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About Gary Carnivele

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Trans teacher’s ‘grief’ at having to move states to escape anti-trans sentiment

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“Realising I would have to start anew was really hard,” a trans teacher, who wishes to be known only as Derek, tells PinkNews about his move from Missouri to Washington.

“Uprooting all your connections,” was one of the hardest parts, he adds.

To mark Trans Awareness Week, which runs until Tuesday (19 November), Derek opened up about his life-changing uprooting from Missouri to Washington in 2022.

The teacher, who is in his 20s, says he felt “grief” at having to move but had been “forced out”. While the decision was “scary,” he’s now “really happy” and feels “certain aspects” of his life are “better here than they could have been in Missouri”.

Missouri was ranked among the worst US states for LGBTQ+ people last year thanks to a number of bills targeting the community, with 40 of these still being tracked by the American Civil Liberties Union.

In contrast, Washington has been ranked as one of the safest for queer individuals.

Derek came out as trans at the age of 13. His decision to leave the Show-Me State was a “long, drawn-out one”, and he recalls becoming increasingly aware that the “political climate was getting worse”. 

But it was after Donald Trump’s first term in the White House that the “writing really was on the wall… especially because I am a teacher, and I worked for a year in a public school district in Missouri where I saw how much these policies affected not only my ability to teach but also my sense of safety”.

Deciding where to move presented its own challenges. “I looked up online the top states that are best for trans folks. I compared them and eliminated all the states that were too cold for me. We had the option to visit both Oregon and Washington and settled on Washington,” he says, adding that his partner, who is also trans, works in the public sector as a librarian.

‘I don’t feel like I can put my guard down entirely’ 

Derek says anti-trans discrimination in the Evergreen State has been “significantly less” than what he experienced back home in Missouri, although he has always lived in metropolitan areas, which tend to have more liberal environments. 

Nonetheless, his job has required him to work in some suburban areas, where he notes that “things crop up pretty fast”, even in Washington.

“I don’t feel like I can put my guard down entirely, especially as things continue to progress at a national level and incite more reactivity,” he says of his new home.

Derek is even more thankful he moved following Trump’s second election triumph. The president-elect has repeatedly vowed to “return” responsibility for education to the states and has pledged to abolish the Department of Education, which administers federal grant programmes and oversees student loans.

Missouri is also home to Valentina Gomez, a failed Republican candidate who ran to be its secretary of state and frequently promotes anti-LGBTQ+ hate online, including a video in which she burned queer-themed books with a flamethrower.

Republican’s anti-trans rhetoric ‘directly impacts’ the trans community 

By contrast, Derek highlights Washington’s robust unions, which make it easier to be a teacher, and the broader variety of job opportunities. However, as the educational environment shifts, he’s had to become “way more flexible on what kind of job I do”.

And he admits he couldn’t have managed the move without his partner. Together, they’ve made a conscious effort to reach out to trans communities and build new connections. Many of the people they’ve met also moved from Missouri for similar reasons.

Looking ahead to Trump’s second term, Derek emphasises that legislation can have a “huge impact” on minority communities. However, he’s equally concerned about the discrimination fuelled by hateful rhetoric.

“The recent way Republicans are equating being a queer adult or trans person with being a sex offender or paedophile, especially as a teacher, is directly impacting us,” he says. 

A lawyer has previously warned that individuals who aim slurs such as “groomer” and paedophile at LGBTQ+ people online could face serious legal consequences.

Moving is ‘scary’ but ‘totally worthwhile’ 

Reflecting on Trump’s campaign, Derek says: “Some of these parties choose their scapegoat of the year or month, and trans and queer folks are having their moment.”

However, he remains hopeful that people will begin to “swing back the other way” and points out that some of his family, who previously voted for Trump, “couldn’t bring themselves to do so this time”.

To mark of Trans Awareness Week, trans pastor Lazarus Justice Jameson also shared their story with PinkNews, saying they too had to leave Missouri “to live.” Despite moving to Oregon, one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states they still encounter discrimination and harassment.

In addition, three trans journalists have spoken to PinkNews about the significance of their work and their fears as Trump nominates his team for the next four years.

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Donald Trump is already inspiring other countries to crack down on homosexuality

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The leader of one of the parties in Uzbekistan’s government coalition announced that they are working on a law to ban LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in the Central Asia country. And they’re giving credit to Donald Trump for the move.

Alisher Qodirov is the leader of the Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) party, which, along with the Liberal Democrats, controls the lower chamber of the parliament of Uzbekistan. He posted on the social media network Telegram that his party is working on a draft law to ban discussions of LGBTQ+ people.

In the post, he referenced a post written by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, where she promoted her father’s opposition to “inappropriate sexual content” and “transgender ideology” in schools. The idea that schools are teaching children to be transgender or exposing them to gay sexual content is false and has been used to ban all mentions of LGBTQ+ people in schools in certain states and school districts in the U.S.

“The change in the center of the disease is very good,” Qodirov wrote. “We are working on adopting a law prohibiting any kind of propaganda in this regard.”

Homosexuality is currently illegal in the Muslim-majority nation, punishable by up to three years in prison. It is one of only two post-Soviet states (along with Turkmenistan) to ban homosexuality. There are no protections against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination or hate crimes.

A 2021 Human Rights Watch report noted that gay and bi men in Uzbekistan face abuse from vigilante mobs as well as the police. 

“Because of the violence and discrimination that LGBT people are subjected to, we had to stop most of [our] projects, news feeds or groups online,” one activist told Human Rights Watch. “We’ve gone completely underground.”

Five men told the organization that they have had to pay bribes of up to $1000 to keep police from outing them to their families or to the public.

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

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Trump picks anti-trans, anti-vaccine Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services

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Donald Trump announced that he’s chosen vaccine denialist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of Health and Human Services, Trump said on social media Thursday afternoon. 

“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote. “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Kennedy, who ended his independent presidential run in August and endorsed Trump, has a long history of embracing conspiracy theories and has been repudiated by his famous family. Among his bizarre theories are that the environment turns children transgender and that vaccines cause autism. He’s also said that HIV does not cause AIDS. It does. 

His campaign was marked by many strange stories. He had been “accumulating negative headlines — an allegation that he groped a former family babysitter (to which he responded to by declaring, ‘I am not a church boy’); a revelation that he used a dead bear he found on a roadside to stage a fake bicycle accident in New York’s Central Park; and a claim by Kennedy that doctors found a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, among other things,” NBC News reported earlier. He has painted both himself and Trump as victims of the media and the political establishment, and contended that President Joe Biden and now Vice President Kamala Harris have a dictatorial hold on the Democratic Party.

“The American people should be able to trust that our health care system is led by experts who believe in science and want to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the country,” Brandon Wolf, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement to The Advocate. “Robert F Kennedy Jr. lacks the qualifications and judgment to manage the Department of Health and Human Services. As an anti-vaccine conspiracist and denier of the medical consensus on health care for transgender youth, Kennedy’s views are dangerous and harmful. Donald Trump is desperately trying to stack the federal government with unqualified loyalists and it’s the American people who will suffer as a result. The Senate must reject this nomination.”

Christopher Wiggins contributed reporting.

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California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers Release Two Landmark Studies on Transgender Violence and the Impact of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation on HIV Prevention

The California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers (CHPRC) have released two major studies addressing urgent health and safety concerns facing LGBTQ+ communities. Both conducted by CHPRC’s California Center for HIV Syndemic Policy Research, the first study examines the disproportionate rates of fatal violence affecting Black transgender women in the United States, while the second study reveals how both progressive and discriminatory policies at state and local levels shape HIV prevention outcomes among sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) youth. These findings underscore the urgent need for both protective legislation and culturally sensitive public health interventions to safeguard marginalized communities.

Find more information about both studies at www.chprc.org.

Study 1: Fatal Violence Against Transgender Women in the United States
The first study, Halliwell et al., 2024, led by Pamuela Halliwell, MA, LMFT at The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Laramie Smith, PhD at UCSD, documents the devastating violence that disproportionately impacts Black transgender women. Findings reveal that Black transgender women accounted for 78% of all transgender women murdered in the U.S., with gun violence as the leading cause and Southern and Midwestern regions showing the highest rates of violence, linked to structural racism and anti-transgender policies.

“This study reflects the deadly impacts of systemic inequities and the urgent need for policy changes to protect transgender women of color,” said Pamuela Halliwell.  “At a time where the incoming administration is threatening to remove rights and erase the identities of trans and nonbinary folx, our findings show how discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare compounds the vulnerability of Black transgender women, reinforcing the need for equitable protections.”

Key Findings from Study 1:

  • Black transgender women (including Afro-Latinas) are disproportionately murdered in the US: During the years 2013-2021, there were 229 documented acts of fatal violence against transgender women in the US, and Black transgender women account for 78% of those murdered.
  • Policy environments amplify Black trans women’s vulnerability to fatal violence: Specifically, Black trans women are significantly more likely to be killed at a younger age by gun violence in the Southern and Midwestern US.
    • The average age of Black transgender women at the time of death was 28, five years younger than the average age of non-Black transgender.
    • 76.4% of Black transgender women were fatally shot vs. 37.9% of non-Black transgender women.
    • Most fatal acts of violence occurred in regions with greater anti-transgender legislation, fewer commonsense gun laws, and greater structural racism
  • Violence prevention efforts must also reduce the risk of perpetrating acts of violence against transgender women in the US: A perpetrator was identified in 58% of murders. Most of the perpetrators identified were known to the victim; 61% were their sexual or romantic partners and 32% were non-romantic acquaintances or family.
    • While most perpetrators were Black cisgender men, this does not mean that Black men are the issue but likely reflects similar challenges across the communities where perpetrators and victims live that increase the risk of perpetuating acts of violence that are more fatal (e.g., lower economic opportunities, increased access to guns, anticipated threats to their masculinity by being with a transgender woman)

Study 2: The Relationship Between Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation and HIV Prevention Among Sexual and Gender Minoritized (SGM) Youth
The second study, Kelly et al., 2024, led by Dr. Nicole Kelly from UC San Diego with co-authors at the University of North Carolina, examines the profound impact of state and local LGBTQ+ policies on HIV prevention among young SGM people, especially Black youth. The study highlights that PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) use among young people significantly increases in regions with protective LGBTQ+ legislation, while discriminatory policies hinder access to life-saving prevention tools.

Key Findings from Study 2:
· Progressive Policies Drive Higher PrEP Use Nationally: SGM youth in states with progressive LGBTQ+ laws showed notably higher PrEP usage compared to those in states with more discriminatory policies, demonstrating the public health benefits of inclusive legislation.
· Local Politics Matter Just as Much as State Policies: In addition to state-level protections, local politics at the county level had an equal impact on PrEP usage. “Voting in local elections matters.” Dr. Kelly emphasized, “We’re seeing an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric throughout the US, but focusing on implementing protective local policies can have meaningful public health impacts even when these protections don’t exist nationally.”
· Impact on Black SGM Youth: The relationship between LGBTQ+ policies and PrEP use was strongest among Black youth, suggesting that protective LGBTQ+ policies could have the greatest potential for improving HIV prevention services for Black SGM populations.
· California’s Policy Climate as a Model: California, with one of the most progressive LGBTQ+ policy landscapes, is a positive example of how state-level protective legislation can reduce HIV risk among young people. However, disparities persist in areas with conservative local governance, highlighting the need for protective policies at both state and local levels.

A Call to Action
These studies underscore that discriminatory anti-LGBTQ+ policies are a structural public health threat, likely exacerbating the HIV epidemic among youth and widening ethno-racial inequities in HIV prevention and leading to fatal violence against Black and Brown trans women across the country. Protective policies at every level—national, state, and local—are essential to increasing PrEP access and ensuring the safety and health of LGBTQ+ youth and adults alike. Legislative and organizational policies that work to reduce anti-Black discrimination and transphobia, reduce fatality through common sense gun laws, and reverse anti-transgender initiatives are the best strategies to protect lives.

About California HIV Policy Research Centers
Three collaborative California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers, funded by the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, support research and policy analysis that addresses critical issues related to HIV/AIDS care and prevention in California. The work of the research centers focuses on a “rapid response,” which involves short-term research projects designed to quickly address questions that emerge in a dynamic health policy environment.

California Center for HIV Syndemic Policy Research
The California Center for HIV Syndemic Policy Research (CalCenSyn) is led by Dr. Laramie Smith (UCSD) and Dr. Orlando Harris (UCSF). CalCenSyn seeks to expose the root causes of HIV and syndemic conditions, such as tobacco, substance use, and socio-structural barriers to treatment through its community-academic collaborative.

Southern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center
The Southern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center, led by Dr. Ian Holloway (UCLA) and Dr. Jamila Stockman (UCSD), celebrated a successful year of collaboration. Their collective work includes academic manuscripts, policy briefs, infographics, conference presentations, consultations with the California Board of Pharmacy, and has garnered additional state and federal funding.  In 2024, the Center is examining the implementation of the California Healthy Youth Act, California’s comprehensive sex education law; the intersection of HIV and intimate partner violence; and strategies to implement integrated HIV prevention and treatment services, especially for women experiencing violence.

Northern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center
The Northern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center is led by Dr. Emily Arnold (UCSF), Dr. Sandra McCoy (UCB), and Laura Thomas (San Francisco AIDS Foundation). In 2024, the Northern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center is planning to examine the impact of staffing shortages on the HIV healthcare system and is looking forward to working collaboratively with the other PRC on rapid response research addressing syndemic factors that contribute to HIV in California.
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TRANSCENDENCE THEATRE COMPANY’S “Broadway Holiday” Happens at 2 Locations

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This December, Transcendence Theatre Company and Marin Theatre invite audiences to experience the magic of Broadway Holiday, an all-new production that promises to dazzle and delight. To honor its tenth season presenting holiday productions for families, Transcendence announces two exciting firsts: For the first time, the City of Sonoma will host this year’s run at the historic Sebastiani Theatre on Sonoma Plaza, December 18–19, 2024. Additionally, Marin Theatre and Vickie Soulier will present Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Holiday in a special Mill Valley run at Marin Theatre, December 12-15.

“This elegant and intimate celebration blends Broadway hits with seasonal favorites, creating an unforgettable wintertime event for all ages.“Broadway Holiday is more than just a show – it’s a gift to our community,” says Tony Gonzalez, Artistic Director of Transcendence Theatre Company. “We’ve crafted an experience that captures the essence of the holiday spirit while showcasing the incredible talent that Transcendence is known for. Each year, we look to transcend the previous year’s experience with new show-stopping numbers. It’s the perfect way for families and friends to come together and create lasting memories.”“The holiday season in Marin just got a bit brighter with our special addition of Broadway Holiday thanks to our partnership with arts patron Vickie Soulier and Transcendence Theatre Company,” says Marin Theatre Artistic Director Lance Gardner. “We are looking forward to welcoming some of Broadway’s best and brightest to Marin, performing Broadway hits and holiday tunes to ring in this festive season, in an event that is perfect for all ages.

”The production features a stellar cast of Broadway veterans and rising stars (to be announced), performing a mix of classic holiday tunes and showstopping Broadway numbers. Audiences will be treated to a delightful blend of festive musical favorites, hit tunes, and hilarious holiday flair. The show promises stunning choreography, breathtaking vocals, and the signature Transcendence style that has made the company a Northern California favorite for over a decade.“We’re thrilled to bring Broadway Holiday to the Sebastiani Theatre and Marin Theatre,” adds Amy Miller, Co-founder and Creative Vision Director. “We’re eager to share Transcendence’s magical holiday experience with a wider audience and create new traditions across Northern California. Audiences can expect an unforgettable, intimate evening that will fill them with the spirit of the season.”

FOR TICKETSSebastiani Theatre, SonomaTickets for Broadway Holiday at the Sebastiani Theatre start at $31 and are on sale now. Group discounts of up to 20% are available for parties of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit BestNightEver.org or call the box office at 877-424-1414 Ext. 1. Audiences can keep the holiday cheer going after the show with an exclusive, private event hosted by Pangloss Cellars. Gold ticket holders are invited to mingle with cast members while enjoying Pangloss wines and seasonal, light bites, crafted by their Executive Chef. Additional wines by the glass will also be available for purchase.

Marin Theatre, Mill ValleyAudiences at Marin Theatre will find tickets starting at $30. Group discounts are available for parties of 8 or more (save $7 per ticket) with greater savings for groups of  15 or more (20% off). To purchase tickets or for more information visit MarinTheatre.org or call 415-388-5208. Guests can elevate their holiday cheer with Gold tickets which include pre-show and intermission exclusive access to the Holiday Lounge with beverages and holiday-themed bites. 

ABOUT TRANSCENDENCE THEATRE COMPANYTranscendence Theatre Company is California Wine Country’s premiere entertainment experience, thirteen years and counting. Presenting a Broadway Under the Stars season of original outdoor musical revues each summer, an indoor holiday show every winter, and more, our mission is to create extraordinary evenings featuring the best talents from Broadway and beyond. Transcendence Theatre Company is dedicated to providing the joys and benefits of musical theatre to all through one of a kind performances, community engagements, and arts education programs. Through its Transcendence For All initiatives, the company partners with local nonprofits to make the arts accessible to youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and more. Transcendence offers free performances and workshops, as well as accessibility features at its productions. BestNightEver.orgSponsors for Broadway Holiday at the Sebastiani Theatre include Sotheby’s International Realty, Press Democrat, Friedman’s Home Improvement, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, The Hanna Center, Parkpoint Health Club, Jeffrey D Bean DDS, Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller, and Moskowitz LLP, Amaturo Sonoma Media Group, Alan and Susan Seidenfeld Charitable Trust, Bank of Marin, and Sonoma Valley Authors Festival.

ABOUT MARIN THEATREMarin Theatre was founded in 1966 and joined the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and the National New Play Network (NNPN) in 2008. Now rechristened Marin Theatre, the company is the leading professional theatre in the North Bay and the premier mid-sized professional theatre in the Bay Area, now led by Artistic Director Lance Gardner. Marin Theatre’s 2024/25 season launched in October with the U.S. premiere of Canadian hit Yaga and continues in the new year with a roster of four more funny, engaging, entertaining, and compelling works. Season subscriptions, starting at $200, are still available. For information the public may visit MarinTheatre.org or call 415-388-5208.
This holiday season, Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway Holiday, an all-new production featuring a stellar cast of Broadway veterans and rising stars, performing a mix of classic holiday tunes and showstopping Broadway numbers. Audiences of all ages are invited to celebrate the holidays with a festive blend of musical favorites, hit tunes, and hilarious holiday flair, presented with delightful choreography, breathtaking vocals, and the signature Transcendence style that has made that Sonoma-based company a Northern California favorite for over a decade.WHEN:December 12-15, 2024 at Marin Theatre in Mill ValleyDecember 18-19, 2024 at Sebastiani Theatre in SonomaSHOWS: Marin Theatre:Thursday-Friday: 7:30pm; Saturday: 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Sunday: 4:00pmSebastiani Theatre:Wednesday at 7:00pm; Thursday at 2:00pm & 7:00pmWHERE:Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941Sebastiani Theatre, 476 1st St E, Sonoma, CA 95476TICKETS:Marin Theatre:$30 Reserved*, $50 Premium*, $70 Silver*, $150 Gold* (includes access to Holiday Lounge). *Plus a $6 handling fee per total order.Sebastiani Theatre:$31 General Reserve 1, $55 General Reserve 2, $85 Premium, $155 Gold (includes post-show cheer at Pangloss).GROUPS: Marin Theatre: Groups of 8 to 15 receive $7 off per ticket. Groups of 15+ receive a 20% discount. Sebastiani Theatre: Groups of 10-19 receive $10 discount; Groups of 20-29 receive 15% discount; groups of 30 or more receive 20% discount.INFO: Marin Theatre: Information and tickets are available at MarinTheatre.org or by calling 415-388-5208 Sebastiani Theatre: Information and tickets are available at BestNightEver.org or by calling 877-424-1414 Ext. 1

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LGBTQ+ young adults are experiencing depression en masse

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A new study has found that LGBTQ+ higher education students are more than three times as likely to have depression than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.

Published in the Journal of American College Health, the study examined data from almost 500,000 respondents to the annual Healthy Minds Study, which tracked mental health in full-time students ages 18 to 35 from 2007 to 2022.

“Our findings highlight a growing mental health crisis among LGBTQIA+ students that demands immediate attention,” says David Pagliaccio of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. “Academic institutions need to take urgent and proactive steps to address these alarming rises in depression that are affecting the lives of so many young adults, particularly among those who face unique challenges due to their sexual or gender identity.”

The findings not only concluded that LGBTQ+ students are more likely to suffer from depression but also that six times the number of respondents identified as LGBTQ+ in 2022 compared to when the study launched 15 years prior.

The analysis also found that overall depression rates have increased among students but that LGBTQ+ students account for nearly half of those reporting depression despite making up only one-fifth of the group. LGBTQ+ students were also twice as likely to go to therapy but half as likely to go to family members for help.

The results are not surprising considering the hostile anti-LGBTQ+ climate being perpetuated by federal and state lawmakers. The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People (which surveys youth ages 13 to 24) found a “significant association” between poor mental health and anti-LGBTQ+ victimization, including that the mental health of 90% of LGBTQ+ youth has been negatively affected by politics.

Additionally, a study published in September revealed that anti-transgender laws have a direct, causal relationship with youth suicide attempts and that attempted suicide rates increased by as much as 72% following the passage of such laws.

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth via chat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.

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South Carolina slammed with lawsuit from 13-year-old trans boy over bathroom rights

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A coalition of LGBTQ+ advocates is taking South Carolina to court over its bathroom law forcing transgender students to use restrooms according to their assigned sex at birth. The law mandates that K-12 schools deny transgenderstudents access to bathrooms aligned with their gender identity or face losing a quarter of their state funding.

The complaint, filed Tuesday, takes aim at Proviso 1.120, a provision enacted in July that advocates say strips trans students of fundamental rights. The law mandates that K-12 schools bar transgender students from restrooms matching their gender identity or risk losing a quarter of their state funding.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 13-year-old John Doe and the South Carolina LGBTQ+ advocacy group Alliance for Full Acceptance, argues that Proviso 1.120 violates both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. “Proviso 1.120 is illegal, plain and simple. Trans students are not political pawns. Their rights are not optional,” Alexandra Brodsky, a senior attorney at Public Justice representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “And the human stakes are too high for states like South Carolina to break the law to score political points: Thousands of students are paying the price with their health and educations.”

A memo from the South Carolina Department of Education, issued on behalf of state superintendent Ellen Weaver, outlined strict guidelines for compliance. It called on districts to adjust restroom signage and student records, replacing references to “gender” with “biological sex,” which the state defines as “a person’s biological sex, either male or female, as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.” According to the memo, only in exceptional cases—such as medical assistance or natural disasters—can students enter facilities that do not match the sex on their original birth certificate. The memo further directed districts to restrict restroom use to students’ sex assigned at birth under all other circumstances.

According to the lawsuit, John Doe faced suspension at his Berkeley County school after using the boys’ restroom. School administrators allegedly told the student that he could be expelled if he continued to use the restroom aligned with his gender identity, prompting his parents to withdraw him from the school. “I will not allow school officials or lawmakers to dehumanize my child because of their own ignorance. Adults need to educate themselves, read the science, and stop attacking students,” John Doe’s father said in a statement. “All students deserve to feel safe and supported in school, including my son.”

Joseph Wardenski, founder of Wardenski P.C., which is also representing the plaintiffs, warned of the law’s long-term harm to South Carolina’s transgender students. “Every day that Proviso 1.120 remains in effect, countless transgender students across South Carolina are being harmed,” Wardenski said in a statement. “As courts around the country have held, these types of bathroom bans cause trans students to suffer needless and preventable stigma, distress, and physical injuries. To prevent these harms, we will ask the court to intervene immediately to stop South Carolina from enforcing this discriminatory policy.”

The Fourth Circuit Court, whose jurisdiction includes South Carolina, ruled in the Virginia case Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board in 2020 that barring transgender students from bathrooms matching their gender identities is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs argue that Proviso 1.120 blatantly ignores this precedent.

“Lawmakers who continue to target transgender youth with blatantly unconstitutional legislation should take note,” said AFFA executive director Chase Glenn. “If you pass these laws, you will be taken to court.”

The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to halt enforcement of the law. If granted, the injunction would allow transgender students across South Carolina to use bathrooms matching their gender identity without the threat of discipline or harassment.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Happens Wednesday Night at The California

Please join us in remembering our fallen siblings on Wednesday November 20th for Transgender Day of Remembrance at @the_california_theatre from 6-9 pm. 

The core part of the event will be held from 6-8pm with a Community Connection Hour from 8-9pm. Refreshments will be provided, as well as available for purchase. 

Let us come together to find strength, healing, and hope in each other 

#SoCoTDOR2024

Por favor, únase a nosotros para recordar a nuestros hermanos caídos el miércoles 20 de noviembre para el Día de la Memoria Transgénero en el Teatro California de 6-9 pm. 

La parte central del evento tendrá lugar de 6 a 8 pm con una Hora de Conexión Comunitaria de 8 a 9 pm. Habrá refrescos a la venta. 

Unámonos para encontrar fuerza, curación y esperanza en los demás 

#SoCoTDOR2024

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California confirms first case of even more deadly mpox strain

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California has confirmed the first case of a new, more lethal strain of mpox in a man who recently traveled to Africa, and public health officials now want to speak with anyone who may met the person.

The new mpox clade I strain has a higher mortality rate than the earlier clade IIb strain that caused a global outbreak in 2022 and greatly impacted gay men. The World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency over the spread of the clade I mpox strain in August after the number of cases exploded in Africa.

“The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified through laboratory testing the first known case of clade I mpox in the United States,” the CDPH said in a press release on Nov. 16. “This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa.”

The CDPH continued, saying the unnamed individual was receiving care in San Mateo County immediately south of San Francisco. The CDPH did not explain how the individual might have contracted mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

The CDPH is contacting anyone who may have encountered the individual.

In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rapid spread of the mpox clade I strain a public health emergency of international concern(PHEIC), the highest alarm level under international law.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” general director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference called to announce the PHEIC on Aug. 14.

“In addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”

While more lethal and severe than the clade IIb strain, California officials tried to dampen public concerns about a deadly outbreak of the new clade.

“Historically, clade I has caused more severe illness than clade II, however, recent infections from clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks, especially when cases have access to quality medical care,” the CDPH said in its press release.

Related: New mpox clade I explained

The Centers for Disease Control echoed the CDPH’s statements regarding the clade II strain.

“Historically, clade I mpox has caused more severe illness and deaths than clade II mpox,” the CDC said in a press release on Nov. 16. “However, recent data demonstrate that infections from clade I mpox in the current outbreak may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks.”

The CDC recommends the following steps to avoid contracting mpox:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick with symptoms of mpox, including those with skin or genital lesions
  • Avoid contact with contaminated materials used by people who are sick (such as clothing, bedding, toothbrushes, sex toys, or materials used in healthcare settings)
  • And if you’re eligible, get both recommended doses of mpox vaccine.

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Casting Call For West County Production of “Aunt Jack” Happens December 14

Auditions for Aunt Jack by Nora Brigid Monahan, directed by Sharon Hawthorne

December 14, 11AM- 1PM @ Curtain Call Theater, 0347 Hwy 116. Monte Rio, CA 95462

Performance Dates: June 6- 28, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees 

“An intergenerational layered farcical gender identity rom-com that contrasts older gay generational values with millennial pansexuality, openness & gender fluidity. It’s a gay identity debate within the queer community that has a broad range of gay relationships … it is a relevant, creative, quirky, and clever play “– as described by Chuck Louden in a review of its west coast debut at NCTC in 2022 

Cast: Four Men & Two Women

George: 70-year-old gay activist, writer, speaker.  A bit arrogant.  Norman’s biological father.

Jack: 50’s George’s partner of 30 years, a drag performer.  Must be able to walk gracefully downstairs while wearing a pencil skirt and heels and sing Judy Garland style to recorded music

Norman: their 23 year old gay-identified son, an aspiring stand-up comedian

Phyllis: an acerbic lesbian, in her 50’s, who is Norman’s biological mother.

Ian: Norman’s ex-lover, in his 20’s, very integrated into the family – close to all the adults.

Andy: Norman’s new lover, bi-sexual, self-assured, strong-willed, 20’s

Race or ethnicity is not important, except that Norman needs to realistically appear to be the offspring of George and Phyllis (this can be sorted out during auditions.)

Actors themselves need not personally identify as gay, but the three younger people must all exchange brief passionate kisses onstage.  Ian & Norman have a drag scene.

Curtain Call is an all-volunteer, no compensation company.  A stipend of $100 is available for actors living more than 20 miles from the theater.

I expect working on this play to be fun and a community builder for all participants.  We often complain about not seeing ourselves in theater – well here’s an opportunity to step up and be seen.  Yes, it is a bit campy, and yes, the oldsters may seem a bit cliché.  But, hey!  They represent the LGBTQI icons who have led and entertained us — let’s celebrate them!  While also portraying the challenge of exploring and standing strong in the determination to be oneself rather than simply adopting a previous generation’s identity parameters.  Let’s give our audience something to laugh about and perhaps lead them to a conversation afterwards.  Please contact director Sharon Hawthorne, if you expect to audition and I will email sides for your use: sharonhaw@comcast.net

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