12 stories credited to LGBTQ Nation
Latest story Apr 21, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for LGBTQ Nation
Originality
1 of those 12 carry an unconfirmed copying flag, which is not evidence either way.
12 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality not enough rated stories yet: 6 of 10. How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to LGBTQ Nation, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from LGBTQ Nation
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 1 | 42 |
| October 2025 | 2 | 50 |
| November 2025 | 1 | 79 |
| December 2025 | 0 | 27 |
| January 2026 | 1 | 87 |
| February 2026 | 0 | 180 |
| March 2026 | 1 | 1,094 |
| April 2026 | 6 | 4,538 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 0 | 1,320 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption12
100% of 12 stories · 58% across all outlets
- Criminal Justice6
50% of 12 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending5
42% of 12 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Voting Rights3
25% of 12 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy2
17% of 12 stories · 29% across all outlets
- Healthcare2
17% of 12 stories · 8% across all outlets
- Economy1
8% of 12 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Immigration1
8% of 12 stories · 13% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 13 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 21 story–official pairs, from 12 stories.
- Democrat62% · 13 pairs
- Republican38% · 8 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 12 stories.
- 1Sarah McBrideD5 stories · 42%
- 2Donald TrumpR4 stories · 33%
- 3Robert GarciaD2 stories · 17%
- 4Alexandria Ocasio-CortezD1 story · 8%
- 5Greg PenceR1 story · 8%
- 6Lisa MurkowskiR1 story · 8%
- 7Mark TakanoD1 story · 8%
- 8Mike JohnsonR1 story · 8%
- 9Mike LeeR1 story · 8%
- 10Pete ButtigiegD1 story · 8%
+ 3 other officials (3 story–official pairs)
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not LGBTQ Nation’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 12 stories.
- Good Look
- 8 (67%)
- Mixed
- 1 (8%)
- Informational
- 0 (0%)
- Bad Look
- 3 (25%)
Related sources
Lean 95% range 17–29 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 2 shared topics
Lean 95% range 16–24 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 18–21 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 24–27 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 19–32 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 16–22 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from lgbtqnation.com
21
Whistleblower reveals how gay Trump appointee turned Kennedy Center into corrupt “playground”
An ex-staffer at the Kennedy Center who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement after he was fired in March is now adding his insider knowledge of the corruption of the renowned arts center to an investigation by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Josef Palermo, hired by ousted Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell in April as curator of visual arts and special programming for the arts center, says he saw “cronyism, incompetence, and a series of bizarre moves that would lead to the Kennedy Center going dark.” Related Ric Grenell is under Senate investigation for corrupt dealings at the Kennedy Center Amid “cancellations, shrinking audiences, firings of old staffers and influxes of new ones,” there was “a lot of drama, just not onstage,” the fired curator says in The Atlantic Monthly. The Kennedy Center was “barely able to function artistically and financially,” he wrote. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Sen. Whitehouse notified Grenell in a letter last November that he was the subject of an investigation over his management of the arts center. “Contracts, invoices, and facility use agreements reveal that you operate the Center for the enrichment of your friends and acquaintances, to dole out political favors, and as a playground for the President of the United States and his allies,” Whitehouse wrote of the former ambassador’s management of the living memorial to former President John F. Kennedy. Trump added his own name to the Kennedy Center in December. Palermo joined the center last year despite misgivings about the politicization of the institution — “the takeover had felt like an assault,” he wrote — and over the objections of arts colleagues. One “dear friend” called him “the equivalent of a Nazi collaborator,” Palermo added. He justified taking on the assignment because “the Kennedy Center was too important an institution to abandon.” However, “I quickly started noticing things getting weird,” he said. After a wholesale purge of board members and the installation of Trump as the center’s board chairman early last year, previous donors fled the center. Grenell’s solution was recruiting a new set of Trump loyalist supporters by selling access to the president. Management “put together a fundraiser for a preview of Les Misérables where one could pay $2 million to sit in a box seat and attend a private reception with the president,” Palermo says, citing one example of the center’s new political orientation. He also said the center began selling naming rights to lounges, which had previously celebrated cultural diplomacy and their artistic ties to other countries. These lounges were stripped of their cultural identities and then sold for the highest bidders to rename. “It certainly would be a shame if we lost this room to a corporation or an individual and it was no longer the [Israeli] lounge,” Grenell told a gathering of Jewish supporters commemorating the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Palermo said he was “mortified” by the strong-arm tactic. “We are grafting political management principles into a nonpolitical organization,” one colleague and veteran Republican fundraiser told Palermo. Grenell was overt in using the Kennedy Center to hand out political favors, stacking the center’s ranks with a slew of unqualified political appointees, Palermo recounts. Lisa Dale, the top fundraising officer, was a friend of Trump ally Kari Lake, and was rarely at the center except when red-carpet events were scheduled. Dale “professed unfamiliarity with the terms ‘permanent collection,’ ‘performance art,’ and ’emeritus’ (as in “emeritus trustees”), concepts that senior leaders at a prominent cultural center ought to know,” Palermo says. Another appointee was the spouse of a Republican National Committee leader “whose longest professional experience was working as a marketing and events manager at a Toyota dealership in Ireland,” Palermo said. Grenell was mostly absent from day-to-day management of the center, Palermo said. Grenell never held an all-staff meeting during Palermo’s tenure, but rather spent much of his time on foreign policy freelancing in his second Trump administration role as Special Envoy for Special Missions. Grenell also spent time vacationing with his former Broadway actor boyfriend, Matt Lashey. “When I inquired with his scheduler in the middle of August if I could get a meeting to discuss my projects, I was told that he would be out of the office for several weeks. We knew where he was — a yacht off the coast of Croatia, then in California — because he posted about it on Instagram,” Palermo said. Palermo said he slow-walked many requests from Grenell and his lieutenants, including one from the director to “’get rid of everything’ in the permanent collection because we needed all new art for the reopening of the Kennedy Center.” “I was taken aback by his cavalier attitude,” Palermo recalled. “If the donors of the works didn’t want to pay for their removal, he said, we could put them up for auction or give them away.” Another order revealed Grenell’s insidious use of the Kennedy Center for his own personal gain. “One of Grenell’s top lieutenants once texted me about an artist whose work Grenell owned and asked if we could ‘do something with him.’ Displaying that artist’s work could have raised their prices at auction and benefited Grenell, so doing so would have been a potential ethical breach. I ignored the request,” Palermo said. Grenell’s corruption of the Kennedy Center seems to have taken precedence over programming at the once-revered arts center, though Palermo said Grenell did have two former colleagues at work on a show dedicated to the 250th anniversary celebrations this summer, before the Kennedy Center was shut down: an America’s Got Talent–style talent show. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
California Supreme Court disbars anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer who tried to help Trump overturn 2020 election
The California Supreme Court disbarred anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer John Eastman from practicing law in the state on Wednesday because of his efforts to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 presidential elections. The state’s high court declined to review Eastman’s appeal of a lower court’s recommendation that he be stripped of his legal license. He has pledged to appeal the high court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state Supreme Court upheld a 2024 decision by the state bar association to disbar Eastman. In that decision, State Bar Judge Yvette Roland found Eastman culpable on 10 of 11 counts filed by the California State Bar for his “moral turpitude” and “false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election, The Hill reported. Related Trump’s pardon helped keep a confessed child sex offender out of prison Though Eastman appealed Roland’s decision to the California Supreme Court, the state’s top court ruled that her decision was “warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” according to George Cardona, the State Bar of California’s chief trial counsel. Cardona said in a statement, “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney,” and added that the Supreme Court’s ruling affirms the fundamental principle that attorneys must “act with honesty and uphold the rule of law,” no matter who their client is. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “The Court has imposed the discipline warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” Cardona added. “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney.” Eastman’s lawyer, Randall Miller, said that he’ll appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to “repudiate this threat to the rule of law and our nation’s adversarial system of justice.” He still has a license to practice law in D.C. Eastman suggested that Trump and the Republican Party try to overturn Trump‘s 2020 election losses in seven key swing states using a proposed slate of “alternate” presidential electors willing to vote for Trump in the Electoral College. Eastman faced state charges, along with other lawyers, who encouraged Trump supporters to sign paperwork falsely attesting that they were legitimate presidential electors allowed to vote against President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Though the proposed “alternate” electors had no legal authority to claim themselves as 2020 Electoral College voters, Eastman’s drafted strategy said that their votes would’ve allowed Trump to claim he’d won more electoral votes than the actual winner, Biden, who received over 7 million more votes than Trump. If states had allowed fake electors to cast their votes for Trump, contradicting Biden electors in the states, this would have left Vice President Mike Pence free to allow the Republican-controlled Senate to declare Trump as the winner through a majority vote, effectively overturning the will of the over 81 million Americans who voted for Biden. “The main thing here is that Pence should do this without asking for permission – either from a vote of the joint session or from the Court,” Eastman wrote in his memo suggesting his plan to overturn the election, which was revealed amid a 2023 indictment accusing him and his aforementioned co-conspirators. “The fact is that the Constitution assigns this power to the Vice President as the ultimate arbiter. We should take all of our actions with that in mind.” Eastman reportedly sent the memo to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani with the hopes that both men could convince Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) of widespread election fraud, according to Peril, a 2021 recounting of the last days of Trump’s presidency written by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. However, both Lee and Graham rejected Eastman’s plan. Trump reportedly told Pence, “You really need to listen to John. He’s a respected constitutional scholar. Hear him out.” But Pence decided against following Eastman’s plan after consulting with the Senate parliamentarian. The parliamentarian, whose role is to interpret Senate rules and procedures, told Pence that he had no authority to certify the election’s results beyond counting the votes in the chamber on January 6. Woodward and Costa wrote in their book, “Lee’s head was spinning. No such procedure existed in the Constitution, any law, or past practice. Eastman had apparently drawn it out of thin air.” The aforementioned 45-page indictment from 2023 alleged that Eastman had also called Arizona State House Speaker Russell Bowers (R) to decertify the state’s legitimate electors for Biden and “let the courts sort it out.” Bowers refused. Eastman also spoke at the January 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally alongside Trump, Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, and others. At the rally, Eastman falsely said, “We know there was fraud. We know that dead people voted…. Anybody that is not willing to stand up to [declare Trump as the winner] does not deserve to be in the office. It is that simple.” After the rally, Trump’s followers rioted at the U.S. Capitol. Five people died because of the insurrection, and roughly 140 police officers were injured. The injuries included a broken spine, a lost eye, lost fingers, brain damage, and multiple cases of PTSD. While ransacking the Capitol, the rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” shattered windows while trying to access congressional chambers, smeared feces in a hallway, and stole computer equipment, potentially constituting a national security breach. Eastman also served as chairman of the board for the anti-LGBTQ+ group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) during its fight against same-sex marriage in the years before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide in 2015. For years, NOM campaigned against any expansion of LGBTQ+ civil rights, particularly same-sex marriage. The group was instrumental in helping pass state-level marriage equality bans, pushed for a national constitutional ban, and helped orchestrate the victory of California’s 2008 Proposition 8, which invalidated thousands of same-sex marriages statewide. Eastman became NOM’s board chairman in 2011 and compared marriage equality to slavery in 2014, saying that courts had “illegitimately” decided on the issue and that voters should decide instead. He also tried to get NOM to defend several states’ same-sex marriage bans in courts, though a federal judge ruled that NOM lacked the legal standing to do so. He has supported Uganda’s criminalization of homosexuality, called homosexuality an indicator of “barbarism,” called same-sex marriage “evil” and “despotic,” and claimed that the LGBTQ+ equality movement promotes pedophilia, according to Right Wing Watch. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
California Supreme Court disbars anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer who tried to help Trump overturn 2020 election
The California Supreme Court disbarred anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer John Eastman from practicing law in the state on Wednesday because of his efforts to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 presidential elections. The state’s high court declined to review Eastman’s appeal of a lower court’s recommendation that he be stripped of his legal license. He has pledged to appeal the high court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state Supreme Court upheld a 2024 decision by the state bar association to disbar Eastman. In that decision, State Bar Judge Yvette Roland found Eastman culpable on 10 of 11 counts filed by the California State Bar for his “moral turpitude” and “false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election, The Hill reported. Related Trump’s pardon helped keep a confessed child sex offender out of prison Though Eastman appealed Roland’s decision to the California Supreme Court, the state’s top court ruled that her decision was “warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” according to George Cardona, the State Bar of California’s chief trial counsel. Cardona said in a statement, “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney,” and added that the Supreme Court’s ruling affirms the fundamental principle that attorneys must “act with honesty and uphold the rule of law,” no matter who their client is. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “The Court has imposed the discipline warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” Cardona added. “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney.” Eastman’s lawyer, Randall Miller, said that he’ll appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to “repudiate this threat to the rule of law and our nation’s adversarial system of justice.” He still has a license to practice law in D.C. Eastman suggested that Trump and the Republican Party try to overturn Trump‘s 2020 election losses in seven key swing states using a proposed slate of “alternate” presidential electors willing to vote for Trump in the Electoral College. Eastman faced state charges, along with other lawyers, who encouraged Trump supporters to sign paperwork falsely attesting that they were legitimate presidential electors allowed to vote against President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Though the proposed “alternate” electors had no legal authority to claim themselves as 2020 Electoral College voters, Eastman’s drafted strategy said that their votes would’ve allowed Trump to claim he’d won more electoral votes than the actual winner, Biden, who received over 7 million more votes than Trump. If states had allowed fake electors to cast their votes for Trump, contradicting Biden electors in the states, this would have left Vice President Mike Pence free to allow the Republican-controlled Senate to declare Trump as the winner through a majority vote, effectively overturning the will of the over 81 million Americans who voted for Biden. “The main thing here is that Pence should do this without asking for permission – either from a vote of the joint session or from the Court,” Eastman wrote in his memo suggesting his plan to overturn the election, which was revealed amid a 2023 indictment accusing him and his aforementioned co-conspirators. “The fact is that the Constitution assigns this power to the Vice President as the ultimate arbiter. We should take all of our actions with that in mind.” Eastman reportedly sent the memo to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani with the hopes that both men could convince Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) of widespread election fraud, according to Peril, a 2021 recounting of the last days of Trump’s presidency written by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. However, both Lee and Graham rejected Eastman’s plan. Trump reportedly told Pence, “You really need to listen to John. He’s a respected constitutional scholar. Hear him out.” But Pence decided against following Eastman’s plan after consulting with the Senate parliamentarian. The parliamentarian, whose role is to interpret Senate rules and procedures, told Pence that he had no authority to certify the election’s results beyond counting the votes in the chamber on January 6. Woodward and Costa wrote in their book, “Lee’s head was spinning. No such procedure existed in the Constitution, any law, or past practice. Eastman had apparently drawn it out of thin air.” The aforementioned 45-page indictment from 2023 alleged that Eastman had also called Arizona State House Speaker Russell Bowers (R) to decertify the state’s legitimate electors for Biden and “let the courts sort it out.” Bowers refused. Eastman also spoke at the January 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally alongside Trump, Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, and others. At the rally, Eastman falsely said, “We know there was fraud. We know that dead people voted…. Anybody that is not willing to stand up to [declare Trump as the winner] does not deserve to be in the office. It is that simple.” After the rally, Trump’s followers rioted at the U.S. Capitol. Five people died because of the insurrection, and roughly 140 police officers were injured. The injuries included a broken spine, a lost eye, lost fingers, brain damage, and multiple cases of PTSD. While ransacking the Capitol, the rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” shattered windows while trying to access congressional chambers, smeared feces in a hallway, and stole computer equipment, potentially constituting a national security breach. Eastman also served as chairman of the board for the anti-LGBTQ+ group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) during its fight against same-sex marriage in the years before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide in 2015. For years, NOM campaigned against any expansion of LGBTQ+ civil rights, particularly same-sex marriage. The group was instrumental in helping pass state-level marriage equality bans, pushed for a national constitutional ban, and helped orchestrate the victory of California’s 2008 Proposition 8, which invalidated thousands of same-sex marriages statewide. Eastman became NOM’s board chairman in 2011 and compared marriage equality to slavery in 2014, saying that courts had “illegitimately” decided on the issue and that voters should decide instead. He also tried to get NOM to defend several states’ same-sex marriage bans in courts, though a federal judge ruled that NOM lacked the legal standing to do so. He has supported Uganda’s criminalization of homosexuality, called homosexuality an indicator of “barbarism,” called same-sex marriage “evil” and “despotic,” and claimed that the LGBTQ+ equality movement promotes pedophilia, according to Right Wing Watch. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
California Supreme Court disbars anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer who tried to help Trump overturn 2020 election
The California Supreme Court disbarred anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer John Eastman from practicing law in the state on Wednesday because of his efforts to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 presidential elections. The state’s high court declined to review Eastman’s appeal of a lower court’s recommendation that he be stripped of his legal license. He has pledged to appeal the high court’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state Supreme Court upheld a 2024 decision by the state bar association to disbar Eastman. In that decision, State Bar Judge Yvette Roland found Eastman culpable on 10 of 11 counts filed by the California State Bar for his “moral turpitude” and “false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election, The Hill reported. Related Trump’s pardon helped keep a confessed child sex offender out of prison Though Eastman appealed Roland’s decision to the California Supreme Court, the state’s top court ruled that her decision was “warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” according to George Cardona, the State Bar of California’s chief trial counsel. Cardona said in a statement, “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney,” and added that the Supreme Court’s ruling affirms the fundamental principle that attorneys must “act with honesty and uphold the rule of law,” no matter who their client is. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “The Court has imposed the discipline warranted by the clear and convincing evidence that he advanced false claims about the 2020 presidential election to mislead courts, public officials, and the American public,” Cardona added. “The Court’s order underscores that Mr. Eastman’s misconduct was incompatible with the standards of integrity required of every California attorney.” Eastman’s lawyer, Randall Miller, said that he’ll appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to “repudiate this threat to the rule of law and our nation’s adversarial system of justice.” He still has a license to practice law in D.C. Eastman suggested that Trump and the Republican Party try to overturn Trump‘s 2020 election losses in seven key swing states using a proposed slate of “alternate” presidential electors willing to vote for Trump in the Electoral College. Eastman faced state charges, along with other lawyers, who encouraged Trump supporters to sign paperwork falsely attesting that they were legitimate presidential electors allowed to vote against President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Though the proposed “alternate” electors had no legal authority to claim themselves as 2020 Electoral College voters, Eastman’s drafted strategy said that their votes would’ve allowed Trump to claim he’d won more electoral votes than the actual winner, Biden, who received over 7 million more votes than Trump. If states had allowed fake electors to cast their votes for Trump, contradicting Biden electors in the states, this would have left Vice President Mike Pence free to allow the Republican-controlled Senate to declare Trump as the winner through a majority vote, effectively overturning the will of the over 81 million Americans who voted for Biden. “The main thing here is that Pence should do this without asking for permission – either from a vote of the joint session or from the Court,” Eastman wrote in his memo suggesting his plan to overturn the election, which was revealed amid a 2023 indictment accusing him and his aforementioned co-conspirators. “The fact is that the Constitution assigns this power to the Vice President as the ultimate arbiter. We should take all of our actions with that in mind.” Eastman reportedly sent the memo to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani with the hopes that both men could convince Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) of widespread election fraud, according to Peril, a 2021 recounting of the last days of Trump’s presidency written by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. However, both Lee and Graham rejected Eastman’s plan. Trump reportedly told Pence, “You really need to listen to John. He’s a respected constitutional scholar. Hear him out.” But Pence decided against following Eastman’s plan after consulting with the Senate parliamentarian. The parliamentarian, whose role is to interpret Senate rules and procedures, told Pence that he had no authority to certify the election’s results beyond counting the votes in the chamber on January 6. Woodward and Costa wrote in their book, “Lee’s head was spinning. No such procedure existed in the Constitution, any law, or past practice. Eastman had apparently drawn it out of thin air.” The aforementioned 45-page indictment from 2023 alleged that Eastman had also called Arizona State House Speaker Russell Bowers (R) to decertify the state’s legitimate electors for Biden and “let the courts sort it out.” Bowers refused. Eastman also spoke at the January 6, 2021, “Stop the Steal” rally alongside Trump, Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, and others. At the rally, Eastman falsely said, “We know there was fraud. We know that dead people voted…. Anybody that is not willing to stand up to [declare Trump as the winner] does not deserve to be in the office. It is that simple.” After the rally, Trump’s followers rioted at the U.S. Capitol. Five people died because of the insurrection, and roughly 140 police officers were injured. The injuries included a broken spine, a lost eye, lost fingers, brain damage, and multiple cases of PTSD. While ransacking the Capitol, the rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence,” shattered windows while trying to access congressional chambers, smeared feces in a hallway, and stole computer equipment, potentially constituting a national security breach. Eastman also served as chairman of the board for the anti-LGBTQ+ group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) during its fight against same-sex marriage in the years before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide in 2015. For years, NOM campaigned against any expansion of LGBTQ+ civil rights, particularly same-sex marriage. The group was instrumental in helping pass state-level marriage equality bans, pushed for a national constitutional ban, and helped orchestrate the victory of California’s 2008 Proposition 8, which invalidated thousands of same-sex marriages statewide. Eastman became NOM’s board chairman in 2011 and compared marriage equality to slavery in 2014, saying that courts had “illegitimately” decided on the issue and that voters should decide instead. He also tried to get NOM to defend several states’ same-sex marriage bans in courts, though a federal judge ruled that NOM lacked the legal standing to do so. He has supported Uganda’s criminalization of homosexuality, called homosexuality an indicator of “barbarism,” called same-sex marriage “evil” and “despotic,” and claimed that the LGBTQ+ equality movement promotes pedophilia, according to Right Wing Watch. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
AOC rips into House GOP for playing politics with sexual misconduct allegations: “Disgusting!”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) accused House Republicans of only expressing opposition to sexual misconduct when it suits their political needs. The representative tore into the GOP for failing to force the resignation of now-former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) until now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was also forced to resign. Related AOC assures trans kids they’re not to blame for anything: “You are fine just the way you are” Both former congressmen have been accused of sexual misconduct, but the accusations against Gonzalez have been circulating for months. AOC: What happened today with Tony Gonzalez was disgusting, because those allegations have been out there for months. You have to ask yourself what changed today that allowed him to resign now, as opposed to last week, two weeks ago, or three weeks ago. The difference is that… pic.twitter.com/poug2trfnW — Acyn (@Acyn) April 15, 2026 Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today She said, “This whole idea that we can find and determine expulsions and guilt based on political horse trading.” “What happened today with Tony Gonzalez was disgusting,” she continued, “because those allegations and that case and that reporting have been out there for months. For months. You have to ask yourself what changed today that he gets to resign today, as opposed to last week, two weeks ago, three weeks ago. And the difference is that they were waiting on some political horse trade of a number. When someone is committing abuse, they should be out. It doesn’t matter whether a Democrat had resigned, a Republican resigned, or some horse trading. If you are guilty of this stuff, that’s it.” She got emotional when discussing the fact that a married staff member with whom Gonzalez admitted to having an affair took her own life in September. “It’s really dispiriting to a lot of these people that come forward… this is a young woman who died, and it’s sad, these people deserve justice. It’s really heartbreaking. I’m glad that we’re here… but it shouldn’t have taken this long.” Ocasio-Cortez spoke on the matter to another reporter as well, this time directly addressing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). She praised Democrats for acting swiftly in holding Swalwell accountable and said Gonzalez’s resignation came “because the Speaker of the House feels like he can play politics with the vote numbers. I’m just calling it how I see it.” She called the behavior “disgusting.” AOC: You see the difference here. We held a member of our own party accountable. Tony Gonzalez has had this issue in the public eye for months. The only reason we’re seeing a resignation today is because the Speaker thinks he can play politics with the vote count. The fact that… pic.twitter.com/buq2lYFeWu — Acyn (@Acyn) April 14, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
AOC rips into House GOP for playing politics with sexual misconduct allegations: “Disgusting!”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) accused House Republicans of only expressing opposition to sexual misconduct when it suits their political needs. The representative tore into the GOP for failing to force the resignation of now-former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) until now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was also forced to resign. Related AOC assures trans kids they’re not to blame for anything: “You are fine just the way you are” Both former congressmen have been accused of sexual misconduct, but the accusations against Gonzalez have been circulating for months. AOC: What happened today with Tony Gonzalez was disgusting, because those allegations have been out there for months. You have to ask yourself what changed today that allowed him to resign now, as opposed to last week, two weeks ago, or three weeks ago. The difference is that… pic.twitter.com/poug2trfnW — Acyn (@Acyn) April 15, 2026 Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today She said, “This whole idea that we can find and determine expulsions and guilt based on political horse trading.” “What happened today with Tony Gonzalez was disgusting,” she continued, “because those allegations and that case and that reporting have been out there for months. For months. You have to ask yourself what changed today that he gets to resign today, as opposed to last week, two weeks ago, three weeks ago. And the difference is that they were waiting on some political horse trade of a number. When someone is committing abuse, they should be out. It doesn’t matter whether a Democrat had resigned, a Republican resigned, or some horse trading. If you are guilty of this stuff, that’s it.” She got emotional when discussing the fact that a married staff member with whom Gonzalez admitted to having an affair took her own life in September. “It’s really dispiriting to a lot of these people that come forward… this is a young woman who died, and it’s sad, these people deserve justice. It’s really heartbreaking. I’m glad that we’re here… but it shouldn’t have taken this long.” Ocasio-Cortez spoke on the matter to another reporter as well, this time directly addressing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). She praised Democrats for acting swiftly in holding Swalwell accountable and said Gonzalez’s resignation came “because the Speaker of the House feels like he can play politics with the vote numbers. I’m just calling it how I see it.” She called the behavior “disgusting.” AOC: You see the difference here. We held a member of our own party accountable. Tony Gonzalez has had this issue in the public eye for months. The only reason we’re seeing a resignation today is because the Speaker thinks he can play politics with the vote count. The fact that… pic.twitter.com/buq2lYFeWu — Acyn (@Acyn) April 14, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Pete Buttigieg pretty much said that he’s running for president in 2028
Pete Buttigieg just hinted at a 2028 presidential run during a conversation with Reverend Al Sharpton. “When you ran for president, you met me and we went [to a] well-publicized lunch at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem,” Sharpton told Buttigieg at the National Action Network’s 35th annual convention last Friday, where several potential 2028 Democratic nominees appeared. “Just so my calendar’s clear, should I be reserving a table at Sylvia’s? Are you going to run again?” Related Pete Buttigieg is building a secret weapon to help Democrats win upcoming elections “You save me a seat. I’ll be there,” Buttigieg replied. Pete Buttigieg just casually announcing his campaign for president. — That Gay Guy Candle Co. (@gayguycandleco.bsky.social) 2026-04-10T18:16:29.399Z Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Buttigieg wasn’t the only one to suggest a 2028 run while talking to Sharpton. Former Vice President Kamala Harris said that she “might” run again: “I’m thinking about it… I’ll keep you posted.” The crowd, according to Fox News, then chanted “run again.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) all appeared at the conference. “We have a pretty good bench,” Pritzker said at the event. “In fact, you’ve invited so many of them to come right here, they’ve been on this stage, or they’re going to be.” On Sunday, Sharpton gave his assessment of the potential candidates: “I don’t think anybody flunked.” “He’s a lot more comfortable with it,” Sharpton said of Buttigieg, according to the New York Times, referring to Buttigieg’s first presidential run in 2020. “He got the crowd with him a little bit. But I think Pete of ’20 would have been like at 60 — I think he went to 75 yesterday. I thought he was more at ease.” Sharpton explained that California Gov. Gavin Newsom – another likely 2028 contender – was invited but couldn’t come because of a scheduling conflict. He didn’t invite Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- NY), though, saying he didn’t think she was going to run in 2028. Speculation about Buttigieg running again has been building for months. In February, he appeared in New Hampshire – a likely early primary state – to campaign alongside several Democrats running for office in 2026, which sparked presidential chatter. “I’m a long way from any kind of decision,” he said when asked about whether he’s running in 2028. “But I’m very happy to be here, and I know what I should be doing for the next year, which is to be there for causes and candidates that are deserving, to speak out, not just against this administration but for the measures that are gonna make it more affordable and easier to live in this state and in this country.” An early poll of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters showed Buttigieg coming out on top of other potential Democratic candidates. 19% of respondents said that they would support Buttigieg in the 2028 primary. Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez came in second and third place with 15% and 14%, respectively. Harris got 11%, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 8%, and Pritzker 6%. All the other candidates got 3% or less. 10% of respondents were undecided. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Is 2026 still a year of hope for LGBTQ+ people?
Three months ago, it would have been hard to predict a lot of what has happened so far this year. A solid guess might have been a continued ramping up of anti-trans legislation. Fewer people might have put money on prominent right-wing figures turning on the president while his hold on the nation crumbles. I started this year with a three-month leave to handle some personal matters. The last column that I wrote before I stepped away said, “As we walk into 2026, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and good reason for hope.” We’re three months into the year, and that might sound like naïve optimism, but I have reason to stand by what I said. Related HBO’s “The Last of Us” isn’t just a trans representation failure. It’s a huge step backwards. January through to early April has been an epically bad time for trans rights. At least nine states have banned trans people from correcting the gender marker on their driver’s licenses, putting trans people in danger of being outed in a hostile society. Kansas has gone as far as revoking previously-corrected licenses. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bathroom bans have continued to pass across the country, including in Idaho, where one could result in a five-year prison sentence. The International Olympic Committee caved to pressure from Donald Trump and announced they would return to gene-testing athletes in the women’s categories. And the Supreme Court ruled against conversion therapy bans, opening the door for conversion therapy to be re-legalized in many states, and has also ruled in favor of California teachers forcibly outing trans kids and misgendering them in class. That barely scratches the surface of the anti-LGBTQ+ news of the last three months and doesn’t take into account everything else horrible going on, from the war in Iran to ICE murdering civilians in the streets. It’s bad. And not for a moment do I want to suggest that it isn’t. But: I didn’t say that 2026 would be great. I said that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel, “but we’re going to have to walk through a dark tunnel to get there.” We are very definitely deep in that dark tunnel right now. I’m not just going to say “don’t worry, the midterms are in seven months!” That moment might mark a turning point: wresting some power from the Republicans and enabling more roadblocks to the anti-trans agenda might well go a long way. But it wouldn’t change everything overnight, and seven months feels like a really long time right now. What I will say is look for the light, the good that people are doing, and the good that you might be able to do. Look for the fractures in the hatred and the way that tide is turning. We can’t all sit and hope for a blue wave that will wash over the land—the Democrats aren’t going to solve everything, but a wider tidal shift might mean more lasting change. And that shift is something that we’re already seeing, even in the darkness. Hospital systems across the country suspended programs for gender-affirming care for minors. But now court cases are being won, and programs are opening back up. Georgia and Tennessee both failed to pass any new anti-LGBTQ+ bills in their legislative sessions for the first time in years. Activists are highlighting how pointless and unenforceable some of these anti-trans laws are. I noted in my column that Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) had previously seemed hesitant to fight back, but that was changing, and she was starting to let Republicans have it, while also helping to change minds to work on bills. That has continued, with her shooting down Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) again this week. And, crucially, Trump’s grip on power is clearly slipping. Not only are the public tired of him, with polls showing that people aren’t happy with ICE, that voters don’t like that we’re in yet another war in the Middle East, and even that the majority of voters want him impeached for a third time. The consistently high turnout for No Kings protests demonstrates a small part of that. Even those Trump supporters who would once lie down on the smallest hill to die for Trump are turning on him. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that “he has gone insane.” Alex Jones criticized his recent actions, saying, “This is not the old Trump.” And even Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly seem to have had the scales fall from their eyes. Trump might not be pulling the strings behind all of this. We know that the architects of Project 2025 and others are orchestrating much of what is happening behind the scenes while Trump claims ignorance of the whole thing. But he’s the figurehead that this whole movement follows; he’s the leader of the cult mentality that brought America into so much hate, and people are seeing behind the curtain. So yes, vote in the midterms. It won’t be a cure-all for anything, and the candidates might not be the perfect ones you’d like them to be. But they’ll be better than what we have. But beyond that, remember that the tide is turning, even if it’s slow and not the first thing that headlines always highlight. Protest where you can. Do everything you can to fight back. But if all you can do is get up and hope things will be better, that’s not foolish, that’s its own form of protest. And you’re not alone against it all. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Is 2026 still a year of hope for LGBTQ+ people?
Three months ago, it would have been hard to predict a lot of what has happened so far this year. A solid guess might have been a continued ramping up of anti-trans legislation. Fewer people might have put money on prominent right-wing figures turning on the president while his hold on the nation crumbles. I started this year with a three-month leave to handle some personal matters. The last column that I wrote before I stepped away said, “As we walk into 2026, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and good reason for hope.” We’re three months into the year, and that might sound like naïve optimism, but I have reason to stand by what I said. Related HBO’s “The Last of Us” isn’t just a trans representation failure. It’s a huge step backwards. January through to early April has been an epically bad time for trans rights. At least nine states have banned trans people from correcting the gender marker on their driver’s licenses, putting trans people in danger of being outed in a hostile society. Kansas has gone as far as revoking previously-corrected licenses. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bathroom bans have continued to pass across the country, including in Idaho, where one could result in a five-year prison sentence. The International Olympic Committee caved to pressure from Donald Trump and announced they would return to gene-testing athletes in the women’s categories. And the Supreme Court ruled against conversion therapy bans, opening the door for conversion therapy to be re-legalized in many states, and has also ruled in favor of California teachers forcibly outing trans kids and misgendering them in class. That barely scratches the surface of the anti-LGBTQ+ news of the last three months and doesn’t take into account everything else horrible going on, from the war in Iran to ICE murdering civilians in the streets. It’s bad. And not for a moment do I want to suggest that it isn’t. But: I didn’t say that 2026 would be great. I said that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel, “but we’re going to have to walk through a dark tunnel to get there.” We are very definitely deep in that dark tunnel right now. I’m not just going to say “don’t worry, the midterms are in seven months!” That moment might mark a turning point: wresting some power from the Republicans and enabling more roadblocks to the anti-trans agenda might well go a long way. But it wouldn’t change everything overnight, and seven months feels like a really long time right now. What I will say is look for the light, the good that people are doing, and the good that you might be able to do. Look for the fractures in the hatred and the way that tide is turning. We can’t all sit and hope for a blue wave that will wash over the land—the Democrats aren’t going to solve everything, but a wider tidal shift might mean more lasting change. And that shift is something that we’re already seeing, even in the darkness. Hospital systems across the country suspended programs for gender-affirming care for minors. But now court cases are being won, and programs are opening back up. Georgia and Tennessee both failed to pass any new anti-LGBTQ+ bills in their legislative sessions for the first time in years. Activists are highlighting how pointless and unenforceable some of these anti-trans laws are. I noted in my column that Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) had previously seemed hesitant to fight back, but that was changing, and she was starting to let Republicans have it, while also helping to change minds to work on bills. That has continued, with her shooting down Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) again this week. And, crucially, Trump’s grip on power is clearly slipping. Not only are the public tired of him, with polls showing that people aren’t happy with ICE, that voters don’t like that we’re in yet another war in the Middle East, and even that the majority of voters want him impeached for a third time. The consistently high turnout for No Kings protests demonstrates a small part of that. Even those Trump supporters who would once lie down on the smallest hill to die for Trump are turning on him. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that “he has gone insane.” Alex Jones criticized his recent actions, saying, “This is not the old Trump.” And even Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly seem to have had the scales fall from their eyes. Trump might not be pulling the strings behind all of this. We know that the architects of Project 2025 and others are orchestrating much of what is happening behind the scenes while Trump claims ignorance of the whole thing. But he’s the figurehead that this whole movement follows; he’s the leader of the cult mentality that brought America into so much hate, and people are seeing behind the curtain. So yes, vote in the midterms. It won’t be a cure-all for anything, and the candidates might not be the perfect ones you’d like them to be. But they’ll be better than what we have. But beyond that, remember that the tide is turning, even if it’s slow and not the first thing that headlines always highlight. Protest where you can. Do everything you can to fight back. But if all you can do is get up and hope things will be better, that’s not foolish, that’s its own form of protest. And you’re not alone against it all. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
“She must answer”: Out gay congressman still expects ex-AG Pam Bondi to testify
Out Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said the U.S. House Oversight Committee still plans on questioning former Attorney General Pam Bondi under oath on April 14, even though the president fired her yesterday. “She will not escape accountability and remains legally obligated to appear before our Committee under oath,” Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said in a statement. “She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell.… If they think we are moving on because they were fired, they are gravely mistaken.” Related Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi The Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Bondi in March, with five Republicans on the committee supporting it, alongside all of the committee’s Democrats. It’s unclear whether the committee would try to hold Bondi in contempt of Congress if she refuses to attend the hearing. However, while several Republican committee members said they would rethink their vote to have Bondi testify, even fellow committee member Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who pushed for Bondi’s subpoena, blasted Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “Bondi handled the Epstein Files in a terrible manner and seriously undermined President Trump,” Mace wrote in a social media post. “She has stonewalled every effort to hold the guilty accountable.” Under Bondi’s oversight, the Department of Justice (DOJ) broke a congressionally approved law requiring it to release all of the federal government’s investigatory files on now-deceased billionaire convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The law gave the DOJ a December 19, 2025, deadline to release all the files, but it released only part of the files last January and February — over 2.5 million files still haven’t been released, according to CNN. Pam Bondi and Donald Trump may think her firing gets her out of testifying to the Oversight Committee. They are wrong – and we look forward to hearing from her under oath. https://t.co/PVtvjlny5Q — Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) April 2, 2026 The law also required the DOJ to minimize redactions in the files — particularly the names of victims — and to explain all such redactions. But lawmakers criticized Bondi for over-redacting some files while accidentally revealing victim information in others. Bondi’s DOJ was also instrumental in relocating Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s accomplice, to a lower-security prison where she has said that she’s “much happier.” In the new prison, Maxwell reportedly gets both personally delivered meals and playtime with a puppy. Maxwell has denied that the president had any involvement in Epstein’s misdeeds. “I just think it’s time to get some answers,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), another committee member who voted to subpoena Bondi, according to Politico. “She’s in the batter’s box. I’d say … let her hit.” In a statement yesterday, Bondi said she would spend the next month handing her work duties over to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will temporarily replace her until the Senate confirms her full-time replacement. If Bondi appears before the committee, she will do so as a private individual and will have to pay her own legal costs associated with her appearance if, like other congressional witnesses, she has legal representation advising her during questioning. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
ICE choked teen & called him gay for crying, out Rep. Robert Garcia hears in emotional testimony
More than 170 U.S. citizens had been caught up in the Trump administration’s maximalist immigration crackdown, ProPublica reported last October. That was before the brutal killings of queer mother Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota earlier this year. The number of U.S. citizens detained, beaten, or killed by immigration enforcement agents has only grown since, and a large number of the victims have been children. This week, out Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) held a surprise hearing highlighting how those children have been abused at the hands of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents. Related Gay man fights husband’s “dehumanizing” & “barbaric” detention by ICE The hearing accompanied the release of a minority staff report on Tuesday, entitled “Cruelty Is The Point: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Endangers Children.” The document cites 128 cases of children “who have been injured, left unattended, or otherwise put at direct risk of harm due to operations of the Department of Homeland Security.” Among the three teenagers who shared their stories in emotional congressional testimony was 16-year-old Arnoldo Bazan. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bazan, a U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas, was assaulted by ICE agents as they pursued his undocumented father. The two were stopping at a McDonald’s for breakfast to celebrate Bazan making his high school varsity team, when multiple unmarked vehicles pulled up beside their family’s van. “Armed men with masks jumped out and started banging on the windows,” Bazan testified. “They never identified themselves or explained why we were stopped. We didn’t know who these men were. I started recording on my phone. One of the unmarked cars rammed into our car multiple times. I even felt our car lift.” Outside the van, Bazan ran to help his dad, when some of the armed men grabbed him, he said. “One officer put me in a chokehold and told me, ‘You’re done.’” “His grip was so tight, I wondered if I would even make it out alive,” Bazan said, working hard to compose himself. “With all of my strength, I screamed that I was underage and from the United States.” When the agents let go, Bazan tried to gather a crowd to scare them off, yelling he had proof on his cellphone that officers tried to flip their vehicle. That’s when they confiscated the device. Garcia displayed photos of Bazan in the hospital and recounted the effects of the attack: Bazan suffered injuries to his back and neck, and evidence of a chokehold. Bazan said officers forced him and his father into one of the agents’ vehicles and drove them to Bazan’s house, where the two “prayed for one last time. I tried to hug him, but he couldn’t hug me back because he was handcuffed.” His father was deported to Mexico. Since then, Bazan said he can’t sleep and has missed school. Garcia was indignant at the father and son’s mistreatment as he questioned the teenager. Arnoldo Bazan was getting breakfast with his dad at McDonald's when masked agents brutally attacked them. Arnoldo—who's only in tenth grade—was choked, demeaned, and even had to go to the hospital. What happened to him and so many others is horrific, and it has to end. pic.twitter.com/Shdper9G7V — Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) March 24, 2026 “ICE actually said falsely that your father rammed his van into one of the officers’ vehicles. Your own video of the incident — which you took heroically, by the way — shows that agents rammed your van four times. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir,” Bazan replied. “Now, did you know that they were law enforcement?” “No, sir. They never identified themselves,” Bazan said. “Now, your dad is then arrested. He’s beaten, and you actually try to help him. And after the agents tackled you, one agent pressed his knee onto your back, while another put you in a chokehold. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir,” Bazan replied. “You told the officers that you were a U.S. citizen. Is that correct?” “Yes, sir,” Bazan answered. “And this is how they responded,” Garcia added, displaying photos of Bazan in the hospital. “They were so brutal that you needed medical attention, as you can see here,” Garcia continued. “A nurse at the hospital where you were taken actually called 911, to report to the police that you had been choked and beaten. And you were repeatedly called slurs by the officers. Is that correct?” “Yes, sir.” “What are some of the names that they called you?” Garcia inquired. “Illegal son of an alien. Border hopper,” Bazan said. “They called you gay for crying, as well.” “Yes,” Bazan answered. “They called you a criminal. They called you a beaner. Is that correct?” Garcia continued. “Yes, sir.” “You told me you had filmed this on their cell phone. Is that right?” the congressman clarified. “Yes, sir.” “And that’s when they took your phone away?” he added. “Yes, sir.” “These agents didn’t just take your phone. They sold it. They pawned it at a kiosk for $250 cash. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir.” “This is Donald Trump’s America,” Garcia concluded. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
ICE choked teen & called him gay for crying, out Rep. Robert Garcia hears in emotional testimony
More than 170 U.S. citizens had been caught up in the Trump administration’s maximalist immigration crackdown, ProPublica reported last October. That was before the brutal killings of queer mother Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota earlier this year. The number of U.S. citizens detained, beaten, or killed by immigration enforcement agents has only grown since, and a large number of the victims have been children. This week, out Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) held a surprise hearing highlighting how those children have been abused at the hands of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents. Related Gay man fights husband’s “dehumanizing” & “barbaric” detention by ICE The hearing accompanied the release of a minority staff report on Tuesday, entitled “Cruelty Is The Point: How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Endangers Children.” The document cites 128 cases of children “who have been injured, left unattended, or otherwise put at direct risk of harm due to operations of the Department of Homeland Security.” Among the three teenagers who shared their stories in emotional congressional testimony was 16-year-old Arnoldo Bazan. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bazan, a U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas, was assaulted by ICE agents as they pursued his undocumented father. The two were stopping at a McDonald’s for breakfast to celebrate Bazan making his high school varsity team, when multiple unmarked vehicles pulled up beside their family’s van. “Armed men with masks jumped out and started banging on the windows,” Bazan testified. “They never identified themselves or explained why we were stopped. We didn’t know who these men were. I started recording on my phone. One of the unmarked cars rammed into our car multiple times. I even felt our car lift.” Outside the van, Bazan ran to help his dad, when some of the armed men grabbed him, he said. “One officer put me in a chokehold and told me, ‘You’re done.’” “His grip was so tight, I wondered if I would even make it out alive,” Bazan said, working hard to compose himself. “With all of my strength, I screamed that I was underage and from the United States.” When the agents let go, Bazan tried to gather a crowd to scare them off, yelling he had proof on his cellphone that officers tried to flip their vehicle. That’s when they confiscated the device. Garcia displayed photos of Bazan in the hospital and recounted the effects of the attack: Bazan suffered injuries to his back and neck, and evidence of a chokehold. Bazan said officers forced him and his father into one of the agents’ vehicles and drove them to Bazan’s house, where the two “prayed for one last time. I tried to hug him, but he couldn’t hug me back because he was handcuffed.” His father was deported to Mexico. Since then, Bazan said he can’t sleep and has missed school. Garcia was indignant at the father and son’s mistreatment as he questioned the teenager. Arnoldo Bazan was getting breakfast with his dad at McDonald's when masked agents brutally attacked them. Arnoldo—who's only in tenth grade—was choked, demeaned, and even had to go to the hospital. What happened to him and so many others is horrific, and it has to end. pic.twitter.com/Shdper9G7V — Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) March 24, 2026 “ICE actually said falsely that your father rammed his van into one of the officers’ vehicles. Your own video of the incident — which you took heroically, by the way — shows that agents rammed your van four times. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir,” Bazan replied. “Now, did you know that they were law enforcement?” “No, sir. They never identified themselves,” Bazan said. “Now, your dad is then arrested. He’s beaten, and you actually try to help him. And after the agents tackled you, one agent pressed his knee onto your back, while another put you in a chokehold. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir,” Bazan replied. “You told the officers that you were a U.S. citizen. Is that correct?” “Yes, sir,” Bazan answered. “And this is how they responded,” Garcia added, displaying photos of Bazan in the hospital. “They were so brutal that you needed medical attention, as you can see here,” Garcia continued. “A nurse at the hospital where you were taken actually called 911, to report to the police that you had been choked and beaten. And you were repeatedly called slurs by the officers. Is that correct?” “Yes, sir.” “What are some of the names that they called you?” Garcia inquired. “Illegal son of an alien. Border hopper,” Bazan said. “They called you gay for crying, as well.” “Yes,” Bazan answered. “They called you a criminal. They called you a beaner. Is that correct?” Garcia continued. “Yes, sir.” “You told me you had filmed this on their cell phone. Is that right?” the congressman clarified. “Yes, sir.” “And that’s when they took your phone away?” he added. “Yes, sir.” “These agents didn’t just take your phone. They sold it. They pawned it at a kiosk for $250 cash. Is that correct?” Garcia asked. “Yes, sir.” “This is Donald Trump’s America,” Garcia concluded. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Be like Sarah: A trans veteran describes his gold standard for LGBTQ+ advocacy
As part of LGBTQ Nation’s January issue, we asked readers to tell us how one year of the second Trump administration has affected their lives and what they hope LGBTQ+ leaders and allies do differently in 2026. We received dozens of submissions and will be sharing them throughout the month (you can also still submit). Related “Fear & instability”: A trans man craves a sense of home while battling Trump for the right to exist Peter Klicker, a 63-year-old transgender veteran, expressed anger that he cannot take advantage of the international opportunities afforded by his graduate program due to the Trump administration’s anti-trans passport policy. This year, he hopes to see more strength from LGBTQ+ leaders and allies. Here’s what he had to say. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today How has living under the second Trump administration affected you personally over the last year? I got extremely depressed beginning with the first few anti-trans executive orders. I’m a disabled veteran with PTSD and felt like I was under attack, despite having done everything right. I got fired from my last job on Feb 25th… filed for 100% VA disability. It was approved. Then I did some intense therapy at the VA, including a crisis management plan. It helped me realize the strength I do have, so despite being old (physically 64 next month, mentally going on 30), I applied to the Master of Human Rights program at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. I just completed my first semester back. However, I’m angry that a disabled veteran of the United States Marine Corps, honorably discharged in 1988 with a flawless record as a Sergeant of Marines, cannot get a passport with the correct gender marker. I believe I would be endangered if I tried to travel with any documents that say female. I have NEVER been misgendered. I am a carbon copy of my next older brother… so that means I can’t travel to China this spring with classmates, I can’t do an internship at the UN in Geneva, I can’t travel anywhere outside of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Why am I being punished? What do you hope to see from LGBTQ+ leaders and allies in 2026? I would love to see more people with the intestinal fortitude of Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE). I had the pleasure of interviewing her for a school assignment and learned so much from her – and she’s 29 years my junior. We need our LGBTQ+ representatives to stand up to the bullsh*t. Perhaps you’ve seen the video in which McBride is deliberately misgendered by a Republican man. She responded without anger, “Yes, Madam Chair?” No snark – just doing what she can to make an impact. That’s what I’d expect from LGBTQ+ leaders and our allies. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Be like Sarah: A trans veteran describes his gold standard for LGBTQ+ advocacy
As part of LGBTQ Nation’s January issue, we asked readers to tell us how one year of the second Trump administration has affected their lives and what they hope LGBTQ+ leaders and allies do differently in 2026. We received dozens of submissions and will be sharing them throughout the month (you can also still submit). Related “Fear & instability”: A trans man craves a sense of home while battling Trump for the right to exist Peter Klicker, a 63-year-old transgender veteran, expressed anger that he cannot take advantage of the international opportunities afforded by his graduate program due to the Trump administration’s anti-trans passport policy. This year, he hopes to see more strength from LGBTQ+ leaders and allies. Here’s what he had to say. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today How has living under the second Trump administration affected you personally over the last year? I got extremely depressed beginning with the first few anti-trans executive orders. I’m a disabled veteran with PTSD and felt like I was under attack, despite having done everything right. I got fired from my last job on Feb 25th… filed for 100% VA disability. It was approved. Then I did some intense therapy at the VA, including a crisis management plan. It helped me realize the strength I do have, so despite being old (physically 64 next month, mentally going on 30), I applied to the Master of Human Rights program at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. I just completed my first semester back. However, I’m angry that a disabled veteran of the United States Marine Corps, honorably discharged in 1988 with a flawless record as a Sergeant of Marines, cannot get a passport with the correct gender marker. I believe I would be endangered if I tried to travel with any documents that say female. I have NEVER been misgendered. I am a carbon copy of my next older brother… so that means I can’t travel to China this spring with classmates, I can’t do an internship at the UN in Geneva, I can’t travel anywhere outside of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Why am I being punished? What do you hope to see from LGBTQ+ leaders and allies in 2026? I would love to see more people with the intestinal fortitude of Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE). I had the pleasure of interviewing her for a school assignment and learned so much from her – and she’s 29 years my junior. We need our LGBTQ+ representatives to stand up to the bullsh*t. Perhaps you’ve seen the video in which McBride is deliberately misgendered by a Republican man. She responded without anger, “Yes, Madam Chair?” No snark – just doing what she can to make an impact. That’s what I’d expect from LGBTQ+ leaders and our allies. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Bonkers Christian harasses Sarah McBride outside the Capitol: “Jesus is watching you!”
A Christian preacher is getting praise from the right online after he posted a video of himself harassing Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) on a sidewalk. Joseph Phillip Daniel is a conservative Christian preacher who was once featured in a segment on The 700 Club. He got media attention in 2019 again when he was working at an Illinois Mobil gas station and refused to serve a group of women because they were Mexican. He claimed that they were not citizens and that if they don’t leave the country, “ICE will come.” He got fired. Related “A Person With Parents”: How Sarah McBride and her family stay strong in the face of transphobia Daniel posted a video of himself harassing Congresswoman McBride on his Instagram earlier this week, and it’s getting shared online. “[Deadname] McBride!” he says repeatedly in the video, shot from his point of view outside the Capitol building. Rep. McBride can be seen talking with another person. “[Deadname] McBride!” Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today A “deadname” is a transgender person’s name from before they transitioned and is often associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Deliberately – and repeatedly – calling a trans person by their deadname is a form of harassment. LGBTQ Nation does not publish people’s deadnames. He gets close enough to her that she turns to look at him as he says her deadname again and extends a hand for a handshake. She refuses. “I’m Joseph Phillip Daniel,” he said. “Nice to meet you,” she responds curtly, looking at a phone with someone else. “Hopefully you don’t have child porn on your phone,” Daniel says. “Better not be a pedophile.” “God’s watching you, man!” Daniel says, as an assistant tells him to back away. “What you do on Capitol Hill will all come back to you! Jesus is watching you, [deadname] McBride! You man! How dare you act like a woman out here! How dare you!” The video has gotten over 30,000 likes on X and over 10,000 on Instagram. It has been shared by numerous rightwing accounts, with many giving Daniel compliments like “legend” and “hero.” McBride has not commented on the incident. On his ministry’s website, Daniel claims to have received “thousands of prophecies” from God since 2009 and that they have all “been fulfilled.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Mark Takano blasts Republicans for cruelly blaming shutdown on trans people
For years, Republicans have been blaming their inability to get anything done on transgender people, and out Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) is tired of their “cruel distraction tactic.” “This president just loves to prey upon the vulnerable,” the congressman told LGBTQ Nation. “It just makes me think that he’s very desperate.” Related Rep. Mark Pocan is hoping for a “Republican with a conscience.” “Charlatan” Nancy Mace isn’t it. The federal government is currently shut down because the Senate can’t pass a continuing resolution to fund federal services. Democrats want a continuing resolution that would also extend health care tax credits for the working class, which are set to expire at the end of this year, while Republicans want to pass a continuing resolution that lets those subsidies expire. And LGBTQ+ people have been thrown at the center of this fight. Republicans – led by the president – have repeatedly accused Democrats of demanding funding for gender-affirming care in order to vote for a continuing resolution – something the president calls “transgender for everybody” – even though the continuing resolutions don’t mention gender-affirming care at all. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Because the LGBTQ+ community is getting blamed for the shutdown, LGBTQ Nation talked to Rep. Takano by phone earlier last week about the fight over the continuing resolutions and the upcoming appropriations battles. Takano is the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group of lawmakers working to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Congress. “Absolutely none,” he responded when asked if there is any possible truth in the “Democrats shut down the government to get transgender for everybody” accusation. “Absolutely zero, none!” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit.” “Our funding bill does not include any changes to current laws as they relate to medical care for transgender people,” he said. “Our Democratic alternative bill does not do that.” Rep. Takano said the president is just using his favorite distraction technique so people don’t notice he’s trying to take away health care subsidies from millions of people to “partially, partially pay for permanent tax credits to the very, very wealthy in our country.” Even within the shutdown, the administration is finding new ways to blame the fight on trans people. For example, SNAP benefits are set to run out tomorrow, on November 1. The administration could use emergency funds to keep benefits flowing so people don’t lose access to food, but it has chosen not to. The USDA’s website was modified to say that the reason the benefits are ending is that Democrats are demanding funding for “gender mutilation surgery” and health care for undocumented immigrants, a cruel lie considering LGBTQ+ people disproportionately rely on SNAP benefits. Takano called the USDA website modifications “insidious” and “toxic.” “I don’t think it’s going to work,” he added. “Republicans control the entire federal government, and this shutdown falls squarely on their shoulders.” While Republicans don’t seem to be all that interested in negotiating an end to this shutdown – the president canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders before the shutdown and then posted memes mocking them, almost as if he was trying to ensure that no deal would be reached – Takano thinks that his GOP colleagues will come to the table as their constituents face the economic reality of the shutdown. He noted that open enrollment for ACA health care plans will also start tomorrow, on November 1, and the subsidies are expiring unless Congress votes to extend them, so people will see their premiums go up by a lot. This, he said, will raise the “political heat” on Republicans, as polling shows that more Americans blame the GOP for the shutdown. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” But LGBTQ+ people won’t be out of harm’s way when the shutdown ends, because after Congress reconvenes, it’ll start debating appropriations bills, which are large pieces of legislation that provide funding to all the different parts of the federal government. For the last few years, Republicans have tried to attach anti-LGBTQ+ amendments to those bills, hoping that the fact that the bills need to be passed will help them get the anti-LGBTQ+ measures passed into law. And there are a lot of these amendments, some of which are substantial enough that they will affect millions of people’s lives. They range from bans on displaying Pride flags on government buildings to bans on trans health care coverage and rescinding anti-discrimination rules that protect LGBTQ+ foster kids and trans people in homeless shelters. While the situation looks dire for LGBTQ+ people, Takano pointed out that Democrats got these riders removed in past years, and they’ll do it again. “In the last Congress, we were able to defeat nearly every anti-LGBTQI+ provision in the Republicans’ partisan appropriation goals and keep them from becoming law,” he said. “I am optimistic that we can do the same.” | Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY via IMAGN This time, though, they can’t use a presidential veto threat in negotiations, but Takano is confident that Democratic leverage in the Senate – where 60 votes are needed to pass most of these measures – can be used to fight back, as well as congressional soft power. “It really helps in the House to have 12 congressmen who identify as LGBTQI+,” he said. “I got members who are going to fan out across a 216-member caucus, and they’ll be able to advocate for our community.” “Representation matters.” Takano had particularly kind words for Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first out trans member of Congress, and how her presence in Congress is helping build support for equal rights. “It’s remarkable that this really charged time over transgender Americans that we’ve also had for the first time, a transgender member of Congress,” he said. “She is an amazing presence here…. She’s a real gift, Sarah McBride is a real gift to this Congress, and a gift to the country.” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit,” he added. Ultimately, despite Republicans’ control of the House, the Senate, and the White House, Congressman Takano says the “politics of cruelty” won’t win. “I don’t get the sense that even among Republicans, they’re really embracing the politics of cruelty,” he said. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Mark Takano blasts Republicans for cruelly blaming shutdown on trans people
For years, Republicans have been blaming their inability to get anything done on transgender people, and out Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) is tired of their “cruel distraction tactic.” “This president just loves to prey upon the vulnerable,” the congressman told LGBTQ Nation. “It just makes me think that he’s very desperate.” Related Rep. Mark Pocan is hoping for a “Republican with a conscience.” “Charlatan” Nancy Mace isn’t it. The federal government is currently shut down because the Senate can’t pass a continuing resolution to fund federal services. Democrats want a continuing resolution that would also extend health care tax credits for the working class, which are set to expire at the end of this year, while Republicans want to pass a continuing resolution that lets those subsidies expire. And LGBTQ+ people have been thrown at the center of this fight. Republicans – led by the president – have repeatedly accused Democrats of demanding funding for gender-affirming care in order to vote for a continuing resolution – something the president calls “transgender for everybody” – even though the continuing resolutions don’t mention gender-affirming care at all. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Because the LGBTQ+ community is getting blamed for the shutdown, LGBTQ Nation talked to Rep. Takano by phone earlier last week about the fight over the continuing resolutions and the upcoming appropriations battles. Takano is the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group of lawmakers working to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Congress. “Absolutely none,” he responded when asked if there is any possible truth in the “Democrats shut down the government to get transgender for everybody” accusation. “Absolutely zero, none!” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit.” “Our funding bill does not include any changes to current laws as they relate to medical care for transgender people,” he said. “Our Democratic alternative bill does not do that.” Rep. Takano said the president is just using his favorite distraction technique so people don’t notice he’s trying to take away health care subsidies from millions of people to “partially, partially pay for permanent tax credits to the very, very wealthy in our country.” Even within the shutdown, the administration is finding new ways to blame the fight on trans people. For example, SNAP benefits are set to run out tomorrow, on November 1. The administration could use emergency funds to keep benefits flowing so people don’t lose access to food, but it has chosen not to. The USDA’s website was modified to say that the reason the benefits are ending is that Democrats are demanding funding for “gender mutilation surgery” and health care for undocumented immigrants, a cruel lie considering LGBTQ+ people disproportionately rely on SNAP benefits. Takano called the USDA website modifications “insidious” and “toxic.” “I don’t think it’s going to work,” he added. “Republicans control the entire federal government, and this shutdown falls squarely on their shoulders.” While Republicans don’t seem to be all that interested in negotiating an end to this shutdown – the president canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders before the shutdown and then posted memes mocking them, almost as if he was trying to ensure that no deal would be reached – Takano thinks that his GOP colleagues will come to the table as their constituents face the economic reality of the shutdown. He noted that open enrollment for ACA health care plans will also start tomorrow, on November 1, and the subsidies are expiring unless Congress votes to extend them, so people will see their premiums go up by a lot. This, he said, will raise the “political heat” on Republicans, as polling shows that more Americans blame the GOP for the shutdown. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” But LGBTQ+ people won’t be out of harm’s way when the shutdown ends, because after Congress reconvenes, it’ll start debating appropriations bills, which are large pieces of legislation that provide funding to all the different parts of the federal government. For the last few years, Republicans have tried to attach anti-LGBTQ+ amendments to those bills, hoping that the fact that the bills need to be passed will help them get the anti-LGBTQ+ measures passed into law. And there are a lot of these amendments, some of which are substantial enough that they will affect millions of people’s lives. They range from bans on displaying Pride flags on government buildings to bans on trans health care coverage and rescinding anti-discrimination rules that protect LGBTQ+ foster kids and trans people in homeless shelters. While the situation looks dire for LGBTQ+ people, Takano pointed out that Democrats got these riders removed in past years, and they’ll do it again. “In the last Congress, we were able to defeat nearly every anti-LGBTQI+ provision in the Republicans’ partisan appropriation goals and keep them from becoming law,” he said. “I am optimistic that we can do the same.” | Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY via IMAGN This time, though, they can’t use a presidential veto threat in negotiations, but Takano is confident that Democratic leverage in the Senate – where 60 votes are needed to pass most of these measures – can be used to fight back, as well as congressional soft power. “It really helps in the House to have 12 congressmen who identify as LGBTQI+,” he said. “I got members who are going to fan out across a 216-member caucus, and they’ll be able to advocate for our community.” “Representation matters.” Takano had particularly kind words for Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first out trans member of Congress, and how her presence in Congress is helping build support for equal rights. “It’s remarkable that this really charged time over transgender Americans that we’ve also had for the first time, a transgender member of Congress,” he said. “She is an amazing presence here…. She’s a real gift, Sarah McBride is a real gift to this Congress, and a gift to the country.” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit,” he added. Ultimately, despite Republicans’ control of the House, the Senate, and the White House, Congressman Takano says the “politics of cruelty” won’t win. “I don’t get the sense that even among Republicans, they’re really embracing the politics of cruelty,” he said. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Mark Takano blasts Republicans for cruelly blaming shutdown on trans people
For years, Republicans have been blaming their inability to get anything done on transgender people, and out Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) is tired of their “cruel distraction tactic.” “This president just loves to prey upon the vulnerable,” the congressman told LGBTQ Nation. “It just makes me think that he’s very desperate.” Related Rep. Mark Pocan is hoping for a “Republican with a conscience.” “Charlatan” Nancy Mace isn’t it. The federal government is currently shut down because the Senate can’t pass a continuing resolution to fund federal services. Democrats want a continuing resolution that would also extend health care tax credits for the working class, which are set to expire at the end of this year, while Republicans want to pass a continuing resolution that lets those subsidies expire. And LGBTQ+ people have been thrown at the center of this fight. Republicans – led by the president – have repeatedly accused Democrats of demanding funding for gender-affirming care in order to vote for a continuing resolution – something the president calls “transgender for everybody” – even though the continuing resolutions don’t mention gender-affirming care at all. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Because the LGBTQ+ community is getting blamed for the shutdown, LGBTQ Nation talked to Rep. Takano by phone earlier last week about the fight over the continuing resolutions and the upcoming appropriations battles. Takano is the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group of lawmakers working to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Congress. “Absolutely none,” he responded when asked if there is any possible truth in the “Democrats shut down the government to get transgender for everybody” accusation. “Absolutely zero, none!” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit.” “Our funding bill does not include any changes to current laws as they relate to medical care for transgender people,” he said. “Our Democratic alternative bill does not do that.” Rep. Takano said the president is just using his favorite distraction technique so people don’t notice he’s trying to take away health care subsidies from millions of people to “partially, partially pay for permanent tax credits to the very, very wealthy in our country.” Even within the shutdown, the administration is finding new ways to blame the fight on trans people. For example, SNAP benefits are set to run out tomorrow, on November 1. The administration could use emergency funds to keep benefits flowing so people don’t lose access to food, but it has chosen not to. The USDA’s website was modified to say that the reason the benefits are ending is that Democrats are demanding funding for “gender mutilation surgery” and health care for undocumented immigrants, a cruel lie considering LGBTQ+ people disproportionately rely on SNAP benefits. Takano called the USDA website modifications “insidious” and “toxic.” “I don’t think it’s going to work,” he added. “Republicans control the entire federal government, and this shutdown falls squarely on their shoulders.” While Republicans don’t seem to be all that interested in negotiating an end to this shutdown – the president canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders before the shutdown and then posted memes mocking them, almost as if he was trying to ensure that no deal would be reached – Takano thinks that his GOP colleagues will come to the table as their constituents face the economic reality of the shutdown. He noted that open enrollment for ACA health care plans will also start tomorrow, on November 1, and the subsidies are expiring unless Congress votes to extend them, so people will see their premiums go up by a lot. This, he said, will raise the “political heat” on Republicans, as polling shows that more Americans blame the GOP for the shutdown. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” But LGBTQ+ people won’t be out of harm’s way when the shutdown ends, because after Congress reconvenes, it’ll start debating appropriations bills, which are large pieces of legislation that provide funding to all the different parts of the federal government. For the last few years, Republicans have tried to attach anti-LGBTQ+ amendments to those bills, hoping that the fact that the bills need to be passed will help them get the anti-LGBTQ+ measures passed into law. And there are a lot of these amendments, some of which are substantial enough that they will affect millions of people’s lives. They range from bans on displaying Pride flags on government buildings to bans on trans health care coverage and rescinding anti-discrimination rules that protect LGBTQ+ foster kids and trans people in homeless shelters. While the situation looks dire for LGBTQ+ people, Takano pointed out that Democrats got these riders removed in past years, and they’ll do it again. “In the last Congress, we were able to defeat nearly every anti-LGBTQI+ provision in the Republicans’ partisan appropriation goals and keep them from becoming law,” he said. “I am optimistic that we can do the same.” | Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY via IMAGN This time, though, they can’t use a presidential veto threat in negotiations, but Takano is confident that Democratic leverage in the Senate – where 60 votes are needed to pass most of these measures – can be used to fight back, as well as congressional soft power. “It really helps in the House to have 12 congressmen who identify as LGBTQI+,” he said. “I got members who are going to fan out across a 216-member caucus, and they’ll be able to advocate for our community.” “Representation matters.” Takano had particularly kind words for Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first out trans member of Congress, and how her presence in Congress is helping build support for equal rights. “It’s remarkable that this really charged time over transgender Americans that we’ve also had for the first time, a transgender member of Congress,” he said. “She is an amazing presence here…. She’s a real gift, Sarah McBride is a real gift to this Congress, and a gift to the country.” “Sarah McBride is just a very decent, intelligent – I will go beyond intelligent, she’s a brilliant member of Congress, and she’s just very- It’s very hard to stigmatize somebody who is smart, reasonable, and generous in her spirit,” he added. Ultimately, despite Republicans’ control of the House, the Senate, and the White House, Congressman Takano says the “politics of cruelty” won’t win. “I don’t get the sense that even among Republicans, they’re really embracing the politics of cruelty,” he said. “Serious legislators don’t come [to Washington] to ostracize and stigmatize other Americans.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
“This is how it’s done!” Mamdani’s Fox News appearance praised as model for Democrats
Out trans Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) and others on the left had a lot of praise for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after his Wednesday Fox News appearance, where he remained “calm and focused,” Raw Story reports, while delivering a progressive message. Sharing a clip of Mamdani talking about the corruption of his opponents in the mayoral race as well as in the presidential administration, McBride — who has spoken at length in the past about how she believes Democrats should approach politics — wrote on social media: “This is how it’s done!” Related Sarah McBride slams “cruel” colleagues for being too immature to treat trans folks well This is how it’s done! https://t.co/M9JGln6zAp — Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) October 15, 2025 Others on social media praised Mamdani. Former Emily’s List communications vice president Christina Reynolds called Mamdani “so smart.” “And the kind of leadership that many people want: they’re worried about economic issues and want people to work together to help them, not to give up their values.” This is so smart. And the kind of leadership that many people want: they're worried about economic issues and want people to work together to help them, not to give up their values. https://t.co/7UH3lo3iuk — Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) October 15, 2025 “Smart,” wrote journalist Eric Garcia. Honestly smart for Mamdani to go on Fox. Mamdani gets to say he went into the Lion's Den. Fox gets to say they "got" that "radical socialist Mamdani." Everyone wins. — Eric Michael Garcia (@ericmgarcia.bsky.social) 2025-10-15T20:03:55.450Z
Tammy Baldwin fights back to restore LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotline
Out Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her Republican colleague Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced bipartisan legislation to restore the vital “option 3” LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention hotline, which was introduced in 2022 and abruptly shut down by President Donald Trump in July. The new 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act would codify the lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ young people into law and require Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr to dedicate sufficient resources for “establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining” the service. Related Trump is ending the suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth. So California is filling the void. “We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, and the 988 lifeline saves lives, plain and simple,” Baldwin said in a statement introducing the bill. “There is absolutely no good reason that Donald Trump took away this specialized help for our LGBTQ youth. Mental health does not see partisan lines or geography, and I’m proud to be working with Democrats and Republicans to do what’s right and ensure that all kids have access to the help they need – regardless of who is President,” she added. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Baldwin wrote and shepherded the original legislation establishing the service three years ago. Through July, the lifeline received over 17.7 million contacts, including 12 million calls, 3.1 million texts, and 2.6 million chats. Engagements with the help line reached a peak following Trump’s inauguration. The Trevor Project found that nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year, while 12% of LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide, more than four times the rate of their straight peers. “These services remain pressing,” said Jaymes Black, The Trevor Project’s CEO. “We are doing everything we can to fill the gaps in crisis care caused by the ‘Press 3’ shutdown.” Black said she was encouraged by the bipartisan effort to restore the service. “This is not about politics, or identity; this is about doing what is best to support our country’s highest risk populations – and save young people’s lives nationwide,” Black said. Companion legislation was introduced in the House concurrently by five co-sponsors, including out member Sharice Davids (D-KS). “By codifying ‘Option 3’ into law, this bill sends a clear message: our LGBTQ+ youth matter,” said GLSEN’s Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers with the legislation’s announcement. “They deserve support, safety, and someone to turn to in their darkest moments. We’re proud to see leaders on both sides of the aisle standing up for their lives.” Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth via chat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.