Donald Trumps popularity is plummeting in a county considered a key indicator of national trends. A recent survey from Democratic firm Upswing Research & Strategy found that only 42% of likely voters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, view Trump favorably, compared to 53% who view him unfavorably, Politico reported. Related Lawmaker leaves GOP for Democratic party after he got villainized for supporting LGBTQ+ people Numbers are sinking compared to a year ago, when a survey from the same group found that 50 percent of likely Bucks County voters had an unfavorable view of Trump and 45 percent viewed him favorably. Its clear that there is some backlash against Trump and MAGA Republicans generally, Ethan Smith, founding partner at Upswing Research & Strategy, told the publication. The survey also shows that were probably entering a period of Democratic enthusiasm. We can tell just based on response rates that Democrats are really eager to participate in the election. 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 Trump won Bucks County by less than one percent in the 2024 presidential election. Bucks County has also been a hotbed of anti-LGBTQ+ controversy over the past several years. In 2022, the ACLU filed a 72-page complaint accusing Bucks Countys Central Bucks School District of fostering an anti-LBGTQ+ environment. The previous year, Pennridge School District in Bucks County banned books on gender identity from elementary school libraries. In 2024, families filed a civil rights complaint accusing the district of creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. Nevertheless, Bucks Countys increasing lean away from Trump could spell good news for Democrats come midterms. Other analysts have found similar indicators in other areas of the country. CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten recently explained that when the same party wins in both New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races, that party also wins the House six out of seven times. And right now, the Democratic candidates in both states are leading by significant margins.Enten said that these margins should be a flashing red siren warning sign for Republicans.Enten also spoke about other elections taking place around the country and said that signal after signal after signal shows that when people are voting, Democrats are doing well.Enten hasalso been vocalabout the dismal approval ratings of the president himself, saying in July that he was at a term-two low.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Six months after Iowa removed gender identity as a protected class from its civil rights laws, the state now must pay $85,000 to LGBTQ+ students ejected from the Iowa Capitol in 2020, among them trans students who were denied access to the buildings bathrooms.Iowa Safe Schools, an LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group, sponsored the visit of about 150 Iowa students and chaperones to the Capitol to meet with legislators in 2020. The groups then-executive director, Nate Monson, told the Iowa Register that, at the time, Iowa State Patrol troopers told several transgender students they couldnt use one of the bathrooms and had to use a gender-neutral restroom instead. Related Iowa GOP advances bill to legalize anti-trans discrimination When Monson intervened, arguing that the troopers directions were inconsistent with state law, theentire group was ordered to leave.I went up to the trooper and said, No, thats not what the law says, Monson said. The civil rights code includes gender identity. He told me it did not. Then I told him yes, it did. And he said, Well it doesnt include bathrooms. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The students were then told to leave the Capitol altogether, that they had been banned from the Capitol grounds, and they would be arrested if they returned.The students and several Iowa Safe Schools leadersfiled suit in 2022, alleging sex-based discrimination, harassment, and unlawful retaliation.Under terms of a settlement agreement filed in July and approved by the Iowa State Board of Appeals on Tuesday the state will pay the students and group leaders to settle the case without admitting any wrongdoing.These individuals were exercising their constitutional and civil rights when they were singled out and removed from the Iowa Capitol solely because of their identity and their affiliation with an LGBTQ+ organization, said Devin C. Kelly, an attorney for the plaintiffs, following the Board of Appeals approval. At a time when LGBTQ+ Iowans and their families continue to face growing challenges, this settlement reaffirms a simple truth: all Iowans are equal under the law, Kelly added.In a letter to the Board of Appeals, state attorney Jeffrey Peterzalek made it a point to say that the plaintiffs legal claims would now not be allowed under the updated Civil Rights Act.With Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signature in February, Iowa became the first state in the nation to remove a previously protected class from its civil rights laws. The change took effect July 1.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Lets complete a little stream-of-consciousness exercise.DirectionsFirst, please take a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, or you can type on your computer.Now, take a few deep breaths, and try to clear your mind.For a total of 60 seconds, keep writing without stopping, even if you need to repeat the same words. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Without suppressing or editing yourself, what comes to mind when you hear the word Power?Write your thoughts.* * * Okay, now lets analyze what you wrote using the following assessment.Place a number on a scale of Easy to Difficult with 1 being Very Easy, 10 being Very Difficult, and 0 being Neutral to indicate how this exercise was for you.Now, try to place a number following each concept, with 1 indicating Very Negative, 10 indicating Very Positive, and 0 indicating Neutral.Add the numbers representing Negative from 1 to 5.Add the numbers indicating Positive from 6 to 10.Add the times you indicated Neutral with 0.Look at your Easy to Difficult assessment. What might this indicate or reflect?Look at your Negative to Positive score. What might this indicate or reflect?Did you write anything that surprised you? If so, what was it? Related Trump suffers from Grand Entitlement Disorder. Here are its key symptoms What is power anyway?In a 1968 speech to striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., definedpoweras the ability to achieve purpose and effect change.A dictionarydefinitionviews power (a noun) as:1.the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. In this definition, capacity is seen as a synonym of power.2.A great or marked ability to do or act;strength;might;force. In this definition, energy is a synonym.3.A third definition is the possession of control or command over people, with the synonyms beingauthority andinfluence.4.A final definition for our purposes here defines power as the political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc. by overthrowing the legal government, with the synonymssovereignty,rule,sway,ascendancy. Types of power leaders exertI use the categories of power outlined in the works of educational psychologists Gary Borich and Martin Tombariin my university courses designed for pre-service teachers and administrators. These categories, however, can also be applied outside the field of education.ExpertPower: Expertpoweris the legitimation of an individuals leadership because others perceive that individual as an expert. Successful leaders have expertpower. Their followers see them as both competent to explain and do certain things and knowledgeable about particular topics. Such influence isearned, rather than conferred by virtue of having a particular title. ReferentPower: People often accept as leaders those whom they like and respect. Referentpoweris leadership earned because of a perception of an individuals trustworthiness, fairness, and concern for members of the group. LegitimatePower: Some roles by their very nature carry with them influence and authority. Police officers, presidents, and judges exert socialpowerand leadership by their very titles. This type ofpowerhas been referred to as legitimatepower; unlike expert and referentpower, it cannot be earned. Leaders possess a certain degree of legitimatepower. Our society expects students to give teachers their attention, for example, to respect them, and to do what they say.RewardPower: Rewardpower is leadership based on rewards or benefits that an individual can give to members of a group. Individuals in positions of authority can reward the people they lead. These rewards can take the form of privileges, approval, or more tangible compensation, such as money. To the extent that people desire the rewards conferred by their leaders, these leaders can exert a degree of leadership and authority. However, people who dont care much about rewards like students who are not concerned with good grades or teachers approval are difficult to lead solely by exerting rewardpower. CoercivePower: By law, teachers and other school personnel are allowed to actin loco parentis, or with the same authority as the parent. Teachers and other leaders, within limits, can punish people who defy their authority or leadership. Within the educational environment, teachers or administrators can use disciplinary techniques such as suspension, expulsion, denial of privileges, or removal from the classroom. Teachers who rely on such techniques to maintain socialpowerin the classroom are said to be using coercivepower. The use of coercivepower may end misbehavior for a time, but it often comes at the cost of failing to develop trusting relationships or meet students needs for belonging. The same applies to leaders outside the institution of education.The Uses ofPowerWith and Over We can also place how leadersusetheirpoweron a spectrum from Power With on one side through Power Over on the other.PowerWith refers to a leader utilizingpowercollaboratively to empower those they lead. It involves a mutual appreciation and respect for autonomy in creating solutions to accomplish shared goals. For leaders, getting it right takes priority over being right.By contrast, PowerOver refers to an undemocratic or authoritarian approach where the leader or leaders exert dominance by dictating actions to be taken, often using coercion or fear. In this situation, poweris gained at anothers expense. Leaders give the orders, and they expect to be obeyed without challenge. For these leaders, being right takes priority over getting it right. Where does Trump fall?Now that we have established some common definitions, types, and uses of power, I ask folks to use these as lenses through which we can further understand the actions of Donald Trump.WhileTrumphas taken many actions in terms of policy initiatives, lets use our lenses to analyze some of his actions in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief. I will merely list some of those actions so folks can analyze. Trumpsexecutive orderto change the Department of Defense to the Department of War. He said in an Oval Office Announcement: The name Department of War conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to Department of Defense, which emphasizes only defensive capabilities.oSecretary of War Pete Hegseth: Were going to go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. Were going to raise up warriors, not just defenders.Under theTrumpadministrations authority, Secretary Hegseth has ordered the deletion of books and other materials that fall under his definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the U.S. Naval Academys Nimitz Library, including materials on the Holocaust, the Black experience, women, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized groups in the United States. Also under theTrumpadministrations authority, Secretary Hegseth has either demoted or fired successful and highly qualified senior officers of color and women.Hegseth has also eliminated affinity groups at military academies, such as the Black Society for Engineers and the Native American Heritage Forum.Hegseth removed the name of a U.S. Navy ship honoring LGBTQ+ rights leader Harvey Milk.Trumptook no action against Secretary Hegseth when it became known that Hegseth and others leaked highly classified military information on a government group chat (Signalgate) where they erroneously shared sensitive plans regarding impending airstrikes on Yemen. Trumpordered U.S. stealth aircraft to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites in a move dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer without the expressed authorization from Congress, which has led to several legal questions.Trumpordered the bombing of a small powerboat in international waters on his alleged charge that the 11 people on board were attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States. He did this without notifying or getting approval from Congress and without releasing proof of his allegations.Trumphas commanded the federalization of the National Guard, which is contrary to the Posse Comitatus Law, and has instructed them to invade Democratic-run states and cities against the governors and mayors expressed orders. Trumphas ordered unidentified and (primarily) masked men to arrest immigrants. He has substantially increased funding and expanded resources, scope, and the number of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers throughout the country. They have acted in ways that have contradictedTrumps promise of arresting undocumented immigrants who had committed criminal offenses. ICE officers have, instead arrested, detained, and disappeared people who have not committed crimes and has deported them to foreign authoritarian countries not of their birth without due process of law.Recently,the Trump Department of Justice threatened to ban the ownership of firearms for transgender people because a recent mass shooting was perpetrated by a person who might have identified as transgender.Trumps warning comes without facts to justify singling out a specific group, which violates the U.S. Constitution.Okay, so now you are the judge. Whether you do or dont use my assessment lenses, what is your general and specific rating of Trumpin his leadership role of Commander in Chief?Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Queer pop icon JoJo Siwa has opened up about the backlash she experienced from the LGBTQ+ community when she announced she was dating a man. Siwa began dating English TV personality Chris Hughes after the couple appeared together as contestants on ITVsCelebrity Big Brother UK. The pair formed a close bond, while Siwa, who was then dating nonbinary actor and DJKath Ebbs, also admitted on the show that she wasmore comfortable identifying as queer than as a lesbian. Related Never-married Fox host with storied career slams women who prioritize work over marriage The relationship sparked backlash from many queer people who felt Siwa had betrayed the community by being with man. During an appearance on theReign with Josh Smithpodcast, Siwa opened up about dealing with that.It is hard because it feels like my own family has turned a little bit. And I think we are the LGBTQIA+ family, not the LG community, and its a beautiful rainbow, and the number one saying of the queer community is love is love. And that goes both ways. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Anybody who is judging somebody else for any sort of love, just take a second, take a breath, she added. You cant help love, she said. She also said shes been bullied since her relationship went public and has never been more afraid of a group than she currently is of LGBTQ+ people she doesnt know. Women holding hands, women cuddling together in public, I see them see me and I see them laugh, I see them point, I see them roll their eyes now. I see them come up to me and take a photo and run away.I see them flip me off while Im driving. I see them. Someone the other day came and stood outside my studio with the middle finger up for about two minutes, and then just walked away from within the queer community, and that to me has made me so aware, I guess, of how brutal hate can be and how brutal bullying can be People need to watch it. Because I can take it, but other people cant.She said she doesnt think too hard about labels but would probably define herself as pansexual or queer. I would define myself as happy, she added, saying she has never been so in love. I cannot describe the feeling of love that I have now.Siwa emphasized that the bi and pan erasure she is experiencing is not affecting her since she is able to tune it out, but said it is affecting others who are witnessing the backlash. The reaction is teaching people they cant veer from strict labels without being bullied, she explained.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Anti-LGBTQ+ MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk shot dead during live eventWhat happened: Charlie Kirk, who was a very influential rightwing operative, was shot to death at a speaking event in Utah on Wednesday.Why it matters: The president has already talked about Kirks death more than he has about any victims of mass shootings this year, and many on the right are promising to use Kirks death to crack down on the left. Anti-LGBTQ+ MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk shot dead during live event Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today After a day of conservatives claiming that the person who shot Charlie Kirk engraved trans ideology on bullet casings, it turns out to be anti-gay messagesOne of the messages: If you read this, you are gay, LMAOWhy it matters: Many prominent voices on the right have been claiming that the perpetrator was either transgender or a leftist seeking to silence the rightwing provocateur Charlie Kirk. The main suspect is now a cis white man from a conservative family, although his political leanings are not known and will likely be debated for a long time. Anti-gay messages found engraved on Charlie Kirk murder suspects bullet casings Sabrina Carpenter delivers a powerful message for trans rights at the Video Music AwardsIn her words: This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity. So, to get to be part of something that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance Im so grateful. So grateful to do that.Why it matters: Performing on stage with transgender and drag artists in this political climate shows that many people are still committed to LGBTQ+ equality. In Trans We Trust: Sabrina Carpenter stands up for trans rights during powerful VMA performance Politicians all over the world demonized LGBTQ+ people during elections in 2024The numbers: 60 countries and the E.U. held elections in 2024, with over 1.5 billion people voting. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric featured prominently in 51 of those elections.Why it matters: The current backlash against LGBTQ+ rights is not a U.S.-only phenomenon. Its part of the rise of a global right-wing movement. Politicians demonizing LGBTQ+ people for electoral success is a global phenomenon Virginias GOP gubernatorial candidate is recycling the presidents 2024 anti-trans campaign messages in her own adsWhat her ads say: Spanberger is for they/them, not for us. Democrat Abigail Spanberger is running against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. The line, X is for they/them, comes from an anti-Kamala Harris ad from last year.Why it matters: Anti-trans rhetoric is a serious source of transphobia that politicians are using to win elections, and its not stopping after its 2024 appearance. GOP candidate recycles last years anti-trans campaign attacks: Dem opponent is for they/them Heres a pictureMarissa Copler, as Gay Jesus, attended the Louisville Pride Festival Decades Resistance & Hope Through The Years on September 6, 2025. | Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK And here are some interesting queer and trans readsContributor Umar Ibrahim Agaie investigated death doulas in Michigan who help LGBTQ+ people die with dignity. Meet the death doulas who help LGBTQ+ people die with dignity LGBTQ Nation senior editor Daniel Villarreal shared his complicated feelings shortly after Charlie Kirks death. No, I wont be shedding any tears for Charlie Kirk LGBTQ Nation columnist John Gallagher discussed the GOPs longstanding contempt for science just after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s disastrous Senate hearing The rights disdain for science is part of their strategy to attack LGBTQ people Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Anti-trans Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has stirred up ire for saying God anointed Donald Trump to lead the nation. At a meeting of the White House Religious Liberty Commission, Turner led a prayer focused on thanking God for Trump. Related Nancy Mace rages over mentally ill ideology after school forced kid to read inclusive book Father, we thank you for our president, Donald J. Trump, Father God, whom you have anointed and appointed for this time, for such a time as this. Lord, thank you that the president prioritizes prayer, Father god that he sees the power, the importance, the priority of praying together as a people, as a country, as a nation. Father God, we lift up our president, Turner said. 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 meeting took place at the Museum of the Bible and centered on dismantling the separation of church and state, with claims that religious students are villainized by it. Trump spoke at the gathering and said, To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly.The group Republicans against Trump slammed Turners prayer. Its a cult, they wrote on social media. One writer mocked the idea that Trump is religious. Interesting that the Father would anoint someone who abuses woman, lies with nearly every word, and is fond of bullying people of color. Must have been a slow day for anointing. Oh, and the Antichrist prioritizes prayer? Well, thats news! Interesting that the Father would anoint someone who abuses woman, lies with nearly every word, and is fond of bullying people of color. Must have been a slow day for anointing.Oh, and the Antichrist prioritizes prayer? Well, that's news! https://t.co/FeuBblxOwM Paul Hughes-Cromwick (Pooge) (@cromwick) September 8, 2025Author Jennifer Erin Valent called the prayer a brash taking of the Lords name in vain that made her physically ill. Valent also referred to Trump as a man with an unrepentantly blackened soul.This brash taking of the Lord's name in vain by claiming His favorable anointing over a man with an unrepentantly blackened soul will never cease to make me feel physically ill. Nor should it. https://t.co/GDHGr4L22u Jennifer Erin Valent (@JenniferEValent) September 8, 2025 Many others pointed out the hypocrisy in Turners words.The clearest sign that your Christianity is not genuine is when you believe that the person who personifies everything that contradicts Christ's teachings and values is your idol. (@ChidiNwatu) September 8, 2025Theyll look the other way when it comes to the walking commandment breaker, as long as theyre able to curry favor and he says nice things about their religion. It doesnt matter that his actions are against everything Jesus stood for. Kimberly (@KimberlySuth) September 8, 2025So embarrassing they do realize he is an adulterer, a liar, a bully, a racist/fascist who cannot quote a single verse from the bible? Gulliver Gadfly (@GulliverGadfly) September 8, 2025 This is not the first time Turner has invoked religion in his political actions.In February, Turner told the HUD to stop enforcing a rule that bans discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in some housing and shelter programs administered by the department, saying that banning such discrimination is far-left gender ideology and that God wants the HUD to stop enforcing the rule.We, at this agency, are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump on January 20th when he signed an executive order to restore biological truth to the federal government,He said in a statement at the time. This means recognizing there are only two sexes: male and female. It means getting government out of the way of what the Lord established from the beginning when he created man in His own image.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Far-right Polish politician Dawid Szstak has announced that he will leave his anti-LGBTQ+ Confederation political party after revealing his relationship with intersex model Michalina Manios, who was a finalist on the 2011 season of Polands Next Top Model.During her appearance on the show, Manios explained that she was assigned a male identity at birth and was raised in that gender identity until she was 18 years old, something she said felt like being imprisoned. At that point, she then legally changed her gender to female. Related Democrat schools GOP congressman for his ignorant comments about intersex people Functionally, I developed as a woman, but unfortunately, I was assigned a male identity, not any other, Manios said, according to Euro News. My body and mind developed toward femininity, but my genitals didnt. I was ashamed to go to physical education classes because I was embarrassed.Intersex individuals have innate variations in physical traits that differ from typical expectations for male or female bodies, including variations in reproductive organs, hormones, or chromosome patterns. An estimated 1.7% of infants are born intersex roughly the same number of people born with red hair. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In announcing their relationship, Szstak said that he and Manios met online. I liked the photos Michalina posted, he said. They radiated a lot of energy and femininity. He also said they bonded over their shared Catholic faith and respect for traditions.Everything happened quite naturally. We became a couple, he explained. We have respect and understanding for each other. Szstak remained in his political party during the start of their relationship. In 2019, Confederation party leader Sawomir Mentzen said, We stand against Jews, homosexuals taxes, and also the European Union!Szstak mentioned his leaving of the party in a recent interview, saying of him and his partner,We want to focus on whats important, meaning their relationship and well-being over political battles, Edge Media Network reported. He deleted his social media account after publicly discussing his relationship with Manios.Visibility is crucial, said a spokesperson from Polands leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, the Campaign Against Homophobia, regarding the couples relationship. When public figures share their truths, it chips away at stigma and ignorance. At the start of 2020, Polands anti-LGBTQ+ Law and Justice Party (PiS) began declaring regions across the country as LGBT-free zones in an attempt to remove LGBTQ+ propaganda from the public as a form of Western decadence that threaten[s] our identity, threaten[s] our nation, threaten[s] the Polish state. Both the U.S. and the European Unioncondemned the zonesas violations of human rights.By early 2020,roughly one-third of the countryhad established LGBT-free zones. However, the PiS party suffered defeat in the 2023 national elections. Then, in 2025, the partys last of the state-sanctioned anti-LGBTQ+ zones was finally eliminated.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Overturning marriage equality is now a present threat.Many of the issues both people of color and LGBTQI+ Americans confront in Trumps first term health care, unemployment, housing, immigration, voting rights, among others are front and center, again, and on the chopping block. And the fear is palpable.I think its going to go away. I dont know whats going to happen to those already married, but there are a lot of benefits,Pat of West Palm Beach, Florida, told me.What would that be? she asked of the result. A forced divorce? Related Republicans say time is ripe to overturn same-sex marriage rights nationwide Put a ring on itWith this threat looming large, many LGBTQ+ couples are dashing to the altar.The thought of many moreformer Kentucky county clerks like KimDavis becomes a nightmare.Davis is infamously known for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2015.This August, she formally petitioned the Supreme Court to overturnObergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Itold a nephew whos gay, young, 22, to get married last year because we dont know, Pat said. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clintonechoed the same sentiment. In an August installment ofthe Raging Moderates podcast, Clinton strongly advised couples to get married before SCOTUS overturns marriage equality altogether.Anybody in a committed relationship out there, in the LGBTQ community, you ought to consider getting married, she said, because I dont think theyll undo existing marriages, but I fear they will undo the national right. Clarence Thomass goalClarence Thomas | Screen capture via C-SPANIn a Trumped-up Supreme Court, SCOTUS has been the enabler of anti-marriage activists.Justice Clarence Thomas faulted the Supreme Court for refusing to blockmarriage equality in Alabama twice in 2015 and in 2022.Targeting marriage equality has been his goal ever since it became national law. Shortly after the SCOTUSoverturnedRoe v. Wadein the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization caseof 2022, Thomas seized the moment to insert his opinion, stating,[W]e have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents.The irony here is that many of the civil rights advancements that helped Thomas ascend to the highest court in the land are the ones he now wants to dismantle.Clarence further stated that the landmark decision should reconsider the courts past rulings codifying the rights to contraception, same-gender intimacy, and marriage equality. Surely, he jests, I thought, because of Thomass interracial marriage, which marriage equality is built upon. Moreover, the slippery slope is one that he, too, could confront, once SCOTUSeliminates federal protection for loving the person you choose.The irony here is that many of the civil rights advancements that helped Thomas ascend to the highest court in the land are the ones he now wants to dismantle.Last year, the country celebrated nine years since theObergefell decision, allowing us LGBTQ+ Americans the fundamental right to marry nationwide. However, whileJustices Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented in the 2015Obergefell ruling,the broad public support for same-sex marriage that both parties once embraced has now waned among Republicans. According to the Gallup Poll, in 2025, support for marriage equality among Democrats rose to 88%. Republicans support, which peaked at 55% in 2021 and 2022, has dropped to 41%, the lowest point since 2016, following theObergefell decision.With Republicans dominating all branches of government, there is concern thatformer President Joe Bidens 2022 Respect for Marriage Act would be upheld, instead of marriage equality being thrown back to the states.Four out of 10 judges Trump chose during his first term are unabashedly anti-LGBTQ+. He appointed over 54 conservative judges nationwide, and they will remain on the bench long after hes gone.LGBTQ+ Americans in red states especially have concerns about their marriage and other civil rights being upheld. Benefits up in the air | ShutterstockThere are 1,138 federal benefits and hundreds of state-specific benefits that heterosexual couples take for granted. Denying these benefits to same-sex couples will cause financial instability and immense stress. Being a widow, all the federal benefits have benefited me, Pat stated. Im on spousal Social Security and not paying taxes on our joint money is that going to go away?Jim Obergefell, not an activist of any sort, never expected to be a cause clbre.But when he sued his home state of Ohio for refusing to recognize him as the widower of his deceased spouse, the lawsuit made its way to the highest court. Jim Obergefell, then 48, the lead plaintiff in the four marriage equality cases collectively known as Obergefell v. Hodge, now has his legacy hanging in the balance once again. Withvictory comes backlashRatifying marriage equality was the right thing to do and it should not be repealed.Obergefells victory expanded the nations understanding of marriage as a fundamental right awarded to all people.However, if Roe v. Wade can be overturned after 50 years, so too can marriage equality, highlighting that no ones rights can be taken for granted.Sherry, a married lesbian tired professor of nursing, stated, Im aware now that what we take as a right is always conditional.Sadly, thats true.I have married over 250 LGBTQ+ couples since it was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004 to the present day. Each one was an honor to officiate.When interviewed for Massachusetts 20th anniversary ofmarriage equality, a newsman asked to see my photos. I have hundreds of them. I had to sort them into three piles: deceased, divorced, and still together. However, I never imagined the day would come when I would have to stop collecting such pictures at all.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A first-of-its-kind report assessing the current state of local LGBTQ+ media outlets shows how the current administration is impacting their ability to tell queer stories. The LGBTQ+ Media Mapping Project co-authored by legendary Chicago journalist Tracy Baim, co-founder of the Windy City Times presents a variety of data on everything from the annual budget of local LGBTQ+ publications to the number of freelancers versus full-time workers utilized. But the most powerful findings came from the focus groups, who shared anecdotes on the fear and loss brought on by the federal governments crusade against DEI. Related We just made history in trans health care. And we had to lock our doors. The focus groups were held less than two months into the new presidential administration, but outlets were already feeling the effects of an anti-LGBTQ+ backlash that preceded the current federal leadership, the report explains.While advertisers and sponsors had already begun to pull back, the actions increased due to the executive orders targeting DEI. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This is the case even though advertising itself has nothing to do with DEI; the backlash is just caused by fear among businesses. This conflating of two different decisions a business decision based on the strength of a market segment vs. diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic and employment policies is a painful problem experienced firsthand by LGBTQ+, African American, and other media targeting specific communities.One publisher said their publication has lost its second-largest advertiser solely because they are not allowed to advertise with anything DEI-related anymore, because they are federally funded. Another mentioned that a trans healthcare company was too afraid to advertise with them for its own sake, fearing backlash from anyone who saw the ad. That is almost even scarier than editorial, the publisher said, because if you dont advertise your business, then thats really bad for your business.Beyond that, there is an overall culture of fear among those in the industry, fear of backlash, violence, and being shut down. A radio producer said staff have said they are afraid to go on the air, and after 40 years on the air, thats the first time Ive ever heard that.One publisher said freelancers are kind of afraid to report now. Another said editors have made it quite clear to make sure that their addresses and emails are not available on the website any longer. Some of these fears were expressed even before the current administration took control, the leaders said. And its only gotten worse. The presidents tariff war has also had an impact, with one publisher saying their printing costs have risen at least 5%. But the focus group participants expressed one good thing that has emerged due to the current climate: increased reader engagement.Believe it or not, the upside to a Republican administration is that the gay community feelsunder threat and are more motivated to read gay press, to give to gay press, to be activeand involved, said one person. I made a small fortune during the Reagan administration Nows our time to rally the troops, raise the flag, whatever metaphor you want The political climate could motivate our community.However, increasing readership also presents challenges when revenue from advertisers is not forthcoming. The report explained that most outlets have not been able to monetize their audiences, as they either lack the capacity or know-how to raise funds through memberships or donations. This is a muscle that needs growing through training, funding, and access to field experts.There is a real need for funders to look closely at LGBTQ+ media at this point in time, the report declared, as particular communities are under threat and require support more than ever.It concluded with several calls to action, primarily focusing on creating additional resources to help leaders of these outlets learn more about funding strategies and legal rights, as well as increasing opportunities for community building among the outlets. It also called for more diverse leadership. As the backlash grows against LGBTQ+ people, especially the transgender and gender nonconforming community, LGBTQ+-owned and operated media are more important than ever, the report emphasized. But when it comes to research and funding, LGBTQ+ media have often been left behind, in part because its difficult to quantify who and where they are. The report, of course, hopes to change that.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

You mightve missed this weeks good news, but we had some court wins, a queer wedding, a celebrity fundraiser, and some other things to smile about. But before we get to grinnin did you hear that nonbinary actor Alex Thomas-Smith tied the knot? How about the 15 history-making LGBTQ+ veterans who fought for equality, or how an evangelical pastor became an unlikely ally to his trans daughter? Related Pete Buttigieg invites you to re-live his sweet, first date with his now-husband Spooky season is almost here so lets dance with the slashers! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Slayers (@michaelslayersofficial) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today A gay couple became foster parents as a temporary way to do good. Instead, it reshaped their lives.Parenthood can take many shapes sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent, but always powerful. Lawmaker leaves GOP because of his gay sonThe legislator said that good policy isnt about which party created it, but rather which one solves the problem best.The president was sued for deleting radical LGBTQ+ webpages. He just lost.Its a victory for science, community health, and common sense. Its Doreamon, the flying cat! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Macca (Caca) (@pheobinmacca) Court stops Trump from peeking on young trans patients private informationA hospital and a judge put his snooping to an end!Out actor Jonathan Bailey is stepping away from acting to help LGBTQ+ charitiesThe Bridgerton and Jurassic World star said its especially important with everything happening in the world right now. Supreme Court allows trans kids in South Carolina to use the right bathrooms in schoolThe Supreme Court said their decision was made for technical reasons, but the result is a victory for trans rights in schools. And did we also mention its also Scarve Season? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rewind Beer Co. (@rewindbeer)LGBTQ+ people are more accepted than we were decades ago, and that changes everythingOne readers advice for young LGBTQ+ people: Just be yourself. Trans plaintiffs secure another critical victory in the fight for accurate passportsMultiple courts have now ruled against Marco Rubios discriminatory policy. Amy Sheralds Black trans Statue of Liberty is making an unscheduled stop in BaltimoreThe Smithsonian wanted to remove it to avoid upsetting Trump, so the artist showed it elsewhere.And now, let Liza walk us out in glamorous style View this post on Instagram A post shared by Myles (@camp.o.rama) From our sibling sites:QUEERTY: This beloved actor from The Cosby Show kept a very gay secret for over 50 yearsOUTSPORTS: Elton John so proud as gay-friendly Watford honor him in styleGAYCITIES: Photo All the gay celebs who attended this years US OpenINTO: 12 Gender-Affirming Games with Trans and Nonbinary CharactersSubscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.