Which A-list celebrity stood up for her trans child this week in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter?
Annette Bening
Bening said that she's "extremely proud" of her son, who is transgender, before deriding the attacks on transgender people.
“For me, the real transition has happened as the right wing in the country has become more and more mobilized on misinforming people about the LGBTQ community,” she said. “They have been vilifying our community and creating problems that do not exist and creating and sowing hate and fear as a way of rallying their base. That’s obviously not new, and it’s happened in the campaigns of the past, especially against gay people. But now it’s transphobia, and it’s just rampant.”
Which Republican presidential candidate recently paid $95,000 to an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group?
Ron DeSantis
DeSantis and his 2024 presidential campaign affiliates gave the large sum to Iowa's Family Leader Foundation. The organization is affiliated with the Family Research Council, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. It is run by prominent evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, whose endorsement is considered influential for the Iowa caucuses.
The massive number has led many to question whether it was more about trying to buy Vander Plaats’ endorsement than the dinner events and booklets the money went to. But Vander Plaats has denied it was a bribe.
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Which city released an ad begging LGBTQ+ tourists to visit, despite its state's anti-LGBTQ+ laws?
Orlando, Florida
A 60-second radio ad trying to convince LGBTQ+ people to visit Orlando has caused discord among LGBTQ+ advocates.
“Orlando, a city that’s ready to welcome you just as you are,” the ad proclaimed. “The possibilities are endless. And there are amazing LGBTQ events for you to experience where everyone is welcome!”
But some advocates have slammed the ad for being irresponsible and for begging LGBTQ+ people to visit a state that is dangerous for them.
What reason did the International Chess Federation give for banning trans women from competing with cis women?
They want more time to consider its official trans policy
The International Chess Federation announced its ban on trans women, saying that it wanted two years for “further analysis” of its trans policies. Until then, trans women will be relegated to play in an open category.
The ban was mocked for possibly implying that there's a gendered difference between men's and women's ability to play chess.
Out California state Assemblyman Evan Low (D) introduced a resolution calling for a criminal investigation of which Republican politician?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Low introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 113 on Tuesday. The measure urges that DeSantis “be held accountable and investigated for the criminal nature of specified actions, and that the United States Department of Justice investigate the governor for Florida’s Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.”
The resolution is referring to how DeSantis hired two planes earlier this year and sent Latin American migrants from Texas to Sacramento. He allegedly lied to them to get them to go on the plane to be trafficked across the country.
Which queer star has to sell their home due to the actors' strikes in Hollywood?
Billy Porter
Billy Porter recently skewered Hollywood executives who refuse to compromise with strikers, saying, “They think we’re entitled. Meanwhile, we’re getting six-cent checks.” He said he has to sell his house because he hasn't made "f**k-you money" yet and the strike has led to canceled projects.
What criminal activity was a former aide of out gay Rep. George Santos (R-NY) accused of doing?
Imitating a high-ranking Republican in a fundraising email
Santos's former aide, Samuel Miele, was accused of sending fraudulent fundraising emails and phone calls in which he claimed to be Dan Meyer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) now-retired chief of staff.
Miele pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors said he admitted to faking his identity to donors in a letter to Santos.
Which state overrode its governor's veto and passed three anti-transgender laws this week?
North Carolina
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed three bills, which included a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a ban on trans students participating in school sports, and a "don't say gay" law that also requires schools to out trans kids to their parents.
Republicans this week overrode his vetoes, which they could only do after a formerly Democratic state representative switched parties, as child welfare advocates chanted "Protect trans kids."
Donald Trump faced his fourth criminal indictment this week. What do the charges stem from?
Masterminding a conspiracy to try to steal Georgia's electoral votes. Allegedly.
The 98-page indictment filed in Georgia Monday lists 13 criminal counts against Trump, bringing his total to 91 counts across the four indictments. The indictment says that Trump and his coconspirators pressured local officials to change the results of the election, made false statements about electoral fraud to the state legislature, harassed election workers, attempted to breach election equipment in Georgia, and tried to get federal officials at the Department of Justice as well as Mike Pence to help them.
Republicans were dismayed. Fox News contributor Caitlyn Jenner said, "This is the first time I’ve ever been ashamed of my country." Apparently, the first three indictments weren't enough to shake her pride, but four is just one too many.
What reason did the It Gets Better Project give for no longer posting on Twitter/X?
The social media platform is too unsafe for LGBTQ+ youth
The It Gets Better Project announced that it is leaving Twitter/X because the platform is no longer a safe space for the organization to do its work. A statement from the organization posted to Twitter/X said the platform does not allow the team to “safely and effectively do this work, so we are pausing all future content.”
The statement continued, “But, to the 187k+ folks who joined our movement on Twitter/X – you can still find community at itgetsbetter.org and on all of our other social media platforms… Let’s keep the queer joy front and center!"
