NEWS: the headlines you need to stay informed.

The Trump administration dismantled the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Population Affairs during recent layoffs, eliminating vital reproductive health and gender-affirming care programs for LGBTQ+ communities. In Connecticut, anti-trans legislation is undermining bipartisan efforts to ban female genital mutilation by conflating FGM with consensual gender-affirming care.

The Supreme Court is weighing a case that could affect state bans on conversion therapy, though 59% of Americans—including a majority of Republicans—support prohibiting the harmful practice. A far-right academic's claim that transgender identification is declining has been thoroughly debunked by independent researchers who found he failed to apply necessary statistical weights, with properly analyzed data showing trans and nonbinary identities have actually increased.

And as institutional support falters, community organizations are stepping up: Rainbow in Black launched to support Black families of trans youth, while Richmond's He She Ze and We expanded its microgrant program and outreach as Virginia hospitals restrict gender-affirming services for minors.

Across the Atlantic, NHS GPs in the UK have refused at least 382 HRT prescriptions to trans and nonbinary patients—many with letters from gender clinics or existing prescriptions—forcing people into private care that now costs up to £2,000 compared to previous £200 fees.

Turkey's proposed 11th Judicial Reform Package would impose prison sentences on same-sex couples and trans individuals while raising the minimum age for gender reassignment surgery to 25. In India, a mass suicide attempt among transgender individuals has exposed the deepening crisis facing the community.

Rx RESIST: how you can make a difference

The October 18 No Kings protests drew over 7 million participants across 2,700+ events nationwide—and organizers are hosting a livestream debrief on Tuesday, October 21 at 8PM ET to discuss next steps for the movement. If you're looking for concrete actions this week:

1. join local Indivisible chapters (which have been growing by 5-8 new groups daily and now exist in nearly every congressional district)

2. share this Yale research survey on LGBTQ+ emotional health with patients aged 18-25 (participants can earn up to $100)

3. contact your representatives about the dismantling of HHS's Office of Population Affairs

4. support community organizations like Rainbow in Black and He She Ze and We that are filling gaps left by institutional failures

Sustained engagement matters more than single-day turnouts—organizers are focusing on building infrastructure for long-term resistance rather than one-off demonstrations. Show up and see how you can help.

MIXED MEDIA: good reads, podcasts, documentaries, and more

This week's collection spans the animal kingdom's queer blueprint, prison survival narratives, podcast deep dives into anti-trans violence, and critical examinations of how we talk about protecting trans communities.

• Elliot Page's New Documentary Explores How Queerness Thrives Across The Animal World - Elliot Page's Second Nature challenges traditional narratives about sex and behavior by showcasing same-sex relationships and gender fluidity as common—and vital—throughout the animal kingdom.

• Freedom is Something You Carry Inside - A trans woman in a Georgia men's prison describes daily survival, systemic misgendering, and the loss of hormone therapy access, finding resistance through writing.

• More than a month: Prioritizing LGBTQ+ health year-round - A reminder that LGBTQ+ health advocacy extends beyond Pride Month, with a focus on mpox vaccination and proactive community health measures.

• My Boyfriend Founded Uncloseted Media. It's What I Needed as a Kid - Sean Robinson reflects on growing up with religious trauma and how queer media representation—like RuPaul's Drag Race—creates crucial visibility and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.

• No Kings Changed My Mind About America's Future - A high-profile trans journalist finds hope and renewed purpose in the massive No Kings protests, emphasizing the interconnected struggles for trans and immigrant rights.

• The future of being trans on the internet - A series examining digital permanence, privacy concerns, and the resurgence of underground networks as trans people navigate increasingly hostile online spaces.

• The outdated trans study still doing damage - Podcast exploring how a 1970s study claiming trans identities could be "cured" continues to influence harmful policies and laws today.

• Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violence and Extremism (TIVE) - TransLash Podcast episode dissecting the misogynistic violence targeting trans communities and the dangerous rhetoric fueling it.

• Who are the dolls which must be protected? - A critical look at how "protect the dolls" rhetoric risks commodifying trans identity and centering privileged narratives while ignoring systemic violence facing the broader community.

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LAST WEEK: published on Well Beings News

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Original Reporting

When providers work with trans and non-binary youth, parents are often part of the equation—but what happens when they're struggling with their own process around their child's gender journey? For an upcoming article, I spoke with therapist Rachel Hulstein-Lowe, LICSW, about how to support families while keeping young people's wellbeing centered.

Weekend Column name

When a Hamburg-based relationship coach finds most of his clients are calling from the United States, it raises questions about what LGBTQ+ people are finding—or not finding—in their local communities. This week's profile examines how one practitioner is building ethical frameworks for international wellness work and what his borderless practice reveals about persistent gaps in affirming care.