Politics · Jul 17
Ohio Democrats face backlash after softening support for transgender rights
Amy Acton and Marcy Kaptur are drawing criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and party advisory groups as Democrats seek to hold votes in November.
Latest by Alexander Rivera
Reporting, analysis and culture from this writer
Education · Jul 17
Deposition testimony traces Ohio school board’s anti-LGBTQ+ poster fight to a single complaint
Court filings say Little Miami officials had no prior complaints about the classroom display before board president David Wallace raised it, and that the named complainant was Silas Shelton, a former pastor sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex crimes involving a minor.
Media · Jul 17
Jesse Watters mocks military testosterone plan with remarks about women overseas
Fox News host Jesse Watters laughed as he suggested Pete Hegseth’s new Pentagon policy could lead to sexual assault risks for women on bases and during port calls in Asia.
Media · Jul 17
MSG sued Wired over reporting on database that included LGBTQIA flags
Madison Square Garden Entertainment says Wired distorted stolen customer data. Wired says it stands by a report that examined how the venue tracked public figures, including some marked as LGBTQIA.
Politics · Jul 17
JD Vance draws attention for remarks about Biden’s ice cream eating
On Joe Rogan’s podcast, the vice president described Joe Biden’s ice cream habits as “suggestive” and joked about the awkwardness of eating certain foods in public.
History · Jul 17
Timeline of U.S. trans rights traces victories, backlash and visibility from 1776 to 2026
From early gender-nonconforming figures and firsts in Congress to modern battles over health care, bathrooms and military service, a new chronology maps 250 years of trans life in America.
Politics · Jul 17
Shuster says Trump officials would struggle to alter Epstein files
After Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, David Shuster argued that any attempt to remove references to Donald Trump would be exposed by the large number of DOJ and FBI employees who reviewed the material in March.
Health · Jul 17
A year after the shutdown of 988's LGBTQ+ youth line, Trevor Project says the crisis gap remains
The Trevor Project says the federal lifeline's specialized services were cut off on July 17, 2025, after supporting more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ young people.
Politics · Jul 17
Trump speech renews fight over election rules and transgender rights
A commentary on Donald Trump’s White House remarks argues that his claims of voter fraud are meant to weaken faith in democracy while advancing anti-transgender policy goals.
Politics · Jul 16
Becca Balint criticizes Pete Hegseth in remarks attacking his anti-LGBTQ stance
The Vermont congresswoman said the defense secretary’s rhetoric and policy choices expose hypocrisy inside the administration. Her comments came in a video posted by MeidasTouch on July 16, 2026.
Politics · Jul 16
House approves State Department spending bill with six anti-LGBTQ+ riders
The bill includes provisions that would restrict Pride flags, target trans-related care and weaken protections for LGBTQ+ people in federal and foreign-assistance work.
Law & Courts · Jul 16
Justice Department seeks to keep transgender troops blocked while it prepares Supreme Court appeal
The administration asked a federal appeals court to delay its ruling in Talbott v. Trump, as transgender service members said the ban would cause irreparable harm.
Politics · Jul 16
Erika Kirk denounces trans people and Muslims in speech to Turning Point USA conservatives
At a Chapter Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., the Turning Point USA CEO cast the organization’s mission as a struggle against evil and urged supporters to be “happy warriors.”
Law & Courts · Jul 16
Louisiana library firing over pronouns becomes a religious-freedom lawsuit
Luke Ash says he was dismissed after refusing to use a coworker’s pronouns; his complaint asks a federal court to rule against the library’s inclusivity policy.
Politics · Jul 16
Trump’s latest falsehoods highlight a long record of exaggeration and distortion
A new commentary argues that the president’s claims range from routine boasting to statements that clash with readily documented facts, including his record on legislation, taxes and foreign conflicts.
Law & Courts · Jul 16
Mount Sinai subpoena puts trans family’s medical privacy under renewed pressure
A New York parent says a DOJ demand for his daughter’s records felt like intimidation as the Trump administration expands subpoenas targeting transgender children’s health care.
Law & Courts · Jul 16
Federal agents search Greg Locke’s Tennessee home amid investigation into church finances
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies helped secure the pastor’s home and another location as the IRS joined the search. Locke says agents seized devices and bank records during an early-morning raid.
Politics · Jul 16
Morning Joe laughs off Dan Patrick’s masculinity jab at James Talarico
MS NOW’s Morning Joe mocked Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick after showing a photo of him while discussing his criticism of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.