Here are the top 5 LGBTQ+ stories of the week to help you catch up on what you may have missed.
DOJ investigates California after state bans trans athlete to appease president’s transphobic orders
The source of the drama: Fox News did a report on one trans student in California who got a medal in a track event, which angered the U.S. president. California immediately changed its policies to appease him, but that apparently wasn’t enough to avoid his ire.
Why it matters: California’s immediately caving to the president’s demand that they do something about the trans athlete didn’t stop the state from becoming the second state (after Maine) targeted by the administration over this issue. The president is showing that he’ll use the full force of the federal government to keep a small number of trans girls out of school sports.
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More Democrats support marriage than ever. More Republicans are growing opposed to it.
The numbers: 88% of Democrats support marriage equality this year, according to a new Gallup poll, the highest number ever. But only 41% of Republicans do, down from a high of 55% in 2022.
Why it matters: The parties have been realigning on LGBTQ+ issues over the past few years. While the GOP’s growing transphobia has been obvious for years, their growing homophobia has gotten less attention.
RFK tells healthcare providers to ignore the science on trans care & listen to the administration
Key quote: “The claims in today’s report would rip health care away from kids and take decision-making out of the hands of parents. It promotes the same kind of conversion therapy long used to shame LGBTQ+ people into hating themselves for being unable to change something they can’t change,” said Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Why it matters: Kennedy’s opposition to science includes science related to gender-affirming care. The administration is relying on ideologically produced reports — seemingly generated via AI, as it cited numerous non-existent studies — to supplant the work of actual researchers whose work supports best practices for transgender healthcare.
Republicans wanted a review of the science on trans youth. It said the opposite of what they wanted.
What they thought they were doing: Utah Republicans passed a bill demanding a review of the science on trans care for minors, thinking that it would say that there isn’t enough evidence to show that gender-affirming care works. But the review showed just the opposite, and Republicans wrote off their own review as “weak evidence.”
Why it matters: Science backs gender-affirmation for trans youth, but Republicans don’t want to hear about it — when that gets pointed out to them, they ignore it.
Most European countries want the EU to do something about Hungary’s Pride ban
The countries demanding that the EU pressure Hungary into allowing Pride: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Why it matters: Hungary is just one country where a far-right, authoritarian government has taken over and cracked down on human rights, including LGBTQ+ rights. Liberal democracies must learn how to counter this growing threat.
Picture of the week: A royal walk
And here are some interesting queer and trans reads.
Today we must honor the trans troops who are fighting a battle waged by their own country
The upshot: The Rev. Irene Monroe connects Memorial Day with the current adminsitration’s efforts to dishonor trans servicemembers.
The problem isn’t the president. It’s the people using his ability to escape criticism.
Why it’s important: LGBTQ Nation columnist Faefyx Collington says the president has unique ability because on the right because no matter what he says, people only hear what they want to. The same anti-LGBTQ+ forces as usual understand this and use it to their advantage.
My wife & I moved in with our triplets’ donor & now we’re one big happy family
The key passage: Even among queer families, who are accustomed to forging their own paths, three parents may seem unusual. How did we decide to create such an arrangement? In short, a bunch of strangers on Facebook convinced us to.
The president’s budget bill would also let him ignore the rule of law altogether
Why you should read it: LGBTQ Nation’s John Gallagher explains a provision in the budget bill that would let the administration be completely lawless.
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