A disabled college student is speaking out after conservative figures online bullied and mass reported him when he posted about his gender transition.
Micah Leroy, who ran the account known as “Disabled Trans Boy” on Instagram, became the subject of a right-wing hate campaign after he posted a video celebrating his double mastectomy, also know as top surgery. The 19-year-old has cerebral palsy, a group of neurological disorders that affect body movement and muscle coordination, which is the most common lifelong physical disability according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“It is important to note that nowhere in this definition does it imply that cerebral palsy negatively impacts an individual’s ability to comprehend the world, make autonomous decisions or understand the concepts of gender and sex,” Leroy told MPR News.
Leroy is a student at the University of Minnesota focusing on disability studies, LGBTQ+ studies and political science. He said that he hopes to one day hold public office, whether in the state legislature or in Congress.
Leroy uses a wheelchair as well as an Eyegaze communication device, though he prefers to communicate with his voice, with the help of his personal care assistants. Leroy, who came out as transgender at the age of 14, emphasized to the outlet that he was the one who sought out and scheduled his medical appointments and took all the steps to legally change his name and gender.
Leroy’s video about his transition went viral, resulting in negative attention from conservative figures such as failed college athlete Riley Gaines, who lied and said Leroy is “non-verbal” while implying doctors performed the surgery without his consent. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called the life-saving procedure performed on a legal adult “criminal.”
Conservatives mass-reported the video, causing it to be removed by Meta, which suspended Leroy’s Facebook and permanently removed his Instagram account for supposedly breaking the platforms’ “Community Standards on child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity.”
Leroy, who repeated that “I am the one who is posting and I’m over 18,” said that Meta still rejected his appeals, while allowing the abusive comments and messages he received to remain. Still, he said that he hasn’t been deterred from speaking out.
“Even with all the hate this has stirred up, I do believe that any publicity is good publicity in furthering my goals,” Leroy continued. “This experience has only made me want to speak out more about disabled and trans issues as the negative responses I got have shown a side of the world that is intolerant and discriminatory based on what they perceive others can and cannot do.”
The popular vote might not have worked, but you can always vote with your dollar and/or time.
A second term under Donald Trump endangers the well-being of LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people of color, and everyone else. It will also most likely lead to more censorship and rolling back protections against climate change. But the activists and organizations advocating for these causes aren’t going quietly — they’re getting louder. Many have resisted during Trump’s first term, and are ready to do so again.
The fight does not end with donations, but it’s still a great way for those with the means to make their priorities known and impact change. For those who aren’t able to give, consider using your time and other skills in your community instead.
For those who are able to give, here are 26 groups whose work is going to be critical during a second Trump administration that you can donate to. If you can’t contribute money, many also list other ways to contribute.
Elevated Access
Nonprofit Elevated Access is dedicated to helping patients receive reproductive health care, offering flights at no cost to those who must travel for abortions and gender-affirming care.
This national progressive advocacy organization focuses on preserving the rights of the marginalized in court, fighting against book bans and to preserve democracy and voting rights.
The Transgender Law Center fights to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.
As the biggest LGBTQ+ group in the U.S., HRC lobbies for queer rights and candidates, fighting to “ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens.”
PEN America works to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others.
Planned Parenthood is nonprofit organization that provides reproductive and sexual healthcare and sexual education, including abortions and birth control.
American Civil Liberties Union (and Drag Defense Fund)
The ACLU is a nonprofit that assists in legal cases where civil rights are involved, including abortion care, trans people’s right to live freely, and people’s right to vote. It also hosts the Drag Defense Fund, which legally defends drag performers’ freedom of speech and self-expression.
Midwest Access Coalition (MAC) is a practical abortion fund that helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest to access a safe and legal abortion.
The SPLC is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights, fighting to strengthen democracy, counter white supremacy, end mass incarceration, and eradicate racial inequality in the American South.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People remains the longest-serving organization dedicated to fighting for civil rights of people of color.
The Sherlock’s Homes Foundation provides housing, employment opportunities, and a loving support system, for homeless LGBTQ+ young adults so that they can live fearlessly as their authentic selves.
CAIR has worked for decade both to educate the public on mainstream Islamic faith and prevent legal obstructions to their rights, such as the many policies proposed and enacted by Trump’s first administration.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project seeks to guarantee people’s freedom to self-determine and express their gender identity, fighting for both financial and legal empowerment for everybody across the spectrum of gender.
Americans for Immigrant Justice
Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) is a nonprofit law firm that fights for justice for immigrants through a combination of direct representation, impact litigation, advocacy, and outreach.
Know Your IX was named for its mission to educate college students about their Title IX rights. The group also gives voice to survivors of sexual assault and offers channels for reporting sexual harassment.
A project of the American Immigration Council, this organization will be lobbying against deportation policy both from the White House and the halls of Congress.
Emily’s List is an organization that trains Democratic women (who are pro-choice) in the basics of running for office, from school board to senator. The group had a hand in getting Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Maggie Hassan elected.
This group fights for the rights of scientists to conduct, publish, and discuss their research and advocate for science without the threat of political harassment, censorship, or legal intimidation.
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is an organization focused on protecting the children of immigrants, fighting against deportation and family separation.
ORAM provides legal assistance, advances economic inclusion through livelihood programs, champions the rights of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees on the global stage and provides critical emergency response to underserved communities.
ProPublica uses a nonprofit model to produce and disseminate investigative reporting, and has continuously fact-checked the Trump Administration to dispel the misinformation surrounding his campaign.
The global organization works to “fight abuses of human rights, bring torturers to justice, change oppressive laws, and free people jailed just for voicing their opinion.”
The hubs and duds of queer life in modern America have been revealed, thanks to a report from the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The good news: wherever you are, you’re not alone. Overall, 14.1 million people reported that they “identify as LGBT” between 2020 and 2021, making up a significant portion of the population at 5.6 percent. By state, there wasn’t a single area with an LGBTQ+ population of less than 4 percent.
However, compared to others, some states still have less than half as many queer people proportionally.
While the report did not give any reasoning as to why some states have larger LGBTQ+ demographics than others, the states with the lowest percentages of queer people all but one have pushed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation this year.
Here are the states with the smallest queer communities, and the legislation facing them.
5. South Carolina (Tie)
South Carolina’s 192,800 LGBTQ+ adults account for 4.9 percent of the state’s population. There were 32 anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed this year, according to the ACLU’s legislation tracker, with one passed into law — an extreme ban against gender-affirming care for youth, as well as requiring school staff forcibly out them to their guardians.
5. North Dakota (Tie)
North Dakota’s LGBTQ+ population also accounts or 4.9 percent of its overall population, but their queer community is fewer in number, with 28,400 members. There were no anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed this year in the state, which pushed 17 anti-LGBTQ+ bills last year, 10 of which became law.
4. Iowa
Iowa‘s 113,600 LGBTQ+ adults account for 4.7 percent of the population. 37 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been considered in the state in 2024, four of which passed — including religious exemptions for discrimination.
3. Alabama
Alabama has 173,000 LGBTQ+ people, making up 4.6 percent of the population. Four anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed in the state this year one of which passed that forces universities to implement trans bathroom bans.
2. North Carolina
North Carolina‘s LGBTQ+ population accounts for 4.4 percent of the state’s population, with 353,100 people. There were six anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed in the state, none of which have yet been defeated or advanced.
1. Mississippi (Tie)
Mississippi’s 93,300 LGBTQ+ adults account for 4.1 percent of the population. There were 23 anti-LGBTQ+ bills been proposed in the state this year, four of which passed. The laws include a ban against trans people using the public facilities that align with their identities, and a legal redefinition of gender that incorrectly conflates it to biological sex.
1. West Virginia (Tie)
West Virginia’s LGBTQ+ community also accounts for 4.1 percent of the population, but their 60,000 queer adults are less in number than Mississippi. West Virginia has considered 33 anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year, one of which passed — enacting barriers to accurate legal identification.
Takeaways
The states with the fewest queer people are also some of the states proposing the most anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
While there is no data (yet) around mass queer exoduses from these states, some could be moving to avoid legislation. Others may not feel comfortable coming out for census data.
And while it may not seem as if the South is a popular place for LGBTQ+ people, by raw population, the region actually has the largest percentage of queer adults. The 5.2 million LGBTQ+ people in southern states account for 36.9 percent of the queer people in the U.S.
While we may not be the majority, LGBTQ+ people across the country have an enormous and undeniable presence wherever they call home.
Both are encouraging shareholders to vote against resolutions asking them to reevaluate their commitment to DEI. A shareholder resolution is a means by which those who hold stock in a company can seek to influence the company’s policies. Most are nonbinding and most do not receive a majority vote, as the bulk of shareholders usually vote among company lines. But if a resolution receives even 10 percent support, it’s hard for the company to ignore.
The Apple and Costco resolutions were both submitted by National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank. Both cite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, holding that race-based affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional. The Apple resolution also cites the high court’s 2024 ruling in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, which found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating in transfer decisions even if the transfer didn’t cause great disadvantage.
The resolutions say that DEI programs pose financial and reputational risks to companies, noting that a white employee sued Starbucks for racial discrimination and won $25 million. DEI programs vary from company to company, but their generally promote inclusive practices for groups that have historically suffered discrimination, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women.
“With 310,000 employees, Costco likely has at least 200,000 employees who are potentially victims of this type of illegal discrimination because they are white, Asian, male or straight,” the resolution to the retailing giant states. “Accordingly, even if only a fraction of those employees were to file suit, and only some of those prove successful, the cost to Costco could be tens of billions of dollars.” The Apple resolution doesn’t mention those groups, but it does go into the potential cost of lawsuits.
Apple, in its proxy statement (a document sent to shareholders ahead of the annual meeting), recommends a vote against the resolution because “the proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies; and our Board and management maintain active oversight of legal and regulatory risks and compliance for our global business.”
“Apple is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, or promoting on any basis protected by law,” the statement continues. “Apple seeks to operate in compliance with applicable non-discrimination laws, both in the United States and in the many other jurisdictions in which we operate, and in that regard monitors and evolves its practices, policies, and goals as appropriate to address compliance risks. The proposal inappropriately seeks to micromanage the Company’s programs and policies by suggesting a specific means of legal compliance.”
Apple has a supplier diversity program, set up in 1993, which works with groups such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council and National Veterans Business Development Council, CNN reports. It also has a vice president of inclusion and diversity, a position established in 2017, and 67 employee groups called diversity network associations. The first of these dates from 1986. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, is gay (although he did donate personal funds, not company ones, to anti-LGBTQ+ President-elect Donald Trump’sinauguration).
“We are simply asking for a consideration,” Stefan Padfield, executive director of the NCPPR’s Free Enterprise Project, told CNN. “The proposal, if approved, would not automatically result in the abolishment of DEI.”
Costco’s directors, however, say this is the ultimate goal of such resolutions. “The proponent professes concern about legal and financial risks to the Company and its shareholders associated with the diversity initiatives,” the proxy statement reads. “The supporting statement demonstrates that it is the proponent and others that are responsible for inflicting burdens on companies with their challenges to longstanding diversity programs. The proponent’s broader agenda is not reducing risk for the Company but abolition of diversity initiatives.”
The NCPPR published a document called “Balancing the Boardroom” in 2022, Costco notes. It said CEOs and other corporate executives who are “woke” and “hard-left” are “inimical to the Republic and its blessings of liberty” and “committed to critical race theory and the socialist foundations of woke” or “shameless monsters who are willing to sacrifice our future for their comforts.”
“Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our Company the importance of creating opportunities for all,” Costco’s statement says. “We believe that these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed. This capacity is critical because we owe our success to our now over 300,000 employees around the globe. … We believe that our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are legally appropriate, and nothing in the proposal demonstrates otherwise.”
Costco’s annual shareholder meeting will be held January 23. Apple’s will be held February 25.
The United States’ first Black and gay professional tennis player isn’t letting her identity define her, even as it changes. After starring in her own reality show and competing in the ITF World Tennis Tour, Johnson is now focused on giving back to her community through private tennis clinics catering to underrepresented groups.
“People are either going to support you or not,” Johnson tells The Advocate. “So, you need to know what your journey is, and whatever you need to do to make yourself feel comfortable, you need to do that as long as you’re not hurting anyone.”
Johnson made history in 2020 when she came out as gay while playing professionally. She made waves again a few years later by coming out as nonbinary, and has since fully realized her identity as a trans-femme person. Though it’s been an uphill battle, it’s one that the athlete takes great pride in.
Johnson’s journey was partially documented in the reality series about her life, Deuces and Love. When you have a television show about your life, “you just have to get used to people being in your business and talking good and bad about you,” Johnson says, though she adds that she’s “definitely at the level of fame where I’m comfortable at.”
“I really felt that it was important to show my story just because of me being a double minority,” she says. “There isn’t really anyone out there right now [publicly] going through what I’m going through.”
This is especially true in the world of professional tennis, where Johnson says “there’s always a white male that I have to go through to.” In New York, where Johnson is based, it’s also especially “expensive to even get tennis lessons.”
That’s why Johnson has launched her own tennis club that offers private and group lessons for all levels. The sessions are priced at an affordable rate, but for those who “can’t afford a private lesson or other classes, we usually help them out.” Johnson explains that “we typically do a sliding scale for queer people and people of color.”
“Tennis is a very elusive sport,” Johnson says. “I wanted to create a tennis club that offered tennis lessons in a fun, relaxed environment and also an affordable price as well.”
Johnson actively seeks to help LGBTQ+ get involved in sports at a time when transgender people are being banned from sports that align with their gender identity. Donald Trump, U.S. president, recently signed an executive order that specifically banned trans women from women’s sports.
While ITF rules would allow Johnson to compete in the women’s category after spending at least four years on hormone replacement therapy, Johnson said that she is content to stay where she is for the sake of her career. She even celebrates being the “first trans-femme to play professional tennis on the men’s tour.”
“Right now I want to continue to represent my country how I started,” she says. “I’m still going to be representing America as a black gay athlete. … I’m the first gay black tennis player. Whether I transition or not, that’s still a part of me. I don’t want that to get taken away.”
Still, Johnson intends to use her platform to continue speaking out for underrepresented communities, as she believes now more than ever “we need to come together.” She’ll be hosting an ongoing anti-racism tennis clinic throughout February in honor of Black History Month in an effort to educate athletes about the disparities minority groups face in sports.
“Words have power. In this day and age, athletes have power,” Johnson says. “Athletes have the power to change the world, because the spotlight’s on us whether we’re winning or losing on the court. We have that mic and we can talk about whatever we want to talk about, and people are going to listen to us whether they like us or not.”
In a time of unprecedented challenges for LGBTQ+ families, Family Equality, the national nonprofit dedicated to advancing equality for LGBTQ+ families, has announced the appointment of Darra Gordon as its new CEO. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, Gordon steps into the role with a clear mission: to build a stronger, more resilient, and more impactful organization that can protect, celebrate, and support LGBTQ+ families nationwide.
For Gordon, this role is more than just a career move. “Family Equality’s mission is so deeply personal to me,” she told The Advocate. “I’m a proud member of the community. My wife and I are raising three children, and our oldest is nonbinary. The work we do at Family Equality is not just professional. It’s about protecting and uplifting families like mine.”
This personal connection fuels her unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission. Having served as the deputy president and CEO at GLAAD, Gordon played a critical role in the organization’s growth, overseeing operations, development, and strategic planning.
Her tenure saw GLAAD more than triple its operating budget and fundraising goals, a testament to her ability to build sustainable, high-impact organizations. Before that, she spent 15 years at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, another LGBTQ+ group where she led efforts that expanded the organization nationally and dramatically increased its budget.
Gordon assumes leadership at Family Equality at a crucial juncture. With LGBTQ+ families facing increasing legislative and social challenges, she recognizes the urgent need for bold, strategic action.
“This moment is pivotal,” she said. “The attacks on our rights, the barriers to basic safety and inclusion. They are horrific. But we are addressing this head-on. Family Equality is uniquely positioned to lead in this moment, and I am committed to ensuring we rise to meet these challenges.”
One of Gordon’s first priorities will be to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy that strengthens Family Equality’s impact. “We need resilience and vision,” she emphasized. “We will focus on advocacy, services, and visibility, especially for our most marginalized community members. Our work must be sustainable, and we need to reach further than ever before.”
A cornerstone of Gordon’s leadership will be fostering partnerships and coalitions that amplify Family Equality’s reach and effectiveness. “We are stronger together,” she asserted. “One of my key priorities is building coalitions that can drive real change. Advocacy for policies and protections at both the federal and state levels is essential, and we will work tirelessly to ensure LGBTQ+ families can thrive.”
As she prepares to take the helm on March 3, Gordon is already setting a clear and determined course for the future.
“Stepping in to lead Family Equality wasn’t a choice for me. It’s a calling,” she said. “I wake up every day thinking about protecting my family. Family is fundamental to who we are. This work is not just about fighting against discrimination; it’s about building a world where every LGBTQ+ family is seen, valued, and empowered.”
Her message to families, allies, and supporters is one of hope and determination.
“This is a vulnerable time for our community, but it is also a time of incredible possibility. Family is a great uniter. Together, we will ensure Family Equality remains strong, steadfast, and impactful for generations to come.”
As the second Trump administration continues its sweeping rollback of LGBTQ+ rights and diversity initiatives, organizers of WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., are forging ahead, determined to make this year’s global celebration a moment of defiance, resilience, and renewed visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite recently losing a corporate legacy sponsorship amid an atmosphere where some companies are pulling back from diversity initiatives, Capital Pride Alliance executive director Ryan A. Bos emphasized the importance of showing up. Capital Pride Alliance is responsible for putting on this year’s WorldPride events from May 17 until June 8.
“There are calls for us to cancel WorldPride or for WorldPride to move somewhere else, but that’s a no,” Bos told The Advocate in a Friday interview. “If anything, this is the time for us to show up. Our adversaries want us to get confused, want us to get frustrated, want us to get ignored, and want us to give up. We can’t do that.”
A significant feature of this year’s WorldPride will be a large-scale march and rally planned for Sunday, June 8. Unlike the more celebratory Pride parade the day before, the Sunday event is designed to be a traditional protest, amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ people worldwide who are facing oppression. Bos said that the organization hopes to mirror the 2017 Women’s March movement.
“That’s been part of the plan from the beginning, even before the election,” Bos said. “We have the parade that will take place on Saturday the seventh, and then on Sunday the eighth in the morning, we have a marching rally. So it’s been the intent from the beginning that on Sunday, it’s a more messaging traditional march protest that talks about this struggle globally, not just here in the U.S. but all around the world.”
The rally is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants and will take place in downtown Washington.
Bos addressed concerns about permits, which he said the organizers have considered. “I would say that 99 percent of our activities are on city or private property, not needing federal permits. So we’re trying to be smart and conscious.”
President Donald Trump has moved aggressively to dismantle federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs with sweeping executive orders that have impacted corporate sponsors and cultural institutions. Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense contractor and former WorldPride sponsor, withdrew its support earlier this month, citing new federal rules restricting DEI initiatives. The Kennedy Center alsoscrubbed a planned National Symphony Orchestra LGBTQ+ Pride concert from its programming following Trump’s takeover as board chair and his appointment of Richard Grenell as the institution’s interim executive director. The concert was not an official WorldPride event.
Bos called these developments “very disheartening,” particularly in light of past corporate support for LGBTQ+ communities. “What is disappointing is when we need people in our corner and people to stand up and reaffirm their values, to have corporations and businesses who in the past had supported us bow down because of fear,” he said.
Bos said that the Kennedy Center hasn’t officially informed WorldPride of any cancellations. “We are navigating identifying new locations just to be on the safe side,” he said. He added that adaptability is key to ensuring the event’s success.
Speaking on the phone from London, Bos said he had a unique perspective talking to people about the state of things in U.S. politics. He said that some international visitors are wary of traveling to the U.S. given the current political climate but stressed that their voices can still be heard. “For those who can’t come to D.C., how can we have them engage and be a part of this WorldPride experience?” he asked. “We are thinking about ways to connect globally because this conservative wave is happening everywhere, and we as a community need to galvanize together to stop it.”
In addition to the march and rally, WorldPride 2025 will feature a robust lineup of events, including neighborhood-based programming, concerts, and cultural showcases designed to highlight D.C.’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community beyond the federal government institutions that define the city for many outsiders.
“D.C. has been known for years as the gayest city per capita in the country,” Bos said. “That’s not going to change by June. This is a moment for us to reaffirm our place and remind the world that we will not be erased.” According to the Williams Institute at UCLA’s Law School, the District of Columbia has the highest share of LGBTQ-identifying adults, with about 14 percent.
As the May 17 start date approaches, Bos noted that more details about the festival’s lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks. “Next week, we’re going to announce the lineup for our music festival Global Dance party that will take place at RFK [stadium],” he said. “The following week, we plan to announce our official nightlife partners, and then the week after that, we intend to announce a special guest performance for our street festival and post-parade concert.” He added that these announcements are meant to give people hope and things to look forward to amid the current challenges.
Bos affirmed that WorldPride will go as planned in D.C. despite the obstacles and the political landscape. “One way or the other, WorldPride is happening, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that WorldPride meets the moment of this time.”
This week, the New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division issued twounanimous rulings blocking forced outing policies in school districts across Morris and Monmouth counties. In mid-2023, Hanover Township Public Schools in Morris County, Marlboro Township Public Schools in Monmouth County, Middletown Public Schools in Monmouth County, and Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District in Monmouth County implemented policies mandating the disclosure of a student’s transgender status to their parents. The policies varied in scope—some required notification only if a student formally changed their gender identity at school, while others mandated disclosure if a student merely mentioned being transgender in counseling sessions. Shortly after the policies were enacted, they were challenged in court and met with preliminary injunctions, preventing their enforcement. The appellate court upheld these injunctions Monday.
The plaintiffs in both cases are New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Sundeep Iyer, Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. The Attorney General’s office represented them in both cases. However, in Platkin et al. v. Middletown Township Board of Education et al., the American Civil Liberties Union and LGBTQ+ rights organization Garden State Equality filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs. In Platkin et al. v. Hanover Township Board of Education et al., no amicus briefs were submitted. The cases were overseen by Judges Robert J. Gilson, Avis Bishop-Thompson, and Lorraine M. Augostini. Gilson was appointed by Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, while Bishop-Thompson and Augostini were appointed by Republican Governor Chris Christie.
In both cases, the school boards argued that a student’s transgender status inherently impacted their mental health, justifying immediate parental notification. However, both the lower court and the appellate court rejected this claim, recognizing that mental distress is not intrinsic to being transgender and that, more often than not, social pressure and discrimination are the primary sources of students’ distress. The school boards also attempted to invoke “parental rights,” arguing that parents have a right to be informed of changes to school records or general developments in their child’s life. The courts disagreed, noting that parents already have the ability to request and review school records and that a student’s gender presentation does not automatically require modifications to official records. Furthermore, the rulings affirmed that students have the right to come out to their parents on their own terms, with nothing in state law mandating schools to override that decision.
In Hanover et al., the judges wrote: “Regarding the findings of irreparable harm, the trial court appropriately found, relying on several studies, that the [forced outing policy] would harm students by discriminating against them based on their gender identity and expression. Additionally, the trial court found that the [forced outing policy] would harm school staff by subjecting them to discipline for failing to abide by its disclosure requirements.”
The judges further reinforced the public interest in preventing discrimination, citing Rodriguez v. Raymours Furniture Co., a case addressing employment discrimination based on disability. They wrote, “The New Jersey Supreme Court has recognized that the ‘eradication of discrimination is a public interest.’” Their ruling continued: “Given the harm faced by students under the [forced outing policy] and strong public interest in preventing discrimination, we discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s determination that the balance of harms supported granting injunctive relief.”
This decision affirms that policies targeting transgender students are not just harmful but legally indefensible under New Jersey’s civil rights protections.
They present a similar finding in Middletown et al., affirming the Attorney General’s authority to challenge the forced outing policies. The judges state: “The Attorney General has a legitimate interest in preventing discrimination based on gender identity or expression. The Attorney General’s action, in enjoining the Boards from affirmatively disclosing a student’s transgender status to their parents, is rationally related to that goal.”
This ruling reinforces that the state has both the legal right and a compelling interest in protecting transgender students from policies that would expose them to harm and discrimination.
In a celebratory press release, ACLU-NJ Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero said, “All students in our state deserve to feel safe, supported, and respected. Policies that target gender-nonconforming students violate anti-discrimination laws and the protections of our State Constitution. Today, the appellate court ruled that the trial judge had the authority to initially block these harmful school board policies and rejected discriminatory arguments that would have put transgender students at risk.”
The decision in this case will protect transgender youth across New Jersey, establishing a legal precedent against forced outing laws. This follows precedent established by California, which enacted the first state law in the country against forced outing. A similar lawsuit in Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools, et al v. Reynolds, awaits further action, but it nevertheless highlights the growing challenges to discriminatory anti-trans laws across the nation.
Donald Trump has announced his plans to wipe out the board of trustees at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and replace the chairman with himself.
Trump said that he was specifically motivated to overhaul the center so he could end the drag shows it occasionally hosts.
“At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump said on Truth Social. “We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP,” he continued. “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
The Kennedy Center hosts over 2,000 events each year, making it the nation’s busiest performing arts center. It is the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, and puts on family-friendly drag shows on occasion.
The Kennedy Center told CNN that it “is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media” but that it has “received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” though “some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.”
Blaq Dinamyte, president of Qommittee — a national network of drag artists and allies led by survivors of hate crimes such as the Pulse and Club Q mass shootings, a firebombing at an Ohio church, and an attack on a power grid in North Carolina — said in a statement that “regardless of who you are, America is a place of free expression. No exceptions. We are being targeted because we’re LGBTQ+. Period.”
“This is about who gets to exist in public spaces and whose stories get to be told on America’s stage,” Dinamyte said. “We’ve seen our community face bomb threats, armed protests, and mass shootings. But we’ve also seen how communities from coast to coast stand up for art and inclusion when given the chance. We’re not going anywhere.”
“Banning an entire art form is censorship, plain and simple. Americans don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be able to speak our minds and perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation,” Dinamyte continued. “Drag is joy. It’s beauty. It helps people find themselves and celebrates difference. We applaud the Kennedy Center staff and board who have recognized that over the years and thank them for providing a space in the Nation’s Capital where all people can be themselves.”
Out gay former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and out lesbian Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are the leading candidates in an early U.S. Senate primary poll.
A large majority of Democratic primary voters (77 percent) have a positive view of Buttigieg for the competitive Senate seat, according to a survey from Blueprint Polling via Semafor. Nessel is a close second, earning favorability from 72 percent of voters. The next closest candidate was Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist with 45 percent.
About 40 percent of Democratic primary voters said they would vote for Buttigieg, and 16 percent said they would vote for Nessel. Around 30 percent were undecided. If Buttigieg decided not to run, 39 percent said they would vote for Nessel and 9 percent said they would vote for Gilchrist, whereas 37 percent said they were undecided.
Current Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, 66, unexpectedly announced last month that he will not be seeking a third term, citing a desire to “pass the torch.” His decision opens up a critical Senate seat in a battleground state.
Buttigieg is now “taking a serious look” at entering the race, Axios reported at the time, and two sources familiar with the former secretary confirmed to the Detroit Free Pressthat he is heavily considering it, with one saying, “Pete’s looking into all of his options and figuring out how he can best continue to serve.” Democrats in Michigan are also reportedly looking at Buttigieg as a potential candidate to replace Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer when her second term is over in 2026.
Nessel is the the highest-ranking out LGBTQ+ elected official in Michigan. She became the state’s first out gay Attorney General in 2019, and is a former criminal prosecutor and civil rights attorney who helped win the landmark court case overturning the state’s ban on marriage equality, DeBoer v. Snyder. The case was eventually consolidated with Ohio’s Obergefell v. Hodges as well as cases from Kentucky and Tennessee, then heard before the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in the 2015 marriage equality ruling.
