The Trans Health Equity Act—a law that requires Maryland's Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming treatments—took effect Jan. 1, The Washington Blade noted. In May 2023, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore signed the act. The law covers hormone therapy and lab testing, the revision or reversal of prior gender-affirming procedures, hair removal and transplants, gender-affirming surgery and more. The Mental Health Association of Maryland was among the organizations praising the law, saying, in part, "with an executive order safeguarding those seeking gender affirming care, Maryland is standing out as one of only a few states in the country taking measures to not only ensure that this vital, life-saving health care is available to those in need, but is sending a powerful message to other states—In Maryland, everyone deserves to live an authentic life without fear, shame, and stigma."
A coalition of 17 Republican state attorneys general filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case about a Maryland school's policy allowing teachers to not out trans and gender-nonconforming students to their parents, LGBTQ Nation reported. (The attorneys general are from such states as Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Kansas and even Alaska—but not Maryland, whose attorney general is Democratic.) The brief opposes a lower-court decision upholding the Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Education's guidelines on student gender identity. First adopted by the district during the 2020—21 school year, the guidelines do not require school staff to inform parents if a student requests to socially transition at school.
In Alaska, a Jan. 6 drag-queen performance for children was cancelled at the Soldotna Public Library after public outcry led organizers to indefinitely shelve the event, Alaska Public Radio noted. The storytime event was part of Soldotna Pride's winter celebration, called "Happy New Queer." Other events included a drag-trivia night at Soldotna spot The Goods and karaoke at Kenai's The Bow Bar. Joe Spady—an organizer of Soldotna Pride and one of the scheduled storytellers for the event—said he's found online discussions to be hypocritical and reminiscent of the backlash to a Pride in the Park drag performance in 2022 that involved a viral video of a dancer.
Milwaukee's Tempest Heat, a drag persona of Johnathan Carthell Hughlett, has passed away after a battle with kidney disease, WTMJ reported. Fellow performer BJ Daniels, who's a board member with the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project, said Heat's knowledge of local queer history was unmatched. Tempest's family has set up a GoFundMe page asking people for help to give the advocate and performer a farewell "second to none." The service will be held on Jan. 19.
Out former CNN personality Don Lemon is returning to the media landscape with a new media company and show on X (formerly Twitter), per Deadline. "I've heard you …and I am back, bigger, bolder, freer!," he wrote. "My new media company's first project is The Don Lemon Show. … I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors. This is just the beginning so stay tuned." The move comes nine months after CNN let Lemon go a little more than two months after he apologized for on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her prime.
On Jan. 10, Danica Roem (D-Manassas) became the first transgender person seated in the Virginia Senate, per The Washington Blade. In November 2023, she defeated Republican Bill Woolf to represent the 30th Senate District; in 2018, Roem became the first trans person seated in a state legislature in the country when she assumed her seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Also, state Dels. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William County), Laura Jane Cohen (D-Fairfax County) and Adele McClure (D-Arlington County)—who identify as gay, bisexual and queer, respectively—took office on Jan. 10.
In Missouri, a tragic incident sparked criticism for its handling by the media after Amber Minor, a 40-year-old Black transgender woman, was fatally shot to death, per The Advocate. Following the initial police report from the Raytown Police Department, which misidentified Minor by her deadname and misgendered her, several Kansas City media outlets reported the story using those incorrect details. The media outlets that deadnamed and misgendered Minor included TheKansas City Star, NBC affiliate KSHB, and CBS affiliate KCTV, although Kansas City's Fox affiliate, WDAF, did not make the same error.
The D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner informed The Washington Blade that trans woman Skylar Harrison Reeves, 30—whose partially nude body was found on a park bench in D.C.'s Marvin Gaye Park on Oct. 2, 2023—died from "toxicity" caused by the consumption of "cocaethylene, cocaine, and ethanol." The statement said that Reeves's death was an "accident." Rodney Adams, a spokesperson for the medical examiner's office, said the term "ethanol," a form of alcohol, usually refers to an alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine or liquor when used in a cause-of-death statement like the one for Reeves. Reeves's aunt, Rhonda Hailes, said the information she received from a detective led her to believe that "foul play" was involved.
Jacob A. Carter—the gay owner of a popular Tacoma, Washington bagel shop—was fatally shot in New Orleans, per PinkNews. Carter had been visiting New Orleans with husband Daniel Blagovich, with whom he co-owned the popular Howdy Bagel cafe. On its Instagram page, Howdy Bagel posted, "If you knew Jake, you know he was someone who exuded kindness, warmth, and genuine care to everyone he met. Jake was one of the brightest spots in the lives of everyone he loved. ... Showing up with care for one another as we grieve is a way we can honor the love that Jacob put into this world."
The South Carolina House Medical and Health Affairs Subcommittee voted to advance H.4624 favorably to the full Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, according to a SC United for Justice and Equality press release. The bill would ban medically necessary healthcare—including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery—for transgender youth under the age of 18 in South Carolina. ACLU of South Carolina Executive Director Jace Woodrum said, in part, "Let's be clear: Extreme lawmakers are moving so quickly with this discriminatory bill because they want us to be complacent, stay quiet, and think this fight is hopeless. But together, we will be there every step of the way to speak out and force them to look us in the eye while they harm our community."
The Dallas Independent School District (ISD) appears to have concealed its LGBTQ+ resource page after it was reported on by The Dallas Express. The district's "LGBTQ+ Resources for Dallas ISD & Surrounding Communities" served as a guide on how to transition genders and references specific clinics in Texas. The document recommends schools allow usage of their restrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity, and promotes books on being transgender to elementary school children.
Mauro Walden-Montoya—a prominent LGBTQ+-rights attorney in D.C. who was among the first to represent people with HIV facing discrimination before he moved to New Mexico—died Dec. 18 from complications associated with cancer at age 65, The Washington Blade noted. People from D.C. and Albuquerque, New Mexico, described him as a selfless advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities for decades. Montoya is survived by his husband of 15 years, Andy Walden-Montoya, who said on Facebook that Mauro "was a good man, with a passionate heart and deep soul."
In Florida, Republican lawmakers have already introduced several anti-LGBTQ+ bills, per NBC News. Some of the bills—including one that would change the state's definition of sex and another that would criminalize "lewd or lascivious grooming"—are among the most extreme of the hundreds filed in state legislatures so far this year. Another bill proposes banning government employees from being required to use their colleagues' requested pronouns. Also, a measure proposed by Republican state Sen. Jason Brodeur would declare nearly all published accusations of anti-LGBTQ+ bias to be "defamation per se."
In Texas, the El Paso City Council approved a new ordinance requiring establishments with public single-stall bathrooms to transform them into gender-neutral restrooms, KFOX 14 reported. In addition, Galileo Church donated $500 to the city for the purchase of signage for establishments to accept. According to city rep Cassandra Hernandez, the new ordinance faces practical hurdles such as inadvertent non-compliance and financial constraints among businesses.
In NYC, a memorial to celebrate the life of ew York-based opera critic James Jorden (who died last October at age 69) will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Society for Ethical Culture in Manhattan, Gay City News noted. In addition to spoken remembrances, several opera singers are expected to perform. Jorden was the founder and publisher of Parterre Box, the "queer opera zine" which continues to publish reviews and articles thanks to volunteers.
People in Connecticut rallied to save Bristol business Bakery on Maple, which supports the queer community, LGBTQ Nation reported. Co-owner Erika Landi wrote on Facebook to express the business' dire financial straits, adding, "I have also used my bakery's platform to stand with and support the LGBTQ community even though it's cost me customers and revenue." Shortly after opening, religious activists held a rally for "traditional marriage" near the store. But people statewide helped Erika and Dave Landi; in freezing weather, hundreds of locals turned up in droves to support them and keep the business afloat.
In Virginia, the University of Lynchburg's Dell Thrift and Pantry provides free food and clothing—including chest binders—to transgender and gender nonconforming students primarily, although everyone in need is welcome, per LGBTQ Nation. The pantry received a grant of $1,600 to open late last year and is staffed by volunteers. The Park View Community Mission and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank donate food monthly. Interestingly, Dell is located in the same Virginia city as the infamous far-right anti-LGBTQ+ Liberty University.
One Institute announced " History Within Us"—a one-day exhibition presenting creative research projects by six LGBTQ+ student leaders from the Institute's 2023-24 Youth Ambassadors for Queer History program, per a press release. The students will be honored and their work will be displayed at One Gallery in West Hollywood on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3-5 p.m. PT. "History Within Us" is free and open to the public. RSVP for the free event at oneinstitute.org/history-within-us/ .
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom set March 19 as the date for a special election to fill the vacancy left by former anti-LGBTQ+ U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who resigned from Congress last month, per media outlets. According to CBS News, if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in the Bakersfield-area district, the top two candidates, regardless of party, will move on to a general election, scheduled for May 21. The winner will serve the rest of McCarthy's term.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) ended his 2024 bid for the White House just days before the Iowa caucus, The Hill reported. "It's clear to me … that there isn't a path for me to win the nomination," Christie told the audience at a town hall in Windham, New Hampshire. Christie struggled to see gains in polling amid what many view as a scramble for second place between former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Former President Trump, meanwhile, has continued to dominate the GOP primary field.
Florida's Republican Party removed Christian Ziegler as its chair in the wake of allegations of rape and video voyeurism, NBC News noted. The vote, which came during an emergency meeting in Tallahassee, was expected after the Sarasota Police Department's rape investigation into him became public last month.
National Rifle Association (NRA) Executive director Wayne LaPierre—who has led the group since the 1990s—announced he would resign, per media outlets, including USA Today. NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO and EVP of the NRA. The Hill noted that LaPierre's resignation, first reported by Fox News, comes as the organization defends itself in a New York civil suit alleging he and other executives misused millions of the group's funds on luxury vacations and other perks.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins recently appeared in a video talking about his journey as a Christian and expressing support for the anti-LGBTQ+ organization Focus on the Family, Outsports noted. Cousins' comments didn't specifically condemn transgender people or same-sex marriage, although he praised the organization's teachings (which include very clear anti-LGBTQ policies). Neither the Vikings nor Cousins opted to answer Outsports' questions for this story.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the 2024 Presidential Candidate Bobblehead Series featuring bobbleheads of incumbent President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie (who just ended his bid for the White House), per a press release. The bobbleheads, expected to ship in May, are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order; a complete set of six is available for $175. See store.bobbleheadhall.com/products/2024candidates .
