National & World Briefs
Rainbow Sidewalk Painting
The removal of rainbow crosswalks began in Florida at the Pulse Memorial in Orlando. Now, Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants to eliminate “any and all political ideologies” from Texas streets. While the order doesn’t explicitly mention Pride-related art, rainbow crosswalks and Black Lives Matter messages have been the primary targets. This follows a letter from the U. S. Department of Transportation advising authorities to remove political artwork from roadways. Since there are no kings in the U. S., most states have disregarded the request. Atlanta reaffirmed its commitment to rainbow crosswalks, and Milwaukee unveiled a new one in response. The king’s decree in Texas has met with mixed obedience: Houston announced compliance, while San Antonio officials questioned the state’s authority. San Antonio’s crosswalks were funded by community donations, so no action will be taken there. No studies support claims of increased road risk. In fact, a 2022 Bloomberg study found such art may reduce crashes at intersections.
Changes considered since 2024 election
Despite heated rhetoric and policy shifts, little has changed for lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights since the 2024 election. Marriage equality remains intact, and no “lavender scare” has emerged in the military. However, transgender individuals have faced the most policy changes, including restrictions on military service, gender-affirming care for minors, and participation in sports. Still, many LGBTQ people report considering making life changes to protect themselves. According to a report from the Movement Advancement Project, 57 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and 84 percent of transgender and nonbinary people have made significant decisions since the election. These include moving to another state, changing jobs, updating legal documents, or traveling across state lines for medical care. While 43 percent of transgender people and 25 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals have considered relocating, only 9 percent of trans respondents and 5 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual respondents have actually moved. Alarmingly, 82 percent of transgender people say they or a close family member have experienced at least one negative incident related to their identity since November 2024. Overall, 60 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people worry about anti-LBGTQ+ policies; among transgender individuals, that number rises to 90 percent, with 60 percent saying they are “very worried.” Read the full report at mapresearch.org/2025-norc-survey-report.
Who’s out
According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, approximately 96 percent of adults who are affectionally or sexually attracted to members of their own sex told at least one person in their life that they are or might be gay or lesbian. Only 3 percent said they haven’t come out to anyone. While many gay and lesbian adults suspected before age 14, only 14 percent disclosed it at that age. Another 29 percent came out between ages 14 and 17, while the largest group, 34 percent, did so between ages 18 and 24. Coming out varies by relationship. About 32 percent say they are not out to any extended family members, such as grandparents, aunts, or cousins. Among those who are employed, 25 percent are not out to coworkers. Additionally, 23 percent of adolescents are not out to their parents or guardians, and 18 percent are not out to any siblings. In contrast, only 5 percent say they are not out to any friends.
Soccer star retires
Olympian, two-time World Cup champion, and star professional soccer player Christen Press announced her retirement at the end of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season. Press, 36, has played for Angel City FC since 2021 and will be honored by her team at BMO Field in Los Angeles. Over 14 years, she played for the Chicago Red Stars, Utah Royals, Angel City, and Manchester City. Press helped the U.S. Women’s National Team to World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, scoring 64 international goals — ninth most in team history — and earning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She cited her wife and former teammate Tobin Heath’s retirement earlier this year as a key influence in her decision to hang up her cleats. “I think it is time for my family to move on to our next chapter.” Press and Heath kept their relationship private until last year, when they revealed they had been together for eight years. Press also shared that she wanted to retire before her body began to give out, choosing to leave the game on her own terms.
Anti-discrimination laws weakening
More pushback on legal protections for LGBTQ people is once again coming from Texas. The Arlington City Council will vote on revising the city’s non-discrimination ordinance to remove “gender identity and expression” and “sexual orientation” as protected characteristics. The council had suspended the clause following a federal announcement regarding changes in transgender recognition and the federal government’s opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Arlington’s existing ordinance prohibits “any direct or indirect exclusion, distinction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or other differentiation in the treatment of a person or persons because of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” The suspension and proposed revisions are intended to preserve federal funding, which the council believes after the federal government threatened to revoke $65 million in grant funding if DEI-related language is not removed from local ordinances. If Arlington’s ordinance is amended, it would mark the first time an individual city has taken such action
Book removal is expensive for Gillette, Wyoming
Terri Lesley, former director of the Campbell County Public Library System in Gillette, Wyoming, was fired in 2023 following a two-year dispute over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes. Some community members claimed the titles were inappropriate for young readers and demanded their removal. Books targeted are some of the same as those on the Utah State Board of Education restriction list, such as “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson. Lesley refused to comply with removal requests, citing First Amendment protections. County officials ordered the books removed and dismissed Lesley, citing performance issues. Lesley filed a civil rights lawsuit, alleging her termination was retaliatory and unconstitutional. The county denied wrongdoing but agreed to a $700,000 settlement without admitting liability. “This sends a message to other library districts, other states, other counties, that the First Amendment is alive and strong,” said Lesley’s attorney, Iris Halpern. “These are public entities, they’re government officials, and they need to keep in mind their constitutional obligations”.
More hospitals suspend transgender transition therapy
More than 20 hospitals have rolled back transgender care for minors amid threats of federal investigations and funding cuts, according to an NBC News analysis. Twelve hospitals announced they will discontinue puberty blockers and hormone therapy for patients under 19. Four stopped offering transition-related surgeries; one ended gender-affirming care for teens; and four paused all transgender care for minors following a federal executive order in January. In addition to those 21 hospitals, five others removed webpages about care for minors. A health center in Iowa also ceased hormone therapy for trans adults, citing an executive order barring federal funds from supporting “gender ideology.” Hospitals are navigating conflicting mandates: state laws that often prohibit discrimination against trans patients, and recent federal guidance threatening loss of funding or legal penalties for treating minors. Since 2021, 27 states have passed laws restricting access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgeries for minors seeking transgender transition therapies.
Harlem Renaissance black and gay
The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s was one of the most important artistic and cultural milestones in modern history, and a sweeping new exhibit highlights how this era was, as Henry Louis Gates Jr. once put it, “surely as gay as it was Black.” The new exhibit at The New York Historical reexamines it through a queer lens. Titled The Gay Harlem Renaissance, the show highlights how sexuality and gender expression were central to the era’s creative explosion
What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
The Harlem Renaissance was a defining cultural movement of the 20th century, encompassing art, music, literature, theater, and publishing. Centered in New York City during the 1920s, it emerged from the Great Migration, when Black Americans moved from the rural South to urban centers in the North, profoundly influencing American culture.
Lead curator Allison Robinson notes that while schools often emphasize race and class, “sexuality and gender are just as important.” The exhibition explores how Harlem’s vibrant social life — speakeasies, salons, and drag balls — fostered creative expression and community. Literary icons such as Alain Locke, Langston Hughes, and Bruce Nugent rose to prominence during this era. Locke, a closeted gay man, mentored many leading voices and published The New Negro in 1925. Nugent’s openly queer poem “Smoke, Lilies and Jade,” published in Fire!!, celebrated beauty and bisexual desire. Though Fire!! lasted only one issue, it helped spread ideas of identity and freedom beyond Harlem.
The exhibit underscores how Black LGBTQ+ creatives shaped the Renaissance despite racism and homophobia. Jazz and blues music, African-inspired dance and art, and other cultural contributions of Black Americans entered the mainstream, breaking down stereotypes and barriers.
Drag balls and gay celebration
One of the exhibit’s most striking sections highlights Harlem’s drag culture, especially the legendary Hamilton Lodge Ball. By the 1920s and ’30s, the annual event drew thousands from across the East Coast and Europe. Robinson explains that the ball became so iconic that it was covered in international newspapers and immortalized in Hughes’s 1940 autobiography, The Big Sea. Drag was a celebrated art form, creating space for gender fluidity and self-expression.
The exhibition also showcases the role of Black publications in amplifying queer voices. Magazines and newspapers of the era expanded dramatically, helping ideas about sexuality and identity reach beyond Harlem. Drag balls were not fringe entertainment; they were central to the Renaissance’s cultural vibrancy, serving as dazzling spectacles and affirmations of resistance.
Cross-dressing star: Gladys Bentley
Harlem’s nightlife was a cornerstone of its cultural renaissance. The exhibit features a re-creation of a 1920s nightlife map, including Gladys’ Clam House, named for blues singer Gladys Bentley. Known for performing in tuxedos and top hats, Bentley defied gender norms and captivated audiences. Her unapologetic identity and groundbreaking performances positioned her as a trailblazer whose legacy challenges conventional narratives of the Harlem Renaissance.
