Arduinna

Posted by mephron

https://www.metafilter.com/212686/LGBTQIA-News-Post-March-27-2026

Welcome to the LGBTQIA+ News Post for March 27, 2026. Every day is so wonderful / Then suddenly it's hard to breathe.

The Bad News Today we're starting internationally. First, The International Olympics Committee has banned transgender women from all competition. The policy also restricts women athletes (such as two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya) with medical conditions collectively referred to as differences in sex development, or DSD. The Olympic Charter reads, "Every individual must have access to the practice of sport, without discrimination of any kind in respect of internationally recognised human rights", but I guess that trans people don't matter for this. The Indian Parliament has passed a bill, which is waiting for President Nahendra Modi's asset to become law, that seeks to change how transgender people are legally recognized and alters their right to self-identify. In 2014, India's Supreme Court recognized transgender people as a "third gender" and affirmed their right to self-identify. In 2019, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was enacted, aimed at addressing vulnerabilities faced by the community. The new bill - essentially a proposed amendment to the 2019 law - centers on how a transgender person is defined. It will remove the right to self-identification, and will limit recognition to those defined by biological or physical traits. It will also make access to medication and surgeries require certification from medical boards and district authorities. Despite legal protections, many transgender people in India continue to face discrimination and limited access to education, healthcare and formal employment, often relying on traditional or informal forms of work. The government says the current definition is too vague and makes it difficult to identify those who are most marginalized and argues that the new definition will make it easier for benefits to reach those who need it; and protect them from discrimination, exploitation and trafficking. A board from the nation's Supreme Court has requested the bill be withdrawn as it violates the court's 2014 ruling on the rights of transgender persons. The UK Girlguiding organization has announced all trans women and girls must leave leadership positions and local troops by September 6, claiming that while they are still trans-inclusive but recent court decisions left them no choice. I guess now cowardice is a Girlguilding value. The Ohio House voted on Wednesday to move forwards on House Bill 249, which, if passed and signed, will ban drag and gender performances outside of "adult cabaret" venues or in any public venue where a minor may be present. It specifically states it restricts "performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer's or entertainer's biological sex using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers..." The bill's sponsor, Josh Williams (who identifies as a Republican and a conservative Christian, of course), states that the bill would stop transgender Ohioans from using gendered public facilities like locker rooms to change their clothing (because "being trans in public" is, in his eyes, a performance, I guess?), while referring to an event in Xenia, Ohio, where a transgender person was sued after trying to change clothes in a communal gendered locker room (quelle horror!!), and was found not guilty of public indecency by a judge; Williams finds this bad and says this law would prevent this from happening again. In Texas, Governor Greg "Hot Wheels" Abbot put out an order last year that no road decorations that were not plain lines should exist, after a recommendation from Transportation Secretary (and dweller in the UnReal World) Sean Duffy. On Monday, the Texas Department of Transportation started removing the rainbow and BLM crosswalk decorations from the south Dallas neighborhood of Oak Lawn, which has been the center of LGBTQ+ life in the city. This is after similar destruction in Houston and San Antonio, a request for a exception from the Dallas city exception, and the threat of pulling transportation funding if they do not comply. California teachers are pushback from the right-wing when teaching history, especially when it talks about the LGBTQ+ community. While it's required under California's Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education (FAIR) Act, the current regime's push against such things is making it more difficult, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which ruled parents could require their children not be exposed to lessons that "substantially interfere with the religious development of their children". Oh, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons, would like to remind trans people that they aren't welcome for temple rites unless they detransition. Finally, an introduction to Katy Faust (no, that's her real name), leader of The Greater Than Campaign, a coalition of what she claims is more than 100 anti-LGBTQ+ groups working together to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. They're claiming that children are "victims" when raised by gay couples. The Good News Delegates at the United Nations 70th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) overwhelmingly voted against considering a proposal by the U.S. to adopt an anti-trans definition of "gender." On behalf of 25 other member states, Belgium called for a "no action motion" to block the proposal. Pakistan and Chile were the only two member states to vote with the U.S. against the motion, with 23 countries voting to block the anti-trans proposal and 17 abstaining. As far as the International Olympic Committee trans ban, here's comments from LGBTQ+ athletes on it: Caster Semenya, Nikki Hiltz, Harrison Browne (the first out trans pro hockey player and currently acting on Heated Rivalry), Devin Ibanez (the first out gay Major League Rugby player) and Chris Mosier. The American Medical Association reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming care. After the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a statement advising against conducting "gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgery" on people under the age of 19 on February 3, the AMA released their own statement, that:

"In the absence of clear evidence, the AMA agrees with ASPS that surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood."

It was interpreted as the AMA walking back support for gender confirming care, and one could see how the quote might inspire that. The American Academy of Pediatrics released their own statement at the time of the ASPS statement:

"The AAP continues to hold to the principle that patients, their families and their physicians — not politicians — should be the ones to make decisions together about what care is best for them."

Republicans keep trying to add anti-trans amendments to the SAVE Act. Democrats keep stopping it. That bit in the Bad News about the erasing of crosswalk colors in Dallas starting Monday? Meet Mason Whiteside, arrested for starting to repair them with spray paint and chalk on Tuesday. While the arrest was supposedly for a years-old unrelated traffic incident, he has pledged to keep doing it. The Colorado Legislature is considering a bill allowing conversion therapy survivors to sue for damages, suing the therapists and facilities that employed those therapists. While there is a ban on conversion therapy in Colorado, it is before the Supreme Court as a Colorado therapist sues to have it overturned due to its impact on her rights to free speech and the free exercise of her religion. Bridgerton's next season will focus on a queer romance storyline. Of course, people are upset - some for good reasons, some for not so good reasons (I mean, who expects it to be historically accurate?!), and some for general homophobia. According to creator Jacob Tierney, Hollywood execs wanted to tone down the gay sex in Heated Rivalry, so he went to Canada to make it. O Canada, thanks you for all the sex.... The Vortex As Pink News is moving to a reporter-free newsroom, I will be moving as best I can to a Pink News-free posting style if at all possible. The Cinnamon Roll Report If you're interested, toy company Hot Toys has released pictures of the figure of Din Djarin, aka The Mandalorian, for the upcoming movie. It has a lot of accessories, including the fact you can swap the head, so you can either have a Mandalorian helmet, or the very, very well sculpted head of Pedro Pascal. Abigail Thorn has confirmed she is she is returning to House of the Dragon as Admiral Sharako Lohar. Be well, friends. If you have news I missed or you want to share your personal triumphs, bring them here! Let us know your joys, so that we can offset the sadness and horror. I am beautiful no matter what they say Words can't bring me down I am beautiful in every single way Yes, words can't bring me down, oh no So don't you bring me down today

https://www.metafilter.com/212686/LGBTQIA-News-Post-March-27-2026

Posted by subdee

https://www.metafilter.com/212684/Government-Defrauds-Legal-Immigrants-and-US-Sponsors-Who-Paid-1-Billion

During testimony before the US Senate, I called it the largest fraud in the history of the US immigration system. In fact, it is likely the first $1 billion fraud—a theft of processing fees for services never rendered. Even Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana told me at the hearing that he was shocked it was happening. It is happening, and it is shocking.

Via Common Dreams: An immigration researcher at the Cato Institute found that the Trump administration is "raking in billions of dollars in immigration fees and not providing the adjudications that applicants are entitled to." A report published last week by the Cato Institute, written by director of immigration studies David J. Bier, found that the State Department and Department of Homeland Security were receiving millions of applications from immigrants whom Trump has made ineligible for legal status and pocketing the fees without ever processing the requests. "The US government collected over $1 billion in immigration fees then refused to process the applications," said Austin Kocher, a fellow at Immigration Lab and a professor at Newhouse and Syracuse University in a social media post breaking down the report on Monday. "No denials. No refunds. Just silence." *** Before this gets buried under the news about the ground invasion of Iran, which could happen as soon as this weekend, I thought I'd share this story about the government defrauding visa seekers en masse. BTW, No Kings 3 is this Saturday, March 28th.

https://www.metafilter.com/212684/Government-Defrauds-Legal-Immigrants-and-US-Sponsors-Who-Paid-1-Billion

Posted by chavenet

https://www.metafilter.com/212682/She-had-more-sand-in-her-than-any-girl-I-ever-see

Under microscopic magnification, the unique beauty and individual character of sand grains reveal a diverse origin reflecting geological history and marine life biodiversity. Sand is everywhere on earth – on our beaches, in our deserts, and on the bottoms of lakes, rivers and oceans. Sand particles are coarser than silt but finer than gravel, ranging in size from 0.02 to 2 mm. They are created when weather and chemicals break down terrestrial rocks, minerals, marine bivalves, corals, mollusks, bryozoans, and foraminifera.

https://www.metafilter.com/212682/She-had-more-sand-in-her-than-any-girl-I-ever-see