Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) announced on April 23 that she signed into law House Bill 391, which will ban trans people from participating in sports on single-sex teams across all public schools.Ivey’s signature makes Alabama the fifth state to enact such a ban this calendar year. This is only the second state to ban male and female trans youth from sports, while others only explicitly banned female trans youth. Despite that, the bill’s proponents still claim that its purpose is to protect women’s sports.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you., , ,...…Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) announced on April 23 that she signed into law House Bill 391, which will ban trans people from participating in sports on single-sex teams across all public schools.Ivey’s signature makes Alabama the fifth state to enact such a ban this calendar year. This is only the second state to ban male and female trans youth from sports, while others only explicitly banned female trans youth. Despite that, the bill’s proponents still claim that its purpose is to protect women’s sports.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you., , ,...WW…

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told American embassies and diplomatic missions that they can fly the Pride flag again as well as “other symbols connoting support for LGBTQ rights based on what is ‘appropriate in light of local conditions.'”It’s a reversal of the Trump administration’s ban on embassies flying the rainbow flag that even resulted in to force the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea to take down its Pride flag.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Foreign Policy reports that (or head diplomats) at outposts around the globe.The cable...…Secretary of State Antony Blinken told American embassies and diplomatic missions that they can fly the Pride flag again as well as “other symbols connoting support for LGBTQ rights based on what is ‘appropriate in light of local conditions.'”It’s a reversal of the Trump administration’s ban on embassies flying the rainbow flag that even resulted in to force the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea to take down its Pride flag.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Foreign Policy reports that (or head diplomats) at outposts around the globe.The cable...WW…

Far-right Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to start a new “America First Caucus” that will “follow in President Trump’s footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation” and will include members who stand for “uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.”The caucus was first reported by Punchbowl News, believed to be the brainchild of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ). Now, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) — currently facing sex trafficking allegations — has confirmed that he will...…Far-right Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to start a new “America First Caucus” that will “follow in President Trump’s footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation” and will include members who stand for “uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.”The caucus was first reported by Punchbowl News, believed to be the brainchild of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ). Now, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) — currently facing sex trafficking allegations — has confirmed that he will...WW…

State employees administering Alaska’s Permanent Fund failed to give gay couples their benefits, over four years after the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was voided. The “oil wealth check” provides dividends that are distributed to most citizens of Alaska annually by constitutional order.But after years of litigation brought by Alaska resident Denali Smith and three others, the state has agreed to treat marriages between same-sex couples equally, years after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality and said that all marriages must be treated equally.Related:The news you care...…State employees administering Alaska’s Permanent Fund failed to give gay couples their benefits, over four years after the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was voided. The “oil wealth check” provides dividends that are distributed to most citizens of Alaska annually by constitutional order.But after years of litigation brought by Alaska resident Denali Smith and three others, the state has agreed to treat marriages between same-sex couples equally, years after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality and said that all marriages must be treated equally.Related:The news you care...WW…

The Michigan Court of Appeals just overturned a lower court ruling that threatened to remove a mother from the birth certificates of the children that she physically gave birth to, partly because she wasn’t able to marry her partner before marriage equality was legalized in her state.The case involved the Michigan couple Lanesha Matthews and Kyresha LeFever, who were together from 2011 to 2014. While they were together, they decided to start a family using LeFever’s eggs and donor sperm. Matthews carried and delivered their twins, and both women were named on their birth...…The Michigan Court of Appeals just overturned a lower court ruling that threatened to remove a mother from the birth certificates of the children that she physically gave birth to, partly because she wasn’t able to marry her partner before marriage equality was legalized in her state.The case involved the Michigan couple Lanesha Matthews and Kyresha LeFever, who were together from 2011 to 2014. While they were together, they decided to start a family using LeFever’s eggs and donor sperm. Matthews carried and delivered their twins, and both women were named on their birth...WW…

The White House responded to questions about the potential of any legal action being taken against states where lawmakers are enacting anti-trans laws across the country.Press Secretary Jen Psaki couldn’t promise that any legal action will take place, but emphasized that it is still President Joe Biden’s view that the bills are illegal under federal law and that he “certainly can” ask Attorney General Merrick Garland to direct the Justice Department to seek litigation.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Chris Johnson, the White House Correspondent...…The White House responded to questions about the potential of any legal action being taken against states where lawmakers are enacting anti-trans laws across the country.Press Secretary Jen Psaki couldn’t promise that any legal action will take place, but emphasized that it is still President Joe Biden’s view that the bills are illegal under federal law and that he “certainly can” ask Attorney General Merrick Garland to direct the Justice Department to seek litigation.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Chris Johnson, the White House Correspondent...WW…

Last month, anti-LGBTQ activists tried — and failed — to convince the Brevard County School Board to remove protections for LGBTQ people in schools, going against the federal government’s policies.Some of those same activists staged another “protest” outside of a school board member’s private home this week, offering a “surprise” for her and her family, including her four-year-old daughter — and even one of the main opponents to the policies denounced it.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.The “protestors” denounced the “LGBTQ agenda,” threatened...…Last month, anti-LGBTQ activists tried — and failed — to convince the Brevard County School Board to remove protections for LGBTQ people in schools, going against the federal government’s policies.Some of those same activists staged another “protest” outside of a school board member’s private home this week, offering a “surprise” for her and her family, including her four-year-old daughter — and even one of the main opponents to the policies denounced it.Related:The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.The “protestors” denounced the “LGBTQ agenda,” threatened...WW…

Another bill will be considered in the Arkansas legislature starting this week that will target trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. This bill gives a person the right to sue if, while in restrooms at schools, offices, or government-ran facilities, they encounter someone that was assigned to a different sex at birth than them.House Bill 1882, deemed the “Arkansas Privacy Accommodations Act,” was introduced by state Rep. Cindy Crawford (R) and is co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Bentley (R), Rep. Brandt Smith (R), and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R), who championed other anti-trans...…Another bill will be considered in the Arkansas legislature starting this week that will target trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. This bill gives a person the right to sue if, while in restrooms at schools, offices, or government-ran facilities, they encounter someone that was assigned to a different sex at birth than them.House Bill 1882, deemed the “Arkansas Privacy Accommodations Act,” was introduced by state Rep. Cindy Crawford (R) and is co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Bentley (R), Rep. Brandt Smith (R), and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R), who championed other anti-trans...WW…

Earlier this week, former Vice President Mike Pence (R) announced his Advancing American Freedom group that will focus on traditional religious right issues along with economic and foreign policy. Abortion and “religious freedom” advocacy against LGBTQ rights will be a large aspect of the group’s planned attacks on President Joe Biden’s progressive agenda.Former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway and other Trump administration officials like Pence’s former Chief of Staff, Marc Short, of the group’s advisory board. Now, Pence has reportedly, and quietly, added one other name: Michael Farris, the...…Earlier this week, former Vice President Mike Pence (R) announced his Advancing American Freedom group that will focus on traditional religious right issues along with economic and foreign policy. Abortion and “religious freedom” advocacy against LGBTQ rights will be a large aspect of the group’s planned attacks on President Joe Biden’s progressive agenda.Former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway and other Trump administration officials like Pence’s former Chief of Staff, Marc Short, of the group’s advisory board. Now, Pence has reportedly, and quietly, added one other name: Michael Farris, the...WW…

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has finally signed the so-called Montana Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which grants people the freedom to discriminate if people claim their religious liberties are “substantially burden[ed].” It also “restores” the freedom of religion that is nominally protected in the First Amendment of the Constitution.The law leaves broad implications that may likely lead to anti-LGBTQ discrimination on the grounds of “religious freedom.” An anti-LGBTQ hate group leader is already cheering the governor and the legislation.Related:The news you care about,...…Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) has finally signed the so-called Montana Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which grants people the freedom to discriminate if people claim their religious liberties are “substantially burden[ed].” It also “restores” the freedom of religion that is nominally protected in the First Amendment of the Constitution.The law leaves broad implications that may likely lead to anti-LGBTQ discrimination on the grounds of “religious freedom.” An anti-LGBTQ hate group leader is already cheering the governor and the legislation.Related:The news you care about,...WW…