10/05/25

Hi there,

⛪ Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected pope. From Chicago, he is the first pope from the U.S. He's adopted the (chosen) name Pope Leo XIV. He's expected to follow the late Pope Francis's church reforms, though little is known about his views on LGBTQ+ people. Some queer Catholic groups have voiced hope that Leo will be similar on LGBTQ+ rights as Francis, who was more progressive on queer rights than previous popes. Leo has slammed JD Vance before, which is pretty great.

❤️ During the celebrations around the selection of the new pope, a gay couple's smooch went viral after being caught on the Vatican's livestream.

🚨 Donald Trump's defense secretary released a directive this week forcing out transgender military service members. Pete Hegseth said they had until June 6 to leave or be kicked out. The announcement came days after the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could begin enforcing the ban.

🎲 Texas Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett used her time during a chaotic House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Wednesday to confront what she called “rage-baiting” attacks against transgender Americans — and to spotlight the real-life consequences of Republican policies under Trump. How did she do it? With a game she called "Trump or trans."

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, The Advocate

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

Jasmine Crockett shreds GOP’s obsession with trans people over American problems with ‘Trump or trans’ game

Gay couple photobombs Pope Leo XIV celebration with a kiss on live TV in St. Peter's Square

EWTN Global Catholic Network via x.com @dontcallmekydd

Hegseth issues ultimatum to trans troops: Resign by Pride or else

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

MAGA influencer collapses on Fox News after starting transphobic rant about Kamala Harris’s ‘incompetency’

FOX News via x.com @MikeSington

The mysterious life of Justice David Souter, an enigma who confounded conservative Republicans

David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images

‘Too strong for sports, too weak to serve?’ Trans troops challenge Trump’s military ban on ‘The Daily Show’

Comedy Central

Combat vet Paul Rieckhoff warns trans military purge is ‘tip of the spear’ in Trump’s war on all Americans

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; Yeongsik Im/Shutterstock

Sarah McBride skewers GOP’s ‘utter shitshow’ at EMILYs List gala honoring 40 years of electing women

Christopher Wiggins for The Advocate

Paul Fitzgerald, TV's first gay president from ‘The Residence,” talks bisexuality in Hollywood and beyond

Netflix

U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV. Here's what he's said about LGBTQ+ people

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

LGBTQ+ Catholic organization's leader says he's 'hopeful' about Pope Leo XIV

Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Get The Advocate in your *physical* mailbox, too!

Photo by Jon StarsJon Stars

You can get every print issue of Out Magazine / The Advocate in the mail for just $9.95 a year!