Advocate NL 6/2/26

Not to put you (more) on the spot, but seriously Texas, is there something in the water or?The latest "really?" news to come out of the Lone Star State: Ken Paxton, the infamous attorney general and Republican Senate candidate (that can't stop talking about transgender kids), announced that the state is suing one city over a -- you guessed it -- transgender-inclusive swimming event organized by local LGBTQ+ charities that has yet to occur.Perhaps Mr. Paxton should pause and read the survey results released by Texas Tech University's Faculty Senate. Jacob Ogles reports: "New Texas Tech University guidelines eliminating references to sexual orientation and gender identity from coursework forced nearly half of surveyed faculty members to make changes they described as harmful to their curricula."One remark from the report reads: “I will be leaving my job in the coming months because of this, I cannot and will not work at a place like this and I will tell my network to not come here (students and faculty)."Can't blame them!Also happening tonight in Texas, specifically Houston: LGBTQ+ people and allies are expected to gather for a candlelight vigil in honor of Persia Amarra Conway, a 33-year-old transgender woman whose body was found near the Brays Bayou waterway in May, Samantha Allen reports."The vigil will also encourage greater awareness about Conway’s case, which so far has produced no arrests and no information from police during the investigation."Alright Texans, we're done roasting you (for now). Be more like Colorado.Until next time,Edgar RamirezAudience EditorThis state is hoping to restore a lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth that Trump eliminatedDito van Reigersberg, known as Philly drag performer Martha Graham Cracker, diesElton John dishes on his legacy & encourages queer people to fight political 'hostility'Ohio teenager accused of stabbing gay couple, killing adoptive dadMartina Navratilova wants Billie Jean King to explain her support for transgender athletes