Senator Tommy Tuberville denounced parents of transgender children as abusive, asserting that transgender children should fear their parents, not the government. This statement followed an Episcopal bishop’s plea for mercy towards those fearing current political climates. Tuberville’s tweet ignited criticism from the Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition, who condemned his remarks as contradicting Christian teachings and exacerbating the already heightened anxiety and depression experienced by transgender youth. The senator’s statement came after President Trump signed an executive order recognizing only two genders.
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A last-minute amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would eliminate TRICARE coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender children of military families. This provision, deceptively framed as preventing sterilization, targets medically necessary care like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, not surgeries which are rarely performed on minors. The amendment has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and some Democrats, who argue it jeopardizes the well-being of military families and recruitment efforts. The fate of the provision hinges on a potential Democratic-Republican coalition to remove it from the bill.
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A federal appeals court has upheld an Indiana law banning puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children under 18, mirroring similar legislation passed in other Republican-led states. The court rejected arguments that the law discriminates based on sex or violates parental rights, concluding that the law applies equally to all minors and that parents do not have an unfettered right to any medical treatment for their children. This decision aligns with rulings in other states and sets the stage for the Supreme Court to potentially decide the fate of such laws nationwide, with proponents arguing they protect children from experimental treatments and opponents citing the positive mental health outcomes associated with these treatments.
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As I sit here, scrolling through the heartbreaking news of the Oklahoma student who tragically died after a fight in a high school bathroom, I am overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. The principal chief of the Cherokee Nation identified the teen as Nex Benedict, a child who deserved to live a full life. It’s heartwarming to see someone in authority speak out about Nex’s life and the value it held. Nex may not have been a citizen of the nation, but they mattered, and their identity was worth celebrating.
But the more I read about the circumstances surrounding Nex’s death, the more disturbed I become.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker