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☆ After a stinging election defeat, the Democrats' next big race kicks off: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

After a stinging election defeat, the race to lead the DNC kicks offBy Natasha Korecki and Alex Seitz-WaldTwo weeks after suffering another stinging defeat to Donald Trump, Democrats are in the throes of dissecting what went wrong and figuring out their path forward. Martin O’Malley, a onetime presidential candidate and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, kicked off the race by entering the fray. Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair and leader of the Association of State Democratic Committees, followed by formally announcing his candidacy Tuesday. Still looming out there: Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who has developed a reputation as a prodigious fundraiser and field organizer. Read more → ☑️ Latest race calls: Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur defeated Republican Derek Merrin in Ohio’s competitive 9th District, NBC News projected.

Persons: Natasha Korecki, Alex Seitz, Wald, Chuck Todd, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jaime Harrison, Martin O’Malley, Ken Martin, Martin, O’Malley, Chuck Rocha, Sen, Mallory McMorrow, Ben Wikler, “ Ben, That’s, Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama, Emanuel, Adam Parkhomenko, Hillary Clinton’s, “, ” Parkhomenko, James Zogby, it’s, Howard Dean, Obama —, Chuck Todd Here’s, Trumpism, Trump, wasn’t, Harris, Biden, Read, Chuck → ➡️, Matt Gaetz, Lloyd Austin, Pete Hegseth, Linda McMahon, Matt Whitaker, 🗞️ Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Democratic National Committee, DNC, Maryland Gov, Social Security Administration, Minnesota Democratic, Association of State Democratic Committees, Democratic, Politico, Republican, Democratic National Convention, Wisconsin Democratic, Chicago, NBC News, Arab American Institute, America, GOP, Pentagon, “ DEI, Biden, Chuck → ➡️ Trump, Wrestling Entertainment, Education Department, Former, Atlantic Treaty Organization Locations: Michigan, U.S, Japan, Oklahoma

☆ My dog of 9 years recently passed away. The grief of losing a pet surprised me.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Ryan Crawley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sadly, two months ago, my dog, Smooshie, passed away after being with me every minute of the day for the last nine years. My dog was a big part of my family from the startAlmost nine years ago, I saw a picture of a young Shih Tzu on a Facebook animal shelter site. I stepped in, and Smoosh came home with me. A few minutes later, we drove by an older man walking a young Shih Tzu down the road. I decided spur of the moment to pull off to the side of the road, and the man approached me with his Shih Tzu.

Persons: —, Shih Tzu, Smoosh, Ryan Crawley, Scrappy Organizations: Service, Business

☆ The American Kennel Club's pedophile problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

The mother contacted the American Kennel Club, the organization that oversees most dog shows in the country. The AKC helps local kennel clubs enforce rules about conduct and animal treatment. The bulk of the organization's income comes from the dog-show community, in the form of event and registration fees paid by local kennel clubs and breeders. The debate is taking place as kennel clubs try to entice younger children to show dogs. Many dog shows include competitions for junior handlers, including a "Pee Wee" division for kids under the age of 10.

Persons: Adam Wilkerson, She'd, Wilkerson, —, It's, Brandi Hunter Munden, Munden, eyeing, Andrew Mansfield, Mansfield, Walter Palmerino, Palmerino, I'm, John Cathcart McCartney, McCartney, Eugene Zaphiris, Zaphiris, he's, Adam Stafford King, King, Jacob Boudreau, Boudreau, Dennis, Margaret Poindexter, Deb Cooper, Ashley Miller, Miller, Shimpeno's, Shimpeno, Mary Dukes, Dukes, they've, it's, Susan Shephard, West Volusia Kennel Club Shephard, hadn't, Shephard, Tonda Curry, Curry, who's, Paige McCarver, groomer, McCarver, She's, we're, Wilkerson's, she's Organizations: Westminster Kennel, Business, BI, American Kennel Club, AKC, Getty, Dog, Wisconsin, Police, American Kennel, Grand Central, Purina, ABC, ESPN, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Museum, Preservation Bank, Mars, Royal, Dog News, Kids, Florida's West Volusia Kennel Club, West Volusia Kennel Club, Boy Scouts, New York Times, US Equestrian Federation Locations: Dallas, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, American, Wee, Munden, Texas, Arizona

☆ Book bans are accelerating across the country amid right-wing pressure campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But, as they try to claim that mantle, many of those same forces in media and politics are behind a disturbing wave of book bans sweeping the nation. PEN America, a non-profit organization committed to protecting free expression, published an alarming report Tuesday indicating that the “book ban crisis” is only getting worse. “There were over 4,000 instances of book bans in the first half of this school year—more than all of last school year as a whole. In doing so, they have also disproportionately targeted books by women and nonbinary authors,” PEN America said. Ted Shaffrey/APSuch brazen book bans — unprecedented in modern American history — is at its worst in the red states of Florida and Texas.

Persons: New York CNN —, Nikole Hannah, Margaret Atwood’s, ” Amy Reed’s, Rupi, “, ”, ’ ‘, Ted Shaffrey, Ron DeSantis, Abdi Nazemian, I’ve, ” Nazemian, “ I’ve, ” Kasey Meehan, Read, we’re Organizations: New York CNN, PEN America, The New York Times, ” PEN America, Central Library, Brooklyn Public Library, PEN Locations: New York, USA, birthed, ’, New York City, Florida, Texas, In Florida, In Texas, Iranian, Iowa

☆ Donald Trump will not win a war against the Swifties
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

If former President Donald Trump and his campaign choose to attack Taylor Swift, he'll have to defeat a far scarier and more dangerous force than Joe Biden's reelection campaign: her scorned fans. A Morning Consult survey from March 2023 estimated that 53% of US adults consider themselves Swift fans, an astoundingly large support base. While the general perception is that Swift fans are overwhelmingly Democrats or left-leaning, liberals are estimated to be around 55% of her fan base, meaning there are more than 100 million Republican Swifties that the former president risks alienating. If just a small fraction of Swift's Republican fans defect over such attacks, it could legitimately help Biden secure a second term in the White House. If Trump and his circle go ahead with their "holy war" against the pop star, they should be prepared for the worst.

Persons: Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Joe Biden's, vilifying, Rolling Stone, MAGA, Swift, sullying, Biden, they're, Trump Organizations: Defense, Trump, Rolling, Business, Biden, Democratic

☆ The Best Electric Razors for Women for a Smooth Finish
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Abbie Kozolchyk | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Buyers are increasingly going electric—some because electric shavers lead to far less landfill waste than disposable versions you’d replace daily or weekly. The back of the leg calls for pivoting heads, too, says Dr. Sarkar. “Many electric shavers have Lithium-ion batteries,” notes Dr. Sarkar—so carry-on would be your only option. Epilators, which do remove hair this way, sometimes get misclassified as electric shavers. So if you’re looking for something that will literally uproot your hair, electric shavers aren’t right for the job—but epilators are.

Persons: Abbie Kozolchyk, shaver, ”, Ava Shamban, who’s, Braun, Gentle Trimmer, Newton, Papri Sarkar, trimmer, Joshua Zeichner, Sarkar, Remington shaver, “, There’s, don’t, Melissa Dezarate, groomer, Mary Lupo, M.D, Zeichner, you’re, Shamban, you’ll Organizations: Gillette, AA, Mount Sinai, AAA Locations: TikTok, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Calif, Germany, Mount, New York City, New Orleans

☆ Red carpets without actors have repercussions for ‘glam squads’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Samantha Tse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Last week, the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival opened amid the actors’ strike that has Hollywood at a standstill, rendering the usually glitzy red carpet a more muted affair. Neil Mockford/GC Images/Getty ImagesThe impact of these reduced red carpets extends far beyond the movie business. Scheduled to work at the Venice Film Festival this season, her plans changed when the strike was announced. Lady Gaga in Valentino Haute Couture for the "A Star Is Born" screening at the 2018 Venice Film Festival. With many actors in need of new outlets to fulfil any brand commitments during the strike, we can expect the upcoming fashion month (which starts tomorrow in New York) to offer actors a useful alternative to film festival red carpets.

Persons: it’s, Valentino Haute Couture, Writers Guild of America —, —, ”, Issa Rae, Neil Mockford, Rachel Goodwin, Emma Stone, haven’t, “, hairstylist Nai’vasha, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lupita Nyong’o, Nicole Ari Parker —, Lady Gaga, Valentino, Daniele Venturelli, Kerrie Urban, can’t, Urban, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Ro Morgan, hairstylist, Naomi Campbell, Venus Williams, Ayo Edebiri, he’s, “ I’m, ” Morgan, Morgan, Brad Pitt, Guy Ritchie, Shi Tang, Nai’vasha, It’s, ” Goodwin, Barbie Organizations: CNN, Venice Film, Hollywood, “, Balmain, WGA, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Wimbledon Tennis, Urban, Warner Bros ., Warner Bros, Wimbledon, Toronto Locations: Venice, London, Valentino Haute, Milan, Paris, New York, America

☆ 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' lives on, 20 years later
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

That was like queer eye for the straight guy!”Carson Kressley, left, in "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy." “And of course as luck would have it, ‘Queer Eye’ was our very first attempt at a reality show,” he added. It’s not that they’re bigger, they just became louder,” said Rob Eric, “Queer Eye” executive producer and longtime associate and friend of Collins and Williams. They’ve also enjoyed seeing the legacy they’ve created evolve and grow to new heights with Netflix’s gender-neutral and more succinctly titled “Queer Eye” – which wrapped its seventh season earlier this year. “The new ‘Queer Eye’ wouldn’t happen without these guys,” Collins said.

Persons: Guy ”, Ellen ”, Ellen DeGeneres, David Collins, QEFTSG ”, –, Carson Kressley, Jai Rodriquez, Thom Filicia, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, groomer, ” Rodriquez, Kressley, “, ‘, “ Gay ”, Michael Collins, ” Kressley, you’ve, Collins, Michael Williams –, ” Collins, ”, Michael, Shutterstock Collins, Williams, David, ” Williams, ’, Rodriguez, Filicia –, you’re, ” Rodriguez, ” Filicia, ‘ You’ve, we’re, Barbara Walters, “ I’m, Filicia, Anita Bryant, Rob Eric, We’ve, It’s, foodie Allen, Ted, ” What’s, They’ve, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Bravo, NBC Universal, Scout, Netflix, NBC Locations: Boston, Los Angeles

☆ Michigan hair salon faces backlash after banning transgender and queer customers, reportedly telling them to 'seek services at a local pet groomer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Facebook post, which has since been deleted, suggested that anyone not matching that identity should instead "seek services at a local pet groomer," according to the report. Period," the account for Studio 8 Hair Lab - Education and Beauty Supply said, according to USA Today. Geiger and Studio 8 Hair Lab did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment ahead of publication. Traverse City is investigating whether or not Studio 8 Hair Lab has violated an anti-discrimination ordinance, according to the report. "STUDIO 8 HAIR LOFT is a very LGBTQ+ friendly salon, please do not mistake us for the other salon."

Persons: Christine Geiger, Geiger, Richard Lewis, Jack Winn, Jack Winn Pro, Betsy Coffia, Coffia Organizations: Facebook, Service, USA, Beauty Supply, Google, CONSERVATIVE, Associated Press, Jack Winn Pro, Democratic Michigan State Locations: Michigan, Wall, Silicon, Traverse City , Michigan, Traverse City, Traverse, Allentown , Pennsylvania

☆ A video shared by DeSantis' campaign showing his disdain for Pride is another piece of his 'extremely homophobic' campaign, law instructor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign shared a video highlighting his anti-LGBTQ+ bills. An expert told Insider the video is a "culmination" of DeSantis' "extremely homophobic" campaign. "They know exactly what they're doing," Caraballo told Insider. The organization previously threw its support at DeSantis when he signed his "Don't Say Gay" law. The DeSantis campaign and Pushaw did not respond to a list of questions sent by Insider.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Patrick Bateman, Trump, DeSantis, Christina Pushaw —, Alejandra Caraballo, Harvard Law School's, Caraballo, there's, Groomers, Pushaw Organizations: Service, Miss, Republican, Trump, Harvard Law, Clinic, Transgender Legal Defense, Education Fund, Republicans, Trans, ADL, GLAAD Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chad, —, DeSantis

☆ Pro-DeSantis super PAC attacks Florida journalist for posting photo from his Disney cruise: 'You're bought and paid for by the groomers and Trump'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch posted a photo from a Disney cruise on Friday and tagged Ron DeSantis. A pro-DeSantis PAC quote tweeted the photo and accused Schorsch of being bribed by "groomers" and Trump. Today, a super PAC aligned with DeSantis attacked a Florida journalist for posting a photo from a Disney cruise. "We get it, you're bought and paid for by the groomers and Trump," Never Back Down tweeted at FloridaPolitics.com publisher Peter Schorsch, who had posted a photo from a Disney cruise he was on with his family. The person who initially posted the photo shared by Trump accused DeSantis of using alcohol for "grooming" high school girls.

Persons: Peter Schorsch, Ron DeSantis, Schorsch, DeSantis, —, Taryn Fenske, Anchorman's Ron Burgundy, kows, Jeff Roe, Roe, Matt Wolking, Peter, Chris Jankowski, Trump Organizations: Disney, Trump, Service, Florida Governor, GOP, ABC, Washington Post, Coalition, New York Times, Times, Harvard Law, The New York Times, Darlington School Locations: Florida, Mar, Georgia

☆ Advertisers are returning to Twitter after Linda Yaccarino calmed fears over content moderation. But now brands like Disney, Microsoft, and the NBA have ads placed next to neo-Nazi propaganda.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Brands that pulled ads over content concerns have returned to the platform since it named a new CEO. But big names like Disney, the NBA, and Adobe had ads placed next to antisemitic content this week. However, those same brands are returning to market their products and services on Twitter with Yaccarino at the helm. "They appear to have restricted that specific search, and not anything else — so they haven't moderated the actual content," Caraballo told Insider of Twitter's response. She added: "It just goes to show that the site is rife with extremist content, and yet brands are returning.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Linda Yaccarino, —, General Mills, Musk, Yaccarino, they've, Musk —, haven't, Alejandra Caraballo, Caraballo, Hitler, she'd, It's Organizations: Elon, Brands, Disney, NBA, Adobe, NBC Universal, Microsoft, Twitter, GM, Audi, Street, Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, Nazi, Southern Poverty Law, ESPN Locations: Israel

☆ A majority of Republicans now say same-sex relations are immoral after a year of 'groomer' attacks on the LGBTQ community
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Only 41% of Republicans say gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable, according to Gallup. In the survey conducted last month, just 41% of Republicans said that gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable, a 15% drop from 2022. Independents who say same-sex relations are morally acceptable has remained steady in recent years, with 73% expressing approval in 2023 compared to 72% the year before, according to Gallup. Americans have come a long way since 2001, when just 40% of respondents to the same poll expressed approval of same-sex relations. Approval of gay and lesbian relations hit a record high last year, when 71% of Americans told Gallup that such relations were morally permissible — including 56% of Republicans.

Persons: —, Biden Organizations: Gallup, Service, Republican, Republicans, Independents, Fox News, White

At his grooming salon in San Diego, anything is possible: Bernedoodles become giraffes and poodles become Pokémon. Feitosa, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, opened Gabriel Feitosa Grooming Salon in 2018, capitalizing on a $1.3 billion global pet grooming market. As a dog grooming artist, Feitosa combines traditional grooming techniques with unique designs, and uses vegan, pet-friendly dyes. Finding career inspiration while running an errandFeitosa's dog grooming career began when he was 12. He left high school right before graduating to pursue dog grooming as his full-time career, working at the salon and teaching dog grooming at a vocational school based on his real-world learnings.

Persons: Gabriel Feitosa, poodles, Feitosa, São Paulo, Tasia Jensen, it's Organizations: CNBC Locations: San Diego, São Paulo, Brazil, TikTok, São, Sacramento, Calif

☆ LGBTQ community celebrates Pride in the face of online and offline attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Christina Anagnostopoulos | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Parents and pro-LGBT counter protesters face off outside of an elementary school over a Pride Day assembly in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 2, 2023. REUTERS/David SwansonJune 11 (Reuters) - Millions of LGBTQ Americans are taking part in this year’s Pride celebrations against a backdrop of increasing attacks, both online and offline. LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD has already recorded eight instances of 2023 Pride events that had to modify their plans due to threats of violence by June 1, said spokesperson Angela Dallara. Online, slurs like “groomer” – a trope that LGBTQ people are “child groomers” or pedophiles – have traveled from the fringe into mainstream discourse. “An event, like the ‘Don’t Say Gay bill,’ can increase the online chatter.

Persons: David Swanson, Jay Ulfelder, Jen Kuhn, Angela Dallara, Ron DeSantis’s, groomers ”, –, Ilan Meyer, Joel Day, Kimberly Balsam, Brigitte Bandit, she’s, “ They’re, I’m, ”, we’re, Pride, Christina Anagnostopoulos, Claudia Parsons Organizations: Pride, REUTERS, Reuters, Harvard University, GLAAD, FBI, ACLU, Republican, Center, UCLA, Princeton University, Palo Alto University, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Columbus , Ohio, Florida, Glendale , California, Austin , Texas, New York City

19 of our favorite Amazon Pet Day dealsAmazon#1 Yaheetech Cat Tree - $66 $51 (with coupon)Wow, that's a lot of cat tree for your money. In our testing for the best dog beds, this was easily our favorite calming bed. Amazon#6 AirTag Breakaway Cat Collar - $12.99 $7.98If you fancy picking up some AirTags from the deal below, these affordable collars are a decent match as they have a disc slot for Apple's tracking device. ), be sure to head on over to our best cat collar guide. We named it the best dog harness because it's suitable for dogs that walk nicely on leash as well as vigorous pullers.

☆ Fact Check-Digitally altered versions of Scott Wiener photo holding book shared online
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wiener, an openly gay legislator who has supported legal protections for children seeking gender-affirming health care, addressed the use of the term groomer in a series of tweets in Nov. 2022 (here). Erik Mebust, communications director for Wiener, told Reuters via email that the recently shared altered photo originates from a March 4 tweet by Wiener, which shows an identical background and apparel (here). In his original photo posted in March, Wiener is holding a book with a yellow cover titled, “Gender Pioneers” (here). The photo of Scott Wiener holding a book originates from his Mar. 5 tweet but it has been digitally altered with fabricated book titles.

☆ MTG and George Santos are co-sponsoring a bill that could ban LGBTQ books in classrooms
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos are co-sponsoring a bill banning some books in schools. It aims to end "sexualization of children," echoing bills restricting access to LGBTQ material. Santos is the only openly gay Republican member of Congress. Ron DeSantis last year signed the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, restricting the teaching of LGBTQ issues in schools. Santos is one 10 LGBTQ members of Congress and the only Republican LGBTQ member.

☆ The Proud Boys crashed my story hour: A drag king recounts a joyful but 'terrifying' showdown at a NYC library
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Proud Boys protested Drag Story Hours on 18 occasions across the US last year, new data shows. 'Oliver H,' a NYC drag king, read to 50 kids during 2022's 'terrifying' but joyful final protest. Outside the library, some three-dozen Proud Boys, neo-Nazis, and religious activists were shouting "groomer!" Drag performer Oliver H prepares for Drag Story Hour at Queens Public Library in Jackson Heights on December 29, 2022. See Insider's interactive US map of what happened each of the 53 times the Proud Boys joined or led anti-LGBTQ+ protests last year.

An interactive map shows what happened each time the Proud Boys joined anti-LGBTQ+ protests in 2022. Most of the extremist group's activity targeted drag performances, the map shows. Insider worked with ACLED to create this map, which shows what happened at each of these protests. It's part of Insider's look at the Proud Boys' increasing war on LGBTQ+ community, and drag in particular. Sixty percent of the Proud Boys' anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrating last year happened outside drag events, mostly seen by organizers and attendees as celebrations of diversity for families and children.

☆ Anti-LGBTQ+ protests are at an all-time high. A Proud Boys war on drag is a big reason why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Once a week on average in 2022, Proud Boys joined or led anti-LGBTQ+ protests held across the US. Proud Boys joined in seven anti-LGBTQ+ protests in September, 10 in October and 6 in November. In December, they protested at 13 anti-LGBTQ+ protests, more than in any other month last year, ACLED data shows. And the group's anti-LGBTQ+ push is continuing, said Kaufman, who tracks the Proud Boys' estimated 119 chapters in 46 states. Proud Boys are turning up these days at nearly half of all anti-LGBTQ+ activity across the country, she told Insider.

☆ Drag Story Hour protest in NYC caps a year of anti-drag attacks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The latest occurred Thursday outside a public library in the borough of Queens, where a Drag Story Hour event for children was scheduled. A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department said one person was arrested in connection with Thursday’s protest. Demonstrators gather for a protest in support of the Drag Story Hour outside the Queens Public Library in New York on Thursday. Demonstrators gather to protest against Drag Story Hour outside the Queens Public Library in New York on Thursday. Yuki Iwamura / AFP via Getty ImagesThursday’s incident marks at least the second protest of a Drag Story Hour event in New York City this month.

Last year, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign, labeled 2021 the “worst year” for LGBTQ rights in modern U.S. history, citing a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country. “The LGBTQ+ community is really under siege right now,” said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas. One bill that was successfully implemented, and gained national headlines for months, was Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, or what critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The word “grooming” has long been associated with mischaracterizing LGBTQ people, particularly gay men and transgender women, as child sex abusers. Those losses came after some conservative groups ramped up misleading or inflammatory campaign ads targeting transgender rights.

Two people were arrested at a New York City Council member's apartment building Monday after opponents of a drag reading event targeted it with messages the politician called “pure hate, unmasked,” officials said. A group had targeted the public reading event geared toward neurodiverse children at a library in Chelsea on Saturday, NBC New York reported. Our resolve is strengthened.”Earlier Monday, the hallways inside the building that houses Bottcher’s council district office were also vandalized, police said. Right-wing figures and influencers have targeted drag events, sometimes with incendiary rhetoric about “groomers." Bottcher, who was elected to represent District 3 in 2021 and took office in January, said after Saturday's event that reading helps children grow, and he thanked the drag reading event organizers.

☆ Anti-LGBTQ hate thrives online, spurs fears of more violence
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

On Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, researchers and LGBTQ advocates have tracked an increase in hate speech and threats of violence directed at LGBTQ people, groups and events, with much of it directed at transgender people. “A lot of that is happening online, and online threats are turning into threats of real violence offline.”Hospitals in Boston, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and other cities have received bomb threats and other harassing messages after misleading claims spread online about transgender care programs. There’s no simple explanation for the increase in hate speech documented by researchers recent years. Online hate speech has been linked to offline violence in the past, and many of the perpetrators of recent mass shootings were later found to be immersed in online worlds of bigotry and conspiracy theories. Despite rules prohibiting hate speech or violent threats, platforms such as Facebook and YouTube have struggled to identify and remove such content.

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