Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance wrote the foreword to a forthcoming book by the head of Project 2025, the vast rightwing, authoritarian presidential transition plan that Vance’s running mate Donald Trump said he knew nothing about.
Project 2025 is spearheaded and organized by the far-right Heritage Foundation, and with 100 coalition partner organizations, many of which are well-known for pushing anti-LGBTQ policy, legal efforts, and harmful rhetoric, accompanied by Christian nationalism.
In advance publicity materials ,Vance says of Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation: “Never before has a figure with [his] depth and stature within the American Right tried to articulate a genuinely new future for conservatism.” The same publicity material describes Roberts as “head” of Project 2025.
Parent Audra Beasley was arrested while calling out Ryan Walters for bigoty and transphobia. Photo Screen shot KOCO Video
"Y'all are arresting me in front of my children because this man over here is a bigot and a bully, picking on trans kids, picking on disabled kids, picking on my kids. My kids are crying, Ryan Walters," Audra Beasley said while being arrested.
Troopers arrested Beasley during an April board of education meeting when her child was up for public comment just after her time had ended. Beasley wants the state to add adult diaper changing tables in schools and state buildings throughout Oklahoma for people with disabilities being put in through the state.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said the mother was arrested on complaints of willfully disrupting state business/public meeting and a person causing disruption willfully refuse to disperse or leave.
The video above references a child who took their life. That child's name is name is Nex Benedict a non-binary High School student.
Nex Benedict, 16, died on Feb. 8, one day after what one witness described as an assault perpetrated by others against Benedict in an Owasso High School bathroom. According to Benedict's family, Benedict was nonbinary and went by they/them pronouns.
Trump is panicking and claiming absurdly that he "knows nothing about Project 2025" the Heritiage Foundation's backed manisfesto detailing step by step the overthrow of our federal goverment should Trump win the election.
Project 2025 was written in such a way to terrify transgender people putting our elemination a top priority.
The Republican plan worked perhaps too well as we begun sounding the alarm and Project 2025 is now receiving mainstream media attention.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump posted on his social media website. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
The 922-page plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to fire as many as 50,000 government workers to replace them with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has worked to draw more attention to the agenda, particularly as Biden tries to keep fellow Democrats on board after his disastrous debate.
“He’s trying to hide his connections to his allies’ extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Biden said of Trump in a statement released by his campaign Saturday. “The only problem? It was written for him, by those closest to him. Project 2025 should scare every single American.”
Former president Trump adminiatration's ties to Project 2025.
The Heritage Foundation also created a "Mandate for Leadership" in 2015 ahead of Trump's first term, ABC reports. Two years into his presidency, it touted that Trump had instituted 64% of its policy recommendations, ranging from leaving the Paris Climate Accords, increasing military spending, and increasing off-shore drilling and developing federal lands. In July 2020, the Heritage Foundation gave its updated version of the book to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
The authors of many chapters are familiar names from the Trump administration, such as Russ Vought, who led the Office of Management and Budget; former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller; and Roger Severino, who was director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Vought is the policy director for the 2024 Republican National Committee's platform committee, which released its proposed platform on Monday.
John McEntee, former director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office under Trump, is a senior advisor to the Heritage Foundation, and said that the group will "integrate a lot of our work" with the Trump campaign when the official transition efforts are announced in the next few months.
Candidates interested in applying for the Heritage Foundation's "Presidential Personnel Database" are vetted on a number of political stances, such as whether they agree or disagree with statements like "life has a right to legal protection from conception to natural death," and "the President should be able to advance his/her agenda through the bureaucracy without hindrance from unelected federal officials."
Supreme Court of the United States. (2024, June 27). In Wikipedia.
On Monday the Supreme Court agreed to rule on the constitutionality of the Tennessee Law denying trans youth medical care. The justices agreed to rule on this after receiving a petition by the Biden Administration which alleges that Tennessee violates the 14th Amendment which guarantees equal treatment of all citizens under the law.
Tennessee's law allows minors diagnosed with precocious puberty to receive the same medical treatment that youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria are being denied by the ban.
The implications of the ruling can not be understated. Twenty-five states, all led by Republicans, have enacted laws banning trans youth from receiving gender-affirming medical care.
Many states have since enacted laws becoming safe havens for families who need to escape these unjust laws. This has been brought to a head after conflicting decisions by District Courts some ruling in favor of trans youth care while some left the bans in place as they were litigated.
The fact that the justices decided to take up this question at all is significant, reports the 19th. The Supreme Court has declined to intervene on many issues related to transgender rights, including cases on bathroom access, school sports, whether trans people are protected under disability law, and whether trans students should receive confidential support in school. This inaction has repeatedly granted wins to LGBTQ+ advocates.
Even when the Supreme Court allowed Idaho to enforce its ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth in April, it did not address the constitutionality of such bans or debate political interventions in medical care. Now, for the first time, the high court will take up the issue, which is what LGBTQ+ rights attorneys were hoping for.
The petition asks the Supreme Court to decide the bans' constitutionality which to most would be a no brainer. However, the impartiality of the conservative judges has been recently shown to be compromised leaving many in the transgender community with a feeling of dread and distrust.
Research has found that hormone therapy can improve the mental health of transgender adolescents and teenagers, according to the largest study to date published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Major national medical associations -- including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and more than 20 others -- agree that gender-affirming care is safe, effective, beneficial, and medically necessary, ABC reports.
As part of its mission, the AAP will continue to “ensure young people get the reproductive and gender-affirming care they need and are seen, heard and valued as they are,” AAP CEO/Executive Vice President Mark Del Monte, J.D., said in a statement.
LGBTQ advocates on Monday called on the Supreme Court to restore access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth across the country.
(L) Dr. Eithan Haim walks out of the Bob Casey United States Courthouse after appearing for his arraignment on June 17, 2024 (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)(R) Chris Rufo Editor City Desk (Wkipedia)
Dr. Eithan Haim, a 34-year-old surgeon is accused of illegally obtaining private information on patients from the nation's largest pediatric hospital who were not under his care, CBS News reports.
The indictment charges that Haim illegally obtained information on both children and adults being treated for gender dysphoria at Baylor and Texas Children's Hospital locations.
Federal prosecutors said Dr. Haim, snatched the information and shared it with a right-wing extremist Chris Rufo with "intent to cause malicious harm" to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Contributing Editor at City Journal and far-right propagandist Chris Rufo is largely responsible for the rise of “critical race theory” as a major concern for the GOP, according to Vox. He has played a crucial role in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s attempt to transform Florida’s universities, spearheading the takeover and transformation of the New College of Florida, a small liberal arts school, as proof of concept for a new right-wing model for higher education.
The four-count indictment alleges Haim obtained personal information including patient names, treatment codes, and the attending physician from Texas Children’s Hospital’s (TCH) electronic system without authorization. He allegedly obtained this information under false pretenses and with intent to cause malicious harm to TCH.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas Press Release , the indictment charges that Haim was a resident at Baylor College of Medicine and had previous rotations at TCH as part of his residency.
In April 2023, Haim allegedly requested to re-activate his login access at TCH to access pediatric patients not under his care. The indictment alleges he obtained unauthorized access to personal information of pediatric patients under false pretenses and later disclosed it to a media contact.
Haim has publicly identified himself as the person who gave the information about patients at Texas Children's to Chris Rufo who published a story that the hospital was providing transgender care for minors in secret. At the time, transgender care for minors was legal in Texas, but the hospital under pressure from anti-LGBTQ crusader Texas AG Ken Paxton announced in 2022 that it would stop gender-affirming therapies.
At least 25 states have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.
"I have maintained from day one that I have done nothing wrong. We're going to fight this tooth and nail, stand up for whistleblowers everywhere," Haim said outside the courthouse Monday.
Texas Children's declined to comment on the charges against Haim. In previous statements, hospital officials said its doctors have always provided care within the law.
Haim pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to four counts of wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information.
If convicted, criminal indictments unsealed Monday indicate that Haim faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine. He was released on $10,000 bond.
A Canadian doctor disagrees with the Cass review's findings and is speaking out about it. The Cass review has resulted in a complete and immediate ban on trans-affirming healthcare at the NHS in the UK.
One of the biggest concerns is the report’s assertion that almost all existing research into clinical guidance for trans youth is of “poor quality” and that there isn’t “a reliable evidence base, upon which to make clinical decisions,” including through international guidelines, Pink news reports.
To summarize, Dr. Cass is saying that every doctor in the world is wrong by treating trans youth affirmingly, adhering to Standards of care developed independently in many Western countries by every major medical association therewithin and those SOC should be disregarded because in her opinion they lack credibility.
"There actually is a lot of evidence, just not in the form of randomized clinical trials," said Dr. Jake Donaldson, a family physician in Calgary who treats transgender patients, including prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy in some cases.
"That would be kind of like saying for a pregnant woman, since we lacked randomized clinical trials for the care of people in pregnancy, we're not going to provide care for you.… It's completely unethical."
Two American medical organizations, the Endocrine Society And the American Academy Of Pediatrics have issued statements rejecting the Cass review as politically motivated and without scientific basis.
The Cass Report commissioned by the United Kingdom's conservative government has resulted in a countrywide ban on gender-affirming care for people enrolled in the National Healthcare System. This report is in stark contrast to every major American medical association which over decades has found that gender-affirming care, for youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria, is in fact life-saving.
"We stand firm in our support of gender-affirming care. Transgender and gender-diverse people deserve access to needed and often life-saving medical care. NHS England’s recent report, the Cass Review, does not contain any new research that would contradict the recommendations made in our Clinical Practice Guideline on gender-affirming care."
Similar sentiments were shared by Dr. Ben Hoffman, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who responded to the Cass Review,
“What we’re seeing more and more is that the politically infused public discourse is getting this wrong and it’s impacting the way that doctors care for their patients. Physicians must be able to practice medicine that is informed by their medical education, training, experience, and the available evidence, freely and without the threat of punishment. Instead, state legislatures have passed bills to ban and restrict gender-affirming care, which means that right now, for far too many families, their zip code determines their ability to seek the health care they need. Politicians have inserted themselves into the exam room, and this is dangerous for both physicians and for families.”
Every major medical association and leading world health authority supports health care for transgender people and youth. They are also increasingly speaking out against the disinformation being spread by opponents of this care.
The following have issued statements in support of health care for transgender people and youth:
The Trans affirming care offered by these medical associations has helped nearly 100,000 transgender US citizens become all that we can be. Given the current political situation that is nothing less than a miracle.
The 2022 USTS (United States Transgender Survey) is the largest survey ever conducted to examine the experiences of binary and nonbinary transgender people in the United States, with an unprecedented 92,329 respondents. The survey was programmed and hosted by Qualtrics, and data collection was managed by Qualtrics throughout the 48-day fielding period.
Nearly all respondents (98%) who were currently receiving hormone treatment reported that receiving hormones for their gender identity/transition made them either “a lot more satisfied” (84%) or “a little more satisfied” (14%) with their life.
One percent (1%) reported that hormones made them “neither more nor less
satisfied” with their life, and less than 1% said that they were “a little less satisfied” or “a lot less satisfied”
with their lives after receiving hormones.
Dr Cass told PBS in an interview that two metrics, employment, and 'getting out of the house' should used to determine the effectiveness of trans-affirming medical care.
However to use those metrics a baseline a society free from transphobia and discrimination would need to be established. This statement by her serves to highlight how politized and removed from reality the Cass review actually is.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone who cares for another being regardless of your gender. What is a mother? A mother has given birth to a child or raised one from a different mother. Or you may have brought someone from the LGBTQI community into your home, or a stray or feral creature and cared for them. That's how I, a Westerner define mother..
But are there more mothers out there, and how or where did this tradition of honoring them begin?
I hear people say it sometimes on Twitter and it’s always westerners, I don’t think there’s an exact equivalent in Korean so it seems to be an English only thing and also mostly American. I know it started out as a term gay men used because it pertained to drag queens in some way (seemed to mean someone who was good/cool but probably more specific than that). Now though I hear it used in kpop forums and even Meghan Trainor released a song about being a mother (which I think she means in the same way) so it’s a little confusing to me how the word has changed and what it means now.
Can someone tell me what it means (specifically in kpop if that’s different from how it’s used generally by westerners) and who are some idols who qualify as that? Thanks!
SifuHallyu answered:
Mother is a term that originated in Ball culture in the 80s. Back when people were being thrown out of their homes for being gay, getting infected with HIV, dying in droves, and rejected by society. Gay people would join a "house" led by a mother. Their called Mother of the house of name. They formed familial units, lived together and performed in Balls. This was also adopted by Drag culture.
If you're interested in the topic watch Paris is Burning, it's a documentary about this. Pose is a realistic three season drama that showcases houses and ballroom culture well. Lastly, Legendary on HBO is a competition show featuring houses that are still active which is very good.
If someone is being called MOTHER, this means they are a boss, in charge, fierce, and have a group around them that they "raise" as their adopted children.
A lot of Kpop idols may be called Mother, but the term really doesn't apply to most idols.
And I'd like to say Happy Mother's Day to my friend from FaceBook, De'Anne Jackson. She is always so supportive of me and nearly always calls me 'mother' which I assumed to be a term of endearment. But apparently, it means a lot more being said by Māori people
De'Anne prefaces all her posts with Whanau Koutou Katoa which is Māori and means "You are all family". Happy Mother's Day Queen Mother De'Anne Jackson. You have done more good than you will ever know.
De'Anne posted this video on her profile page. It's a perfect example of who she is.
Amber Lavigne shows the "breast binder" that she found in her child's room. Screenshot Gold Water Institute YouTube
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Maine woman who accused school officials of encouraging her teen’s gender expression by providing a chest binder and using a new name and pronouns, without consulting parents, the AP reported.
U.S. District Judge Jon Levy acknowledged his decision that a mother such as Amber Lavigne “might expect school officials to keep her informed about how her child is navigating matters related to gender identity” but he concluded that she failed to establish legal claims for which the school district, or employees named in previous claims, could be held liable,
Related: Aug 14, 2023 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that a group of parents could not challenge a Maryland school district's policy against telling parents if their children identify as transgender or gender nonconforming.
A 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 that three parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, lacked standing to challenge the policy because they had not alleged their children were transgender in the first place.
It's important to note that throughout the video Amber Lavigne misgendered her child and failed to acknowledge that they may have been suffering from gender dysphoria. She said she had conversations with them about 'anxieties' but didn't say wheither they broached the subject of gender identity.
Amber Lavigne told the Goldwater Institute, a right-wing group, that she was the victim and sued the school because she felt her 'parental rights were violated'.
Too many trans youths end their own lives because their parents refuse to accept them as they are. Much of the mother's concern is that the school helped with the child's chest binder. It is common for trans masculine people to wear chest binders. Properly fitted they are safe. But tragically many youths use ace bandages for this purpose and those have been known to cause broken ribs. I applaud the school for helping this trans child. And I hope the child's mother gets educated and accepts her child as they are.
President Johnson reaches to shake hands with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after presenting the civil rights leader with one of the 72 pens used to sign the Civil Rights Act.
AP-AP I remember that day. I was six and shortly after felt empowered to tell my parents I was female. That's when the beatings began. We have come a long way but the fight is far from over.
EEOC workplace rules were updated Monday for the first time in 25 years 19th reports to now include LGBT workers.
Some legal experts believe the new Title IX rules — which clarify that gender identity is covered by laws prohibiting sex discrimination — are likely to withstand conservative challenges, Chalkbeat reports. In the meantime, teachers and school administrators are caught between federal law, which usually takes precedence, and state law, which can loom larger in the classroom.
And queer youth and their allies say their states’ defiance of federal law reinforces the idea that their existence is a problem and that their (state) government is targeting them.
“You already had kids who literally did not use the bathroom at school,” said A’Niya Robinson, an advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Louisiana. “They were afraid that they would be targeted for just completing a bodily function. These rules are a reprieve from kids having to experience that, and then to have your state want to undo that, it’s just unfortunate.”
In other news, LGBTQ+ workers who are misgendered by their employers or blocked from accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identity will now get additional workplace protections as a result of new guidance issued Monday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
It’s the first time in 25 years that the EEOC has issued new rules on workplace discrimination — a change precipitated in part by the 2020 Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, the landmark decision that found that LGBTQ+ workers are protected from workplace discrimination.
