01/23/24

Happy Tuesday!

🍊 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the Republican presidential race on Sunday. He immediately voiced support for former President Donald Trump — yes, the very man who has been mocking Ron "DeSanctimonious" DeSantis for years now. DeSantis began his campaign as the foil of Trump but that quickly faded. As The Advocate's John Casey writes in an op-ed, it's probably because many people saw him as kind of a jerk who based his campaign on anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. Lessons learned?

🏛️ Roe v. Wade turned 51 on Monday. The SCOTUS ruling, overturned in 2022, guaranteed the right to abortion under federal law. With it gone, more than 20 states have banned or placed restrictions on abortion access. Roe's importance went beyond only reproductive rights because it also protected the right to control one's own body. "The rights to control one’s love life and sex life are intimately entwined with reproductive rights," notes my colleague Trudy Ring. 🏛️

📣 And in light of the would-be anniversary, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris rallied supporters on Tuesday, taking the time to warn the audience of what a second Trump presidency would mean for bodily autonomy. “As long as I have the powers of the presidency know this, if Congress passes a national abortion [ban] bill, I will veto it,” Biden said. 🩺

In other news:

• LGBTQ+ rights groups have called for the United Nations to investigate Texas' anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
• A new video stirs up more questions after a police car crashed into a gay bar only for the bar owners to be arrested.
• Will Ferrell has made a documentary inspired by his best friend who came out as transgender several years ago. Studios, y'all need to be picking this film up.
• This Moms for Liberty leader says "dildo" a lot in an interview on MSNBC.

Alex Cooper

Restore Roe: Biden and Harris warn supporters what a second Trump term could mean for bodily autonomy

Christopher Wiggins for The Advocate

On Roe v. Wade's anniversary, the meaning of the ruling — and its loss

Shutterstock

New video from St. Louis police crash into gay bar shows aggressive officer, raises questions

Footage Stills via twitter @javadesq

Watch dildos dominate discussion during Moms for Liberty MSNBC interview

via MSNBC

United Nations urged to investigate Texas’ anti-LGBTQ+ legislation as ‘human rights crisis’ (exclusive)

Shutterstock

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis files for moral bankruptcy