September 29 2025, 08:15 
Donald Trump blames the coming budget crisis on transgender rights, saying that Democrats want “transgender operations for everybody”
What’s going on now? Republicans, who control the entire federal government and could pass a budget without any Democratic votes, are still having a hard time passing a budget. Trump is blaming Democrats and saying that they are demanding too much trans equality to get them to vote for a bill. He has said this repeatedly, making it a major talking point.
Why it matters: Trans people are (yet again) being scapegoated by the Trump administration for something they had nothing to do with.
Trump blames budget crisis on trans people: Democrats want “transgender operations for everybody”
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Texas gets one of the most punitive trans bathroom bills in the nation
How big are the fines? $25,000 for the first offense and $125,000 for each subsequent violation of the law.
Why it matters: Texas is now the 20th – and the largest – state to pass an anti-trans bathroom bill, which a decade ago brought so much negative publicity to North Carolina that they overturned theirs.
Related
Greg Abbott signs one of the most punitive anti-trans bathroom bills in the nation
Six LGBTQ+ members of Congress vote to honor anti-LGBTQ+ podcaster Charlie Kirk
Only two of them responded to our request for comment: “I have always condemned political violence in the strongest possible terms – just as I did last week, following the death of Charlie Kirk. And in June, after the murders of my friends [Minnesota state Rep.] Melissa Hortman and [her husband] Mark Hortman. Political violence is a grave threat to our democracy,” said Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in her statement on why she voted for the resolution. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) also explained her support.
Why it matters: Conservatives have admitted to intentionally using Charlie Kirk’s death to advance their political power by sending a message about who cannot be mourned and who has to be mourned.
Six LGBTQ+ Democrats vote to honor anti-queer MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk
Trans woman viciously beat by mob shouting slurs. She no longer feels safe in America.
What happened: Several teens and a young adult were harassing people near a bus stop. The victim told them to stop and they shouted an anti-trans slur at her before charging at her, pushing her down, and then choking her while stomping on her face.
Why it matters: Not only does this matter because the victim matters, anti-trans attacks like these could be the result of increased anti-trans rhetoric.
Trans woman viciously beat by mob shouting slurs. She no longer feels safe in America.
Moms for Liberty activist undresses at school board meeting, says it shows what it’s like to change with trans kids, then screams about her First Amendment rights when board members try to take a recess
What? “Right now we require our students to undress for PE class, so I’m just going to give you an idea of what that looks like when I undress,” she said. That’s how we do school board meetings now.
Why it matters: Conservatives have made school board meetings centers of protest since 2020, insisting that they’re bringing sanity back to education. And these are the people leading them.
Anti-LGBTQ+ activist undresses in board meeting to show how trans kids make people uncomfortable
Here are some pictures
Abeline, Texas, hosted Pride this past week. Here are some pictures.
And here are some interesting queer and trans reads
LGBTQ Nation editor Molly Sprayregen talked to legendary HIV activist Mark King about aging with his “fabulous disease.”
Legendary HIV activist Mark King won’t let his trauma define him: “My joy is a big f**k you to AIDS”
LGBTQ Nation columnist John Gallagher Faefyx Collington explains how the right has tried to profit from Charlie Kirk’s death.
The Trump admin was waiting for something like Charlie Kirk’s death to attack free speech rights
Abby Eblen, MD, MSHS; Carrie Bedient, MD; and Susan Hudson, MD, shared an excerpt from their book, The IVF Blue, which explains different family-building options.
The choices don’t stop when IVF starts: What queer couples need to consider throughout the process
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