Here are the top 5 LGBTQ+ stories of the week to help you catch up on what you may have missed.
Supreme Court unanimously sides with woman claiming anti-straight discrimination
The ruling: Federal courts have demanded more proof from members of dominant classes (e.g., white people, men, straight people…) claiming discrimination. The Supreme Court nixed that, saying federal statutes (Title VII specifically) don’t allow that kind of reasoning.
Why it matters: The Supreme Court rolled back an evidentiary standard that has been used for decades in cases involving majority groups claiming discrimination. This could result in more lawsuits from white people, men, straight people, and Christians claiming job discrimination.
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Edmund White, gay literary icon, has died at the age of 85
From his husband: White “was wise enough to be kind nearly always. He was generally beyond exasperation and was generous. I keep thinking of something to tell him before I remember.”
Why it matters: Edmund White has been one of the biggest names in LGBTQ+ literature for decades, and his work will influence generations to come.
Puerto Rican Supreme Court says nonbinary folks can update birth certificates with X gender markers
Key quote from the decision: “The current Birth Certificate Policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico arbitrarily distinguishes between binary and nonbinary individuals and subjects nonbinary individuals to disfavored treatment, without any justification for doing so.”
Why it matters: While the current administration is rolling back trans people’s rights, there are still things to celebrate at the state and local level. This decision shows that the law is still on LGBTQ+ people’s side.
Donald Trump has “no plans” to acknowledge Pride Month as rightwingers call to abolish it
What conservatives have proposed changing Pride Month to: “Natural Family Month,” “Family Month,” “Nuclear Family Month,” “Title IX Month,” “Veterans Month.”
Why it matters: With conservatives particularly mad that Pride Month is happening this year. The White House appears to be all in.
Lesbian Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre leaves Democratic party to be an Independent
From her book’s description: “In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents.”
Why it matters: Karine Jean-Pierre was one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ people in the Democratic Party, and her departure shows that at least one Biden loyalist isn’t going to forgive and forget about what happened last year.
Here’s a picture
Jacksonville, Florida, Pride has been a key site of resistance against the anti-LGBTQ+ DeSantis administration. Here, a Pridegoer crosses the Acosta Bridge with a Progress Pride flag to kick off Pride Month. That night, the bridge was lit up in rainbow colors in defiance of DeSantis’ Pride flag ban.
And here are some interesting queer and trans reads.
Donald Trump plays the victim in hopes that he can weasel his way into becoming a king
LGBTQ Nation columnist Faefyx Collington explains how Trump works the refs to expand his power.
This Black trans woman lost her job because Trump ended LGBTQ+ grants. Here’s why she has hope.
LGBTQ Nation contributor Ellen Shanna Knoppow profiled Bridget Butts, a Black trans woman in Detroit who lost her job helping other trans people access health care as a result of Trump administration budget cuts.
The AIDS crusaders of the 80s & 90s thought they had finally won. How can we possibly be back here?
The U.S. government was saving the lives of millions of people living with HIV/AIDS, until the Trump administration cut that funding to save a tiny fraction of the federal budget.
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