Nothing but Good Queer News!

There were a LOT of wins this week! Take a minute to slow down and celebrate before we get back to work :)

Hey folks! This week has been a great one for queer victories! Lots of really great movement in the courts, as well as some amazing stories of folks truly listening to the stories of trans folks and beginning the journey to allyship. It is so crucial to remember that no matter how things might feel, no matter how much bad-news-only reporting floods at us from all sides, there are always good things happening. You just have to choose to look for them.

Sometimes, you have to choose to make your own Good Queer News. If you want to learn how to do that, don’t forget to join me for a free webinar on how to use the skills and passions you already have to make a difference. RSVP here!

This week’s victories will fall into a few categories:

• Court and Legislative

• Changing Hearts and Minds

• Passionate Allies + Advocates

• And a Joyful Action Highlight!

Court & Legislative

Defending trans students

A Federal Appeals Court ruled against January Littlejohn in Florida, who claimed the school transitioned her child without her consent. Because of her case, she’s been a darling of the far right and was one of Trump’s special guests at his recent address to congress.

Notably, one of the judges who voted to rule against her was a Trump-appointee, who noted that even if he didn’t agree with the policy, he was a judge, not a politician in a robe, and he shouldn’t vote for his personal preferences. A delightful act of conscience, and I hope we see more of those!

Pay the Fine, Kim

The Sixth Circuit Court has rejected an appeal by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who refused to provide a marriage license to a gay couple after the Obergefell ruling. The decision was unanimous, and she has been ordered to pay damages to the couple.

Even More Good Court/Legislative News!

Japan - Nagoya High Court rules same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. This is the fourth court to do so, and advocates say this will be the next step on the path to marriage equality and robust nondiscrimination laws in the country.

Plaintiffs' lawyers and supporters celebrate in the central Japan city of Nagoya on March 7, 2025, after the ruling. (Kyodo)

Military: Federal Judge plans to rule in trans military ban case as early as next week, and the judge has already given strongly unfavorable opinions of the defense’s case. U.S District Judge Ana Reyes said during oral arguments on March 12th that the government "egregiously misquoted" and "cherry picked" scientific studies. At one point in the hearing, she considered ordering the attorneys to read the studies, which the attorneys admitted they had never read.

Federal Employees: Federal judge orders agencies to immediately reinstate fired probationary employees in the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury. Judge Alsup also stated that he might extend the order to cover other federal agencies at a later date. While this news isn’t technically queer, any limitations on Trump’s power are a win for all of us, including for the many LGBTQ+ folks and allies who were impacted by the layoffs.

Changing Hearts and Minds

Great work, Montana!

After impassioned speeches from openly trans State Representative Zooey Zephyr and openly nonbinary State Representative SJ Howell, two major anti trans bills were defeated by bipartisan votes, including 20 republicans.

We love Larry!!

After listening to 6 hours of testimony on a Wisconsin ban on gender affirming care, an older gentleman named Larry who had been invited to the capitol to speak in support of the ban had a surprising message to share. I truly teared up watching this clip and I highly recommend you check it out!

Passionate Allies

Seattle opens the first long-term shelter specifically created for LGBTQ+ Veterans! The Q’munnity house, led by the Minority Veterans of America, provides a safe and dignified space for LGBTQ+ veterans to access resources while they work to secure stable employment and housing. In addition to housing, they will have access to a range of wraparound support services.

Minnesota hosted their first Ag for All conference, creating a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ farmers. There are many challenges that come along with working in agriculture, and isolation is a rough one to pile on top. This conference, which took over a year to plan, gave LGBTQ+ folks an opportunity to build community, share resources, and get support.

Joyful Action Highlight!

Families of gender-expansive youth! Tertium Quid, a family retreat, is happening May 16 – 18 in northern NJ. Founded in 2017, they’ve been a part of many families’ gender journey – the kids go to camp and have fun, and parents attend workshops on key issues. Tertium Quid builds community, creates support, and educates parents on how best to help their child.

They’re always looking for on-site volunteers from the gender-expansive community, too.

Visit www.tertiumquidcamp.com to learn more and request info on attending or volunteering!

That’s all!

Next week may be a quieter week from me—my wife and I are gearing up for residency match day, where we’ll find out where we’re spending the next four years of our lives while she completes her OBGYN residency. We will have about 20 people in town, so I may be a bit busy entertaining!

Hope you’re all staying safe and warm!