Out Rep. Robert Garcia calls out Republicans for doing everything to placate demands for the Epstein files without releasing them.

Key quote: “I know for a fact that [The] White House [is] calling Republican members right now telling them not to sign the petition,” Robert Garcia said.

Why it matters: Garcia is the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, which gives him a platform to push for justice for Epstein’s victims even as the White House calls the sexual abuse accusations a “hoax.”

“What is Donald Trump hiding?” Gay Rep. calls out “cover-up” over Epstein files

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House Republicans are trying to cut $1.7 billion from U.S. HIV programs

What programs could get cut: The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program, the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative (which the president started in his first term), as well as funding for state and local testing and PrEP access programs.

Why it matters: Experts say that the budget cuts could “reignite HIV in the United States.”

House Republicans’ funding bill would cut $1.7 billion from U.S. HIV programs

Pope meets with LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate

Key quote: “It was wonderful. It was very consoling and very encouraging and, frankly, a lot of fun,” said Father James Martin of Outreach, who met with the pope.

Why it matters: It shows that Pope Leo XIV will continue his predecessor’s engagement with LGBTQ+ people.

Pope meets with LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate: “It was wonderful. It was very consoling & encouraging.”

The Department of Justice is looking into taking away transgender people’s right to bear arms

Conservatives against gun rights? The current administration believes that trans people are mentally “defective” and therefore should not be allowed to own firearms. This has to do with how many conservatives claim that mass shootings are disproportionately perpetrated by trans people, which isn’t true.

Why it matters: It seems like an uphill battle considering how absolutist many on the right are about the Second Amendment, but it shows just how far the right will go to take away rights from trans people.

DOJ plans to label trans Americans as “mentally defective” to take away their guns

Burkina Faso criminalizes homosexuality

What could happen: People could get two to five years in incarceration as well as fines if convicted of homosexuality.

Why it matters: Mali also recently banned homosexuality, while Ghana and Uganda made their anti-gay laws harsher. Life is getting harder for many LGBTQ+ people in Africa.

Nation of Burkina Faso will start throwing gay people in jail

Here’s a picture

This person, Karen Gaboury, was spotted at an anti-Trump protest on Monday, September 1 in South Bend, Indiana.

And here are some interesting queer and trans reads.

LGBTQ Nation contributor Oriol Poveda investigated how trans men feel in gay bathhouses.

Trans men in gay bathhouses share the intimacy, intimidation, & insights they’ve faced

LGBTQ Nation columnist John Gallagher brings up how Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who is a doctor, still voted to confirm RFK Jr. as secretary of health and human services, showing that even Republicans who know better are still afraid of defying the president.

It’s long past time to acknowledge there are no good Republican politicians

Brian Rosenberg of Gays With Kids, an LGBTQ Nation partner, tells the story of foster dads Antwon and Nate Chavis.

A gay couple became foster parents as a temporary way to do good. Instead, it reshaped their lives.

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