Latest news with #Steward
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LGBTQ+ advocates condemn Ohio budget plan to defund youth shelters, restrict books
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Advocates took to the Statehouse last week to speak out against 'anti-LGBTQ+' provisions in Ohio's budget proposal, like a measure requiring public libraries to limit access to LGBTQ+ books. The Ohio Senate Education Committee welcomed school district leaders, librarians, parents, students and other residents on May 14 for a wide-ranging hearing on the education funding within House Bill 96, legislation meant to outline Ohio's budget for the next two years. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the budget proposal in the video player above. The more than 5,000-page bill covers a myriad of topics, and includes the following amendments that leading advocacy organizations said would harm the state's LGBTQ+ community: Codify state policy recognizing two sexes, male and female, and that 'these sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.' Require public libraries to place material 'related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of the persons under the age of 18.' Bar funding to youth homeless shelters 'that promote or affirm social gender transition.' Ohio congressman introduces bill to study 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' 'These amendments are not only discriminatory, but they are also detrimental to the welfare of thousands of LGBTQ+ Ohioans, and legislates harm against some of the most vulnerable members of our society,' said Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio. Steward condemned the provision to defund certain homeless shelters as 'a direct assault on the safety and well-being of Ohio's youth,' citing a 16-year-old student who was recently kicked out of their home in Troy for being transgender. It was only when the student found refuge in a Dayton youth shelter that offered LGBTQ+ services that they began to feel safe, Steward said. 'Stripping away funding from such shelter would leave countless young people without the support they desperately need,' the executive director argued, noting that a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA found 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio, denounced the measure 'to recognize two sexes,' claiming the language is factually incorrect, contradicts medical, psychological, and legal understanding of sex and gender, and denies the reality of trans, nonbinary and intersex Ohioans. 'The language of this proposed budget rejects their lived experiences and reality. For many trans and intersex Ohioans, legal and medical transition is life-saving,' said Adkison. 'Attempts to erase or deny these rights through budgetary language would almost certainly invite legal challenge, costing Ohio taxpayers both financially and morally.' Ohio bill would cap 'junk fees' on tickets for concerts, sporting events Adkison cited the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society, which recognize that sex and gender exist on a spectrum. The executive director also noted Bostock v. Clayton County, a 2020 Supreme Court case that said sex discrimination includes LGBTQ+ people. Ohio House legislators have long argued the sex provision is need given 'it's accepted science that there are two genders.' In April, Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said, 'This simply ends the discussion in the state of Ohio which I think most voters, most citizens of Ohio agree with, and it also prevents us from having months and months and weeks of arguments.' Cookie Dixon, a trans Ohioan, testified against requiring public libraries to limit access to LGBTQ+ materials, and said such books were a pivotal part of their self discovery. 'Restricting these resources hurts queer children who were in the same place I was; I had no sense of self and was ready to completely give up before I began exploring my gender identity,' said Dixon. 'This also continues to perpetuate the harmful idea that queer people are obscene, something to be hidden from the eyes of children, a thinly veiled attempt at pushing us back out of the sight of the public as our mere existence continues to be illegalized.' How Ohio lawmakers want to make schools safer Sharon Hawkes, a former librarian and head of Right to Read Ohio, submitted testimony that the mandate would force libraries to remove any mention of LGBTQ+ people, and many child and teen biographies, literary fiction, romance, history, and age-appropriate sex education. Hawkes said a similar Idaho law forced at least one library to close to children because it didn't have the resources and space to isolate adult materials away from the children's section. 'This mandate would be very costly, forcing librarians to sift through their collections to find these books and perhaps remove taxpayer-funded books,' said Hawkes. 'It is also hurtful, telling certain minority communities that they should not be read about.' H.B. 96 will continue to be debated in Ohio Senate hearings open for public testimony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Vancouver Sun
20-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Cross-border travel from B.C. to Washington state plunges 50% over May long weekend
Only half as many British Columbians crossed into Washington state this past long weekend than a year ago, but it still may take a bit longer to get home, if you're unlucky. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been adding periodic outgoing inspections of vehicles headed back to Canada at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway border crossings. The latest inspections took place on May 18 and 19 on the long weekend. 'Outbound inspections at ports west of the Cascades are conducted as operationally feasible, supporting … efforts to combat the smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit substances,' Border Protection spokesperson Jason Givens said in an email. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Outbound operations are driven by various factors, including intelligence, binational efforts, random surges, and sustained law enforcement needs,' Givens said. The additional inspections come as travel from B.C. to Washington state has plummeted. Just over 18,000 British Columbia licensed vehicles drove south to Washington state over this year's May long weekend, according to data collected by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state's Department of Transportation. That's down from nearly 37,000 vehicles during the same weekend last year. 'This is not common, first of all,' Mary Lou Steward, the mayor of Blaine, Washington, said of the additional inspections by U.S. authorities. She said during a recent day-long symposium Border Protection officials told her and other local political and business leaders that there was reason to believe more fentanyl was coming into the U.S. from Canada than statistics suggested. 'That's what (the CBP) said,' Steward said. 'They also said that they are not trying to harass Canadians.' Canada is the largest source of international visitors to the U.S., according to the U.S. Travel Association, which warned in February that a 10 per cent reduction in Canadian travel to the U.S. would mean $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 lost jobs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods in February and then-prime minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to spend domestically in response. 'Now is the time to choose Canada. … It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,' Trudeau sai. In early March, Premier David Eby urged British Columbians to avoid travel to the U.S. 'If you have a choice about where to travel, avoid travelling to the United States,' he said. Steward was concerned about the impacts that political rhetoric and inspections could have on her border community. Blaine's economy is directly tied to visitors from British Columbia. 'We don't have industry, and a very large commercial area,' Steward said. 'Even with the change in the dollar, (Canadians) still have been coming down to do their shopping and buying their gas, and their dairy, and their parcels from Amazon,' she said. 'I don't want Canadians to think that we and Blaine approve of this,' Steward said of Trump's tariff and annexation threats. 'I want to do anything I can possibly do to try and mitigate this and get ready for the healing phase.' @njgriffiths ngriffiths@
South Wales Guardian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.' For a round up of all the Papa Johns Community Cup Final action and to watch the games back follow @RFU on X or search for #PapaJohnsCommunityCup
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.' For a round up of all the Papa Johns Community Cup Final action and to watch the games back follow @RFU on X or search for #PapaJohnsCommunityCup
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.'
