04/14/25

Hi y'all,

Happy Monday! Here are some highlights from The Advocate:

⭐ Democratic state Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons of Texas schooled a Republican colleague who apparently didn't know intersex people existed. In a video shared on social media, Simmons calls out the GOP for attacking LGBTQ+ rights in a budget bill. Watch the exchange here.

💔 Hungary's parliament passed a law banning LGBTQ+ events in public and allowing authorities to use facial recognition to identify those who participate. Thousands have protested over the weeks, including over the weekend when the political opposition put on a "grey Pride" march calling out the legislation.

🙃 Donald Trump has nominated an Alabama urologist, Brian Christine, with a long record of anti-trans rhetoric — but also a history of marketing gender-affirming care to some transgender people — to replace Dr. Rachel Levine in a top federal health role — the highest ranking out trans person in the federal government in U.S. history. Christine has called for "corrective care" for trans youth.

Check out these stories and more below. ⬇️

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, The Advocate

P.S. Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how here.

'Andy, that's not true:' Texas Republican mocked after admitting he doesn't know what intersex is

footage stills via instagram @texashousedems

Trump and El Salvador's president attack transgender people during White House meeting

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Rachel Levine's potential replacement once said trans youth should undergo 'corrective care'

Courtesy HHS; footage still via youtube

Keith St Clare, pioneering gay magazine publisher, dead at 79

Vanguard magazine via The LGBTQ History Project; Will Shellhorn; shutterstock creative

Maine Gov. Janet Mills doubles down on defying Trump’s attacks on trans rights after court victory

Trans Norwegian politician wants to give asylum to transgender people fleeing Trump's policies

footage still via instagram @karinaodegard; mark reinstein/Shutterstock

Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events

ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images

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