https://www.advocate.com/rss.xml en https://assets.rbl.ms/32874384/origin.png https://www.advocate.com https://www.advocate.com/news/ufc-fighter-yells-michelle-obama-is-a-man-at-trump-s-birthday-spectacle This story originally appeared on Them.]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:32:07 EDT Mathew Rodriguez https://www.advocate.com/news/ufc-fighter-yells-michelle-obama-is-a-man-at-trump-s-birthday-spectacle https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/kamala-harris-the-abbey-surprise Former Vice President Kamala Harris spent part of Pride Month visiting a place that has long served as both a sanctuary and stage for LGBTQ+ Americans.]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:38:21 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/kamala-harris-the-abbey-surprise https://www.advocate.com/opinion/faith-leaders-lgbtq-rights-opinion There are moments in public life when a community must decide who it is—truly, unapologetically, without flinching. The release of Sacred Worth, Shared Freedom by the Lavender Interfaith Collective (LInC) is one of those moments. Sacred Worth, Shared Freedom is a bold, multi-faith statement and call to action affirming the inherent dignity of LGBTIQ+ people and urging communities, leaders, and institutions to defend human rights, expand democratic freedoms, and stand in courageous solidarity against all forms of anti-LGBTIQ+ violence and discrimination. It is not simply a statement; it is a line in the sand drawn by people of faith who refuse to let fear have the final word. I write as one of them.]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:00:01 EDT Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer https://www.advocate.com/opinion/faith-leaders-lgbtq-rights-opinion https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/maine-judge-blocks-anti-trans-initiative On Thursday, a Superior Court judge upheld the block of a referendum on transgender athletes from its November ballot, according to Maine Public.]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 17:27:03 EDT Desiree Guerrero https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/maine-judge-blocks-anti-trans-initiative https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-13-26 Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:43:35 EDT Edgar Ramirez https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-13-26 https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-abandons-lgbtq-veterans The Department of Veterans Affairs has ordered health facilities nationwide to eliminate gender identity-based initiatives and strip the LGBTQ+ designation from a network of medical coordinators created to help LGBTQ+ veterans navigate care, according to an internal memorandum obtained by The Advocate.]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:24:42 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-abandons-lgbtq-veterans https://www.advocate.com/opinion/moving-home-taught-me-democracy Having spent half my life in the most liberal city in the U.S. and half my life in one of the most conservative, I’ve learned an important lesson: how Americans talk to each other is as important as what they say. ]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:00:02 EDT Tom Shepard https://www.advocate.com/opinion/moving-home-taught-me-democracy https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/ken-paxton-james-talarico-trans-issues Republican Ken Paxton was quick to publicly denounce his fellow U.S. Senate candidate, Democrat James Talarico, for apparently changing his stance on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, according to the Austin American Statesman.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 20:31:04 EDT Desiree Guerrero https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/ken-paxton-james-talarico-trans-issues https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/advocate-nl-6-12-26 Hello folks, Audience Editor Edgar Ramirez back in your inbox to close out Week 2 of Pride Month.

What's usually a celebratory time for the LGBTQ+ community, today marks 10 years since an extremist gunman walked inside Pulse, a gay Orlando nightclub at that time hosting Latin Night, killing 49 people and leaving 58 injured.

May we never forget those whose lives were tragically cut short.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:17:19 EDT Edgar Ramirez https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/advocate-nl-6-12-26 https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-name-removal-kennedy-center On Thursday, the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees made a sudden decision to appeal U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s order to remove Trump’s name from the Washington, D.C. cultural center’s exterior by Friday, June 12. Cooper said his reasoning for the ruling was that the name change did not go through the proper legal processes, stating that “Congress gave the center its name, and only Congress can change it.”]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:43:49 EDT Desiree Guerrero https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-name-removal-kennedy-center https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-12-26 Ezra Acayan/Getty Images]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:20:10 EDT Edgar Ramirez https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-12-26 https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trans-military-ban-class-filing The legal battle over President Donald Trump's transgender military ban is entering a new phase that could determine whether the challenge proceeds on behalf of a handful of plaintiffs or thousands of transgender service members nationwide.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:15:11 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trans-military-ban-class-filing https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/bruce-blakeman-new-york-antigay A Republican candidate seeking to govern one of the nation's most influential states is facing growing criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and Democratic officials over his ties to politicians and activists who have opposed marriage equality, supported restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility, and made remarks condemned as homophobic.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:22:00 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/bruce-blakeman-new-york-antigay https://www.advocate.com/news/san-francisco-gay-bars-privacy The use of facial-scanning technology at several San Francisco gay bars has angered many in the LGBTQ+ community. At locations often frequented by people who are not publicly out, the notion of tracking patrons' whereabouts in the very havens sought for privacy raises many alarms.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:59:17 EDT Jacob Ogles https://www.advocate.com/news/san-francisco-gay-bars-privacy https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/sarah-mcbride-state-of-firsts Days after drawing a standing ovation at the Equality PAC National Pride Gala in Washington, Delaware’s sole congresswoman, Sarah McBride, is preparing for another milestone. Friday is the nationwide theatrical release of the documentary State of Firsts, which captured her historic campaign to become the first out transgender member of Congress.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:45:01 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/sarah-mcbride-state-of-firsts https://www.advocate.com/news/people/pulse-survivors-10-years-later Many of the hundreds touched by the then-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at Pulse, a gay Orlando nightclub, where an extremist gunman killed 49 people and left 58 others injured ten years ago Friday, still seek solace. Even survivors who left the Florida venue uninjured suffered emotional anguish and guilt, while loved ones of those who didn’t make it navigated immeasurable loss.]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:35:03 EDT Jacob Ogles https://www.advocate.com/news/people/pulse-survivors-10-years-later https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/equality-pac-gala-hakeem-jeffreis As the Trump administration continues its unprecedented assault on LGBTQ+ rights, some of the nation's most prominent queer leaders and allies gathered Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., with a message that was equal parts warning, celebration, and call to action: don't give up.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:53:28 EDT Christopher Wiggins https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/equality-pac-gala-hakeem-jeffreis https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/advocate-nl-6-11-26 We're only 11 days into Pride Month, but Delaware is putting on a show!]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:15:02 EDT Edgar Ramirez https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/advocate-nl-6-11-26 https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/judge-denies-trans-class-action Maryland U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin, a Biden-era appointee, rejected a first-of-its-kind bid from transgender advocates that would establish a national order preventing Trump’s Justice Department from strong-arming hospital systems and service providers into giving away sensitive patient information about trans minors who receive gender-affirming care, per Reuters. ]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:54:52 EDT Quispe López https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/judge-denies-trans-class-action https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-11-26 PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:53:12 EDT Edgar Ramirez https://www.advocate.com/newsletter/breaking-news-6-11-26