Author: Bob McCranie

I am so proud to run Texas Pride Realty Group. We set out on a mission in 2009 to serve the diverse communities of Texas and to hire kick-ass agents who practice the highest ethics and professionalism. I believe that the agent's role is to help the consumer make well-educated decisions, even if those decisions lead away from a purchase or sale. I believe that education is vital in this industry. I currently have over 1300 hours of real estate courses on my transcript with the State of Texas. Additionally, I am a Real Estate Business Coach at Tom Ferry International, the largest-real-estate specific coaching company in the world. I coach agents in the US and Canada, and have coached clients in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Switzerland. I also have knowledge of the UK and Irish markets. Opening Texas Pride Realty was always a goal of mine and I am working night and day to be sure it is successful. The best way to do that is to be sure clients are satisfied and agents are busy. What better legacy could someone leave in this industry than a group of well-trained, high-quality brokers who do your job better than you?

Imane Khelif Takes Legal Action Against J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk for Alleged Cyberbullying

Khelif’s complaint claims that she has been subjected to “moral harassment” on a “widespread” and “coordinated” level.

Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has filed a harassment complaint in France against Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, and other public figures, alleging their involvement in a “massive” cyberbullying campaign. The complaint accuses them of labeling her as a predatory and abusive “biological male.”

The controversy began during the women’s 66 kilogram boxing competition at the Paris Olympics earlier this month. Khelif’s opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, forfeited their match after just 46 seconds, claiming that Khelif’s punches were the hardest she had ever experienced. This incident, combined with claims from the International Boxing Association—now disaffiliated from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)—about a 2023 “gender test,” sparked a social media uproar. Rowling joined the fray, accusing Khelif of being a “biological male” who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s [sic] just punched in the head.”

Khelif’s complaint, which has not been publicly disclosed but was reviewed by French newspaper Le Monde this week, alleges that she is the target of “moral harassment” on a “massive” and “coordinated” scale. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed to Variety that the complaint was received on Monday. Rather than naming specific individuals, the complaint is filed against X (formerly Twitter), a common legal strategy in France that enables investigators to identify potential responsible parties, according to the Associated Press.

Rowling, one of the most prominent social media figures named in the complaint, had not posted on X since August 7 at the time of writing. X owner Elon Musk is also named in the complaint due to a post he shared from anti-trans athlete Riley Gaines, who stated that “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” to which Musk responded, “Absolutely.” The complaint also cites statements from far-right politicians globally, including Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, the Republican candidates for U.S. president and vice president. Trump leveraged the controversy to reaffirm his commitment to “keep men out of women’s sports” during a campaign event in Montana, while Vance referred to Khelif as a “biological man” who “pummeled” Carini. The complaint also notes that Khelif was targeted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and right-wing French politicians Philippe Vardon and Gilbert Collard, according to Le Monde.

“What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these individuals but anyone deemed necessary,” Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, told Variety. “If the case goes to court, they will stand trial.” Boudi added that the prosecutor’s office has the authority to “target personalities overseas” in cases of online harassment, pointing out that there are prison sentences in some French cyberbullying cases.

Khelif has never publicly identified as intersex and resides in Algeria, where being gay or transgender is illegal. Reports about her having high testosterone levels or XY chromosomes are based solely on an IBA statement from last year, which accused Khelif and Chinese boxer Lin Yu-ting of failing gender eligibility tests. Earlier this month, the IBA issued a statement to clarify the testing process, timeline, and findings. However, the IOC no longer recognizes the IBA as an international boxing authority, partly due to allegations of prize- and match-fixing.

In an interview with SNTV, the sports affiliate of the Associated Press, Khelif condemned cyberbullying and said that misinformation about her gender “harms human dignity.”

“I urge everyone to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter and to avoid bullying athletes, as it has profound effects,” Khelif said in Arabic. “It can destroy people, undermine their spirit and mind, and create divisions. For these reasons, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”

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Alabama House Advances Bill Potentially Allowing Prosecution of Librarians

This blog originally appeared at THE HILL.

Alabama Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Potential Prosecution of Librarians for Providing “Harmful” Materials to Minors

The Alabama House of Representatives approved the bill with a 72-28 vote, sending it to the state Senate for consideration. The legislation removes current exemptions for public libraries under the state’s obscenity law and is part of a broader national movement aimed at banning certain books.

The bill also broadens the definition of prohibited sexual conduct in public K-12 schools and libraries to include any “sexual or gender-oriented conduct” that could expose minors to individuals dressed in “sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes,” or involved in stripping, lewd dancing, or similar activities.

If enacted, librarians who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Anyone who believes that public schools or libraries are violating the law can submit a written notice of the violation to the organization’s leaders and the local district attorney.

Critics argue that the bill enables individuals who disagree with a librarian’s content choices to threaten criminal prosecution arbitrarily, according to The Associated Press.

During the debate, State Rep. Chris England, a Democrat from Tuscaloosa, warned that the process could be manipulated to arrest librarians without legitimate cause, merely because of personal disagreements. State Rep. Neil Rafferty, a Democrat from Birmingham, expressed concerns that the bill would be easily abused and violate the First Amendment. Meanwhile, Republican state Rep. David Faulkner downplayed the severity, stating that “it’s only a misdemeanor” and that librarians would only face consequences if they failed to address the content after being made aware of it.

If the state Senate passes the bill and Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signs it, the law would take effect on October 1.

This legislation is part of a broader nationwide push to restrict access to books and materials depicting LGBTQ+ communities. The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Arnold Mooney, emphasized during the debate that the primary goal is to protect children.

“This is not about party lines; it’s about protecting children,” Mooney stated, according to the Associated Press.

Read more.

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Controversial MAGA pastor exploits social media to attack LGBTQ+ youth and educators

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

Family members and associates of former President Donald Trump are increasingly aligning with Tim Thompson, a Southern California pastor known for his attacks on LGBTQ+ teachers and his derogatory comments about public education, which he has labeled as ‘Satan’s playground.’ Through his Inland Empire Family political action committee (PAC), Thompson is mobilizing Christian conservatives to oppose public education.

As the leader of 412 Church Temecula Valley, Thompson uses his platform to support Christian conservative candidates for school boards and protests against schools that employ LGBTQ+ educators. In one instance, he voiced objections to a man ‘dressed as a woman’ teaching young children.

Thompson has labeled the LGBTQ+ rights movement as ‘a religion’ intent on indoctrinating students, advocating for parents to withdraw their children from public schools and opt for homeschooling if they truly care about them. Recently, the Colorado Republican Party echoed a similar message to its members.

Thompson has utilized his Our Watch video streaming platform to host controversial figures like anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and to criticize public schools, including sharing videos of disturbing content such as ‘laser beams into their anus.’

In April, Thompson posted a video condemning Riverside High School’s Pride Week activities—featuring a drag performance, a scavenger hunt, and pronoun buttons—urging viewers to call the school to voice complaints. The school subsequently canceled the drag performance.

In his video, Thompson questioned, ‘Who’s the pervert that’s allowing this to happen on campus?’ He suggested that anyone approving such activities is a ‘pervert’ and called on Christian men to take action against it.

Thompson has also targeted individual educators. In one instance, he criticized two trans middle school students he accused of ‘boys … dressing out in the girls locker room.’ In May 2023, he denounced high school drama teacher Greg Bailey as a ‘perverted groomer’ for assigning the play Angels in America—a piece addressing the AIDS epidemic—as optional reading. Bailey faced a three-month leave due to the backlash.

In 2022, Thompson publicly named and shamed a Murrieta Elementary School teacher who started a ‘unity club’ to support bullied students. He accused the teacher of being a ‘groomer’ and criticized her for promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The club was disbanded after Thompson’s complaints, and the teacher was investigated by the school district. The teacher reported receiving aggressive threats online, with some followers of Thompson’s urging violence against her.

Thompson has also made appearances at events such as Turning Point USA’s gala at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and a 2020 ‘Freedom Rally’ against lockdowns, where he wore insignia of the Three Percenters anti-government militia.

In March, he urged conservatives to run for local school boards, framing the situation as a battle against ‘Satan’ and efforts to ‘indoctrinate children into filth.’ His PAC played a role in shifting the Temecula Valley Unified School District board to a right-leaning majority in 2022, leading to policies requiring teachers to disclose transgender students’ identities to their parents and rejecting a social studies book for mentioning gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Queer-affirming pastor Rachel Dennis criticized Thompson, stating that he is ‘destroying people in our town’ and accusing him of pursuing an extreme agenda supported by figures like Eric Trump and other MAGA affiliates. Thompson has welcomed Trump attorney Alina Habba to speak at his events and will host a fundraiser featuring Eric Trump and former Trump administration official Kash Patel.

Thompson claims that the Trump family is ‘very well aware’ of his activities. Maddy Ziegler, a staff attorney with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), has complained to the IRS about Thompson’s alleged illegal partisan campaigning. Thompson responded defiantly on his talk radio show, inviting the IRS to take action, which he claims has not occurred.

Read more.

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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem mandates university employees to remove pronouns and tribal affiliations from their email signatures

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

Megan Red Shirt-Shaw and her husband, John Little, who both work at the University of South Dakota, have long included their pronouns and tribal affiliations in their email signatures. Red Shirt-Shaw expressed that, “The ability to share my tribal affiliation as well as gender pronouns signals that I am a person who values the lived experiences of others.”

In March, they received a written warning from the University of South Dakota, informing them that their email signatures were in violation of a new policy introduced by the South Dakota Board of Regents in December.

John Little told the Associated Press, “I believe the exact wording was that I had ‘five days to correct the behavior.’ If my tribal affiliation and pronouns were not removed after those five days, administrators would then decide whether I would be suspended (with or without pay) or immediately terminated.”

The move follows South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s directive to the Board of Regents to combat what she views as “liberal ideologies” on college campuses. Her requests included removing all references to preferred pronouns from school materials and banning drag shows. Notably, Gov. Noem appointed all nine members of the Board of Regents.

This latest policy change, which removes the ability for South Dakota public university employees to express their tribal affiliations and gender identity, adds to a series of controversial actions by Gov. Noem. Many South Dakota tribes have restricted her access to their lands due to her claims that tribal reservations are harboring drug cartels and neglecting children.

Critics argue that the policy represents a double erasure of queer Indigenous individuals, including two-spirit people. Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager for the ACLU South Dakota, noted, “Maybe their intent was to suppress pronoun usage in email signatures, but as is often the case with any limitation or suppression of free speech, there’s always unintended consequences. There is also a component here of double erasure. There are plenty of queer Indigenous folks in South Dakota.”

Paulette Grandberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, expressed that while the policy was not surprising given the current climate, it marks a troubling trend. “Quite frankly, this is the first I’ve heard of a state university using branding standards to eliminate what had become a practice of including pronouns and tribal affiliations in emails… it is a steady progression [towards the right]. This comes in the form of communications and branding standards. Is that going to be the next frontier in sanitizing the realities of our differences?”

A spokesperson for the University of South Dakota declined to comment on whether administrative or faculty leadership had reviewed the policy before its implementation, referring questions instead to the Board of Regents. Shuree Mortenson, a spokesperson for the Board, stated that while the decision could be reviewed by the six universities under the regents’ board, it was ultimately made by the Board itself. Mortenson did not provide details on whether other staff or faculty had received similar warnings or if tribal leaders were consulted.

John Little remarked, “It was clear that they had not considered that this would impact Native employees.”

On social media, Red Shirt-Shaw criticized the policy as further erasure of Native people in South Dakota. Both she and Little have now included their tribal affiliations and pronouns in the body of their emails, which the university currently permits.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/05/kristi-noem-forces-university-employees-to-drop-pronouns-tribal-affiliations-from-email-signatures/?utm_id=top_story&utm_term=headline&utm_content=usa&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2024528%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief&utm_content=2024528%20LGBTQ%20Nation%20Daily%20Brief+CID_a7bcfd8ee94a73adb1594d5d175806ee&utm_source=LGBTQ%20Nation%20Subscribers&utm_term=Kristi%20Noem%20forces%20university%20employees%20to%20drop%20pronouns%20%20tribal%20affiliations%20from%20email%20signatures

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Ohio’s Gender-Affirming Care Ban Upheld by Judge; Civil Rights Group Announces Plan to Appeal Immediately

This blog originally appeared at AP News.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — On Tuesday, a county judge ruled that an Ohio law restricting gender-affirming health care for minors can go into effect.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has announced plans to file an immediate appeal.

The law prohibits transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for individuals under 18, except for those already undergoing such treatments where discontinuation could pose a risk, as determined by a doctor. It also imposes limitations on the types of mental health services available to minors.

Passed by state lawmakers in January, the law also bans transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, following an override of a veto by Republican Governor Mike DeWine.

In his ruling, Franklin County Judge Michael Holbrook stated that the ban “reasonably limits parents’ rights to make decisions about their children’s medical care” in line with the state’s legitimate interest in regulating medical practices and treatments.

The organizations challenging the law argue that it denies essential health care to transgender youth and specifically discriminates against their access to such care. The lawsuit also contends that combining the two bans breaches Ohio’s single-subject rule for legislation.

“This decision is not only a blow to our courageous clients but also to countless transgender youth and their families throughout the state who depend on this essential, life-saving health care,” said Freda Levenson, Legal Director at ACLU of Ohio.

In response, the office of Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost stated that “this case has always centered on the legislature’s authority to enact laws aimed at protecting children from making irreversible medical and surgical decisions about their bodies.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed the law at the end of 2023 after visiting children’s hospitals and speaking with families affected by gender dysphoria. DeWine described his decision as thoughtful, limited, and “pro-life,” highlighting the suicide risks associated with not receiving appropriate treatment for gender dysphoria.

DeWine also announced plans to implement an administrative ban on transgender surgeries for individuals under 18 and to enhance state regulation and monitoring of gender-affirming treatments for both children and adults. He hoped these measures would address concerns from Republican colleagues in the Ohio Statehouse. However, the administration quickly abandoned this plan after transgender adults expressed significant worries about how such regulations could impact their lives and health.

Following DeWine’s veto, Ohio lawmakers remained resolute, successfully overriding it and making Ohio the 23rd state to enact a ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth.

Read more.

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Youngkin Completes MAGA Transformation of Virginia’s Public Colleges and Universities

This blog originally appeared at AUGUSTA FREE PRESS.

One of the privileges of a Virginia governor is the authority to appoint members to the boards of visitors at the state’s public colleges and universities.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s second and final round of appointments, announced on Friday, marks his last opportunity to replace appointees from his Democratic predecessors, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam.

With these new appointments, the boards directing policy at Virginia’s public colleges and universities now all have conservative Republican supermajorities.

Consider this your reminder of the importance of elections.

BOARD OF VISITORS OF CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

  • Kevin J. Callanan MA, CFRE, of Stephens City, Principal, CES, LLC
  • Jennifer Dunn of Yorktown, Vice President of Communications, Newport News Shipbuilding
  • Keith Windle of Midlothian, Senior Vice President of Administrative Services, Dominion Energy

BOARD OF VISITORS OF COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY

  • The Honorable John Brownlee of Great Falls, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
  • Robey W. Estes of Richmond, CEO, Estes Express Lines
  • Taylor Franklin of Virginia Beach, CEO, Franklin Group
  • Jennifer Tepper Mackesy of Bronxville, New York, Minority Owner, Gotham Football Club/Chelsea FC; former Vice President, Lord & Taylor
  • The Honorable Jill Holtzman Vogel of Upperville, Attorney and Managing Partner Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak; Principal, 50 to 1; Principal, The Vogel Group; former member, Virginia State Senate, 27th District

BOARD OF VISITORS OF GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

  • The Honorable Kenneth L. Marcus of Great Falls, Founder and Chairman, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law; former US Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights
  • Jon M. Peterson of Fairfax Station, Chief Executive Officer, Peterson Companies
  • Nina S. Rees of McLean, Senior Fellow, George W. Bush Institute
  • Marc Short of Arlington, Partner, Advance Strategies; former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence

BOARD OF VISITORS OF JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

  • Larry W. Caudle, Jr. of White Stone, Attorney, Kraftson Caudle PLC
  • Joanie Eiland of Staunton, President, Elk Trucking and Elk Brokerage
  • Thomas Galati of Penn Laird, Founder, StageBio
  • Dave Rexrode of Fredericksburg, President, Bluestone Strategies & Consulting Group
  • Nikki Thacker of Richmond, Government Relations, Reed Smith LLP

BOARD OF VISITORS OF LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY

  • Kathleen Early of Richmond, Corporate Secretary, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and Affiliated Companies
  • Charles E. “Chuck” Fagan III of Manakin Sabot, President and CEO, Velera
  • David Rose of Richmond, Senior Vice President and Manager, Davenport and Company, LLC

BOARD OF VISITORS OF NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Edward Sanders of Washington, DC, Director, Gloucester Institute; Relationship Manager, United Negro College Fund
  • The Honorable Lionel Spruill, Sr. of Chesapeake, former member, Virginia State Senate, 5th District; former member, Virginia House of Delegates, 77th District

BOARD OF VISITORS OF OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

  • Brian E. Campbell of Richmond, Senior Advisor External Affairs, Medicines for All Institute at VCU
  • Stanley Goldfarb of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  • Bruce Thompson of Virginia Beach, CEO, Gold Key | PHR
  • Claire Wulf Winiarek of Arlington, Health Care Policy Director, Amazon

BOARD OF VISITORS OF RADFORD UNIVERSITY

  • Dale S. Ardizzone, Esq., of Charlotte, North Carolina, COO, INSP, LLC, and Imagicomm Communications
  • The Honorable Betsy D. Beamer of Henrico, Director of Planning and Organization, McGuireWoods Consulting
  • Callie Dalton of Roanoke, Realtor, Callie Dalton & Associates, Long & Foster
  • William C. Davis of Blacksburg, retired Historian, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
  • Jonathan Sweet of Pulaski County, County Administrator, Pulaski County

BOARD OF VISITORS OF UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON

  • Virginia Gentles of Arlington, Director, Education Freedom Center, Independent Women’s Forum
  • Tim Pohanka of Fredericksburg, Chief Operating Officer, Pohanka Automotive Group
  • Terris E. Todd of Woodbridge, Senior Advisor to the President, Kingdom Builders Worldwide

BOARD OF VISITORS OF UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND AFFILIATED SCHOOLS

  • Daniel M. Brody of Albemarle County, President, Health Data Services, Inc.
  • Marvin W. Gilliam, Jr., of Bristol, Owner, MAM Development LLC
  • David Okonkwo, MD, PhD of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
  • David F. Webb of Virginia Beach, Vice Chairman, CBRE, Inc
  • Porter Wilkinson of Bethesda, Maryland, Counselor and Chief of Staff, Smithsonian Institute Board of Regents

BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

  • The Honorable Siobhan Dunnavant, MD, FACOG, of Henrico, former member, Virginia State Senate, 12th District
  • Ken Lipstock, MD, of Richmond, Owner and Medical Director, Lipstock LASIK and Cataract Center
  • Randolph N. Reynolds, Jr., of Louisa County, Principal, Reynolds Holdings, LLC
  • J. Sailor of Chesterfield, Director of Faith Partnerships, Stand Together Foundation

BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

  • Kate Comerford Todd of McLean, Attorney, Torridon Law PLLC
  • Quintin Elliott of Urbanna, Owner and CEO, QE2 Consulting
  • Clifford Foster of Richmond, Manager, Raymond James & Associates
  • The Honorable William R. Janis of St. Petersburg, Florida, former member, Virginia House of Delegates, 56th District

BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Starlette Barker Johnson of Dallas, Texas, Board Chair, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; Board Member, Jack’s Family Restaurant Group
  • The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy of McLean, the 24th Secretary of the Army
  • Jim Miller of Waterford, CEO, Quantum Leap
  • Pearson of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, Executive Chairman, Vehicle Accessory Inc.
  • Jeanne H. Stosser of Blacksburg, President, President and CEO, CMG Leasing/ SAS Construction

BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Robert E. Denton, Jr., of Blacksburg, W. Thomas Rice Chair Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Communication, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
  • Peter McPherson of Arlington, President Emeritus, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; President Emeritus, Michigan State University
  • Verndell Robinson of Prince William County, Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker
  • Robert Thompson of Chesterfield, Multi-Unit Franchisee Eggs Up Grill
  • General Dennis Via, Ret., of McLean, Executive Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

EASTERN VIRGINIA HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

  • Robert “Bob” Aston, Jr., of Portsmouth, Chairman of the Executive Board, TowneBank
  • Ted Chambers of McLean, Medical Director, Montgomery Vascular Care

STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

  • David L. Elmore of Waynesboro, President, Financial Management Inc.
  • Tony Miller of Damascus, retired Project Controls Manager, Appalachian Power
  • Alethea “AJ” Robinson of Bluefield, Director of Communications, Tazewell County
  • Jeremy Satterfield of Halifax, TechSpark Manager, Microsoft

STATE COUNCIL OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR VIRGINIA

  • Jeffrey Brown of Richmond, Headmaster, The Hunter School
  • Lindsay Fryer of Falls Church, President and Founding Principal, Lodestone DC
  • Delceno Miles of Virginia Beach, founding President and CEO, The Miles Agency
  • John Olsen of Alexandria, Chief Executive Officer, Teaching Strategies
  • Carlyle Ramsey, PhD, of Alton, former President, Danville Community College
  • Steven Taylor of Barboursville, Director and Senior Fellow of Postsecondary Education, Stand Together Trust

Read more.

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Documents reveal proposed changes to Virginia’s African American history course

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia’s Department of Education has proposed significant revisions to an African American history elective offered in 89 schools. Documents reveal plans to remove content on “implicit bias” and replace terms like “racism” with “discriminatory practices” in the course curriculum.

The proposed changes, detailed in documents obtained by the nonpartisan watchdog American Oversight and shared with The Washington Post, include dozens of recommended revisions to the course’s content and curriculum outline. These recommendations have not yet been implemented and are not currently scheduled to take effect as the course is still under review by the state education department, according to spokesperson Todd Reid.

The review is part of the department’s compliance with Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s first executive order, which prohibits the use of “inherently divisive concepts” in K-12 education. The proposed revisions address a range of topics, including the history of racism in the U.S., Richmond’s role in the slave trade, economic disparity, redlining, systemic racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and even the size of Africa on maps.

Former Governor Ralph Northam (D) established the course and created a commission to develop it. Last school year, over 1,700 students were enrolled in this elective, which is offered at 89 schools across 45 divisions in Virginia.

American Oversight requested records from the Virginia Department of Education related to changes in public education curriculum prompted by Youngkin’s executive order. Among the proposed revisions are the removal of definitions of “Black joy,” content on equity and implicit bias, and the sentence “Institutional racism remains” from the course’s objectives.

Other proposed changes include replacing terms like “rise of racism” and “white supremacy” with “discriminatory practices” and “racial violence.” The department also suggested altering the course’s content on societal and economic changes after Reconstruction, changing “mostly-white legislatures in the South” to “state legislatures in the South.”

Additional revisions involve modifying course content on topics like the Eugenics movement and the impact of “white moderates” on civil rights progress. For instance, a lesson on “Economic Disparity and Privilege” would remove a paragraph detailing the effects of white privilege.

“These documents reveal attempts to whitewash and erase America’s legacy of racism, similar to actions seen in other states like Florida,” said Chioma Chukwu, interim executive director of American Oversight.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of African American history with a specific focus on Virginia, acknowledging both positive and negative historical aspects. Youngkin has expressed a similar sentiment about teaching history inclusively.

The proposed changes align with Youngkin’s broader efforts to focus education on race, history, and gender, and to restrict critical race theory from the curriculum.

In 2023, Youngkin reviewed a proposed Advanced Placement African American studies course to ensure it complied with his executive order. The course was found to be in compliance.

Youngkin’s administration has faced criticism for its review process of K-12 history standards and for the tip line created to report “inherently divisive practices,” which led to backlash and lawsuits over the records collected. Reid noted that since the course was created by Northam’s directive and the education department does not develop courses, it is unique and lacks a standardized review process.

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Donald Trump’s “Agenda 47” is equally harmful to LGBTQ+ individuals as Project 2025.

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

In recent weeks, as awareness of Project 2025 has grown, Donald Trump has attempted to distance himself from this concerning set of policies, developed by the far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Heritage Foundation, for a potential second term. On July 6, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, claiming he knew nothing about Project 2025. He said he disagrees with some of its proposals and considers others “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.”

Given Trump’s well-documented history of dishonesty and misinformation, it’s hard to take his claims about Project 2025 at face value. This plan, among other radical proposals to reshape the federal government in a far-right, Christian nationalist image, includes efforts to dismantle federal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Related:

  • Trump attempts to distance himself from Project 2025—the far right’s agenda for a second term.
  • Biden recently condemned the plan, which is closely tied to several former Trump officials.

However, even if we were to take Trump’s word on Project 2025, his own proposed agenda for a second term remains equally troubling for LGBTQ+ Americans.

The Trump campaign has outlined many of its anti-LGBTQ+ plans under “Agenda 47” on its website, including videos of Trump detailing his proposals. Among these plans, Trump promises to pass a federal law banning what he calls “child sexual mutilation” (despite gender-affirming surgeries rarely being performed on minors) and to push Congress to permanently halt federal funding for such procedures.

He also vows to seek a congressional bill defining genders as strictly male and female, assigned at birth, and to instruct the Department of Education to enforce severe consequences on states and school districts if any teacher suggests to a child that they might be in the wrong body. This could include potential civil rights violations for sex discrimination and loss of federal funding.

Additionally, Trump pledges to eliminate federal DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, which he inaccurately describes as enforcing “racist and woke sexual ideology” throughout the federal government.

His “Plan to Save American Education and Give Power Back to Parents” includes cutting federal funding for schools or programs promoting Critical Race Theory, gender ideology, or other content he deems inappropriate. It also proposes adopting a “Parental Bill of Rights” for full curriculum transparency and keeping men out of women’s sports.

This is merely the beginning. As noted by many observers, Trump would enter a second term with a much stronger position to implement his far-right, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-democratic agenda. Whether it’s through Project 2025, Agenda 47, or a combination of both, the consequences would be dire

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Federal Judge Finds Florida’s Transgender Health Care Ban Discriminates Against State Employees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal judge has determined that Florida’s ban on transgender health care discriminates against state employees and breaches their civil rights.

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled on Thursday that the state’s ban contravenes Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which safeguards employees and job applicants from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

The lawsuit, filed in 2020, was brought by three current and former state employees against the Florida Department of Management Services. They challenged the state’s exclusion of coverage for “gender reassignment or modification services or supplies,” arguing it denied them medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria.

Represented by Southern Legal Counsel, the ACLU of Florida, and Legal Services of Greater Miami, the plaintiffs argued that the state’s policy unfairly targets transgender employees.

Southern Legal Counsel attorney Simone Chriss expressed gratitude for the ruling, stating, “We are thankful the court is holding the state accountable for its discriminatory policy that treats transgender employees unequally. There is no valid reason to deny coverage for necessary treatment for gender dysphoria while covering other medical conditions.”

Judge Walker highlighted that health and pension benefits are integral to employee compensation, and denying these benefits based on sex effectively denies employment opportunities based on sex. He emphasized that medical treatment should be tailored to individual needs rather than imposed through blanket exclusions.

A trial will be scheduled to determine the damages owed to the plaintiffs.

The Florida Department of Management Services and the governor’s office have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

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Nebraska Supreme Court Affirms Ban on Gender-Affirming Care and Abortion Restrictions

In a significant ruling, the Nebraska Supreme Court voted 6-1 to uphold a ban on gender-affirming care and abortion restrictions beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The case, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers, challenged Legislative Bill 574, which restricts abortions after 12 weeks and limits gender-affirming care for minors. The Nebraska legislature passed the bill in 2023, and it was signed into law by the governor in May. In response, the ACLU of Nebraska, representing Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Michael Hilgers.

The ACLU contended that the bill violated the Nebraska Constitution’s single-subject rule, which mandates that a bill should focus on only one subject. However, the court found that both abortion and gender-affirming care are medical procedures, making it acceptable for the bill to address both issues.

The court stated, “We disagree with Planned Parenthood’s contention that it is not possible to identify a single purpose of L.B. 574 that withstands single subject scrutiny. L.B. 574 does regulate both abortion and gender-altering care, but both abortion and gender-altering care are medical procedures, and L.B. 574 prescribes rules that define if and when such procedures can be performed.”

Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman was the sole dissenter, offering a partial dissent. She argued that the bill’s unrelated provisions did not adequately meet the single-subject requirement, stating, “Unrelated provisions that happen to do similar things at some level of generality do not dispel the criticism that the bill contains more than one subject.”

Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of ACLU of Nebraska, expressed disappointment with the ruling. “We respectfully disagree with the court majority’s determination, and we had hoped for a different outcome. However, it is crucial that Nebraskans remain aware of the impact these restrictions will have. Nebraskans have been affected every week since the governor signed LB 574 into law. Despite this setback, we will continue to fight for the rights of Nebraskans to make their own private decisions about their lives, families, and futures.”

A similar case, United States v. Skrmetti, involving a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors, will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year.

LGBTQ Nation reached out to the ACLU of Nebraska and Planned Parenthood for comment but did not receive a response before publication. This article will be updated if they provide a statement.

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