The Trump administration has instructed 40 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., to eliminate references to transgender people from their sex education programs within the federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) or risk losing funding. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent letters demanding the removal of “gender ideology” from curricula, citing a need to reflect the intent of Congress. This directive follows the termination of $12 million in PREP funding for California after they refused to remove transgender-related content. These actions align with the administration’s broader efforts to restrict federal recognition of transgender individuals and the use of federal funds for programs that include them.
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A federal judge has ruled that religious colleges requiring faith statements cannot be excluded from Minnesota’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options program, deeming the state law unconstitutional. The ruling, a win for two Christian colleges, overturned a 2023 law that sought to protect LGBTQ+ students by banning faith statement requirements. The judge cited First Amendment protections for religious organizations, asserting that the state cannot disqualify private schools from funding solely due to their religious affiliation. This decision also struck down a related nondiscrimination requirement.
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Ottawa’s annual Pride parade was unexpectedly cancelled on Sunday after a pro-Palestinian advocacy group, Queers for Palestine — Ottawa (Q4P), blocked the parade route and demanded negotiations with organizers. The group issued demands, including a boycott of Israel and an apology from city officials for a prior boycott of the 2024 Pride event. Capital Pride confirmed the cancellation and cited unsuccessful attempts to modify the route. This year’s cancellation occurred amidst controversy from 2024 where a letter was written that condemned the acts of terrorism and brutal campaign in Gaza.
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Several Florida cities are facing deadlines to remove rainbow crosswalks after being ordered to do so by the state’s transportation department. The directive follows a July 1st federal guidance from US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, stating roads are for safety, not political messages, which prompted the orders. Some local communities are complying with the order, while others, such as St. Petersburg, are protesting the removals. Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has supported the removals, as they believe roads should not be used for social or political expression.
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Florida officials, following instructions from the Trump administration, have paved over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that served as a memorial to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. This action, which occurred overnight and without prior notice, has been condemned by local officials and LGBT+ advocates as a “cruel political act.” The crosswalk’s removal is seen as part of a broader pattern of attacks on the LGBT+ community in the state. Civil rights groups argue that the removal constitutes a dangerous escalation of efforts to erase LGBT+ visibility and censor their history.
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A rainbow crosswalk memorializing the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, was painted over by the Florida Department of Transportation on August 21. This action was taken under the direction of the Trump administration’s “SAFE ROADS Initiative,” which aimed to eliminate road distractions, according to a letter from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer criticized the move as a “cruel political act,” particularly since the crosswalk, installed in coordination with the state, adhered to safety standards and served as a memorial. Despite the erasure, community members quickly restored the rainbow colors with chalk, demonstrating their commitment to honoring the lives lost in the 2016 tragedy.
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Ron DeSantis paints over Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk in the dead of night. When someone chooses to perform an action in secret, under the cover of darkness, it often speaks volumes about their intentions. It suggests a lack of courage and a sense that the act itself is unpopular, something they wouldn’t dare do in the light of day. And that’s exactly what happened with the Pulse Memorial rainbow crosswalk in Orlando. DeSantis himself made it clear this was intentional. It wasn’t a matter of misinterpretation. It was a deliberate act, and the reason given, that it was “political,” is, frankly, a flimsy justification for erasing a memorial to 49 people murdered in a hate crime.… Continue reading
Following the removal of a rainbow crosswalk at the Pulse Memorial site in Orlando, Florida, local residents have taken matters into their own hands. In a direct challenge to Governor Ron DeSantis’ actions, community members were captured on video repainting the crosswalk themselves. The original crosswalk, designed to honor the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, was removed overnight, prompting outrage. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed his devastation at the removal, calling it a “cruel political act.”
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The state of Florida painted over a rainbow crosswalk in Orlando that was part of the Pulse Memorial, sparking outrage and criticism. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the removal as a “cruel political act,” emphasizing the crosswalk’s safety benefits and its symbolic importance in honoring the 49 victims of the 2016 shooting. Surviving victim Brandon Wolf echoed this sentiment, calling the act a desecration of the victims’ memories. Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state would not allow roadways to be used for political purposes, following a directive from the former transportation secretary that stressed roadway markings should be consistent and free from distractions.
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Yosemite National Park ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin was fired after hanging a large transgender pride flag on El Capitan in protest of policies targeting transgender people under the Trump administration. Park officials are working with the Justice Department to pursue administrative action against several park employees and possible criminal charges against visitors who violated demonstration restrictions. The new restrictions, which prohibit banners larger than 15 square feet in wilderness areas, were put in place shortly after the flag display. Joslin’s supporters claim the firing is unjust, while park officials defend the regulations, stating the priority is the protection of park resources and visitor experience.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood