05/08/2025

Hi there,

⛪ Who will be the next pope? We'll find out soon enough. The conclave is underway to decide who will replace Pope Francis, a pretty progressive pope regarding LGBTQ+ topics. The next pontiff could be one who will continue Francis's legacy, or we could see a move back to more conservative Catholic doctrine. Here are some of the contenders.

🚔 One of Trump’s latest schemes is to reopen the notorious federal prison on Alcatraz Island, just off the coast of San Francisco. Many gay and bisexual men were held at Alcatraz, some imprisoned simply because of having sex with other men — and one was a convicted murderer who became a bird expert and had his story told on film.

🚨 Seven Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter Wednesday to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denouncing the Trump administration’s plan to cut funding for a crisis and suicide prevention program for LGBTQ+ youth.

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, The Advocate

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

Democratic senators denounce plan to cut LGBTQ+ suicide and crisis hotline

Courtesy U.S. Senate

Who could succeed Pope Francis? We look at 10 possibilities, both LGBTQ-friendly and not

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images; Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Hegseth attacks transgender service members in speech: 'No more dudes in dresses. We're done with that s**t'

Courtesy Department of Defense

Rachel Maddow says we’re in an ‘attempted authoritarian overthrow’

Legal team tells D.C. appeals court Hegseth’s words show Trump’s trans military ban is about hate, not policy

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Night Court's Marsha Warfield on living out and proud later in life

Courtesy Marsha Warfield

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art abruptly postpones LGBTQ+ exhibit

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Here's how Boise and Salt Lake City will fly Pride flags despite state bans

seaseasyd/Shutterstock

Pete Buttigieg warns of ‘major concern’ over dangerous Trump-era instability

MSNBC

Will the next Pope embrace the LGBTQ+ community and a more modest lifestyle like Pope Francis did?

VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images; Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The queer men of Alcatraz: the hidden history of the prison Trump wants to reopen

Bettmann Contributor/Getty Images; shutterstock creative

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🌈 Look, a hint! 🌈

Each week, The Advocate newsletter has a little bit of LGBTQ+ trivia. Tuesday, you'll get the question. Today, you'll get a hint. And Saturday, you'll get the answer.

This week's question is: What lesbian member of the House of Representatives has announced a bid for the Senate?

This week's hint is: She was first elected to Congress in 2018 to represent Minnesota.

⚡ Respond with the correct answer, and you might receive a shoutout in a future email newsletter.