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Bible Passages Justifying Homophobia Have Been Woefully ‘Misinterpreted’ Proud Dad Of Trans 4-Year-Old Shares Journey To Embracing His Son’s Gender Ghosting: Why LGBTQ People Do It & How To Deal With It Tamisha Iman Said She Was Coming For Monét X Changeng ACT UP Is Giving Away Joints To Anyone That Shows Their Vaccination Card It’s Time To Binge-Watch “The Nanny” On HBOMax & Realize Just How LGBTQ-Friendly It Was
Salento: Falling Head-Over-Heels With Southern Italy Stonewall Sports Jax League
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Kellogg's Releases Pride-Themed Cereal With GLAAD Jen Psaki Confirms President Biden May Still Nominate Lesbian & Transgender Ambassadors
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Bible Passages Justifying Homophobia Have Been Woefully ‘Misinterpreted’ By James Davidson
Claims that the Bible condemns same-sex relationships are based on misinterpretations and mistranslations, a groundbreaking theological study has found. The report, titled “Christian Objections to Same-Sex Relationships: An Academic Assessment”, saw 20 biblical scholars, theologians, ethicists, evolutionary biologists and sociologists come together to disprove the foundations upon which the Catholic Church built its anti-LGBT+ stance. The 80-page study, which was conducted by the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, should “serve as the final nail in the coffin of biblical and other arguments justifying homophobia”, a press release said. The report found that passages in Leviticus often cited as the most explicit condemnations of homosexuality have actually been mistranslated. In fact, those passages only condemn incest and adultery between men, while no mention is made of sexual relationships between women, the study found. Prohibiting incest and adultery 06 www.cityxtramagazine.com
between men suggests that same-sex relationships “outside the forbidden category” were actually viewed as permissible. The scholars found that “consensual and faithful” same-sex relationships are not condemned anywhere in the Bible, and natural sciences firmly attest that homosexuality is a “natural variation within the range of human sexuality”. Presenting their findings, the scholars called on Pope Francis and the Vatican to take urgent action to change church teaching on same-sex relationships. They specifically criticised the Vatican’s recent decision to ban blessings for same-sex couples, arguing that the ruling vilifies same-sex couples.
McAleese, a Catholic who has campaigned tirelessly for the Catholic Church to change its teaching on LGBT+ issues, said the study should “challenge, probe and interrogate church teaching in the area of homosexuality.” She said: “The people of God have needed this to help convince a blinkered magisterium to open its eyes and ears, to see and hear the damage inflicted on good people young and old by teachings that run counter to science and counter to the love of the creator. The scholarly work of the Wijngaards Institute brings hope where it is needed.”
McAleese’s sentiments were echoed by Reverend Krzysztof The scholars urged the Vatican Charamsa, a Polish Catholic to set in motion a transparent, theologian, who said the report independent consultation is “a gift and a commitment to process on their findings in a the Church”. bid to move forward in an “Theologians, aware of their evidence-based way. scientific and Christian The report has been endorsed responsibility, address by more than 60 high-profile themselves to helping the academic scholars from across judgement of the Church to the world, including former Irish mature… By presenting the president Mary McAleese. progress of the humanities and
trust in the Church.” The Catholic Church has held firm on its position for decades that homosexuality is “intrinsically disordered” – despite repeated calls from church members to re-evaluate. Some had hoped that the Catholic Church would gradually begin to relax its rules when Pope Francis became leader of the institution in 2013. But while the pontiff has taken a slightly more moderate approach to the LGBT+ community, change has remained a distant dream. There was widespread disappointment among LGBT+ Catholics in March when the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) issued a statement banning priests from blessings same-sex couples. In the highly-controversial statement, the CDF said God loves all his children, but claimed he “cannot bless sin”.
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Proud Dad Of Trans 4-Year-Old Shares Journey To Embracing His Son’s Gender By Debbie Joshlin
A proud father has explained that his four-year-old transgender child Stormy knows for sure that he has “never been a girl”. Matthew Stubbings said he and his wife Klara Jeynes, from Doncaster, noticed Stormy was showing signs he was unhappy with the gender he’d been assigned aged 18 months.
“Stormy would have been two, just before when we first noticed,” Stubbings said, according to the Daily Mirror. “We did the things that people do. Dressed his brother in boy clothes and gave Stormy pigtails. “He got to the point where his hair started getting longer and he didn’t want his pigtails anymore. We took them out.” Soon afterwards, Stormy started to become upset when wearing dresses and it got to the point where he wasn’t happy unless he was wearing “stereotypical boys clothes”. When he was two-and-a-half, Stormy told his parents for the first time that he was actually a boy and not a girl as they had previously believed. Over the following months, Stormy repeatedly told his 08 www.cityxtramagazine.com
parents that he was a boy. By the time he turned three, they decided to accept his gender identity and embrace him for who he really is. Around this third birthday, the couple had a conversation with Stormy where they asked him: “Are you just not a girl, or are you a boy?” Their son was clear that he was a boy – although he has since suggested on occasion that he might be non-binary. While Stubbings and his wife love and support Stormy unconditionally, they have had issues with other adults who have dismissed and denigrated their son’s identity. All of Stormy’s friends know that he is a boy, but adults “have on many occasions insisted on calling him a girl,” Stubbings revealed. Matthew Stubbings first opened up about his son’s amazing journey in a post on LinkedIn, telling followers that Stormy is “a bright, happy boy who loves his life”. In the post, Stubbings said many people aren’t aware that Stormy was “‘sexed’ as a girl” when he was born.
“I am so proud that he knows who he is and isn’t constrained by societal norms and prejudices,” Stubbings wrote. “We can all learn something from this small boy and I learn every day. Everyone is different. We all need [to] accept that people are different and not try to force those around us to fit into a box that suits us.” He added: “Accepting people for who they are is the only way to encourage innovation, embrace growth and harness the best in everyone.”
Ghosting: Why LGBTQ People Do It & How To Deal With It By Adam D. Blum, MFT
We all have a ghosting story. When someone suddenly disappears from your life with no warning or explanation, you have been ghosted. Ghosting is on the rise. Several surveys now report that 80% of people in their 20s experience relationship ghosting. Within my psychotherapy practice focused on the LGBTQ community, we see a big increase in the number of clients bringing this issue to therapy.
may tell ourselves that it is nicer not to tell someone that we don’t have chemistry. In reality, being ghosted hurts a lot more than the truth. Why do we hurt others? Because we have our own hurts that we want to avoid. When we are feeling good about ourselves we rarely intentionally hurt people. Our compassion and kindness flows from how we are feeling about ourselves.
touches on the greatest human fear—our fear of losing people we depend on. The person who ghosted you might be demonstrating what psychologists call an “anxious attachment style.” They feel safe enough to engage you at first but get anxious by the experience of closeness. This attachment style is often linked to unsafe experiences we’ve had with the first person we’ve loved—which for most of us are our parents and caregivers. You have a very good reason to be furious at the person who ghosted you, but it can help to know that they are probably dealing with some significant personal wounds.
How is Ghosting Different in LGBTQ Relationships? Being ghosted can be particularly devastating for LGBTQ people. Most of us have grown up believing that this intimate, beautiful, and Attachment Perspective vulnerable part of us—our Technology is driving the When you are ghosted you sexual attraction—is trend. We have become more learn a lot about the person considered gross and shame accustomed to avoiding difficult who ghosted you. They are worthy. So when we take the conversations by hiding behind revealing something about their risk to open up and let a screen. Apps and texts make attachment style. someone in, our deepest it much easier to hide and lie. Attachment theory is a big deal wound can be triggered. It can Why Do We Do It? in psychology. Research shows touch on that unconscious, that we have a built-in need to vulnerable part of ourselves It’s easy for us to get that still believes that LGBTQ be attached to others. It’s judgmental about people who people are unlovable. actually a matter of life and ghost. After all, it is among the death. Infants who are not crueler things we can do to While all minorities feel the attached to their caregivers die stress of being devalued in the another person. But it’s a little at an alarming rate, even when dominant culture, many LGBTQ harder to criticize when we they are given plenty of food realize we may also have people have the additional pain and medical care. ghosted someone. of being devalued in the intimacy of their own families. This is why it can be incredibly Ghosting is avoidance driven This kind of early rejection in painful to be ghosted. When we by a fear of confrontation. We life can make us extra are “dropped” by someone, it 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
vulnerable when dealing with the pain of adult relationships. And while there hasn’t been any research done on this topic, it’s possible that LGBTQ people may experience ghosting more often than straight people. LGBTQ people have learned to be experts in hiding. We had to hide to survive, and ghosting is hiding. Impact of Ghosting Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel, renowned author of Night, once said that “the opposite of love twice. Remind yourself that if is not hate, it’s indifference.” you ultimately reconnect with This quote sums up why being them it is quite likely they will ghosted is so painful. abandon you again. Don’t Depending upon the severity of waste time hoping that the experience, ghosting can someone who has been unkind take years to get over. Brain to you will become kind. research shows us that the Stop yourself from obsessing experience of rejection shows about the question of “why?” up in the same part of the brain We need to put our energy as physical pain. The pain is back into our relationship with real. ourselves, and with the people Ghosting is who treat us with respect. passive-aggressive. That Focusing on the person who means we experience it as a dropped you typically just feeds form of aggression. It is the the obsession. ultimate silent treatment. It Avoid globalization. You may leaves you feeling powerless start to believe that every and gives you no chance to get LGBTQ person on a dating app information that would help you is bad. Or that all LGBTQ to emotionally process the people are too wounded to love experience. It silences you. well. These are completely And it is very hard to maintain false beliefs. our self-esteem when our Don’t ghost others. When we feelings aren’t heard. lose our empathy, we lose a How to Deal With LGBTQ piece of our soul. Ghosting Ghosting people will make you feel Here are a few tips that have empty. helped my clients: Increase your self care. You Don’t pursue someone who is are probably tired of articles ghosting you. Stop trying to written by therapists contact them after you’ve tried encouraging you to learn how
to love and support yourself, but time and again, this proves to be the most fundamental aspect of a good life. Acknowledge that you took a risk. Relationships involve vulnerability, so they are scary. Many people avoid them. But you are willing to take risks for what is important to you. Can you be proud of that? The ending of relationships, no matter how they end, almost always involves pain. This comes with the territory of being a human being. We can’t prevent pain, but we can always learn more about how to transform pain into real growth. Adam D. Blum, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of the Gay Therapy Center, the largest private therapy provider for the LGBTQ community in the US, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. and online services worldwide. www.cityxtramagazine.com 11
Tamisha Iman Said She Was Coming For Monét X Change. What Happened Instead Was Much More Interesting By Maggie Davidson
Drag Race star Tamisha Iman promised to spill hot tea about Monét X Change, but instead announced she’d be launching The Tamisha Iman Network. The drama started after Tamisha Iman took issue with Monét X Change’s critiques of her throughout her season of Drag Race, and she gave notice on Saturday (1 May) that she would be reading Monet the following Tuesday. Tamisha said she would “make an example out of every b***h who has uttered” her name. But Tamisha’s promised video, posted Tuesday (4 May), focused more on the Drag Race fanbase and promoting her upcoming subscriptionbased channel than the drama with Monet. The video was removed from Tamisha’s social media channels but uploaded elsewhere.
the “powers that be… be it the universe or whoever”. “I’m choosing to stand my ground,” Tamisha said. “Now with that being said, I know how to say exactly what I need to say without saying anything, and hopefully y’all are smart enough to get it.” Tamisha Iman explained that she was “restricted to what you can and can’t say” on a public social media platform. She then said the “biggest problem” with “this whole organisation and this franchise” is the fanbase. Tamisha declared that Drag Race has the “worst fanbase of any reality show out there”, one that will “take anything that you say” and “make it according to however they want to be n the video, Tamisha started by received”. claiming that she had gotten She proceeded to say that she “all kinds of messages” from never had a problem with Bob the “powers that may be” that the Drag Queen, who co-hosts said she should “shut [her] the Sibling Rivalry podcast with damn mouth and stay in [her] Monet X Change and was place”. caught up in the drama. She proceeded to say that she Tamisha said Bob was one of was choosing to stand her her biggest supporters, and ground and speak up against that her problems were with “the show and Monet”. She did14 www.cityxtramagazine.com
n’t explicitly say what those problems were. She said the “minions” and “gremlins” in the Drag Race fan base had gotten the drama “twisted” because “y’all think y’all need to know everything”. Tamisha also declared that any attempts to cancel her won’t work because she has been dealing with “being cancelled” for 30 years. She added that she has been “censored to a certain degree by a lot of platforms” so she was going to start her own subscription-based channel where she can “control the narrative”. Tamisha said it seemed to her that she had “removed a bandage off a sore” after speaking on “this situation”, and there were more “girls” who are “afraid to speak out” in public. “So many of the girls that are afraid to speak out have flooded my inbox with things that have happened to them, things that are going on and they are afraid to speak on it in the realm of social media because they can’t [because]
there is a backlash that is going to happen to them,” Tamisha said. She also announced that she would be launching the Tamisha Iman Network to host panel discussions with these queens and be able to “talk about things”. Fans will be able to view individual shows for a $15.99 fee or sign up for a subscription at $25 per month. She also said there would be a show with Bob the Drag Queen, Monét X Change and herself with a moderator on the channel in the coming weeks. Tamisha said the money from the shows would primarily be going to the queens featured on her network, who she said were mostly not getting work or did not have a stable income.
There has been a mixed reception to the video, mostly from fans who were here for mess. Some fans jumped to support Tamisha. One person said the queen is “truly just being a responsible adult” by having a “moderated discussion” with Monet and Bob and commended her for “doing a weekly show that’s gonna support queens of color”. Another person said the fee was “kind of worth it” considering that Tamisha Iman is “letting underappreciated queens” use the show “as a spotlight”.
ACT UP Is Giving Away Joints To Anyone That Shows Their Vaccination Card By Michael Browning
ACT UP New York has come up with a novel incentive to get fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. They’ll pay you to show them your filled-out vaccination card. And in return, they’ll give you a free joint. That’s right. A joint for a jab. So far the group has popped up around town twice with the good time giveaway. First, on April 20 at a 4/20 event and then again on May 1 after the annual Cannabis Day parade. “Joints For Jabs 1 was so successful that we want to continue the program through the summer to encourage
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vaccination among medicinal and recreational marijuana users and young people,” organizer Brandon Cuicchi said. “Now that vaccine demand is slowing, it’s clear that vaccines will need to go where people already congregate such as parks and public spaces in order to reach them.” The group reports on social media that they gave away approximately 300 joints to “people over 21 showing proof of COVID vaccination.” They say they hope to offer walk-up
vaccines on-demand at their next popup event. They are currently discussing the issue with the city Health Department. “We know that young people are hesitant to get the COVID vaccine, especially if their families are, so rather than relying on the fear of getting COVID, we want to encourage them to get vaccinated in a positive way,” participant Kellen Gold told cityXtra Magazine.
KIt’s Time To Binge-Watch “The Nanny” On HBOMax & Realize Just How LGBTQ-Friendly It Was By Matt Jenkins
With the ‘90s sitcom The Nanny hitting HBOMax in recent weeks, it’s a great time for a re-watch of the series that had heart, style, and great jokes — and also a surprisingly inclusive queer sensibility. The early ‘90s was a pretty rough time for queer inclusion on sitcoms. On one hand, TV shows were starting to acknowledge gay and lesbian characters more than in previous years (though still ignoring bisexuals, to say nothing of the awful depictions of trans people). But on the other, most sitcoms were terribly awkward about queer content. If a gay character appeared, it was usually for one single episode; and they were presented as that episode’s problem that needed to be resolved, so they could disappear by the end. But The Nanny did things differently. In the episode “A Fine Friendship,” for example, Fran meets a man who works as a nanny and assumes that he’s gay (because he’s attractive and knows a lot about musical theater). To her, it’s no big deal; she’s casual and 18 www.cityxtramagazine.com
comfortable around him… until she discovers that he’s actually straight, and then she panics. That’s a clever turn-around from the normal ways that TV shows tended to handle the “gays as complication” trope. Most TV shows that introduced gay guest characters would show the main characters freaking out about homosexuality — on The Golden Girls, Rose becomes concerned when she realizes that a lesbian-of-the-week is interested in her; on Designing Women, a man living with HIV prompts “very special episode” music. On Friends and Frasier, the main characters are wideeyed and aghast when they’re mistaken for queer. But on The Nanny, the problem isn’t that there’s an unexpected gay character; it’s that there’s an unexpected straight character. Also interesting is a season four episode called “Oy Vey, You’re Gay,” in which Fran learns that a woman whom she thought was a romantic rival is actually a lesbian, and interested in her. On any other show, that might lead to a
sputtering denial, and a flabbergasted “Why would you think that???” But Fran’s different. She pauses and asks if the queer character is Jewish, casually joking that they came close to making her mother very happy. It’s kind, it’s inclusive, it’s affectionate — and for an American network TV show of the ‘90s, The Nanny is one-of-a -kind with its nonchalant acceptance.
Salento: Falling Head-Over-Heels With Southern Italy By Stuart Haggas
As everyone from fashionistas to fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will know, a heel can be empowering and glamorous, can heighten sex appeal, and can elevate an ordinary walk into a full-scale sashay. Located at the tip of boot-shaped Italy’s vertiginous heel, the Salento area of Puglia in southern Italy is all that and more. Fringed by the turquoise waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, this narrow stiletto of landmass has over 800km of coastline, and boasts fabulous coastal towns such as Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, and Polignano a Mare. The historic city of Lecce is known as the “Florence of the south” for its splendid baroque architecture. Equally splendid are handsome little towns like Nardò and Galatina. And Alberobello is a bustling magnet for tourists thanks to its quirky stone trulli houses that look like they belong in a fairytale or in Lord Of The Rings. The region is a favorite summer destination for Italy’s LGBTQ community, so you’ll spot handsome hunks zipping around on a Piaggio scooter, dressed in their fashion best while sipping an aperitivo, or deliciously undressed on a 20 www.cityxtramagazine.com
sun-baked nude beach. Although there’s plenty here to fall head-over-heels in love with, you may wish to include a brief affair with its neighbor, the rugged Basilicata region. The big temptation here is the spectacular city of Matera, which is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key filming location in the new James Bond film, No Time to Die. The historic coastal town of Gallipoli is an ideal base for LGBTQ visitors due to its proximity to several gay beaches as well as Village Picador, southern Italy’s biggest gay dance club, but with limited public transport, and with taxis a scarce commodity that require pre-booking, you’re best to hire a car to thoroughly explore the regions sights and gay scene.
Angevins, and Bourbons have all bloodied their swords in the timeless quest to conquer Gallipoli. Dating from the 13th-century, Castello Angioino is Gallipoli’s most imposing landmark. This robust fortress has thick curved walls built to withstand cannon fire. It’s now a visitor attraction and cultural center, suggesting that tourism is the ultimate conqueror. Walk the entire perimeter of the old quarter and you’ll encounter chic seafront cafes, fishermen fixing their nets in the pretty harbor, and locals sunning themselves on the lovely little Spiaggia della Purita beach. Its warren of shady alleyways is also equally beguiling. Several of Gallipoli’s grand old palazzos and monasteries Gallipoli’s charming centro have been transformed into storico (old quarter) is built on a boutique-style hotels, their small islet that’s connected to frescoes and architectural the mainland by an ancient details now complemented by bridge, so it’s surrounded by contemporary designer stunning sea views in every furnishings. Recommendations direction. Due to this strategic include the 4-star I Bastioni position, Gallipoli has spent San Domenico, Palazzo much of its past under siege: Presta, Relais Corte Palmieri hordes of marauding Vandals, and Al Pescatore Hotel & Goths, Byzantines, Normans, Restaurant.
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Stonewall Sports Jax League By David Vandygriff
As the quarantines fade into our past a new sports league formed in Jacksonville with a twist. Welcome Stonewall Sports League to Jacksonville. A league of 290 players with 15 teams that play on the field in Willowbranch Park with a philanthropic heart on and off the field. We spoke with Mateo Rogers, Commissioner about the success of Stonewall Sports Jax inaugural year and he stated energetically, “The fuel was already here, the incredible people within our community are the fuel. I was simply the ignition that lit the fire.” Stonewall Sports is an LGBTQ & Ally community-based, non-profit sports organization founded in 2010 that strives to raise funds for local non-profit organizations. The league values each player for who they are and what they bring to the league’s community.
Our Mission: To provide an inclusive, lowcost, high FUN sport leagues that are managed as a non-profit with a philanthropic heart.
The local Jacksonville league as the national league are both non-profit organizations. Each season a charitable organization is chosen for the season. This kickball season has chosen JASMYN that just celebrated 25 years of operations in Jacksonville. JASMYN supports LGBTQ young people by creating safe space, providing health and wholeness services, and offering youth development opportunities, while bringing people and resources together to promote equality and human rights. Everyone is welcome to join in Our Vision: We believe every person should have the ability supporting the teams play on Sundays at Willowbranch Park to feel comfortable being from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This oneself in organized sports. spring season of kickball ends Our league will value each May 23rd. Playoffs will be held player for who they are and what one brings to the leagues June 6th. community. We also believe The teams often have organized communities have fundraised, food drives, school the ability and responsibly to supply gatherings, etc., so skip support others in need. on over to their Facebook page
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at Stonewall Jax and help our LGBTQ community. Remember donations are appreciated and sponsorship levels are available with logo placements on banners, t-shirts, water bottles, ballcaps and like items. Also keep in mind that the Stonewall Sports Jax League will be developing different sports activities as the seasons progress. The possibilities include bocce ball, beach volleyball, tennis, rock climbing, and beyond. We at cityXtra Magazine are excited and appreciative of the all the teams making a difference within our community. We look forward to many seasons with the Stonewall Sports Jax League and to the many events hosted to help raise funds for our local non-profits around the city.
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Kellogg's Releases Pride-Themed Cereal With GLAAD By Drew Sumet
There's some sweet news in the world of cereal. Kellogg's, in a partnership with the LGBTQ+ media organization GLAAD, has released a Pride-themed cereal called Together With Pride. Retailing for $4, Together With Pride will be on supermarket shelves in May, just prior to the month of LGBTQ+ festivities. For every purchase, Kellogg's will donate $3 to GLAAD. For the donation to occur, patrons must upload a copy of their receipt to KelloggsFamilyRewards.com.
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The 7.8-ounce box is full of a rainbow variety of heart-shaped cereal bites and even edible glitter. Kellogg's famous cereal figures are gathered on the exterior illustration, including Toucan Sam, Tony the Tiger, and the Rice Krispies elves, Snap, Crackle, and Pop. This is not the first collaboration between Kellogg's and GLAAD. The two groups launched an "All Together" cereal in 2018, timed to Spirit Day, an annual event that fights the bullying of
LGBTQ+ young people. "We believe that all young people and those young at heart deserve an environment where they can grow up to be their best selves," the caption on that box read. "That’s why we’ve joined forces with GLAAD by going purple on Spirit Day to stand up against bullying in all forms, and support a more accepting world for LGBTQ youth."
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LGBTQ, members of the transgender community.” Johnson pressed on this, Jen Psaki Confirms President Biden asking her to May Still Nominate Lesbian & define “soon.” Transgender Ambassadors “What is that, By David Vandygriff like days, months, White House Press Secretary weeks?” he asked. Jen Psaki told people to “stay tuned” when she was asked She dodged the question, about whether President Joe saying that Biden will “continue Biden will nominate any to consider a range of options lesbians or transgender people for a lot of the positions that are to be ambassadors. out there and still remain vacant.” At the White House Press Briefing, the Washington Johnson also asked Psaki what Blade‘s Chris Johnson asked exactly Biden meant when he Psaki about “representation of told a joint session of Congress American diversity overseas.” last week when he said he would stand up for transgender “The United States has never youth. had a lesbian woman or transgender person as an “To all the transgender ambassador,” Johnson said. “Is Americans watching at home the President missing an — especially the young people opportunity to name those who are so brave – I want you firsts?” to know that your president has your back,” Biden said during Psaki first said that not many the speech, referring to the ambassadors have been onslaught of bills state named yet, so it’s not that lawmakers are passing this Biden has missed any year to curtail transgender opportunities in this area yet. equality, bills that have mostly “We hope to soon [name more been attacking transgender ambassadors]; stay tuned,” she youth and their access to responded. “Certainly, the gender-affirming health care President looks to ensuring that and their right to participate in the people representing him — school sports. not just in the United States, but around the world — repre- “The President’s inclusion of transgender people in his sent the diversity of the speech to Congress is country, and that certainly significant in and of itself, but includes people who are what will the president “having 26 www.cityxtramagazine.com
their backs” look like going forward?” Johnson asked. Psaki brought up the executive orders Biden signed, including one that said that Title IX already bans anti-LGBTQ discrimination in schools because it bans discrimination “on the basis of sex.” It’s impossible, according to the legal argument, to discriminate against an LGBTQ person without taking their sex into account. Biden has “also used the power of the bully pulpit in his presidency to convey that transgender rights are human rights,” she continued. “And that is his belief and the view of his administration, and how he expects policies to be mplemented… ensuring that transgender youth have the opportunity to play sports, and to be treated equally in states across the country.” When asked about whether the administration will participate in lawsuits against states passing anti-trans bills or take legal action of its own, Psaki said that she couldn’t answer and referred the reporter to the Department of Justice.
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