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At least 1,334 LGBTQ+ people currently serve in elected office, but just a fraction, 63, identify as nonbinary, gender nonconforming or genderqueer. Eighteen of those representatives serve in state legislatures. Thats an achievement in growth over the past seven years, since the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute began tracking LGBTQ+ elected representation, but theres still a long way to go.According to the most recent data, nonbinary individuals represent around 11% of the LGBTQ+ community, making them heavily underrepresented among LGBTQ+ elected officials. Despite small numbers, their impact in politics is growing, especially at the state level, where their presence can shift narratives and policies. As legislative bodies and our federal government work to restrict identity to the gender binary, our nonbinary elected officials are showing up and standing up for diversity and equality in politics.These five out nonbinary LGBTQ+ elected officials are currently serving in state legislatures and will hopefully inspire others to follow in their path and serve their communities. 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 Lorena Austin, ArizonaArizona State Rep. Lorena Austin (D) | Campaign Photo State Rep. Lorena Austin (D) made history as the first nonbinary Chicane legislator in the country and the first out nonbinary legislator in Arizona. Their deep roots in the Mesa, Arizona, community they serve make them a powerful voice in the Arizona legislature, not just for LGBTQ+ people but for all communities. Austin has advocated for issues on education, affordable housing, community resources, health care, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights.Izzy Smith-Wade-El, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania state Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El (D) | Campaign Photo State Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El (D) made history when elected to become the first out nonbinary member of the Pennsylvania state legislature. The Lancaster, PA, native served at the city level before joining the state legislature, where he helped to secure more investments in affordable housing and fought for police accountability. He has also championed bills that would protect LGBTQ+ students from gender-based discrimination and bullying, including a bill that would require gender-neutral bathrooms and locker rooms in schools undergoing new construction or renovation.SJ Howell, MontanaMontana State Rep. SJ Howell (D) | Campaign Photo Montana State Rep. SJ Howell (D) was one of the first two transgender lawmakers and the first nonbinary person elected to the Montana state legislature. Their presence has already made an incredible impact on the rights of LGBTQ+ Montanans. Howell made an impact this year when they were able to speak passionately on a bill that sought to grant the government the right to take transgender children away from their families. Howells speech flipped multiple republicans to vote against the bill and strike it down. Their work is exactly why representation matters, as it can change hearts, minds, and policies.Wick Thomas, MissouriMissouri state Rep. Wick Thomas (D) | Campaign Photo Missouri state Rep. Wick Thomas (D) is the first transgender nonbinary elected official in the Missouri legislature, and they use their platform and visibility to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Thomas deep commitment to social justice, education, and community informs their legislative work to improve lives of all Missourians. They have also championed LGBTQ+ rights in their work, introducing a bill in the Missouri House to repeal the same-sex marriage ban.Emily Dievendorf, MichiganMichigan state Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D) | Campaign Photo State Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D) is a second-term representative in Michigan and the first out nonbinary representative in the state. A longtime equality advocate, Dievendorf previously led Equality Michigan and was appointed to the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Dievendorf uses her legislative platform to champion progressive policies on equality, racial justice, and domestic violence.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Dating in the modern age just seems to get more complicated every year. Between the ubiquity of hookup apps, and toxic relationship trends like ghosting, floodlighting, and love bombing, its a wonder anyone manages to settle down at all.Then, add in the diverse types of relationship models out there, from polyamory and open relationships to soft-swapping and Living Apart Together, and things get even trickier to figure out.And now, a new toxic dating trend is sweeping the nation and leaving dating hopefuls in the lurch. Its called banksying, a clever name for a cruel way to end a relationship by slowly destroying it from the inside out.But what is banksying, how harmful is it, and are LGBTQ+ people more likely to be the victim or perpetrator of it? We talked to sex and relationship experts to give you the lowdown on this toxic new dating trend.What is banksying, and where did the term originate?Bankysing is a new Gen Z dating term that gets its name from the infamous street artist Banksy, known for his mysterious art that pops up out of nowhere. But instead of a satirical piece of street art that self-destructs like one of Banksys paintings did its a selfish way to end a relationship to protect yourself by withdrawing emotionally and destroying the relationship from within, so that when the relationship ends, youre prepared and your partner is blindsided.The easiest way to describe banksying is as quiet quitting for relationships, Milla Impola, a sex, condom, and lube expert for ONE Condoms, tells PRIDE. One partner decides theyre no longer inspired by the relationship and slowly begins to pull away emotionally. They conceal these feelings from their partner because theyre not quite ready to jump ship, and they need time to emotionally prepare to part ways. When the time does come to end things, they feel less upset because theyve already been preparing, but their partner is often left blindsided and hurt.Basically, someone who is banksying their partner has given themselves the opportunity to pre-grieve the end of the relationship, detach emotionally, and begin making plans for their future, while the unsuspecting partner ends up blindsided when the axe finally drops.How is banksyingdifferent than ghosting?Ghosting is when someone ducks out of a relationship without saying a word. One day, theyre just gone and cut off contact. With banksying, you stop reaching out as frequently, dont return phone calls or texts as often, make up excuses to cancel plans, and become more emotionally distant. Banksying involves enough interaction, albeit sparse and inconsistent, to sabotage the relationship from the inside, explains Ally Iseman, a queer, kink-aware certified relationship coach and founder of Passport 2 Pleasure. Think of it like this: a ghost leaves nothing behind, like it was never there. Banksy leaves their work behind them, even if it destroys itself.Is banksying more harmful than ghosting?Bankysing may be even more insidious because instead of leaving the relationship without telling you, someone attempting this move is emotionally manipulating their partner instead of admitting they want out. Ghosting may be cruel, but at least its unambiguous. Banksying leaves your partner in limbo, not knowing why youre withdrawing and making them question the status of the relationship.According to Iseman, Having breadcrumbs of a relationship, even if they are rotting the relationship from the inside, can be hard to step away from because, unlike with ghosting, Banksying leaves you something to hold onto, even if it's elusive and inconsistent.Why would someone do this?Banksying can be tied to peoples fear of confrontation, emotional codependency, or lack of communication skills. But according to Anthony Canapi, a marriage and family therapist, LGBTQ+ dating expert, and the founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking and Transcend Matchmaking, some people also engage in this behavior because they crave emotional intimacy but don't have the bandwidth to commit because it becomes overwhelming." They may also do it because they want the relationship but dont want to put in the work, or theyre insecure.People who feel they dont deserve love or fear eventual rejection might pull a Banksy before they get hurt and feel it's the easier out rather than being honest, and they may be hoping the other person will get the hint and end things themselves.Impola agrees, saying, Lets be real: ending relationships usually sucks. While breakups might be hard, showing your partner respect in that final moment is worth it.Are LGBTQ+ people more likely to engage in or experience banksying?Banksying isnt unique to LGBTQ+ relationships, but queer people may be more likely to experience it. LGBTQ+ individuals may face unique challenges around communication, identity, or safety in relationships, especially in environments where they dont feel fully accepted, Impola explains. These added complexities could contribute to different ways of navigating breakups, but the core behavior of banksying isn't limited to any one group.Healing after being banksydBreakups arent fun, no matter how they go down. If you experience banksying, know that your emotions are valid, Impola reminds. Frustration, sadness, regret no matter what, its normal to experience a flood of feelings when a relationship ends unexpectedly. If you want to confront the person who treated you this way, make sure you go in knowing you might not get the closure you want, and ask yourself if you are ok with that. Sometimes the best thing we can do is radically accept what we cant change and move forward with the lessons weve learned, she advises.Canapi also recommends not letting yourself fall into the trap of self-blame. It can be hard not to question your own worth when someone ends a relationship in such an emotionally manipulative way, but try to remember how amazing you are. They then start thinking they're the issue, when actually, if youve been Banksyd, its more about them than you. Its a red flag in disguise, he says.What does this toxic dating trend say about modern dating and hookup culture?Canapi, who is the founder and CEO of two LGBTQ+ matchmaking services, says that while dating apps have made it easier to create intense emotional intimacy quickly there is also a greater chance of harm, especially if you add in love bomdbing, trauma bonding, or banksying. Banksying is, at its core, a disappearing act to avoid emotional consequences, and in turn, you're causing so much more harm because it's promoting closure as optional; If I were to banksy them, they will get the hint that I'm not interested, but fail to realize you're leaving someone at a cognitive rumination, where they replay everything trying to find clues or mistakes on what went wrong, when you're the one who has done wrong because you couldn't speak up, he says.What should you do if youre considering banksying someone?If youre feeling the itch to get out of your relationship but think it would be easier to push your partner away and emotionally detach first, ask yourself why. Canapi recommends asking yourself these three questions: Am I feeling overwhelmed? Am I scared of intimacy, rejection, or hurting them? Do I genuinely not want this, or am I afraid of being vulnerable or honest? And then you need to be prepared to end the relationship in an open and honest way so that youre not wasting their time or your own. If you made someone feel seen, safe, or excited, and then go bye bye, your absence echoes loudly. Although it's hard, and it's not fun to be truthful and honest, that's what you signed up for.Have you decided to end your relationship and want to do it in a mature way, but have no idea how to start? Canapi has some prompts to get the conversation started.Try one of these:Ive really enjoyed getting to know you, but Im not in a place to continue this.I realized Im not ready for something deeper. You deserve someone who is.Canapi says, You may be a person trying to navigate modern dating, maybe without the tools or emotional safety to do it well, but there's a way to do it ethically and that respects the other person. Next time, leave clarity, not confusion.Sources Cited:Milla Impola, a sex, condom, and lube expert for ONE Condoms.Ally Iseman, a queer, kink-aware certified relationship coach and founder of Passport 2 Pleasure.Anthony Canapi, a marriage and family therapist, LGBTQ+ dating expert, and the founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking and Transcend Matchmaking.

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02295-2Compressing five days of work into four can create stress, but the benefits outweigh the downsides, sprawling study shows.

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The National Institutes of Health claims its being strained by an onslaught of AI-generated research applications and is capping the number of proposals researchers can submit in a year.In a new policy announcement on July 17, titled Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications, the NIH wrote that it has recently observed instances of Principal Investigators submitting large numbers of applications, some of which may have been generated with AI tools, and that this influx of submissions may unfairly strain NIHs application review process.The percentage of applications from Principal Investigators submitting an average of more than six applications per year is relatively low; however, there is evidence that the use of AI tools has enabled Principal Investigators to submit more than 40 distinct applications in a single application submission round, the NIH policy announcement says. NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants. If the detection of AI is identified post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct while simultaneously taking enforcement actions including but not limited to disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.Starting on September 25, NIH will only accept six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from individual principal investigators or program directors in a calendar year.Earlier this year, 404 Media investigated AI used in published scientific papers by searching for the phrase as of my last knowledge update on Google Scholar, and found more than 100 resultsindicating that at least some of the papers relied on ChatGPT, which updates its knowledge base periodically. And in February, a journal published a paper with several clearly AI-generated images, including one of a rat with a giant penis. In 2023, Nature reported that academic journals retracted 10,000 "sham papers," and the Wiley-owned Hindawi journals retracted over 8,000 fraudulent paper-mill articles. Wiley discontinued the 19 journals overseen by Hindawi. AI-generated submissions affect non-research publications, too: The science fiction and fantasy magazine Clarkesworld stopped accepting new submissions in 2023 because editors were overwhelmed by AI-generated stories.According to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, from February 28 to April 8, the Trump administration terminated $1.81 billion in NIH grants, in subjects including aging, cancer, child health, diabetes, mental health and neurological disorders, NBC reported.Just before the submission limit announcement, on July 14, Nature reported that the NIH would soon disinvite dozens of scientists who were about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant applications for the agency, and that staff members have been instructed to nominate replacements who are aligned with the priorities of the administration of US President Donald Trumpand have been warned that political appointees might still override their suggestions and hand-pick alternative reviewers.The NIH Office of Science Policy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Andry Hernndez Romero, the gay Venezuelan makeup artist who was wrongfully deported to a notorious Salvadoran mega-prison earlier this year by the Trump administration, has been released and sent back to his home country.In a Friday, July 18, statement, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) confirmed that Hernndez Romero was one of more than 250 Venezuelan men who had been released from Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador and sent to Venezuela as part of a prisoner swap. The U.S. exchanged over 250 Venezuelan men the U.S. had sent to be imprisoned in El Salvador in exchange for the release of 10 U.S. citizens who had been imprisoned in Venezuela. Related Trump administration sent this gay makeup artist to a prison camp & he just lost his asylum case He came to the U.S. to escape homophobic violence and ended up in prison without a trial. According to the Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), the Los Angeles-based law firm which represents Hernndez Romero, the 32-year-old makeup artist was among more than 200 Venezuelan men that the Trump administration deported to CECOT in March. With little evidence other than their allegedly gang-affiliated tattoos, the Trump administration claimed that all the men were members of a Venezuelan gang which it had designated an international terrorist organization. This designation, the administration claimed, gave U.S. government officials special wartime powers under the Alien Enemies Act to deport them without due process. 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 We have been fighting to free Andry, our other clients, and all the men from CECOT for more than four months, ImmDef executive director Lindsay Toczylowski said in a statement Friday. We are incredibly relieved that it appears most of them have been freed from the torture prison the U.S. government sent them to, and potentially may be reunited with family soon. But as an American, and as a lawyer who believes deeply in the rule of law and due process, my heart remains heavy.What happened here is a dangerous travesty of justice, Toczylowski continued. We have long known that the allegations that the men at CECOT were members of a dangerous gang were baseless. We know the Trump administration denied them due process and sent them to a prison notorious for abuse and torture. The Trump administration misled the public and our courts by claiming that the U.S. government was not in control of what happened to the men at CECOT, only to eventually after 125 days orchestrate a prisoner swap using human beings as pawns. So, while we are gratefulthey will not spend another night being tortured in El Salvador, we also grieve the ongoing and lasting damage being done to our democracy by an administration that is willing to violate our Constitution, U.S. asylum laws, and international law.Fleeing anti-gay persecution in his home country, Hernndez Romero, who has no criminal history, entered the U.S. legally last year. Prior to his deportation to El Salvador, he had been pursuing an asylum claim from a detention center in San Diego, California. In May, a judge dismissed his case. On Saturday, out Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) posted a video message on X confirming that he had been in touch with Hernndez Romeros lawyers to try to make sure that he is safe while in Venezuela. Garcia is one of several congressional Democrats who have been advocating for Hernndez Romeros release or, at minimum, a wellness check to verify that he was still alive.Were working with the State Department and other folks to get that done, Garcia said last Saturday. Were on this case. Well do everything we can to protect him, make sure he has his due process rights.Garcia also reiterated criticism of the Trump administration for sending Hernndez Romero to CECOT in the first place, and for refusing to verify that he was still alive.We are so grateful Andry Hernndez Romero is alive. Hes back in Venezuela and we are working to make sure hes safe. He never should have been sent to the CECOT prison and he still deserves due process. We wont stop fighting for him. pic.twitter.com/FZJEJZRIhR Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) July 19, 2025 Out Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) echoed Garcias criticism in his own statement. Im deeply relieved that Andry has been released from CECOT, but he never shouldve been deported in the first place, Torres told Advocate. He fled Venezuela fearing persecution as a gay man, and sending him to one of the worlds most notorious prisons for no reason beyond profiling was a deeply cruel and dangerous decision by the Trump administration. He has every right to return to the United States and is owed an apology from the White House.Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson, meanwhile, said the news of Hernndez Romeros release brought both relief and anger.This country has long been a beacon of hope and a safe harbor for those yearning for freedom. But the Trump Administration is torching our values, using people like Andry as pawns in their quest for power, Robinson said in a statement Saturday. Andry will not have to lay his head down in a Salvadoran gulag tonight, and that is welcome news. But he should have never been subjected to unknown terrors in that prison, his due process rights continue to be denied, and we do not know what awaits him in the country he fled due to persecution for his sexual orientation. Robinson went on to blast the reckless Trump administration for upending the rule of law and terrorizing the vulnerable to consolidate power. She also reiterated concerns that the administration had brought the U.S. to the brink of a constitutional crisis with its refusal to comply with Judge James Boasbergs March 15 order to return the flights carrying Hernndez Romero and other deportees to El Salvador.The targeting of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and basic civil liberties are not unrelated; they are a coordinated assault on liberty and justice, Robinson said. As LGBTQ+ Americans, many of whom identify as immigrants, we recognize this pattern and stand unwaveringly with Andry, immigrant communities and all whose freedoms are under attack.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02305-3Journals and conference organizers could do more to help researchers overcome language barriers, but artificial intelligence might widen inequalities, warns Tatsuya Amano.

Manchester United are set to axe Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho from their squad for the preseason tour of America, sources have told ESPN.

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Pedro Hernandez, a former bodega stock clerk, had confessed years after the 1979 crime to luring Etan Patz, 6, into a basement in SoHo. The case shook New York City.

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Police in Indias southern Karnataka state discovered a 40-year-old Russian woman and her young daughters living in an isolated cave in a snake-infested forest for over a week. What do you think?Maybe their house had even more snakes.Douglas Soto, Systems AnalystThis will only further harmful stereotypes about how Russian women in India live in caves.Hugh Schulte, Disease HistorianWhen I need to unplug, I just watch TV.Laura Slagley, Donut GlazerThe post Woman Found Living With 2 Daughters In Cave appeared first on The Onion.

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The Florida woman who was thrown off a small-town city council by her colleagues for racist and homophobic tweets has been reinstated by a local judge.Judi Fike was kicked off the Groveland City Council after her history of obscene and offensive social media posts was uncovered andpublished in a local paper ahead of a city council primary. Fike was appointed to her seat last year and is running for a full term. Related MAGA woman thrown off city council for posting about throwing gays off buildings & using n-word Shes now suing the city after claiming that the posts were faked as a political attack against her. She called publication of the story a timedpolitical attackjust weeks ahead of her August primary. 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 Circuit Judge Dan Mosely issued a temporary injunction on the city, reinstating Fike to her seat.Mosely agreed with Fikes attorney, far-right former Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R), that Grovelands City Charter and its code of ethics contain no provision for suspending a sitting member of the council, and that Fikes case would likely succeed on the merits, the Orlando Sentinel reports.There is a likelihood of irreparable harm in that Petitioner is prohibited from voting at council meetings while suspended, he wrote.Fike and Sabatini celebrated the win online. BREAKINGMy client Groveland City Councilmember Judy Fike has been REINSTATED to the Groveland City Council, effective immediatelyafter a preliminary hearing today at the Lake County CourthouseHUGE WIN The case will continue, but the major form of relief has been granted pic.twitter.com/o6hzJHMOOD Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) July 16, 2025The collection of Fikes offensive screeds extends back to at least 2015, and reveals deep-seated animus toward Black and LGBTQ+ people.Just hours after the Pulse nightclub shooting in June 2016 in nearby Orlando, Fike posted to Facebook, Duh.why would the shooter target a gay club? My answerEasier than marching them up steps to push off the roof..some sarcasm, some truthIn 2015, Fike posted to her Widow Fike account on Twitter (now X), Can we divert our attention back to real news? The #LGBT freak show has had its run.Two weeks ago, the city council confronted Fike with the posts in an open meeting, displaying screenshots as Fike watched.Groveland Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines, who is Black, said the posts included racist portrayals of then-President Barack Obama as a monkey.This is a picture of President Ronald Reagan babysitting Barack Obama, except it is an ape, a baboon, a monkey or whatever you call it, Gaines said.In 2022, Fike shared a meme that read, Whats the magic word to get what you want? Racist!Groveland has a fraught history of racism against. In 1949, false allegations of rape against four black teenagers known as The Groveland Four led to the extrajudicial killing of two of the teens and the wrongful imprisonment of two others. All four were posthumously pardoned in 2019. While Grovelands city council election is officially non-partisan (Fike faces two opponents in the August primary),its clear based on her retention of Sabatini as counsel where Fikes political allegiances lie.The one-time Trump-loving Sabatini is currently a member of the Lake County Commission, a step down from his seat in Tallahassee after the president endorsed his opponent in 2022 and Sabatini lost. A check of Sabatinis social media reveals the terminally online former representative is demanding the release of the Epstein files NOW!!!; wants President Obama indicted and arrested over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards latest Russiagate allegations; and wants an end to ALL immigration to the U.S. EVERY Republican state should have their own version of an Alligator Alcatraz, Sabatini posted last week. The fact that they dont is just pathetic. South Carolina should have a Low Country Lockup, Georgia should have a Peach State Penitentiary. Shame on these fake Republican states.Sabatini has a history of pushing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the Florida legislature, including bills to ban trans athletes in school sports and ban drag shows for kids.Fike faces off against Michael Jaycox and Jim ONeil in Grovelands nonpartisan primary election on August 19.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02303-5Neuroscience initiative in India and Tanzania amasses a trove of high-quality EEG recordings from diverse populations.

Nature, Published online: 21 July 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02307-1Researchers are trialling myriad approaches to prevent errors in science. In this podcast, we explore their different approaches and ask how can science be improved.

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by Lexi Churchill and Lomi Kriel, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune This article is co-published with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan local newsroom that informs and engages with Texans. Sign up for The Brief Weekly to get up to speed on their essential coverage of Texas issues. Sixteen months had passed since Hurricane Harvey tore through the Texas coast in August 2017, killing more than 80 people and flattening entire neighborhoods. And when Texas lawmakers gathered in Austin for their biennial session, the scale of the storms destruction was hard to ignore. Legislators responded by greenlighting a yearslong statewide initiative to evaluate flood risks and improve preparedness for increasingly frequent and deadly storms. If we get our planning right on the front end and prevent more damage on the front end, then we have less on the back end, Charles Perry, a Republican senator from Lubbock who chairs a committee overseeing environmental issues, said at the time.In the years that followed, hundreds of local officials and volunteers canvassed communities across Texas, mapping out vulnerabilities. The result of their work came in 2024 with the release of Texas first-ever state flood plan. Their findings identified nearly $55 billion in proposed projects and outlined 15 key recommendations, including nine suggestions for legislation. Several were aimed at aiding rural communities like Kerr County, where flash flooding over the Fourth of July weekend killed more than 100 people. Three are still missing. But this year, lawmakers largely ignored those recommendations. Instead, the legislative session that ended June 2 was dominated by high-profile battles over school vouchers and lawmakers decision to spend $51 billion to maintain and provide new property tax cuts, an amount nearly equal to the funding identified by the Texas Water Development Board, a state agency that has historically overseen water supply and conservation efforts.Although it had been only seven years since Hurricane Harvey, legislators now prioritized the states water and drought crisis over flooding needs. Legislators allocated more than $1.6 billion in new revenue for water infrastructure projects, only some of which would go toward flood mitigation. They also passed a bill that will ask voters in November to decide whether to approve $1 billion annually over the next two decades that would prioritize water and wastewater over flood mitigation projects. At that pace, water experts said that it could take decades before existing mitigation needs are addressed even without further floods.Even if they had been approved by lawmakers this year, many of the plans recommendations would not have been implemented before the July 4 disaster. But a ProPublica and Texas Tribune analysis of legislative proposals, along with interviews with lawmakers and flood experts, found that the Legislature has repeatedly failed to enact key measures that would help communities prepare for frequent flooding. Such inaction often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities hardest because they lack the tax base to fund major flood prevention projects and often cannot afford to produce the data they need to qualify for state and federal grants, environmental experts and lawmakers said.Over the years, legislators have declined to pass at least three bills that would create siren or alert systems, tools experts say can be especially helpful in rural communities that lack reliable internet and cell service. A 2019 state-commissioned report estimated flood prevention needs at over $30 billion. Since then, lawmakers have allocated just $1.4 billion. And they ignored the key recommendations from the states 2024 flood plan that are meant to help rural areas like Kerr County, which is dubbed Flash Flood Alley due to its geography. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, right, look on as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs an emergency proclamation during a press conference in Kerrville. (Ronaldo Bolaos/The Texas Tribune) Spokespeople for Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, did not answer questions about why the plans recommendations were overlooked but defended the Legislatures investment in flood mitigation as significant. They pointed to millions more spent on other prevention efforts, including flood control dam construction and maintenance, regional flood projects, and increased floodplain disclosures and drainage requirements for border counties. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick did not respond to questions.This week, the Legislature will convene for a special session that Abbott called to address a range of priorities, including flood warning systems, natural disaster preparation and relief funding. Patrick promised that the state would purchase warning sirens for counties in flash flood zones. Similar efforts, however, have previously been rejected by the Legislature. Alongside Burrows, Patrick also announced the formation of committees on disaster preparedness and flooding and called the move just the beginning of the Legislature looking at every aspect of this tragic event. Burrows said the House is ready to better fortify our state against future disasters.But Rep. Ana-Mara Rodrguez Ramos, a Democrat from Richardson, near Dallas, said state lawmakers have brushed off dire flood prevention needs for decades. The manual was there, and we ignored it, and we've continued to ignore these recommendations, said Rodrguez Ramos, who has served on the House Natural Resources Committee overseeing water issues for three sessions. Its performative to say were trying to do something knowing well were not doing enough.One recommendation from the 2024 flood plan would have cost the state nothing to enact. It called for granting counties the authority to levy drainage fees, including in unincorporated areas, that could fund local flood projects. Only about 150 of 1,450 Texas cities and counties have dedicated drainage fees, according to a study cited in the state assessment.Kerr, a conservative county of 53,000 people, has struggled to gain support for projects that would raise taxes. About a week after the flooding, some residents protested when county commissioners discussed a property tax increase to help cover the costs of recovery efforts. The inability to raise such fees is one of the biggest impediments for local governments seeking to fund flood mitigation projects, said Robert R. Puente, a Democrat and former state representative who once chaired the state committee responsible for water issues. Lawmakers resistance to such efforts is rooted in fiscal conservatism, said Puente, who now heads the San Antonio Water System. Its mostly because of a philosophy that the leadership in Austin has right now, that under no circumstances are we going to raise taxes, and under most circumstances were not even going to allow local governments to have control over how they raise taxes or implement fees, he said.Another one of the flood plans recommendations called for lawmakers to allocate money for a technical assistance program to help underresourced and rural governments better manage flood prone areas, which requires implementing a slew of standards to ensure safe development in those hazardous zones. Doing this work requires local officials to collect accurate mapping that shows the risk of flooding. Passing this measure could have helped counties like Kerr with that kind of data collection, which the plan recognized is especially challenging for rural and economically disadvantaged communities. Insufficient information impacts Texass ability to fully understand flood risks statewide. The water boards plan, for example, includes roughly 600 infrastructure projects across Texas in need of completion. But its report acknowledged that antiquated or missing data meant another 3,100 assessments would be required to know whether additional projects are needed.In the Guadalupe River region, which includes Kerr County, 65% of areas lacked adequate flood mapping. Kerrville, the county seat, was listed among the areas identified as having the greatest known flood risks and mitigation needs. Yet of the 19 flood needs specific to the city and county, only three were included in the state plans list of 600. They included requests to install backup generators in critical facilities and repair low-water crossings, which are shallow points in streets where rainwater can pool to dangerous levels.At least 16 other priorities, including the countys desire for an early warning flood system and potential dam or drainage system repairs, required a follow-up evaluation, according to the state plan. County officials tried to obtain grants for the early warning systems for years, to no avail. Trees uprooted by floodwaters lie across a field in Hunt in Kerr Country on July 5. (Brenda Bazn for The Texas Tribune) Gonzales County, an agriculture-rich area of 20,000 people along the Guadalupe River, is among the rural communities struggling to obtain funding, said emergency management director Jimmy Harless, who is also the countys fire marshal. The county is in desperate need of a siren system and additional gauges to measure the rivers potentially dangerous flood levels, Harless said, but doesnt have the resources, personnel or expertise to apply for the burdensome state grant process. It is extremely frustrating for me to know that theres money there and theres people that care, but our state agency has become so bureaucratic that its just not feasible for us, Harless said. Our folks lives are more important than what some bureaucrat wants us to do. For years, Texas leaders have focused more on cleaning up after disasters than on preparing for them, said Jim Blackburn, a professor at Rice University specializing in environmental law and flooding issues.Its no secret that the Guadalupe is prone to flash flooding. Thats been known for decades, Blackburn said. The state has been very negligent about kind of preparing us for, frankly, the worst storms of the future that we are seeing today because of climate change, and whats changing is that the risks are just greater today and will be even greater tomorrow, because our storms are getting worse and worse. At a news conference this month, Abbott said state committees would investigate ways to address this, though he declined to offer specifics. When pressed by a reporter about where the blame for the lack of preparedness should fall, Abbott responded that it was the word choice of losers.It shouldnt have taken the Hill Country flooding for a special session addressing emergency systems and funding needs, said Usman Mahmood, a policy analyst at Bayou City Waterkeeper, a Houston nonprofit that advocates for flood protection measures. The worst part pretty much already happened, which is the flooding and the loss of life, he said. Now its a reaction to that. Misty Harris contributed research.

The departure of the Marines follows the removal of hundreds of other National Guard soldiers who were part of President Trumps deployment to Los Angeles.

The resignation of State Senator Nicole Mitchell will leave the State Senate with even numbers of Democrats and Republicans. A special election will break the tie.

The verdict is a long-awaited step in solving the mystery that bedeviled investigators and forever changed the way parents watched over their children.

They come in a set of four. READ MORE...

Spotify is publishing new, AI-generated songs on the official pages of artists who died years ago without the permission of their estates or record labels.According to his official Spotify page, Blaze Foley, a country music singer-songwriter who was murdered in 1989, released a new song called Together last week. The song, which features a male country singer, piano, and an electric guitar, vaguely sounds like a new, slow country song. The Spotify page for the song also features an image of an AI-generated image of a man who looks nothing like Foley singing into a microphone.Craig McDonald, the owner of Lost Art Records, the label that distributes all of Foleys music and manages his Spotify page, told me that any Foley fan would instantly realize Together is not one of his songs.I can clearly tell you that this song is not Blaze, not anywhere near Blazes style, at all, he told me on a call. Its kind of an AI schlock bot, if you will. It has nothing to do with the Blaze you know, that whole posting has the authenticity of an algorithm.McDonald said that his wife noticed that the song appeared on the Spotify page over the weekend but that they had not contacted Spotify yet. They did contact Lost Arts distribution partner, Secretly Distribution, and have not heard back. Secretly Distribution did not immediately respond to my request for comment."We've flagged the issue to SoundOn, the distributor of the content in question, and it has been removed for violating our Deceptive Content policy," a Spotify spokesperson told me in an email after this article was first published. SoundOn is a music distributor which is owned by TikTok that mostly exists to allow people to upload music directly to TikTok and earn royalties. SoundOn also allows artists to distribute their music to other platforms. TikTok did not immediately respond to my request for comment but I'll update this story if I hear back. McDonald, who decided to originally upload Foleys music to Spotify in order to share it with more people, told me he never thought that an AI-generated track could appear on Foleys page without his permission.It's harmful to Blazes standing that this happened, he said. It's kind of surprising that Spotify doesn't have a security fix for this type of action, and I think the responsibility is all on Spotify. They could fix this problem. One of their talented software engineers could stop this fraudulent practice in its tracks, if they had the will to do so. And I think they should take that responsibility and do something quickly.Do you know anything else about AI-generated music on Spotify or YouTube? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at @emanuel.404. Otherwise, send me an email at emanuel@404media.co.McDonalds suggested fix is not allowing any track to appear on an artists official Spotify page without allowing the page owner to sign off on it first.Any real Blaze fan would know, I think, pretty instantly, that this is not Blaze or a Blaze recording, he said. Then the harm is that the people who don't know Blaze go to the site thinking, maybe this is part of Blaze, when clearly it's not. So again, I think Spotify could easily change some practices. I'm not an engineer, but I think it's pretty easy to stop this from happening in the future.Theres a copyright mark at the bottom of the Spotify page for the AI-generated Together from a company called Syntax Error. I couldnt find any information about a music distribution company by that name, but searching Spotify, I found that the same copyright mark appears on a page for another AI-generated song by Grammy winning country singer-songwriter Guy Clark, Happened To You, who died in 2016. That song was uploaded to Spotify last week as well, and also features an AI-generated image of a singer that looks nothing like Clark.A third song that includes the Syntax Error copyright mark, with you by Dan Berk, was uploaded at the same time and also features an AI-generated image of a singer who looks nothing like him. Berk did not immediately respond to a request for comment but according to a spokesperson for Reality Defender, a deepfake detection company, all the tracks have indicators that show a higher-than-normal probability of AI generation.AI-generated music on Spotify is not a secret at this point. Last week, a band with more than a million streams on Spotify, Velvet Sundown, made headlines when it finally admitted it was AI-generated. Last year, Sam wrote about AI-generated Christmas music flooding Spotify. But whats happening with Clark and Foley is much worse. This is not someone trying to monetize AI slop under a new name, but assigning that slop to the name of dead artists without asking for permission. Update: This article was updated with comment from Spotify.

A gay Obama-appointed judge will preside over Donald Trumps libel lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal over claims the president once sent an NSFW birthday card and doodle to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is suing for $10 billion after denying he ever wrote the letter, and now Judge Darrin Gayles, who became the first out gay Black man appointed as a federal judge, has been assigned to the case. Related Marjorie Taylor Greene rages at drag queen story time as she defends Trumps Epstein friendship She called out fake outrage from Democrats who support LGBTQ+ people but are calling for the release of the Epstein files. The Senate unanimously confirmed Gayles after he was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014. Politico pointed out he earned such widespread support for being relatively bipartisan. Two Republican governors Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist appointed him to Florida state judgeships before Obama appointed him to the federal bench. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The lawsuit stems from a July 17 article in TheWall Street Journal, whichalleged that Trump contributed to a book of racy letters for Epsteins 50th birthday in 2003. The article described Trumps letter as containing several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.A pair of small arcs denotes the womans breasts, the description adds, and the future presidents signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.The Journal also reported that the letter said, We have certain things in common, Jeffrey A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. Trump has ardently denied he wrote the letter, calling the story fake and claiming, I dont draw pictures of women. The president has found himself in hot water over his connections to Epstein and his administrations recent refusal to release case files that it has long promised to share. MAGA conspiracy theorists have been chomping at the bit for the Epstein files, and many are turning on Trump as he doubles down on his administrations decision.Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. While the medical examiner determined that his death was a suicide, many people, especially on the right, do not believe that it was, instead asserting that he was killed to keep him silent about the clients for whom he found children to sexually abuse.Many officials associated with Trump had spent years repeating the same rumors, andTrump himself said repeatedly in 2024 that the Epstein list needed to be released. In February, Attorney General Bondi said that she was reviewing a lot of names related to the Epstein investigation and said that the Epstein list is sitting on my desk right now to review.But last week, the Department of Justice released a memo that said there was no secret client list and reaffirmed the 2019 finding that Epstein died by suicide. Many Trump supporters were outraged that the rumored client list wouldnt be released, while many on the left speculated that the reason Bondi wasnt releasing it is because Trump himself or at least high-ranking members of his administration is on it.Trump had a decades-long friendship with Epsteinand joked about how his friend was fun and terrific andliked women on the younger side. Trump has also beenfound liable for sexual abuse by a jury, hasadmitted to sexually assaulting womenin the past, and hasadmitted to walking in on underage girlsas they changed clothes. He has been accused of sexual assault or other forms of sexual improprietyby at least 27 women.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is partnering with conservative, anti-LGBTQ+ nonprofit PragerU to develop an ideological purity test for teachers relocating to the state.Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announced the partnership earlier this month, explaining that the assessment would target educators from states with progressive education policies, according to Fox23. Along with evaluating teachers knowledge of the Constitution and their understanding of American exceptionalism, the assessment will also determine whether teachers grasp the fundamental biological differences between boys and girls. Related GOP education head wants to teach Trumps election conspiracy theories as fact Trump wasnt able to prove that fraud stole the 2020 election from him. Now one of his biggest fans wants to teach Trumps claim in schools. Were sending a clear message: Oklahomas schools will not be a haven for woke agendas pushed in places like California and New York, said Walters. If you want to teach here, youd better know the Constitution, respect what makes America great, and understand basic biology. Were raising a generation of patriots, not activists, and Ill fight tooth and nail to keep leftist propaganda out of our classrooms. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, said the goal is to stop extreme leftist ideologues from harming children and ensure teachers champion Americas greatness and future potential, according to Fox23.In a statement to StateImpact Oklahoma, Walters said that teachers who dont pass the test will not be certified to teach in the state. The assessment will be implemented before the start of the 2025/2026 school year, Walters said. Walters previously appointed PragerU co-founder Dennis Prager and other MAGA loyalists, like Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, to a new executive review committee last year to overhaul Oklahomas social studies curriculum standards. A draft of the new guidelines published in March included a mandate that Oklahoma high school students be taught Donald Trumps conclusively debunked conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Walters has repeatedly made headlines in recent years for his extremist far-right policies. In early 2024, he was criticized by both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers for appointing Chaya Raichik, the anti-LGBTQ+ hate influencer behind Libs of TikTok, to Oklahomas library advisory committee. Following the death of 16-year-old trans Oklahoman Nex Benedict, Walterss anti-LGBTQ+ policies came under intense scrutiny, with many allies and advocates accusing him of fostering the environment of anti-LGBTQ+ hostility that contributed to the teens tragic death. The Human Rights Campaign and over 350 LGBTQ+ rights organizations, civil rights groups, and leaders sent an open letter to the Oklahoma state legislature demanding Walters be removed from office.Last June, Walters issued a memo directing all Oklahoma school districts to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into their curricula for grades five through 12. The following August, 21 Republican state lawmakers called for an impeachment investigation into his handling of the education department. Last year, ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Walters office spent just under $25,000 to purchase 532 copies of a Trump-endorsed Bible. And in November, he ordered state schools to show students a video of him praying for then-President-elect Trump and threatened to penalize those who didnt comply.This past March, the Oklahoma legislature denied Walters request for $3 million to buy 55,000 more copies of the Trump Bible for state classrooms.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The WNBA has been gaining popularity every day, but the All Stars weekend might go down in history as the most viral moment the league has ever had, thanks to the StudBudz , now-infamous livestream.It was wild, chaotic, and extremely sapphic.There were dozens of viral moments that came out of the 72-hour-long livestream, but one that fans will likely never forget featured legendary sports couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird talking about strapping. Bet you didnt think youd see that on your 2025 bingo card.WNBA players from teams across the country gather in Indianapolis for the All-Star Game, Skills Challenge, and 3-point contest, and while the talent on display was impressive, fans were also glued to a 72-hour-straight livestream by the StudBudz, a Twitch channel hosted by Lynx teammates, besties, and certified studs Courtney Williams and Natisha T Heideman.Not only did the livestream confirm some womens basketball dating conspiracy theories, but while Rapinoe and Bird were at the All-Stars weekend to film a live show for their sports podcast, A Touch More, they had a very lesbian moment with the StudBudz that has since gone viral. We have to address the best moment on StudBudz. Never? Never strapped, Rapinoe asked Williams.@spookieookie24This allstar has been quite the ki #studbudz #courtneywilliams #meganrapinoe #suebird #natishahiedeman #wnbaallstar #wnbaWilliams looked confused because she couldnt remember the moment in the 3 days' worth of livestreams where she admitted to never having worn a strap-on. She lied, Heidman said.I dont remember that, I be saying whatever. Ive been on here too long, Williams said while laughing. Does the NBA ever offer you iconic moments like this? Of course not. Just one more reason to tune into womens sports!Shockingly, watching four sports stars talking about wearing straps wasnt the only eye-popping clip that surfaced from the livestream. There are so many more!Courtney tells Diplo to play better musicCourtney Williams, who didnt seem to have any idea who Diplo is, asked the famous DJ to play better music and he did! Iconic behavior. The commissioner dancing to Knuck If You Buck@isomaddyStud Budz stream is going down in herstory #wnba #studbudz #basketballNot in a million years would we have guessed that WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert would dance with the StudBudz to Crime Mobs Knuck If You Buck. And yes, that is queer TikToker Coach Jackie in the background having a blast watching this all go down. This moment has launched several hilarious memes. (@) Paige Bueckers singing Love by Keyshia Cole@ogothemanagerlegs tired arms tired head tired but the stream keep goin studs in the chat #studbudzDuring All-Stars weekend, not only did Paige Bueckers officially announce that Azzi Fudd is her girlfriend (as if there was ever any doubt!), but she also was caught on the livestream singing her heart out with her fellow players to Love by Keyshia Cole.Singing Pink Pony Club every chance they got@kclo239Pink Pony Studz StudBudz x Chappell Roan #studbudz #chappellroan #72hourstream #allstarweekend #natishahiedeman #courtneywilliams #pinkponystudThe neon-pink-haired StudBudz saan and danced to Chappell Roans Pink Pony Club every chance they got over the course of the weekend. They sang it at the top of their lungs in their hotel room, and on the plane on their way home. (@) Flirting with Angel Reese@teamstudbudzAngel Reese in the building looking fine as hell tune into @studbudz live on @Twitch for all the behind-the-scenes action at @WNBA All-Star Weekend! #natishahiedeman #courtneywilliams #studbudz #wnbaallstar #allstar #streamer #angelreeseThis red carpet moment might have you blushing as Angel Reese appears to flirt with the StudBudz before Williams says, Angel better stop playing with us, know she looking fine as hell right now.We can't wait until next year's All-Stars weekend!

Dating in the modern age just seems to get more complicated every year. Between the ubiquity of hookup apps, and toxic relationship trends like ghosting, floodlighting, and love bombing, its a wonder anyone manages to settle down at all.Then, add in the diverse types of relationship models out there, from polyamory and open relationships to soft-swapping and Living Apart Together, and things get even trickier to figure out.And now, a new toxic dating trend is sweeping the nation and leaving dating hopefuls in the lurch. Its called banksying, a clever name for a cruel way to end a relationship by slowly destroying it from the inside out.But what is banksying, how harmful is it, and are LGBTQ+ people more likely to be the victim or perpetrator of it? We talked to sex and relationship experts to give you the lowdown on this toxic new dating trend.What is banksying, and where did the term originate?Bankysing is a new Gen Z dating term that gets its name from the infamous street artist Banksy, known for his mysterious art that pops up out of nowhere. But instead of a satirical piece of street art that self-destructs like one of Banksys paintings did its a selfish way to end a relationship to protect yourself by withdrawing emotionally and destroying the relationship from within, so that when the relationship ends, youre prepared and your partner is blindsided.The easiest way to describe banksying is as quiet quitting for relationships, Milla Impola, a sex, condom, and lube expert for ONE Condoms, tells PRIDE. One partner decides theyre no longer inspired by the relationship and slowly begins to pull away emotionally. They conceal these feelings from their partner because theyre not quite ready to jump ship, and they need time to emotionally prepare to part ways. When the time does come to end things, they feel less upset because theyve already been preparing, but their partner is often left blindsided and hurt.Basically, someone who is banksying their partner has given themselves the opportunity to pre-grieve the end of the relationship, detach emotionally, and begin making plans for their future, while the unsuspecting partner ends up blindsided when the axe finally drops.How is banksyingdifferent than ghosting?Ghosting is when someone ducks out of a relationship without saying a word. One day, theyre just gone and cut off contact. With banksying, you stop reaching out as frequently, dont return phone calls or texts as often, make up excuses to cancel plans, and become more emotionally distant. Banksying involves enough interaction, albeit sparse and inconsistent, to sabotage the relationship from the inside, explains Ally Iseman, a queer, kink-aware certified relationship coach and founder of Passport 2 Pleasure. Think of it like this: a ghost leaves nothing behind, like it was never there. Banksy leaves their work behind them, even if it destroys itself.Is banksying more harmful than ghosting?Bankysing may be even more insidious because instead of leaving the relationship without telling you, someone attempting this move is emotionally manipulating their partner instead of admitting they want out. Ghosting may be cruel, but at least its unambiguous. Banksying leaves your partner in limbo, not knowing why youre withdrawing and making them question the status of the relationship.According to Iseman, Having breadcrumbs of a relationship, even if they are rotting the relationship from the inside, can be hard to step away from because, unlike with ghosting, Banksying leaves you something to hold onto, even if it's elusive and inconsistent.Why would someone do this?Banksying can be tied to peoples fear of confrontation, emotional codependency, or lack of communication skills. But according to Anthony Canapi, a marriage and family therapist, LGBTQ+ dating expert, and the founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking and Transcend Matchmaking, some people also engage in this behavior because they crave emotional intimacy but don't have the bandwidth to commit because it becomes overwhelming." They may also do it because they want the relationship but dont want to put in the work, or theyre insecure.People who feel they dont deserve love or fear eventual rejection might pull a Banksy before they get hurt and feel it's the easier out rather than being honest, and they may be hoping the other person will get the hint and end things themselves.Impola agrees, saying, Lets be real: ending relationships usually sucks. While breakups might be hard, showing your partner respect in that final moment is worth it.Are LGBTQ+ people more likely to engage in or experience banksying?Banksying isnt unique to LGBTQ+ relationships, but queer people may be more likely to experience it. LGBTQ+ individuals may face unique challenges around communication, identity, or safety in relationships, especially in environments where they dont feel fully accepted, Impola explains. These added complexities could contribute to different ways of navigating breakups, but the core behavior of banksying isn't limited to any one group.Healing after being banksydBreakups arent fun, no matter how they go down. If you experience banksying, know that your emotions are valid, Impola reminds. Frustration, sadness, regret no matter what, its normal to experience a flood of feelings when a relationship ends unexpectedly. If you want to confront the person who treated you this way, make sure you go in knowing you might not get the closure you want, and ask yourself if you are ok with that. Sometimes the best thing we can do is radically accept what we cant change and move forward with the lessons weve learned, she advises.Canapi also recommends not letting yourself fall into the trap of self-blame. It can be hard not to question your own worth when someone ends a relationship in such an emotionally manipulative way, but try to remember how amazing you are. They then start thinking they're the issue, when actually, if youve been Banksyd, its more about them than you. Its a red flag in disguise, he says.What does this toxic dating trend say about modern dating and hookup culture?Canapi, who is the founder and CEO of two LGBTQ+ matchmaking services, says that while dating apps have made it easier to create intense emotional intimacy quickly there is also a greater chance of harm, especially if you add in love bomdbing, trauma bonding, or banksying. Banksying is, at its core, a disappearing act to avoid emotional consequences, and in turn, you're causing so much more harm because it's promoting closure as optional; If I were to banksy them, they will get the hint that I'm not interested, but fail to realize you're leaving someone at a cognitive rumination, where they replay everything trying to find clues or mistakes on what went wrong, when you're the one who has done wrong because you couldn't speak up, he says.What should you do if youre considering banksying someone?If youre feeling the itch to get out of your relationship but think it would be easier to push your partner away and emotionally detach first, ask yourself why. Canapi recommends asking yourself these three questions: Am I feeling overwhelmed? Am I scared of intimacy, rejection, or hurting them? Do I genuinely not want this, or am I afraid of being vulnerable or honest? And then you need to be prepared to end the relationship in an open and honest way so that youre not wasting their time or your own. If you made someone feel seen, safe, or excited, and then go bye bye, your absence echoes loudly. Although it's hard, and it's not fun to be truthful and honest, that's what you signed up for.Have you decided to end your relationship and want to do it in a mature way, but have no idea how to start? Canapi has some prompts to get the conversation started.Try one of these:Ive really enjoyed getting to know you, but Im not in a place to continue this.I realized Im not ready for something deeper. You deserve someone who is.Canapi says, You may be a person trying to navigate modern dating, maybe without the tools or emotional safety to do it well, but there's a way to do it ethically and that respects the other person. Next time, leave clarity, not confusion.Sources Cited:Milla Impola, a sex, condom, and lube expert for ONE Condoms.Ally Iseman, a queer, kink-aware certified relationship coach and founder of Passport 2 Pleasure.Anthony Canapi, a marriage and family therapist, LGBTQ+ dating expert, and the founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking and Transcend Matchmaking.

There's still time for 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson to prove he's capable of being a QB1 in the NFL, Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said.

Manchester United announced the signing of forward Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for a transfer fee sources told ESPN was worth in excess of 70m.

Manchester City will consider a move for Burnley's James Trafford if they decide to sign a goalkeeper this summer, sources have told ESPN.

GENEVA, Switzerland -- England captain Leah Williamson is available for their Euro 2025 semifinal against Italy in Geneva on Tuesday.

Maya Caldwell is making the most of her increased opportunity with Rhyne Howard hurt for the Atlanta Dream and leads the list of fantasy pickups.

Warner, who played the only son of Bill Cosbys character on the beloved 1980s sitcom, drowned in Costa Rica.

The man, a U.S. citizen, is barred from leaving China by the Ministry of State Security, the countrys main intelligence and counterintelligence agency.

A co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, he represented St. Louis in the House as an uncompromising liberal Democrat and a forceful advocate for the poor.