Daily newsletter 11/18

➡️ Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, already preoccupied with the Epstein files vote this week, has been called out by more than 200 Democratic lawmakers for not enforcing rules of decorum and allowing a “rise in anti-transgender rhetoric” on the floor of the House.

Meanwhile, a Black gay NYC council member is preparing to challenge Hakeem Jeffries for Congress, and we have a lengthy chat with California Rep. Robert Garcia as he takes on the GOP on the Epstein files, anti-LGBTQ+ polices and other issues.

We also have reporting from The Texas Tribune on teachers being forced to deadname transgender students, and a piece from The 19th News on how the quality of sex education depends on where in the country students live.

Until tomorrow,

Christine Linnell
Social media manager, The Advocate

More than 200 lawmakers demand Speaker Mike Johnson end dehumanizing anti-trans rhetoric in Congress

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

“Transgender people deserve government officials who will lift them up, not attack them simply because of who they are,” the members of Congress wrote.

Chi Ossé, Black gay NYC Council member, files for potential challenge to Hakeem Jeffries for Congress

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Ossé says Democrats in Congress "seem asleep at the wheel" in challenging Donald Trump.

Getting personal with Democrat Robert Garcia, who’s been leading the Democrats' release of the Epstein files

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Democratic rising star sat down with The Advocate for an interview about the Epstein files, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and co-parenting his cat after his divorce.

Texas teachers are being forced to deadname transgender students under a new state law

Maria Crane for The Texas Tribune

A Texas law requires school employees to use names and pronouns that conform to students’ sex at birth.

The sex ed you get depends on your ZIP code — and your state’s politics

Shuttershock Creative

In some states, students learn about consent and healthy relationships. In others, they get "Baby Olivia."

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