Jax Gay April 2022 Issue

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Anti-Trans Bills Into Law

By David Vandygriff

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Wednesday signed into law two bills restricting the rights of transgender youth, while Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed one.

One, Arizona Senate Bill 1138, bans gender-affirming surgery for trans minors, and the other, Arizona Senate Bill 1165, bars trans girls and women from participating in female sports in grades K-12 or colleges and universities, in either public schools or private ones whose students or teams compete against public schools. Both bills were approved by the Arizona House last week and had previously been OK’d by the Senate. Meanwhile, Stitt signed an anti-trans sports bill into law, following its final approval by legislators last week.

“Today I signed S.B. 1138 and S.B. 1165, legislation to protect participation and fairness for female athletes, and to ensure that individuals undergoing irreversible gender reassignment surgery are of adult age,” Ducey, a Republican, said in a letter explaining his support for the measures. “This legislation is

commonsense and narrowlytargeted to address these two specific issues while ensuring that transgender individuals continue to receive the same dignity, respect and kindness as every individual in our society.”

The health care bill, as passed, does not prohibit hormone treatment or puberty blockers for young people, although an earlier version of the legislation did. Doctors do not generally recommend genital surgery for people under 18, but young people sometimes undergo breast surgery, which is banned by the legislation along with genital surgery. The legislation interferes with private medical decisions, opponents said.

The decision to undergo gender-affirming surgery is “never made lightly,” Rep. Melody Hernandez, a Democrat, said during debate on the bill last week, according to the Associated Press. “This is not an on-the-whim decision. This is an intimate part of who they are. This is something that should be respected.”

The trans athletes legislation affects trans girls and women only, not trans males. Like similar laws in several other states, it was proposed under the guise of protecting

cisgender female athletes, even though there is no widespread dominance of women's sports by trans women, and both scientists and activists dispute that trans females have an inherent and unfair advantage in sports. However, in a move that restricts the rights of cisgender women as well as trans men and nonbinary people, Ducey signed a bill into law Wednesday that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, except in medical emergencies, and provides for felony charges against doctors who perform them. Mississippi has adopted a similar law; a challenge to it was heard recently in the Supreme Court, which is expected to issue a decision on its constitutionality in the spring.

The sports legislation in Oklahoma is similar to that enacted in Arizona, affecting trans females in both public schools and private schools that compete against them, and extending to state colleges and universities.

The American Civil Liberties Union, its Arizona affiliate, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights have vowed to sue over the Arizona trans health care law. “For months, hundreds of doctors, parents, advocates, and trans youth have shown up in opposition to the countless anti-trans bills heard in committees," ACLU of Arizona Executive Director Jennifer Allen Aroz said in a prepared statement. Despite the overwhelming pleas to end

these discriminatory bills, legislators were intent on using trans youth as political ploys and have now passed a bill that prohibits trans youth from receiving the life-saving medical care they require.

“Today is a sad day in Arizona. Presented with the opportunity to do the right thing and veto SB 1138, Gov. Ducey has instead chosen to give into falsehoods and extremism. Together with the ACLU and NCLR, we will continue to fight for trans youth and will file a lawsuit to challenge this law in court.”

The Trevor Project, which assists LGBTQ+ youth in crisis, was also quick to condemn the anti-trans legislation. “While the problems transgender and nonbinary youth cause communities are hypothetical, the harms these laws will cause them are very real,” Sam Ames, director of advocacy and government affairs, said in a press release. “We’re talking about a group of marginalized young people who have consistently been found to be at greater risk for bullying, depression, and attempting suicide — and 85 percent say recent debates around antitrans laws have even further negatively impacted their mental health. Today alone, on the eve of Transgender Day of Visibility, three anti-trans bills were signed into law across the country. This onslaught is not an accident; it is overwhelming by design and in direct response to progress in the fight for trans rights. But the Trevor Project will continue

supporting our young people while we continue the fight against these policies. We are here for you, and we are not going anywhere.”

Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Kell Olson issued the following statement: “Governor Ducey framed this decision as ‘common sense.’ It’s anything but. These bills will make life harder for transgender kids across Arizona who should have the opportunity to grow up feeling loved and respected for who they are. The governor offered platitudes about treating transgender people with ‘dignity, respect, and kindness,’ while signing legislation that ignores the very real concerns of the transgender youth who came to the legislature to share their stories and the horrific impact these new laws will have on their lives and mental health. That’s not treating people with ‘dignity, respect, or kindness.’ It’s just plain wrong.”

“

The governor could have used his office to create an honest dialogue about these issues. Instead, he’s following the lead of fringe politicians across the country who are rushing to pass new laws to make life more difficult for transgender people in order to score political points. Arizona can do better.”

Oklahoma and Arizona join Iowa, South Dakota, and Utah in enacting anti-trans sports

laws this year; in Utah, legislators overrode Gov. Spencer Cox’s veto. The governor of Indiana also vetoed such legislation. In the previous two years, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia have adopted similarly exclusionary laws. Governors in Kansas, Louisiana, and North Dakota vetoed bills of this kind last year. The Idaho and West Virginia laws are temporarily blocked by court orders while lawsuits against them proceed.

On the health care front, last year Arkansas, over the governor’s veto, adopted a law banning all gender-affirming health care for minors, but it is likewise blocked while a lawsuit is heard. Tennessee passed one banning hormone treatment for gender-dysphoric minors who haven’t entered puberty, although hormones are not prescribed before puberty anyway. LGBTQ+ rights groups nonetheless opposed the legislation because it codifies discrimination and interferes in the relationship between health care providers and patients.

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 application. 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, non-binary, and gender non-conforming persons around the world.” Other countries that allow a third gender option include Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany,

Iceland, India, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, and Pakistan. Blinken said the State Department had consulted partner countries in developing the option.

The department also worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics to conduct qualitative research on how to define the gender marker. It solicited feedback from LGBTQ+ communities to come up with the option.

“After thoughtful consideration of the research conducted and feedback from community members, we concluded that the definition of the X gender marker on State Department public forms will be ‘Unspecified or another gender identity.’ This definition is respectful of individuals’ privacy while advancing inclusion,” Blinken said.

"The provision of an 'X' gender marker option is important because human beings do not always fit within a male or female category around the world, the lived realities of transgender intersex, non-binary and gendernonconforming persons reflects

that there is a wider spectrum of humanity than is represented by a binary sex designation on passports," Jessica Stern, U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons told CBS News.

The first recipient of a passport with the ‘X’ gender marker was Dana Zzyym, an intersex and nonbinary U.S. Navy veteran in Colorado who had sued the Department of State for only offering a male or female choice on the passport application. Zzyym received the passport in October of last year.

The announcement also comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it will implement gender-neutral screening procedures at airports, according to CBS News. A 2015 survey of transgender Americans from the National Center for Transgender Equality found that 43 percent of respondents who had gone through airport security reported that they experienced a problem at the checkpoint related to their gender identity.

JoJo Siwa Reveals New Relationship: 'I'm Very, Very, Very Happy'

By Jennifer Davis

JoJo Siwa is officially in a brand-new relationship!

The out, 18-year-old singer-dancer-YouTubeextraordinaire and Dancing With the Stars alum confirmed the news that she is officially partnered with someone new during a Wednesday appearance on the Rachel Uncensored podcast.

Though she didn't name names, or give very much identifying detail at all about her new partner, Siwa did say that she is now "exclusive" with this person and that she's the happiest she's been in a while. "We're not single," Siwa told podcast host Rachel Ballinger. "I say 'we're' because it's me and my multiple personalities within myself...I am not single and I don't want to mingle. No, I'm a loyal lady."

"Listen, I went around the block," she said elsewhere in the podcast interview. "I did, and I tried a lot, and I learned a lot and I'm very, very, very happy where I am now."

The news of Siwa confirming that she has a new partner

comes on the heels of her last relationship with ex-girlfriend Kylie Prew, which was confirmed to have ended in October of last year.

At the time, an unnamed source from Us Weekly reported that Siwa and Prew ended things after less than a year of dating just when fans were starting to notice Prew's absence from the live audience of DWTS. Some of Siwa's DWTS co-stars were even aware of their uncoupling before the public was.

"Kylie stopped attending the show so she hasn’t been seen in the audience since they split," the source said. "JoJo is focusing on the competition and giving her all. While it’s a rough time for her, she’s handling DWTS very professionally and still putting on a smile and giving 100 percent. She doesn’t want to let down her fans."

After publicly coming out in January of 2021, Siwa introduced the world to Prew via an emotional Instagram post in February where she also revealed that they had already been seeing each other

for a month after being longtime friends.

Following her breakup with Prew, Siwa was spotted out and about in Los Angeles with TikToker Katie Mills in December. The two were seen sitting courtside at a Laker game together, and they even made some cute dance content for Mills' TikTok account.

We love love in all forms, and we're glad to see Siwa putting herself back out there and happy again!

mozzarella lovers out there? We love mozzarella in all shapes and sizes. Shredded mozzarella, mozzarella balls, sliced mozzarella, you name it. Every shape has its purpose. There is nothing better than freshly sliced mozzarella on pizza, for example.

Recipe developer and registered dietitian nutritionist, Kristen Carli, MS, RD, brings us this recipe for marinated mozzarella balls. These make the perfect addition to any antipasto platter or charcuterie board. Serve them alongside crackers, cured meats, olives, and nuts for the most epic appetizer. We recommend even serving these on top of a salad for a little extra fat, flavor, and proteinare great to have in your fridg. These e prepared at the beginning of the week. You can easily scoop some out to add to meals or to snack on with some crackers.

Read on below to see our step-by-step guide on how to make these marinated mozzarella balls.

To make these marinated mozzarella balls, we will start by gathering the ingredients. For this recipe, you will need mozzarella balls or pearls, olive

oil, dried basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic.

To get started, you'll first need to add the mozzarella balls to a bowl.

If you're using the mozzarella pearls, you may notice that they tend to stick together once removed from the vacuum-sealed packaging. Use a spoon to break them up, if this happens. If you use the slightly larger ciliegine mozzarella balls, you likely won't have to deal with this, as these are typically packaged in a water-packed tub.

Next, drizzle the olive oil over the mozzarella. It may seem like a lot of oil, but this is what helps to get the mozzarella marinating. Then, add in the dried basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic. These spices will help to create a flavorful marinade. If you want, you can get creative with these spices. Other spices that you may want to try include red chili pepper flakes, black pepper, dried thyme, or even ground cumin.

Now, give this mixture a good stir. Once the mixture has been combined, place the mozzarella balls into an airtight container and store them in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This provides enough time for the flavors to meld and seep into the mozzarella cheese.

When the balls are done marinating, you can serve them alongside crackers for scooping or serve a spoonful of

marinated mozzarella balls on your next salad.

Marinated Mozzarella Balls Recipe Ingredients

• 16 ounces mozzarella balls (pearls or ciliegine)

• ⅔ cup olive oil

• 1 tablespoon dried basil

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, add the mozzarella pearls. Use a spoon to separate them if they're stuck together.

2. Add the olive oil, dried basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic.

3. Stir to combine.

4. Marinate in fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

Transgender Adults Face Disproportionate Food Insufficiency

By Kim Bell

A quarter of transgender adults in the U.S. face food insufficiency, three times the amount reported by cisgender adults.

In a study by the University of California, Los Angeles’s Williams Institute, food insufficiency is defined as sometimes or often not having enough to eat within the past seven days. Researchers found that 25 percent of trans people experienced food insufficiency compared to only 8 percent of cis people, using data collected from July to October of last year in the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Williams Institute researchers also found that almost six times as many trans people of color as white cis people experienced food insufficiency at some point in the summer and fall of 2021. Additionally, for the 32 percent

trans adults living below the poverty line, food insecurity inadequate or uncertain access to adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources was also frequent.

Almost half of trans people said they encountered issues paying standard household expenses such as food or rent. Trans people also reported limited access to food due to safety concerns. They were also twice as likely as cis people to report barriers in accessing food — one such barrier being able to get out to buy food.

Kerith J. Conron, the lead author of the study and research director of the Williams Institute, says that while the results are a “disturbing finding,” the data are in line with already available information on rates of poverty among trans people. Conron says it was helpful to

access data collected by the Census Bureau about why people were experiencing food insufficiency.

“The number 1 answer for everybody, whether you’re trans or cis, is just you don’t have enough money to pay for food,” Conron says. Learning that in many cases, lack of transportation, health or mobility issues, and safety concerns figured into the food insufficiency equation is helpful in creating strategies moving forward, she adds.

To tackle food insufficiency, says Conron, a full-court press of initiatives must be pursued: “Making sure that we are increasing access to jobs and reducing poverty is going to be the most significant way that we can reduce food insufficiency.”

Palm Springs White Party is Back, Baby

By Drew Williams

Barring any unforeseen surprises, the White Party finally returns to Palm Springs on April 29. The largest gay dance music festival in the world typically attracting over 30,000 attendees to the California desert has largely been on hiatus since 2019, due to lockdowns and last year’s death of longtime promoter and figurehead Jeffrey Sanker.

“It is an honor to continue White Party Palm Springs for my dear friend Jeffrey,” White Party global executive producer Chris Diamond said in a statement.

“As we move forward with his vision of inclusion, diversity, and decadence, we are truly excited to once again showcase new

dance music trends, global DJs, recording artists, state-of-the-art sound & visuals – and most importantly our returning guests…beautiful men from all over the world!”

Grammy Award winner Paula Abdul will headline Sunday’s T-Dance on Sunday, May 1, and British singer-songwriter Raye will host Saturday’s main event, a six-hour Eternal-themed spectacle.

DJs from Israel, France, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy are booked to perform for three days of pool parties, T-dances, and nighttime bacchanals, many held at the host hotel, Hilton

Palm Springs. A Friday night party at the Palm Springs Convention Center will feature a jungle theme — expect a lot of ripped T-shirts and jeans while Saturday night’s dance event, also at the convention center, is centered on superheroes, with guests encouraged to dress as a sexy version of their favorite crime fighter. (whitepartyglobal.com)

If you cannot wait until April 29 for the 2022 White Party, we have curated a few of our favorite memories from the 2019 White Party to keep you warm until then.

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is the leading defendant in a massive 80page lawsuit by Equality Florida against the “Don’t Say Gay” law he signed this week. Roberta Kaplan, one of the nation’s top civil rights lawyers, who successfully argued the Supreme Court case that effectively overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is the lead attorney on the case.

“Florida House Bill 1557 (widely known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law) is an unlawful attempt to stigmatize, silence, and erase LGBTQ people in Florida’s public schools. It seeks to do so by imposing a sweeping, vague ban covering any instruction on ‘sexual orientation and gender identity,’ and by constructing a diffuse enforcement scheme designed to maximize the chilling effect of this prohibition,” the lawsuit begins.

“Through H.B. 1557, Florida would deny to an entire generation that LGBTQ people exist and have equal dignity. This effort to control young minds through state censorship and to demean LGBTQ lives by denying their reality is a grave abuse of power. The

United States

Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that LGBTQ people and families are at home in our constitutional order. The State of Florida has no right to declare them outcasts, or to treat their allies as outlaws, by punishing schools where someone dares to affirm their identity and dignity,” it continues.

The lawsuit, first reported by Reuters legal columnist Alison Frankel, cites both the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It also blasts DeSantis and his far-right press secretary, Christina Pushaw.

“Governor DeSantis also made clear that the bill’s limitation on ‘sexual instruction’ does not apply to instruction on heterosexuality and cisgender identities. Rather, he asked rhetorically, ‘How many parents want their kids to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction?'”

“Governor DeSantis’s press secretary, Christine Pushaw, confirmed this understanding. She called H.B. 1557 an ‘Anti-Grooming Bill’ and said that ‘If you’re against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are

probably a groomer or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children.’ Charitably read, Pushaw’s statement implied that even discussing LGBTQ issues or acknowledging LGBTQ people’s existence entices students to ‘become’ LGBTQ; less charitably and perhaps more accurately read, it is a gross assertion that school personnel who discuss LGBTQ issues with students are akin to molesters.”

The lawsuit asks the court to block the implementation and enforcement of HB1557, the “Don’t Say Gay” law, damages, and other costs.

By Reni Griffin

In celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Lemonada Media is announcing that a new audio reality show, BEING Trans, is on the way. The six-part unscripted series follows the lives and unique experiences of four transgender people living in Los Angeles. It reveals the joys and struggles of, well, being trans.

The podcast was created over three months as the crew recorded hundreds of hours of conversations with the cast. As they followed along, they were privy to all manner of experiences and vulnerable

moments with cast members

Chloe, Jeffrey, Mariana, and Sy as they were happening in real-time. The crew had access to a uniquely unfiltered view of the cast’s world, and from that, they were able to craft an intimate portrait of their lives as they navigated everything from dating, parenting, and doctor visits to career quandaries and parties and listeners will hear it all on BEING Trans.

Throughout the season, listeners will get to know the six trans people who’ve opened up their lives. Jeffrey is a trans man and stand-up comic who’s

navigating a relationship with his partner, Emma. Mariana is a Guatemalan trans woman who, alongside her coworker, Kadence is tackling various challenges at a local LGBTQ center. Listeners will also meet Chloe, who’s both new to Los Angeles, as well as dating as a trans woman. And finally, listeners will meet Sy, who’s in the process of creating new dynamics with both their family and with their husband, Robert, after coming out as non-binary trans.

The first episode of BEING Trans drops on April 28.

The Audio Reality Series BEING Trans Is Your New Must-Subscribe Pod

Fickle as they are, some trends have a habit of being hot one day and forgotten the next while others manage to stick around for the long run. Whether it's a particular style of jeans (a clothing staple that may be having an identity crisis at the moment) or a home decor theme (the Instagramrevived checkerboard pattern continues to abound), someone who's pro-trend might argue that mass crazes encourage people to move on from their current routines and try something new — even if everyone around them is also trying that new thing.

Per supply and demand, an increase in a certain product's desirability yields a higher rate of production. This applies to food, as well, be it a single ingredient (TikTok's @grilledcheesesocial told The Kitchn that sweet vinegar could be having a moment) or a whole class of them. Thanks to the rise of flexitarianism, the demand for plant-based products like milk, meat, and egg substitutes has never been higher. Here's why the herbivorous products at your local grocery are likely to hold down their shelf space for the foreseeable future.

According to Supermarket News, a report from the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) revealed that plant-based products pulled in $7.4 billion in 2021, growing "three times faster than total food retail sales" in the U.S. that year. These numbers are especially impressive considering the swell of supplychain issues and inflation brought on by the pandemic. "The sustained rise in the market share of plant-based foods is remarkable, and makes it clear that this shift is here to stay," said Julie Emmett, Senior Director of Retail Partnerships at PBFA.

"By taking consumer concerns to heart, the industry is actively embracing its role as a key driver of change that moves us closer to a secure and sustainable food system," she added.

A star performer in the movement is plant-based milk, reports Supermarket News, with almond milk sales accounting for 59% of the total non-dairy category and oat milk comprising 17%. Plant-based meat is seeing similar success. Led by meat-free burgers like Impossible patties, meatless meat sales have grown 74% in the past three

years. Other innovations are following suit plant-based meatballs, chicken nuggets, tenders, cutlets, and deli slices were among the fastestgrowing plant-based meat products in 2021, says Supermarket News. With environmentally-conscious Millennials and Zoomers comprising the core market, experts are convinced that the popularity of plant-based products will only increase over time.

We're still in the midst of what feels like one of the longest seasons of Drag Race yet, so what better way to pass the time in between each episode than by indulging in all of the official RuPaul merch you can get your hands on like her

very own official Chia Pet!

A little less than two years since its initial release, the limited-edition Chia Pet — which is a spitting, terra cotta image of its namesake is getting another run via everyone's favorite one-stopshop Target. This time, though, for the price of $99.99, fans will also be getting a special autograph card featuring a fabulous signature from Ru herself.

The history-making Emmy winner took to Instagram earlier to share the news of her new, exclusive, and autographed Chia Pet with fans and followers, showing everyone the process of signing all of those pretty little autograph cards that are now up for sale.

"Yes, honey, you can see me in all my green glory," Mama Ru said in the video. "And I sprout in two weeks! How about that?"

"The legendary RuPaul, singer, actor, model and host of the internationally acclaimed Ru Paul’s Drag Race, is now the most fabulous Chia Pet to ever grace the runway," the description of the Ru-themed Chia reads on Target's

website. "Handcrafted in stunning terra cotta, this Chia Pet will make the perfect gift for the fierce friend in your life. Each Chia Pet comes with 1 packet of Chia® seeds good for 3 plantings, a convenient plastic drip tray, and planting and care instructions. In just 12 weeks your RuPaul Chia Pet will achieve maximum growth. Chia Planters can be washed and replanted indefinitely. Just spread the seeds on your RuPaul Chia Pet and watch the glamour grow!"

RuPaul's limited-edition, autographed Chia Pet is available for purchase on Target's website.

to 'Stay Out of Girls' Bathrooms'

By Elizabeth Hearn

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor

Greene’s comment about Pete and Chasten Buttigieg and “girls’ bathrooms” was “literally nonsensical,” Pete Buttigieg said Tuesday on Yahoo! News’ Skullduggery podcast.

Greene, a far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ Republican from Georgia, made the remark at a so-called Save America rally held Saturday in her home state. She ridiculed Buttigieg, the U.S. secretary of Transportation, and his husband by saying, “You know what? Pete Buttigieg can take his electric vehicles and his bicycles, and he and his husband can stay out of our

girls’ bathrooms.”

“

The reason you hear somebody like that making nonsensical, literally nonsensical comments like that

I don’t know what you’d do with an electric vehicle in any bathroom they don’t want to talk about what we’re actually working on,” Buttigieg said when Skullduggery host Daniel Klaidman asked him about Greene’s rant. “So they’re going to keep tripling down on anything that can divide and demonize and demoralize, and through that capture attention.” Buttigieg added that Greene isn’t worthy of the attention she gets. “If I were to make a list of the 10 or 20 or 50 or 200 members of Congress whose commentary or thoughts or words it would be the most constructive to be debating or weighing right now, it wouldn’t be the two or three members of Congress who get the most attention on Twitter for whatever outrage they try to outdo each other on,” he said.

Buttigieg, the first out Senateconfirmed Cabinet member, also denounced Florida’s new “don’t say gay” law, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday. The law restricts classroom discussions of

sexual orientation and gender identity, outright banning them in early grades.

“Look, bottom line, it’s hurting kids,” he said. “I think about what life might be like for our kids when they start school. If they were in a place like Florida, it might stop them from mentioning they had a great time over the weekend with their dads.” Buttigieg and his husband are fathers of twins.

He went on to criticize the spate of anti-LGBTQ+ and often specifically antitransgender legislation in states around the nation. “This is part of a very familiar political playbook,” he said. “And I think the reason that this playbook is being pulled off the shelf is you have a lot of folks who don’t have actual plans for the things that are affecting so much of everyday life. They’re looking for somebody to target, to change the subject to these culture wars. And they’re really doubling down on these culture wars. Look, we’re going to stand our ground and stand with people who are vulnerable. At the end of the day, they’re busy worrying about which books to ban and we’re here trying to figure out which bridges to fix.”

Students from Rutherford High School in Plant City also poured out of class in large numbers, one waving a hand-written poster proclaiming “You can’t SILENCE LGBTQ youth!!!”

That particularly touched Equality Florida Chair Nadine Smith, who tweeted: “This is my alma mater. I was senior class president. An honor student. Captain of sports teams. Head yearbook photographer. And I was deeply closeted. Totally isolated and depressed. The Don’t Say Gay bill wants that for students today. We say NO!” Students in Sarasota lined the streets to chant, “No homophobes. No In nearby Lakewood Ranch, walkouts drew media attention. “I feel that we have to take our time out of our day to talk about it,” junior Nicole Bundy told the Tampa Bay Times. In Tallahassee, students in the afternoon started marching around the Florida Capitol in protest of the bill, which already passed in the Florida House and will be considered by the Senate next week. Students ended up filing around the entrance to the House and Senate floor, waving rainbow flags and cheering, “We will not be victims.”

The walkouts are taking place as LGBTQ+ activists protest Walt Disney World for not taking a stance against the bill despite holding commercial Pride events like Gay Days annually.

Dairy Queen Just Dropped Two Sweet Menu Items For Spring

By Jacob Bennett

Much like hot chocolate goes with snow and pumpkin spice with autumn leaves, ice cream goes alongside blazing summer heat. While we're not totally in summer just yet, the weather's starting to break and the days are slowly but surely getting warmer. Ice cream companies are already beginning to cash in on the anticipation for summer's return, and Dairy Queen is no exception.

A major player in the world of fast food ice cream, Dairy Queen is no stranger to celebrating the seasons with all sorts of exclusive frozen treats. While it's true that the company doesn't just focus on summer and released a handful of holiday-themed treats during the winter season, summer is no doubt the time that they can tap into that ice cream-craving market. In 2021, Dairy Queen released six brand-new Blizzard flavors ranging from Frosted Animal Cookie to Raspberry Fudge as part of their Summer Blizzard line-up. Now, DQ is gearing up to release two new menu items that combine the sweet taste of ice cream with the vibrant

colors of spring.

While there's no outrageous or wild new Blizzard flavor on the menu yet, Dairy Queen introduced the Poolside Punch Twisty Misty Slush on Instagram. Combining layers of blue raspberry ice with pink punch ice, the dark blue and light pink slushie melts together to form a translucent purple and pink color. This is the second "Twisty Misty" slushie Dairy Queen released. The Lemonade Twisty Misty Slush was released for the summer of 2020 and 2021, each version featuring new flavors and an equally impressive color scheme.

The second menu item, while not as colorful as the Poolside Slush, is still something geared towards that classic summer experience. The new S'mores Shake combines marshmallow, chocolate shavings, and graham crackers into a vanilla soft-serve, before being topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Strangely, this shake is almost a callback to the S'more Blizzard, a Blizzard that was brought back for a limited time in 2016 before seemingly being discontinued again as of 2022. If you were a fan of the

S'mores Blizzard, perhaps the S'mores Shack will be a good choice for you.

There's also another new item being released for spring. The Fruity Blast Dipped Cone, a vanilla soft-serve dipped in a purple shell, supposedly has a "nostalgic" cereal-like taste reminiscent of those sugary fruity cereals you used to eat as a kid.