Advocate NL 8/31/26

Hello and Happy Monday, folks! We're back in your inbox after a short break with an in-depth look from The Advocate's Christopher Wiggins on the latest "study" from Trump's Department of Health and Human Services.An HHS report claims that people who support transgender identities, chosen names, pronouns, and parental acceptance are more likely to hold “left-wing authoritarian” beliefs and consider certain acts of political violence justified. But as Christopher reports, the study does not establish that affirming transgender people causes violent attitudes. It does not measure whether anyone committed, planned, or intended to commit violence. It does not compare left- and right-wing violence. It does not demonstrate that transgender people are disproportionately violent.Oh, and only 13 of its 1,208 respondents identified as transgender or gender-nonconforming.Proving this administration can't shake its obsession over the transgender community, the report was released the same week the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to clear the way for the Pentagon to fire decorated transgender troops who have so far beaten the government in court -- and right before this story came out on how Pete Hegseth’s crusade drove a transgender veteran from military service into homelessness.On the bright side, we don't have Karoline Leavitt around anymore to spin all this up; though perhaps Natalie Harp might be looking to fill her spot?How we miss you, Dolly.Until next time,Edgar Ramirez, Audience EditorCan we count on you to support LGBTQ+ journalism? Your valued gift will help continue our legacy — at a critical time in our history as the Trump administration launches repeated attacks against our community. Become an Advocate supporter by choosing your gift amount and frequency; you can cancel any time.Laura Loomer went on a racist tirade against Black Democrats so vile it set off Marjorie Taylor GreeneA new once-daily pill to treat HIV just got the FDA’s gre