Advocate NL 9/28/26

Happy Monday!Audience Editor Edgar Ramirez here, back in your inbox with an exclusive interview from Christopher Wiggins with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.As some Democrats debate whether defending transgender people carries a political cost, Whitmer is pointing to her record, Wiggins writes. She has won repeatedly while making LGBTQ+ protections part of her agenda.“Michigan is a very swing state, and I’ve never wavered on these issues, and politically, I’ve been successful,” Whitmer told Wiggins on Saturday, hours before she was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign’s National Dinner in Washington, D.C.Her answer comes amid a debate over how Democrats should talk about transgender people; though as Whitmer tells Wiggins, she says she sees no political advantage in changing the conversation.“I think we should just be honest,” she said. “This is about fundamental freedoms. This is about dignity for people, no matter who you love or how you identify.”Ohio Democrats, are you taking notes?Check out the full interview here -- and speaking of politics, check out this compiled list of tips and safety recommendations pertinent to this year’s election cycle.If you enjoy receiving exclusives like these, consider becoming an Advocate supporter! For as little as $5 a month (that’s less than a cup of coffee nowadays!), your donation will help journalists like Christopher continue providing the top LGBTQ+ journalism you receive in your inbox.Gretchen Whitmer to Democrats questioning their support for trans rights: ‘I’ve never wavered’Voting 101: 7 ways to make your midterm ballot countGavin Newsom moves to shield California transgender patient records from federal scrutinyTrump strips Biden-era LGBTQ+ language from Title IX rules. Advocates warn of far-reaching damageOhio Democratic Party is censoring criticism of anti-trans ads: insidersIn Democratic-led Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh hospital caves to Trump. Trans kids los