#LGBTQ+ youth

[cotecoyotegrrrl]

Chappell Roan at the MTV VMAs. RESPECT! You *GO* Girl!

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Illinois bills that would update existing laws to be more gender inclusive and add protections for LGBTQ marriages are ready for action by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who said he will sign them.

The trio of state bills passed last week are meant to move the state in the “opposite direction” of those restricting LGBTQ youth, said Sen. Mike Simmons, the bills’ sponsor and the first and only current “out” LGBTQ lawmaker in the Illinois Senate.

Illinois is one of several U.S. states that have moved to counteract a surge of anti-LGBTQ legislation in mostly Republican-led states.

On the same day just a few hours away, Indiana’s governor signed a bill that will require schools to notify a parent if a student requests a name or pronoun change at school, one of several bills this legislative session targeting LGBTQ people in the state.

Illinois’ neighbors to the west, Missouri and Iowa, have gone in a similar direction by restricting gender-affirming care and the bathrooms transgender students can use.

The Illinois Democratic supermajority passed the bills out of the Senate on Thursday, and the measures now await Pritzker’s signature.

“The Governor is proud to support legislation that creates a more welcoming, affirming, and inclusive Illinois,” said spokesperson Alex Gough on Friday.

“In the face of rising violence and bigotry toward the trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming community, providing support and recognition for those who identify as LGBTQ+ has never been more important,” Gough said.

One bill would replace certain pronouns with the nouns to which the pronouns refer, such as “minor” instead of “he or she,” and “person who gives birth” in place of “mother” in some existing laws concerning children in the state’s care.

Before her “no” vote, Republican Caucus Whip Sen. Jil Tracy said: “I gave birth to two boys that weighed over 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms). I think I deserve more dignity that just ‘a person who gave birth.’ I’m a mother.”

The Illinois Family Institute, a Christian nonprofit, opposes all three bills.

David Curtin, the institute’s lobbyist, said the bill on pronouns is “tinkering” with terms that are legally important, and “there’s only two genders, and its male and female and him and her. So why not just stay with the program?”

Changing the language of laws “doesn’t change reality,” Curtin said.

Simmons said that the bill is primarily intended to affirm LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system, which a 2021 audit found that Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services has failed to do.

Young people in DCFS’ care have “repeatedly” relayed to ACLU Illinois lobbyist Nora Collins-Mandeville “the challenges that they have with folks identifying their family members correctly or their own identities correctly,” she said.

“Language matters,” said Collins-Mandeville, who worked with Simmons on the bill. “Contrary to some of the opposition ... it actually includes more people and allows people to identify themselves.”

Another bill would require state agencies to track employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming to help achieve workforce diversity, and a third bill would make it easier for LGBTQ couples who resided in other states to marry in Illinois.

When the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion in June, the ruling included a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas that suggested the high court should review other precedent-setting rulings, including the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

The marriage bill is meant to serve as fail-safe in case that decision is reversed, Simmons said.

“What we’re trying to do is get ahead of any actions that might be taken to invalidate Obergefell or any of those other cases that would have a direct and disastrous impact on LGBTQ households in the country,” he said, referring to the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

The Respect for Marriage Act, signed by President Joe Biden in December, enshrines the right to same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law.

For Chicago lawmaker Simmons, the three Illinois bills are personal. “There are so many other state legislatures right now that are making a sport of targeting my community,” he said.

“So many people fought so hard for me to even have the right to exist, to be able to be an out and proud, Black, LGBTQ+ state senator,” he said. But the current political climate is “dispiriting at times,” Simmons said.

“There’s several states that are going light years back on LGBTQ and civil rights.” he said. “Everything is going backwards.”

[tomorrowusa]

Far right extremists have particularly targeted LGBTQ+ books for banning. As mentioned in the vid, 26% of all of the literature removed from public school libraries last year featured LGBTQ+ characters or themes.

This edition of Velshi Banned Book Club focuses on the homophobic banning of books and the effect of such banning on LGBTQ+ youth.

Book banning is influenced by officials at the state and local level.

In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP state legislature are responsible for the state's infamous "Don't Say Gay" law. 🤬

In Illinois, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democratic state legislature have actually banned the banning of books. 😎

While there will always be minor exceptions, states run by Republicans are likely to pursue homophobic policies and states run by Democrats are going to be more LGBTQ+ friendly. That definitely includes attitude towards books.

BTW, are you registered to vote? Have you registered at your new address if you've moved since the last time you voted?

Be A Voter - Vote Save America

[crowscadence]

Being young and queer means being jealous of your straight peers for the fact that they get to have normal teenage romance experiences. They’ve gotten to experiment and be open about it. They’ve not had to hide affection for fear of harassment. They’ve not had to deny their relationship to homophobic parents.

Basically what I’m saying is that I’m happy my straight peers have had that, but god I’m jealous.

[itgetsbetterproject]

Some proof that there ARE elected officials out there, like Vice Mayor Sean Cummings in Oklahoma, who are standing up for LGBTQ+ youth like Nex Benedict and calling out the fact that our words and rhetoric DO matter.

[Context: In this video, Sean Cummings is seen speaking to Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters referring to the death of student Nex Benedict].

[deep-in]

I just loved so much how coming-of-age Young Royals was. I can't stop thinking, and wrting, about.

Since the cinematography in the scenes, the close ups and the looks they exchange. It's amazingly tailored for the younghood. I wrote extensively about it in my Substack

[liberaljane]

Protect Queer and Trans Kids ⚡️

Digital art of a queer nonbinary teen with glasses and a beanie wearing a rainbow shirt with their back to us. They have a striped long sleeve on and red pants with a star patch. Text reads, ‘schools should be a safe place for queer and trans kids.’

[thequeereview]

Exclusive Interview: filmmaker Jen Markowitz lets LGBTQ+ youth speak for themselves in Summer Qamp "I wanted it to be for them & about them"

Jen Markowitz’s uplifting debut feature documentary, Summer Qamp, sees the Toronto-based filmmaker spend a week at the LGBTQIA+ CAMP fYrefly in rural Alberta, Canada, refreshingly and powerfully allowing their queer and trans teenage subjects to speak for themselves unhurried and uninterrupted. For many of the campers it is the first time that they are surrounded by people like themsleves and one…

[a-gay-poptart]

Say their name.

CW AND TW: CHILD DEATH

Say.

Their.

Name.

Nex Benedict was a indigenous trans nonbinary teenager. Their head was beaten against the floor in a bathroom stall. Less than 24 hours later, they died, most likely from undiagnosed head trauma. Conservatives say they want to, "protect the children", where was the protection for Nex? That's the thing. There wasn't any. Nex died. And many more trans, queer, and nonbinary minors will if we don't step up and do something. What happened to Nex has and will happen to queer folk around the globe. Say their name.

Edit: I didn't expect this to get much attention, but thank you everyone. What alot of people, "forget" to mention was that Nex was two spirited, which means they were indigenous. The fact that I wouldn't have heard about this if I didn't have Tumblr is absolutely revolting. News needs to be covering this. But what are Republicans doing? Sucking their thumbs and crying about how, "trans people shouldn't be able to piss". What are Democrats doing? Twiddling their thumbs and groveling to an old geezer that somehow falls up the stairs and supports I$r3@l. It's disgusting and America needs to do better.

Edit 2: Any and all hate/saying that Nex Benedict wasn't murdered (they were) will immediately get deleted, just because you don't like trans people doesn't mean you can be an whiny little bitch. A child was murdered. This has nothing to do with politics, a child was murdered.

[rodspurethoughts]

Film Producer David Brown Launches Foundation to Support Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth and Women Fleeing Domestic Violence

Film producer David Brown launches a foundation to support homeless LGBTQ+ youth, women fleeing domestic violence, and non-violent offenders.

Film producer David Brown has announced the formation of the David Brown Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at providing support to vulnerable populations, including homeless LGBTQ+ youth, women fleeing domestic violence, and non-violent offenders in need of bail assistance. Brown, who has personally experienced the challenges of parental addiction, domestic violence, and homelessness…

[your-queer-dad]

Hey you. Yes you. You have been through enough, you hear me? You. Have. Been. Through. Enough.

The world has treated you shittily, you go through enough, don't do that do yourself too. Be decent to yourself, kiddo. We've only got one of you and it's the best one we have :]

I love you, I'm proud of you, go make yourself a beverage of your choice and be a little more decent to yourself today <3

- dad x

[killjoygerardx]

Sick of cis people, and even some trans people, mocking and judging trans folk for not passing. For "not even trying" to pass.

Passing is not achievable for so many people. It's also not even a goal for many people.

Me telling you I'm a man should be enough to get me treated like one. Yes I have a high voice. Yes I have hips. Yes I wear makeup and have long hair.

But why does it matter? Why does it deem me not worthy of the respect to have my correct pronouns used?

I had top surgery to feel more comfortable in my own skin. So I could end the constant pain and discomfort of binding.

I want to go on T to be more comfortable in my own skin.

I don't live to serve or fulfill the unrealistic expectations of bigots.

[transmascrage]

Video by ErinInTheMorning on TikTok

[Transcript (there's captions on screen but in case you can't turn on audio):

Erin: "File this one away for the transgender history books, whenever they write about our history; today Lindsey Spero, a trans man, stood in front of the Florida Board of Medicine, which was about to vote to medically ban all gender affirming care for trans youth.

He stood there to deliver his testimony, he delivered a little bit of it, but then he took the remainder of his testimony time to stand there and inject his hormone therapy in front of all of them in stunned silence, and then he turned around and raised his fist. Watch this."

Lindsey: "My name is Lindsey Spero, I'm 25 years old, I'm a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida. I'm also transgender.

I am someone who was subjected to treatments that have been questionable, that were mentioned by people like that woman who came up and spoke, I can tell you for a fact that her child is going to grow up hating her.

I'm sure you've heard many stories that sound like mine already, over the last few months my trans siblings and family members have stood before you, put their hearts on full display and vulnerable pleaded with you to listen to our stories and perspectives.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has condemned your actions and our federal government has spoken out against the actions you seek to take regarding the necessary health care for trans youth.

I could stand here and tell you about the times I attempted to end my life because I didn't have access to gender affirming care but I know, I know you don't care. I see you sneering at us while we come here and talk to you.

Instead I'm going to take the rest of my time to demonstrate the sacred and weekly ritual of my shot in front of you, in this body.

My medication is life saving, I will use HRT for the rest of my life, your denial of my need for this medication, doesn't make my existence as a trans person any less real.

I will be giving myself my subcutaneous shot in my stomach. If you have a needle phobia, please look away."

Lindsey injects his T-shot in silence, helped by another person who passes him a needle and the testosterone in its vial.

After finishing, he raises his fist and turns around to the audience.

Lindsey: "Tomorrow and forever."

The crowd cheers and a few people get up to clap.

Erin: "That, that is what I'm talking about! Good job Lindsey! This is the kind of resistance that matters!"

End transcript.]

(As a sidenote, it seems that Lindsey identifies as nonbinary, not necessarily (or exclusively, anyways) as a trans man. Some articles identify him as transmasc but all of his socials state nonbinary.)

[itgetsbetterproject]

🌈 DIGITAL PRIDE is back for 2024 and this time we're building an entire PRIDE VILLAGE in Minecraft!

Not all LGBTQ+ youth have access to in-person Pride events or parades.

Not all LGBTQ+ youth are out and open about their identities.

But everyone is welcome to join Digital Pride virtually - that's why we're bringing it back for a 5th year!

🟣 Starting June 6, some of your fave Minecraft creators will be joining a charity build relay as they stream builds that represent what Pride means to them to create a collective Pride Village. Lineup reveal coming soon, promise!

🟣 Then, on June 13, you can join us on our Twitch channel for the grand finale event as we open the server so you can join our super cozy virtual space for LGBTQ+ youth to connect with community virtually!

🟣 And of course, you can watch more Pride streams from our It Gets Better Ambassadors on our Twitch channel all month long in June.

Plus, the extra good stuff: All of our Digital Pride streams and activations throughout June will serve as fundraisers to support our work to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe.

Can't wait to start building this cozy, virtual safe space with you all!

[allthegeopolitics]

An independent review into puberty blockers has found they are generally safe to be used by transgender youngsters, and, despite what some people claim, the effects can be reversed. Research commissioned by the New South Wales government in Australia found that the benefits of the medicine, which have been under increased scrutiny recently, outweigh any potential drawbacks. The medication, primarily used by those under the age of 18, delays unwanted elements of physical puberty. The NHS has described the effects as reversible, and there is no definitive evidence that it is harmful.

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