We The People

Category: Features

  • Meet the gamer who raised $400K for transgender rights in Texas

    Rue Dickey, who lives in Corvallis, Oregon, said that as a transgender person, they felt helpless watching Texas officials begin to investigate parents of trans children.

    Dickey, who uses “they” and “he” pronouns, said they were “having a bit of a crisis” at their day job in marketing when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state child protective services agency to pursue child abuse investigations into the parents of transgender children who are suspected of receiving gender-affirming medical care. (Those investigations have since been blocked by a judge.) 

    Dickey, 25, wanted to do something to help trans youth and their families in the state.

    Image: Rue Dickey
    Rue Dickey.Ashley Brianna

    “The lack of things that I can do as a single person was super overwhelming,” they said. That’s when Dickey, who also designs tabletop role-playing games, remembered that Itch.io, a website that sells independent games, held fundraisers for racial justice, Palestinian relief and, more recently, people in Ukraine. 

    Tabletop role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, a popular game released in the 1970s, are interactive; players sit around a table and describe their characters’ actions, which affect the rest of the game. One player, usually designated the game master, describes the setting of the game and uses a set of rules to give players some structure and guidance. 

    Dickey, who has been playing the games for about 10 years and writing them since 2019, decided to gather other game designers and create a bundle of games to sell on Itch.io to benefit two small groups in Texas that support trans people, the Transgender Education Network of Texas and the Organización Latina de Trans en Texas. 

    The bundle they created includes 493 games from 300 designers, and it’s on sale until April 3. It’s valued at more than $2,700 but is available through the fundraiser for $5. 

    The bundle went live March 2, and Dickey said they initially set the fundraising goal at $1,000. 

    Just 45 minutes later, the fund met that goal. So they increased the goal to $5,000, and it was quickly surpassed again.

    They went to bed, and the next morning the fund hit $11,000. Since then, they have increased the goal seven more times to $420,000. As of Friday evening, that had raised nearly $394,000.

    “I’ve cried probably a dozen times at this point,” Dickey said. They said representatives from both of the organizations have been “super excited” about it. 

    “When I first reached out to them, I was like, ‘Hey, we’re hoping to give you at least like $5K each,’ and now every time I email them, I’m like, ‘Hey, just an update, you’re getting $170,000 each now,’” they said, laughing. 

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    Dickey said both groups have been talking about what they’ll do with the funds, and they have been especially happy to hear what a difference it will make for Organización Latina de Trans en Texas. The trans immigrant-led group runs shelters in cities across Texas and also provides legal support for name changes and navigating the immigration process. 

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    A representative for the organization told Dickey that the donation will be one of the largest that it has ever received, they said. “It’s going to be enough money for them to do a lot of renovations and revamps to the shelters and things like that, which I’m super excited about.”

    Tabletop role-playing games have become increasingly popular among the queer community as the games have become more inclusive. Dickey said that they have two answers for why role-playing games are so popular among trans people in particular.

    “My joking answer is that almost all tabletop games have werewolves, vampires, changelings or magic users, and I’ve never met a trans person who doesn’t identify with one of those,” they said. 

    On a more serious note, they said that “tabletop role-playing games, at their heart, are about storytelling.” Often, trans people’s stories are told by cisgender people, who identify with their assigned sexes at birth, and are “portrayed by cis actors who don’t understand us and don’t know what we live,” Dickey said. 

    Tabletop role-playing games give trans people “the ability to be at our own table and centering ourselves in our stories and getting to play trans characters who the whole through line of their character isn’t that they’re trans, it’s just a part of who they are, and they still have dreams and goals and ambitions, and they’re a part of an adventuring party, they make a difference in the world,” they said. 

    “How empowering it is to tell your own story and be a part of a narrative that centers you and your experiences, I think is a lot of what draws at least me and a lot of other trans folks that I know to tabletop games,” they said.

    Rue Dickey

    There are a few games in the bundle that Dickey recommends, including their own — “not to toot my own horn,” they joked — called “I Want Your Bite.” The game is based off “The Bachelor,” the dating TV show, “but instead of the bachelor just being a normal person, the bachelor is a vampire,” Dickey said. “So you’re not only competing for their hand, you’re also competing for immortal love.”

    They said one of the “big ticket items” in the bundle is a game called “Thirsty Sword Lesbians,” which they described as a “rivals-to-lovers,” high-drama game. They also recommend “Wanderhome,” a fantasy game in which the characters are small animals who defend their home from various threats. 

    Dickey said creating the bundle, and now selling 40,000 of them, has brought them a lot of joy amid what’s happening in Texas and the dozens of other states that are considering bills targeting transgender people. 

    They hope that trans youth in Texas know that they’re not alone. 

    “It’s super important to know that there will always be somewhere that you belong and that the world is duller without you in it,” they said to trans youth. “So don’t let them try to put out the light that is so important that you bring to all the spaces that you’re in.”

  • IGLTA Foundation Introduces Transgender Advisory Group to Improve Resources for Gender-Diverse Travelers

    The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association and the IGLTA Foundation celebrate transgender and gender-expansive people, in all their diversity, for their empowering contributions to societies across the planet. We strive to eradicate the discrimination that still prevents many gender-diverse individuals from living openly and fully as their authentic selves. 

    As part of this commitment, the IGLTA Foundation has formed a global advisory group to help the association create better resources to support gender-diverse travelers. The dynamic group includes Jacob Anderson-Minshall, Editor-in-Chief, Out Traveler; Renato Braga, Account Manager, Amadeus Brasil; Gabrielle Claiborne, CEO, Transformation Journeys Worldwide; author/advocate Dr. Elijah Nicholas; Alejandra Palma, Commercial Manager, Chile, Condor Travel; Rachel Reese, CEO, Global Butterflies; Diane Rodriguez, Founder, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Ecuador; Stevie Tran, Founding Partner, Tran Arrowsmith; and Bella Thanakarn Vongvisitsin, Founder, LGBTIQ+ Tourism Asia. 

    “We are very aware of underrepresentation in travel, whether it’s overall marketing that fails to include transgender and gender-diverse travelers or lack of visibility in our business network,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “We need to develop more inclusive resources to help tourism professionals better understand the needs of transgender and gender-expansive clients.”

    “There are so many safety issues and concerns specific to transgender and gender-diverse travelers that need to receive more attention globally, and we want to ensure that the tool kit we develop is informed by those we wish to serve,” said IGLTA Foundation Board Chair Theresa Belpulsi.

    Please join us in elevating trans and gender-expansive people today, Transgender Day of Visibility, and every day. If you’re interested in joining this group or would like to refer a new member, please email info@igltafoundation.org.

    For more information on the group, please visit igltafoundation.org (“What We Do”) or click here.

    About IGLTA and the IGLTA Foundation

    The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. The association’s professional network includes 10,000+ LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media, and its members can be found in nearly 80 countries. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research, and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow us on Facebook @IGLTA, @IGLTABusiness or @IGLTAFoundation, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram @iglta

  • GLAAD, Sony Music Group Announce Partnership to Advance LGBTQ Representation

    GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, and Sony Music announced a partnership in March to amplify LGBTQ voices and representation in the music industry. 

    According to Variety, the partnership includes several initiatives to advance advocacy and inclusion at Sony and within the broader industry. The initiatives include the following:

    • GLAAD Media Institute will implement consultation and education for Sony Music Group, including LGBTQ-focused education sessions for Sony employees and leadership in an effort to help build greater awareness and competency around LGBTQ issues and people.
    • GLAAD will consult Sony on its campaigns and programs that seek to highlight contemporary LGBTQ people and/or issues.
    • Sony will be an official sponsor for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 2, and New York City on May 6. 
    • Sony’s artists and songwriters nominated for the Outstand Music Artist award include: Brockhampton, Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (RCA Records/Question Everything), Kaytranada, Intimated (RCA Records), Lil Nas X, Montero (Columbia Records, Sony Music Publishing) and Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams (Sony Music Publishing).
    • GLAAD and Sony will launch “Icons,” a three-part interview series that will bring together LGBTQ musicians, songwriters and producers across generations for discussion about LGBTQ inclusion in music, history of and the future of the industry. 

    “Over the past several years, many LGBTQ artists have made major strides within the music industry, but there is still significant room to improve LGBTQ inclusion, representation, and awareness at all levels,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO. “Sony Music Group continues to be an incredible leader for diversity, equity, and inclusion in music, and we’re grateful to partner with them to both amplify diverse LGBTQ voices and establish greater pathways to grow LGBTQ inclusion within the industry at large.”

  • ‘Everywhere Is Queer’: New worldwide map highlights LGBTQ-owned businesses

    Charlie Sprinkman traveled to 42 of the 50 states for work as a representative of an organic beverage company in 2019 and kept Googling “queer hangouts here” when he would arrive in a new town. But he would often come up empty.

    “I couldn’t find a resource for it,” Sprinkman, 25, said of a centralized directory of LGBTQ-owned businesses. 

    Charlie Sprinkman, creator of Everywhere is Queer.
    Charlie Sprinkman, creator of Everywhere Is Queer.Katie Hope / The Wild Within Us

    Then, in the summer of 2021, he was a counselor at a queer leadership camp for 12- to 18-year-olds outside Los Angeles, and he said being surrounded by 100 LGBTQ people for 11 days was “euphoric.” 

    “I was like, ‘How do I create this space?’ Maybe not as grand as a camp, but like a space where people can feel this energy and not be judged for who they are,” said Sprinkman, who currently lives in Bend, Oregon, and works in customer service.

    On the long drive back from the camp to his then-home in Colorado, Sprinkman said the phrase “Everywhere is queer” came to his mind. A few months later, in January of this year, it became the name of his LLC. 

    Everywhere Is Queer consists of both a website that houses a worldwide map of LGBTQ-owned businesses and an Instagram page that shines a spotlight on some of these companies. Three months after the launch, the map has more than 500 businesses listed, and the Instagram page has nearly 5,000 followers. 

    Everywhere Is Queer map
    The Everywhere Is Queer map.Everywhere Is Queer / Google maps

    Businesses include retailers like Housewife Skateboards in Los Angeles, coffee shops like Lussi Brown Coffee Bar in Lexington, Kentucky, and lodging like Hotel Perruquet in the Italian Alps.

    Sprinkman said the project is personal for him, not just as a queer traveler but as someone who didn’t know of any LGBTQ-friendly spaces in his small suburban hometown about 30 miles west of Milwaukee. 

    “I didn’t have any out cousins, aunts, uncles, anyone as like an influence, so I didn’t really have a space as a child to find queer spaces around my hometown,” he said. “As I was building Everywhere Is Queer, I was thinking about youth, my hometown, trying to find and build spaces for them to just, even if they’re not out, just sit in a queer-owned coffee shop and just see queer people. You know, that subconscious layer of just like seeing queer people is what I hope Everywhere Is Queer will provide for so many.”

    Charlotte Tegen

    So far, Sprinkman said most of the LGBTQ-owned businesses on the map are concentrated in the U.S., and that there are only four states that don’t have an LGBTQ-owned business listed yet. He said there are also businesses listed in Germany, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Mexico.

    Anyone can add a business to the map by going to Everywhere Is Queer’s websiteand filling out an online form. 

    One business owner listed on the map said she has seen more queer people come into her restaurants. Mel McMillan is the owner of Sammich in Oregon, which sells sandwiches made with house-smoked meats. Both of her Sammich locations, in Portland and Ashland, are listed on the map, as is her food truck, also in Portland. 

    “If you Google ‘lesbian meat maker,’ you’ll get a real touch of what’s going on with me,” McMillan said. (It’s true: An article about her is the first thing that comes up in the search results for that phrase.)

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    McMillan, 39, said that one of the things she loves about Everywhere Is Queer is that it’s bringing together queer people from different generations. 

    Mel McMillan, owner of Oregon sandwich shop Sammich.
    Mel McMillan, owner of Oregon sandwich shop Sammich. Courtesy Mel McMillan

    Last month, Sprinkman and McMillan invited about 20 people to Sammich’s Portland location. 

    “The first thing that I thought was so cool about this was it’s bridging the gap between older queers and younger queers,” McMillan said. “That was really cool, because there were 20-somethings and 40-somethings, and there’s not even a place really for that either.”

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    Sprinkman said he’s also building a job board that allows businesses that are on the map to share job opportunities. 

    “I also have been searching for a queer-owned business job board, and I cannot find one, so we’re building one,” he said. 

    In the future, he said, he hopes to build an app to house the map and travel around to visit many of the LGBTQ-owned places listed. 

    “I would love to hit the road and visit and really hear the authentic stories of these queer-owned businesses,” he said, adding that “uplifting” the voices of queer business owners is a dream of his. 

    He said he also hopes that it helps LGBTQ travelers feel safer — and some have told him that it already has. He’s received hundreds of messages from people who have thanked him for filling a void. 

    States across the U.S. have a variety of laws regarding whether businesses can refuse service to LGBTQ people. Twenty-one states and Washington, D.C., have laws that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, such as businesses, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank. Eight states interpret their laws to protect LGBTQ people or provide partial protection. The remaining 21 states and five territories don’t provide any protection based on LGBTQ status.

    From left, Mel McMillan, Charlie Sprinkman and the owners of catering company Two Spoons PDX, Laura Taki and Rachel Arenas.
    From left, Mel McMillan, Charlie Sprinkman and the owners of catering company Two Spoons PDX, Laura Taki and Rachel Arenas.Charlie Sprinkman

    As of this month, the map has been viewed more than 100,000 times, and Sprinkman doesn’t make any money off it. 

    “I’m building this just out of my own little queer heart,” he said.

    He hopes that the map can ultimately just help people find the spaces that allow them to be themselves. 

    “I hope that a queer-owned business that was maybe unknown before can provide a space and a little bit more confidence, less judgment for anyone that’s struggling with figuring out their most authentic self,” Sprinkman said. “We’re always constantly on a journey, all of us.”

  • What medical treatments do transgender youth get?

    Transgender medical treatment for children and teens is increasingly under attack in many states, labeled child abuse and subject to criminalizing bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations.

    Many clinics use treatment plans pioneered in Amsterdam 30 years ago, according to a recent review in the British Psych Bulletin. Since 2005, the number of youth referred to gender clinics has increased as much as tenfold in the U.S., U.K, Canada and Finland, the review said.

    The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, a professional and educational organization, and the Endocrine Society, which represents specialists who treat hormone conditions, both have guidelines for such treatment. Here’s a look at what’s typically involved.

    Puberty Blockers

    Children who persistently question the sex they were designated at birth are often referred to specialty clinics providing gender-confirming care. Such care typically begins with a psychological evaluation to determine whether the children have “gender dysphoria,″ or distress caused when gender identity doesn’t match a person’s assigned sex.

    Children who meet clinical guidelines are first offered medication that temporarily blocks puberty. This treatment is designed for youngsters diagnosed with gender dysphoria who have been counseled with their families and are mature enough to understand what the regimen entails.

    The medication isn’t started until youngsters show early signs of puberty — enlargement of breasts or testicles. This typically occurs around age 8 to 13 for girls and a year or two later for boys.

    The drugs, known as GnRH agonists, block the brain from releasing key hormones involved in sexual maturation. They have been used for decades to treat precocious puberty, an uncommon medical condition that causes puberty to begin abnormally early.

    The drugs can be given as injections every few months or as arm implants lasting up to year or two. Their effects are reversible — puberty and sexual development resume as soon as the drugs are stopped.

    Some kids stay on them for several years. One possible side effect: They may cause a decrease in bone density that reverses when the drugs are stopped.

    Hormones 

    After puberty blockers, kids can either go through puberty while still identifying as the opposite sex or begin treatment to make their bodies more closely match their gender identity.

    For those choosing the second option, guidelines say the next step is taking manufactured versions of estrogen or testosterone — hormones that prompt sexual development in puberty. Estrogen comes in skin patches and pills. Testosterone treatment usually involves weekly injections.

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    Guidelines recommend starting these when kids are mature enough to make informed medical decisions. That is typically around age 16, and parents’ consent is typically required, said Dr. Gina Sequiera, co-director of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Gender Clinic.

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    Many transgender patients take the hormones for life, though some changes persist if medication is stopped.

    In girls transitioning to boys, testosterone generally leads to permanent voice-lowering, facial hair and protrusion of the Adam’s apple, said Dr. Stephanie Roberts, a specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Gender Management Service. For boys transitioning to girls, estrogen-induced breast development is typically permanent, Roberts said.

    Research on long-term hormone use in transgender adults has found potential health risks including blood clots and cholesterol changes.

    Surgery 

    Gender-altering surgery in teens is less common than hormone treatment, but many centers hesitate to give exact numbers.

    Guidelines say such surgery generally should be reserved for those aged 18 and older. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health says breast removal surgery is OK for those under 18 who have been on testosterone for at least a year. The Endocrine Society says there isn’t enough evidence to recommend a specific age limit for that operation.

    Outcomes 

    Studies have found some children and teens resort to self-mutilation to try to change their anatomy. And research has shown that transgender youth and adults are prone to stress, depression and suicidal behavior when forced to live as the sex they were assigned at birth.

    Opponents of youth transgender medical treatment say there’s no solid proof of purported benefits and cite widely discredited research claiming that most untreated kids outgrow their transgender identities by their teen years or later. One study often mentioned by opponents included many kids who were mistakenly identified as having gender dysphoria and lacked outcome data for many others.

    Doctors say accurately diagnosed kids whose transgender identity persists into puberty typically don’t outgrow it. And guidelines say treatment shouldn’t start before puberty begins.

    Many studies show the treatment can improve kids’ well-being, including reducing depression and suicidal behavior. The most robust kind of study — a trial in which some distressed kids would be given treatment and others not — cannot be done ethically. Longer term studies on treatment outcomes are underway.

  • LGBT+ Music Festival: the full lineup, ticket prices and where to stay in Portugal

    A new queer festival, LGBT+ Music Festival, is launching in Porto, Portugal this summer.

    The three-day music event will take place between 1-3 July across four stages in the city.

    Porto will host 35,000 festival goers, with music, DJs, drag and more on the lineup of the inclusive festival.

    The lineup features Iggy Azalea, Bebe Rexha, Melanie C, Drag Race UK’s Bimini Bon Boulash and Jodie Harsh to name a few.

    The festival has also teamed up with local clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels in Porto to create a “unique and inclusive experience”.

    As well as live music there’s also afterparties, boat parties that dock at the main stage venue, pool parties and helicopter rides over the ocean.

    “This will be a festival that remembers the past, celebrates the present and prepares for the future. Bringing people from all over the world together, it will create a truly safe space for everyone who knows and understands that music is an act of liberation,” says Diogo Vieria da Silva, executive director of Variações for Portugal’s LGBTI Commerce and Tourism Association.

    “Combining inclusion with fun, the festival will help the city of Porto and local organizations to raise their support for LGBT+ people and will be the epicentre of the celebration of equality values. It will give a stage to LGBT+ artists and their allies, whilst elevating national artists to new heights,” they add.

    You can find out the full lineup, ticket info and more below for LGBT+ Music Festival.

    This article contains affiliate links, PinkNews may earn revenue if you click through and purchase products through the links.

    Who’s on the lineup?

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cbdj-4ijPGo/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=996&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk&rp=%2F2022%2F04%2F04%2Flgbt-music-festival-porto-portugal-hotels%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A705%2C%22ls%22%3A394%2C%22le%22%3A413.00000000000006%7D

    This is the lineup so for LGBT+ Music Festival, with more names to be announced in the coming months.

    1 July: Iggy Azalea / Todrick Hall / Peaches / Little Boots / Jodie Harsh / The Illustrious Blacks

    2 July: Bebe Rexha / Melanie C / Gloria Groove / Bilal Hassani / Blaya / Sammy Jo

    3 July: Tiga / Ludmilla / Snap! / Bimini Bon Boulash / Favela Lacroix

    How to get tickets

    Festival tickets are now available to buy from festicket.com.

    There’s a number of different passes you can buy for LGBT+ Music Festival and we’ve broke them down below.

    • Day ticket – £56.84
    • Weekend ticket – £122.07
    • Day ticket plus pass – £64.30
    • Weekend ticket plus pass – £154.70
    • VIP day ticket – £101.58
    • VIP weekend ticket – £246.02
    • Platinum day ticket – £179.86
    • Platinum weekend ticket – £432.40

    Plus a payment scheme is also available for each ticket type, so you can spread the cost of your ticket across a number of months.

    Where is LGBT+ Music Festival?

    The official website says the festival’s main site is located at the Douro river bank in Porto, Portual in the Alfândega do Porto.

    “The other venues will mostly be at walking distance,” they add.

    Where to stay in Porto

    Whether it’s a hotel, apartment or hostel you’re after, there’s plenty of spots to stay in Porto. We’ve put together a handful of hotels you can book for the LGBT+ Music Festival.

    Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira

    Hotel Carris Porto Ribeira

    This hotel is situated in Porto’s Ribeira district and overlooks the Douro River, which is where the festival’s main stage will be set. It has a 9.6 rating for its location on Booking.com, so you know you’ll be within walking distance of everything that Porto has to offer – including the LGBT+ Music Festival this summer.

    Zero Box Lodge

    Zero Box Lodge Porto.

    If you want to stay somewhere a little different while you’re in Porto, then Zero Box Lodge offers exactly that. It’s located inside a former bank, with all rooms set in wooden boxes, with their own private bathroom and walk-in shower. It has a ‘superb’ rating on Booking.com, with reviewers calling it “quirky” and “unique”.

    Vincci Porto

    Vincci Porto. (Booking.com)

    Vincci Porto is a stylish hotel in a renovated landmark building known as Bolsa do Pescado, that’s located on Porto’s riverfront. It has a rooftop terrace that offers stunning panoramic views of the Arrábida Bridge throughout the summer and has been recommended by reviewers on Booking.com if you’re after a great night’s sleep. So if you need a break from the festival this might be an ideal choice.

    Torel Avantgarde

    Torel Avantgarde. (Booking.com)

    Torel Avantgarde is set in Porto’s centre, a 10-minute walk from the Douro riverside and 800 yards from Clérigos Church. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a garden, as well as panoramic views over the city. It has a ‘superb’ rating on Booking.com from more than 1,000 reviewers.

    Hotel Boa – Vista 

    Hotel Boa - Vista. (Booking.com)

    Hotel Boa – Vista features 19th century architecture and overlooks the moth of the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a rooftop outdoor pool that’s open all-year and a panoramic outdoor café. It’s also a short walk from Ingleses Beach, so if you need some down time during the festival you can head there to relax. To find out more head to Booking.com.

  • Federal court orders first gender-affirming surgery for a trans prisoner

    In a first, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has been ordered to secure gender-affirming surgery for a transgender prisoner.

    A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ordered the bureau on Monday to undergo a nationwide search for a qualified surgeon to perform the surgery for the inmate, Cristina Nichole Iglesias. 

    The directive will bring Iglesias — who has been imprisoned since 1994 for threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction — a step closer to receiving the procedure, which she has been fighting to get for six years, the last three in the courts. 

    “I am hopeful that I will finally get the care I need to live my life fully as the woman I am,” Iglesias said in a statement provided to NBC News by her legal representative, the American Civil Liberties Union. “BOP has denied me gender-affirming surgery for years — and keeps raising new excuses and putting new obstacles in my way. I am grateful that the court recognized the urgency of my case and ordered BOP to act.”

    Monday’s court order could pave the way for other transgender prisoners to receive gender-affirming surgeries as well. LGBTQ advocates have called these procedures “life-saving,” and Monday’s decision could bolster the Biden administration’s goal of improving the lives of incarcerated transgender people. 

    A 2015 report by the Justice Department estimated that 35 percent of trans prisoners surveyed had reported being sexually assaulted behind bars within the last year. Under the Trump administration, the Bureau of Prisons was required to “use biological sex as the initial determination” for housing trans prisoners. 

    A 2020 NBC News investigation that tracked 45 states and Washington, D.C., found that out of 4,890 transgender inmates in state prisons, only 15 were confirmed to being housed according to their lived gender. 

    In January, the Biden administration restored Obama-era guidelines for federal prisons to house transgender inmates by their gender identity “when appropriate.” The guidelines also require prison staff to refer to trans inmates by their lived name and pronouns. 

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    The ACLU estimates that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has more than 1,200 transgender people currently in its custody. 

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    Iglesias has been in federal prison for roughly 28 years and currently lives in a bureau-run residential re-entry center in Florida, according to the ACLU.

    Although she identified herself as a woman upon her incarceration, she has been housed in men’s facilities for over two decades, and during that time has experienced physical and sexual violence, the ACLU said. In May, her lawsuit to seek gender-affirming surgery resulted in her being one of the few transgender federal prisoners moved to a facility that corresponds with her gender identity. 

    Iglesias then became the first transgender prisoner to be evaluated for gender-affirming surgery, which the Bureau of Prisons recommended in January. However, the ACLU said in a statement that the bureau had “sought to postpone any referral to a surgeon for months.” 

    In Monday’s ruling, Judge Nancy Rosenstengel slammed the prison bureau’s handling of Iglesias’ case and compared its “tactics” to a game of “whack-a-mole.” Rosenstengel also ordered the bureau to provide the court with weekly updates and a detailed plan to ensure that Iglesias gets the surgery before her release in December. 

    The Bureau of Prisons told NBC News in a statement that it does not comment on “pending litigation or matters subject to legal proceedings,” nor on “the conditions of confinement for any individual or group of inmates.”

    “For years, Cristina has fought to receive the health care the Constitution requires,” Joshua Blecher-Cohen, an ACLU of Illinois staff attorney who represents Ms. Iglesias, said in a statement.

    “The court’s order makes clear that she needs gender-affirming surgery now and that BOP cannot justify its failure to provide this medically necessary care,” he said. “We hope this landmark decision will help secure long-overdue health care for Cristina — and for the many other transgender people in federal custody who have been denied gender-affirming care.”

  • See why Florida’s first openly lesbian mayor loves Key West

    It’s easy to get swept away by Key West’s charm. Walk down Historic Old Town roads lined with picturesque conch-style houses, and you’ll stumble upon the stomping grounds of Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Leonard Bernstein, just to name a few.

    Key West has long been known as a place where queer people can enjoy a peaceful vacation as their authentic selves. This is why more than 300,000 LGBTQ visitors flock to the island each year. With annual events like Fantasy Fest and Womenfest, it’s not hard to see why. It has become one of the most popular destinations for the “L” in LGBTQ.

    Mayor Teri Johnston at sea.

    At the helm of this ship is Teri Johnston, Florida’s very first openly lesbian mayor. Teri tells GayCities that it is the “one human family spirit” that draws folks in. “We are one big accepting, diverse family,” she explains. “We argue, disagree, laugh, cajole but at the end of the day, we are there for each other, as well as any guest to our island who wants to contribute and join this big loud family. The Conch Republic lives on stronger than ever.”

    Off the clock, Teri enjoys the laidback vibes this island offers. “I love to sit on my front porch on Stump Lane with my partner, two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in my lap, and Lily cat ruling the house. R&R is on the golf course or reading at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park under the Australian Pine. Biking around Key West is a fun way to see all that our community has to offer– from our historical wood frame district to our bustling nightlife of Duval.”

    Wood frame buildings on Duval Street.

    RELATED: 5 unique LGBTQ-friendly shops to enjoy during your next Key West adventure

    Key West’s world-famous Duval Street is the epicenter of life on the island. While Duval has a reputation for catering to a gay male crowd, the nightlife scene welcomes all. When asked where can lesbians feel most comfortable in town, Teri replies, “Anywhere and everywhere. We are a progressive community with a woman mayor and city manager and many, many incredible women heading up important organizations and nonprofits.” 

    On that note, here are a few of our favorite LGBTQ-friendly, female-focused spots on the island for your enjoyment.

    Key West Hotspots

    Alexander’s Guesthouse

    Alexander’s pool during Womenfest. via Alexander’s Guesthouse

    Originally built in the early 1900s and renovated in 1981, this gay-owned, LGBTQ-exclusive guesthouse maintains its Old Town charm on the outside with a contemporary Key West atmosphere on the inside. 

    22&Co

    via 22&Co Facebook

    Owned and operated by a loving lesbian couple, 22&Co is one of Key West’s most inclusive (and most glitter-filled) bars. With decor reminiscent of a fuzzy Lisa Frank poster and creative martinis to match, you’re sure to have a fun night and get some cute pics for the ‘gram. Tutus included.

    “Off The Hook” Grill

    This oceanside outpost lives up to its name with delicious seafood, American classics, and friendly service. A big plus, this business identifies as women-owned. A stone’s throw from Alexander’s Guesthouse, this bar and grill is a great spot for a quick bite or dinner with friends.  

    Tropic Cinema

    May be an image of outdoors
    via Tropic Cinema Facebook

    More than just a movie theater, this volunteer-run cultural hub curates a selection of indie flicks and mainstream classics along with concerts, lectures, and unforgettable parties. Their one-of-a-kind, aqua-blue Art Deco marquee is like a beacon for those who long for something more than Hollywood blockbusters.

    The Green Pineapple

    Mix together a boutique, a wellness cafe, a yoga shala, and you’ll get The Green Pineapple. Its bustling Duval Street location offers eco-friendly apparel for all genders, one-of-a-kind gifts, and accessories. The cafe is a great place to grab plant-based, gluten-free bites, juices, and smoothies throughout the day. It also hosts a daily happy hour with a worldly selection of organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines. 

    801 Bourbon Bar

    Ashley and Oksana. Smiling faces serving in the 801 Cabaret. Photo via 801 Bourbon Bar Facebook

    Home to Sushi the Drag Queen and the 801 Girls, this happening Duval Street watering hole hosts a full calendar of events, including live entertainment, bingo, and karaoke nights. Try one of their specialty cocktails or catch a show at the 801 Cabaret above the bar, the girls perform nightly. On New Year’s Eve, this bar hosts the Key West Shoe Drop, a sight to behold.

  • Florida’s health department moves to block social transition; healthcare for trans kids

    Florida’s health department has issued chilling guidance to block medical care and even social transition for trans kids in the state.

    The guidance, issued by Florida’s department of health on Wednesday (20 April), contradicts federal guidance and guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and states that “anyone under 18 should not be prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy”.

    It also appears to promote conversion therapy, stating that trans “children and adolescents should… seek counselling from a licensed provider”.

    The guidance has echoes of a directive released by Texas governor Greg Abbott in March, which urges Texans to report families providing their trans kids with gender-affirming medical care, framing it as “child abuse”.

    However the Florida guidance, signed by governor Ron DeSantis and state surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, takes the attack on trans kids a step further, declaring that even social transition, for example a change in name, pronouns or dress, “should not be a treatment option for children or adolescents”.h

    It is currently unclear what the real-life impact will be on trans kids in Florida, but considering DeSantis’ record on legislating against the existence of LGBT+ people, the guidance has activists and the wider trans community deeply concerned.

    Equality Florida described the guidance as “non-binding”, but said in a statement: “Once again, Ron DeSantis seeks to replace science and the safety of young people with political propaganda… The guidance demonizes life-saving, medically-necessary care, and asserts that the government, not parents, knows best when it comes to health care for our kids.

    “DeSantis wants government to intrude into doctors’ offices to pander to extremists in service to his ambitions.”

    The attack on the rights of the parents of trans children is ironic, considering that DeSantis recently signed into law the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

    DeSantis has claimed that the bill gives parents greater control over what their children are taught in school, but it bans the discussion of LGBT+ topics in classrooms, regardless of parents’ wishes.

    Equality Florida continued: “Parents should be deciding, in partnership with their child’s doctor, based on science, not politics, what is best for their children.

    “DeSantis’ runaway agenda of banning books, muzzling teachers, censoring history, and pushing government control is putting a handful of extremists in charge of every aspect of the lives of Floridians and is making the state less safe for LGBTQ families, especially trans kids.”

    The ACLU added: “This is a desperate effort to sow lies and fear about transgender youth, their parents, and their health care.

    “Trans youth know who they are. We’re ready to do everything in our power to defend the fundamental rights of trans youth and their families.”

  • Trans woman strapped to chair and electrocuted in ‘barbaric’ attempt to make her cis

    A trans woman has opened up about her horrific experiences of conversion therapy in wake of the UK government’s reviled U-turn that will see LGB conversion therapy banned but trans conversion therapy remain legal.

    Carolyn Mercer, 74, spoke to the Metro.co.uk about her experience of being strapped to a chair and given electric shocks to “cure her” at 17 years old.

    “I went to an NHS hospital, I was taken into a dark room and strapped to a wooden chair. Electrodes were soaked in saltwater and stuck to my arm”, Mercer, from Lancashire, explained.

    “Pictures of women were shone on the wall in front of me. Then randomly, they threw the switch.

    “The pain shot through my body, my arm shot up in the air. This was repeated. They tried to make me associate pain with who I saw myself as being, who I wanted to be.”

    Speaking about the government’s decision to scrap a ban on trans conversion therapy, Mercer told the news site that there will be “blood” on Boris Johnson’s hands.

    The retired headteacher said: “For Johnson to say it’s utterly abhorrent for gay people, then why is it acceptable for trans people? It’s barbaric. Perhaps they want to go through it themselves and see what it’s like.

    “As well as being barbaric, conversion practice is responsible for people losing their lives… If this isn’t banned, there is blood on people’s hands – particularly the prime minister’s, and he needs to realise that.

    “If there was a will, the Conservative government could work the complexities out easily. They don’t want to do it.”

    After six hour-long conversion therapy sessions, and years of struggling with depression, the teacher opened up to her family and began taking hormones in the early 1990s.

    Despite now living her authentic life, Mercer told Metro that she never started to “like myself more” due to undergoing the conversion practice.

    “I don’t physically shake anymore when I think about the treatment, that went on for 40 years, but I’m still struggling,” she said.

    The majority of Conservative Party voters have backed a ban on trans conversion therapy, despite Johnson’s exclusion of the community from forthcoming legislation, a YouGov poll has found.

    Polling conducted by YouGov on behalf of The Times found that 58 per cent of Tory voters back banning so-called conversion therapy that “seeks to change someone’s gender identity”, compared to only 19 per cent of Tory voters who don’t.The Times claimed that Tory voters found little difference between a ban on trans conversion therapy and a ban on LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) conversion therapy, with 63 per cent of Tory voters agreeing that therapy “seeking to change someone’s sexual orientation” should be stopped.This polling follows a petition which gained over 100,000 signaturesbacking a ban on conversion therapy after changes to the proposed legislation were made.“It’s shameful that the UK intends to deliberately exclude trans people from a ban in contrast to the approach taken by many countries, despite trans people being at a greater risk of experiencing the harmful and degrading practices,” the petition states.

    “The government’s own figures show that trans people are nearly twice as likely to be at risk of experiencing the harmful & degrading practices of conversion therapy.

    “A ban needs to ensure all forms of conversion therapy are banned.”