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Yahoo
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- Politics
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In Pride month, transgender Marylanders reflect on strengths, weaknesses, of state protections
Transgender Marylanders and advocates sitting in the Governor's Reception Room for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2025. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters). For more than a decade, state lawmakers passed laws to protect and uplift Maryland's LGBTQ+ community – from marriage equality for same-sex couples to boosting health care access for transgender individuals. The second Trump administration is likely to put those protections to the test. President Donald Trump (R) has signaled from day one of his administration that it was going to be an adversary to transgender people, signing an executive order on the first day of his second term that prohibited gender ideology in federal policy, defined sex according to biological factors at conception and rescinded 15 federal policies and guidelines on transgender equality. In the days and weeks that followed, Trump signed orders banning transgender individuals from girl's and women's sports and from military service, prohibiting federal funding or support for gender-affirming care for youth, and more. Congress is also looking to prohibit federal dollars going towards transgender health care. As they begin Pride month, a time when the LGBTQ+ community comes together to celebrate progress and reflect on setbacks for the gay and transgender community, some Maryland transgender advocates fear current state protections may not be enough to counter federal efforts. 'Maryland is in a better position than most,' said Ruth Carlock with Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition. 'Now that we're in the Trump administration, a lot of those things might not be as strong as we'd hope, and we might need more legislation in the future. 'One thing I've been saying a lot over the past six months,' Carlock said, 'I'm feeling very proud to be a Marylander, while feeling less proud of being an American in this current state of politics.' Lee Blinder, a nonbinary official who chairs the Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs in the Governor's Office and works with advocacy group Trans Maryland, has mixed feelings about the state's progress this year. 'We really are in an excellent place compared to so many of our sibling in other states like Florida and Texas,' they said. 'However, we have not seen the kind of movement that we would want to see from Maryland that we've been able to accomplish previously.' Blinder is particularly disappointed that the Birth Certificate Modernization Act, did not pass. The bill would have made it easier for transgender people to make changes to their birth certificates, among other measures, relieving administrative headaches that can occur when gender markers do not align on various documents. Transgender advocates have been pushing that bill for the last few years. Blinder feels transgender people were not prioritized this past session, and publicly brought those concerns to Gov. Wes Moore (D) during an event at the State House recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility. Blinder criticized what they called the administration's lack of support to protect the community amid federal measures to diminish the presence of transgender people in day-to-day life. 'We know who you, Governor Moore, can be for us, and I am here begging you to do it,' Blinder said, while standing next to Moore. 'It will not get easier to support trans people. It will not get easier to commit to this community, it will only get harder in the days that come,' Blinder said at the time. They hold those concerns to this day. 'We're facing a state of emergency for the trans community — the same message I had before on Trans Day of Visibility. That still applies,' Blinder said in a recent interview. There were some successes for gay and transgender people this legislative session. In May, Moore signed House Bill 1045 into law, which tweaks the state's shield laws on legally protected health care that prohibits physicians from turning over patient information regarding 'sensitive health services.' In Maryland, that includes gender-affirming care as well as abortions. Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick), who chairs the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, noted some other wins for the LGBTQ+ community. House Bill 39 and Senate Bill 356 were signed into law, removing a criminal penalty for intentionally transferring HIV to another person, which advocates say was antiquated and discriminatory. But Fair noted that the state budget was a major hurdle to progress across issues this session, as the state grappled with a $3 billion deficit, resulting in widespread program cuts and limited dollars available for new initiatives in general. 'We had an overarching deficit budget that we were dealing with, that was unavoidable and sucked all of the oxygen out of the room,' Fair said. 'Every conversation was buried under this question of the budget.' Despite the slowed progress this session, Fair believes that Maryland is 'light years ahead' of other states when it comes to LGBTQ+ protections. 'It is the incredible wisdom of the legislature over the last 13 years that has truly saved us, starting with the Maryland (Marriage) Equality vote in 2012 and moving forward from there,' he said. During his term, Moore has approved a handful of bills creating transgender protections that advocates say will be crucial in the coming years. One of those is the Trans Health Equity Act signed in 2023, which requires Maryland Medicaid to cover medically-necessary gender-affirming care. Congress is debating whether to prohibit federal Medicaid dollars from funding gender-affirming care. If that prohibition becomes law, the state may have to backfill any federal matching dollars currently supporting gender-affirming care under Maryland Medicaid to align with the Trans Health Equity Act, if funds are available. Advocates are also thankful that the state's shield law for legally protected health care was expanded in 2024 to include gender-affirming care. The intent is to protect the medical information of persons who seek gender-affirming care in Maryland from being shared across state lines, and potentially into the hands of law enforcement in states that are more hostile to transgender people. 'The Moore-Miller Administration will continue to protect the civil rights and livelihoods of LGBTQIA+ Marylanders by working with the state legislature, local leaders, and community advocates to deliver results for this community uniquely targeted by the Trump Administration,' a Moore spokesperson said in a written statement. Due to these and other policies, Maryland is largely recognized a 'safe haven' for gay and transgender people. The Movement Advancement Project, which assesses states based on laws that protect or harm transgender residents, ranks Maryland as seventh in protections on gender identity, and sixth for LGBTQ+ protections overall. 'One thing I've been saying a lot over the past six months ... I'm feeling very proud to be a Marylander, while feeling less proud of being an American in this current state of politics.' – Ruth Carlock, Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition Blinder and Carlock say that Pride month is important, now more than ever, for building community supports to take care of one another even if state protections don't stand up to anti-transgender federal policies. 'It's so easy for the practical needs that are so urgent to take over and to overshadow the very real need for us to be able to find joy and to celebrate,' Blinder said. 'Because it's not possible to survive these kinds of attacks without experiencing joy and experiencing the community connections and bonds that we have with one another.' Carlock said that some advocates have even been more active in the community since Trump took office. 'That's been one of the nice things about the last few months is this sense of community that has slowly been – you know, it's always there, but it's nice seeing that expand in the face of danger,' she said. 'But also recognizing that that positive turn is coming from an existential threat and big fear of legislation to come.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The power in protests, proclamations and performative politics
Back in December I wrote a column on symbolism and substance in politics. At the time, I was especially struck by the problem of what it means to take political rhetoric — the constant, often bizarre social media statements flooding from the White House being a great example — 'seriously but not literally.' As we continue, both in Kansas and across the country, to be caught up in a political environment filled with protests and proclamations that may or may not be meant to be taken seriously, a return to the topic is in order. Here in Wichita, the largest stand-alone city in Kansas, the biggest controversy of the past two months has been a declaration which our City Council issued in support of Transgender Day of Visibility, a national occasion promoted by LGBTQ organizations. Mayor Lily Wu did not endorse that proclamation, though neither did she prevent the majority of council members who did support it from publicly presenting it. Since the relevant city ordinance seems to stipulate that the mayor must formally read any proclamation issued by the council, her action (or lack thereof) has generated heated debate, including multiple accusations both by and against the mayor. I brought up this controversy while speaking to a civic group recently, and one participant asked a question that seemed to capture what the majority of that group seemed to be feeling: why are we fighting about entirely symbolic proclamations anyway? It's a fair question. Like I wrote in my previous column, it's very easy to get frustrated over what might be broadly called 'performative politics.' Often that term is used critically: you, or the church or business or interests you represent, don't have the votes or resources to affect real change, so instead you just 'perform' your demands, grabbing attention, disrupting others with your silly, symbolic claims. But making statements, carrying signs or organizing on behalf of recognition isn't silly at all. Rather, these kinds of performative actions occupy a range of places within our political life. At one end, there are those who possess actual administrative or executive authority: a CEO, a mayor, a governor, or the president of the United States. The statements such people make, even if they're legally groundless or substantively empty, still matter, because the authority they possess will invariably influence others to take action, even if there is no basis for doing so. On the other end, though, are ordinary citizens, possessing no more authority than anyone else. But citizens can nonetheless take up signs to express frustration (as sizable crowds have done almost every week over the past few months in Wichita, Kansas City, Hays, Topeka, Lawrence and elsewhere), and by so doing capture the attention of others. Also, any citizen can petition elected leaders to plead for recognition for the work one does, or the identity one represents. If enough agree, then suddenly a degree of legitimacy — and, crucially, the awareness of others—is granted that didn't exist before, empowering those who made the request. Over the past decade, as social media has transformed political life, multiple scholars have begun to rethink democratic politics, and the place of performance and spectatorship within it. Today we live in an environment where 'attention' is often the most valuable commodity anyone can possess. Those who can do the work and organize with others and put themselves forward to make sure their cause is seen (and sometimes their opponents triggered or scandalized), may not be a distraction; instead, maybe they're doing politics the way it is fated to be played today. Russell Arben Fox is a professor of political science at Friends University in Wichita.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans are shocked(!) over fake ‘severed head' at Wichita anti-Trump protest
A Wichita protester waving an effigy of the severed head of Donald Trump has the local Republican Party leadership outraged. You're probably saying: So what? Those guys are always outraged about something — and usually, it's something inconsequential like a City Hall proclamation they disagree with. And you'd be right. But John Whitmer, the head, if you will, of the Sedgwick County Republican Party, took a picture of a guy at one of Wichita's regular street protests over the weekend, carrying what appears to be a Styrofoam wig head with a Trump mask stretched over it, and what looks like possibly cherry furniture stain dripping from its ear. I wasn't there, so I have no idea who this guy is or why he was doing what he was doing. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably some sort of silly homage to comedian Kathy Griffin, whose career was shut down by right-wing cancel culture after she displayed a similarly gruesome item on social media in 2017. If I had been there, I probably wouldn't have bothered to talk to him. Some random Joe carrying a fake severed head at a street protest doesn't exactly seem super-newsworthy, compared to say, the Trump administration cutting funding for adult advocates for children abused in the Kansas foster care system, which also happened last week. But you never can tell what will catch the public eye in year five of the Reign of Trump. Picture gets 300,000 views on X In the interest of 'I do this so you don't have to,' I took a dip into the cesspool of seething rage that used to be called Twitter before Elon Musk bought it and renamed it X. Whitmer posted his pic there and it's gotten him about 300,000 views. If that boosts traffic to Whitmer's right-wing talk show on KNSS, good for him. But Whitmer being Whitmer, he decided to call me out over this, personally and repeatedly. He started Sunday on his show's Facebook page: 'Dion Lefler, is THIS peaceful protest?' he asked. He followed up with Facebook comments on a story I posted Monday about the continuing controversy over Wichita City Council proclamations. The flap was sparked by the council approving a ceremonial proclamation honoring Transgender Day of Visibility, and it continues to be fueled by an ongoing and embarrassing effort by far-right Republicans to punish one of 'their' council members for voting for it. In the comments on my story, Whitmer reposted his picture of Severed Head Guy with the comment: 'Come on Dion, THIS should have been your story but instead you keep rehashing this nonsense?' Chiming in was Hunter Larkin, the on-again-off-again former mayor of Goddard and poster boy for corruption in local government: 'It's because Dion is one of those California liberals that hates America. It's that simple.' A Grand Old (pity) Party OK, kiddies. You serve, I'll volley. This may surprise you, but I have nothing to do with Severed Head Guy and I'm not a fan of protest by effigy, whoever's doing it. It doesn't convince anyone of anything, and only inspires nut jobs to do increasingly nutty things. The first thing this flap reminded me of was March of last year, when an official Republican Party fundraising event in Johnson County offered Republicans the chance to punch, hit and kick a martial arts mannequin with a Joe Biden mask and a 'Let's Go Brandon' T-shirt (if you don't know what that means, Google it). In the interest of civil discourse, it's worth noting that the keynoter for that event was Ted Nugent, whose most popular song since the '70s is a delightful ditty called 'F--- Joe Biden,' and who revived his flagging career via violent political rhetoric targeting Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and rank-and-file Democrats. When someone mentioned the Johnson County incident during Whitmer's GOP pity party, he decided to bear a little false witness against me. 'When they punched the Biden dummy,' Whitmer wrote, 'many in the GOP condemned them, including myself and Dion Lefler EVISCERATED them in the Wichita Eagle, this leftist carries around Trump's bloody severed head and nobody says a peep... #Hypocrites.' Meanwhile Dion Lefler (checks notes) didn't write anything about the Johnson County Republicans getting their jollies through simulated elder abuse. The Eagle ran two stories on the incident. ▪ The first one was a column by opinion correspondent Joel Mathis, before the event, questioning the party's judgment for even having a fundraiser featuring the 'Motor City Madman.' It noted that 'The Nuge' would be accompanied by disgraced and disbarred former Kansas attorney general Phill Kline, arguably the worst attorney general in Kansas history (although current AG Kris Kobach is doing his best to overtake him). ▪ The other was a short news story on the mannequin beating from our sister paper, the Kansas City Star, after the fact. No 'evisceration' of the GOP occurred, and we can safely put the story of Severed Head Guy in the ongoing Republican political file labeled 'We dish it out, but we can't take it.' It's become a big part of the Republican brand in the Age of Trump: Cheer on GOP celebrities who say and do the most outrageous things, then cry victimhood when some obscure member of the opposition responds in kind. To John Whitmer, Hunter Larkin, and anyone else clutching their pearls at this moment in time, I offer this advice: Get over yourself.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bleach Blonde ‘MAGA Malfoy' Turns Heads During White House Press Briefing
A conservative influencer turned heads at a White House 'new media' briefing Tuesday for both his distinctive look and his enthusiasm for the MAGA movement. Link Lauren, the latest fringe internet figure welcomed to the White House press room, was deemed 'MAGA Malfoy' by a swarm of X users who roasted him for his bright white hair and obsequious questions Tuesday. 'You're a very high profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully,' Lauren said while fawning over Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. 'What advice do you have to young parents out there who are starting their careers having kids, building families, and trying to find that balance so desperately?' 'Well, it's a great question,' Leavitt, 27, said. When a clip of the sycophantic interaction was posted on X, users went wild. 'This literally looks like an SNL skit,' said one commenter. 'Draco didn't get the redemption arc in this universe I fear,' said another. 'He speaks in Parseltongue but it's just trickle-down economics,' added a third. It's unclear whether Lauren is aware of his Slytherin-like qualities, though he ironically made reference to J.K. Rowling's iconic series Sunday when he posted that 'conservative influencers are out here collecting selfies with Taylor Lorenz like Harry Potter collecting horcruxes.' Link gained internet fame after nabbing a job as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s paid senior advisor in November 2023, before Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race. The Washington Post reported that at only 25, Link TikToked his way onto RFK Jr.'s campaign team and at the time called himself an 'independent thinker.' He also insisted 'I never want to just cover one side of the aisle.' But today, he's joined the MAGA faithful just like Draco Malfoy himself joined Voldemort's Death Eaters. He posted Sunday that the Democratic Party is 'run by spineless, feckless cowards who want to destroy the fabric of our nation.' While he wandered around the White House grounds Monday, he filmed a vlog for his hundreds of thousands of social media followers and slammed former President Joe Biden. 'The White House is a lot nicer than it used to be than the last four years under Joe Biden, where it was a cess pool, with topless trans people on the White House lawn, cocaine everywhere, and Jill Biden's self tanner ruining every single chair in the Oval Office,' he said. Link, who is openly gay, has also paralleled Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling by aiming attacks at transgender people. He's been vocal about preventing transgender women from participating in women's sports and on March 31 last year he criticized Biden for allegedly speaking more about Transgender Day of Visibility than Easter. 'It's very clear to me at this point that the White House wants to replace faith, religion, and family with gender ideology and identity politics,' the Texas-born influencer ranted, calling trans people in media 'obnoxious' and 'unlikeable.' Link's assaults are harmonious with the White House's 'pro-natalist' push for Americans to have more children. Not only has Trump severely demonized transgender people, the president has recently launched initiatives aimed at making it more attractive for young people to start families. Trump is currently soliciting ideas on how to get women to procreate—with ideas such as a $5,000 baby bonus or a 'motherhood medal' reportedly being floated in White House circles.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Recall campaign against Joplin councilman suspended
The attached video is from previous coverage of this story. JOPLIN, Mo. — Efforts to recall a Joplin city council member are being suspended. In a social media post today (Sunday) organizers of the 'Recall Ryan Jackson' petition announced they are temporarily halting their efforts. This comes after Ryan Jackson agreed to meet with petition organizers and discuss the comments he made online about members of the LGBTQ community. According to the post, Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez helped organize the meeting, and City Attorney Peter Edwards sat in to help mediate. The recall petition started after Jackson made several comments on our station's Facebook page, regarding a story about 'Transgender Day of Visibility.' PREVIOUS: Controversial council member's transgender comments spark recall effort PREVIOUS: Drive to recall Joplin City Council member gains momentum Organizers say: 'Mr Jackson has agreed to be more cautious and thoughtful with his words about the LGBTQ community in public forums going forward, has said if any issues arise his door is open to work through them.' Recall organizers say that while formal campaign efforts are being suspended, petitioners will continue collecting signatures, and they will be submitted for verification. They say this will be a way to continue holding Jackson accountable in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
