Author: johntarheel76

Ohio Republicans are trying to strip transgender adults of health insurance coverage

Read more at the Advocate.

Ohio Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) has introduced his latest bill in his crusade against transgender Ohioans.

Williams introduced HB 838 last Thursday. The bill would prohibit Medicaid from covering most gender-affirming surgeries and procedures for transgender Ohioans and ban state and local municipalities from providing a contract to their employees that includes “coverage, benefits, or services for gender reassignment surgery.”

The legislation also stipulates that if these benefits are offered, the cost would then be subtracted from the local authority’s “local government fund payments,” the revenue-sharing portion of the state’s General Revenue Fund.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.

Williams has broken a record, introducing more than 100 bills in a single General Assembly as he runs for a spot in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Six of those bills are explicitly anti-LGBTQ+, complementing his public statements that it would be “harmful to society” to affirm trans identity.

  • HB 249 (“The Indecent Exposure Modernization Act”), which would ban drag and gender performance in public spaces where minors are present. (Status: The bill passed the Ohio House and now moves to the Ohio Senate.)
  • HB 262, to designate “Natural Family Month,” to celebrate only heterosexual married couples with children. (Status: The bill is sitting in a House committee; three hearings have been held.)
  • HB 693 (“The Affirming Families First Act”), to grant protections to parents who reject their trans children. (Status: The bill is sitting in a House committee; two hearings have been held.)
  • HB 796 to ensure that all incarcerated people in state custody are housed according to the state’s definition of “biological sex.” (Status: The bill has been introduced, but not assigned to a committee.)
  • HB 798 (“The Privacy Protection Act”) that would limit trans Ohioans’ access to public bathrooms and ban Ohioans from being able to change the sex marker on birth and death certificates. (Status: The bill has been introduced, but not assigned to a committee.)

In the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, the city’s robust “Gender Freedom Policy” would protect LGBTQ+ employees from the effects of HB 838.

The policy was introduced by Council President Sarah Kepple and out LGBTQ+ Councilmember Cindy Strebig, and will allow the city to provide medical coverage for transgender employees and covered family members who seek gender-affirming care, “even if such care must legally be provided outside the State of Ohio.”

“This is another attempt by the Republican led and out of touch state government to draw attention away from their continued failure to serve Ohioans,” Strebig told The Buckeye Flame. “I will continue to fight for my community and the dignity and respect of all people.”

Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio, said that HB 838 is just the latest bill in an “exhausting pattern of a single politician repeatedly targeting transgender Ohioans instead of addressing the real challenges facing our state.”

“Continued increasing of restrictions and limitations to healthcare undermines the safety, health and wellbeing of not only trans Ohioans but everyone,” Adkison said.

Adkison called HB 838 “reprehensible,” but reminded Ohioans that the bill was just introduced and is not law.

“Everyone deserves the ability to make informed decisions about their own healthcare, and every municipality deserves to maintain the authority over what will be covered by city employee insurance plans,” Adkison said.

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Trans Rights Crisis in Texas | Why People Are Leaving & What’s at Stake

In this episode of Flee Red States, we talk to REALTOR Reagan Breaux to get first hand knowledge of what is changing in LGBTQ rights.

🏳️‍⚧️ What is happening to trans rights in Texas right now?

In this powerful and urgent conversation, we break down the real-world impact of new policies, political rhetoric, and federal rollbacks affecting transgender people across Texas.

This isn’t theoretical — it’s happening now.

⚠️ In this video, we discuss:

How recent federal interpretations and directives are affecting Fair Housing protections
Why some LGBTQ+ individuals feel they are being targeted or labeled as threats
The growing concern that housing rights and property ownership could be restricted
Why HUD is no longer accepting certain housing discrimination complaints
How money flowing through PACs may be supporting policies that harm LGBTQ communities
The urgent need for education among both real estate agents and consumers

💬 One of the biggest questions raised:
If protections disappear… who do you even report discrimination to?

This conversation also explores a deeper concern:
👉 What happens when people are forced to move?
👉 What happens to their wealth, their homes, and their safety?

📢 This is part of the broader conversation around LGBTQ civil rights, migration, and the future of equality in the United States.

If you are an agent, a homeowner, or someone concerned about where things are heading — this video is essential.

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Middle school for LGBTQ+ and bullied students opening in August in Boca Raton FL

Read more at CBS 12 News.

The Acceptance Academy Community School, a private, nonprofit middle school serving LGBTQ+ students, bullied youth, and those who struggle to thrive in traditional school environments, is now accepting applications for the August 2026 semester at its Boca Raton campus.

Serving students in grades 6 through 8, The Acceptance Academy is the first school of its kind in Florida and participates in the Step Up for Students scholarship (voucher) program.

“Students at The Acceptance Academy Community School will receive a strong academic foundation in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment,” said Stephen Gaskill, co-founder and president of The Acceptance Academy Foundation, the 501(c)(3) organization that operates the school. “We focus not only on academic excellence but also on character development, giving students the opportunity to learn and grow alongside peers who share similar experiences.”

The need for specialized, supportive educational environments is increasing. According to a recent report from the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), many students reported a more hostile school climate during the 2024–2025 academic year amid heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Key findings include:

  • Two in three students reported feeling unsafe due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression
  • Only one in three LGBTQ+ students frequently look forward to attending school
  • More than half (53%) experienced LGBTQ+-related discrimination, including restricted access to facilities aligned with their gender identity

“Students succeed when they feel supported—by both their peers and the adults around them,” said Dr. Mindy Koch, Ed.D., co-founder and principal of The Acceptance Academy Community School. “Our classrooms emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application, preparing students to navigate life with confidence.”

The school is located in the heart of Boca Raton and offers access to a state-of-the-art gym, music room, library, extracurricular programs, and after-school activities.

Applications are now open for the August semester. Small class sizes ensure personalized, hands-on learning, allowing every student to actively participate and excel. Students from Palm Beach and Broward Counties are welcome, whether transitioning from public school, private school, or homeschooling.

“There’s a real demand for a safe space for kids to learn and to be themselves and middle school years are particularly the time when kids are starting to grow. That’s why we’re focusing on that age area,” Gaskill said.

“Hopefully a school like this gives them the opportunity to figure out how to negotiate and work together with other people who are not totally like them and be successful in the world,” Dr. Koch explained.

But the idea of a school focused on LGBTQ+ students is also raising questions, including concerns about safety.

“What kind of security measures do you plan to have around the school? Because there may be people who would, you hate to say it, may want to act out against the LGBTQ community if they know a number of students are here,” we asked Gaskill. “Well, certainly we hope that that’s not the case, but we have significant security and the building is secure and I just want to leave it that,” he said.

We also asked people in the community what they think.

“The kids want it then I want it. But realistically speaking, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. If you’re ridiculed in school, I think you have to learn with it when you’re that age,” said Richard Young, a Boca Raton resident.

“I think we need to support it as a community,” said Sal Cohen, a Wellington resident.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea and very needed,” said Donna Traum, a Boca Raton resident.

Tuition is approximately half the cost of many private schools in Palm Beach County. Tuition is $20,000 a year. With an $8,000 state voucher, families would pay about $12,000. The first day of classes for the 2026–2027 school year is Monday, August 10, 2026.

The Acceptance Academy Foundation also welcomes tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations to support its mission.

The Acceptance Academy Foundation was founded by Dr. Mindy Koch and Stephen Gaskill, both of whom bring decades of experience in education and public service and share a commitment to the school’s long-term success.

Dr. Mindy Koch has served in Florida’s education system for more than 40 years as a teacher, department chair, administrator, and principal across elementary, middle, and high school levels in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. An award-winning educator, she has developed curricula, managed faculty, and overseen institutional budgets. She also founded Educational Extra, Inc., a SACS-accredited nonprofit providing summer academic programs. Dr. Koch serves as principal of The Acceptance Academy Community School.

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European Parliament adopts measure to ban conversion therapy

Read more at LGBTQ Nation.

The European Parliament voted in favor of a ban on conversion therapy this Wednesday. The demand is now being sent to the European Commission for a response.

The move comes after the European Citizens’ Initiative successfully petitioned the European Parliament to take up the issue. Starting in 2024, the ECI gathered over 1.2 million signatures from EU citizens to ban conversion therapy.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a debate on the matter earlier this week, which resulted in the committee adopting two opinions, one calling for stronger enforcement of the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030 and the other calling for a ban on conversion therapy throughout the EU.

While seven member states ban conversion therapy, including France, Portugal, and Spain, speakers at the EESC pointed out that conversion therapy is still practiced in parts of the EU.

“These so-called conversion practices or therapies are not only harmful, they are a profound violation of human dignity and fundamental rights,” said EESC President Séamus Boland during the debate, according to an EESC release. “Let us be absolutely clear: there is nothing to fix or cure. What needs to change is not people, but the systems, attitudes, and structures that deny them their dignity.”

Graeme Reid, the United Nations independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, also spoke during the debate, saying that banning conversion therapy is key to the EU meeting its human rights obligations and that “every person has the right to live free from coercion, fear and shame.”

Then, in a vote on Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted an opinion demanding a ban on conversion therapy practices.

The demand will be sent to the European Commission, the only body that can introduce binding legislation, which will then send it back to Parliament.

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An LGBTQ+ nightclub burnt down over the weekend in England. A suspect was just arrested.

Read more at LGBTQ Nation.

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a fire at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in England.

The 51-year-old man was taken into custody and, as of Monday, was being held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, according to both The Guardian and the BBC. Police have not determined a motive for the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning at Pink Punters, and have urged the public not to speculate. Pink Punters is located in Milton Keynes, a city in Buckinghamshire, about 50 miles northwest of London.

“This was a significant fire in which a large number of people had to be evacuated,” Milton Keynes chief superintendent Emma Baillie said. “Thankfully, no one was injured, and staff at the venue worked quickly and effectively to safely evacuate everyone. At this time, it would be too early to comment on any particular motivation for this incident, and we would respectfully ask for people not to speculate.”

According to the BBC, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Molly Firman, who was at Pink Punters with friends, said that around 2 a.m., the club’s fire alarm started going off.

“Out of nowhere, all staff and security were screaming, ‘you need to get out now,’” she told the BBC. “Then [we were] all out onto the road and from the road looking over it felt like in minutes — it wasn’t a small fire — but that fire expanded greatly.”

In a statement, Frank McMahon, whose family has run the club for decades, said that the building had been “completely destroyed” by the fire. But, he said, “I am deeply relieved, grateful, and proud to confirm that no staff or customers were harmed, and everybody went home safely.”

“Pink Punters has always been about people, not just bricks and mortar. The building may be gone, but the family, the memories, the spirit, and the love remain,” McMahon said. “And let me say this clearly: Pink Punters will be back.”

Even so, patrons, staff, and neighbors noted what the loss of the venue, even temporarily, would mean for the community.

“It’s truly devastating to say the least,” Firman told the BBC. “When I think of going on a night out, that’s pretty much the only place I will think of going. If Pink’s was not to be here anymore, I think it would affect a lot of people.”

Aaron Harding, who works at Pink Punters alongside his partner, said the venue “welcomes everyone in no matter your gender, race, ethnicity, all of it,” and that the fire is “devastating.”

“It’s horrendous,” Colin Ruggles, a neighbor who witnessed the fire from his home, told the BBC. “So many people go to Pinks, so many people work at Pinks. The LGBT community are going to be devastated, where else can they go within Milton Keynes to feel safe?”

Callum Anderson, Labour MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, told the BBC he was “deeply concerned” by the fire and that anyone involved should “feel the full force of the law.” Anderson added that his team would work closely with police and Pink Punters’ owners to ensure that “the community is properly supported.”

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New HUD Proposal Targets Trans Housing Protections

Read more at Truthout.

A newly proposed rule within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would target transgender people, allowing federally funded shelters and housing providers receiving funds from the government to discriminate on the basis of gender.

The HUD proposal purportedly “harmonizes” the department’s existing Equal Access regulations with President Donald Trump’s anti-transgender executive order he issued on the first day of his second term. That order errantly equates gender with sex, and has been challenged in other realms of the federal government for its discriminatory nature.

The rule change would remove terms like “gender” and “gender identity,” replacing them instead with the word “sex.” Gender is generally understood as “a social construct expressed and reinforced by norms, behaviors, and roles assigned to people based on their perceived sex,” and is understood by scientists as not being binary, whereas sex is based on an individual’s arrangement of chromosomes.

The HUD proposal would allow housing partners of the federal government to resume discrimination against people seeking housing based on gender, rolling back standards that were implemented during the Obama administration.

The change appears to be religiously motivated, as HUD Secretary Scott Turner — a noted Christian nationalist — announced the proposed rule by citing his personal beliefs.

“God created two sexes: male and female,” Turner said. “The Left’s war on biological reality through radical gender ideology will no longer take precedence.”

Notably, Turner had already directed the department to stop enforcing current rules protecting people from discrimination based on gender last year. The rule change formalizes that action.

Research demonstrates that transgender people face enormous difficulties in securing housing, with one study from 2022 demonstrating that nearly one-third of trans people have been unhoused in their lifetimes.

Deborah Thrope, chief program officer for the National Housing Law Project, decried the new HUD proposal, stating that it is a “baseless assault by the Trump administration” against LGBTQ people.

Describing the rule as a “cruel proposal,” Thrope added:

Not only will the proposed policies directly harm families and communities, they will increase costs for state and local governments, hospital systems, and social services agencies by forcing more housing insecure people to live on the street rather than in shelter.

“Our country has the resources to ensure that all of us have a roof over our heads, and we are steadfast in our commitment to fight alongside LGBTQ+ tenants and neighbors until we’re all stably housed,” Thrope said.

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Botswana officially removed its anti-sodomy law from its Penal Code

Read more at LGBTQ Nation.

Botswana’s anti-sodomy law has been officially repealed.

Section 164 of the Southern African nation’s Penal Code used to ban sodomy and carried a possible seven-year sentence with it. But in 2019, the country’s High Court ruled unanimously that the law was unconstitutional.

“Human dignity is harmed when minority groups are marginalized,” wrote Judge Michael Leburu for the court at the time. “Sexual orientation is not a fashion statement. It is an important attribute of one’s personality.”

“Personal autonomy on matters of sexual preference and choice must, therefore, be respected. Any criminalization of love or finding fulfillment in love dilutes compassion and tolerance.”

The government appealed, but the appeal was refused in 2021, leaving Section 164 unenforceable.

But the South African LGBTQ+ outlet Mamba Online now reports that Botswana’s government amended its Penal Code to remove paragraphs a and c of Section 164. The only part of the section that remains bans bestiality. The change was carried out by Botswana Attorney General Dick Bayford.

The Botswanan LGBTQ+ organization LeGaBiBo hailed the change, saying it sends “a clear message that LGBTIQ+ persons are not criminals, and that their lives and relationships deserve protection, not punishment.”

“For many, these provisions were not just words on paper – they were lived realities,” the group said. “They affected access to healthcare, safety, employment, and the freedom to love and exist openly.”

LGBTQ+ people in Botswana have some rights and protections that they aren’t granted in other countries in the region. LGBTQ+ people are able to serve in the military, and the country has banned job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation since 2010. Trans people have been able to correct gender markers on government paperwork since a High Court ruling in 2017.

There is currently a gay couple suing the government for marriage rights, according to Mamba Online.

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Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers — Here’s Where They’re Going |Jen Barnett (Expatsi)

More Americans are leaving the United States than moving in—for the first time in decades. In this conversation, Bob McCranie sits down with Jen Barnett of Expatsi to break down what’s really happening, and how everyday people—not just the wealthy—are successfully relocating abroad.

We cover the rise of global mobility, why “ordinary folks” are now exploring options like Spain, Germany, and Panama, and how Expatsi helps Americans take real steps toward a safer, healthier, and more stable life overseas.

You’ll learn:

Why net negative migration is happening now
How regular people are retiring or working abroad
What “scouting trips” look like and why they matter
Visa pathways (including student and investor visas)
How tools like Google Translate make the transition easier
What it feels like to live in places with stronger civil protections and less daily stress

We also discuss Move Abroad Con, Expatsi’s major conference that helps people turn interest into action. Bob and Leslie spoke at last year’s event, and the results speak for themselves—many attendees have already made the move.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Could I actually live somewhere else?” — this is your starting point.

Make 2026 Your Year: Move Abroad Con, Live in San Diego
Two days of expert insights, life-changing connections, and the practical roadmap you need to finally make your move abroad. Limited tickets available—secure yours now before they’re gone.

May 9-10, 2026, Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego, California

https://expatsi.com/mac-2026

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THAILAND PLANS TO SCRAP VISA-FREE STAY, CUT DURATION

Read more at Khoasod English.

Thailand is considering scrapping its 60-day visa-free entry scheme for foreign visitors and reducing permitted stays, as authorities shift focus towards higher-spending, long-stay tourists, officials said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the government is reviewing the policy after a trial period and is preparing to submit proposed changes to the Cabinet soon.

The measure currently allows travellers from 93 countries and territories to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. Officials now plan to scrap the blanket scheme and revert to country-specific arrangements, while exploring new visa options tailored to different markets.

Surasak said the changes aim to better reflect actual travel patterns and curb misuse of the system.

“More than 90% of tourists stay between one and 30 days, while only about 10% remain longer,” he said. “Allowing extended stays may enable some individuals to work illegally or engage in improper activities.”

He said the revised approach would prioritise “quality tourists” who stay longer and contribute more to the economy, while serving as a screening mechanism for undesirable visitors.

The Foreign Ministry has already discussed the proposal, which will require Cabinet approval to amend the original resolution.

Separately, authorities are also pushing ahead with plans to introduce a 300-baht tourism fee for foreign arrivals by air. The levy would fund tourism development, safety measures and infrastructure improvements.

Surasak said such fees are common internationally, citing Japan’s departure tax as an example, and insisted the measure would not deter visitors but help strengthen Thailand’s tourism sector in the long term.

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State Department bans trans employees from using the appropriate restrooms at work

Read more at LGBTQ Nation.

The State Department announced on Monday a new policy that will ban trans employees from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

Right-wing news site, The Daily Signal, reports that they obtained a memo from the State Department titled “Updates Regarding Biological Sex and Intimate Spaces, Including Restrooms.” The memo says, “ACTION: Post must abide by the President’s directive in E.O. 14168, ensuring intimate spaces are designated by biological sex.”

The memo is designed to update the State Department’s policies in line with Donald Trump’s January 2024 anti-trans executive order, which declared that there were only “two sexes” and that they were immutable. While not a legal action in its own right, an executive order instructs the federal government on how Trump would like laws to be implemented.

Several federal agencies had already implemented an anti-trans bathroom ban, but the State Department had not previously made its own policy.

In July of 2025, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent out a memo instructing all federal agencies to bring themselves in line with the executive order, with the stated goal of “Ending Gender Ideology in the Federal Workplace and Protecting Women.”

That order included a note that all agencies should have “ensured that intimate spaces (such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and lactation rooms) at Federal worksites designated for women, girls, or females (or for men, boys, or males) are designated by biological sex and not gender identity.”

The State Department’s delay in implementing a bathroom ban likely doesn’t stem from Secretary of State Marco Rubio having empathy for the trans community, but rather from a case before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Last summer, a transgender person filed a complaint with the EEOC after being denied access to the appropriate restrooms and “intimate spaces.” A decision was reached by the commission in February, which upheld that “Title VII permits a federal agency employer to maintain single-sex bathrooms and similar intimate spaces,” and “permits a federal agency employer to exclude employees, including trans-identifying employees, from opposite-sex facilities.”

Title VII is the federal law that bans job discrimination on the basis of sex. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton Co. that Title VII’s ban on sex-based discrimination also bans anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, since it’s impossible to discriminate against trans or queer people without taking their sex assigned at birth into account.

The guidance goes against previous recommendations from OSHA, which stated: “The core belief underlying these policies is that all employees should be permitted to use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity. For example, a person who identifies as a man should be permitted to use men’s restrooms, and a person who identifies as a woman should be permitted to use women’s restrooms.”

Those guidelines were removed from the Department of Labor’s website at some point between January 15, 2025, and February 1, 2025.

The Daily Signal touted the new policy under the headline “Rubio Cracks Down on Men in Women’s Restrooms.” That can be added to his resume, alongside defunding USAID so that thousands will suffer from HIV and changing the State Department’s default font because the old typeface was too “woke.”

“Banning transgender people from using facilities in alignment with their gender identity deprives them of the ability to participate in public life,” Advocates for Trans Equality’s website notes. “Without the ability to use a public restroom, trans people are less able to live their lives and travel outside their home. Trans employees need to be able to use the restroom at work to keep their jobs without risking their health and safety.”

“Transgender people cannot safely use the bathroom of the gender they were assigned at birth just because the law requires them to. Trans people are routinely subjected to harassment and assault in bathrooms. Sixty-eight percent of trans people have been verbally harassed, and 9% have been physically assaulted when using a public restroom in the past 12 months. And sadly, 8% of trans people have faced a kidney or urinary tract infection from having to avoid restrooms for their safety.”

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