Tina Kotek was sworn in as Governor of Oregon on Monday, becoming one of the first two out lesbian governors in the nation alongside Massachusetts' Maura Healey. Kotek, a Democrat, was previously the Speaker of the Oregon House and the first lesbian to hold that position in the US, and was also the longest-serving speaker in Oregon history. As Governor, she succeeds fellow Democrat Kate Brown, who was the first out bisexual Governor in the nation.
Jasmine "Star" Mack, a 36-year-old Black transgender woman, was tragically stabbed to death on Saturday in Washington D.C, marking the first reported case of a violent death of a trans person in the United States in 2023. Her death has been classified as a homicide, and the police department is currently investigating the case. Friends and family remember her as a kind and loving person who always had a high spirit.
Shawn Wolfe, an adult film performer known for his work with Falcon, HotHouse, and Raging Stallion studios, has died at the age of 35. The cause of death was reported to be a drug overdose.