Advocate NL 10/9/26

Hello and Happy Friday, folks. Audience Editor Edgar Ramirez here, back in your inbox with a lead story from The Advocate’s Christopher Wiggins.Christopher shares with us the story of Ohio Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Nicolas Talbott, who had driven nearly two hours to receive paperwork beginning the process of removing him from the military under President Donald Trump’s transgender service ban.Another lieutenant, a close friend, would hand him the documents. His battalion commander would join by video. People he considered family would help carry out a policy he is suing to overturn.His commander had warned him that the proceedings were coming. Knowing did little to soften the experience.“It’s like I’ve been teetering on the edge of a cliff for a while now, and finally somebody came along and pushed me over the edge,” he told The Advocate exclusively.Talbott, the lead plaintiff in one of the principal challenges to Trump’s ban, is now confronting the separation process while a ruling protecting currently serving plaintiffs remains on hold.Christopher has the full story here.Tennessee court overturns killer’s conviction because jury wasn’t told that the victim was transgenderJames Talarico promised to co-sponsor the Equality Act, but now only says he will ‘review’ the billAbigail Spanberger exploring ‘every option’ to protect Virginia’s trans kids from Trump’s Medicaid cutsPennsylvania Republican touts LGBTQ+ support while GOP allies use Pride photos to attack his opponentPete Hegseth announces the U.S. military will conduct a public execution in TexasOhio Democrats lose two transgender Pride Caucus members who say the party won’t let them speak