the holidays approaching and the weather getting colder, this feels like the worst time to lose my stability. Since the Oct. 30 notification, whether I am going to receive these benefits is still so unclear. Earlier this week, Trump said half of the benefits would be issued. Then, early on Friday, it was reported that we would get them after a federal judge ordered the administration to issue full payments immediately. While I did get my benefits on Nov 7, I saw headlines later that evening saying that the Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal by the Trump administration to temporarily block the court order for full SNAP funding during the shutdown. So does this mean Ill lose the benefits next month? The past few weeks have been so stressful, uncertain and confusing. It feels like the government is playing chess with my ability to afford food. Before I got my benefits, I had $77 from picking up bottles from gas stations and recycling containers that werent too sticky to clean. I have a tally on the notes app on my phone of how many I collect, but it was not enough for the food I need.Barton as a young adult. Photo courtesy of Barton.As an autistic person living in a residency with rotating caregivers, Im grateful that some of them help with bulk trips to Costco. But they cant cover everything. My independence, my physical and mental health and my ability to live safely in my own body all suddenly felt more fragile than ever before.Every month without those benefits means $187 less for me to spend on groceries. It means giving up my favorite protein bars and starting to buy in bulk to save money.Subscribe nowI thought about reaching out to my parents for help, but I suspected they will use their financial assistance to reopen the conversation about my trans identity, which they could use as a form of debt if I decide to sever ties with them.For me, SNAP benefits are more than being able to afford food. They allow me to buy meals that keep me healthy and dont trigger my eating disorder. Ive struggled with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder from a very young age, which makes it hard to eat anything unfamiliar or unsafe.Without receiving SNAP, I wouldnt be able to buy the foods that help me live. Just $187 a month may not sound like much, but for LGBTQ young adults like myselfmany of whom are estranged from family members and/or living with disabilitiesit is a key element to our survival.For the millions of people on benefits, the uncertainty the Trump Administration has brought us is the last thing we need. For the hungry children, for the parents struggling to put food on the table, and for those like me who are searching tirelessly for a job and working hard, we need clear and consistent support. Not a chaotic and confusing back and forth.Im not lazy, Im not doing this for my own benefit, nor to cheat the system. Being an autistic, transgender and low-income young adult means navigating a triple whammy. As many as 85% of college-educated autistic adults are unemployed or underemployed. At the same time, transgender workers experience unemployment at twice the national rate and are frequently passed over for promotions or fired through no fault of their own.This week, I was terrified of what the uncertainty meant. Is the eating disorder that Ive lived with since early childhood going to get worse again now that I have to go to food banks to get meals that I may not be comfortable eating? Will I have benefits over the holidays? What will Trump do next?Photo of Asherah Barton 2025. Courtesy of Barton.For those reading this who dont have to think about where their next meal will come from and when, I would like you to know that these funding cuts are not merely abstract numbers. For myself, for other young LGBTQ adults, and for disabled people of any age, they are empty fridges. They are anxious thoughts before every meal. They are fears of what will come next. November is now here, and I feel more scared. I am worried not just for myself, but for the millions of LGBTQ and disabled people like me who rely on this lifeline to eat and survive in a world that often feels unsafe.Uncloseted Media reached out to Asherahs mom for comment but she did not respond.Sam Donndelinger assisted with the writing and reporting in this story.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

Special to News is Out fromPhiladelphia Gay NewsAlthough no law can truly prevent unfair treatment, nondiscrimination laws act as a deterrent and offer a path to accountability when problems arise. But many state statutes do not explicitly protect LGBTQ+ people and without federal nondiscrimination laws pertaining to the queer community, most LGBTQ+ people in the United States are left vulnerable.In 2025, approximately half of LGBTQ+ people in the United States live in areas where they can still bedenied housing, credit and equal access to public accommodations. LGBTQ+ people in many parts of the U.S. can still be denied jobs, health care, education and more because of their LGBTQ+ identities or self-expression.Under the Trump administration, queer people especially trans community members and people of color are under attack as they face not just barriers to access or a lack of protections but more formal and overt restrictions to their rights. Amidst these struggles, theres something to learn from those who came before us and the significant anti-discrimination advances they made during other hostile times in history.The Civil Rights Act of 1964forbids unfair treatment in employment, education, public accommodations and some other aspects of life based on a persons race, skin color, religion, sex or national origin. But those are the only protected classes named in the law, which means that experiences of mistreatment based on LGBTQ+ identity or expression are up for debate and interpretation.A2020 ruling by the U.S.SupremeCourtfound that firing an employee based on sexual orientation or gender identity is sex-based discrimination.But employment discrimination is only prohibited when a private employer has 15 or more employees and a strong majority of American businesses do not meet that threshold. Approximately 80% have just10 or fewer employees, and about half of those small businesses have justjust one to four workers.Additionally, the ruling could be overturned in the future potentially excluding LGBTQ+ people from these employment protections.Various LGBTQ+ rights includingmarriage equality are suddenly at risk for similar reasons. These rights are only upheld by court rulings, which may or may not continue to stand over time.Workplace discrimination poses a significant threat to economic stability making it an important first stop in the battle toward equal rights.Many of the first local ordinances banned discriminatory hiring practices or at-will firing based on sexual orientation.San Francisco and East Lansing, Michigan were the first municipalities to establish ordinances prohibiting discrimination against gay and lesbian people in city employment in 1972.Over 50 years later,less than half of states have nondiscrimination statutes that specifically mention any LGBTQ+ people at all, and those that do often arent as comprehensive as they need to be. They leave out some members of the queer community or dont apply to many crucial aspects of life.Trans and gender nonconforming people werent formally recognized within a nondiscrimination statute until 1975 when Minneapolis, Minnesota became the first city in the United States to ban discrimination on the basis of having or projecting a self-image not associated with ones biological maleness or ones biological femaleness.The law waspart of a slew of progressive pieces of legislationpassed by outgoing leaders before a more conservative mayor took over. Not only was this law the first to explicitly recognize gender diversity, the Minneapolis ordinance specificallyprotected access to more than justemployment prohibiting discrimination in labor union membership, property ownership, property rental, enrollment in schools and use of public services and accommodations.As local laws evolved, some added explicit protections pertaining to local topics du jour or addressed areas of life that were observed as hardships.Efforts to implement or expand local nondiscrimination laws turned into a movement as options at the state and federal level stalled, leading to approximately 400 municipalities passing statutes that prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing and public accommodations by 2025.While thats a success worth celebrating, it means more than 19,000 municipalities across the country may not have any nondiscrimination protections that support the queer community.Some leaders may feel that state guidelines are robust. For example, New Jersey which first banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1991 added gender identity and expression in 2006. The state bans discrimination by all employers even in businesses that only have one employee. Many of the states municipalities havent yet established nondiscrimination ordinances likely because people tend to feel protected by state statutes.But not all states have such strict standards.The number of LGBTQ+ inclusive municipal ordinances continues to grow with efforts in various states, including Kansas, which does not have a statewide ban on LGBTQ+ discrimination but has thehighest percentage of its LGBTQ+ population covered by these kinds of local ordinancesinstead. Approximately half of the states queer community is protected by local laws.Activists are also expanding definitions of protected classes to include more members of the queer community as they write these laws. Onerecent examplein Pennsylvania extends protections topeople living with HIV, nonbinary people, intersex people, survivors of domestic abuse, people living with long COVID and more.And those local laws can serve as templates for statewide statutes including updates in states that are already attempting to be inclusive.It took ten years following the first municipal nondiscrimination laws for any state to enact similar statutes protecting LGBTQ+ people. Wisconsin was the first passing a law affording gays and lesbians nondiscriminatory access tohousing and employmentin 1982,a year before queer sex was actually decriminalized by the state.The language of the bill was significantly influenced by a local ordinance passed by leaders in Madison, Wisconsin in 1975. Former state legislator David Clarenbach who didnt necessarily hide that he was gay while serving in public office was a big part of these efforts alongside his former partner, Jim Yeadon who was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office when he joined the Madison Common Council two years later.Throughout the 1970s, Yeadon was considered an expert in municipal nondiscrimination ordinances. In 1978, Yeadon helped Madison avoid a repeal of the citys ordinance.Clarenbach said religious leaders were also part of the movement to change the state law, partnering not with the intention to promote queer identity from any moral lens but instead to denounce discrimination.We didnt ask the Catholic church, for instance, whether homosexuality was good or bad or to be encouraged or discouraged or sinful or not sinful, Clarenbach said duringan interview for the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. We asked if bigotry and discrimination could be tolerated against any group in our society. And when thats the question, the answer is an overwhelming no, it cannot be tolerated.Wisconsins state law continues to lack mention of gender identity and other LGBTQ+ people in its language, which Clarenbach has said is inexcusable.For anyone to fail to make that part of their agenda, even for people who dont know anyone whos trans, is an ethical and moral shame, Clarenbach said. Shame on any politician today who doesnt recognize that reproductive rights and trans rights are part and parcel of the movement of civil rights, and that should be the mantra of our society today.The city of Madison has adopted amendments and additional laws tobroaden the scope of its original ordinance. For example, discrimination on the basis of gender identity is now banned.These kinds of laws arent just for show. Theyre offering tangible guidance to many LGBTQ+ people who seek justice and accountability when they believe theyve been wronged.For example, trans athletes should be safeguarded by state and local nondiscrimination laws in locations that have these protections, and some athletes who have faced hardships are leaning on these laws as the basis of lawsuits, intending to prove that they deserve access.Although the Supreme Court ruled that sex-based discrimination applies to LGBTQ+ people in employment, there is no Supreme Court ruling definitively mandating that Title IX which safeguards students from sex-based discrimination applies to the queer community. Its possible that well hear from the Supreme Court about this in the future, but for now, local ordinances and state laws supersede those executive orders and threats.The Equality Act, a federal bill first proposed in 1974, has been updated multiple times since it first failed to pass decades ago.Todays versionwas passed by Congress with bipartisan support in 2019, but the legislation continues to die every time it hits the Senate.The bill hopes to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in employment, housing, public accommodations, federally-funding programs, education, credit and jury service. It also seeks to clarify sex-based discrimination by explicitly stating that stereotyping and other conditions can constitute as discrimination.The principles explored in the Civil Rights Act have been expanded before. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) added disabled people to the list of protected classes andbroadened anti-discrimination principles by mandating that certain aspects of accessibility be built into public life and workplaces.Although these hopes for federal protections may one day turn into a reality, history shows us that theres a long road ahead. In the meantime, taking action closer to home may have the biggest impact on peoples everyday lives.Those with state guardrails might not understand the importance of doubling down by implementing local ordinances or filling in the gaps for aspects of state laws that arent as robust.But any ordinance protecting even just one right is a buffer to safeguard LGBTQ+ people from being treated differently than their peers, an added cushion during an uncertain time in history when the federal government is not only failing to address the needs of LGBTQ+ people but is actively working to harm them.It is a matter of life and death, Clarenbach said. Not just oral and civil rights, but its a matter of living and breathing.The post Local laws filled the federal void for LGBTQ+ rights and offer a path forward today appeared first on News Is Out.

Independent think tank Movement Advancement Project (MAP) has released a new report on the experiences of LGBTQ+ Americans since the 2024 election. According to the research, since November 2024, 57% of LGBTQ people, and 84% of transgender and nonbinary people, have made major life changes in response to anti-LGBTQ+ politics or laws. These include taking steps to be less visible in public, changing workplaces, or even moving or considering a move to a more welcoming state.The report is based on a national survey of 1,055 LGBTQ+ adults, including 111 transgender and nonbinary respondents, conducted from May 29 to June 13, 2025. The survey was carried out online through NORCs AmeriSpeak panel at the University of Chicago, which uses a scientifically selected group of U.S. households to reflect the countrys population. Participants are randomly chosen and contacted by mail, phone, field interviews or email to take part in research for universities, government agencies, and media organizations.LGBTQ+ respondents recent life changes are based on real experiences of harm, the report shows. Since the November 2024 election, 60% of LGBTQ+ respondents, and 82% of transgender and nonbinary respondents, say they or a family member have faced at least one negative incident related to being LGBTQ+. Transgender respondents report these experiences nearly twice as often as other LGBTQ+ adults, with more than half saying they or a family member have been discriminated against or harassed online in that time.Many LGBTQ+ people are also responding by becoming more engaged. Forty-two percent of transgender and nonbinary respondents say they have joined or participated in LGBTQ+ advocacy or activism where they live, and 18% of LGBTQ+ respondents say they have become more visible as an LGBTQ+ person in their community.To read the full report, check out mapresearch.org/2025-norc-survey-report.The post More than half of LGBTQ+ adults have altered major life plans since 2024 election, says new report appeared first on News Is Out.

The American South has the highest HIV rates in the country, accounting for more than half of new HIV diagnoses nationwide in 2023. This is despite growing availability of a highly effective HIV prevention medication that has made it possible to live a long, healthy life with this once fatal disease.This medication called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP reduces the risk of HIV transmission by over 99% when taken as prescribed. Yet, in Southern cities such as Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, one of the most vulnerable populations Black men who have sex with men are rarely using it, with fewer than 1 in 5 who are eligible taking the drug.The Trump administration has previously frozen and proposed more cuts to HIV prevention programs in the U.S. And although the administration has restored some of the federal webpages and datasets it took down in January 2025, it is unclear what information remains missing or has changed. Communities in the South that already face the highest burden of infection will feel the greatest effects of changing public health priorities.In my work as a public health researcher, I have spent years studying HIV prevention and the social determinants of health in the Deep South. Through interviews with health care providers and Black patients in major Southern cities, what I learned was that a powerful clash between culture and public health plays a significant role in why effective medical treatments are still failing to reach those who need it most. I call this tension the Southern paradox where medical solutions exist but systemic forces block access.The stories of these clinicians and patients in the South werent simply about a pill: They were about trust, identity, family and faith. And their words highlighted a complex web of emotions and experiences that often go unaddressed in standard health messaging.Southern culture and sexual healthIn my recent study, I interviewed 12 people in Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans and Atlanta: eight Black men who have sex with men, along with four health care providers. Three of these providers also identified as men who have sex with men.Many participants reported that physical access to PrEP wasnt the issue. Instead, what stood in the way was far more personal and deeply embedded in their environment.In church, youre taught to love your neighbor, but theres always an asterisk when it comes to who you love, one participant from Jackson told me. If youre gay, youre either ignored or silently judged.Nearly all participants described the South as a place deeply shaped by conservative values, especially those rooted in religion and traditional family structures. The Black church emerged as both a protective factor and a challenge. While offering vital community support, it also often reinforced stigma around homosexuality and discouraged open conversations about sexual health. https://www.youtube.com/embed/JOSN1bKG3zQ?wmode=transparent&start=0 Tackling HIV in the South takes a village.One participant from New Orleans shared that he heard about PrEP from his health care provider and his friends, while another from Atlanta recalled learning about PrEP during his annual physical. Despite repeatedly being exposed to information about PrEP, both described hesitation about starting treatment. One worried about potential stigma if others discovered he was taking it, while the other questioned whether he really needed it. Ultimately, neither had started PrEP.In many of these communities, sex education in schools is still focused on abstinence and often excludes LGBTQ+ topics entirely. You grow up not hearing anything about gay sex or HIV, one man from Memphis said. So, when you get older, its like starting from scratch.Even decisions around condom use were heavily shaped by cultural norms. Men described relying on partner trust, age or perceived cleanliness rather than research-based ways to reduce the risk of HIV.This absence of comprehensive, inclusive sex education leaves many vulnerable to misinformation and, ultimately, to preventable infections.Trust is the real barrierOne of the most striking findings from these conversations was the deep mistrust that many Black men who have sex with men feel toward the health care system.Its hard to find affirming care for people in the queer community, said one Memphis-based health provider. Others talked about fears of being outed through their insurance, especially if they were still on a family health plan.A Jackson-based participant confided, Some people avoid taking [PrEP] because for each prescription you are required to be evaluated. Some people dont want the follow-up or the screening. Another noted how fear of both outright and subtle judgment during medical appointments made it easier to avoid health care altogether.Systemic racism compounds these concerns. For many Black men, historical and ongoing experiences of discrimination, including rushed visits, lack of empathy, misdiagnoses and even being denied care altogether have built a lasting sense of caution.Even when resources like PrEP are available, these treatments often feel inaccessible to Black men because they do not trust the system offering them.Social networks step inThankfully, these conversations also uncovered moments of hope.Many participants learned about PrEP from peers. We talk about it regularly, said one participant in Jackson. I have friends who work in public health, along with friends who are taking the medication.In the South, where community ties often serve as critical safety nets, these social networks can sometimes provide more trusted health information than clinics or campaigns. Informal conversations in group chats, at house parties or during community gatherings often serve as powerful platforms for health promotion.One provider in Atlanta said he intentionally shared his own experiences with PrEP to reduce stigma. I have a little soreness, he said with a smile, referring to a recent injection. Then I tell everyone, Yup, I just got mine. The casualness of that comment made a difference: It made PrEP feel normal, relatable, something for us, not something done to them.These social exchanges, rooted in trust and shared experience, frequently did more to shift attitudes than traditional public health campaigns. As one participant put it, I trust my friends more than those ads. If theyre taking it and it works for them, that means something to me.Photo: Micha Parzuchowski Making PrEP culturally relevantWhat these conversations show is that for PrEP to work in the South, access to treatment is only part of the equation. Building trust, cultural affirmation and community-led education are equally critical.Public health messages that go beyond medical facts and address the emotional, spiritual and social dimensions of health are more likely to build lasting engagement with HIV prevention. This includes investing in Black, LGBTQ+-affirming health care providers who reflect the communities they serve. It also means integrating discussions of sexual health into everyday conversations at barbershops, churches and community centers, not just in clinics.Public health officials and clinicians can explore alternative treatment delivery methods that address privacy concerns, such as telehealth PrEP programs, discreet mail-order services and community-based distribution points. These can make PrEP easier to access and reduce the stigma associated with clinic visits.Most importantly, valuing the knowledge already circulating within communities and supporting peer educators as legitimate public health messengers can strengthen credibility, normalize PrEP and empower people to take charge of their health.In the battle against HIV in the South, culture is not just a barrier. It can also be the solution. I believe that when care is offered in a way that honors peoples identities, experiences and values, it becomes not just accessible but empowering.Brandon Nabors, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Public Health, University of MississippiThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.The post HIV rates are highest in the American South, despite effective treatments a clash between culture and publichealth appeared first on News Is Out.

Join us October 28 for We Were Here, a live virtual event celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month, presented by News is Out and hosted by Dana Piccoli. This special program brings together history makers and community leaders from across the country to reflect on the people, moments, and movements that shaped our shared story. Featured guests include:Legendary LGBTQ+ advocate and founder of Philadelphia Gay News Mark SegalPhilanthropist and co-founder of The Dallas Way: an LGBTQ+ history project, Robert EmeryCo-founder and executive director of Chicagos Legacy Project, Victor SalvoDirector of Community Partnerships at E3 Radio, Carter Cavazos Author, activist, and founding member of Gay Liberation Front, Martha ShelleyTogether, theyll share insights on preserving queer history and keeping our stories alive for generations to come.Event info:When? Tuesday, October 28 at 6pm PT/3pm ETWhere? News is Out Facebook Live Want a reminder? Register here to receive email reminders for the event. The post Save the date: News is Out to host We Were Here virtual event for LGBTQ+ History Month appeared first on News Is Out.

Wedding bells are officially ringing.Amazon MGM Studios has officially greenlit the sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue, with acclaimed filmmaker Jamie Babbit set to direct. The new film, titled Red, White & Royal Wedding, will see Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez reprise their roles as Prince Henry and Alex Claremont-Diaz.Babbit takes over directing duties from Matthew Lpez, who co-wrote the sequels script alongside Gemma Burgess and Red, White & Royal Blue author Casey McQuiston. Producers include Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter of Berlanti Schechter Films, with Matthew Lpez and Jennifer Salke also joining the production team. McQuiston returns as executive producer.Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine in Red, White & Royal Blue (2023). Photo: Amazon MGM StudiosBabbit, best known for her groundbreaking queer classic But Im a Cheerleader, said in an Amazon MGM Studios press release, After directing But Im a Cheerleader in my 20s, Im thrilled to be back in the queer love universe of Red, White & Royal Wedding. We all need this kind of optimism, fantasy, and gay joy.Babbits directing credits span film and television, including Only Murders in the Building, Russian Doll, A League of Their Own, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The L Word and Gilmore Girls. Her continued focus on queer storytelling has earned her multiple Emmy nominations and recognition as one of the most distinctive voices in modern television and film.Plot details for Red, White & Royal Wedding remain tightly under wraps, but according to Amazon MGM Studios, the project reunites a creative team committed to expanding Alex and Henrys love story. This sequel is a continuation fans have been eager to see since the original films breakout success in 2023.The post Jamie Babbit to direct Red, White & Royal Blue sequel for Amazon MGM Studios appeared first on News Is Out.

Its hard to underestimate the impact that having supportive parents can make on LGBTQ+ young people. For transgender children, who, studies have shown, are disproportionately at risk of attempting suicide, that support can mean the difference between life and death.But some parents of trans kids dont stop at simply supporting their children and validating their gender identities. Amid endless attacks from the current presidential administration, these five fierce parents are fighting for the rights of all trans kids in the streets, the airwaves, and the halls of power. Related I will do anything to save him: Watch 7 unshakable parents demand rights for their trans kids Stephen ChukumbaStephen Chukumba in The Dads. | Courtesy of Netflix Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In the most recent of the essays he frequently publishes on Substack and Medium, Stephen Chukumba wrote movingly about the rollercoaster that parents of trans and gender-expansive children are experiencing as they try to protect their kids in the current political climate. He said the relief of small victories like Democratic wins in this months elections and the Senate stripping anti-trans provisions from the continuing resolution that ended the recent government shutdown gives way to anxiety when, for instance, the Supreme Court allows the Trump administrations anti-trans policies to take effect.Chukumba, the widowed father of a transgender son, works tirelessly to share peoples stories through his work as an activist, speaker, and podcast host. Along with the four other fathers featured in the 2023 documentary short The Dads, Chukumba co-founded The Dads Foundation, a nonprofit that provides resources and support for male-identified parents and caregivers of trans kids through community-building retreats.As parents like him try to prepare their families for an uncertain future, Chukumba writes that hope remains a vital tool of resistance. Until the tides turn againand they willhope will have to be enough to carry us through the next rise and the next fall of this endless roller coaster. Amber BriggleAmber Briggle | ScreenshotIn 2016, Ken Paxton accepted Texas momAmber Brigglesinvitation to dinner with her family including her trans son, Max. That meeting may not have done much to change the Republican Attorney Generals anti-trans stance, but it launched Briggle into the national spotlight. She became a founding member of the Human Rights Campaigns Parents for Transgender Equality National Council and its national co-chair, and has continued to lobby against Texass anti-trans laws ever since.In 2022, Briggle and her family joined two other families as plaintiffs in PFLAG v. Abbott, a lawsuit challenging Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) call for the states Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming healthcare to their transgender kids. The suit also sought to block the state from investigating members of PFLAG. The Briggles and their co-plaintiffs triumphed in June 2022, when a district court judge granted a temporary injunction blocking the Texas DFPS from investigating the parents named in the lawsuit, and any families who help their trans kids access gender-affirming care.And the fight goes on for Briggle, who continues to advocate for trans kids through her work as an activist, writer, and speaker, and through sharing her familys story. As she notes in the 2024 Oscar shortlisted documentary short Love to the Max, her son is thriving because he has parents who affirm him and provide him the support he needs. And who are willing to fight for him. Kimberly ShappleyThe Shappleys | GofundmeKimberly Shappleys journey from conservative Christian to unflagging advocate for her trans daughter Kai began well before the familys story went viral. In 2017, she shared their story with the world, explaining that she was spurred to activism after her daughters former school district in Pearland, Texas, banned Kai from using her kindergarten girls bathroom. When the districts superintendent compared allowing trans girls to use girls bathrooms to pedophilia, Shappley wrote in 2018, The momma bear in me came out and an active political role became a necessity.In the years that followed, the Shappleys fought tirelessly against Texass anti-trans laws, with Kai even testifying before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee in 2021, while Kimberly continued to speak out in op-eds for Good Housekeeping and Them. Ultimately, Kimberly made the gut-wrenching decision to move her family out of Texas after the state passed a law redefining child abuse as including allowing minors access to gender-affirming care.While the Shappleys have kept a lower profile over the past couple of years, Kai already an Emmy-winner and childrens book author continues to pursue her dreams, proving what trans kids can do with the fierce support of their parents. Nereyda HernandezNereyda Hernandez | Screenshot / KCRAShortly after a former gym teacher and the board president of a nearby school district in California began doxxing her transgender daughter on social media last year making the 17-year-old high school volleyball player the target ofnationwide hate and harassment Nereyda Hernandez posted a message to her daughter on Instagram: As your MOTHER I Promise you that I will Always be in one of three places, she wrote. In FRONT of you to CHEER you on, BEHIND you to have your BACK, or NEXT to you so you are NOT walking alone.Hernandez has more than made good on that promise, defending her daughters right to play on her high schools girls team before the Riverside Unified School District, and blasting California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for naming her child in a conversation with the late anti-LGBTQ+ Christian nationalist activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year.While advocating for her daughter, Hernandez, who has said she previously supported the current president but now identifies as an independent, has also provided a model for nonpartisan support for trans rights. I wanted to put that out there so people know it doesnt matter what your political views are, she toldThe Guardian in June. You can still be accepting and supportive of your family member. Vanessa & JR FordVanessa and JR Ford with their children. | ScreenshotJR and Vanessa Ford have been supporting and advocating for their transgender child since 2015, when, on their fourth birthday, Ellie informed them that they were a girl in my heart and my brain. The Fords shared their story in the 2017 National Geographic documentary Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric, and other national media outlets, and went on to become founding members of the Human Rights Campaigns Parents for Transgender Equality National Council. They also participate in the TransYouth Project. They were among the parents of trans kids who spoke out against anti-trans policies during the first Trump administration, meeting with then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.In 2021, the couple published Calvin, a Lambda Literary Award-winning childrens book loosely based on Ellies experience blossoming into her true self as a youngster with supportive parents. Last year, Vanessa co-authored The Advocate Educators Handbook, a guide for educators who want to make schools safer for trans and gender-expansive students to thrive.A decade after Ellie came out to them, JR and Vanessa continue their work to make the world better for their child and all trans children, providing resources through their website and advocating for change. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Hawaiian native Haylin Dennison felt quite progressive and open-minded when her son Mat came out as gay/bisexual in fifth grade. Dennison had grown up in an ultra-conservative Christian home but regularly attended Pride events. As a therapist, she knew the importance of supporting her child.But in the following years, Mat saw the limitations of her acceptance and understanding. She once refused to let him wear an LGBTQ+-themed shirt to church. When he began socially transitioning to male, the two got into a big fight, Dennison tells LGBTQ Nation. Related Happiness looks fantastic on her: Heres what parents wish folks knew about their trans kids She remembers her son saying, You say youre supportive, right? But then you tell me, Dont wear this. You know youre expecting me to hide a certain part of myself? And so, like, do you really accept this? Like, are you ashamed of this?As a therapist, Dennison had been professionally trained to view her clients LGBTQ+ identities objectively, but this was her own child. At the time, Dennison equated her childs trans identity with mental health issues. When Mat later asked to receive gender-affirming care, Dennison firmly opposed it. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today As her son began withdrawing into a dark depression, Dennison wondered where she had gone wrong as a parent and whether she could somehow fix him. She worried Mat would suffer more in life as a trans boy than as a gay or bi girl. She worried for her and her sons safety, and wondered how theyd navigate unaccepting reactions from relatives, friends, and other community members. Most of all, she worried that Mats poor mental health would harm his chances for a successful life. She felt it was her duty to help him thrive no matter what. Dennison began educating herself by travelling with her son to gender-affirming clinics in Stanford, California, and Chicago, where they had medical consultations with trans healthcare experts.But she still felt nervous about Mat transitioning. When she began looking around for therapists to help counsel them during this difficult period, she couldnt find anyone in her home state to help.The most important gift you can give your child is an authentic relationship with them. Mother and therapist Haylin DennisonHawaii suffers from a lack of mental healthcare providers, with only one licensed therapist for every 360 kids, Dennison says. Its remote location doesnt make it an attractive place for some in the profession. Many island natives pursue their education and professional lives elsewhere, especially since the island lacks widespread infrastructure to help upcoming therapists secure the clinically supervised hours they need to get their professional licenses.Dennison knew hers wasnt the only family on the islands struggling to find mental health support. So, using her skills as a licensed clinical therapist and social worker, she began organizing a help center where Mat, other teens, and their families could get the support they needed.Dennison found a space and worked day and night for two months with her four kids to build and paint its walls and offices. In 2022, she opened Spill the Tea Cafe. Spill the Tea Cafe is a youth drop-in center in Honolulu with a cafe-like environment. It has six therapy rooms, including one for group therapy and three for individual sessions, as well as a gaming and hangout space.The cafe regularly provides empowering, open-door social events like karaoke nights, Boba Tea hangouts, poetry nights, gaming nights, art nights, discussion groups, and even a queer prom. During these events, young people and their families can explore the cafe, learn more about its services, and connect with other young islanders to help alleviate the depression, isolation, and other poor mental health symptoms they might feel.The cafe also provides counseling to LGBTQ+ kids 100% free of charge and also works to find affordable counseling for non-LGBTQ+ children. Dennison works with local psychiatric and pediatric offices to provide streamlined medical care; partners with other youth organizations; and assigns care mentors to children with moderate- to high-risk needs. Those mentors work with families and schools to provide wraparound care aimed at improving a kids academic and home life.The cafe also has partnerships with three Hawaiian universities to bring in master-level interns and provide free clinical supervision hours to pre-licensed therapists who counsel cafe kids. The mental health staff receives training from the Stanford Gender Clinic to stay up to date on emerging developments in gender-affirming care. The cafe encourages its counselors to establish private practices, with the hopes of drastically increasing the islands mental healthcare providers within 30 years, Dennison told Island Scene.If you want an authentic relationship with your child, then it does require a level of sacrifice, and I think that thats the most rewarding type of love that you can ever experience in your life. Mother and therapist Haylin DennisonEventually, Dennison began attending individual counseling sessions to better understand her own hopes, fears, and abilities in supporting her son. As Mat began receiving medical care, he gradually began to sound, look, feel, and act more like himself. He transformed from a closed-off, isolated teenager into a bright, caring boy who pursued hobbies, like creating theatrical video projects with his friends.Dennison enjoyed seeing her son blossom under gender-affirming care. He was comfortable in his voice in who he was, Dennison says. Its been more amazing than I thought it was gonna be. She now sees gender-affirming care as life-saving and crucial to her sons well-being.But the medical and mental healthcare didnt solve all their problems, of course. Dennison didnt anticipate how much backlash she would get as a mother for allowing him to transition. Even her closest family and long-term friends felt entitled to give unsolicited opinions about raising her child.During its first year, the cafe financially struggled. It wouldve closed down if it werent for multiple local gay bars and drag queens holding monthly charity fundraisers. The fundraisers individually raised between $800 and $3,000 each, helping the cafe pay its workers and purchase snacks for the kids. Dennison and some of the cafes children even made and sold candles and Boba Tea drinks at local farmers markets to help raise funds. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spill The Tea Cafe (@spill_theteacafe)Im happy to say were thriving, Dennison says. Were doing better than we ever have, and its because right now, were not only finding our solutions in federal grants or even state grants. The cafe is working on self-sustaining income-generating ideas, such as youth entrepreneurship programming and longer tea service for drop-in customers.Spill the Tea Cafe has since helped about 700 kids over its three-year existence. It has also outgrown its original space and, in January, will move to a nearby location three times its current size. Reflecting on her experience with Mat, Dennison now tells parents that they can make a huge difference in their kids lives by accepting them as soon as possible. She also tells kids that, if they can come to accept themselves, they can focus on bigger dreams and personal accomplishments. If you want an authentic relationship with your child, then it does require a level of sacrifice, Dennison says, and I think that thats the most rewarding type of love that you can ever experience in your life.The best gift that you can give your child is the gift of self-reflection, and I think the most important gift you can give your child is an authentic relationship with them, she adds. So I really want the parents to understand that, if your kid is persistent and consistent [in their identity], do not leave this Earth, do not die without fighting for that authentic relationship with your child. It will be worth it in the end.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

As the midterms draw nearer, longtime Democratic political strategist James Carville is calling on his party to embrace the most populist economic platform since the Great Depression to capitalize on Americans fury over the Trump administrations handling of the economy. In an op-ed for the New York Times, he wrote that despite being 81 years old and coming from a more centrist political era, it is abundantly clear even to him that this is how Democrats can seize the moment. Related Atrocious! Analyst explains just how bad Trump is doing in the polls It is time for Democrats to embrace a sweeping, aggressive, unvarnished, unapologetic and altogether unmistakable platform of pure economic rage, he wrote. This is our only way out of the abyss.Democrats swept in the most recent elections, he explained, because people are angry, and that anger is always directed at the ruling party. The people are revolting, he said, and they have been for some time. 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 Indeed, CNNs chief data analyst, Harry Enten, recently told viewers that according to a University of Michigan poll, consumer sentiment regarding current economic conditions is at its worst ever, dating back to 1951. Data also shows that Americans blame the president for the challenges. Enten said 61% of Americans believe Trumps policies have worsened economic conditions, and 51% say his policies have hurt their own finances. He also assessed pure independents, which he defined as folks who do not lean toward the left or right. You rarely ever see a numberthis high, he said. 79% of pureindependents disapprove of Trumpon the economy. When you put it alltogether with the approvalratings, it averages out to anet approval rating on theeconomy among pure independents of get this, minus-58 points, Enten said.Carville said Democrats already turn out urban and suburban voters, and now they must use this economic anger to bring more rural voters into their tent. He said the party must build a platform that helps us permanently uproot the Republican advantage in more rural regions, which can be done only with good old-fashioned economic populism, both in message and measure.In practice, he explained, this means every single Democratic campaign should be fueled by rage against the rigged, screwed-up, morally bankrupt system that gave us the cost of living crisis. If Democrats dont criticize the system, he said, we will continue to be viewed as part of it. This rage, he said, means being bold and unafraid to support policy plans that the people have long wanted and that every American can understand.In the richest country in the history of our planet, we should not fear raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour, which had a74% approval ratingin 2023, he said. We should not fear an America with free public college tuition, which63% of U.S. adultsfavored in a 2021 poll. When 62% of Americans say their electricity or gas bills have increased in the past year and80% feel powerless to control their utility costs,we should not fear the idea of expanding rural broadband as a public utility. Or when70% of Americans sayraising children is too expensive, we should not fear making universal child care a public good.And darn it, he concluded, we should not fear that running on a platform of seismic economic scale will cost us a general election. Weve already lost enough of them by being afraid to try. The era of half-baked political policy is over.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A new Miss England was crowned on Friday, and shes gay.Grace Richardson, a 20-year-old musical theatre student from Leicester, England, came out as a teen and said she was bullied horrendously at the time. Related Reality TV star makes history as Vietnams first out trans Miss Universe contestant Now shes ready to take her inspiring message about overcoming the hate to young people across the UK and beyond.Richardson competes for the Miss World title in 2026. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Knowing that Im able to share my story and represent a part of our community that hasnt been represented in this way before is really special, the winner said.She said shes still in shock following her pageant triumph.I feel so powerful and proud of myself, she said of her journey from bullied teen to pageant queen.My coming out story wasnt the easiest, she told the BBC.Richardsons heartfelt accounting has impressed judges all the way up her climb on the pageant ladder.She endured ceaseless bullying while at school after she came out on TikTok following the pandemic, she shared. She was 15 at the time.I was getting lots of negative comments, things were being said behind my back and it knocked my confidence a lot, she told the Leicester Times. In every class someone would mention it and it became so overwhelming.Its almost like everything I did was wrong, she said after her win.My very close friends and family were all very supportive. But for some reason those at school, my peers, just werent in the same way that my family were. It was a struggle to accept myself while a lot of people werent accepting me.Richardson didnt consider coming out to be a big deal at the time.I wasnt the first person to be gay in the whole school, but I was the first person to mention it and be open and confident about it, she said. Her advice to young people now about coming out is the same as it was when she won her Miss Leicestershire title in 2024.If you feel that you could and its safe to do so, I would say go for it, she said then. In the long run, people will move on and get over it, whether its the big news that week or not.Once youve said the words Im gay, its out there, Richardson said, adding that others may not understand the adrenaline that someone goes through just saying these words. People just dont understand that feeling.So shes asking them to be mindful of the courage it takes to come out. They might make a funny comment, but to that person its not a joke its not funny and it really does affect them. Some of those comments might stick with them for life. And I just want to be able to educate more people on just accepting everyone.That includes young people accepting themselves.I havent seen anyone in pageantry talk about sexuality in the way that I have so it is important to me for them to feel seen, Richardson said.Its nice being able to stand up now and say, look at what Ive done,' the new Miss England added. Ive ignored everything negative that they said to me and actually Ive gone on to achieve my dreams.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The morning after the 2024 presidential election was horrific for many, but even more so for the parents of trans children, who had to worry about what Donald Trumps vicious anti-trans rhetoric would mean once he was actually in office.A year into his administration, we know how justified those worries were. One mom, Angela Day, wrote about the things shes prioritizing to get through the Trump administration while parenting a trans son who is about to go to college. Related Happiness looks fantastic on her: Heres what parents wish folks knew about their trans kids For my family and many others, the rise of this new government forced us to change how we move through the world, Day wrote in Oprah Daily. Very real threats to basic human rights mean that calls to LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines spiked by 700 percent after Election Day. More than 800 anti-trans bills have hit state capitols around the country, all aiming to disenfranchise and, in many cases, criminalize the very existence of this tiny percentage of the U.S. populationalong with the people who love and care for them. It takes a lot of mental energy to process so much hate.Day gave five critical tips for surviving the hate and helping your trans child thrive. Put your oxygen mask on first, she highlights. You absolutely cannot take care of your child if you are not taking care of yourself,' Day writes, quoting psychiatrist Jack Turban. Make sure you have social support, and if possible, a personal therapist as well. In the same way community connectedness is important for kids, being in a support group with other parents of gender-diverse kids can be a game changer. In particular, Day recommends reaching out to local chapters of PFLAG or Parents of Trans Youth, as well as reaching out to Trans Lifeline when necessary. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Next, Day talks about the importance of creating a safety plan so you can be ready to relocate your family if necessary. She points to tools like Erin Reeds Anti-Trans National Risk Assessment Mapto find a safe state to go to. She also recommends checking how transferable your job is (can it be remote? Does it open opportunities for foreign visas in some countries?) and emphasizes the importance of keeping passports, birth certificates, and other key documents updated to make relocating easier.While winning the fight against anti-trans legislation might be plan A, Day urges families to have a strong plan B, especially when it comes to healthcare. Dont wait for interruptions in care, she says. Talk with your current provider about alternative plans in case anything happens, and research other doctors and Telehealth services out of state so you are ready if need be. Know your legal rights, Day alo advises. Knowing what legal battles might arise puts parents in a better (if unpleasant) position to fight them. If you or your family suffer discrimination, she recommends reaching out to groups like HRC,ACLU,Lambda Legal, andAdvocates for Trans Equality.Finally, Day encourages parents to fight back for our kids. While that could risk sounding nebulous, Day provides concrete ways to move forward. LGBTQ+ friends and family can start by calling out bigotry and discrimination within their own homes, schools, and communities, she explains. Beyond that, she recommends reaching out to representatives to push them to vote with trans kids in mind, either by turning up in person or by contacting them. Apps and websites such as 5 Calls, ResistBot, and USA.gov make contacting legislators about proposed anti-LGBTQ+ laws quick and easy, she writes. While no parent should have to think about all of this, it is an unfortunate reality under the second Trump administration. Being better informed and ready to move could make all the difference down the line.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Pass the gay gravy (slurp) and dig into these November film releases Tis the season for gratitude and attitude. The holidays bring gaudy, festive treats along with travel obligations and stress by the sleigh-load. So how can you remedy the November ick? Answer: with a flick! Were previewing the best and worst movies of the []The post Gobble Gobble Up These November Film Releases appeared first on GEDmagazine.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY Los Angeles: Most of us have seen at least one of the seven Paranormal Activity films. They tell their stories using found footage from security cameras and other devices, which give them a feeling of credibility. The films are typically based around families who becomehauntedby an evil demon known as Tobi that []The post On Stage in SoCal for November 2025 appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Tickets are now on sale for the benefit gala presented by Desert Care Network at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Various sponsorship levels are still available. Respected former Palm Springs mayor Lisa Middleton to be honored with the Community Service Award. The Temptations are revealed as headline entertainers. Saturday, February 21, 2026 For more than []The post DAP Health Announces 32nd Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Pride Weekend in PALM SPRINGS 2025 PRIDE MASSIVE Pool Parties. Night Events. A Massive Drag Show. One Epic Weekend. From the queens to the pool, from late-night beats to all-day energy PRIDE MASSIVEis back bigger, louder, and hotter than ever in Palm Springs. Weekend Lineup Friday, November 7 Evening DRAG-A-LICIOUS []The post Pride Weekend Events appeared first on GEDmagazine.

If you have been to Palm Springs and youre gay, there is a 99 percent chance youve stepped foot on or around Arenas District, the LGBTQ hub in Palm Springs. Located a short block south of Palm Springs main street, clustered together on Arenas Road, youll find bars, restaurants, shops, and more. While this gay []The post Discover Arenas District appeared first on GEDmagazine.

Jinkx Monsoon is taking over the rainbow in the role of Judy Garland for the revival of Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow musical. As expected, Friends of Dorothy (the gays) around the world couldn't be more excited.Monsoon has been on a mind-blowing and fabulous winning streak in the world of musical theater since 2023. From Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, to Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, to Ruth in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, to Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, the actress has now been cast in the End of the Rainbow stage musical revival for dates in 2026.In case you know: Quilter's End of the Rainbow musical previously served as the source material for the 2019 biopic Judy, starring Rene Zellweger, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Now, a revival of that stage production is scheduled to open in 2026 at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow in London."Judy Garland came into my life, like many, through entertainment but she stays in my life because of her story," Monsoon wrote in a statement. "We know all too well, the toll that fame took from her. Looking back, we can see more clearly the many factors that played a part in her storied life."The actress, who competed in and won RuPaul's Drag Race twice, delivered a hilarious impersonation of Garland in the Snatch Game of All Stars 7. However, she noted that her approach to playing Garland in End of the Rainbow will obviously be different.Monsoon explained, "I know people know me for impressions and imitations but I'm thrilled for this chance to explore beyond the laughter and into the heart of why we still think so much about Judy today. Her tale is one that we can't forget, especially as women in entertainment are still fighting for autonomy and agency in their own careers. I'm ready to bring new aspects of her story to the stage, and to share what I find so tragically beautiful about her life, with my UK audiences." See on Instagram The team behind this new production of End of the Rainbow in London also issued a statement about Monsoon's casting:"Step into the dazzling, bittersweet world of Judy Garland in Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow, reborn in a stunning new production directed by Rupert Hands and starring Broadway sensation and two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon, as she takes center stage for a thrilling, heartbreaking and unmissable portrait of one of the greatest performers the world has ever known."The musical will have a strictly limited run from May 15 through June 21, 2026 at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow. For pre-sale tickets and more information, visit End of the Rainbow's official sign-up page. See on Instagram

These are the gayest and queerest Thanksgiving foods!It's Thanksgiving, and that means it's time for queer chosen families to gather around a table and celebrate with a delicious meal. But how can you guarantee that your Thanksgiving dinner is as gay as it can be?Not all foods are created equal. Some are more gay than others. In the proud honor of ranking random things by gayness, we present to you this list.From turkey to green beans, to sweet potato pie, these are the 13 gayest Thanksgiving foods, ranked.13. Mac and Cheese - dryNothing ruins a delicious holiday meal like some dry and unseasoned mac and cheese. Like a straight man hitting on girls at a gay bar, this does not belong at the table!12. Mashed PotatoesSo often, mashed potatoes end up among the blandest dishes on the Thanksgiving plate. Like a straight person on Queer Eye, it needs a makeover with some gravy, cranberry sauce, or turkey to really shine.11. Green BeansWhile a green bean casserole is a little genderqueer, plain green beans are as cis and het as an episode of Friends.10. YamsYams getting topped by some nice fluffy gay marshmallows on top? That sounds like a night out at The Abbey to me!9. TurkeyThe gay community is famous for its bears, otters, cubs, and pups, so why not welcome in the turkey to the ranks of gay types? If bears are big and hairy, we propose turkeys are large gay hairless men who love to gobble.8. GravyLike a gender bending shapeshifter, gravy isn't just one thing; it's fluid, baby! Pour a little out and watch your whole plate transform.7. Pumpkin PieLike the nice, femme lesbian who holds your hair back when you're puking in the club, pumpkin pie is as sweet as it comes! She's a real girls' girl!6. Mac and Cheese - goodWe all know what a good, wet mac and cheese sounds like! If you make it right, lesbians can eat this dish all night long!5. SuccotashThis corn and bean dish is taken to a whole other level when you add in squash, making it the perfect threesome for your Thanksgiving meal!4. BunsThere are few things a gay man loves more than a nice, firm, delicious bun! Spread 'em out on the table and watch your gay friends go to town!3. Cranberry SauceLike the lone gay cousin at a family reunion, cranberry sauce is tart, colorful, and saucy as hell.2. Sweet Potato PieNot as popular as his lesbian cousin, the pumpkin pie but secretly a lot better sweet potato pies are the true MVP of any gay Thanksgiving. Classy, unique, and satisfying, he's the king of the table.1. StuffingStuffing is both a classic gay dish and a classic gay behavior! You know a night is successful when you both end up stuffed!

Apparently, mirrorball trophies run in the family, because last night Robert Irwin took home the coveted Dancing with the Stars award, a decade after his sister Bindi did the same. The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist, and son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, has been making headlines all season, for his impressive abs as much as his skills on the dance floor. Irwin has broken the internet repeatedly all year long as he posed in his underwear, gone shirtless on the 34th season of DWTS, and gone on a press tour that kept fans doing double takes as he showed off his muscles.Irwin is no longer the little kid who would appear on his dads show. Hes all grown up, and the internet has taken notice. So to celebrate his big win, were looking back at all of the moments that made gay fans go wild. 1. DWTS shirtless moment (@) Irwin went viral early in the DWTS season when he tore open his button-down shirt in the middle of his dance, causing the audience to scream so loudly it drowned out the music. Then, clips from the dance and photos of Irwin shirtless made the rounds on social media, with even judge Julianne Hough weighing in.2. DWTS paso dobleSee on InstagramIrwin was sexy all season, but his paso doble was especially memorable since he went shirtless under the traditional short-waisted jacket he sported.3. Underwear campaign (@) This was the moment everyone realized Irwin was all grown up. He posed in tight underwear while holding snakes and venomous spiders, and fans instantly went feral over the photos.4. His cowboy moment (@) Irwin may have been fully dressed for his People cover shoot, but that didnt stop fans from thirsting after him. For the photos, Irwin wore a white tank top and jeans while posing on a Los Angeles ranch surrounded by horses, hay, and even a kitten sitting on his knee. 5. DWTS announcementSee on InstagramWhen he announced that he was going to be a contestant on DWTS by coming out shirtless with a snake around his neck, fans went wild. People may have first gotten to know him as Steve Irwins kid, but hes all grown up now!6. Arm wrestlingSee on InstagramWhen Irwin went on the Australian talk show The Project, he showed off his impressive biceps by arm wrestling one of the hosts. He won, of course, and made fans drool with his muscles at the same time.7. Those frecklesSee on InstagramIrwins Stellar cover shoot was flawless from start to finish, but the photo of him showing off his arms and freckles in a white tank top was the real winner of the bunch.8. Being great with animalsSee on InstagramNot only is he hot as hell, but Irwin is constantly reminding us that hes just as good with animals as his late father. His big heart and kindness toward all creatures is just as sexy as his impressive physique.

Jonathan Bailey's reign continues!The handsome actor is hitting an all-time high in his career now officially been named the highest-grossing box office star of 2025, shortly after being named the Sexiest Man Alive by People.As if Bailey couldn't go viral for anything else this year, the star is now getting a lot of attention online for a new clip of the star embracing Wicked costar Ariana Grande. Bailey's biceps are causing fans to melt all over social media, so check out the highlights below. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

Caden Dior is one of the hottest new faces on the scene!The adult entertainer has only worked as a full-time model for just over a year, but Dior has already filmed for many notable studios, including Carnal Media.As award show season begins, Dior is hoping to get recognized for all of the steamy content he's posted this past year."I'm actually really hoping for Hottest Newcomer this year at the GayVN Awards. Please, I'm just a boy, your honor! This is just the beginning baby. Stay tuned for more Caden Dior," Dior tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Based in Berlin, Germany, Dior is also finding time outside of his packed filming schedule to write books. The model self-published his first book Chapters of the Heart in 2024 and he's currently working on a follow-up titled Unbecoming."I want to get this out there! Now more than ever, we need queer literature that celebrates the nuances of who we are and why we are. Baby, we are not going anywhere, so you better read up!"Dior is clearly living his best life by tackling multiple passion projects, so he's offering his top tips to any aspiring adult performers who want to break into the scene."Baby, commit to the bit! Whatever you do, give it 110% of yourself. We don't got time to give anything else! Be magnets and mirrors. Magnetize exactly the energy you want. Bring the people around you that you want. Honey, if you are sunshine and you bring sunshine, baby, the world will become a brighter place!"Fans can follow Caden Dior on Instagram here. To see the full interview from the Carnal House, check out the video at the top of the page.

The Grammy-winning superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist is honored for her powerful advocacy and personal commitment to uplifting mental health awareness for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities and beyondOctober 10, 2025 In recognition of World Mental Health Day, The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, proudly honors Megan Thee Stallion with the 2025 Mental Health Champion of the Year Award. The annual award celebrates influential public figures who use their voice to challenge stigma, shift culture, and advocate for the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. Megan is the fifth honoree to receive the award, following past recipients Dua Lipa (2024), Dylan Mulvaney (2023), Janelle Mone (2022), and Lil Nas X (2021).Megan Thee Stallion, a three-time, Grammy-winning superstar, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and activist, consistently uses her global platform to destigmatize mental health conversations and push for access to inclusive care and resources, particularly for marginalized communities.She is also the founder of the Pete & Thomas Foundation, a non-profit organization that was named in honor of her late parents and focuses on empowering women, children, senior citizens, and underserved communities with initiatives in Houston and worldwide centered on education, housing, health, and wellness.As part of her foundations philanthropic work, Megan launched BadBitchesHaveBadDaysToo.com, a free wellness hub created to spread mental health awareness as well as provide mental health resources, directories, and LGBTQ+ community helplines to those seeking support. The site includes therapy directories, mental health organizations, and crisis hotlines including The Trevor Project ensuring that healing is not just talked about, but made more accessible.Im honored to receive this years Mental Health Champion award from The Trevor Project, Megan Thee Stallion said. My goal has always been to use my platform to help break stigmas around mental health and provide resources for those seeking safe spaces to have honest and heartfelt conversations. Mental health impacts all of us, so its important to lead with love and empathy. Im grateful for organizations like The Trevor Project that are committed to spreading awareness and supporting our LGBTQ+ youth in powerful ways.Most recently in 2024, Megan partnered with the California Department of Public Health on the Never A Bother youth suicide prevention campaign to share her own mental health journey and highlight the importance of reaching out for help.In 2023, she also joined the Ad Councils Seize the Awkward campaign to encourage young people to talk openly about their mental health. In the PSA, she shared: Ive always been told I gotta be strong. Thick-skinned. Stiff upper lip. Tough as nails. But to be everything for everybody it wears on you. Black dont crack, they say. But it can. I can. We all can. Yall, its okay to not be okay. Reach out to a friend if you see them going through it. No matter who you are, being vulnerable is what makes us whole.Over the course of her career, Megan has been recognized as one of TIMEs 100 Most Influential People (2020), the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes 30 Under 30 (2022), and was awarded the key to the city of Houston in 2022 for her advocacy efforts. Megan has also been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community, notably headlining Los Angeles Pride in 2023 and speaking out against homophobia in music.Megan Thee Stallion is a mental health champion in every sense of the word, said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. Her raw honesty, bold advocacy, and deep love for her community make her an extraordinary role model particularly for Black LGBTQ+ youth, who face some of the highest rates of discrimination, mental health challenges, and suicide risk. Megans activism doesnt just stop at words; she builds real, tangible resources for vulnerable communities that are too often overlooked or left behind. As a queer Black person, I wish I had someone like Megan to look up to when I was growing up. Her courage, her authenticity, and her unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy will echo for generations. The Trevor Project is proud to honor her incredible impact, especially at a time when LGBTQ+ young people are being stripped of life-saving resources. Megan Thee Stallions voice is not just powerful. Its essential.This years award comes at a time of urgency for LGBTQ+ mental health. In July, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) officially terminated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelines LGBTQ+ Specialized Services program, eliminating the option for youth to press 3 or text PRIDE to connect with trained LGBTQ+ crisis counselors. Since its launch in 2022, the program had served over 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth.According to The Trevor Projects research:39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth. LGBTQ+ youth of color reported higher rates than White peers.One in five (21%) Black transgender and nonbinary young people reported a suicide attempt in the past year.Over two-thirds (70%) of Black cisgender LGBQ youth and 83% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth experienced at least one form of discrimination related to their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity in the past year.More than half of LGBTQ+ youth (50%) who wanted mental health care were unable to access it.If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Projects trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.For media inquiries, please contact:press@thetrevorproject.orgThe post The Trevor Project Honors Megan Thee Stallion with Mental Health Champion of the Year Award appeared first on The Trevor Project.

LGBTQ+ youth subjected to conversion practices were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide in the past year.October 7, 2025 Today, the Supreme Court of the United States hears oral arguments for Chiles v. Salazar a case that centers on a Colorado state law that prohibits licensed mental health professionals from subjecting youth to dangerous, discredited practices that attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.The Trevor Projects CEO, Jaymes Black, released the following statement in response:It is unimaginable to see fringe practices that have been debunked, discredited, and known to cause harm for decades now being debated before our countrys highest court. Therapists can and do help young people navigate and understand their identity, but they should not be allowed to pressure youth toward a specific outcome, such as changing their sexual orientation or gender. These efforts, no matter what proponents call them, are proven to cause lasting psychological harm; LGBTQ+ youth subjected to conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers.While many people believe these practices are a relic of the past, they are sadly still harming young Americans in communities all across the U.S. today. I strongly urge the justices to uphold Colorados law, which was based on decades of evidence and medical consensus, and continue to allow more than 20 states across the country to protect children from these dangerous practices. To every LGBTQ+ young person navigating yet another difficult news cycle: Please know that you are not alone. Theres an entire community actively working to protect and support you, no matter the headlines. You are valid and worthy of love and respect, exactly as you are.Related research:Conversion therapy is associated with an extensive list of long-lasting social and emotional consequences, including: depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance abuse, a range of post-traumatic responses, loss of connection to community, damaged familial relationships, self-blame, guilt, and shame.The Trevor Projects 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ young people found that 13% of LGBTQ+ young people have been threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy.Research shows that LGBTQ+ youth who experienced conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year.Conversion therapy and its associated harms such as substance abuse and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts cost an estimated $9.23 billion in the U.S. annually.The Trevor Project released a report in December 2023 that identified more than 1,300 active conversion therapy practitioners across the U.S.Every major medical and mental health association in the United States has condemned conversion therapy, including The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, and The American Medical Association.Most Americans reject conversion therapy, and support efforts to protect LGBTQ+ youth from its harms. 2025 polling data found that a majority of adults in the United States (56%) think conversion therapy should be illegal to use on minors.If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Projects trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.The post The Trevor Project Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Law Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth from Conversion Therapy appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Heather Dubrow, star of The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC) and longtime supporter of The Trevor Project, generously partnered with Junior Cookies in Los Angeles to create limited-edition cookies that support the organizations life-saving work.Heather held an incredible launch event to promote the cookies, and to raise awareness and funds for The Trevor Project. The event will be featured on The Real Housewives of Orange County airing Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 9/8c on Bravo.The ongoing support of Heather, her husband Terry, and Junior Cookies helps the organization continue offering its 24/7 phone lifeline, chat, and text crisis services for free to LGBTQ+ young people in crisis. We interviewed Heather about her passion and commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth mental health.You recently supported The Trevor Project by hosting a special fundraiser at Junior Cookies on an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Can you share more about why you wanted to support the organization?Ive been involved with The Trevor Project for over a decade. The work they do is more important than ever. Our kids are in crisis, as a Mom of four (including LGBTQ+ kids) all I want to do is help protect them.With such a busy schedule between your businesses, philanthropy work, and filming, how do you ensure youre taking care of yourself and your own mental health and wellness?As most Mothers do, I definitely prioritize the needs of my children and family above mine! I do find that daily exercise is very good, not only for my physical health, but the mental load and anxiety that I have.Can you share more about how you and Terry approach accepting and supportive parenting?We have always been very aligned on our parenting journey. Communication is key, and we are very proud of the relationships we have carefully fostered with our children.Please share some words of inspiration for LGBTQ+ young people.I wish I could hug every single one of you that is struggling! Im so glad theres an organization like The Trevor Project that is there for you in times of crisis. I know things seem bleak right now in many ways, but things will change. Things will get better. We will prevail.If youd like to join Heather Dubrow in supporting The Trevor Projects life-saving work, visit TRVR.org/DonateToday.The post Heather Dubrows Sweet Gesture for The Trevor Project appeared first on The Trevor Project.

The Learn with Love episode created by The Trevor Project demonstrates the power of supportive parentsSeptember 3, 2025 Today, The Trevor Project launched a new short film, Learn with Love: Haylin and Mat. This short film is the latest episode of the Learn with Love series, a collection of real stories of LGBTQ+ young people and their families, meant to raise public awareness, understanding, and, ultimately, help end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.The new short film tells the story of a mother and son living in Honolulu, Hawaii: Haylin, a marriage and family therapist, and Mat, her 17-year-old son who is transgender. Raised in a conservative, religious household, Haylin shares her journey toward accepting, understanding, and supporting her transgender child including opening her own nonprofit, mental health clinic, Spill the Tea Cafe, to connect young people of all identities with welcoming, supportive mental health services in an underserved community.Every young person deserves to grow up in a community that supports and accepts them. Yet, for LGBTQ+ young people, and transgender youth in particular, this is too often not their experience, said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. As we continue to witness widespread misinformation and stereotypes about transgender young people in the U.S., we must pay better attention to real stories from real transgender youth. I am beyond grateful to Haylin and Mat for sharing their powerful story and showing audiences everywhere that even if a parent doesnt understand everything about their child, they can still love and support them unconditionally. When LGBTQ+ youth, like Mat, have supportive parents, their odds of suicide risk lower significantly. And their ability to thrive? That skyrockets.This new short film is part of a three-year public awareness campaign an ongoing, targeted multimedia effort that aims to spread awareness of the issue of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people, connect youth in crisis with the care they need, and equip audiences with tools and trainings to address the public health crisis.LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people (ages 13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. Data show that LGBTQ+ young people living in rural areas reported significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts and lower rates of access to mental health care compared to their peers who live in non-rural areas.Thirty-two percent of LGBTQ+ youth in Hawaii seriously considered suicide in the past year. More than half (57%) of LGBTQ+ young people in the state said they wanted mental health care in the past year, but were not able to receive it. Only 26% of LGBTQ+ young people in Hawaii reported that their home was an affirming environment, and for transgender and nonbinary young people in particular, that figure dropped to 17%.If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Projects trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.The post New Short Documentary Highlights Hawaiian Moms Journey to Accepting & Championing her Transgender Child appeared first on The Trevor Project.

In March 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States announced that they would hear a case on the topic of conversion therapy the dangerous, discredited practice that attempts to change a young persons sexuality or gender.Heres what you need to know about the case:What is Chiles v. Salazar about?In this case, the justices will hear a challenge to a current Colorado state law. This law protects youth under the age of 18 from being subjected to conversion therapy by licensed mental health professionals. The petitioner in this case is Kaley Chiles. Chiles is a mental health counselor in Colorado who filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado, claiming that the law in question infringes on her freedom of speech. The respondent in this case is Patty Salazar, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, and she is representing the state of Colorado. Colorado maintains this law is a legitimate regulation of a specific health care treatment, and protects kids in the state from abusive practices that are proven to cause harm, including increasing depression, anxiety, and suicide risk.What is conversion therapy?Conversion therapy refers to practices that seek to change someones sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite their name, these practices are in no way legitimate therapy, and lack any standards or basis in evidence. These unscientific practices are rooted in outdated ideas that LGBTQ+ people are unnatural or need to be cured. Historically, these practices have involved behavior modification and painful aversive treatments, as well as discredited psychoanalytic theories such as the claim that being gay is caused by faulty parenting, trauma, or abuse.What does the current Colorado law say about conversion therapy?Colorados law is similar to more than twenty other state laws that very narrowly and specifically prohibit state-licensed mental health professionals from attempting to change a minors sexual orientation or gender identity.Importantly, this law does not apply to non-licensed religious counselors. It also very clearly includes a clause that allows therapists to help young people explore their sexual orientation or gender identity ethically. This is an important distinction: by law, state-licensed therapists are already allowed to help youth explore their identity. They cannot, however, pressure children toward a specific outcome (E.g. promising a gay person that, after counseling, they will no longer be gay).What does the research say about conversion therapy?Extensive research has been conducted on the topic of conversion therapy, and its harms on young people. Research shows that LGBTQ+ youth who experienced conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year. These practices are also associated with an extensive list of long-lasting social and emotional consequences, including:DepressionAnxietySuicidalitySubstance abuseA range of post-traumatic responsesLoss of connection to communityDamaged familial relationshipsSelf-blameGuiltShameWhat do medical experts say about conversion therapy?Medical consensus on this issue is clear: conversion therapy is a debunked, rejected practice that causes psychological harm to young people. Every major medical and mental health association in the United States, including The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, and The American Medical Association, has condemned these practices and they support laws that protect kids from harm, like the Colorado law at the center of this case. Ethical mental health professionals support these regulations because the psychological harms of these practices are clear and because they know it is important for people seeking mental health support to feel they can trust the care they receive.Its not just the medical and mental health experts that support Colorados law. Protections against conversion therapy have broad bipartisan, religious, and public support, too.Laws that protect young people from conversion therapy, like Colorados law, have broad bipartisan and religious support. Since 2012, Republican legislators have supported bans on conversion therapy introduced into legislatures all across the United States more than 1,000 times.Many religious groups continue to express support for banning these dangerous practices, with nearly 400 religious leaders across the globe calling to end conversion therapy worldwide in 2020. In recent years, dozens of former ex-gay movement leaders and founders of conversion therapy programs have publicly denounced these practices, too.A majority of Americans reject conversion therapy, and support efforts to protect LGBTQ+ youth from its harms. 2025 polling data found that a majority of adults in the United States (56%) think conversion therapy should be illegal to use on minors.What will happen next with Chiles v. Salazar?This is not the first time laws protecting youth from conversion therapy have been challenged in court; in nearly every case, the laws have been upheld as constitutional, and the Supreme Court has actually declined appeals of cases that allowed bans to continue several times. While no one can predict how the justices will rule, the outcome of this decision will have significant impacts on the health and safety of LGBTQ+ young people across the United States.If Colorados law is upheld, Colorado and other states will remain free to exercise their traditional legal authority to regulate medical and mental health care to protect minors from ineffective and harmful practices. If Colorados law is overturned, Colorado and other states may no longer be able to regulate mental health treatments that jeopardize the safety and well-being of minors.How has The Trevor Project weighed in on the Chiles v. Salazar case?The Trevor Project, together with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, filed an amicus brief, or friend of the court brief in this case. The brief presents evidence on the serious mental health harms that conversion therapy causes for LGBTQ+ youth, reflecting peer-reviewed research, national survey data, stories of conversion therapy survivors, and The Trevor Projects unique insights, hearing directly for youth in crisis describing their experiences with these practices.For decades, The Trevor Project has been a leading voice in the fight to end conversion therapy in the United States and across the globe, and remains committed to protecting LGBTQ+ young people from this dangerous and discredited practice and creating a world where all young people feel safe, seen, and supported exactly as they are.*For the latest news on LGBTQ+ youth & what actions you can take to support them, sign up for The Trevor Projects advocacy action alerts by visiting trvr.org/AdvocacyAlerts.*Additional Conversion Therapy Resources & ResearchSo-Called Conversion Therapy and LGBTQ+ Youth Mental HealthConversion Therapy ReportEnding Conversion Therapy Advocacy NewsCosts of Conversion Therapy US ReportThe post Chiles v. Salazar: What you need to know about the U.S. Supreme Court case on conversion therapy appeared first on The Trevor Project.

Robbie Simpson may have entered Hallmarks Finding Mister Christmas expecting competition, connection and cameras, but he didnt expect to walk away with a new friend from the Bravo universe.During a recent conversation with Gayety, Simpson opened up about the surprising celebrity encounter that happened immediately after filming wrapped, and how it led to an unlikely friendship with Real Housewives alum Bronwyn Newport.Simpson explained that after finishing production in Park City, Utah, which he described as incredible and so beautiful, he flew out of Salt Lake City and joked with his partner, Kyle, about spotting Bravo stars in the airport.I thought, what if I see the housewives? he said. Kyle quickly dismissed the idea. He was like, Robbie, they all fly private and youll never see them. Also, there are six women, just because youre at the airport, youre going to see them?Robbie Simpson attends the Out100 Celebration 2025 at Nya Studios on November 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Out.com/equalpride.But Simpsons instincts proved right.I get on my flight and in the row in front of me is Bronwyn Newport, he recalled. The chances Shes it.Simpson said the coincidence was made even more surreal because he had purchased a Cameo from Newport just a month earlier as a gift for Kyle, the first Cameo he had ever bought. The two struck up a conversation on the plane, and their connection didnt end when they landed.Long story short, the next day we were having drinks in New York City, Simpson said. As it turned out, Newport was headed to New York for the Met Gala, and the pair made plans to meet up. Simpson described their conversation as unexpectedly meaningful and deeply affirming.I was sitting there having this incredible conversation with someone who I honestly do admire so much, he said. How she moves through life, how she deals with her friendships and these relationships She was really helpful about being on a reality television show.The friendship has continued since. Simpson said they recently attended a Wicked event together. Because of this, Bronwyn Newport has become a friend of mine, he said. We love shes the best.Simpsons unexpected post-show encounter underscores the surprising blend of worlds hes stepped into Hallmark romance on one side, Bravo celebrity run-ins on the other. And for Simpson, the experience has become another unexpected gift from his time on Finding Mister Christmas: a new mentor, a new friend and a reminder that reality TV brings people together in ways no one can predict.Source

Robbie Simpson has worn many creative hats, actor, director, producer, but his most personal work may have unfolded not behind the scenes or on a scripted set, but on Hallmark Channels Finding Mister Christmas. For the first time, the multi-hyphenate wasnt portraying a character or helping shape someone elses narrative. He was showing up as himself.Speaking exclusively to Gayety, I kind of summarize it that I just love to tell stories, Simpson said. If youre an actor, then youre helping someone elses dream become the reality. But when Im directing or producing, I get to have that vision, and I love it.That desire to create and connect has carried him through years of work in front of and behind the camera. But reality TV, he quickly learned, offered a different kind of storytelling entirely, one that demanded vulnerability instead of performance.That was the first time that I ever told my story, he said of filming the series. On this show, Im always telling someone elses story or their fictional stories.Hallmarks Finding Mister Christmas marks the networks growing embrace of LGBTQ+ representation, and Simpsons presence, as the shows only gay contestant, placed him at the center of a cultural moment and a personal turning point. Unlike a scripted romance, there was no character to hide behind, no predetermined arc, no safety in fiction. The story was his.Healing in Unexpected PlacesOne of Simpsons most profound moments came not during a heartfelt conversation but during a physical challenge. After securing a win and feeling genuinely supported by the other contestants, he realized something inside him had shifted.I feel like I was able to heal some trauma that had been still there, he said. We never know as adults whats going to keep coming up.The acceptance he felt during filming helped quiet insecurities he carried long before stepping onto the Hallmark set. The moment wasnt about television, it was about growth.Authenticity Over PerfectionBeing the only gay contestant came with its own pressure. Simpson was aware of how viewers might look to him as a representative of the broader LGBTQ+ community. Ultimately, he chose the only approach that felt honest: being specific, not symbolic.Because actually the more specific you are about your story, the more universal the message is, he explained.He also went on to add, If I had had Robbie to watch on the Hallmark Channel when I was 10, that wouldve been huge. That wouldve been so important because Im also being myself. Im not playing a character. Im telling my story, my real story.I think if my mom had seen Robbie on finding Mr. Christmas, perhaps when I came out to her, it wouldve just been a little bit easier. So thats why Im there.Instead of trying to embody an ideal, he focused on authenticity, the kind that resonates beyond a demographic label.Why Real Stories MatterSimpson also believes reality TV carries a unique emotional power that scripted shows, even the most beloved queer-inclusive ones, cant always match.It hits different when theres a real human being on your TV screen that is telling you their real authentic story from their point of view, he said. You just feel more connected.That connection, between contestants, between storytellers and audiences, is exactly what keeps him passionate about his craft, no matter the medium.With Finding Mister Christmas, Robbie Simpson didnt just join a holiday romance competition. He stepped into a story that was finally, unmistakably his own and discovered that truth can be more transformative than any role hes played.Source

The most wonderful time of the year is about to take over Disneyland Resort. Beginning Nov. 14, 2025, and running through Jan. 7, 2026, the parks, hotels and Downtown Disney District will transform into a glittering holiday playground filled with new entertainment, returning favorites, and plenty of seasonal treats.Heres your guide to what to expect when the holidays arrive at the Happiest Place on Earth.Disneyland Park: Classic Magic with a Holiday TwistMickey and Minnie will greet guests in outfits that put a seasonal spin on their Disneyland 70th anniversary looks, complete with rich greens, reds and gold accents.The castle gets its snowy glow-up during Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beautys Winter Castle, featuring 80,000 lights and nightly snowfall. The BelieveIn Holiday Magic fireworks show returns, showering Main Street, U.S.A., in flurries.Parade lovers can catch A Christmas Fantasy Parade, starring toy soldiers, gingerbread dancers, and Disney favorites marching down Main Street. Reserved viewing is available through the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour.For added holiday overlays, the Haunted Mansion Holiday and its a small world Holiday continue their seasonal transformations. Families can also enjoy Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends! at the Fantasyland Theatre, featuring crafts, sing-alongs, and photos with Santa himself.Disney California Adventure: Food, Music and MerrimentCars Land revs up with festive dcor and ride overlays like Luigis Joy to the Whirl and Maters Jingle Jamboree.The Disney Festival of Holidays returns with multicultural food, live entertainment and daily performances. Sip and Savor Passes let guests sample a variety of dishes, from returning favorites like braised pork belly adobo to brand-new seasonal bites.Entertainment highlights include the Mickeys Happy Holidays cavalcade, Holiday Toy Drummers, and street shows featuring Mirabel from Encanto. On select nights, A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegra de Disneyland & Miguel blends Spanish and English holiday tunes with a cameo from Pixars Miguel.At Paradise Gardens, Disney Viva Navidad! once again celebrates Latin American traditions with music, crafts, and a lively street party led by The Three Caballeros.Hotels and Downtown Disney: Seasonal Stays and ShoppingDisneyland Resort hotels will be dressed in holiday dcor and offer new character dining experiences, including Mickeys Christmas Carol Feast and Daisys Holiday Pajama Party. The Grand Californians spa introduces seasonal treatments, while the Broken Spell Lounge debuts festive cocktails with live jazz.In Downtown Disney, nightly snowfall and live music set the scene for seasonal shopping and dining. Chip and Dales Ornament Trail scavenger hunt also returns, offering guests a keepsake reward.Seasonal Merchandise and TreatsThis years Mickey Mouse Family Christmas Collection brings nostalgic charm to apparel, home dcor and accessories. The parks will also offer holiday-exclusive food and drinks, from peppermint cold brew to Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookies.Holidays at Disneyland Resort 2025 promise a mix of traditions and fresh surprises, making it the perfect time to plan a visit. Whether youre after fireworks, foodie finds, or a Santa sighting, theres plenty of magic waiting this season.Source

Once upon a dating app bio, looking for a third often raised eyebrows, or worse, red flags. But dating has changed, and so have the people exploring it. Open relationships, polycules, and radical honesty are shaping a new dating landscape, where couples team up to find connection beyond the traditional you and me. Enter the throuple pitch: the modern guide to presenting your duo to potential partners.Dating as a DuoA February 2023 YouGov poll found that 34% of U.S. adults say their ideal relationship isnt strictly monogamous. By 2025, a Hims survey reported that 61% of Americans are open to non-monogamous arrangements. Love is expanding, and so are the ways people are pursuing it.On apps like Taimi, couples are showing up together with honesty, humor, and creativity. Team dating isnt about projecting perfection; its about letting your connection shine while inviting someone new to join the conversation.Crafting Your Throuple PitchA strong couple profile works like an invitation: clear, warm, and rooted in transparency. Its not just about attraction, its about chemistry, communication, and shared values. Heres how to make your pitch:Be transparent. Spell out the type of connection youre open to: romantic, sexual, emotional, or exploratory. This ensures everyone knows what theyre signing up for.Show your dynamic. Share what you love doing together and how you communicate. Let your authentic energy come through.Avoid hunting. Your third isnt a missing puzzle piece, theyre a partner in co-creating the relationship.Honor autonomy. Treat your third as an equal member of your dynamic. Theyre joining an already thriving connection, not fixing one.Edward Reese, Gender & Sexuality Expert at Taimi, warns, Bisexual and pansexual women are often targeted as easy entry points by straight couples experimenting. Ethical non-monogamy is about respect, not assumptions.Navigating DMsMessaging as a duo doesnt need to be awkward. The key? Authenticity:Start with curiosity, not a checklist.Compliment something specific from their bio or photos.Let both voices shine naturally.Lead with consent, its the ultimate turn-on.Couples often find writing their bios together unexpectedly intimate, revealing how they want to show up in a shared connection.Boundaries, Transparency, and Real TalkThe Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-Monogamys 2024 survey found that 57% of non-monogamous people have been practicing for over three years. Their secret? Communication. Jealousy, insecurities, and boundaries are part of dating, poly or otherwise. The difference lies in normalizing those conversations.Love, MultipliedWhether youre a curious couple or a confident third, modern dating is about expanding love, not rewriting it. No matter the label, love thrives on honesty, care, and a willingness to try something new. Your throuple story is yours to write, consent and creativity leading the way.Source

Texas-born singer-songwriter August Ponthier has spent the last few years building a beautiful community through queer country-pop storytelling, aliencowboy visuals, and songs that hinted at their true identity long before they put a name to it.From their breakout EP Faking My Own Death, to the aching vulnerability of Shaking Hands with Elvis, to touring with Bleachers, Hayley Kiyoko, Maren Morris, and most recently, Brandi Carlisle, their music has always welcomed people to be whoever they wanted to be. And no, its their turn.Next year, theyll release their debut album Everywhere Isnt Texas, their first full-length project, and their first as August, that pulls together everything theyve been feeling for years.And right now, August says theyre feeling something theyve never felt before.I feel so much emotionally lighter than Ive ever been, they tell me. I think I felt really fragmented for a long time. There were parts of me people could never understand or see.It took me a long time to recognize that I deserve to believe myself.Coming out as non-binary wasnt sudden, but the clarity arrived quickly once they spoke the truth aloud.I soft launched the idea to my loved ones, and I was like, Oh, maybe in a few years Ill do something about this. they say. Then the more I talked about it, the more I realized it was something I needed to do to be happy and to be who I really was.They describe years of internal back-and-forth, the feeling that they were making something up about their gender, even though theyd never think that about someone else.I just had a deep feeling in my heart that I was not one of the two options, they say, but I thought that I had made it up or something was wrong with me It took me a long time to recognize that I deserve to believe myself.Music often revealed the truth before they could.I mean, theres a lot of songs Ive written over the past few years that are pretty explicitly gender related, they explain. Handsome being one of them I should have known what was up, but its okay.They wrote the song a few years ago, but the lyrics are just as true now.Dont know if I wanna be with you or be you (be you)/Handsome, handsome boy, Im jealous of you (jealous)A Fan Helped Push Them ForwardOne of the breakthrough moments didnt come from a producer, a friend, or a collaborator, it came from a fan.I hear all the time in the merch line, You inspired me to do X, Y, Z, August says. And I loved that it was actually a fan, and it was the other way around that inspired me.A fan who had changed their own name unknowingly shifted something for August.It encouraged me to see someone I know in real life who had been impacted by the things that Ive written, they say. Sometimes it really just does take someone sharing an experience with you and being brave enough to make you realize that you also have the ability and the power.They call their relationship with fans absolutely symbiotic.Ive gotten so much out of seeing people who relate to my music and relate to my story.The Name August and the Unexpected ResponseWhen August publicly shared their name, they expected a polite, small-scale reaction.I thought maybe there would be 10 really psyched people, they laugh. And then I thought everyone else would be like, Okay, sure.Instead, the support shocked them.I have been completely blown away by the amount of support you can even tell when youre just looking through the way people talk to me online, theyre making an effort to address me as August.And in classic trans fashion, the emotional work wasnt the hardest part the logistics were.You never realize how many places your name is until you have to change your name telling your dentist or something, they say. I cant wait until everything is August everywhere.Honestly, your email spam folder, a dead name nightmare.A Debut Album About Home, Identity, and Growing Up Queer in TexasAugust describes Everywhere Isnt Texas as a full narrative a book youre meant to read from start to finish.I am a big picture kind of person. I love storytelling, they explain. This album is a queer coming of age story about where we grow up and how we process a place we love when it doesnt love us back.Theyre not shy about how complicated that relationship is.My feelings about where I grew up and who I am arent just one thing, they say. I have a really complicated, nuanced, deeply loving relationship with my home state thats a leader in what happens politically in our country.Songs like Handsome, Betty, and unreleased tracks like The Only Man on Earth capture these shifting, layered emotions. Even the visuals continue the cowboy-and-alien imagery thats followed them since Cowboy.These characters keep coming up for me, they say. They represent my closeness to Texas while also representing how much of an outsider I felt I never knew if there was a rule book that I never got.Their longtime collaborator Julian Buchan created the album art:He pulled every string possible Im so proud of it. Theres Easter eggs all over it.Opening for Brandi Carlile and What Comes NextEarlier this year, August performed with Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks for three nights, something they still cant quite believe.I would do anything for her, August says. She is such an incredible mentor.Theyre also working on a secret non-music related project, and, as they put it, pinching myself that the album is actually going to happen.Once Ive experienced what it can mean to truly live as myself, I never want to go back.More than anything, August wants their fans especially trans and non-binary listeners to know theyre committed to honesty.My instinct is always to get louder and be more honest and speak more truth, they say. My fans have given me the greatest gift of all time, which is helping me figure out who I am.And now that theyre here? Theres no going back. Heres a link to pre-save Everywhere Isnt Texas, in case you need it (which you do). Source