Texas bans therapists from approving of trans youth’s identities

How they did it: Texas already has a ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors. This week, the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion saying that the ban includes talk therapy, and that even showing approval for a trans youth’s identity is “transitioning our kids.”

Why it matters: This makes Texas’ ban on gender-affirming care one of the most radical in the country. Republicans look for new ways to take rights away from trans people as midterms approach — other states might follow suit.

Republican AG bans “radical” mental health workers from affirming trans youth: It’s “child abuse”

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Pro-LGBTQ+ Democrats racked up wins in primary battles while Republicans try to focus on attacking trans people

What happened: In North Carolina, at least four Democratic lawmakers who sided with Republicans on a transgender sports ban lost their primaries to pro-LGBTQ+ candidates. The conservative Democrats also supported ICE. That doesn’t mean that Republicans won’t try to use trans issues in the midterms; immediately after Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) won his primary (against another LGBTQ+ ally, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett), Republicans were already attacking his support for trans rights.

Why it matters: The primary process remains an effective tool for keeping Democrats on the side of equal rights for all.

Trump-enabling Democrats lost their elections to progressives in North Carolina last night

17 states are considering cutting assistance for HIV medications as funding becomes tight, while Florida goes ahead with ending support for tens of thousands

Which program is affected: The states’ AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides funding for people living with HIV to access lifesaving medication that also helps prevent HIV from spreading. ADAP funding comes from the federal government and was implemented in 1996, but it hasn’t increased in the last decade, even though prices have increased and more people are getting the assistance.

Why it matters: Florida has already made it harder for people to get help with their HIV medications. People could lose access and/or be forced to restrict their spending on other essentials, while more people with unsuppressed viral loads could lead to more transmissions.

17 states consider cutting assistance for HIV meds as prices increase

Supreme Court makes California allow teachers to out trans kids to their parents

What the case is about: Several Christian teachers argue that their religion requires them to be allowed to out trans kids to their parents, while the state of California argues that outing trans kids puts them at risk for abuse and abandonment. The Supreme Court denied an appeal of a lower court decision banning the state from enforcing its anti-outing rule as appeals in the case are heard.

Why it matters: Trans kids are already at a heightened risk of homelessness. Giving these teachers free rein to call potentially abusive parents and tell them their kids are using different pronouns at school could worsen the problem.

Supreme Court forces California to allow teachers to out trans kids

Gay activist is trying to put up cameras for 24-hour surveillance of the National Stonewall Monument

Why he’s doing it: The current administration took down the Pride flags at the monument, the only federal monument honoring the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Local officials put the flags back up. Gay activist Michael Petrelis says that no one even got a picture of the flags being taken down the first time, so he wants to at least have evidence of it happening should it happen again.

Why it matters: While it’s a symbol, LGBTQ+ people across the country have taken the threat to the Pride flags at Stonewall seriously as an encapsulation of the country’s backslide on LGBTQ+ rights.

Gay activist wants to put up cameras for 24-hour surveillance of Stonewall Monument

Some more great queer and trans reads

Contributor Rebecca Batley wrote about British suffragette Ethel Smyth, “an unapologetically queer woman” in the 1910s.

The queer suffragette known for scandalous affairs, bold protests & writing famous operas

Columnist John Gallagher explains how the SAVE Act – the voter ID bill the president is pushing Congress to pass – could disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ voters.

Republicans are pushing hard for a bill that would disenfranchise trans voters

Contributor Chaaz Quigley discusses their experiences founding an HIV prevention organization that focused on Black queer people in Texas (and explains why such targeting is needed).

Conservatives want us to be quiet about safer sex. So I made some noise.

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