The Advocate

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Julie Johnson just made history as the first LGBTQ+ person ever elected to Congress from the South

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Lesbian Texas State Rep. Julie Johnson just won a seat in the U.S. House, beating out Republican Darrell Day and Libertarian Kevin Hale, becoming the first out LGBTQ+ person elected from Congress from the South. As a state representative, Johnson helped to kill anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and advocated for reproductive rights, and Equality PAC Cochairs Mark Takano and Ritchie Torres are sure she’s going to continue to fight for “those who need it most, especially the LGBTQ community in Texas.” In a joint statement, Takano and Torres said that the over $600,000 the PAC spent on Johnson’s campaign was well worth it […]

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Here are some key LGBTQ+ races to watch on Election Day

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Sarah McBride Besides the presidential race and deciding who’ll control Congress, Tuesday’s election will feature numerous important races involving + candidates. At least 668 out candidates will appear on ballots nationwide, up from 574 in 2020, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Here’s a look at some of the key races. All the LGBTQ+ candidates mentioned here are . Sarah McBride is running to be the first out transgender member of Congress. She is running for Delaware’s sole seat in the U.S. House, succeeding Lisa Blunt Rochester, who vacated the post to run for U.S. Senate. McBride, facing Republican John Whalen III, is heavily favored to win in the majority […]

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Years after DADT’s end, class action lawsuit seek to restore benefits for thousands of discharged military

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Hayden Powell’s battle for fair treatment by the Department of Defense could result in a change of discharge status for thousands drummed out of service in the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era. The Air Force veteran and other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit hope to achieve a level of justice for tens of thousands of service members drummed out of the service. But when she joined the Air Force in 1999, she was fighting for her own freedom. Some of that was economic; the GI Bill guaranteed her a college education in exchange for service to her country. But the […]

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Trans candidates demand their seat at the table in the Florida legislature

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UnderFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Sunshine State in recent years saw a rapid slate of anti-trans policies implemented. Now three transgender candidates are pursuing seats in the Florida legislature. Trans womanAshley Brundage and trans manNathan Bruemmer, both Democrats, are taking on Republican incumbents in the Tampa Bay area. Meanwhile, trans womanVance Ahrens, also a Democrat, will challenge one of the greatest sources of anti-transgender rhetoric in the state, running against Florida Rep. Randy Fine for an open seat in the Florida Senate. All face varying challenges on the campaign trail but earned spots on the November 5 general ballot. The hope is that the […]

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Patrons douse TERFS in drinks & ketchup for staging an anti-trans protest at bar

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A well-known British TERF and two accomplices staged a provocative “silent” protest at two London pubs Friday night, stoking resentment among weekenders simply looking to get a drink. It did not end well. “We’re going now,” a police officer told Jean Hatchet, organizer of the anti-trans action, as displeased patrons fled the premises. “You can either make your own way out or I’ll help you out.” Hatchet’s night on the town began at one bar where she and her two friends set up three small signs reading “TRANSWOMEN ARE MEN,” “NO MEN IN SPORTS – IT’S NOT SAFE + NOT FAIR,” and […]

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Anti-trans ads erode support for transgender people in America with no effect on presidential election: study

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Despite significant spending by former President Donald Trump’s campaign and Republicans on anti-transgender ads, new research released Thursday by Ground Media shows that the ads are failing to influence voter preferences. However, these ads are succeeding in a different, more harmful way: They are eroding public support for transgender Americans and their rights. Ground Media CEO David Rochkind told The Advocate in an interview that while the ads did not boost voter enthusiasm or mobilization for Trump, they did decrease public comfort with transgender people. “We found that there is a decrease of 3.1 percent among those folks who say they would be comfortable accepting a close friend or family member who […]

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Meet Vivian Smotherman, who is running to be Colorado’s first trans state senator

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Vivian Smotherman is out to not only make history for transgender Coloradans but flip a district from Republican to Democratic. Smotherman is running for the state’s Senate in District 6. It’s located in southwestern Colorado, a region that has traditionally been red or at least purple, and is the largest Senate district by area in the state. She’s facing Republican Cleave Simpson Jr., a first-term incumbent who was elected before the district was redrawn last year. She would be Colorado’s first out trans state senator; Rep. Brianna Titone, running for a fourth term this year, was the first out trans person in the Colorado House. She’s a Navy […]

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Here are the 28 transgender Americans lost to violence so far this year

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Fatal violence against transgender, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary Americans continues at an alarming rate. While the number of reported deaths has come down somewhat since 2021’s record of 57, it should be noted that this number is almost always an undercount. In any given year, the majority of those who’ve died by violence are trans women of color, Black women in particular.  Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative at the Human Rights Campaign, previously told The Advocate that media outlets and authorities aren’t always the best at covering and handling cases involving LGBTQ+ people, specifically trans and nonbinary people. “There have been times when we have […]

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The LGBTQ + candidates running in 2024 are more diverse than ever: Victory Fund

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The slate of LGBTQ+ people running for political office in the U.S. in 2024 is far more diverse than in the last presidential election year, 2020, according to a new report from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. The candidate pool was more diverse by gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity than in 2020, notes the organization’s “Out on the Trail” report. The proportion of candidates who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming grew by more than seven percentage points between 2020 and 2024 — 7.9 percent to 15.2 percent. However, cisgender men still make up the majority of LGBTQ+ candidates, and cisgender men and women represent nearly 85 […]

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Tim Walz defends queer and trans youth at length in interview with Glennon Doyle

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On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz sat down for an interview with author Glennon Doyle, her partner Abby Wambach, and her sister Amanda Doyle during a taping of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. The conversation touched on key election issues such as abortion and gun violence. However, midway through the podcast, the discussion shifted to queer youth, specifically transgender kids. Rather than shying away from the topic, Walz delivered a passionate, several-minute-long defense of LGBTQ+ rights, including transgender healthcare. He outlined his vision for the administration’s role in protecting these rights. The question came from Abby Wambach, who turned to the topic after discussing Walz’ founding […]

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