The Bulletin: All the LGBTQ+ News You Need From the Week of 3/27/22

The Bulletin: All the LGBTQ+ News You Need From the Week of 3/27/22

Hello again! This is "The Bulletin" a new weekly digest of top stories selected by The Advocate's staff. Today's issue was curated by me, Alex Cooper. I'm the digital director of Advocate.com, and I manage the content on the website. Here's a little about what I selected.

The week began with actor Ariana DeBose making history as the first queer woman to win an acting Oscar (that moment happened before the slap).

We also published several news articles and commentary pieces around Transgender Day of Visibility, including an op-ed on one person's reflection on race and gender. President Joe Biden came out in support of trans kids in the country, denouncing anti-trans bills that have been passed in some states.

Former President Donald Trump also made the news over an exchange with gay supporters at his Mar-a-Largo resort in Florida -- yes, that same Florida from the "don't say gay" law. Actor Ezra Miller also made the news twice this week: Once, for an incident at a karaoke bar and again, for what allegedly happened afterward.

In unfortunate news, we covered the death of a 19-year-old trans woman who authorities say was killed by her father. She was the eighth trans victim of fatal violence reported this year.

The Advocate was also recognized Saturday for its coverage by the LGBTQ+ rights organization GLAAD. You can check out more about our win at the end of "The Bulletin."

Thanks for reading and for your continued support!

Meet Don’t Mess With Trans Kids: Charitable Merch That Raised $120,000

Don't Mess With Trans Kids is an effort started by Stephanie Lopez. Launched in 2021, the project gives 100 percent of proceeds to Equality Texas to assist in its efforts which include fighting anti-trans legislation in the state. Through it, Lopez sells items such as shirts, tank tops, stickers, and other merchandise with the phrase "Don't Mess With Trans Kids" emblazoned on them.

With Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's recent actions targeting trans children and their parents, interest in the brand has spiked. In February, $19,826 was raised according to the brand's Instagram account. As of March 20, $89,782 was raised. Of that, $79,271 was from sales and $10,511 was from cash donations. Lopez has confirmed to The Advocate that since the launch, it has raised approximately $120,000.

Read our interview with Lopez here.

Biden, Jeopardy! Champ, and More Mark Trans Day of Visibility

President Joe Biden and members of his administration are observing Transgender Day of Visibility by offering support to young trans people, including remarks by Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider in an appearance at the White House.

Biden released a video in which he condemned the spate of anti-transgender legislation around the nation and promised further steps to protect the rights of trans people. "The onslaught of anti-transgender state laws attacking you and your families is simply wrong," he said in the video. "This administration is standing up for you against all these hateful bills. And we're committed to advancing transgender equality in the classroom, on the playing field, at work, in our military, in our housing and health care systems, everywhere."

Read more about Biden's comments here.

First Federal Suit Against Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Law Filed

The first federal lawsuit has been filed against Florida's "don't say gay" law.

Lawyers with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the firm of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP filed the suit Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on behalf of Equality Florida and Family Equality as well as students, parents, and a teacher.

"The diverse group of plaintiffs come from throughout Florida. They face, and have already suffered, concrete harms as a result of this blatantly unconstitutional law," says an NCLR press release.

House Bill 1557 was signed into law Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. It bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3 and requires that any mention in higher grades be "age-appropriate." The suit name DeSantis as a defendant, along with the Florida State Board of Education and the state's Department of Education, plus several local school boards.

Read about the suit here.

Watch Trump Tell Gay Supporters at FL Fundraiser 'You Don’t Look Gay'

Former President Donald Trump told some fans on Wednesday night that they didn't "look gay."

During a fundraiser supporting Republican congressional candidate and former Trump administration Housing and Urban Development department official John Gibbs, someone shouted "Gays for Trump!"

At the end of the exchange, Trump told the crowd, "We did great with the gay population," while the crowd laughed.

A video of the interaction has garnered more than 90,000 views on Twitter.

Read the story and watch the video here.

U.S. Passports to Include X Gender Option Starting in April

In a move to make federal documents more inclusive of intersex, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary identities, Americans will be able to select the gender marker X on their U.S. passport applications. The option will be available starting April 11, 2022, and for other documents in 2023, according to a statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken made the announcement Thursday on Trans Visibility Day. In June 2021, Blinken said the department would begin the process of offering the option.

"The department is setting a precedent as the first federal government agency to offer the X gender marker on an identity document," Blinken said in the announcement. "We reaffirm our commitment to promoting and protecting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all persons -- including transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming persons around the world."

Read more about the announcement here.

Temporary Restraining Order Filed Against Ezra Miller After Arrest

Following news that out actor Ezra Miller was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment following an incident in a bar in Hilo, Hawaii, last weekend, Miller is also facing additional legal trouble.

Two residents in Hilo filed for a temporary restraining order against the Justice League star in the Third Circuit District Court on Tuesday, according to media reports. The complaint claims the 29-year-old harassed and threatened them.

According to local police, the actor -- best known for their roles as the Flash and in the Fantastic Beasts franchise -- was arrested Sunday after reports of disorderly conduct at a karaoke bar. Police responded to a call over reports of an "agitated" patron who was later identified as Miller, becoming aggressive with fellow patrons.

Read more about the allegations here.

Police: 19-Year-Old Trans Woman Kathryn Newhouse Killed by Father

A young trans woman was shot and killed by her father in Georgia last week, according to Cherokee County Police. Authorities say the father then died by suicide.

Officers were called to a home in Cherokee County, Ga., on Saturday, March 19. They found Kathryn "Katie" Newhouse, 19, and her father Howard Newhouse, 57, dead in the home.

Kathryn is the eighth known victim of fatal violence against trans people this year.

Read more about what happened here.

Ariana DeBose Is the First Out Woman of Color To Win Acting Oscar

Ariana DeBose won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress Sunday for her portrayal of Anita in Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of West Side Story.

She's the first out queer woman to receive an award for acting at the Academy Awards.

While accepting the award, DeBose told the audience, "Imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes. You see an openly queer woman of color and Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through arts. And that's what I believe we're here to celebrate."

Read more about her historic win here.

The Advocate Wins GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Magazine

Last but not least, The Advocate won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage at Saturday night's ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

The magazine bested Entertainment Weekly, People, POZ, and Variety in the category. The Advocate had also won the category in 2020.

The GLAAD Media Awards, established in 1990, "honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues," in the words of GLAAD. In addition to print and digital media, GLAAD honors film and television productions that excel at this purpose. This year's nominees were published, released, or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2021, according to a press release.

Read what our Editor in Chief Tracy E. Gilchrist had to say about the award here.