ICE agent shoots queer mom in the face. Protests erupt nationwide while conservatives blame her for her own death.

What we know so far: In this developing story, Renee Nicole Good of Minneapolis was shot by an ICE agent in the face and died soon after at the hospital. The agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, was trying to open her car door as she attempted to drive away before he pulled out his gun and shot her, multiple videos show.

Why it matters: Her death set off protests nationwide against ICE’s alleged brutality and lack of discipline, while Republican leaders have dug their heels in and defended the extrajudicial killing. Her death may be a major turning point when it comes to ICE occupation of U.S. cities.

“We have literally nothing to lose”: Protests erupt across U.S. after ICE kills queer wife & mother

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Federal court sides with Christian dad who demanded teachers keep his kids unaware of LGBTQ+ people

What the case was about: A dad in Massachusetts told his six-year-old son’s teachers that, as a “devout Christian,” his son could not find out that LGBTQ+ people exist. He complained about two books that may have been read to the kids, including one that just has a single line about how a koala family has two moms.

Why it matters: The Supreme Court ruled that parents have a right to opt their kids out of instruction on LGBTQ+ issues where there is a message of inclusion, but this court took it further and said that the dad can opt his son out of any mention of LGBTQ+ people, even if there is no message behind it.

Christian dad sued school to keep his son from knowing that LGBTQ+ people exist. He just won.

Every LGBTQ+ member of Congress denounces the invasion of Venezuela

What happened: The administration invaded and bombed Venezuela last weekend, killing 80 people. They then arrested Venezuelan strong man Nicolas Maduro and are now claiming that the U.S. can dictate Venezuelan policy, blocking the country from holding elections for a new leader and banning the winner of the 2024 presidential elections – who Maduro kept from power – from becoming president.

Why it matters: All 13 LGBTQ+ people in Congress called out the invasion, with some saying that it was illegal, others saying it would destabilize the region, and others saying that it shows that Republicans are trying to avoid working on domestic policy issues.

Every LGBTQ+ Congress member blasts Trump’s invasion of Venezuela

Texas A&M University bans a philosophy professor from teaching about Plato because he discusses “gender ideology”

What Plato texts were they talking about: Prof. Martin Peterson wanted to teach two parts of the Symposium – Archimedes’ myth about the origin of love and Diotima’s Ladder of Love. The Symposium discusses love between men and Archimedes’ myth in particular presents same-sex love on equal footing with opposite-sex love.

Why it matters: As Republicans crack down on discussions of LGBTQ+ people in schools, even classic texts are going to be censored. Even Plato, who died around 348 B.C., is too woke for Texas.

University bans philosophy professor from teaching about Plato because it’s too gay

A trans sports ban with genital exams will appear on Washington state’s ballots this November

Genital exams? The ballot initiative defines sex based on “The student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels” and requires that girls who want to participate in school sports provide proof of a “health examination… that verifies the student’s biological sex.”

Why it matters: Just a few years ago, the mention of genital exams for kids was enough to get even some Republicans to vote against trans sports bans that didn’t explicitly prohibit them or have another mechanism to prove one’s sex. Now it is openly being included in a ballot initiative.

Trans sports ban that could require genital exams will appear on the ballot in Washington

This week’s pictures

Protests were held all over the country after an ICE agent killed queer mom Renee Nicole Good. Here are some pictures from those protests.

Some more queer and trans reads

Contributor Greg Owen spoke with thoughtful young queer activists from across the country about how they’re rallying their classmates to protest the current administration — it’s the cover story in LGBTQ Nation’s January 2026 Issue.

Trump’s firehose attacks make resistance difficult. These queer student activists won’t surrender.

Juanita MORE! talked to queer Venezuelan artist Daniel Arzola, who immigrated to the U.S., about his complicated thoughts around Maduro’s removal from power.

This Venezuelan queer activist is celebrating the arrest of Nicolás Maduro

Contributor Greg Owen talked to out and passionate congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh about her unique campaign strategy.

Out candidate Kat Abughazaleh is running a new kind of campaign to fight the fascist playbook

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