GOP-led states push to restrict gender-affirming care for trans youth

Lawmakers in Iowa passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, following legislators in Arkansas passing their own bill making it easier to sue doctors who provide treatment to people under 18. NBC’s Vaughn Hillyard reports on why right-wing voices are calling for an end to transgender care across the country.

Esther Byrd, QAnon-adjacent defender of Jan. 6 insurrection, appointed to Florida Board of Education

‘When Trump supporters peacefully protest, suddenly “Law and Order” is all they can talk about!’ Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Esther Byrd to the state’s Board of Education, a move that will almost certainly serve to further politicize that appointed panel. A former Marine, Mrs. Byrd is currently the legal assistant and office manager for the Law Office of Cord

Nearly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills filed in 2022 so far, with most targeting trans people

The annual number of anti-LGBTQ bills filed has skyrocketed over the past several years, from 41 bills in 2018 to 238 bills in less than three months of 2022. State lawmakers have proposed a record 238 bills that would limit the rights of LGBTQ Americans this year — or more than three per day —

CDC director rebukes DeSantis for telling teens to remove masks: ‘It is absolutely their choice’

‘Those students should have been comfortable wearing a mask’ Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has rebuked Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for scolding a group of teenagers for wearing masks. “Those students should have been comfortable wearing a mask,” Dr Walensky told MSNBC. “It is absolutely their choice.” The high school students were

Amendment to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill would force schools to out students in 6 weeks

A new amendment to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill would explicitly require schools to inform parents of their child’s sexual orientation, and put a deadline on how soon they must tell the family. The amendment filed by bill sponsor Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, on Feb. 18 changes the bill to instead not only require disclosure, but requires schools to tell

Critical Race Theory: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

The secret plan behind Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill: Bankrupting public education

Republicans seek to use “don’t say gay” bills to gut public education like they did abortion access Republicans widely view the “critical race theory” hoax as a crucial component to regaining the governorship of Virginia in 2021, so it’s not a surprise that the party is rapidly expanding its national war on educators under the guise of

Florida Senate committee passes “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would bar LGBTQ discussions in schools

The Florida Senate Education Committee passed a controversial bill on Tuesday that would bar school districts from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity. The Parental Rights in Education bill, commonly referred to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its critics, would apply to such topics in primary grade levels, as well as

Canada pushes back against Republican-fueled support for COVID-19 protests

Canada’s public safety minister said Monday that U.S. officials should stay out of his country’s domestic affairs, joining other Canadian leaders in pushing back against prominent Republicans who offered support for the protests of COVID-19 mandates that have besieged downtown Ottawa for more than a week. A day after the city declared a state of emergency,

Florida bill would allow cameras in classrooms and microphones on teachers

Florida lawmakers are debating a bill that would allow schools districts to put cameras in classrooms and microphones on teachers.  The measure was proposed by state Representative Bob Rommel, a Republican from Naples. “I think if we can do it in a safe way to protect the privacy of students and teachers, I think we