Latest news with #DevonOjeda
CBS News
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Who's America's Favorite Couple? A Baltimore pair is in the running.
Couples all over the country, including a Baltimore pair, are vying for the title of "America's Favorite Couple." It's an online contest where the winning couple not only wins $20,000, but also will be featured in an in-print advertorial in Variety magazine. Devon Ojeda and Caius Willingham said their entry in the competition is about showing what being American truly is. Ojeda and Willingham first met as coworkers, but as they got to know each other better, they realized their working relationship should be something more. Ojeda described it as love at first sight. "We tried to deny it for a long time because we were colleagues, but it got to a point that you can't ignore the feelings," Willingham said. What got them to start thinking about dating, though, is when the two matched on eHarmony. "That was enough for Caius to break the ice," Ojeda said. After dating for a few years, the two eloped in New York City in May. Ever since then, Ojeda's been wanting to make their love known. "I just wanted to scream it out in the mountains, saying I have the best marriage ever. I had the most perfect day," Ojeda said. So, when Ojeda saw an ad for "America's Favorite Couple" contest, he applied, and the couple was accepted. The contest is put on by the fundraising platform Colossal. The contest is currently in its group finals stage, with three more rounds to go. At this point, Ojeda and Willingham have already made it through several rounds of voting. "We're hoping it influences people to create more joy for themselves. Right now, it's really important to be in community with people," Ojeda said. Ojeda and Willingham are transgender. Ojeda is also a naturalized citizen. For them, being in this contest is about showing they do represent what being an American is -- especially in light of President Trump's target on the transgender community and heightened immigration enforcement. "The most radical thing, the most radical act you can do right now is to be bold and be loud with your love," Ojeda said. But, most importantly, they want to show how love comes in every identity. "It's not just like a man and woman. A marriage can be anybody, and that's the American dream," Ojeda said. "We want a world where it doesn't matter who you are, love is still love." The latest round of voting ends Thursday at 10 p.m. You can vote for Ojeda and Willingham here. You can vote once for free every 24 hours, but you can also add more votes if you donate.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Maryland transgender advocates rally before judge pauses gender-affirming care restrictions
Maryland transgender advocates rallied on Thursday outside of the federal courthouse in downtown Baltimore before a judge temporarily paused the Trump administration's efforts at restricting gender-affirming care. Devon Ojeda, an organizer with Advocates for Trans Equality, was one of those advocates who gathered to support the legal challenge. He told WJZ he moved to Baltimore from Washington, D.C. because of President Trump's return to the White House. "I can't count how many times people have treated me as a man, has called me sir," Ojeda said. "I'm very grateful Maryland has been a safe haven." A little victory U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson issued a 14-day temporary restraining order after concluding the plaintiffs would likely succeed in their challenge to Mr. Trump's orders. The plaintiffs -- which are made up of transgender youth, their parents, and LGBTQ+ organizations -- are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Outside of downtown Baltimore's federal courthouse, the plaintiffs' lawyers called the decision a little victory. "I hope it gives a sense of clarity, lifts some confusion," said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers. "[Also] that hospitals, moving forward, won't stop providing this care based on the threat this executive order posed." Provisions in Trump's executive order Mr. Trump's executive order titled, " Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," has a provision directing federal agencies to immediately ensure institutions getting federal funding to stop providing gender-affirming care to those under the age of 19. In its complaint, and in court, the plaintiffs' lawyers argued the order essentially forced hospitals and other providers to immediately stop providing gender-affirming care, which caused irreparable harm to their clients. In response, lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice argued the case was premature. Also, the executive order was misinterpreted. However, Hurson rejected the government lawyers' arguments, even going as far as to call their position "disingenuous" and pointing to the executive order's use of the word "immediate." Gonzalez-Pagan said the next steps will be seeking a preliminary injunction, and that his team is planning to take those steps next week.
