California officials say they will not comply with Donald Trumps order to keep transgender athletes out of K-12 school sports.Secretary of Education Linda McMahon gave the state 10 days, beginning June 27, to sign on to an agreement to rescind any trans-inclusionary guidelines and send cisgender female athletes who lost to a trans opponent personalized apologies, The Sacramento Bee reports. The U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights had determined that California had violated federal nondiscrimination law by letting trans girls and women compete against cis females. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 bans sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funds. Democratic administrations have interpreted it as preventing anti-trans discrimination, while Trump's administration is using it to enable anti-trans discrimination.But California will not go along. The [California Department of Education] respectfully disagrees with OCRs analysis, and it will not sign the proposed Resolution Agreement, CDE General Counsel Len Garfinkle wrote Monday to OCR Regional Director Bradley Burke, according to the Bee.Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsoms staff termed the proposed agreement a political document and said it had no legal validity. It would also make the state violate its own trans-inclusive nondiscrimination laws, Newsoms aides said. California passed a law in 2013 allowing students to play on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.The Trump administration has threatened loss of federal funds to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities with trans-inclusive sports policies, and some have agreed to ban trans athletes, such as, recently, the University of Pennsylvania.Related: What does the science say about transgender women in sports?Newsom, usually a strong LGBTQ+ ally, received criticism this year for questioning the fairness of letting trans girls compete with cis girls. Now, with his state standing up for trans girls, hes catching fire from McMahon.California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of womens sports, she wrote on X. Turns out Gov. Newsoms acknowledgment that its an issue of fairness was empty political grandstanding. She said he would hear from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.California is already suing the federal government over the demand to change the states trans-inclusive policy. Changing that would violate state antidiscrimination law and the U.S. Constitution, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.And just two weeks ago, a spokesman for Newsom downplayed McMahons threat of withholding federal funds. It wouldnt be a day ending in Y without the Trump administration threatening to defund California, Newsoms director of communications, Izzy Gardon, told The Advocate at the time. Now Secretary McMahon is confusing government with her WrestleMania days dramatic, fake, and completely divorced from reality. This wont stick.California has made one concession. In May, the California Interscholastic Federation quietly changed the rules for competing in the girls state track championships, with a pilot program allowing cis girls who narrowly missed qualifying allegedly due to the inclusion of a trans competitor a chance to compete. But a trans girl targeted by Trump, Jurupa Valley High School junior AB Hernandez, was still allowed to participate as well. Hernandez won two gold medals and one silver at the state finals, and her fellow athletes offered no objections.Maine has already stood up to Trumps attacks on trans athletes. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said the state would not change its trans-inclusive policies and that she would see Trump in court. After a federal court intervened in the administrations attempt to withhold school meal funding from Maine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would restore the funds.Shannon Minter, legal director at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, praised Californias latest action. This administration is targeting California in an attempt to intimidate it into backing away from its strong anti-discrimination laws, he told the Bee. Im encouraged to see the California Department of Education is standing up to that.

Soccer superstars and gay athlete power couple Christen Press and Tobin Heath have a new member of the family, and they want the whole world to know about it!Press, who currently plays for Angel City Football Club in the NWSL, and Heath, who is retired from professional soccer, have been a couple for nine years. They played together for several years on the USNWT and won back-to-back World Cups with the team in 2015 and 2019.Now, the couple has teamed up with PETA for a new campaign sharing how their adopted dog has improved their lives and encouraging others to adopt pets as well.The soccer players star in a new video where they tell the story of how they adopted their dog, Bobbi. In the video, Heath reveals that Bobbi started as a foster dog for the couple, but they couldn't imagine giving her up and ended up adopting her permanently."She has changed my life," Heath says. "She has given me so much more than we could have ever imagined. It's really cool to have an extra heartbeat in the house."Press spoke with PRIDE about the campaign, their dog, and her and Heath's plans for their family and the future.PRIDE: Where does adopting a foster dog rank on your list of Gayest Accomplishments?Christen Press: [Laugh] I don't know. I think you have to tell me. We were not planning to foster or to adopt. And it all just happened to us in the loveliest of ways. We were very proud DINKs. I think some people think you can still say double income, no kids with a dog, but I don't. The dog is definitely a large-budget item in our lives now. But yeah, we're loving being young dog parents.How has adopting a dog changed your life?A lot of the reason that I wanted to try fostering in the first place was just because Tobin and I are very work-oriented people. And I think being athletes, you don't really know another way other than giving your whole self to your career. And as we enter the last phase of our playing career and, like, start to transition to the next phase, I wanted, honestly, to remind Tobin that there are other things in life other than work that can be quite lovely and nourishing.And I think that without kind of disrupting the cycle that we're in of like work, work, work between playing and running our business, I needed to disrupt that cycle to just remind us both that there are a lot of ways to have a full and lovely life.How did Bobbi go from being a foster to a permanent adoption?I was thinking I'm going to adopt a dog that's not the normal type of dog that Tobin and I have talked about. I'm going to foster a dog that's outside of the norm of what we've talked about that we would have for a dog. Because then it'll be easier to foster, and we'll find a great home, and it'll be so great.And then we'll have reminded ourselves that we care for things and love things and talk about family planning and all that. And then within three days, I said to Tobin, Oh, we have to take Bob, whose name was Bingo. Bingo is her foster name. We have to take her to Puppy Yoga so she gets adopted. And Tobin was like, "My dog is not going to an adoption yoga session." I was like, well, I guess we've changed our tune here!Honestly, I wish Tobin was on the phone because she would tell you like Bob has already changed her life. And she started saying that, like on day four, which I thought was quite comical to be honest. But I think it was just such a big shift for us because our job can be so selfish. It can be like, "I have to eat. I have to sleep. I have to travel. I miss my friend's weddings." Like, just this all-encompassing dedication to your craft.That it's been a really, really big shift for us to say, you know, "We have to come home, take care of the dog. We got to rewrite our schedules. We have to change our lives." And I think we had seen that as like responsibility [and hadn't thought about] like the joy of coming home to your dog. Like leaving the party early and coming home to just be home with your pup.I think we had seen that only as something that we didn't want. And with Bob, we realized it was such an important part of life to be able to choose to make sacrifices to take care of something else. And it's been a really, really beautiful addition to our life and family.What does the next phase include for you?Well, I do know that there will be at some point life after soccer. And I don't know when that is.I think the reason that Tobin and I work really well together is we're similar in that we leave a lot of space for exploration. And so, while we've been playing, we've been running our business. So we already have like next phases layered in, and we're co-CEOs. So there's like a natural step ladder for us. At the same time, Tobin's been doing all sorts of stuff. She's with FIFA at the Men's World Cup as an analyst. She started the World Sevens. And so she's just trying all different things with an open mind and like an eye towards exploration. And whenever my time at Angel City comes to an end, if it's this year or if it's next year, you know, it's not that far away. And I am excited for an opportunity to travel, an opportunity to explore what other career I might have. And to explore the idea of what it would be like to be, you know, family first, either one of us or both of us, if we decided to grow our family any more.You and Tobin have been letting the public into your private lives more recently. Why now?I think as we spend more time in front of the camera on our podcast, the relationship that we have with our community has just grown. And it really is like a two-way relationship that I don't think that most athletes get with their community that we have because of our business. And we have a membership within our business where people interact with our community all the time, right? And so, like, at some point, the lines blur between who's our close friends in real life and who are like these people that we represent and we play for, and they listen to us talk about our problems. And there, it became more intimate, our relationship with the public. And I think that's when we became more comfortable sharing it.I think that for Tobin and I, we've always believed that it can be tricky to have a public relationship because, to be fair, most of what we've seen is that the women's soccer community really, really loves an openly gay couple, right? And I think the gay community is craving representation, and we really need that, right? So, in a way, the reason that we were at first keeping ourselves more private is so that our relationships stayed sacred for us. And it never became like a business. It never became like, "Oh, it makes sense to do this because, like, this is how we make our money." You know? And with our teammates and other public figures, straight and gay, you can see how that is a tricky thing to navigate.Of course, we want to be proud and loud and like represent the queer community, of course. But at the same time, it was important for Tobin and I to be athletes first, individual athletes, and businesswomen. And for us to be a brand that's united has been a slow journey that has become more possible as our relationship has become sturdier over time.Are you proud to be working with PETA on this campaign?To be a part of this campaign with PETA is such an honor. I did a campaign with PETA about 10 years ago, right? My parents adopted a dog. We adopted it with my parents, but you know, my childhood dog and me.And now, 10 years later, it's me and my wife, and our dog inside of our home. And it's like the intimacy is growing. And I am proud of that. And I think it's been really special how we've allowed our relationship with the public and with the community to sort of just slowly and organically blossom and not snowball into something that we weren't ready for. And I'm excited to see what happens next.Why are you encouraging others to adopt pets?I just say from the bottom of my heart, I think that there's so many ways that we can all contribute to the world and make our mark. But adopting a pup is a really beautiful thing. And I can't imagine that a gorgeous, smart, hardworking, adorable, lovable dog like mine could be out there and not have a home. But there's billions of them, right? And I just want to encourage people to take a look because taking from a shelter, from rescue organizations, is really important and it's really fulfilling. And it makes Tobin and I really proud. And we hope that and encourage people to look into it and explore with us as well.

Transgender and nonbinary people have won the right to change their gender marker on their U.S. passports but only for now. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in January that his department would no longer process passport applications that sought the X gender marker and would not allow those renewing passports to change their gender marker, in keeping with Donald Trumps executive order denying the existence of trans people. Several trans and nonbinary people filed a lawsuit against the policy, known as Orr v. Trump, with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union. U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction blocking the rule in April, saying it can't be enforced against the plaintiffs while their lawsuit proceeds. She then expanded the injunction in June by granting class certification to almost all trans and nonbinary Americans, allowing them to update their passports. This decision is a critical victory against discrimination and for equal justice under the law, Li Nowlin-Sohl, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Project, said in a statement. But its also a historic win in the fight against this administrations efforts to drive transgender people out of public life. The State Departments policy is a baseless barrier for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Americans and denies them the dignity we all deserve. We encourage all class members impacted by this policy to take advantage of this injunctive relief and we will do everything we can to block this policy permanently.Here's everything you need to know if you're trying to change the gender marker on your passport or other federal documents. Can trans people renew their passports?Trans people are able to update their passports with the sex marker that aligns with their gender identity as of June 17 after a judge blocked the Trump Administration's policy prohibiting it. The State Department requires that those requesting a gender change complete an attestation form and submit it with their application to prove they are part of the class impacted by the ruling. Applicants do not need to formally join the class, and are protected under the decision if they are seeking an X designation, or seeking a male or female designator that differs from their sex assigned at birth and have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.The ruling covers those who have applied or would have applied if not for the policy if they do not have a currently valid passport, need to renew their passport because it expires within one year, need to update their sex designation or legal name, or those whose passport was lost, stolen, or damaged. Additional instructions can be found here.When should trans people update their passports?Those seeking to update the gender marker on their passport should submit their application immediately. Passports take approximately four to six weeks on average to process, per the State Department, and while the Trump Administration's policy is currently blocked by a court order, legal organizations stress that the ruling could be reversed on appeal as the case proceeds.Lambda Legal warns, "Be aware: the government may appeal, and if a higher court pauses this ruling, the restrictive policy could return immediately. Even pending applications could be affected."Should trans people update their birth certificates?Trans people legally changing their name must update their birth certificate so that it matches other documents. However, the gender on someone's birth certificate does not have to match other documents such as passports, per the ACLU, meaning federal identification that does not align with one's sex assigned at birth is still valid even in states that have banned gender marker changes.Those who are able to should still update their gender on their birth certificate so that it contains the most accurate information. The process for updating birth certificates varies by state, and must be done through the state you were born in not the state you currently live in. What states allow gender changes on birth certificates?Eight states currently do not allow gender markers on birth certificates to be changed: Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. An additional eight require both a court order and proof of surgery, making a legal gender change hard to obtain.Birth certificates can be updated in every other state, though the process varies. 16 states and Washington, D.C. allow residents to mark M, F, or X on their birth certificates: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Can trans people update their sex with Social Security?The Social Security Administration issued guidance in January prohibiting people from making changes to their sex designation. However, Social Security cards only list name and number not sex. The SSA does keep records on the date of birth and sex of each person who has a Social Security card, but trans people can still update other forms of identification even if their gender marker doesn't match the SSA's, as Advocates for Trans Equality outlines.

In a new podcast episode, Superman star Nicholas Hoult has revealed that he understands why people like to be held by someone bigger than him, and it's thanks to his newest costar.On the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard, Hoult discussed starring in the upcoming Superman film as the villain Lex Luthor, opposite David Corenswet as Superman.After calling Corenswet's physique "brilliant, gorgeous," he revealed that he had one moment with the actor who emphasized that physique. (@) I was chatting to my wife one night, and she was like It's so nice to be held by someone bigger than you.' And she was like, 'You don't really get that, do you?' And I was like, 'no, I guess I don't.'"His wife then noted that few people are big enough to hold the six feet, two and a half inches tall Hoult, then thought of a brilliant idea. "David could hold you," she told her husband.Hoult already towers over most of his costars, but can still look up to Corenswet, who stands at six feet and four inches.Corenswet also revealed that he bulked up to 238 lbs at his maximum weight while playing the super-strong character.Hoult continued, saying he had asked Corenswet to hold him and that it felt "warm and safe to be held."Hoult and Corenswet are starring in one of the summer's most hyped movies, James Gunn's Superman. The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl.The film serves as the first film in the new DCU, which Gunn is helming.Superman opens July 11, 2025 in theaters.

Nature, Published online: 08 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02053-4Women with a rare type of ovarian cancer have prolonged survival after receiving immune-checkpoint blockade if their tumour cells carry a mutation in the gene PPP2R1A.

Nature, Published online: 08 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02054-3A computational workflow designs proteins with catalytic efficiencies comparable to those of some natural enzymes a landmark result for the field.

Former women's IBF bantamweight champ Ebanie Bridges has signed with Most Valuable Promotions and said she hopes to return to the ring by the end of 2025.

Aryna Sabalenka trailed by a set, then twice was down a break in the third before grabbing the last three games to reach the Wimbledon semifinals by overcoming 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 at Centre Court on Tuesday.

Pettis Norman, a tight end on the football field and a civil rights advocate off of it, has died. He was 86.

The incident occurred a day after Houthi militants in Yemen targeted another vessel, their first assault on shipping since President Trump announced a truce with them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel handed a letter to President Trump nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. But its not clear whether stroking the presidents ego has long-lasting effects.

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Data preservationists and archivists have been working tirelessly since the election of President Donald Trump to save websites, data, and public information thats being removed by the administration for promoting or even mentioning diversity. The administration is now targeting National Parks signs that educate visitors about anything other than beauty and grandeur, and demanding they remove signs that mention negative aspects of American history.In March, Trump issued an executive order, titled Restoring Truth and Sanity To American History, demanding public officials ensure that public monuments and markers under the Department of the Interiors jurisdiction never address anything negative about American history, past or present. Instead, Trump wrote, they should only ever acknowledge how pretty the landscape looks.Do you know anything else about how the Trump administration is affecting the National Park Service? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at sam.404. Otherwise, send me an email at sam@404media.co.Last month, National Park Service directors across the country were informed that they must post surveys at informational sites that encourage visitors to report "any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features," as dictated in a May follow-up order from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. QR codes started popping up on placards in national parks that take visitors to a survey that asks them to snitch on "any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features."The orders demand that this negative content must be removed by September 17.Following these orders, volunteer preservationists from Safeguarding Research & Culture and the Data Rescue Project launched Save Our Signs, a project that asks parks visitors to upload photos of placards, signage and monuments on public landsincluding at national parks, historic sites, monuments, memorials, battlefields, trails, and lakeshoresto help preserve them if theyre removed from public view.Trump and Burgums orders dont give specific examples of content theyd deem negative. But the Colorado Sun reported that signs with the survey QR code appeared at the Amache National Historic Site in June; Amache was one of ten incarceration sites for Japanese Americans during World War II. NPR reported that a sign also appeared at the Civil War battlefield at Wilson's Creek in Missouri. Numerous sites across the country serve to educate visitors about histories that reflect fights for civil rights, recognize atrocities carried out by the U.S. government on Black and Indigenous people, or acknowledge contributions made by minority groups.Lynda Kellam, a founding member of the Data Rescue Project and a data librarian at a university, told 404 Media that the group started discussing the project in mid-June, and partnered with another group at the University of Minnesota that was already working on a similar project. Jenny McBurney, the Government Publications Librarian at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, told 404 Media that conversations among her university network arose from the wider effort to preserve information being modified and removed on government websites.In April, NIH websites, including repositories, including archives of cancer imagery, Alzheimers disease research, sleep studies, HIV databases, and COVID-19 vaccination and mortality data, were marked for removal and archivists scrambled to save them. In February, NASA website administrators were told to scrub their sites of anything that could be considered DEI, including mentions of indigenous people, environmental justice, and women in leadership. And in January, Github activity showed federal workers deleting and editing documents, employee handbooks, Slack bots, and job listings in an attempt to comply with Trumps policies against diversity, equity, and inclusion.To me, this order to remove sign content that disparages Americans is an extension of this loss of information that people rely on, McBurney said. The current administration is trying to scrub websites, datasets, and now signs in National Parks (and on other public lands) of words or ideas that they don't like. We're trying to preserve this content to help preserve our full history, not just a tidy whitewashed version.Save Our Signs launched the current iteration on July 3 and plan to make the collected photos public in October.In addition to being a data librarian, I am a trained historian specializing in American history. My research primarily revolves around anti-imperial and anti-lynching movements in the U.S., Kellam said. Through this work, I've observed that the contributions of marginalized groups are frequently overlooked, yet they are pivotal to the nation's development. We need to have a comprehensive understanding of our history, acknowledging both its positive and problematic aspects. The removal of these signs would result in an incomplete and biased portrayal of our past.The Save Our Signs group plans to make the collected photos public in October. It is essential that we make this content public and preserve all of this public interpretative material for the future, McBurney said. It was all funded with taxpayer money and it belongs to all of us. Were worried that a lot of stuff could end up in the trash can and we want to make sure that we save a copy. Some of these signs might be outdated or wrong. But we dont think the intent was to improve the accuracy of NPS interpretation. There has been SO much work over the last 30 years to widen the lens and nuance the interpretations that are shared in the national parks. This effort threatens all that by introducing a process to cull signs and messaging in a way that is not transparent.Trump has focused on gutting the Park Service since day one of his presidency: Since his administration took office, the National Park Service has lost almost a quarter of its permanent staff, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. On Thursday, Trump issued a new executive order that will raise entry fees to national parks for foreign tourists.The Restoring Truth and Sanity To American History order states that Burgum must ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interiors jurisdiction do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape. Kyle Patterson, public affairs officer at Rocky Mountain National Park, told the Denver Post that these signs have been posted in a variety of public-facing locations including visitor centers, toilet facilities, trailheads and other visitor contact points that are easily accessible and dont impede the flow of traffic.Predictably, parks visitors are using the QR code survey to make their opinions heard. This felonious Administration is the very definition of un-American. The parks belong to us, the people. ... Respectfully, GO **** YOURSELVES one comment directed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said, in a leaked document provided to SFGATE by the National Parks Conservation Association.To maintain a democratic society, it is essential for the electorate to be well-informed, which includes having a thorough awareness of our historical challenges, Kellam said. This project combines our expertise as data librarians and preservationists and our concern for telling the full story of our country.The point of history is not just to tell happy stories that make some people feel good. It's to help us understand how and why we got to this point, McBurney said. And National Parks sites have been chosen very carefully to help tell that broad and complicated history of our nation. If we just start removing things with no thought and consideration, we risk undermining all of that. We risk losing all kinds of work that has been done over so many years to help people understand the places they are visiting.Tip Jar

The California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) have refused to comply with the Trump administrations demand that the state ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity.In a communication dated July 6, California Department of Education (CDE) general counsel Len Garfinkel wrote that the agency respectfully disagrees with the findings of an investigation by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights (OCR) which found that the state was in violation of federal law by allowing trans student athletes to compete against and alongside cisgender women and girls. Related California caves to Donald Trump & institutes partial ban on trans girls in school sports The entire state has changed its state championship rules just because the president is angry over one high school long jumper. Garfinkel wrote that the CDE would not sign a proposed resolution agreement mandated by the OCR. As the L.A. Times reported, the proposed resolution would have required the state to notify all federally funded schools that they must ban trans women and girls from womens and girls sports programs in compliance with the Trump administrations interpretation of Title IX, the federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education. 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 February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at blocking federal funding for schools that allow trans girls and women to compete on girls and womens sports teams. His order directed the Department of Justice to prosecute schools that allow trans sports participation. Trump also signed another executive order rescinding the Biden administrations interpretation of Title IX. President Joe Bidens position was that Title IX prohibited anti-trans school policies as a form of sex-based discrimination, since its impossible to discriminate against transgender students without taking their sex into account.That same month, Trumps OCR launched an investigation into the CIF after it announced it would adhere to state antidiscrimination rules allowing transgender student-athletes to participate in school sports that align with their gender identity. As the L.A. Times notes, the investigation later expanded to include the CDE and local school districts.The OCR released the findings of its investigation on June 25, giving California 10 days to sign its proposed resolution agreement or face unspecified imminent enforcement action.On Monday, the office of the General Counsel for the CIF also rejected the OCRs findings and refused to sign the proposed resolution agreement. The OCRs June 25 announcement cited the Supreme Courtsrecent ruling upholding Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsoms (D) own comments expressing doubt about the fairness of transgender athletes participating in womens and girls sports.In a July 7 X post responding to the CDE and CIFs refusal to comply with the Trump administrations anti-trans order, Education Secretary Linda McMahon seemed to reference Newsoms comments.California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of womens sports, McMahon wrote. Turns out Gov.Newsoms acknowledgmentthatits an issue of fairness was empty political grandstanding.California has just REJECTED our resolution agreement to follow federal law and keep men out of women's sports.Turns out Gov.Newsoms acknowledgmentthatits an issue of fairness was empty political grandstanding.@CAgovernor, you'll be hearing from @AGPamBondi. pic.twitter.com/wa945HtmG6 Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) July 7, 2025 McMahon added that Newsom would be hearing from Attorney General Pam Bondi.As Shannon Minter, legal director of the San Francisco-based National Center for LGBTQ Rights, told The Sacramento Bee this week, the conflict could lead to a court battle over whether federal law prevents states from enacting laws that protect trans students.This administration is targeting California in an attempt to intimidate it into backing away from its strong anti-discrimination laws, Minter told the paper. Im encouraged to see the California Department of Education is standing up to that.As the L.A. Times notes, California is one of nearly two dozen states with laws allowing trans students to participate in sports that align with their gender identity. Meanwhile, according to the Movement Advancement Project, 27 states have enacted laws banning trans women and girls from womens and girls sports. Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases that are likely to determine whether such laws violate the Constitution.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Brooklyn Pride got a scandalous shot of adrenaline Saturday, June 28, as Sniffies, the unapologetically explicit cruising app threw its weight behind the wildly chaotic and wonderfully queer Twinks vs. Dolls showdown.Photo: SniffiesPhoto: SniffiesWhat started as a cheeky alternative to the polished corporate Pride scene has turned into a full-blown cultural moment. With over 5,000 attendees pouring into the venue, the annual event delivered on its promise: messy, horny, and hilariously queer mayhem.From Monster Trucks to Glory HolesForget rainbow floats and gentle affirmations, Twinks vs. Dolls is about maximalist queer joy and absolute camp carnage. This years players made their grand entrances via monster trucks and motorcycles (shoutout to Dykes on Bikes), revving up the crowd before a single twink or doll even touched the turf.Photo: SniffiesPhoto: SniffiesPhoto: SniffiesThe festivities began with a delightfully absurd car impression contest, but the real headline came courtesy of the Sniffies Suck Off. With two giant glory hole walls wheeled into the ring, contestants raced to deep-throat popsicles for team pride and audience approval. It was the Sniffies-sponsored Twinks who ultimately pulled ahead, tongue-first.A Kiddie Pool, Some Nacho Cheese, and a Whole Lot of PrideJust when you thought it couldnt get messier, the finale brought out a kiddie pool full of nacho cheese for a no-rules wrestling match. Equal parts absurdist theater and queer catharsis, Twinks vs. Dolls has become a Pride essential: chaotic, defiant, and deliciously unserious.Sniffies Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth IsBeyond the camp and kink, Sniffies used the event to spotlight a deeper mission: supporting trans lives. The app donated $15,000 to Trans Lifeline, a grassroots organization offering crisis support and microgrants to trans people. Attendees also snatched up limited-edition jerseys (an estimated 500 sold), with 100% of proceeds going directly to the cause.It was messy. It was meaningful. And it was money well spent.If youd like to donate to Trans Lifeline, you can do so here.About SniffiesSniffies is a map-based cruising platform designed for gay, bi, and curious men to explore connection without shame. With real-time location features, intuitive tools, and no-holds-barred sexual expression, its become the go-to space for spontaneous and anonymous encounters, no swiping required. Learn more at sniffies.com.Source

Wales players and staff are "OK" after their team bus was involved in a collision in St. Gallen, Switzerland on Tuesday, manager Rhian Wilkinson has said.

New Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha will wear the No. 10 shirt previously worn by Marcus Rashford, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.

Spanish police believe Liverpool player Diogo Jota was driving over the speed limit when he and his brother died in a car crash last week.

The NHL and NHL Players' Association have ratified their four-year extension of the CBA, which includes an 84-game regular season, through 2030.

To open Big 12 media days, commissioner Brett Yormark said Tuesday that he is "doubling down" on the potential 5+11 CFP format.

A blaze in southern France forced the closure of the Marseille airport, and weather agencies issued warnings for other parts of Europe where temperatures were expected to climb this week.

Chris Allreds views were shaped by economic changes. Now, facing an immigration crackdown, where do he and his wife go from here?

The effort by Joseph R. Biden Jr.s inner circle to limit access to him helps explain why it took him more than three weeks to drop his re-election bid after his disastrous debate performance.

A former D student from Norway, he made his mark at G.E.s Research Lab in the U.S., in part by confirming a pivotal theory about superconductivity.

Researchers who polled 6,000 people from the U.S., Australia, Chile, China, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey found a cross-cultural consensus about the personality traits that make someone cool, in which cool people were universally viewed as more extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open, and autonomous than their peers. What do you think?Yeah, Jet Ski revving is a universal language.Nina Latham, Bench InspectorAs if anyone could know how to be cool without paying for a $599 seminar.Simon Iverson, Fiddle HistorianIsnt there anyone in the world whod appreciate my mastery of the zither?Devin Terrazas, Seat FillerThe post Poll Finds What Makes Someone Cool Similar Across Cultures appeared first on The Onion.

I could sit on this with an iced tea and a book all day.READ MORE...

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Out MSNBC host Rachel Maddow skewered the Trump administration for backing away from claims it would release the alleged client list of the late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, as many famous names have been rumored to have been involved in his sex crimes.Conspiracy theories regarding the existence of this client list have circulated for years. After taking office, the Trump administration fueled those rumors and even promised to release the list, along with other files from the Epstein investigation. Related Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill shows the GOP doesnt care about the nation or its own future Its a gift to the rich, a slam on the poor, and creates a new private army for Trump. Trump who was found liable for sexual abuse by a jury in the past has also been accused of sexually abusing girls brought to him by Epstein. 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 Last year, a woman said Trump sexually assaulted her in 1993 after Epstein brought her to his apartment in New York City. She also said it was clear that the two were really, really good friends and spent a lot of time together. Another woman who accused Epstein of sexually exploiting her said last year that Trump had sex with many girls supplied to him by Epstein.Most recently, Elon Musk, who has fallen out of favor with the president, posted on X alleging that Trump is named in the Epstein files and saying thats why the administration is withholding them from the public. He provided no evidence, and the post has since been deleted.There really is a Jeffrey Epstein/Donald Trump subplot in our lives now, Maddow told viewers, in which this footage exists and in which the Trump Justice Department put out a statement today saying, Never mind! All the things we ever said and hyped and screamed about the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, turns out its all nothing, and people should stop asking us about it.'The footage she was referring to is a widely circulated video of Trump and Epstein socializing at a Mar-a-Lago party in 1992. Maddow slammed the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a newly released memo stating that following an exhaustive review, there was no incriminating client list' and that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.The memo also concluded that Epstein took his own life, attempting to shut down another widely circulated conspiracy theory that he was murdered in his cell to keep him quiet about his clients.After reading the DOJs message, Maddow then played a clip of Attorney General Pam Bondi telling Fox News viewers that an Epstein client list was sitting on my desk to review.She mocked the administration for essentially now saying, You should stop talking about this now that Donald Trump is the head of the U.S. federal government, were just no. And Maddow is far from alone in pointing out the contradictions coming from the administration. Trumps own supporters are not happy that MAGA leaders have long been pushing conspiracy theories about the client list and Epsteins death and are now suddenly shutting both down.Rightwing activist Robby Starbuck called the flip-flop unacceptable. Was she lying then or is she lying now? he wrote on X. We deserve answers. Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk to review for release to the public just a few months ago. Now the DOJ she leads claims that theres no Epstein client list.Sorry but this is unacceptable.Was she lying then or is she lying now?We deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/VcBSLsCLtl Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 7, 2025Conservative commentator Rogan OHandley said the DOJ memo symbolizes a shameful chapter. Assuming this leaked Epstein Files memo is true, then we all know this is a shameful cover-up to protect the most heinous elites, he wrote on X. We were told multiple times the files would be released, and now it looks like backroom deals have been made to keep them hidden.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spun the flip-flop to reporters on Monday, claiming that when Bondi said the client list was on her desk, she was saying the entirety of all of the paperwork, all of the paper in relation to Jeffrey Epsteins crimes. As Team MAGA continues to express their feelings of betrayal by the Trump administration, Maddow blogger Steve Benen pointed out that the detail to remember is that this is a fiasco of Team Trumps own making.Bondi said the client list was on her desk, he wrote. Kash Patel and Don Bongino, before they became the FBIs leaders, insisted that conspiracy theories related to Epstein were real and worth taking seriously.Benen also reminded readers that four years before he became vice president, JD Vance railed against effortsto keep the alleged client list secret.If members of Team Trump want to know who to blame for this debacle, Benen concluded, they need only look in a mirror.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A pair of lesbian cats were almost separated until a cat cafe stepped in and reunited the sweet couple just in time for them to celebrate Pride Month together. The NEKO Cat Cafe in Seattle shared the unlikely love story between two rescue cats last week as part of their Pride celebration on Instagram, and the video of the two kitty soulmates snuggling went viral.And the story of how the lovebirds ended up at the cat cafe is sweet enough to melt your heart.The manager of NEKO, a cat cafe where people can grab a coffee or cat-themed beer and baked goods while they hang out with rescue cats looking for a home, picked up a group of cats at the Regional Animal Services of King County, including a cat whose paperwork read, I came in with a gal pal and our kittens, and had a photo of her cuddled up with a black cat.See on InstagramWhile the newly rescued cat was sent to a foster home to decompress before joining the cats at the cafe, the staff at NEKO dramatically pined over Caits lost lover, NEKOs MarCating Meownager Rae Kearns tells PRIDE.Luckily this story has a happy ending and they were able to find the black cat at the shelters adoption center at a Petco only 30 minutes away, and they agreed to hold her in the name of true love.The staff at NEKO named the two little cat wives Cait and Vi an Arcane reference because it felt right for our new favorite lesbian couple and they were immediately reunited while the staff burst into tears. It was like they couldnt get close enough to each other! They fell into the sweet fuzzy puddle of purrs and constant face-licking that theyve been in ever since. It was magic, Kearns says. We had a gut feeling that they were a special pair, but their bond is sweeter than we couldve ever imagined.The cat cafes post quickly went viral and the staff has been thrilled by the responses of their queer followers.Its always wild when one of our videos gets lots of love, but this one felt extra sweet, she explains. The story made us SO happy, and we were so excited to tell folks about it. Sharing silly joyful moments with strangers is a massive part of our work in-person, so the same joy occasionally reaching tons of people well never get to meet is indescribably cool.Cait and Vis love story isnt the first time the NEKO Cat Cafe has gone viral for a sweet queer cat story. A year into resident boy cat Ozzys life at the cafe, the staff realized he was actually biologically female, and thus started the saga of Ozzy the Stealth King, who quickly became an icon that people came from all over to visit.See on Instagram"Just like Cait and Vi, every NEKO cats life is made better by the queer people who love them, Kearns says. Cats and queer joy are essential to our lives and were just grateful to reach people who feel the same way.Right now, Cait and Vi are still settling in, but eventually they will be available for adoption as a bonded pair. The paperwork Cait came with may have said, I came in with a gal pal and our kittens but the NEKO staff never bought into the history will say they were roommates narrative. "We instantly referred to Vi as her lost wife. We basically didnt even think about it. Just co-parenting gal pals? Suuuuuuuure, Kearns jokes.

Anthony Davis underwent a procedure to repair a detached retina that he suffered during the season, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Davis is expected to be ready for training camp.

Yankees All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr., after making 28 starts in a row at third base, is moving back to second base, manager Aaron Boone confirmed.

Kylian Mbapp will meet his former club, PSG, on Wednesday in the Club World Cup semifinal. It'll be a fascinating reunion for many reasons, not least because of how PSG have grown without him.

The arrest warrants, for Afghanistans leader and its top justice official, say the restrictions on women and girls are evidence of crimes against humanity.

A person or people imitating the secretary of state used artificial intelligence to send text and voice messages to foreign diplomats and U.S. officials, the department said in a cable to employees.

Donors hope to raise huge sums of money to help those fighting what they see as a drift toward authoritarianism, but without attracting unwanted White House attention.

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The ACLU has issued updated guidance to trans, nonbinary, and intersex people who want passports that accurately reflect their gender identity. Their advice? Get your passport updated now. Related Federal judge blocks Marco Rubios anti-trans passport rule The ruling will allow trans people to get accurate passports as the case proceeds. Following the presidents two sexes executive order in January, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging the State Departments refusal to issue passports with accurate sex designations on behalf of seven transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today On June 17, a district court in Massachusetts granted plaintiffs motions for class certification and a preliminary injunction. The injunction allows transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people to receive passports with accurate gender markers while the litigation is pending.But it was unclear for weeks whether the State Department would comply.On June 25, the ACLU returned to court with a motion to enforce the injunction, saying the State Department was slow-walking compliance, despite the fact that it had implemented the executive order banning X markers within just days of its issuance.The ACLU provided evidence from five people who applied for passports in that time, alleging State Department officials told them they would not comply with the injunction until instructed to by the administration. One officerallegedly told a plaintiff, We dont answer to courts. We answer to the State Department.After that motion was granted, the administration protested with a motion to vacate, claiming that the government worked as quickly as possible to develop and implement a process that complied with the court order. True or not, the State Department is now complying.On July 2, the government finally released a newattestation formthat includes an X marker designation. Our pressure worked: The State Department has finally issued guidance for how individuals can proceed after a federal judge blocked President Trump's anti-trans passport policy.If you or your loved ones are affected by this policy, we're here with more information. ACLU (@aclu.org) 2025-07-07T15:58:57.885ZThe ACLU provided a thorough FAQ addressing exactly how to apply for a new passport with the applicants proper gender marker, as well as for those seeking to update passports or to correct passports issued in the interregnum after Trumps order and before compliance with the injunction pausing it.The FAQ notes that a corrected birth certificate isnt required to make a change, as the court order requires class members, defined as any trans, nonbinary, or intersex person who now needs or will need a new or updated passport, to be allowed to self-select their marker regardless of prior documentation.But with the administration continuing its crusade to erase trans and nonbinary identity from the federal government, the window to make a change could close at any time.If the State Department convinces the courts to stay the current injunction, this order is essentially put on hold, the ACLU warned. We encourage class members to follow the instructions on the State Departments website to access that relief as soon as possible.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Move over, Red, White & Blue a new queer royal has arrived!22-year-old Maud Angelica Behn recently came out as bisexual after attending a Pride Parade in Oslo, Norway. Behn is the eldest daughter of Princess Mrtha Louise and granddaughter to King Harald V and Queen Sonja, making the newly out royal fifth in line for Norway's throne."Happy pride from a bisexual person!" she wrote on Instagram, sharing a series of photos that included one of her decked out in the colors of the bisexual flag. "Pride this year was incredible and there was so much love."See on InstagramMaking the story all the sweeter, Behn's mother was also present at the parade.She left words of support on her daughter's Instagram post, but also made a separate post of her own, celebrating all forms of love."Love is never wrong," she wrote. "During Pride I see a deep capacity for love - love that doesn't ask for permission or explanation. There's something profoundly beautiful about daring to love who you love, even when the world tells you to be quiet, to shrink, or to hide. But love isn't meant to be hidden. It's meant to be celebrated, lived, and shared in all its wonderful forms."Mrtha Louise's second husband, Durek Verrett chimed in on her post with a thank you for celebrating Pride with him. Verrett, described as an American shaman, identifies as bisexual.According to Vanity Fair, Behn's coming out marks the first time a member of the Norwegian royal family has publicly identified as LGBTQ+. What a great way to celebrate Pride!

Two decades later, pop justice has been served.Fergie and comedian Megan Stalter just dropped a revamped version of the 2006 music video for London Bridge, and yes, this time they actually filmed it on London Bridge. The new version celebrates the upcoming launch of Too Much, Netflixs buzzy new romantic comedy series from creator Lena Dunham.The video, now live on Fergies YouTube channel, serves as the official kickoff to the series July 10 premiere.Right Bridge, Right TimeBack in 2006, Fergies London Bridge music video made waves, but it mistakenly showcased the more photogenic Tower Bridge instead of its namesake. Now, with Netflixs blessing and Dunhams vision, the errors been cheekily corrected.Shot on the real London Bridge (less iconic, slightly grimier, but geographically accurate), the reboot pairs Fergie with Too Much star Megan Stalter. Directed by Mia Barnes with creative input from Dunham and Fergie herself, the result is both a nod to pop nostalgia and a playful bridge to what promises to be one of summers most talked-about shows.Meet Too MuchToo Much follows Jessica (Stalter), a heartbroken New Yorker who impulsively relocates to London after a devastating breakup. What begins as a solo reinvention quickly turns into a whirlwind romance with Felix (Will Sharpe), a charming indie musician.The cast is stacked: Emily Ratajkowski, Naomi Watts, Richard E. Grant, Andrew Rannells, and Rhea Perlman co-star, with guest appearances from Kit Harington, Andrew Scott, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Saunders, and Rita Ora. Yes, its giving international rom-com chaos, and yes, were into it.Why Fergie Said YesAs an American girl who once had her own adventures in London filming the original video, I instantly felt a connection to this project, Fergie shared. Lena told me London Bridge was the only song she could imagine introducing the show, and I couldnt have been more honored.Her favorite part? The chance to reclaim the moment, with a wink. Twenty years later, we finally filmed on the actual (albeit slightly messier) London Bridge, because what isnt too much about filming a video for a song you already have a video for?Dunhams Dream Came TrueLena Dunham called the collaboration a dream come true. Fergie has always been deeply iconic to me, her glamour, her honesty, her ability to be just enough and too much at the same time, she said. Were all still pinching ourselves that she agreed to come bless our world.With its blend of high-energy pop, chaotic comedy, and big-hearted romance, Too Much may be exactly what we need this summer. And now that Fergies finally crossed the right bridge? Consider us all the way in.Source

Enjoy live updates and instant analysis from the Club World Cup semifinal between Fluminense and Chelsea on Tuesday.

Fever star Caitlin Clark said she expects to return to WNBA action on Wednesday against the Valkyries after missing the past five games with a left groin injury.

Germany had to come from behind to beat Denmark, but the win puts them on the verge of the quarterfinals. Here's everything you need to know about Euro 2025 action.

The music mogul was convicted last week on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which each carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.